It was still early, the sky was still dark, and the visibility inside the house was very low. You could faintly see the faint smoke filling the air. Li Tao's movement of getting up startled the lady beside him.
The lady sat up and looked at Li Tao with concern. Even though her vision was blurry, she could feel his heavy mood. She couldn't help but ask, "What's wrong with you? You've been so restless and distracted these past two days, and you haven't slept well either!"
After coming back to his senses, Li Tao shook his head, gently pressed his wife's warm hand, and said comfortingly: "It's okay! I'm getting older, and I can't sleep even if I want to!"
"You can sleep a little longer! I got up first, and there are still a lot of things in the court that I need to deal with!" Li Tao said, and was about to get down and get dressed.
"Don't hide it from me! We have been husband and wife for so many years, and I cannot hide the changes you have made in the past two days!" Madam held Li Tao's hand and said seriously.
"It's just that I've been busy with government affairs recently!" Li Tao said after pondering for a moment.
"No matter how urgent the matter is, do you still have this little time?" Madam said dissatisfied, paused, and asked hesitantly: "Before the emperor returned to Beijing, although you were busy, you were not like this... were you related to Is it related to the emperor?"
Staring at Li Tao but not seeing any reaction, Mrs. Li immediately said: "This Emperor of the Liu family is really difficult to serve!"
"No nonsense!" Li Tao scolded after hearing his complaints.
"Am I wrong? How many of the prime ministers and ministers of the Han Dynasty had good results? Wang Zhang died in depression, and Yang Bin is still suffering in Bianzhou. After Feng Dao, is it your turn? ?”
"Shut up!" Li Tao seemed to have broken his guard and said angrily: "You are a woman and talkative. You dare to discuss government affairs and make such arrogant remarks. Do you want to harm my whole family?"
Seeing Li Tao's reaction, the lady couldn't help but sigh and said, "I don't care about government affairs, I'm only worried about the safety of our family. In the past two years, your power has increased, and you have kept your word in the government. But don't forget, you are Descendants of Li Tang, after Jingzong, there are always villains in this world. If the emperor starts to be suspicious of you, he will be afraid of being slandered by villains..."
"You have been a prime minister for so many years, it is enough. Otherwise, you should stop being an official and return to your hometown to recuperate. Maybe you can learn from Feng Dao and have a good death..."
"How can you understand the wisdom of today?" Listening to his wife's worries, Li Tao said insincerely: "That's it! I have my own concerns about this matter, so don't worry about it. What you just said will never happen again. carry!"
"I go first!"
The courtyard is quiet in the early morning, and the autumn wind brings coolness. Dew condenses between the grass blades, and the mist that fills the circular paths makes people feel the obvious chill.
After packing up and eating, waiting for Li Tao to enter the palace, the day dawned, and the world was still gray and dark, just like Li Tao's mood. Fortunately, after the guards at the prison gate changed shifts, the palace gate was already open.
"My lord, the Jinghu case has made progress. Prime Minister Fan personally sat in court to judge, and has dug out fifteen internal and external officials. If this continues, there will definitely be turmoil inside and outside the court!" In front of the court case, a close staff member said, He reported to Li Tao in a low voice.
Li Tao, who was commenting on the official document, paused and put down his pen. Li Tao had a calm look on his face: "Your Majesty was furious and ordered a strict investigation. Fan Wensu also hates evil as much as he hates enemies. How could this matter be exposed so easily? The emperor was so angry that he lay down his body. Millions of people, bloodshed for thousands of miles, and political turmoil in every district, what’s the point? Besides..."
The real changes and turmoil are probably still to come. Li Tao didn't say the last sentence.
Seeing Li Tao's reaction, the staff couldn't help but say: "Xiang Fan is at odds with my husband, so I'm afraid that I will take the opportunity to cause trouble and implicate my husband."
Li Tao smiled: "I know Fan Wensu's character. He may have different political opinions, but he won't retaliate!"
After hesitating for a moment, the staff continued to lower their voices: "I heard that this incident happened because Zhao Pu of Chongzheng Palace slandered His Majesty and deliberately exaggerated it..."
After hearing what he said, Li Tao's expression became a little cold, and he immediately told him: "Don't ask too much about some things, and don't say too much about some things. Next, do your duty! Get off!"
"Yes!" Seeing Li Tao's serious expression, the staff quickly calmed down their emotions, put down a few official documents, and bowed away.
Li Tao picked up the pen again and looked at the words between the pages of the album, but suddenly he lost interest in reviewing.
"Ms. Sir, someone has come to the Chongzheng Palace. Your Majesty has summoned you!" While Li Tao was in a daze with heavy thoughts, his subordinates came in to report.
"Yes! I understand!" Li Tao responded: "Ask the person who comes to wait, I will leave immediately!"
Sitting behind the hall, taking a deep breath, Li Tao calmly packed up a few important memorials and took them with him, heading to Chongzheng Hall. The slow pace gave people a heavy feeling, as if he was carrying a heavy weight.
"Your Majesty, Li Tao, comes to see you!"
In the Chongzheng Hall, Emperor Liu Chengyou was still immersed in the government affairs of this chapter. When he saw Li Tao, he smiled and his attitude was very friendly: "Li Qing is here! Stop standing, please sit down!"
"Thank you, Your Majesty!" Li Tao thanked him: "I wonder what your Majesty has to say to you?"
Liu Chengyou took out the top memorial from the pile on the side of the case, opened it, and said: "I find this memorial very interesting, and I also have some doubts. I invite Li Qing here to clear up my doubts!"
Paying attention to the emperor's demeanor and the memorial that he could describe as "interesting", I couldn't help but have some doubts in my heart, and respectfully said: "Your Majesty, please tell me!"
Liu Chengyou said: "Kong Renyu, Duke Wenxuan and magistrate of Qufu County, died. Li Qing plans to use his son Kong Yi to attack Duke Wenxuan and succeed him as magistrate of Qufu County?"
Hearing this, Li Tao was really confused and didn't understand what the emperor meant, so he responded: "Kong Renyu is the 43rd generation grandson of Kong Sheng, the title of Duke Wenxuan. It has been inherited by the Kong family since the Tang Dynasty. To show respect and attention to Confucius and the scholars of the world, this is a complete system, and there is nothing wrong with using Kong Yi to ascend the throne!"
"Haha!" Liu Chengyou laughed: "Can the Kong family represent all the scholars in the world?"
Facing Liu Chengyou's question, Li Tao wanted to answer, yes. But seeing the emperor's playful expression, Li Tao said in a deep voice: "Your Majesty, the Kong family of Qufu is, after all, the direct descendant of Kong Sheng. Although it declined due to the troubled times, it still has an irreplaceable position in the minds of scholars all over the world. If your Majesty wishes to cultivate civilized order and bring peace to the world, he should pay courtesy to Confucius and show his intention to promote religion..."
Listening to his explanation, Liu Chengyou's smile showed a bit of sarcasm, and he said: "South Zhang Bei Kong, I have heard that there are two and a half families in the world, the Kong family in Qufu has a share, the Dragon and Tiger Zhang family only has a share, and the royal family of all dynasties has a share. The thousand-year-old Kong family is indeed highly respected!"
Li Tao's face changed drastically and he fell down suddenly: "Your Majesty, why did you say this! This person must be unpredictable and talking nonsense!"
Seeing his nervous look, Liu Chengyou waved his hand: "Of course I won't take such prophecies and rumors seriously!"
"But!" Hearing the emperor's words, he was afraid of a turning point. Liu Chengyou said leisurely: "This Kong Renyu ascended to the throne at a young age. He was diligent in studying and thinking, and became a talent. When he took office in Qufu, he managed both public and private matters, and was smooth in politics. Now that he has died, why? It is planned that his son Kong Yi will take over. If this is correct, Kong Yi is only sixteen years old. Why should he be entrusted with the county office? Can this mere young man manage Qufu well? Or, you might as well suggest me to directly give Qufu to the Kong family. , should he be replaced by his hereditary family?"
"I really don't have this intention!" Li Tao panicked, and said excitedly: "I think it's inappropriate, your Majesty, please punish me!"
"That's all!" Seeing his fear, Liu Chengyou's solemn expression melted away like ice and snow, and said: "I also respect Confucius and read "The Analects of Confucius". The descendants of Confucius should also be treated with courtesy. Otherwise, the scholars in the world may really They will blame me and say that I disrespect the sages..."
"Let's do this. Li Qing plans to use Kong Yi to attack Duke Wenxuan. As for Qufu, it is a large county in Lu. The court will send other talented people to take up the post!"
"yes!"
In the past dynasties, the status of the Kong family in Qufu was not low. Of course, in this era, it has not been raised to that level. Moreover, due to the war in the late Tang Dynasty, the decline was so severe that Kong Renyu's father, Kong Guangsi, even lost his title as Duke Wenxuan.
As for Kong Renyu, in the original history, he was revered as the "ancestor of the ZTE" of the Kong family, and was widely praised and respected by future generations for thousands of years.
Now, in the era of Liu Chengyou, although he has experienced troubled times, he has restored the reputation of the Kong family and has the intention of reviving it, but he does not know whether, in a hundred years, future generations will be forced to make up another legendary story.
