Early morning, Jing'anfang.
A vermilion door suddenly opened, and a middle-aged stern man in a crimson official robe was riding on a horse, led by the servants around him, and headed towards the palace.
He scanned the surroundings with vigilant eyes, and the figures lurking in the shadows of the surrounding corners had long since disappeared.
Heaving a slight sigh of relief, the middle-aged man gathered his thoughts and rode towards the palace.
When his figure completely disappeared, Li Xuan and Di Renjie turned around at the same time under the square gate.
"That person is Zhou Zhi, the minister in charge of the matter." Di Renjie frowned, looked sideways at Li Xuan, cupped his hands and said, "My lord, this person is too vigilant. He is indeed not a kind person."
Li Xuan nodded slightly, Di Renjie was indeed Di Renjie.
Ordinary people may still be embarrassed because there is no evidence, but Di Renjie has already keenly judged that this person is not good.
Di Renjie of Dali Temple adjudicates thousands of cases every month, but not one unjust case. His ability is not average.
"If an ordinary person found out that he was being watched at night, after getting up in the morning, he should at least send someone to Jinwu Guard to report it, but he did nothing." Li Xuan sneered lightly and said, "There is a ghost. There’s a ghost.”
"Your Majesty, how can we check?" Di Renjie looked at Li Xuan solemnly.
This kind of thief, even if he stays for one more day, is a huge threat to the entire court.
But it is not easy to convict him. The key is to have solid evidence.
"Just keep an eye on it." Li Xuan smiled softly, looked in the direction of the palace, and whispered: "Our army has been mobilized to the Western Front at an accelerated pace. If this news cannot reach Tubo in time, then the news will be out of date when the war begins. It’s useless… I really hope that he will think about the safety of the people and do nothing.”
If nothing is done, it will naturally be impossible to convict him of the previous crime, nor of subsequent crimes, and he cannot kill someone using palace law.
Di Renjie didn't want to go here, but said quietly: "But the news about the Tibetan people has come in."
"So he doesn't have much time left, and under the suspicion of Qian Niuwei, he doesn't have much chance, so naturally he doesn't have much patience." After a pause, Li Xuan said softly: "Brother Di, today is the beginning of March. Two."
Di Renjie was stunned and suddenly realized: "Today is the day when the results will be released."
"That's right." Li Xuan nodded and said with cold eyes: "In three days, it will be the time for the palace examination. After the palace examination, the number one scholar will praise the street and give a banquet to Qujiang. When the imperial examination happens, the center of gravity will immediately shift. In preparation for the battle, there are strict restrictions inside and outside, and there are Qianniu Guards and Secret Guards watching closely, so his chances are even less."
"So, if he wants to take action, it must be within these few days." Di Renjie suddenly looked solemn.
This person is fine if he doesn't take action. If he does, he will be caught.
"Let's go, Brother Di." Li Xuan walked towards the outside and said at the same time: "There are secret guards watching inside, and there are Qianniu guards watching outside. If this person wants to do something, he must do it at night. I don't know, it's at night." After the imperial examination, there will be a banquet in Qujiang."
Di Renjie quickly followed up and couldn't help but ask: "Your Majesty, if the official's memory is correct, there are several people from the Nanchang Palace who participated in this subject..."
…
Li Xian dragged his tired body into the inner hall. The maid next to him immediately came over to wipe his face and served hot tea at the same time.
Li Xian put his trembling hands and put the hot tea into his mouth, and then he felt better.
His arms dropped naturally, and he couldn't help but tremble slightly, but more importantly, he felt numb.
How can you master the art of bow and arrow without putting in effort?
"After drinking the ginseng tea, let's continue." Li Xuan walked in from the door behind Li Xian, and then waved her hand to the side.
Immediately afterwards, several servants from the Prince's Palace brought in an incense burner and carefully placed it on the low table.
In the incense burner stood a thin incense stick at the same level as Li Xian's eyes. The incense burner had been lit, and green smoke was rising.
"Stare for half a quarter of an hour, then rest for half a quarter of an hour, and then continue." Li Xuan's voice was calm, but Li Xian couldn't help but raise his eyebrows.
Li Xian wants to practice horse archery. He is barely successful in equestrian skills, but it is not easy to be successful in archery.
In addition to talent and years of practicing bowing and drawing, the key is to practice your aim and your eyesight.
Li Xuan's special method is to use the dark fire on the top of the incense to restrain his spirit under the bright light and keep staring.
Although Li Xian was very tired, he still insisted on continuing because after these few days, this method was really effective.
The key is that he made a bet with Li Xuan that if all ten arrows in his last fifty steps entered the sixth ring, then Li Xuan would lose to him by a thousand guan.
The money is not much, but it is definitely a great temptation for Li Xian, who has nothing to do now.
Just as Li Xian was looking at the incense, a rush of footsteps sounded outside the door.
Li Xuan raised her hand and directly stopped the visitor.
No matter what happens now, it cannot delay Li Xian's practice.
Li Xian's matter is now the top priority of the entire British palace.
Half a quarter of an hour later, Li Xuan immediately waved his hand, and the fragrance in front of Li Xian was immediately extinguished.
"This method can be used, but it cannot be used without restraint. If you don't use the eye drops I prepared for you, your eyes will definitely have problems in the long run." Li Xuan directly pulled Li Xian up.
Li Xian blinked hard several times, feeling numb and astringent. He immediately understood that Li Xuan was right.
Li Xian quickly raised his hands to Li Xuan and said, "Thank you, Uncle Wang, for your advice."
Li Xuan shook his head slightly and said: "Looking at objects is just the first level of archery. If you want to improve, you have to look at the second level of the mind's eye. After the mind's eye, there is the third level of the divine eye. At that time, the divine mind Once you arrive, you can shoot everything.”
After a short pause, Li Xuan continued: "I, the Li family of Longxi, starting from the former General Li Guang, to my grandfather Emperor Gaozu, to my late Emperor Taizong, and even to Prince Min Chengqian and Your Majesty, are all good archers. Gaozu and Emperor Taizong even said that an arrow can determine the country, but it’s just that in your generation..."
Li Xuan smiled bitterly and shook her head slightly.
Li Xian's generation, the filial emperor Li Hong was in poor health, the prince Li Xian was interested in civil affairs, the British king Li Xian was playful, and the prime minister Li Dan was young, and almost threw aside the bow and arrow skills inherited by the Li family in Longxi.
Of course, there may be some intentional reasons on the part of the emperor.
Hearing what Li Xuan said, Li Xian said with a playful smile: "Isn't there still Uncle Wang? With Uncle Wang here, there is no need for Li Xian's hard work."
Li Xuan shook his head slightly and sighed: "His Highness is not ignorant of the affairs of the court. After all, I belong to the clan. Now that your Majesty is tolerant, I can still serve as the young minister of Honglu Temple in the center, but... in the future, the courtiers will be jealous, no matter what In a few years, I will definitely be sent to a border state, and maybe I will rarely be able to return to Chang'an, and your highness will still have to rely on myself... Maybe it's hard to say, your highness will be sent to a border state like me."
Li Xian's expression suddenly changed and he became extremely embarrassed.
The current crown prince is his elder brother Li Xian.
Li Xian had never had any desire to seize the direct heir, but Li Xuan was right. Once the mountains collapsed, Li Xian would have no choice but to leave the border states like King Huo and Li Xuan, the King of Nanchang.
If we don't make preparations for this matter in advance, we may be in big trouble.
"Uncle Wang, do you think this time my father asked Xian and Shiro to go to Lintao together for training?" Li Xian raised his head and stared at Li Xuan.
Li Xuan was stunned and said with a look of surprise: "I have never thought of this, but His Highness said so, but it is not impossible."
Li Zhi's health was not good, and even he himself was not sure about how many years he could live.
It is precisely because of this that Li Zhi wanted to arrange everything before his death.
The inheritance of the throne is naturally a major event, but the affairs of Li Xian and Li Dan cannot be ignored.
Especially some things about Li Xian, even Li Zhi was dissatisfied. There may not be other thoughts in this.
After thinking for a moment, Li Xuan continued: "Your Highness, there is no need to worry. Your Majesty, your Majesty's flesh and blood, even if they are released to the outside world in the future, they will not go beyond the prefectures of Longxi, Henan, nor will they go to Yizhou and Yangzhou. Officials, Your Majesty and the Queen must prepare everything for Your Highness, Your Highness just needs to be careful and make no mistakes."
Li Xuan knew that Li Xian would not really be assigned to Bianzhou in the future.
If Li Xian is really deposed as before, then Li Xian must prepare now if he wants to confront Empress Wu.
Of course, it is not to prepare for the crown prince, but to let everyone know that Li Xian is preparing for his future release.
Now people can feel at ease.
Li Xian suddenly sighed helplessly and said, "If Uncle Wang can be transferred to Sanlang's side, Sanlang won't have to worry about anything."
"There is a mistake in what Your Highness said." Li Xuan spoke directly, looked at Li Xian seriously, and taught seriously: "Zuo Zhuan said: Only the weapon and the name cannot be faked. Your Highness needs to be careful and cautious, otherwise, In an instant, there will be murder.”
To kill, to be killed; to harm, to be harmed.
Li Xuan sighed softly and said: "Your Highness has finally come of age. In the early years, His Majesty and the Queen took care of you. Now that you are mature, you need to consider many things by yourself. As a son, a minister, and a superior, you need to be careful."
Li Xian rarely refuted, but just listened quietly.
The two of them did not shy away from this conversation, and they did not know how many people heard it or how many people reported it to others.
When it came to running the family, Li Xian always took matters into his own hands.
…
After coming back to his senses, Li Xian looked at Li Zhu who was standing at the door, and asked curiously: "You came just now, is there something urgent?"
Li Zhu immediately raised his hands and said, "Reporting to Your Highness, news just came from the palace. Among all the living beings in the Nanchang Palace, four people are on the imperial list?"
"How many?" Li Xuan was suddenly stunned, took a step forward anxiously, and quickly asked: "So how many people are there in total who are on the imperial examination this time?"
Li Zhu knew what Li Xuan was worried about and said quickly: "Back to your lord, for some reason this time, the court showed mercy and admitted thirty-nine people. In Nanchang Prince's Mansion, there are two people in the thirty-eight and thirty-fourth. It would have been impossible to make the list in previous years, but I’m lucky this year.”
Li Xuan finally breathed a sigh of relief, as long as no one from his mansion accounted for eleven of the admitted students for no reason.
The second to last and the sixth to last are still acceptable.
After all, the people in his house are all the elites of the fourteen states of Wuyue. If there is no family background involved, it is possible that the ranking will be higher.
"That's not right. This time, it seems that more children from good families are on the list." Li Xuan looked up at Li Zhu and asked in a low voice: "Who is on the top list this time."
Li Zhu immediately raised his hands and said, "Cheng Xingmou is from Zheng County, Shaanxi Province. His father, Cheng Gu, is the magistrate of Longqiu County."
"A child from a poor family?" Li Xian couldn't help but look up, even his face was full of surprise.
Although the number one scholar in the imperial court in the past years was not necessarily the son of the five surnames and seven families, they were all the children of the middle and upper aristocratic families. However, Cheng Xingmou was the son of the Longqiu County magistrate and had no relatives with Cheng Yaojin, the Duke of Lu State. It was not necessarily the case that he had the same surname as Cheng. Let's give him the top spot in the test.
Li Xuan had contact with Cheng Xingmou. Although his strategic level is unknown, his poems and poems are passionate and his ambition is bold. He has the ability to be ranked among the best. However, being ranked first has some shortcomings, not to mention that among them, there are still some shortcomings. There are better people.
Li Xuan quickly asked: "What about Xu Qie, Anzhou Xu Qie, and what are his results?"
"Reporting to the prince, please give me the second one." After a slight pause, Li Zhu continued: "The third one is Zhuge Minghui in our house."
Zhuge Minghui is third, the third best?
Li Xuan was stunned.
(End of chapter)
