When Yang Youxian, the young minister of Dali Temple, introduced Du Zongting, the imperial censor, Liu Xingzhi seemed to remember something just now, "Father, when I was secretly watching at the gate of Prince Wei's Mansion just now, do you think who did I see going in?"
"Who?"
"That's Du Zongting from the Yushitai." Liu Xingzhi knocked on the table and reported his important discovery in a low voice.
Yang Youxian looked at Liu Xingzhi, and then said to Ning Wang Liu Xun: "Your Majesty, it seems that Du Zongting is a member of the King of Wei. There is no mistake."
Prince Ning snorted, "I didn't expect that at the beginning of spring this year, so many old foxes who were originally silent would now start to show their true colors."
"Your Majesty, you said that Li Shizhi is both the uncle of the country and the minister of Dali Temple. If the prince really catches him, will the emperor punish him?" Yang Youxian is most concerned about this issue. After all, he is now As the deputy of Dali Temple, if Li Shizhi falls, the person most likely to replace Li Shizhi is himself.
Prince Ning pondered for a moment, and Liu Xingzhi took the opportunity to interject: "I find it difficult. After all, Li Shizhi is the eldest brother of the queen, and I heard that he is upright and upright. The prince came to ask him to have a meal at the prince's mansion many times. I was turned away by Li Shizhi. I don’t think the emperor would be willing to part with it.”
"Not necessarily!" Prince Ning thought for a while, then twirled his beard and smiled coldly, "The 'Wu Qingfeng case' is the emperor's heartache, and it is also his bottom line. Based on my understanding of my father, if it is true that Li Shizhi has The emperor will definitely eradicate the people who release the Wu family without permission and will never tolerate them."
"Yes, yes, yes!" Yang Youxian smiled brightly after hearing this, and said with a smile, "Then I will have to rely on the prince to help me."
Prince Ning nodded, "Youxian, keep an eye on Li Shizhi these days. If he does anything unusual, report to me immediately."
Yang Youxian drank a few rounds with Prince Ning and his son in the dark room, changing glasses, and then went back through the secret passage from whence he came.
During the long night, I don't know when it began to drizzle. The house of Dr. Li Shizhi, the imperial censor, seemed to be wrapped in the drizzle, and the cold air of early spring became heavier and heavier. The deep silhouettes in the wing were pacing back and forth, and from time to time bursts of sighs could be heard. And a graceful figure outside the house slowly opened the door of the wing. Li Shizhi in the room seemed to have just woken up. Looking at his wife's caring eyes in front of him, Li Shizhi couldn't help but sigh.
Mrs. Li didn't ask any questions, she just lowered her head and walked to the round table, picked up a pot of hot tea, poured it into a cup, and handed it to her husband.
Li Shizhi took Madam's tea cup. He usually likes tea, but today he drank it all with a "gut" sound, and then said slowly: "Why don't you go to bed, Madam? It's already very cold now."
Mrs. Li had tears in her eyes at this, and said with concern: "My husband, please don't think about it any more, just leave everything to fate. What's more, you are the queen's brother, I guess no one would dare to touch you!"
"Hey, madam, you don't know something!" Li Shizhi said sadly, "I have always been clean and honest in my work, just to avoid being caught by anyone. I didn't expect that I have been loyal to my duty for more than ten years, but I still get cheated. We have caught the clue. Now I am afraid that the emperor will reopen the old case again this time!"
After Li Shizhi said this, he felt disappointed and could not calm down for a long time.
"Shi Zhi, is what Du Zongting accused you true?" Mrs. Li was also a little curious and couldn't help but ask.
As soon as Mrs. Li finished asking, Li Shizhi, who was still melancholy, suddenly turned around and looked at his wife with a fierce look in his eyes. Mrs. Li couldn't help but swallowed when she saw her husband's terrifying eyes and did not dare to ask any more questions. ,
The atmosphere was solemn for a moment, and then Li Shizhi slowly calmed down. He breathed a long sigh of relief and said calmly: "Madam, you can't say this to anyone, and you can't even nod your head regardless of whether it's done or not. Do you remember? ?”
Mrs. Li nodded with tears in her eyes and said: "No matter what happens, I will always be by your husband's side!"
Li Shizhi hugged Mrs. Jiang into his arms, "Now is not the time to say such depressing words! I will go find the Queen tomorrow."
The continuous spring rain rustled in the yard all night long. Li Shizhi endured it all night, and finally the cockcrow started.
After Li Shizhi changed his clothes and went to court in the morning, he went to Cining Palace to see the Queen. The queen knew that her brother would only ask to see her if he had something important to do, so she waited in the penthouse at the back of the palace.
When Li Shizhi saw his sister, he immediately fell to his knees. The queen quickly helped him up, and then pushed away the servants on the left and right.
"Sister! My brother is really in trouble this time." After speaking, Li Shizhi sighed with tears in his eyes.
The queen said sternly: "Brother, why do you cry when you encounter such a thing? You were not like this before!"
"Sister, you don't know something. What happened this time is not trivial!"
When Li Shizhi was about to say something, the queen sneered and said, "Humph, isn't it just Wu Qingfeng's business? There's nothing to be afraid of!"
"Sister, do you also know?" Li Shizhi said in surprise, "When the emperor was about to retire last time, he said that he would personally intervene!"
"What are you afraid of? I have already asked the emperor about it. The emperor will not ask about this matter." The queen said calmly.
"really?"
The queen replied impatiently: "It's absolutely true, my good brother, just don't worry!"
Li Shizhi felt relieved, his brows relaxed slightly, and there was a hint of joy on his face.
"But brother, I have to talk about you." The queen said sternly, "You said that your nephew is the current prince after all. It's okay if you don't help him. Why are you causing such a thing now? , then we will all be implicated."
Li Shizhi said with a smile: "You know that Brother Yu has always been vigorous and resolute, and has offended many people, so if he gets into this court dispute again, I am afraid he will offend even more people."
The Queen smiled contemptuously, "Sigh! Brother, you have the nerve to say that, but you don't know how many good things I have said about you in front of the Emperor in the past few years!"
"What I taught you is a lesson that Brother Yu will definitely remember."
The Queen was well aware of the nature of her brother. Li Shizhi was an upright official and rarely interfered with party disputes in the court, partly to protect himself and partly to keep himself clean. However, the reason why Li Shizhi has been able to get along so well in the court in recent years is because he is highly valued by the emperor. Li Shizhi is also a rare and capable official among the many ministers. The reason why the emperor turned a deaf ear to Du Zongting's accusation was partly because of the queen's face, and partly to appease Li Shizhi's uneasy heart.
"Brother, sister, I have asked for a good job for you in front of the emperor this time." When the queen said, her face was very proud.
Li Shizhi asked curiously: "Thank you, sister. What's the matter?"
