Chapter 179: Sword with sweet mouth and belly

Chang'an Qing Palace, all day long, the mansion was extremely quiet. Two maids tiptoed across the intermediate yard, held their breath, and did not dare to let out a breath. Crying sounds faintly came from a distance. One maid sighed and whispered: "Why are you angry today? You have beaten five people."

"Who knows? Zhu'er was one step late for tea and was beaten so badly that she couldn't get out of bed for a month."

"You two!"

A sudden angrily scolding came from the quiet yard, which scared the two maids. Seeing that the second housekeeper was glaring at them, they hurriedly stopped. The second housekeeper snorted, "Don't ask the master if you hear it, otherwise you will be beaten to death."

"Yes! I don't dare."

"Go!"

The two maids left in a hurry, and the second butler sighed, shook his head and walked into the backyard.

Li Cong's rage started from dawn. A quick quick report sent by Cheng Qianli made him fall into the abyss of anger. Li Qing'an actually killed Zhao Tingyu, the governor of Xizhou. Zhao Tingyu was his first guard officer. He was inserted into the Jinwu Guard and then served in Beiting for training. He was preparing to be transferred back to the Jinwu Guard as a general in a few years. Now he was killed by Li Qing'an, which made Li Cong furious. However, Cheng Qianli's quick report was also clearly written. It was because he was killed without following the military orders, and it also involved holding the military supervisor hostage, which made Li Cong feel angry in his heart, and he could only take down the man and vent his anger.

In the study, Li Cong listened to his son Li Qiu's persuasion with a slight face.

"The father is angry. The child thought that Li Qing'an would not dare to be so bold. Needless to say, the prince used his strength to him from behind and killed Zhao Tingyu, which would break the father's wing."

"Zhao Tingyu can't talk about my wings. If I die, I will die. But I can't relieve this anger. If I don't teach Li Qing'an a lesson, I will never be able to swallow this anger."

"Father, Li Qing'an is not worth worrying about. The key is that the prince will continue to kill him, so Li Qing'an will naturally not protect him."

Before his son finished speaking, Li Cong waved his hand impatiently and said, "Of course I know that if I can get the third brother down, do I still care about Li Qing'an? But is he so active? After so many years, when did he really go down? I'm going to be ruined, and suddenly he is overwhelmed. What can I do?"

Li Qiu smiled slightly and said, "Father, the key is that Li Linfu used to deal with the prince, so in the end, Gao Lishi always came to protect him, but now it's different. Yang Zhao came to deal with the prince. Since the Wei family's affairs, the two have formed hatred. Father, Yang family is different from Li Linfu. This time, I am seventy-sixth of sure that the prince will be deposed."

Li Cong was shocked, "Did my son find something?"

Li Qiu nodded slowly and smiled: "Yesterday one of my subordinates found an acquaintance in a silk shop called 'Gaoling Dingji' in Dongcheng City."

"who?"

"The prince's former confidant eunuch, Ma Yingjun, is now the shopkeeper of the silk shop."

"Is there anything strange about this?"

"Father, I have checked the background of this silk shop, but its owner has no idea. I can't figure it out. Which owner who opened a store would hire an eunuch to be the shopkeeper. Don't your father think it's strange?"

Li Cong was stunned, and after a while he realized, "Are you saying that he opened this store?"

"It should be! Otherwise, under the strict record of the historian, how would he arrange those shameful secret matters?"

Li Cong was immediately overjoyed. Zhao Tingyu was immediately thrown away by him. He said anxiously: "Catch the evidence immediately. I want to impeach him in front of my father, haha! Let's see how he explains this time."

Li Qiu was startled and quickly dissuaded, "Father, you must not take action immediately in this matter."

Li Cong was a little unhappy and stretched his face and said, "Why can't it?"

Li Qiu sighed secretly. This father is really not very good. He has just told him so much about the Yang family. Does he understand at all? He had to resist the depression in his heart and explained: "Father, this matter can only be regarded as a fire-induced object. If you want to ignite a big fire, it is not enough to rely on it alone!"

"I see!"

Li Cong suddenly realized. He patted his son's shoulder with satisfaction and said with a smile: "It is my luck to have a son like you. Don't worry, if I become the emperor in the future, I will definitely make you the crown prince to comfort the second child in the nine springs."

"Thank you for your favor, Father!"

Thinking of the possibility of entering the East Palace, Li Qiu couldn't help but feel excited. He quickly suggested: "Father, the day after tomorrow is the birthday of the Korean lady. Father might as well take this opportunity to contact the Yang family more and strive to obtain the support of the Yang family."

"I know, I'm going to send the birthday gift today, so you can go for me!"

In Xingqing Palace, several eunuchs were busy cleaning the imperial study room. The emperor had not come to the imperial study room for ten days. Although the imperial study room was cleaned every day, it had rained a lot since the beginning of spring, and there was still a faint smell of mold in the room. The eunuchs were all anxious. The emperor suddenly said that he wanted to come to the imperial study room half an hour ago. If he smelled this smell, the consequences would be unimaginable.

The charcoal basin was lit, and the smell of hot charcoal fire covered the mold in the room. Then the window was opened, and a cool breeze blew, and the room immediately became fresh and dry. A handful of sandalwood was sprinkled in the incense burner, and a faint fragrance was filled with the room. At this time, a loud shout came from afar: "The Lord is here!"

The eunuchs who cleaned the imperial study were so scared that they left the door. The room was silent. For a moment, the sound of rapid footsteps came, followed by Li Longji's laughter, "I haven't been here for a long time, thank you for your hard work."

"It is the responsibility of the old slave to share the worries of Your Majesty."

“What happened recently?”

"There is a quick report from Beiting."

"Oh! Let me see it."

Li Longji strode into the imperial study room. The freshness and dryness of the room made him feel happy. He sat down in his seat. Although he had been sitting in this seat for decades, he had not handled the court affairs for ten days, and he felt unfamiliar.

"Your Majesty, this is the news from Beiting!"

Gao Lishi handed a note to Li Longji. This was Li Qing'an's official military newspaper. It was heard through the post station. It took a month on the road. Li Longji had received a secret report from Wang Tingfang, the envoy of the military supervisor, more than half a month ago. Zhao Tingyu was disrespectful to resist the order and wanted to hold the military supervisor hostage. He had been beheaded by Li Qing'an for public display. Li Longji had no objection to this. If he couldn't even control the Beiting, Li Qing'an still has any ability. Therefore, he just smiled at Zhao Tingyu's death. On the contrary, he was very interested in the attack on Geluolu in the north and expanding to the west. After he read Li Qing'an's report, he couldn't help but applaud, "Okay! You can do it step by step."

He said to Gao Lishi excitedly: "Actually, I am most worried that Li Qing'an will slam the leaves directly, which will repeat the footsteps of Niu Xianting's occupation. Now he is step by step, gradually building new guards and capturing to the west, consolidating logistics and food. I think this is the real strategy."

Gao Lishi also smiled and said, "Li Qing'an taught the Geluo people a lesson for His Majesty, and secretly taught the Uighurs who wanted to take advantage of the situation. He ordered the Chief Geluo to apologize to the Celestial Empire naked. The old slave heard that the second prince Geluo was already on the way to Chang'an. If he could completely subdue the Geluo people and support them to resist the expansion of the Great Food for the Tang Dynasty, it would be a good thing."

Li Longji glanced at him and smiled and said, "Did the General ask me to reward Li Qing'an?"

Gao Lishi was scared and knelt down, "I don't dare!"

"Go up, General! I'm just kidding you."

Li Longji pondered for a moment and said, "I have been comparing Yang Guozhong and Li Qing'an. Yang Guozhong is already the governor of Jiannan and the interview envoy of Jiannan Road. Li Qing'an is just a deputy governor. It is precisely because of this that the incident of him killing Zhao Tingyu happened. This is why I was not well thought out. I originally thought that he was not qualified enough and should not be promoted too high, but I didn't expect it to cause internal strife. Let's do this! I will take him one step further."

Speaking of this, Li Longji ordered: "Call the Prime Minister to me."

At this moment, a sound of ringing the penis came from outside the imperial study room, followed by a delicate voice from Yang Huahua: "Is the emperor in the study room?"

Li Linfu was also in a particularly happy mood these days. Since Emperor Li Longji became increasingly tired of the affairs of all and big things in the court, Gao Lishi wrote and reviewed them on his behalf and was limited to major events. Many of the big and small matters that should have been reported no longer required him to report them. These things were the last step for Li Linfu, and Li Linfu's prime minister's power invisibly increased greatly.

Although he was busy dealing with government affairs until late at night every day, he was untiring. For him, hard work was secondary, and increasing power was the first priority.

Not only has the power been improved, but his relationship with Prince Li Heng has also improved. Yesterday, when he ordered someone to send a copy of the memorial to the East Palace, the prince actually returned a note to him, suggesting that the Ministry of War should send people to various places to monitor the distribution of pensions and grains for the families of the fallen soldiers. Although this suggestion is not big, what is important is the reconciliation hints released by the prince through this note.

Li Linfu knew that Li Heng's political enemies had gradually turned to the Yang family, which means that his strategy of turmoil in the east was successful, and the prince was willing to reconcile with him. For this reason, he also clearly stated his attitude: he immediately ordered the Ministry of War to investigate the distribution of pensions and food for the families of the fallen soldiers.

Early this morning, Li Linfu sent Li Qing'an's official army report from the Ministry of War to the palace. He knew that Li Longji would summon him soon.

Sure enough, before noon, a eunuch hurriedly came to him, and the emperor ordered him to go to see him immediately. Li Linfu sorted out his clothes and hurriedly set off on the road.

Soon, Li Linfu arrived at Xingqing Palace and waited for half an hour before news came from the palace that the emperor ordered him to meet him.

Li Linfu walked into the imperial study room and heard a faint laughter and a woman's voice inside. He couldn't help but hesitate. He was about to ask the little eunuch next to him, but Gao Lishi came out of the study room. When he saw him, he whispered: "Prime Minister, go in quickly! The emperor is about to return to the palace after lunch."

Li Linfu had to bite the bullet and walked into the imperial study room. As soon as he entered the door, he was stunned. Li Longji was eating at the table with the beautiful lady of Guo Guo, talking and laughing.

Li Linfu couldn't help but sigh secretly. Some time ago, there were rumors in the market that the emperor and his third sister-in-law had an ambiguous relationship. For this reason, he also ordered the arrest of the rumored person, but now it seems that the rumors are not groundless.

He just said that he didn't see it, bowed and said, "My dear Li Linfu, please see Your Majesty!"

Li Longji was picking up the wine glass and trying to drink it. When he heard the report, he turned around and smiled, "Capital can have lunch?"

"Report to Your Majesty, I will use it when I go back."

Li Longji also asked casually. He smiled and said to Yang Huahua: "I am sure about Sanniang, so you can go back first! I want to talk to the prime minister about the important matter."

"There is no one who drives people away halfway through the meal. I don't care. I'll leave after I finish the meal."

Yang Huahua raised her eyebrows and ignored Li Longji's order to expel her guests.

Li Longji had no choice but to smile awkwardly, walked back to his seat and sat down, but Yang Huahua sat in a corner of the study, drinking slowly, and glanced at him from time to time.

Li Longji took Li Qing'an's military newspaper and asked first: "How are the things that immigrants from Hedong and craftsmen going west?"

"Report to Your Majesty, a thousand craftsmen set off half a month ago, and Hedong immigrants are rushing to recruit."

“Good job!”

Li Longji nodded and handed him the military newspaper and said, "Prime Minister, you must have read the military newspaper in Beiting!"

"Report to your Majesty, I have seen it. I agree with his strategy of building five cities westward. I think this lays a solid foundation for the recovery of the broken leaves in the future."

"The Prime Minister and I think of going together."

Li Longji smiled and said, "This time, Li Qing'an can use the excuse of attacking Geluo to break through the border of the Pamir Mountains and push our Tang Dynasty to the Yibohai line in the west of Lingxi. With the establishment of the supply line, attacking Saiye will no longer be like Niu Xianting in the 18th year of Kaiyuan. In order to restore Saiye Army Town as soon as possible, I am considering giving Li Qing'an greater autonomy. What do the Prime Minister think?"

"I am willing to resign from the position of Beiting Jiedu and the Protector, and recommend Li Qing'an to take over."

"His Majesty!"

After lunch, Yang Huahua, who was sitting by the side drinking tea, finally couldn't help but interrupt, "Then Li Qing'an Tianbao only joined the army for five years. After only a few years, he will become a military governor. Is it a little too fast to be promoted?"

Li Longji's face sank and said unhappily: "Sanniang, don't ask about the affairs in the court, go first!"

"I don't want to ask about your affairs! But Li Qing'an is indeed not qualified. There are more officers in the Tang Dynasty than him. Why do you have to use him? It's not because my fourth sister blows the wind by His Majesty every night!"

Even if Li Longji spoiled her, he couldn't hold his face anymore. He slapped the table hard and pointed to the door and said angrily: "You go out for me!"

Yang Huahua curled her mouth, "I knew you could"

She snorted softly, swayed her waist and left disdainfully.

The room was a little embarrassed, and Li Linfu laughed dryly and said, "I love the house and the mistress, which shows His Majesty's favor for the concubine."

"I don't want to be skeptical about women."

Li Longji smiled bitterly and continued the topic just now: "I have decided to appoint Li Qing'an as the governor of Beiting and the governor of Beiting. The prime minister will no longer hold these two positions. In addition, I will appoint him as the governor of Xizhou."

Yang Huahua rushed out of Xingqing Palace angrily. Li Qing'an's damn thief man was actually promoted to the governor. It was so outrageous. As soon as she walked to the palace gate, she heard a riot outside, and someone was shouting: "You let go of me, I want to meet Your Majesty, and impeach Li Qing'an to kill important officials in the court."

Yang Huahua was stunned. She accelerated her pace. Outside the palace gate, more than a dozen guards were pressing a man to the ground. The man struggled, stretched his neck and shouted desperately: "Your Majesty, Li Qing'an is in Beiting to cover the sky with one hand and abuse his power. I want to accuse him."

Several guards blocked his mouth, but he was still whining and shouting: "Your Majesty, I want to accuse me."
To be continued...