The Li family's dinners were always done at a big table. She seemed a little uncomfortable with it. She was the only young woman. Mrs. Zhou and Xiaoman were not allowed to sit at the table because of their status.
Su Dingfang carefully moved to the side, trying to make room for his wife. Li Shan glanced at this scene and thought that Su Dingfang would suffer in the future... because he saw at the same time, Su's mother's face changed.
Not long after, Su's mother mentioned that she was planning to buy a house in Chang'an... Li Shan agreed with a smile and glanced at Su Dingfang from the corner of his eye. No wonder he hesitated just now.
Now that Su Dingfang was granted the title of Duke of the County, he was appointed as the General of the Zuojian Gate Guard, and controlled the Imperial Guards of Beiya. He was one of the most powerful figures in the court, so naturally he should have a house in Chang'an.
Su's mother smiled and explained: "Dalang is in charge of the palace and lives in the city. It is convenient to come and go, and the couple can get together more often."
"Auntie is in a hurry to have her grandson." Li Shan laughed, thinking that since the year before last, Su's mother had been interested in moving to the city, and even hoped that her son would distance himself from her.
Li Shan was indifferent to this. He and Su Dingfang were almost one. Not only did he and Su Dingfang think so, but even the outside world thought so... Otherwise, would it be Su Dingfang's turn to control the Beiya Imperial Army?
Su Dingfang raised his head slightly to signal, and Ling Jing on the opposite side said: "It's not necessary."
"Mr. Ling?" Mother Su's expression changed.
"Dingfang takes a break for bathing once every five days and stays in the palace city on weekdays." Ling Jing's face was cold, "Living in the city is no different from Zhuangzi."
Mrs. Zhu sighed softly, her face looked a little ugly, but she endured it again and again and still didn't speak. She knew how much her son valued Su Dingfang, and the two of them were almost inseparable, but Su's mother was really annoying, speaking of it.
It was her son who saved her life!
This family recognition was somewhat boring in the end. After it ended hastily, Su’s mother returned home with a gloomy face and asked Mr. Li to go back to the house first.
"Mother." Su Dingfang was a little helpless, "Why is this necessary?"
Mother Su snorted, prepared herself in her mind, and then whispered: "I heard that Li Huairen has no contact with the East Palace?"
Su Dingfang actually knew very well what his mother was thinking, but there were some things that he could never say out loud. He could only nod his head and say: "Huairen is impartial and has no personal relations with the prince or the King of Qin."
"I heard that the prince is magnanimous, and he will be a wise king in the future..."
"Mother!" Su Dingfang interrupted softly, "The child controls the Beiya Imperial Army, how can he interact with the prince in private!"
Su's mother was a little proud, "Ten days ago, Xue Wanshu, the commander-in-chief of the Prince's House, came to congratulate the prince. He also sent ten pieces of silk and ten pieces of gold."
Su Dingfang's face changed slightly. He knew this person. Xue Wanshu was Xue Wanche's eldest brother. He had defected to Wang Shichong in his early years. After the Luoyang War, he joined the East Palace. Unexpectedly, he met his mother in private.
"After Dalang entered the Tang Dynasty, he made many meritorious deeds, but he was not worthy of being a county official. Now he has gained your majesty's trust and has become a county official. He also controlled the imperial army and took charge of the imperial palace. Why didn't he join the Ming Dynasty?"
Su Dingfang took a deep breath, "Is this what Xue Wanshu said yesterday?"
Mother Su shook her head and sighed: "How can a mother not know my son's talent?"
"Several battles in Shandong, the westward expedition to Tuyuhun, and then the great victory at Yanmen, Guji Town, Cangtou River..."
"Li Huairen was able to be included in the clan and be granted the title of county king, while Dalang..."
Su Dingfang finally understood. In his mother's opinion, Li Shan was awarded the title of Duke of Guantao County from his humble beginnings, and his subsequent victories were all due to him...
In other words, in Su's mother's opinion, Li Shan was greedy for his son's merit... If it weren't for His Majesty's insight, his son would be nothing more than a county official with such great merit.
Whether it was jealousy or secret hatred, in short, Mother Su hoped that her son could cling to the East Palace and get rid of Li Shan, who was like a parasite.
Su Dingfang was a bit dumbfounded. He waited patiently for King Qin's call every day, preparing to one day cooperate with others, but his mother encouraged him to join the East Palace...
"Mother!" Su Dingfang had no choice but to interrupt Su's mother and said in a more serious tone: "The King of Qin's military exploits are unparalleled, and the heroes of Tiance Mansion are gathered together. Can mother be sure that the crown prince will ascend the throne one day?"
Su's mother had obviously also inquired about it, and said with a smile: "It is precisely because King Qin's military exploits are so great that it is difficult for him to take over the East Palace. Now that the crown prince's position is unshakable, the power of Tiance Mansion is gradually declining..."
"Mother!" Su Dingfang interrupted for the second time, "Who can say for sure about this?"
"What's more, the prince has his own confidants and will ascend the throne one day..."
"Most of the generals in the army are under the command of King Qin." Mother Su smiled and said: "When the prince ascends the throne, the prince will be reused."
Su Dingfang was not a person who was good at words, so he just shook his head and said, "The child is in charge of the palace under the sacred command. He is not allowed to associate with the prince or prince. All gifts sent by Xue Wanshu must be returned."
Mother Su's expression changed and she sent it back... which was tantamount to rejection.
"There is no need for mother to mention this matter again." Su Dingfang sighed, "If mother insists on living in Chang'an City, the child can borrow Huairen's house in Yanshoufang."
Mother Su's face was even more ugly. Is her son stupid?
Li Shan has taken advantage of you time and time again. Which of his so-called military exploits were not made by you?
Su Dingfang said word for word: "On that day, the child promised to be thrown into the Li family as a slave, but after that, Huairen regarded the child as an elder brother and allowed the child to fully display his military strategy, and even became a county prince..."
That night, Su Dingfang couldn't sleep. He once thought that Dong Palace would recruit people privately, but unexpectedly he found his mother as a breakthrough.
Although Su Dingfang was filial, he was not a filial person. He found Li Shan and Ling Jing early the next morning.
"Why are people guarding the door?" Li Shan didn't care, "If you don't let people come to the door, how can you prevent your aunt from going out?"
"What does the prince want to do..." Ling Jing was a little confused. Logically speaking, the prince should remain unchanged in response to all changes. As long as there are no accidents, the status of the East Palace is quite stable. On the contrary, the Qin Palace, which is at a disadvantage, needs to win over Su Dingfang.
.
Su Dingfang gritted his teeth, "Why don't you just send the gift to the emperor?"
Ling Jing and Li Shan looked at each other, both shaking their heads slightly.
"It's better to just pretend that you don't know..." Ling Jing said slowly: "Your Majesty knows, but I'm afraid there will be trouble again, and the prince's side..."
Li Shan suddenly whispered: "Really?"
"What?"
"What?"
Li Shan rubbed his thumb and forefinger unconsciously, "If the gift is presented directly to the emperor... firstly, your majesty knows that the prince wants to win over brother Dingfang, but fails to succeed; secondly, it is difficult for the prince to win over brother Dingfang..."
Ling Jing blurted out, "Pei Shiju?"
After a brief silence, Li Shan said suspiciously: "It's possible."
After Ling Jing thought about it over and over, he softly explained to Su Dingfang, who was still confused, that if the gift was revealed, in the eyes of outsiders, and even in Li Yuan's eyes, it would be Su Dingfang's rejection of the East Palace.
But if you refuse the East Palace, you may be won over by King Qin.
"Fortunately, it was delivered to my aunt..." Li Shan said quietly.
Ling Jing stroked his beard and sighed. Su's mother would only accept it if she didn't know the inside story. If Su Dingfang was afraid of rejecting it on the spot... The prince must be suspicious. After all, there is Pei Shiju who is stirring up trouble. Even Li Shimin will follow suit.
I'm afraid it will be difficult to dispel the prince's suspicion.
Li Shan was a little worried. Su Dingfang controlled the Beiya Imperial Army. This was a great thing for Li Shimin, but for him, it was not necessarily the case.
"In the future, Wang Junhao will be used as the messenger to inform Duke Ling." Li Shan ordered: "If the prince, the king of Qin, and the king of Qi try to win over each other, as long as it is not excessive, just deal with it."
Su Dingfang was also a little worried. He was really not good at this kind of thing.
"Just wait a little longer, you can't wait too long."
Li Shan and Ling Jing both knew that Pei Shiju was almost eighty and couldn't wait any longer.