In Li Qinzai's heart, Li Ji is a well-deserved hero.
It has nothing to do with blood and family ties. Just because Li Ji Yixue and the two countries have been feuding for decades, he is a hero, no less than Huo Qubing, who was sealed as a wolf and lived in Xu.
A hero cannot bleed and shed tears.
Nowadays, there are undercurrents surging in the Chang'an court. One is fighting for the throne, and the other is suppressing the heroes.
Li Qinzai may not participate in the fight for the throne, but he cannot ignore the heroes who suppressed him. He must successfully solve this problem before Li Ji's army returns home in triumph.
Li Qinzai's biggest confusion now is whether the move to suppress the heroes was actually directed by Li Zhi.
If someone is doing this little trick behind his back, Li Qinzai has the ability to find him out and slap him eighteen times in the face.
If Li Zhi also felt that Li Ji Gong was superior to the master, there would be no way to deal with it. He did not have the ability to rebel. When Li Ji came back, Li Qinzai could only persuade his family to resign and find a quiet place to retire.
So, is Li Zhi an emperor who cannot tolerate heroes?
The carriage left from the East Palace. Li Qinzai sat in the carriage, opened the curtain and looked at the Tai Chi Palace passing by.
The palace is deep and the walls are towering, making people inexplicably awe-inspiring.
Back at the Duke's Mansion, Li Qinzai had just gotten off the carriage and immediately noticed countless pairs of eyes staring at him nearby.
Well, it's another influencer of a certain force.
It was the battle for the crown prince again, and Li Qinzai was a little impatient.
I told you a long time ago that I won’t get involved, but there are still so many people staring at him every day. There is no trust between people, right?
Standing outside the door of the mansion, Li Qinzai took a deep breath, suddenly turned around and shouted to the darkness outside: "If you look at me again, I will really fight, and I will pay you no end! Get out of here!"
There was a rustle in the darkness, and the eyeliners peeping in the dark couldn't help but be startled, and then quickly disappeared without a trace.
After Li Qinzai glanced at him coldly, he waved to Bu Qu to carry him into the house.
Not caring about fighting for the throne, Li Qinzai only cared about who was plotting and plotting against Li Ji behind his back.
It was difficult to spot the demons and monsters in the darkness. Song Sen was not in Chang'an. Li Qinzai's eyes were black, and he felt very unhappy as if he were blind.
The next day, Li Qinzai rarely got up early. At dawn, he got dressed and sat in the room in a daze.
After a long time, Li Qinzai called Butler Wu and ordered him to prepare a small gift as he was going out to visit his elders.
The elder's surname was Liu and his given name was Rengui. He was a person whom Li Qinzai didn't like very much and had said many bad things about him behind his back.
Since he could not find out who was behind the conspiracy, Li Qinzai could only rely on inference.
Liu Rengui and Li Ji had never been at odds with each other. When Emperor Taizong conquered Goguryeo, Li Ji tacitly allowed the soldiers to massacre and plunder the city. Because of this incident, Liu Rengui participated in Li Ji's fight countless times.
The grievances between the two are still as hot as freshly made cakes. In short, they just don't like each other.
If anyone in the court would target Li Ji like this, Li Qinzai thought about it and found that Liu Rengui was the most suspicious. After all, this was another opportunity to bring Li Ji down. If Li Zhi was a little narrow-minded, Li Ji would be peeled off if he didn't die. .
Liu Rengui and Li Ji had been enemies for many years, and he was a notorious publicist. It must be said that Li Qinzai's suspicions were reasonable.
After going out and getting on the carriage, Li Qinzai and his party came to Liu Rengui's mansion under the escort of his tribe.
Liu Rengui was not only a good official, but also an upright and poor official.
People who stand on the moral high ground will eventually have to sacrifice something, such as glory and wealth, otherwise how can they convince the public.
Liu Rengui's mansion was very shabby. The pair of stone lions in front of the door were small and ugly, like a pair of pugs that had not won the right to mate.
The courtyard was deserted and there were only a few cars and horses. Even the paint on the door was severely peeled off, and the old copper ring hung limply on the door, giving off a dying smell.
Li Qinzai was lifted off the carriage and when he saw the poor and miserable door, he couldn't help but curl his lips.
He was obviously a third-rank official in the court, but his life was like a disaster. It seemed that in Liu Rengui's eyes, morality and wealth were sworn enemies, and the two could not coexist.
Feng Su stepped forward and knocked on the door. After a moment, the door opened. An old servant opened his dim eyes and looked at Li Qinzai outside the door.
After Li Qinzai greeted him politely and told him his name and identity, the old servant smiled hurriedly, hunched over and invited Li Qinzai in.
Sitting in the dilapidated front hall, Li Qinzai didn't wait long before Liu Rengui arrived proudly.
Li Qinzai hurriedly stood up and saluted as a junior.
Liu Rengui, who was unsmiling, did not show the slightest smile on his face when he saw Li Qinzai, but just nodded.
"First of all, congratulations to Duke Li on his promotion to the rank of nobility. You are admirable for calmly fighting to the death in the battle of Goguryeo." Liu Rengui said slowly, stroking his beard.
Li Qinzai laughed and said: "Uncle Liu is so ridiculous. This kid is just trying to live up to the emperor's salary and be loyal to the emperor."
A smile finally appeared in Liu Rengui's eyes: "After the battle at Baijiangkou, I no longer had the chance to work with Duke Li. I heard that the battle outside Wugu City was extremely brutal. I wish I could die side by side with Duke Li..."
Li Qinzai twitched his lips, you are amazing and noble.
It's your business to die, so don't drag me along, okay?
"Uncle Liu will definitely have a chance to die." Li Qinzai said sincerely.
Liu Rengui's expression froze, something was wrong with what he said...
"The Li family and I have never had much contact with each other. I didn't know that Duke Li would come to visit today..."
Li Qinzai picked up a brocade box beside him. In the box was a small gift prepared by Butler Wu.
"Nothing else. I have just returned to Chang'an. I have not been with my elders and old friends for too long. I miss you very much, so I came to visit An."
As he spoke, Li Qinzai raised the brocade box in his hand, opened it and said with a smile: "It's a little bit of care, but it's not respectful, so I'd like to ask Uncle Liu to laugh... Damn it! What an old prodigal, you're so expensive!"
Opening the brocade box, Li Qinzai suddenly discovered that there were ten thumb-sized gems inside, some red and some green. He was so distressed that his breathing suddenly stopped, and he subconsciously blurted out a curse.
Before going out, he asked Butler Wu to prepare a small gift. Butler Wu quickly prepared it. Li Qin got on the carriage without opening the box and didn't even know what Butler Wu had prepared.
Now that he opened it in front of Liu Rengui, Li Qinzai suddenly felt that he had suffered a heavy loss.
Money was already tight, but the housekeeper actually prepared such an expensive gift for him...
It's just an ordinary visit. Do you know what a "small gift" is?
Liu Rengui’s funeral is not worthy of sending such precious gems!
With quick eyes and quick hands, Li Qinzai closed the brocade box and forced a smile towards Liu Rengui.
"It's funny, it's funny... I'm going to buy it. Do you like eating pastries? I know there is a shop in Chang'an City that makes golden cakes. It's very authentic..."
However, the moment he opened the brocade box just now, Liu Rengui also saw the gems inside.
"Jun Gong Li's generosity makes me stand in awe. It's not the wrong gift. It was sent to me, but I was disrespectful..."
Liu Rengui gave a rare laugh and stretched out his hand to hold the other end of the brocade box.
Li Qinzai held the brocade box and refused to let go, his face extremely ugly: "Uncle Liu, I really sent the wrong one..."
"That's right, that's right. I don't have any hobbies in this life. I just like bright gems. They are very lovable."
The old man and the young man each held one end of the brocade box and competed with each other, pulling to the limit.
Li Qinzai's face was livid, and he gritted his teeth and said: "Uncle Liu, you are an upright official. Your style is to be as honest as water. How can you accept such a precious gift?"
"I never accept gifts from others, but I really don't need to be polite about your Li family's gifts."