There is a strange phenomenon in the Tang Dynasty. Most of the courtiers are relatively well-behaved, but people from aristocratic families, regardless of whether they have official positions or not, are generally a bit domineering.
The centuries-old heritage and power of the clan is probably the confidence that supports their domineering behavior.
Even the emperor had to be afraid of them. Strictly speaking, at the beginning of the founding of the Tang Dynasty, the emperor, scholar-officials and aristocratic families jointly ruled the world.
Without the support of aristocratic families, it would be extremely difficult for any of the imperial edicts and policies to be implemented locally.
And the aristocratic families needed to recommend their children to serve as officials in the court to gain the power to influence policies. In this way, a delicate balance of power was formed between the emperor and the aristocratic families.
Although most aristocratic families are domineering, they still have basic sanity, especially tonight in front of the East Palace. Anyone with a little bit of sanity should know that this is the most sensitive moment for the Tian family. If any outsider acts slightly wrong,
All will be severely punished by the Heavenly Family.
The prince is about to die, and you rush into the East Palace with a arrogant look. What are your thoughts?
Li Qinzai felt a little strange in his heart. Logically speaking, a family member would not do such a mindless act. So, where did this guy come from to be so cruel?
The crowd of courtiers and noble families outside the East Palace stopped twenty feet away.
Most of these people know Li Qinzai, and those who don't know him have heard of Li Qinzai's reputation.
Having just returned from the battlefield of Goguryeo, Li Qinzai's body still carried a bit of smoke and murderous intent from the battlefield. No one dared to challenge Li Qinzai's words.
He said he would kill anyone within ten feet, so he would definitely do it.
Only this person from the Pei family in Hedong did not believe in evil. At this time, he walked out of the crowd alone, about fifteen feet away from the gate of the East Palace.
Li Qinzai stared at his feet with cold eyes and a sneer on his lips.
No matter who he kills tonight, he has a legitimate reason, and Li Zhi will never object.
In such a sensitive time, there are always people who dare to seek death, why not help him?
Behind Li Qinzai, hundreds of Qianniu Guard soldiers were silently stringing their arrows. The bowstrings made a slight squeaking sound, and the cold arrows pointed straight ahead.
The man from the Pei family in Hedong suddenly stopped. Facing the cold arrows, he became a little timid.
"Li Qinzai, I am a relative of the crown prince. No one dares to stop me when I go in and out of the East Palace. What qualifications do you have to stop me?"
Li Qinzai frowned, the prince's relative?
Then I suddenly remembered that Li Hong’s crown prince and concubine seemed to be surnamed Pei. So, the Hedong Pei family was the crown prince’s natal family?
No wonder he is so domineering. Going in and out of the East Palace is like entering a deserted place.
However, it is possible on weekdays, but not tonight.
Why did Li Zhi give him the military power of the Qianniu Guard and the Yulin Guard? It was to prevent those who were still seeking death during this sensitive period.
For example, the person in front of me has a line of words carved on his forehead, "I want to die, kill me quickly."
"Hedong Pei family? Please state your name." Li Qinzai stared at him and said.
"The eastern dependent of the Pei family in Hedong, Pei Juxian, the uncle of the crown prince."
Li Qinzai suddenly realized that he was indeed a relative of the prince, and he had a good background.
The father of the Crown Princess Pei was named Pei Judao, and his official position was General Zuojin Wuwei. This Pei Juxian was obviously Pei Judao's younger brother.
"You usually come in and out of the East Palace with such arrogance and no rules?" Li Qinzai asked coldly.
Pei Juxian was stunned for a moment, then said angrily: "Li Qinzai, although you have made great contributions to the country, you are still a foreign minister. What qualifications do you have to tell me what to do?"
Li Qinzai said leisurely: "I couldn't control it before, but tonight I am ordered to take charge of Qianniu Guard and Yulin Guard. Anyone who dares to approach the East Palace will be killed without mercy. Pei Juxian, you can try and see if I dare to kill you."
.”
Pei Juxian was furious: "His Royal Highness the Crown Prince and the Crown Princess are very affectionate as husband and wife, and they regard me, Pei, as a close relative. The East Palace has always had no defense against me, and allows my Pei family members to come and go. Who do you think you are, daring to overstep your authority and falsify the emperor's decree?"
Li Qinzai narrowed his eyes and said: "The prince is critically ill and the palace has been banned. What are your intentions in breaking into the East Palace at this time?"
Pei Juxian said angrily: "The prince is critically ill. As a relative, shouldn't he visit him?"
"Your Majesty has decreed that no one is allowed to enter the East Palace without permission," Li Qinzai explained with a smile: "'No one' means, of course, including the people of the Pei clan in Hedong. Retreat twenty feet away, otherwise don't blame me for being rude."
Pei Juxian's heart trembled. He had already heard of Li Qinzai's name. Not only did he know that Li Qinzai was the grandson of the British Duke, he also knew about this man's various deeds.
Originally, he also knew that tonight was a sensitive period. The emperor and the queen were in the East Palace at this time, so it was best not to do anything irrational.
But Li Qinzai's attitude and tone were so bad. The Pei family in Hedong was also a prominent family in the world, so they couldn't bear this tone.
To put it more grandly, the Pei family cannot weaken its momentum and be bullied. In the heart, it is Pei Juxian's self-esteem that has been insulted. How can he swallow his anger in front of many representatives of the family? In the future in Chang'an City,
Does he still want to raise his head and behave like a human being?
"I am the uncle of the Crown Princess. Even the emperor must respect you. Li Qinzai, if you dare to kill me tonight, the Pei family in Hedong will never let you go."
After Pei Juxian finished speaking, he endured his timidity and took two steps forward.
Li Qinzai stared at his feet, the smile on his lips getting deeper and deeper: "Okay, this is a man, Pei Juxian, keep going forward, don't be afraid, there are still two feet left, I will help you rank in the immortal class."
Pei Juxian was startled and stopped again. He couldn't help but turn his head and look around. Behind him, all the members of the aristocratic family were standing twenty feet away, daring not to move. Everyone's eyes were fixed on him.
Pei Juxian's scalp felt numb. He wanted to go back, but he couldn't save his dignity. He wanted to move forward, but he was really scared.
At this moment, in a dilemma, Pei Juxian suddenly regretted his impulse tonight.
Can't we just abide by the rules like other aristocratic families? Why do we need to rely on our status as a relative of the prince to confront Li Qinzai?
If he retreats now, he will only be ridiculed by the various clans. Hedong Pei will really lose face, and he will be even more shameless in public.
Thinking of the emperor's courtesy to Pei and himself in the past, Pei Juxian kept comforting himself that it didn't matter. Li Qinzai was just scaring himself. The emperor treated Pei and himself with such courtesy. How could he, a foreign minister, dare to kill him? Aren't he afraid of breaking the law?
So Pei Juxian plucked up the courage and walked a few steps forward. As he walked, he stared at Li Qinzai and sneered: "Are you trying to bully me into not daring to leave? I'll walk to show you. If you dare to kill..."
Before he finished speaking, he had already passed the last two feet and entered the ten feet in front of the palace gate.
Then Pei Juxian heard the last words of his life.
"Shoot an arrow to kill him!" Li Qinzai suddenly shouted.
Whoosh!
The Qianniu Guards fired a hail of arrows, and Pei Juxian was hit by countless arrows in his chest and thighs.
Pei Juxian lowered his head and glanced at the arrows stuck all over his body. Pei Juxian's eyes were full of disbelief. He did not expect that Li Qinzai actually dared to order him to be shot.
The light in his eyes became increasingly dim, and before the light disappeared completely, the last thing Pei Juxian saw was Li Qinzai's cold-as-iron eyes and a slightly mocking smile at the corner of his mouth.
In the end, Pei Juxian collapsed to the ground and died.
The crowd in the distance suddenly became commotion, and everyone looked at the armored Li Qinzai in horror. Like Pei Juxian, their expressions were full of disbelief.
Pei of Hedong, the uncle of the Crown Princess, killed him as soon as he was told? Didn't this son consider the consequences?
No matter what people thought in their hearts, their actions truly showed their inner awe. After Pei Juxian's death, which was twenty feet away from the palace gate, the crowd retreated like a tide, and even retreated for more than ten feet before stopping.
At this moment, a burst of rapid bells suddenly sounded in the East Palace, hitting people's hearts again and again.
Immediately afterwards, countless people howled in the East Palace, and the lanterns above the palace door were replaced with white ones.
Li Qinzai was startled, and his heart became increasingly uncomfortable. He turned around and faced the direction of the bedroom. Li Qinzai silently bowed his head and bowed for a long time.
Prince Li Hong passed away and passed away.
The crowd thirty feet away also noticed something unusual. They saw that a white lantern had been replaced above the palace gate, and they knew that the prince had passed away and the funeral had been held in the East Palace.
After a brief silence, the crowd suddenly burst into tears, and then the courtiers knelt down facing the East Palace and cried profusely.
Li Qinzai felt pity in his heart and silently looked up at the night sky.