Good things don’t go out, but bad things spread thousands of miles.
Li Qinzai was not surprised that Li Siwen was well-informed. This kind of thing could not be hidden from anyone. The entire Chang'an city must have known that Li Qinzai had killed Pei Juxian.
So Li Qinzai readily admitted: "Yes, the boy killed Pei Juxian and ordered the Qianniu Guard to shoot him. Pei Juxian was shot like a hedgehog. At least his whole body was left intact."
Li Siwen said angrily: "You dared to kill the Crown Princess's uncle, but did you think about the consequences when you made your decision? Your grandfather is still fighting in Goguryeo, and no one in the family can handle things. If someone takes this opportunity to attack the Li family,
Can you withstand it?"
Li Qinzai smiled and said: "My child can withstand it."
Li Siwen was startled.
Li Qinzai sighed: "Dad, my son is no longer the domineering and reckless playboy he used to be. Before making any decision, I have thought about the consequences. To kill Pei Juxian last night, I must issue this order, otherwise the courtiers and dignitaries outside the East Palace will
They won’t take me seriously.”
"I want to kill Pei Juxian as a warning to others, so as not to cause chaos in the court. Pei Juxian has a reason to die. Your Majesty also thinks that the boy was killed well, and Pei Juxian deserves to die."
Li Siwen sighed and said: "But the Pei family of Hedong... Our Li family is not considered a noble family, but it only has power in the court. However, the Pei family of Hedong is a famous family, and many of the children of the family are officials in the court.
Like stars..."
"You know my colleague Pei Xingjian, who was the Protector of Anxi at that time, and was transferred back to Beijing last year as Minister of Civil Affairs, right? He is also from the Pei family in Hedong."
Li Qinzai nodded silently.
Of course he knew Pei Xingjian. When he was sent to Tuyuhun as an envoy, Pei Xingjian was still the protector of Anxi. Li Qinzai and him, together with Zheng Rentai, assembled their troops to attack and severely punished the Tubo army before bringing Tuyuhun back to the mainland.
Tang territory.
Speaking of which, Li Qinzai and Pei Xingjian also had feelings for each other, but they didn't expect that they actually killed Pei's clan members last night.
In this age where blood and kinship are particularly important, killing a clan member is equivalent to killing a relative. Li Qinzai had already forged a huge feud with the entire Hedong Pei clan last night.
But Li Qinzai had no regrets. If time could come back again, he would still choose to order Pei Juxian to be shot.
In the situation like last night, Li Qinzai had no second choice. As long as he compromised with Pei Juxian, the other courtiers and dignitaries would not take him seriously. By then, the intruders would come one after another outside the palace gate.
It's a mess.
After pondering for a long time, Li Qinzai said: "Don't worry, dad. I will write a letter to Pei Xingjian, detailing what happened last night. If he still wants to enmity with me, I will accept it."
Li Siwen shook his head and sighed: "In terms of ability, I admit that I am not as good as you. Your grandfather is still fighting in Goguryeo. The only person in the Li family who can really hold up the family is you."
"You have grown up and have your own ideas. Many times your ideas are smarter and more useful than me. You have to admit that you are better than me. As long as you make a decision, just go ahead and do it. I will not interfere."
Li Qinzai looked at Li Siwen's weathered face and suddenly smiled and said: "Dad is in his prime, the children are also young, Qiao'er and Hongbi are still young, and the children are older and younger. Suddenly I feel very happy."
Li Siwen looked at him strangely, wondering why he said this.
Li Qinzai didn't explain, he smiled and said nothing.
Li Hong's passing made Li Qinzai cherish the people in front of him even more.
In front of me is not only my lover, but also my relatives and friends.
Everyone who has crossed paths with him in life should give him a big hug, because no one knows when farewell will come.
…………
The funeral ceremony in the East Palace lasted for seven days. It was not only the East Palace that held the funeral, but the entire city of Chang'an was filled with mourning.
The Emperor issued an edict that the death of Prince Li Hong was a mourning for the country, and the entire Tang Dynasty was in mourning. For one year, singing and dancing, entertainment, weddings in both court and home, and all joyful celebrations were banned for one year.
With grief, Li Zhi wrote an article "The Book of Ruide" to commemorate the prince Li Hong, and summarized Li Hong's benevolent and filial conduct in his life with "kindness and love for his relatives, and he will never forget you until his death".
At the same time, Li Zhi also issued an order to honor Prince Li Hong as the "Filial Emperor" and to be buried in Gongling.
This was the first time since the founding of the Tang Dynasty that a father named his son emperor, which shows how much Li Zhi loved Li Hong.
Seven days later, the funeral ceremony in the East Palace ended, and Empress Li Zhiwu and the courtiers sent Li Hong's coffin into Gongling Mausoleum.
Watching the heavy stone gate of Gongling Mausoleum slowly falling, Li Zhi and Empress Wu burst into tears. Father and son were finally separated forever, never to see each other again.
The monarch and his ministers returned to Chang'an City, and Li Qinzai returned the fish talisman, handed over the power of the Imperial Army, and finally returned to the Duke's Mansion.
I didn't go home for seven consecutive days. I slept in the East Palace every day. When I woke up, I put on my armor and patrolled the palace. When I got tired, I would lie down. These days were really tiring.
The Duke's Mansion was also in a state of plainness, with all the masters and servants wearing plain belts around their waists. The atmosphere in the courtyard was dull, no one dared to laugh loudly, and a low pressure filled the surroundings of the Duke's Mansion.
Li Qinzai sighed. After all, it was a national mourning. In this era of etiquette and law, when an important figure dies, the people must abide by the rules of mourning, otherwise it will be a serious crime.
After returning to the Duke's Mansion, Li Qinzai went directly to the backyard and wandered around Li Ji's study. Then he wrote a letter and asked Steward Wu to send someone to Pei Xingjian's Mansion.
The past few days were busy with funeral arrangements, and the courtiers would not trouble Li Zhi at this juncture, so no one even mentioned Li Qinzai's murder of Pei Juxian.
Now that the funeral has ended and the court has resumed normal operations, the storm is about to come.
Li Qinzai's murder of Pei Juxian was not a serious matter. In terms of logic, Li Qinzai certainly had enough reason.
However, there are many things in the world that do not require reasoning. Some people believe in fists and power, just like the Americans a thousand years later. Reasons will only be spoken politely when the Americans themselves are justified.
If you don't grasp the truth, it doesn't matter. The aircraft carrier takes a few steps and uses the range of the cannon to tell the world that the truth is only within the range of the cannon.
A tube of washing powder can destroy someone else's country. What's the truth?
The same situation faced Li Qinzai. After killing Pei Juxian, it is conceivable that the Hedong Pei family would not let it go. The prince's uncle was not an unknown person. Such a person died outside the gate of the East Palace without any explanation. The Hedong Pei family
How can we not pursue it?
Li Qinzai didn't care about Pei's revenge in Hedong, nor did he care that Pei would form a gang to impeach him.
What he cares about is Pei Xingjian's attitude.
After all, he was the future prime minister of the Tang Dynasty, and he had a good reputation as an official in history. Li Qinzai could ignore Pei Xingjian's feelings when he fought side by side with Li Qinzai.
After handing out a letter, Li Qinzai completely relaxed physically and mentally, and then fell asleep, sleeping in total darkness.