For the first time in his life, Li Qinzai felt the pressure from the empress at such a close distance.
When I met Empress Wu in the past, she was the virtuous and gentle wife beside Li Zhi, and she was a graceful and noble queen in the eyes of the courtiers.
But she looked like a lioness commanding the grassland at this moment, exuding an aura that looked down upon the world.
Maybe, this is what she really looks like.
It was a show in front of Li Zhi, and it was a show in front of the ministers.
After years of brutal fighting in the harem, she got rid of her enemies, became stoic and ruthless, and became the only winner in the fierce fighting in the harem. How could she still be as gentle and kind as before?
At that time, Li Zhi was ill and asked her to ghostwrite and review memorials. This finally released the magic box in her heart. Her ambition was no longer just the master of the harem.
A layer of cold sweat broke out on Li Qinzai's back, and he lowered his head and tried to organize his words.
If I don't handle it well today, I'm afraid I will become a mortal enemy of her from now on.
"Queen, regarding the Bingzhou grain case, I can only discuss the matter as it is. Mrs. Han's crime will not lead to death. If she is killed, it will probably cause criticism from the government and the public, and it will also damage the reputation of Your Majesty and the Queen."
Empress Wu raised her eyebrows: "Oh? So, Jingchu didn't kill Mrs. Han because it was for the sake of the emperor and me?"
Li Qinzai whispered: "I am not that great and selfless. I just want to protect myself. If the Queen really wants to kill Mrs. Korea, I believe there are many people who are willing to serve the Queen."
"So, Jingchu is unwilling to serve me?" Empress Wu pressed forward step by step.
Li Qinzai thought for a moment and said cautiously: "Of course I am willing to serve the queen, but after all, I still have to do things within the limits of the law. Otherwise, it will be difficult for the queen to stand up for herself and for me to stand up for myself."
Empress Wu sneered and said: "I can't see that Jingchu is such an upright person, and he looks completely different from the ridiculous playboy he used to be. I am mistaken."
Li Qinzai hesitated for a moment, then simply said: "Queen, if I really kill the Korean lady, the queen will be satisfied, but... if your majesty is really interested in looking for flowers, if the queen kills the Korean lady, there will be other women who cater to your majesty regardless of shame.
, The queen lives deep in the harem, why don’t she care about everything and just kill people? With so many women, when will you stop killing them?”
"Every time the Queen kills a person, the relationship between the Queen and His Majesty becomes weaker and weaker. His Majesty's heart is chilled by the killing. Is it possible that the Queen will have a good outcome? If the couple turns against each other, I am afraid that the Queen will repeat the mistake of the past when the King deposed the Queen. Please ask the Queen
Think twice.”
Empress Wu was shocked, and murmured absentmindedly: "Kill her, and the people who will come after her. Yes, when will I stop killing her?"
Seeing that Empress Wu's attitude had relaxed, Li Qinzai hurriedly said: "I have no other intentions. The empress and the emperor are deeply in love with each other, which is a blessing to me and the people of the world. If the palace is not peaceful, the emperor can calmly govern the world. Empress, husband and wife maintain their relationship."
It's like controlling water, it's better to remove it than to block it."
Empress Wu came back to her senses and stared at him with a half-smile: "I didn't expect that in addition to his flattering words, Jingchu also talked about great principles in a set way."
"I've always made a complete set of my principles."
Her tense body gradually leaned back, and Empress Wu's expression became tired.
"That's all, let's just pretend that the Bingzhou incident never happened. These shady things are entrusted to you. It's my fault. It's my fault."
Li Qinzai's shoulders also slumped.
This hurdle has finally passed.
It can be seen that Empress Wu's suspicion towards him has disappeared, and she no longer has to worry about him.
But Li Qinzai also knew very well that Empress Wu forgave him not because of what he had just said, but because of his own value.
Yes, Li Qinzai's value determined Empress Wu's attitude.
If it were a mediocre and incompetent minister, even if she knelt in front of Empress Wu and cried bitterly, she would never let this loser live.
Li Qinzai was different. His incredible achievements in the past two years and the invention of objects that could change the Tang Dynasty were definitely not comparable to those of a mediocre person.
Li Zhi looked up to him as a minister of the state, and even if Empress Wu had resentment in her heart, she could only tolerate everything he did.
Killing the Korean lady is important, but it is not the most important. When Empress Wu revealed this intention to Li Qinzai, it was actually mainly to test Li Qinzai, with the vague intention of forcing him to take sides.
Empress Wu had followers in the court, but she hoped that there would be one more capable minister and official like Li Qinzai among the followers in the court.
Unfortunately, it is much more difficult to control a minister like Li Qinzai than to control a mediocre waste.
In the Bingzhou grain case, the way Li Qinzai dealt with the Korean wife had implicitly told Empress Wu his attitude.
You can do things, but don't take sides.
He did not want to join any camp in the court, let alone be labeled as a party member.
What can Empress Wu do to him?
What else can I do besides forgive?
Seeing Empress Wu sitting there stunned, Li Qinzai cautiously resigned.
After Li Qinzai left the room for a long time, Wu Cai came back to his senses and sighed quietly: "After all, talents are rare."
…………
Walking out of the backyard and into the atrium, Prince Teng was sitting alone by the corridor in the courtyard, lost in thought.
Li Qinzai met him head-on. King Teng was stunned, and his old grudges suddenly surged into his heart. He stepped forward, grabbed Li Qinzai, and shouted: "Pay back the money!"
Li Qinzai was startled and struggled from side to side.
"What's the payment? Who owes you money?"
King Teng was furious: "When you merged with the state, you defrauded me of all my money. Don't you admit it?"
Li Qinzai was also angry: "Are you crazy? You obviously gave it to me voluntarily. Think about it, who took the initiative to come to the door of my governor's house? Who brought a car full of heavy gifts? Did I invite you to come? I
Please give me a gift?"
Prince Teng was stunned and subconsciously blurted out: "It seems to be the same..."
Then he came to his senses and Prince Teng said angrily: "You, you slandered my daughter's innocence and said that love is stronger than gold and you need to pay more. Isn't this a lie?"
"Of course it's not a lie. You took the initiative to come to the door and give gifts. I just said that I had to add money. You really did add money. How can I refuse?" Li Qinzai said angrily: "I gave you a gift, and now you actually want to take it back. , His Highness Prince Teng, is there such etiquette in the world?"
Prince Teng was furious: "I don't care, just pay back the money! You have defrauded me of my money. This matter will never be resolved. If you don't pay back, I will file a complaint in front of the emperor!"
Li Qinzai spread his hands and said: "There is no money, it has been spent."
"Have... spent it all?" Prince Teng was stunned: "That's tens of thousands of dollars, and it's all spent?"
"Oh, I asked craftsmen to build a small house inlaid with gold and jade. It cost a lot of money, so I ran out of money."
Prince Teng asked innocently: "Why did you build a house of gold and jade?"
Li Qinzai blinked: "I plan to give it to the Lord of Jinxiang County. Didn't Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty say that he would build a golden house and hide Chen Ajiao. I want to emulate Emperor Wu's elegance and hide the Lord of Jinxiang County in the golden house."
Prince Teng's hair stood on end, and he shouted sharply: "How dare you!"
"My relationship with the Lord of Jinxiang County is as strong as gold. I will give her a gold house. I am sure she will be happy."
King Teng was so angry that he rammed his head into Li Qinzai's belly like a mad bull.