Chapter 368: The eldest son of the imperial concubine
After entering Chang'an City, Li Qinzai entered the Tai Chi Palace without stopping.
After entering the palace gate, Li Qinzai walked towards Anren Hall under the guidance of the eunuch.
From the palace gate to Anren Hall, you must first enter Chengtian Gate, and then enter Taiji Gate. After entering Taiji Gate, it is considered the scope of the palace. Entering the gate are Zhongshu Province, Sheren Courtyard, Menxia Province and Hongwen Hall.
As Li Qinzai, of course he was not qualified to go straight through Taiji Hall after entering the palace, so he still had to go around Taiji Hall, on the left side of Zhongshu Province, through Yeting Palace, then Chengqing Gate, and finally to Anren Hall .
The route is complicated and the journey is long.
In the past, the emperor often added the sentence "allowed to ride horses in the palace" when giving rewards to meritorious ministers. This sentence was really considerate of the emperor's ministers, because the Tai Chi Palace was really big.
For example, an old minister like Li Ji had to walk to the Anren Hall to meet the emperor on foot after entering the imperial city through the Zhuque Gate. It was estimated that he had to walk at least 30,000 steps. To meet the emperor once, the number of steps he took on WeChat could be considered a god.
At this young age, he was so active and his health was slightly worse. He would probably die on the way to meet the emperor. Li Zhi couldn't explain clearly, so it was indeed a welfare for the veteran to be allowed to ride horses in the Forbidden Palace.
It's just that almost no one dares to use such benefits. If you dare to ride one, let alone whether the emperor will be suspicious of you, the Tumo Xingzi of the supervisory censors will drown you.
When Li Qinzai walked into Chengtian Gate, he walked carefully and maintained the etiquette that a courtier should have. It was not because of respect, but because he didn't want to cause trouble, and he didn't want to make himself uncomfortable by making an excuse that was inappropriate.
When passing by Yeting Palace from Zhongshu Province, Li Qinzai suddenly heard a burst of wailing coming from the gate of Yeting Palace.
Li Qinzai paused, then pretended not to hear anything and continued walking cautiously.
The water in the palace is deep, so don't meddle in other people's business. Once you get involved, you might stir up a hornet's nest.
However, the crying from the gate of Yeting Palace became louder and louder, and became more and more miserable. There were men and women in the voices, but for some unknown reason.
Li Qinzai asked the eunuch leading the way. The eunuch glanced in the direction of Yeting Palace and said: "Yeting is a cold palace. I heard that His Royal Highness Prince Liang came to the palace today to visit the two princesses Yiyang and Gao'an. It was probably because Prince Liang I will go to Liangzhou soon, so it will be hard for my brother and sister to leave each other."
Li Qinzai suddenly realized.
Li Zhong, the king of Liang, was no ordinary prince. He was the eldest son of Li Zhi. He was originally the son of Li Zhi and the palace maid Liu. Because Queen Wang had no heirs, Li Zhong was adopted by Queen Wang, who was later granted the title of Li Zhi. For the prince.
Until Wu Mei was canonized as queen, the poor prince was immediately deposed and renamed Prince of Liang. The current prince is Li Zhi and Li Hong, the eldest son of Empress Wu.
The two princesses, Yiyang and Gao'an, are Li Sujie's biological sisters. The three siblings were all born to Concubine Xiao Shu. After Concubine Xiao Shu was defeated and killed in a palace fight with Empress Wu, the two princesses were imprisoned in the cold palace of Yeting for a long time.
This is also the reason why Li Sujie always maintains a cautious attitude. Empress Wu is not a soft-hearted person.
Just look at Li Sujie's two sisters and you will know that the words "cutting off the grass and rooting out the roots" are not a joke. The reason why Empress Wu did not take action was because she had just secured her position and was afraid of being false.
If in a few years, Empress Wu takes her seat, who knows what she will do.
However, what Li Qinzai is curious about is that one is the stepson of the former queen, and the other two are the daughters of Concubine Xiao Shu. The relationship between the half-brothers and sisters is not expected to be much better. Why did Prince Liang actually enter the palace to visit the two imprisoned women today?
Princess?
The eunuch smiled faintly. He was obviously a palace slave, but he had an arrogant look on his face.
"We are all degenerate people. Of course we are close. Since we have no hope of glory and wealth in this life, we simply don't shy away from it."
Li Qinzai was silent for a moment and said: "Where is Li Sujie? He is the younger brother of the two princesses. Why doesn't he come to Yeting to take care of the two sisters?"
"I have been here several times before, but the two princesses loved him so much that they were afraid of killing him. Every time His Highness King Xi visited, the two princesses beat and scolded him and drove him away. Later, His Highness King Xi did not dare to come.
I just often ask the palace officials to send some food and clothing."
Li Qinzai nodded, turned his head and glanced again in the direction where the crying came from, and continued to follow the eunuch towards Anren Palace in silence.
Li Qinzai is just a mortal, not that great and noble. There are too many injustices in the world. How many can he take care of? The important thing is, even if he takes action, can he take care of it?
When he came to Anren Hall, he entered the hall in addition to his shoes, and the ministers bowed to see Li Zhi.
Li Zhi was not in a good mood today. Yesterday at the court meeting, he was thrown to the wall by the ministers. This has rarely happened since he ascended the throne.
"Jingchu came just in time. I want to drink today, so you can drink with me."
After the ceremony, Li Zhi didn't talk nonsense and started the banquet directly.
The banquets in the palace were no more grand than those in the palaces of the powerful.
As soon as the food and drinks were served, the dancers from Taichang Temple came in and danced in the center of the hall to the music troupe, like a butterfly wearing a flower, which dazzled everyone.
Li Qinzai looked at his nose with his eyes, and his nose with his heart, and did not dare to glance around.
The women in the palace, even the aunt who takes out the trash, theoretically belong to Li Zhi. If the foreign ministers want to live to the end of their lives, it is best not to look around, as it can easily lead to disaster.
After three rounds of drinking, the dancers happened to finish their dance, bowed and quietly left.
Li Zhi drank a glass of wine head-on, put down the cup and sighed: "Jingchu, I, the emperor, must be aggrieved. It is obviously a long-lasting achievement that benefits the country and the people, but everyone in the court is thinking of themselves."
Be careful, in their mouths, I become a foolish king who enjoys great achievements."
"Since I came to the throne, I have been diligent, walking on thin ice, and dare not slack off for a day. Every decision I make is for the benefit of the people. Why don't those courtiers understand? The country belongs to me, am I a prodigal?
Are you trying to ruin it on purpose?”
Li Qinzai pondered for a moment and said in a low voice: "Your Majesty, are you worried about not being recognized by the courtiers for building roads and ships?"
Li Zhi nodded: "It seems that you also know. Yes, I almost quarreled with the courtiers in the Taiji Hall yesterday. They all said that I couldn't do anything, as if I had done something crazy and evil, and several censors were in charge.
The court will hit the pillars to death to remonstrate."
Li Qinzai smiled bitterly and said: "After I made the cement, I accidentally said something about building roads and ships to Your Majesty. I didn't expect to bring so much trouble to Your Majesty. It's my fault."
Li Zhi waved his hand: "Jingchu, you are public-minded and considerate of the country. What's wrong with you? What's wrong is those old stubborns and old men! Those people have selfish motives and short-sightedness, so they will naturally oppose me."
Li Qinzai thought for a while and tentatively said: "How about we wait a few years before talking?"
Li Zhi was angry: "Why should we delay for a few years? There is a severe drought in the north this year, and providing work-for-relief is an opportunity. With this established example, we can follow this example in the future. If it is delayed this year and the courtiers gain power, what will happen in the future?"