Early in the morning, a eunuch came to the door and told Li Qinzai with a smile that the queen summoned Mr. Li alone.
Li Qinzai's heart sank, he smiled bitterly, put on his official uniform, and followed the eunuch into the palace.
This was the second time that Empress Wu summoned Li Qinzai alone. The location of the summons was not the palace, but the Huanglin Garden next to Liangyi Hall.
Huanglin Garden is a garden and artificial rockery forest with elegant scenery and the fragrance of birds and flowers.
Li Qinzai has visited the palace many times, but this is the first time for him to visit this royal garden.
Empress Wu stood in a golden sweet-scented osmanthus forest. The blooming flowers set off her bright yellow robe, just like the majesty of chickens standing out among the six palaces of pink and white. All the flowers were green leaves, and only one of them was gorgeous.
Li Qinzai bowed his head and saluted, and Empress Wu turned to look at him.
"There is no need to be polite at Jingchu. I am calling you into the palace today for no other reason than to invite you to enjoy the laurels together." Empress Wu said with a smile.
Li Qinzai also smiled and said: "Three autumn osmanthus flowers, ten miles of lotus flowers, are distributed among hundreds of thousands of homes. The imperial forest is deeply locked in the autumn colors, but the fragrance of cinnamon has drifted into the world of fireworks."
Empress Wu's eyes lit up and she praised: "Good sentences, good mood! Jingchu is not only amazing in knowledge, he is also a talented person in the world in writing poems and reciting sentences."
Li Qinzai said with a smile: "I talk nonsense casually, and I don't deserve the word 'talented scholar'."
Empress Wu still shook her head and praised: "Talents are rare..."
"Since the beginning of the scientific examination in the Tang Dynasty, countless talents have been on the gold list. The imperial court recruits hundreds of scholars every year. However, most of the candidates are mediocre talents. Who can match the great talents of Jingchu? Your Majesty has left a way for poor families to reach the sky.
Although we are from a poor family, after all, the children from a poor family still lack a bit of foundation and aura."
Li Qinzai blinked innocently and started talking about his family, country and the world? The topic was a bit too big for Li Qinzai to handle.
Seeing that Li Qinzai didn't say anything, Empress Wu didn't mind. She sighed again and said: "I have assisted Your Majesty in these years, fighting against powerful ministers, undermining aristocratic families, conducting scientific examinations, and suppressing palaces."
"Others think that I am sitting securely in the harem, enjoying wealth and wealth, but who knows that I have actually been on a bloody journey. No matter how many steps I take, there is an abyss behind me."
Li Qinzai bowed and said: "Your Majesty and the Queen have worked hard, and I am willing to share your worries for Your Majesty."
Empress Wu smiled and said: "Your Majesty is the third generation emperor of the Tang Dynasty. He inherited the legacy of Zhenguan and created a prosperous age. He is a rare wise emperor in ancient times."
"But even though such a wise monarch, there are villains behind his back, and they are getting more and more arrogant. Now he dares to curse His Majesty in the palace by doing things that are disgusting and treacherous." Empress Wu's eyes were filled with evil, and her tone became colder.
"Since the third year of Xianqing's reign, the Ministry of Punishment of the Tang Dynasty has approved the execution of no more than ten criminals every year. Everyone in the world praises the emperor as a benevolent emperor. However, they do not know that the benevolence of a benevolent emperor is only for the people who abide by etiquette and law, not for the evildoers who deserve to be killed.
When the time comes, the emperor will not show any mercy."
Li Qinzai was secretly shocked.
He knew that Empress Wu's words were meant for him, to explain why a case of defeating someone could implicate thousands of people in the palace.
Many of the palace residents who were killed had nothing to do with the case, but they were still killed.
There are many reasons, the biggest reason is that perhaps Empress Wu planned to use this incident to establish her authority, take the opportunity to clean up the palace, and get rid of some bad signs and hidden dangers.
Li Qinzai then smiled bitterly and said: "I have always understood the painstaking efforts of your Majesty and the Queen. Yes, those who deserve to be killed must be killed. Such a serious case has occurred in the country, so we must not be merciful."
Empress Wu hummed and said, "I heard... His Majesty summoned you the day before yesterday. He seemed to be dissatisfied with the outcome of the Weisheng case?"
Li Qinzai was startled and said hurriedly: "I am a foreign minister and should not be involved in palace affairs. However, Your Majesty insists and I have to comply."
Empress Wu smiled: "It doesn't matter, since it is your Majesty's order, it means that your Majesty does not regard you as an outsider, and just handles things with care. However... the two princesses are involved in the case of Wean Sheng, Dali Temple has ironclad evidence, even if your Majesty has doubts, I'm afraid
It’s difficult to overturn the verdict.”
Li Qinzai hesitated for a moment, then tentatively said: "Queen, the two princesses have been confined in Yeting for many years, and they are daughters. After all, they are your Majesty's biological flesh and blood. How about... leaving them a way to live."
Empress Wu's smile gradually turned cold: "Back then, I was forced into desperate situations by the Wang family and Concubine Xiao. Who ever left me a way out?"
Li Qinzai was silent for a moment and whispered: "Queen, you are the final winner. The enemies who were pressing each other step by step have long been turned into a handful of loess. The two princesses have no enmity against you and have been imprisoned in Yeting for many years.
Why doesn’t the queen let these two miserable people go?”
As soon as he finished speaking, Li Qinzai suddenly felt an evil spirit filling the air, and goosebumps stood up all over his body.
"Li Jingchu, are you interceding for the two masterminds of the Yan Sheng case?" Empress Wu said in a cold tone.
Li Qinzai lowered his head and said, "I don't dare. I just can't bear to kill your majesty's own flesh and blood and abandon the market, leading to a tragic end."
"They are prisoners!" Empress Wu emphasized her tone: "Don't you know how serious the Yan Sheng case is? Thousands of people who were slightly involved in the Tai Chi Palace were killed. How can the mastermind survive?"
Li Sujie's pleading face came to mind. Li Qinzai gritted his teeth, suddenly raised his head and looked directly into her eyes, saying: "Queen, you and I know very well that the two princesses simply..."
Before she finished speaking, Empress Wu suddenly shouted: "Stop! Li Jingchu, you are becoming more and more proud of your favor. Do you really think that I dare not do anything to you?"
Li Qinzai felt a surge of anger in his heart and gritted his teeth.
He understood what Empress Wu meant. As things developed now, it didn't really matter who was the real mastermind. What was important was that Empress Wu had an excuse to eradicate the problem.
After clearing her suspicions, she took full advantage of this major case. She would not allow her enemy's two daughters to live unharmed in the Tai Chi Palace. They were a thorn in her side and a thorn in her flesh.
As for Li Qinzai, this time his position conflicted with that of Empress Wu.
He wants to save the two princesses.
Seeing the angry expression on Li Qinzai's face, Empress Wu couldn't help but soften her tone, and said softly: "Jingchu, the emperor values you, and I do the same. Why should you and I have a quarrel over an unrelated matter?"
"I know that Your Majesty has doubts about the outcome of this case, so I asked you to investigate this case again. There is no right or wrong in worldly affairs or palace affairs. It is nothing more than pros and cons."
"How to decide whether to advance or retreat? Jingchu is a smart man. You naturally know how to make decisions. Don't let me down."
After leaving Tai Chi Palace, Li Qinzai felt heavy in his heart.
What Empress Wu said to him is still in his ears.
He knew that the purpose of Empress Wu summoning him today was to show off her cards and serve as a warning.
Empress Wu needed him to execute her will, and the Shengsheng case was over. There should be no further turmoil. The death of the two princesses could bring an end to this huge case that shocked the world and implicated countless others.
It must be said that Empress Wu's warning put tremendous pressure on Li Qinzai, and he was a little unable to bear it.
If he doesn't listen to her warning, his relationship with Empress Wu may deteriorate in the future. With such a powerful enemy under the tree, Li Qinzai will have to be careful about her in his life, and there will never be peace in his life.