It must be said that Empress Wu’s evaluation of Li Qinzai was very objective.
It is true that Li Qinzai will not be used by any power. Only loyalty to the imperial power is the safest in this world. Any force other than the imperial power is full of danger, because they are not authorized by the emperor, but "form a party".
Forming factions is very dangerous. Once the emperor becomes dissatisfied and the situation in the court becomes unbalanced, the faction members will inevitably be adjusted and purged by the emperor until they regain balance in the court.
The rear party is no exception.
Today's Empress Wu is not capable of making extraordinary changes, and the court is still in the hands of Li Zhi. It is even more impossible for Li Qinzai to stand in Empress Wu's team. That would be digging his own grave.
"It is said that Jingchu has been very kind to both of my two princesses. Sujie told me yesterday that the two sisters must thank you in person for your great kindness." Li Zhi said with a smile.
Li Qinzai said hurriedly: "No need, I'm just doing my duty..."
After a pause, Li Qinzai quickly glanced at Empress Wu and added: "I have no other intentions. I just feel that the two princesses are innocent and pitiful. They are harmless and do not need to suffer this injustice."
Li Qinzai bit the word "harmless" rather hard. After Empress Wu's expression was stunned, she then glanced at him coldly.
She knew this was Li Qinzai's cue to release, and the general idea was, I didn't mean to target you this time, I just felt pity for the two princesses and wanted to save them.
But this time Li Qinzai really offended Empress Wu, how could he forgive him so easily?
Li Zhi looked at the undercurrent between Li Qinzai and his mother-in-law with a smile, but seemed completely unaware of it. He turned to the chamberlain beside him and said: "Summon Sujie and the two princesses into the palace."
Soon Li Sujie and the two princesses came to the main hall. Li Sujie saluted Li Zhi. The two princesses timidly looked at their familiar and unfamiliar father sitting in the hall, and bowed down. The moment they lowered their heads, their tears fell on the ground.
.
Li Zhi's expression was stunned for a moment, and then he forced the three of them to level up with a smile.
Then Li Sujie bowed to Li Qinzai as a disciple, and Li Qinzai nodded.
The two princesses looked at each other, stepped forward and bowed to Li Qinzai, and said in unison: "Thank you, County Uncle Li, for saving your life."
Li Qinzai could not sit still and hurriedly stood up to return the greeting.
Li Zhi smiled and said: "Jing Chu, sit down safely, you can bear their great gift."
Li Qinzai smiled bitterly and said, "Your Majesty, I'm just doing my duty, how dare you receive such a big gift."
Just as he was about to continue to say a few words of modesty, Li Sujie suddenly knelt down on his knees towards Li Qinzai.
Li Qinzai was so frightened that he almost jumped up. It is understandable that the two princesses gave such a big gift. We teachers and students are so familiar with each other. To give such a big gift would be considered adultery or theft.
"What do you want to do?" Li Qinzai asked with a wary look.
Li Sujie fell to the ground and worshiped: "Sir, my two sisters deeply admire your talent and knowledge. They want to seek knowledge from you. They are willing to serve you as disciples and ask for your permission."
Li Qinzai said without hesitation: "Did you see the door behind you? Get out of here."
Li Sujie begged: "Sir, please be merciful. Our two sisters are indeed eager to learn. Your husband has unparalleled knowledge. My two sisters are willing to pass on your knowledge to future generations and establish the Zongshan school that has never been seen before."
Li Qinzai flatly refused: "I don't accept female disciples."
"Why?" Li Sujie asked disappointedly.
"My mother-in-law, your master's wife, is a jealous person. If I accept a female disciple, I won't be able to tell what will happen to me."
Unexpectedly, the two princesses suddenly knelt down towards Li Qinzai, bowed their heads and said, "I sincerely seek to learn, please Mr. Li."
Li Qinzai still shook his head and refused.
Li Zhi looked at the two strange daughters, and then at Li Sujie's pleading expression. His heart moved, and he immediately knew why they insisted on worshiping Li Qinzai as their teacher.
When children cannot get protection from their father and have no choice but to seek protection from others, they are still children and can no longer withstand the wind and rain.
Thinking of this, Li Zhi felt guilty.
A father like him is truly a failure.
And he couldn't even make amends to them, because even he couldn't guarantee whether they would be harmed by the queen for some legitimate reason if they were still living in the palace.
No one knows Empress Wu's methods better than Li Zhi.
Perhaps, it would be a way out for them to leave this palace and study safely away from the court.
With Li Qinzai taking care of them, Li Zhi can rest assured, knowing that Li Qinzai will not let him down.
So Li Zhi suddenly said: "Jingchu, just agree."
Li Qinzai was stunned and looked into Li Zhi's eyes. Seeing that Li Zhi's eyes were full of pleading, Li Qinzai immediately understood the intention of the two princesses to become disciples.
He sighed secretly, you married a careless woman, why do you want me to wipe your ass?
Although I invented toilet paper, wiping buttocks is not my specialty.
Li Qinzai quickly glanced at Empress Wu and saw that she had no expression on her face. She seemed completely unaware of the two princesses' apprenticeship and Li Zhi's pleas. Everything that happened before his eyes seemed transparent.
Li Qinzai hesitated for a moment and finally said: "Okay, I..."
Before he finished speaking, Li Sujie was overjoyed. He quickly stood up and stood between the two princesses. He pressed his hands on the back of their heads and shouted in a deep voice: "Hurry, great worshiper!"
The two princesses were caught off guard, and their heads were pressed hard by Li Sujie, who kowtowed to Li Qinzai one after another.
As if he was afraid that Li Qinzai would regret it, Li Sujie held down the two princesses' heads and kept exerting force, shouting: "Bye again! Bye!"
As he spoke, Li Sujie's tears fell like a shower, and the two princesses also understood his brother's intention. Without him pressing his head, they kept kowtowing to Li Qinzai as if he was pounding garlic.
Their tears couldn't stop streaming down their faces, and they kowtowed while trying to suppress their cries.
Like people struggling in deep water clinging to a driftwood, the two princesses saw hope of life.
This kind of hope is something even my father is reluctant to give.
In this world, they are actually no different from orphans.
Li Qinzai is the only light that appears in their lives.
In order to survive, they must chase this light.
In the main hall, Li Zhi also shed tears. Whether it was guilt or distress, only he knew clearly.
Empress Wu was still expressionless. At this moment, she was like a statue without a thought, choosing to ignore everything outside her body.
The joys and sorrows of the world, life and death, Empress Wu has experienced as much as anyone else. The favor and humiliation of two generations of emperors, and the endless fighting in the harem for many years, her heart has long been as cold as iron.
Seeing the two princesses slapping each other so hard that blood oozed from their foreheads, Li Qinzai felt sad.
For the first time in my life, I feel sorry for two strange women. It has nothing to do with the relationship between men and women, only full of compassion.
"Okay, after the ceremony, I will accept you." Li Qinzai said in a deep voice.
The two princesses seemed not to have heard anything and continued to kowtow, but Li Sujie stopped them.
After he helped them straighten their bodies, Li Sujie raised his sleeves and wiped the blood from the foreheads of the two sisters. She shed tears but said with a smile, "Does it hurt?"
Princess Yiyang shook her head and smiled back: "It doesn't hurt."
Li Zhi choked up for a moment and sighed secretly: "Jing Chu, treat them well. I owe them what I owe them. Please help me make up for it, okay?"
Li Qinzai looked directly into his eyes, nodded and said, "I will not wrong them."