Li Qinzai had some hunch about who the mastermind was. Li Yifu was one of his suspects, and the possibility was very high.
Li Qinzai uncovered Liu Xingzhou and Yuan Gongyu. Just when he wanted to continue investigating, Li Yifu unexpectedly came to the door and readily admitted.
This operation was really unexpected by Li Qinzai. For a moment, Li Qinzai wondered whether Li Yifu had a brain convulsion, or was there a bigger conspiracy waiting for him behind his voluntary confession?
Li Yifu's attitude in admitting his mistake was very sincere, and at the same time he maintained his dignity as a county official.
"Uncle Li County, please listen to me, I really have difficulties..." Li Yifu sighed.
Li Qinzai put down the wine bottle and glanced outside the hall involuntarily.
At this time, a team of swordsmen should be ambushed in the corridor. If Li Yifu's explanation does not satisfy him, he will immediately throw a cup as a signal and rush in and chop him into dog meat sauce. This will be appropriate for the occasion.
It would be best to ask Xiang Zhuang to come in and do sword dancing, twisting his hips and doing splits, etc., to scare him, and let this old guy think clearly before speaking, how to give a perfect explanation.
"Go ahead, I'll be waiting." Li Qinzai said with an innocent smile.
Li Yifu first took the silver pot from Li Qinzai's hand and carefully placed it on the table. He felt that it was a little close to Li Qinzai, so he simply held it in his hand and took two steps back.
"Uncle Li, forgive me. I had no choice but to send my cousin Li Jingye to jail because of my plan. This plan started three months ago."
Li Qinzai thought thoughtfully: "The convict couple from Liuzhou were exiled to Qiongnan. It was you who sent people to kill them, arranged the murder scene, and then asked the governor of Danzhou to report to Chang'an quickly and impound them to my cousin.
Three months is almost enough for a man who kills people and silences him again and again, right?"
Li Yifu praised: "It's a pleasure to talk to smart people. Uncle Li is so smart that I admire him."
"Now is not the time to praise me, keep talking." Li Qinzai said coldly.
Li Yifu added: "I also sent people to spread the rumors about the British Duke. At that time, the British Duke was ordered to conquer Xue Yantuo in the north. The so-called killing and surrendering were actually false. Cui Dunli, the Secretary of the Ministry of War, was among those who accompanied him. As evidence, all relevant events were recorded.
In the historian's pen..."
"As for the plundered wealth..." Li Yifu said, hesitating for a moment, quickly glanced at Li Qinzai, and then said: "Uncle Li, the Yinggong robbed wealth... is true, but most of the stolen wealth was rewarded to the generals, so this matter will also be recorded.
Yu Junzhong Secretary."
Li Qinzai snorted and said: "My grandfather worked so hard in the war, what's the matter with getting some money to spend? Besides, didn't all the rewards be given to the generals? It shows that my grandfather is a fair and selfless general."
Li Yifu hurriedly agreed: "Yes, I have always admired the British Duke. It is my lifelong honor to be a colleague in the DPRK with the British Duke..."
Li Qinzai sneered: "You said it was an honor, but you turned around and stabbed him without hesitation. Lord Li, your words are really hard to believe."
Li Yifu sighed: "I have told you that I have difficulties."
Li Qinzai smiled and said, "I'm waiting to hear it."
Li Yifu said slowly: "My colleagues in the court all call me 'Li Mao' behind my back. Because I hide a knife in my smile and harm things with my gentleness, I am called a treacherous sycophant."
Li Yifu suddenly laughed: "Look, I actually know everything, but I can pretend I don't know anything. The higher you are in the temple, the more you have to pretend to be confused, and the higher you are, the more you can't help yourself."
Li Qinzai said coldly: "You are off topic."
"Okay, my cousin was wrongly accused, and the British government was criticized by rumors. Although it was caused by me, I am just a pawn."
As he said this, Li Yifu glanced at Li Qinzai and saw that he looked calm, as if he had expected it.
Li Yifu couldn't help but laugh: "I know that you are very smart and are often praised as a peerless talent by the emperor. I guess, you think the person who instigated me behind the scenes is the queen?"
Li Qinzai's eyelids twitched, and his expression didn't change until this moment.
From what Li Yifu said, it seemed that the person behind him was not the Queen, but someone else who was targeting the British Duke.
This is very surprising. Li Qinzai really can't think of anyone other than Empress Wu who would be so hostile to him and the British government.
"Who else can it be? The three princes and nine ministers in the court, the vassal king, or the noble family?" Li Qinzai asked.
Li Yifu sighed softly and said slowly: "Prince."
Li Qinzai stood up and stared at him in shock: "Your Highness, the Crown Prince? Are you old and confused? The Crown Prince is only twelve years old this year! How could a twelve-year-old kid set up such a trap?"
Li Yifu said coldly: "The prince is indeed twelve years old, but the advisers and staff around him are more than twelve years old."
Li Qinzai was silent for a long time and then asked: "Why?"
"The prince and I are strangers and have never had any enmity. Why would the prince target the British government?"
Li Yifu said: "You have no grudge against the prince, but among your students there are two princes, two princesses, and many children of powerful families..."
After speaking, Li Yifu paused, lowered his voice and said slowly: "One of the princes, King Li Xian of England, is also the prince's biological brother and half-brother, the direct prince! Tell me, why does the prince want to target the British prince?"
Li Qinzai's body trembled and he slowly sat down with a wry smile on his face.
Okay, he got it all.
It is a crime to possess a jade.
After a long time, Li Qinzai sighed: "But he... is only twelve years old after all."
Li Yifu sneered: "An ordinary child may still be just a child at the age of twelve, but you must not treat the twelve-year-old prince as a child. The education he has received since childhood, the experiences he has witnessed, and the emperor's skills taught by the great scholars of the world
, as well as the advice from the advisors and staff around me..."
"A twelve-year-old lives such a life every day, do you still think he is an ordinary child?"
Li Qinzai was speechless.
Yes, if a twelve-year-old child is soaked in such a big dye vat every day, can he still be regarded as a child?
Li Qinzai frowned and said, "His Royal Highness, you think I will help Li Xian seize the throne?"
Li Yifu did not answer and asked instead: "If a few years later, the prince accidentally takes a wrong step, and your student Li Xian is just starting to become ambitious, will you help the prince or your student?"
Li Qinzai was silent again, this question did not require an answer.
From the day he agreed to accept Li Xian as his disciple, Li Qinzai became his teacher, but he also had a hidden identity, that of being an adviser.
Except for blood relatives, there is no relationship in the world that is more reliable and trustworthy than the teacher-student relationship.
Li Qinzai suddenly felt tired and sighed, "I have never thought of helping Li Xian seize the throne."
Li Yifu nodded: "I believe that you have an indifferent temperament. I have specially observed you a long time ago. But, does His Highness the Crown Prince believe it?"