Chapter four hundred and ninety fifth stealing food
It's a bit ridiculous for Tianjia to talk about "the love between husband and wife".
But Li Zhi and Empress Wu really had a relationship as husband and wife, at least they once did.
But when the former Wu Meiniang was brought back to the palace from Ganye Temple by Li Zhi, Empress Wu officially entered the battlefield and fought with the Queen and Queen Xiao Shufei in the harem.
Since then, love has probably completely died in her heart, replaced by lust for power and deep fear of the future.
Empress Wang died, and Concubine Xiao Shu also died. Empress Wu stepped on their bones and stood at the pinnacle of the winner, drawing her sword at a loss. The fear in her heart still lingered.
The fighting in the harem these years made her see clearly the nature of men, the most ruthless emperor's heart. She was afraid that one day she would be like the Queen Xiao Shufei, abandoned by this man like a pair of worn shoes.
After all, Empress Wu was a smart woman. She knew very well that sooner or later, Israeli servants would lose their lust for sex. Although a dog-like man likes the imperial sister, he still likes the new and hates the old.
If you don't want to be abandoned by a man, you must make yourself important and make him unable to live without you. This is the best way to protect yourself.
So she began to help him review memorials and help him manage the government affairs. At the same time, she also secretly cultivated her own party members. The original intention of this party members was that one day when he wanted to depose the queen, there would be different voices in the court to stand up and oppose him.
he.
At this period, she had not yet developed much ambition. Even if there were party members in the court, they actually existed for self-preservation.
However, when she discovered that the queen's position had been secured and so many of her enemies had disappeared from the world forever, her ambition slowly began to rise again.
She became a little arrogant.
Sheng Sheng's various operations planted nails in the school and forced Li Qinzai to compromise... She didn't know where her ultimate goal was, but she knew she had to have more power in her hands. Only by holding power could she be safe.
feel.
However, this time, she finally overturned.
She didn't expect that just a few words of conversation with Li Qinzai could make the man she had been with day and night so angry. Every word he said was like a heart-piercing knife, piercing deeply into her heart.
"Your hand is stretched too long," Li Zhi said coldly: "The reason why I acquiesced to you before was because I knew what you were afraid of. I could just turn a blind eye and let you go. Li Yifu, Xu
I have no objection to Jingzong, Yuan Gongyu and others being used by you..."
After speaking, Li Zhi paused, stared into Empress Wu's eyes, and said coldly: "But you are getting more and more excessive. Li Jingchu is a national scholar who I value very much. His role is no less than that of a hundred thousand people who can control strings."
"What's even more valuable is that although Li Jingchu is very capable, he has never had any ambitions. His appointment to the official position was all forced by my imperial edict. He is unwilling to participate in court disputes and even hides in this remote courtyard to live like a hermit.
days."
"People are far away from the world, but they still worry about the country and the country. They selflessly pass on their knowledge to the world. They build cement and hydraulic presses for me and provide relief to the victims with work."
"Everything he does is for the country and the people, but you, as the queen of the world, are forcing him step by step. Is this what a queen does?"
Li Jifa stared at her gloomily: "Never judge others by yourself in everything. Do you think he really cares about power? Do you think he will take the power in the school seriously? With his ability, if it really grows
Ambition means that within three to five years, he will become a prince, become a prime minister, and rule the world..."
"He would be so patient, waiting for these students to grow up and be used by him? How ridiculous!"
Empress Wu knelt in front of Li Zhi, lowered her head and sobbed: "Your Majesty, I made a mistake, and I know I was wrong."
Li Zhi was a little excited and his face turned red. He tried to calm down for a while and sighed in disappointment.
"Mei Niang, I know it has not been easy for you these past few years. I feel sorry for your experience, and I am willing to give you some power and allow you to do some random things. I think I am already very tolerant, why do you keep provoking my bottom line?"
"Li Jingchu, a completely harmless person, has been forced to give up by you. Isn't this breaking my foundation? If he is afraid of power and becomes a rural hermit, he will never contribute anything to me again.
In one conspiracy, the country lost a great number of its people, and future generations will say, was it my fault or yours?"
"The Tang Dynasty can accommodate all things in the world, including mountains, rivers, lakes and seas, but it can't accommodate even one Li Jingchu. So isn't it a big joke that I and the two generations of late emperors have been so eager for talents over the years?"
Li Zhi lowered his face, stared at Empress Wu's familiar yet unfamiliar face, and said in a cold tone: "Mei Niang, this is the last time."
…………
Li Qinzai was lying on the lounge chair in the front yard, forming a large font, staring blankly at the gray sky.
Although he didn't say a single word, his gestures filled the story.
I’m really a little tired, and my heart is tired.
Last time his cousin was framed and the Li family was hurt by rumors, Li Qinzai secretly made a decision. After the incident, he must find a place to run wild.
In the past few years, Li Qinzai only wanted to live like a wandering cloud and wild crane for a few days, but the world would not let him go. His own affairs, family affairs, and other people's affairs were all happening one after another.
Things that have nothing to do with him have to be involved, what a damn human thing.
A man who has lived two lifetimes cannot live the life he wants. No matter how much money or power he has, it is a tragedy in life.
I decided to go back and find a foolproof excuse to take my mother-in-law and son with me and go sightseeing away from Chang'an.
Teaching? Power? Fuck you!
Thinking of this, Li Qinzai suddenly felt better.
Make good preparations, get a few more carriages, load them with all kinds of snacks and fruits, and bring one or two hundred people with you. The most important thing is to bring enough money, be sane, and stay away from scammers. Prince Teng is a very typical negative example.
It’s a mighty journey, eating and drinking, and let’s have a “pass away in this small boat, and spend the rest of my life in the rivers and seas”.
It's very smooth.
Li Qinzai suddenly ejected from the recliner and shouted loudly: "Come here, prepare four... no, eight pig trotters for me, all with front hooves, hurry up!"
Fragrance leaves, star anise, cinnamon and other spices were put in small gauze bags, a huge casserole was filled with water, and eight pig trotters were simmered in the water for two hours.
When night fell, the pig's trotters were finally stewed. The pig's trotters in the big casserole were tender and glutinous when poked with bamboo chopsticks.
Li Qinzai carefully closed the door, and the family of three sat in the side room in the front yard. Cui Jie and Qiao'er sniffed hard, and the aroma filling the room made their index fingers tickle.
"Dad, I want to eat, I want to eat!" Qiao'er said loudly, waving her bamboo chopsticks.
Li Qinzai took out a whole pig's trotter from the casserole, blew it to cool down and stuffed it into Qiao'er. He said with a smile: "Catch it with your hands and nibble it. Don't worry about your manners."
Of course Qiao'er wasn't polite, and she grabbed it with her hands, like a little tiger that had just learned to hunt, showing its teeth and biting fiercely.
Li Qinzai fished out another pig's trotter and gave it to Cui Jie. After all, Cui Jie came from a wealthy family and couldn't do something as shameful as grabbing and chewing it with her hands, so she carefully tore off the skin of the pig's trotter with bamboo chops.
The meat is so stewed that it breaks when picked up with bamboo chopsticks. When you pick up the skin of the meat and put it into your mouth, it melts in your mouth and leaves a fragrant aroma on your lips and teeth.
Cui Jie's eyes lit up and she blurted out: "It's delicious!"
Li Qinzai laughed, picked up a pig's trotter, and gnawed it with both hands like the buckwheat.
Cui Jie stopped after taking two bites and whispered: "The pig's trotters made by your husband are so delicious. How many of them can you send to Your Majesty and the Queen?"
Li Qinzai snorted and said, "I didn't send it. Did you pay for the food? Why should I let them eat for free?"
Cui Jie was shocked and hit him hard: "Silence! You are risking your life. You dare to talk nonsense."
"Madam, please rest assured and eat your food. Don't worry about anything else. By the way, in a few days I plan to make up a lie and ask for leave. Let's go out to play as a family of three. Let's have fun for a year and a half."
Cui Jie said in shock: "Why do you want to go out for fun for no reason? Are the disciples in the school not paying attention?"
She still didn't know about the conversation between Li Qinzai and Empress Wu in the garden today, and Li Qinzai didn't want to explain.
"Play if you want, and be more straightforward. If we don't play, we will grow old. We will regret not seeing the great land of the Tang Dynasty until we die. What a shame."
Seeing Li Qinzai's unrestrained look, Cui Jie had a gut feeling that something might have happened, but Li Qinzai didn't want to say anything, and she didn't dare to ask any more questions.
While the family of three was enjoying the pig's trotters, Li Zhi's voice suddenly came from outside the wing.
"Eh? It smells so good. Why is this room closed? Did Jingchu secretly cook something delicious without letting me know?"
The door was pushed open unexpectedly, and Li Zhi stepped in and saw a family of three each holding a pig's trotter, looking at him in bewilderment.
Li Zhi sniffed vigorously, feeling frightened and angry. He pointed at Li Qinzai and said, "Li Jingchu, you are going too far!"
The eight pig trotters had been cleanly cut by the three people. Li Zhi looked at the empty casserole with dull eyes and gritted his teeth and said: "That's unforgivable! Tell me, what did you just make? I want to eat it too, and make another one.
!”
"Your Majesty, forgive me, uh, your Majesty, calm down..." Li Qinzai hurriedly reassured.
Li Zhi was furious: "What a precious thing, but you secretly hide it from me. Is this what a loyal minister should do?"
Cui Jie was so ashamed that she glared at Li Qinzai fiercely. With a red face, she pulled Qiao'er to salute, and then she hurriedly left and fled the scene.
"Your Majesty, what I eat is pig's trotters. This food is very vulgar and despised by the powerful, so I dare not offer it to the emperor. Besides, the meat of pig's trotters is high in fat, so it is not suitable for your majesty to eat..."
Li Zhi said quietly: "After all, you are just sneaking around hiding it from me and not giving me delicious food."
Li Qinzai wiped the sweat from his forehead and said hurriedly: "If your Majesty really wants to eat, can I cook it for you right now?"
"What are you waiting for? Let's do it quickly. I'll prepare fine wine and prepare the bed for you." Li Zhi was finally happy.
I have to say that Li Zhi is really eager for delicious food. I wonder if he is as virtuous in Tai Chi Palace.
The pig's trotters had been stewed for two hours, so Li Zhi waited patiently for two hours without urging him at all, for fear that the pig's trotters would be spoiled if he did so.
It wasn't until Li Qinzai brought the fragrant casserole that Li Zhi was overjoyed.
There is absolutely no need for manners or anything like that. After cooling off, I grabbed the pig's trotters with both hands and ate them. The oil dripped down the corners of my mouth. Just looking at this look, if there was a past life, this guy must have been a mukbang with millions of fans.