The arrival of the British Duke Li Ji shocked the kings and ministers of the Golden Palace.
Li Ji was almost seventy years old, and he was well versed in the ways of being a minister in the officialdom. Since he said the key words in the incident of Li Zhi deposing Wang Liwu, Li Ji chose to retreat bravely.
First of all, he didn't want to give Li Zhi the impression of being arrogant based on his merits. The water in the harem was too deep. Li Ji's original sentence, "This is your Majesty's family matter, why bother asking outsiders?" was actually considered as a minister's duty. If you have overstepped your bounds, of course you have to step back decisively afterwards.
Secondly, the incident of deposing Wang Liwu was not only to clear out the harem, but more importantly, to defeat the Guanlong clan, remove the eldest grandson Wuji and Chu Suiliang, and even to warn the Guanlong clan not to interfere with the imperial power.
Although Li Ji only said one sentence in this matter, this sentence was very important. This sentence represented the attitude of the military and gave Li Zhi a reassurance, allowing him to let go of his hands and feet without any worries. Clean up the harem with scruples.
Of course, Li Ji also had a rift with the Guanlong Group because of this. When the Zheng family set up a scheme for Li Qinzai to sell the White Jade Pegasus, it was part of the Guanlong Group's revenge, and it almost brought the entire Li family down.
Li Ji was an absolutely smart man, and smart people would never hide their own troubles. From then on, Li Ji decisively withdrew from the power and right and wrong of the court, and was basically in a state of retirement.
Therefore, Li Ji usually would not participate in any large-scale court gathering on weekdays. He would only appear once at the emperor's sacrifice ceremony at the end of each year.
At this moment, during an ordinary Shuowang court meeting, Li Ji actually appeared. This had to shock the entire palace.
Li Zhidang stood up and walked quickly outside the palace gate. He happened to see the old Li Ji, hunched over, walking slowly with the palace attendants respectfully accompanying him.
Li Zhi stretched out his hands to hold Li Ji's arm, and sighed: "There is nothing going on in the court, how dare you bother the general to come in person? You are tired."
Li Ji was wearing formal purple court clothes, a beam crown on his head, and a purple gold fish bag around his waist. Hearing this, he gently broke away from Li Zhi's holding hand and stubbornly bowed to Li Zhi as a minister.
As soon as he bent down, Li Zhi hurriedly held his elbows and said with a wry smile: "Old general, please don't offend me. If you don't do anything without courtesy, please don't do anything for me. My sin will be huge." "
Li Ji shook his head: "The king is the king, and the ministers are ministers. The king is the king, and the ministers are the ministers. The etiquette cannot be abolished."
Li Zhi hurriedly helped Li Ji into the palace. Li Ji stepped into the Tai Chi Palace. More than a dozen generals in the palace also stood up and respectfully saluted Li Ji with clasped fists. They were so convinced that even Li Qinzai, who was standing in the palace, looked envious. Endless.
How much prestige does one need to receive such high-scale courtesy?
It was less than a hundred steps from the palace gate. Wherever Li Ji passed, no matter whether he was civil servants or military commanders, they all saluted him respectfully.
Li Ji looked like a kind old man next door, with no arrogance on his face, and nodded to the ministers with a smile.
However, his eyes glanced at Li Qinzai, who was standing alone in the center of the hall. Li Ji seemed to have not seen him and walked past him expressionlessly.
Li Qinzai touched his nose and smiled bitterly.
This scene was naturally seen in the eyes of the monarch and his ministers, and many people suddenly showed meaningful expressions.
Li Zhi's eyes also flashed with an unpredictable light. From the moment Li Ji walked into the hall, he vaguely understood something.
He helped Li Ji to the head of the palace. Li Zhi asked the palace servants to give Li Ji a seat. He sat not far from Li Zhi's head. The officials were envious but had nothing to say.
With Li Ji's qualifications and achievements, as well as his weight in the Tang military, he deserves to be treated with great courtesy by the emperor, and others can only envy him.
Before Li Ji arrived, Li Zhi and Li Qinzai were already at war with each other in the palace. If Li Ji arrived a moment later, Li Qinzai might be driven out of the Tai Chi Palace by Li Zhi's order.
However, the arrival of Li Ji at this moment was like pouring a basin of ice water into the boiling water, and the tense atmosphere instantly cooled down.
How dare you beat someone's grandson in front of his grandfather? No one in their right mind would do such a thing.
Li Zhi felt helpless, but he was not dissatisfied with Li Ji. He turned around and said with a smile: "Today is just an ordinary court meeting. Why does the old general have to come in person? I am a little uneasy."
Li Ji knelt down on the futon, clasped his hands towards Li Zhi, and said, "I haven't attended a court meeting for many years. When I woke up early this morning and heard the bells from the Bell and Drum Tower of Tai Chi Palace, I suddenly felt a lot of emotion in my heart."
"When the old minister was still in good health, he would go to the palace every day regardless of rain or shine to discuss matters with the late emperor and many virtuous ministers and colleagues. Now that the late emperor has passed away, his colleagues have withered away, and only the old minister is still alive, I shed tears even thinking about it."
As Li Ji spoke, tears suddenly flashed in his turbid old eyes, and his expression became sad.
"Therefore, I came to the palace shamelessly to listen to the discussions of my colleagues and recall the past. Your Majesty, please don't blame me for being abrupt." Li Ji raised his sleeves and wiped his eyes, and said with his hands.
Li Zhi hurriedly said: "Not rude, not rude. Although the old general is old, his concern for the country has not diminished. I feel honored and frightened at the same time. I am at the top of the temple. If I make any mistakes, please forgive me." I am very grateful to the old general for his timely compliment."
Li Ji stroked his beard and smiled and said: "The monarch and his ministers are discussing matters. The old minister just sits in the palace and listens, and will not interrupt. Your Majesty, don't worry."
After speaking, Li Ji smiled, and then... he closed his eyes in the hall, as if he was about to fall asleep.
This made Li Zhi very embarrassed. I was planning to teach your grandson a lesson just now. If I do this now, should I continue or stop?
Li Qinzai, who was standing alone in the center of the hall, slightly twitched the corner of his mouth.
The old fox is indeed an old fox. When he opened his mouth, he reminisced about the past of the late emperor. He was filled with memories. After he finished speaking, he promised not to interrupt or cause trouble, and just sat and listened.
All the respect was given to Li Zhi, but he sat aside and dozed off.
However, from the moment Li Ji entered the palace, who would think that he really had nothing to do to commemorate the late emperor? The old Duke, who had not attended the court meeting for many years, suddenly came. What was he doing? Didn't the emperor and his ministers have any idea?
Li Zhi was also full of bitterness at this time.
Li Ji suddenly arrived today, saying he was here to listen, but when he opened his mouth, he recalled the memory of the late emperor. Li Zhi still had basic emotional intelligence, and he knew that this was Li Ji trying to talk to him.
Why do people mention the late emperor when they come in? Is it to tell him that in order to be a wise monarch like the late emperor, aren't you living in the shadow of the late emperor? Don't you want to surpass the late emperor in martial arts? First of all, you have to be wise. ah.
He also said that his colleagues are withering away, which means that the late emperor and his old ministers risked their lives to conquer the country. You'd better do it and cherish it, and don't be a prodigal.
Li Ji's opening remarks were deeply interpreted by the emperor and his ministers, enough to write a short essay about his thoughts after reading them.
Seeing that Li Ji was sitting aside and seemed to be dozing off, Li Zhi smiled helplessly, and then looked at Li Qinzai standing in the center of the hall again.
Li Zhi tried his best to squeeze out an amiable smile, and Li Zhi's voice seemed to have changed its tone, and it was full of air, which was called tenderness.
"I love you at the beginning of Jing Dynasty. If you have anything to do, please feel free to report it. Although I am not as broad-minded as the late emperor, I still think that I can accept advice freely. No matter how offensive your advice is, I will listen to it."
Li Qinzai's back felt like hairs were on his back.
This title...
Otherwise, you should give me a beating with the imperial rod.