Li Zhi was not so much explaining to Li Ji as seeking Li Ji's support.
The reason, of course, is legitimate. The family is hostile, the imperial examination is difficult to carry out, and the imperial power is unstable. A ceremony to enshrine Li and Tang is held to declare to the world that Li and Tang's imperial power is orthodox. From the standpoint of the emperor, who dares to say that it should not be done?
In front of Li Ji, Li Zhi could be considered as visceral. He even spoke frankly about the emperor's intention to balance the situation of the court. Obviously, he did not regard Li Ji as an outsider.
Li Ji is indeed not an outsider. Ever since Emperor Gaozu bestowed the surname Li on him, Li Ji has been a clan member given the surname by the emperor. His names and those of the descendants of the Li family are all recorded in the royal family genealogy.
Therefore, Li Zhi's respect and closeness to Li Ji were not only due to Li Ji's meritorious service in three dynasties, but also the attitude determined by many factors combined.
After Li Zhi talked for a long time, he stared at Li Ji expectantly.
Li Ji was also very considerate. He did not continue to pretend to be asleep, but nodded frequently: "What your Majesty said is reasonable. I second it, yes, I second it."
He said he agreed, but Li Zhi's expression was a little disappointed.
He found that Li Ji was not sincere at all when he said this, and his perfunctory attitude was simply obvious.
Li Zhi sighed deeply and said with a wry smile: "Old General, if you have something to say, you might as well speak out. I can listen to what you say."
Li Ji was silent for a long time, and then said softly: "Your Majesty, I am old and weak. I feel a little confused by the difficulties your Majesty mentioned..."
Li Zhi said hurriedly: "Didn't the old general understand?"
Li Ji said slowly: "I have only one question. After raising this question, no matter what your Majesty's answer is, I will have nothing to say."
Li Zhi couldn't help but sit up straight: "I am all ears."
Li Jin grunted and stroked his beard and said: "The old minister is actually a reckless person. At the end of the Sui Dynasty, the world was in chaos. The old minister rose from Wagang and surrendered to the late emperor. Whether it was the Wude year or the Zhenguan year, the old minister also served as a guide for the Tang Dynasty. I tried my best..."
"The veteran is not a born rebellious person. In the late Sui Dynasty, the veteran first established himself in the wilderness, and later surrendered to the late emperor's tent. At that time, I, as well as a group of old brothers such as Wei Gong, E Gong, and Lu Gong, led the army. Sweep the world, even if you risk your life, you must overthrow the Sui Emperor and teach the sun and moon to replace the sky with a new one."
Li Ji's expression gradually became serious, and he stared into Li Zhi's eyes and said slowly: "Your Majesty, guess why the old ministers and many old brothers tried their best to overthrow the former Sui Dynasty? Is it for their own glory and wealth?"
"In the most difficult period of the year, we were surrounded by hundreds of thousands of troops from the former Sui Dynasty. No one was sure that we would survive until tomorrow, and no one thought that in the future we would become a public official, establish a government office, and become a highly respected minister."
"Your Majesty, what do you think we did when we fought bloody battles and conquered such a huge empire?"
Li Zhi looked stunned and looked at Li Ji blankly.
But Li Ji smiled, yawned a long time, and sighed: "It's really useless. I only said a few words, but I'm so sleepy. Your Majesty, please forgive me for being mentally weak. I want to sue you." Return to the mansion to rest."
Li Zhi stood up subconsciously and opened his mouth: "Old General, I..."
Li Ji turned around and smiled again: "I am old, stubborn and old-fashioned. I cannot keep up with the thoughts of you young people. Talking too much will only increase your ridicule."
"It's just that our old brothers back then never thought that we would live to see the country we built with our own hands flourish, how difficult it would be..."
"Your Majesty, the late Emperor was right in what he said, 'Water can carry a boat, but water can also capsize it.' It is not easy to conquer a country. The foundation of imperial power lies with the people, not the king. Please consider it carefully and treat it kindly."
"Why did the second generation of the Sui Dynasty die? The history books have concluded that the emperor was unkind."
After speaking, Li Ji stood up and left. The moment he stepped out of the palace door, he left a long sigh.
Until Li Ji walked away, Li Zhi was still sitting in the hall blankly, and Li Ji's sigh seemed to be echoing in his ears.
…………
After the court meeting dispersed, Li Qinzai walked out of the Tai Chi Palace. As soon as he crossed the Jinshui Bridge outside Longshouyuan, he was shocked to find that Li Sujie and other disciples were still waiting outside the palace gate.
Li Qinzai smiled at them, but Li Sujie and others were overjoyed and flew up to greet them.
"Sir, you are unharmed, so congratulations!" Li Sujie said in surprise.
Li Qinzai's smile suddenly froze, he narrowed his eyes and said: "From what you say, it is only reasonable that I must die in the palace, right?"
"This disciple has absolutely no intention of doing so. I am simply happy that my husband has returned safely." Li Sujie immediately explained.
From Li Qinzai's narrowed eyes, he sensed the approaching danger.
Li Xian came over and asked curiously: "Sir, how will the meeting be today? Is it very intense? Will you, sir, quarrel with the Confucian scholars and return in triumph in the end?"
Li Qinzai was even more speechless.
"Intense", "conflict of words", "exhausted"... Can these words be said together?
Do you know how dirty a person's thoughts are after living two lifetimes and being tortured by all kinds of dirty jokes in his previous life?
Li Sujie said cautiously: "Sir, did you have a quarrel with your father in the palace today?"
Li Qinzai shook his head, and then thought of a famous proposition, so he suddenly asked: "If Emperor Qin and I fall into the water, who will you save?"
Li Sujie was taken aback, obviously not expecting his husband to ask such a despicable question.
Li Sujie thought for a while and said: "Of course I ordered the imperial guards to save people, sir and my father."
Li Qinzai continued to die: "No, there are no guards around you, you are the only one, who do you want to save?"
Li Sujie said carefully: "Sir, if you tell me the truth, please don't blame me. I think you should save your father first. After all, your father is the emperor. If you don't save your father, even if you are saved, you will probably die if you get ashore..." As long as we save my father first, my husband may still have a chance to survive in the water."
Li Qinzai was startled. Hey, he forgot that his father was the emperor. This gift was really humiliating himself.
He could not prove his own importance, and was suspected of maliciously cursing the emperor.
"Change the question, if your father and I fall into a cesspit at the same time, who would you wash first..."
Before he finished speaking, Li Sujie and Li Xian held Li Qinzai on their left and right and walked out of the palace.
"Sir, you have too many questions today!"
"That's right, isn't it good to live?"
The disciples sent Li Qinzai back to the Duke's Mansion before saying goodbye respectfully.
After Li Qinzai waited in the front yard for more than half an hour, Li Ji finally returned.
As soon as he stepped through the door, Li Qinzai came up to him, saluted first, and then stared at Li Ji expectantly.
Li Ji's expression was as usual and there were no clues. Seeing Li Qinzai staring at him in a daze, Li Ji frowned dissatisfied and kicked him.
"Speak, you bastard! Why are you looking at me blankly? Where is the impassioned speech in the palace today? If you have the ability, shake it off in front of me."
Li Qinzai received a kick from Li Ji and said with a smile: "My grandson is just a quick talker. Grandpa is the general who can win thousands of miles. The emperor summoned grandpa alone. Is it his destiny to withdraw the title of Zen?"
Li Ji snorted and said: "How can it be so fast? Doesn't the emperor need to go down the steps?"