Li Qinzai was carried out of Tai Chi Palace by four palace attendants. As soon as he left the palace gate, Li Qinzai miraculously sobered up.
As expected of the wine in the palace, the quality of the wine is really good. What’s even more amazing is that it can only be drunk in the palace, and nothing will happen outside the palace.
After smiling and thanking the stunned palace attendants, Li Qinzai turned around and left.
Outside the palace gate, Liu Asi and others came to greet him.
Li Qinzai waved his hand and said, "Find a remote corner and let's wait."
Liu Asi took the order, and everyone stayed away from the palace gate, gathered under the wall at the other end of the square, and then squatted down together, like a group of street gangsters waiting to extort the pocket money of primary school students.
After waiting for about half an hour, a carriage came slowly from the end of Zhuque Street. The carriage was going a bit fast, and it was obvious that he had been ordered to enter the palace in a hurry.
Li Qinzai stood up and stared at the carriage. He saw the carriage stopped outside the palace gate, and an official in purple official uniform got out of the carriage.
Xu Jingzong. This old guy can be clearly recognized from a long distance away.
I saw Xu Jingzong adjusting his clothes outside the palace gate, then the palace door opened a little, and Xu Jingzong entered under the leadership of the palace people.
Li Qinzai smiled, waved his hand and said, "Let's go back to the Duke's Mansion."
…………
Xu Jingzong stayed in the palace for more than an hour, and then resigned from the palace.
For more than an hour, there were only Li Zhi and Xu Jingzong in Anren Hall. No one knew what Li Zhi and Xu Jingzong said, but some palace officials saw Xu Jingzong walking out of the hall with sweating profusely and a look of embarrassment on his face.
After Xu Jingzong left, Li Zhi poured himself another glass of wine, took a long sip, picked up a piece of beef that was stewed, smacked his lips, and murmured: "It still lacks the taste..."
Empress Wu, surrounded by the palace ladies, quietly approached the main hall.
Wang Changfu, who was standing outside the palace, hesitated for a moment and was about to stop Empress Wu when Empress Wu frowned and gave him a cold look.
Wang Changfu was stunned, hurriedly bowed and saluted, and silently took two steps back.
Empress Wu straightened her clothes, then straightened her body, took a deep breath, and a warm and gentle smile appeared on her face. She walked into the hall with her lotus steps.
Seeing Li Zhi sitting alone in the palace, pouring and drinking by himself, Empress Wu approached and said softly: "Why is your majesty drinking by himself? Aren't you lonely? Why don't you sing and dance to entertain him?"
The moment Li Zhi raised his eyes to look at Empress Wu, his eyes were as cold as thousand-year-old ice, with a hint of sinisterness in the coldness. Such a terrifying look made Empress Wu couldn't help but take a step back even though she had been through many storms.
Then Li Zhi's eyes quickly thawed, and he smiled instantly.
"It turns out to be the queen, haha, I almost recognized the wrong person."
Empress Wu forced a smile and said: "Your Majesty drinks alone and looks very lonely. It's my fault. I didn't take good care of Your Majesty."
Li Zhi smiled: "Emperors are inherently lonely. The queen has lived in the palace for many years. She must know the pain of being in the palace."
Empress Wu said quietly: "Yes, living in a deep palace for a long time is not only painful, but also has all kinds of alternatives..."
Li Zhi raised his eyebrows: "What is the queen's last resort?"
Empress Wu smiled bitterly: "I am in charge of the harem. There are tens of thousands of people in the palace. Calling it a palace, it is no more than a small city. There are constant thefts and bullying every day. Those who complain and cry and those who are domineering are responsible for the behavior of these people all day long.
I feel like I’m going bad soon.”
Li Zhi smiled and said: "The queen has worked hard, and I am also very tired. Why don't you and I leave the Tai Chi Palace and find a leisurely place to go? It just so happens that the Luoyang Palace has been repaired. How about we choose a day to visit Luoyang?"
Empress Wu smiled and said: "If Your Majesty is so elegant, I will certainly be willing to accompany Your Majesty."
After speaking, Empress Wu knelt down and sat opposite Li Zhi. Seeing an empty wine cup on the low table, Empress Wu's pupils shrank and she said with a smile: "Is there someone drinking with your majesty just now?"
"That's right, just after Jingchu left, that guy was not very good at drinking. He got drunk after just a few drinks."
"Jingchu has returned to Chang'an? I especially miss Jingchu's cooking skills."
Li Zhi hummed and said, "Jingchu has been working hard these days. He went back and forth from Zhuangzi to Chang'an several times. I heard from Bai Qisi that Jingchu brought Wu Minzhi back to Zhuangzi yesterday and came to Chang'an again today.
"
Empress Wu's eyelids twitched and she fell silent for no reason.
Since we are talking about Wu Minzhi, it means that what Li Zhi said has hit the point, and it would be a bit ignorant to avoid the topic again.
After a long time, Empress Wu sighed and said: "My niece is also ill-fated and cannot be blessed by His Majesty... I never expected that my two cousins would be so cruel."
A coldness flashed in Li Zhi's eyes, and he poured a full bottle of wine and drank it all without saying anything to her.
Empress Wu was about to cry, her eyes were red, she took out a handkerchief and wiped the corners of her eyes, and choked out: "Although my niece is unfortunate, your majesty's mood is more important. I think I might as well choose a few more beautiful concubines for your majesty to enrich the harem."
, Your Majesty will be lonely in the future, it would be nice to have someone who can understand and explain to you."
"What do you think, Your Majesty?"
Her words were artful. Although she still refused to admit it, Empress Wu also implicitly proposed a solution.
Translated into vernacular, it means, don't pursue Mrs. Wei's death. I can allow the harem to have a few more beauties. Mrs. Wei is beautiful, and other women are not bad either. She has everything she should have. Anyway, men see her.
I'm so excited. Wouldn't it be nice to find some fresh ones for you?
So, how about letting this matter go?
Li Zhi smiled again, his smile getting colder.
Is this a thing about Nabu Naimei?
You've been wandering recently, and I really want to cure you. It's that simple.
"The queen is interested," Li Zhi said with a sincere face: "I am truly lucky to have the queen as my wife. With the queen in charge of the harem and assisting me in handling government affairs, I have nothing to worry about."
Empress Wu also smiled, her smile was very sweet.
At this moment, the hall was peaceful, and it seemed as if nothing had happened to the couple. They had resumed their previous love and affection, and their love was endless.
Empress Wu even sat down and drank a few drinks with Li Zhi until her cheeks turned slightly red, then Empress Wu resigned to Li Zhi.
After walking out of the main hall, Empress Wu's face suddenly turned cold and she quickened her pace towards the harem.
A palace maid followed her step by step and whispered: "Queen, this slave has just inquired. Your Majesty called Weinan County Marquis Li Qin to enter the palace. After drinking with Your Majesty for half an hour, Li County Marquis was drunk and was carried out by the palace servants.
Come to the palace."
Empress Wu was startled: "You got drunk in half an hour? Li Qinzai has more than this amount of alcohol..."
The palace maid continued: "I don't know how drunk Li County Marquis is, but after half an hour, the right minister Xu Jingzong entered the palace according to the imperial edict, and talked secretly with his majesty in Anren Hall for more than an hour before leaving..."
Empress Wu thought quietly for a while, then her face suddenly changed and her voice became tense.
"No! Quick, summon Li Yifu into the palace!"
The palace maid didn't know why, but she quickly turned around and ran towards the palace gate.
Empress Wu's face became increasingly ugly.
Li Zhi summoned two people into the palace today. At this moment, she seemed to understand something, her heartbeat suddenly accelerated, and her face turned pale.