Li Jingxuan sat in front of the chessboard, looking at the stalemate game and lost in thought.
He was considering how much concessions he had to make this time to satisfy the saint.
The prime minister is a very special position. Throughout the dynasties, there has been an overt or covert struggle for power between the emperor and the prime minister.
Li Jingxuan undoubtedly came to this position as Li Zhi's confidant. At first he was obedient and obeyed the saint's arrangements, but gradually he also began to strengthen himself.
Since he is already a highly respected minister, he naturally wants to enjoy the feeling of having great power. He is truly a saint. Why does he work so hard to get promoted?
And precisely because of the authority of the prime minister, Li Jingxuan was able to continue to test within Li Zhi's tolerance and gradually expand his power.
Although Li Zhi's disgust was building up, he would not really win over him.
After all, it would not necessarily be better to remove Li Jingxuan and replace him with another prime minister.
Under normal circumstances, it is normal for both parties to hold power and fight with each other.
But this time it was obviously an emergency.
Li Jingxuan knew very well that the rumors had greatly angered the saint, and his son had done something stupid again, so he should give in to calm the saint's anger.
After calculating how many key positions he had to give up, Li Jingxuan frowned in distress and angrily said: "Nie Zi! Nie Zi!"
After scolding, he still had to care, so he asked the steward: "How is the situation with the inner guards?"
Someone around him said: "Alang, there is no news coming back. It shouldn't be a bad thing."
Li Jingxuan nodded slightly. If there is no news at this time, it is good news. If there is really bad news...
Panic shouts came from outside: "Alang, it's not good! It's not good!"
Li Jingxuan's head was dizzy, and he said in a deep voice: "How unbecoming is it to yell and scream? After reporting the matter, go and receive the caning!"
The steward who reported the news was about to cry, but he quickly said: "Shilang Cui has been arrested, and I heard that he has begun interrogation in prison!"
Li Jingxuan was stunned: "Cui Shouye is the leader of the Internal Guard Pavilion. Who dares to offend the superiors... What decree did the saint give?"
The steward said: "The saint dismissed Cui Shilang from his official position, his official robe and official seal were stripped off, and he was immediately put into prison!"
Li Jingxuan thought thoughtfully: "Why did the saint punish him like this? Could it be that... this person spread the rumor? It's not impossible!"
No one knows Cui Shouye's obsession with the prime minister better than Li Jingxuan, otherwise he would not have been able to easily pull him on board.
Taking this opportunity, Cui Shouye wanted to drag him down, which is a normal political struggle.
Thinking of this, Li Jingxuan stroked his beard gently, regained his composure, and waved his hand: "It doesn't matter, this is not necessarily a bad thing, go down and receive ten lashes!"
The unlucky guy stepped back and was whipped, while the others remained silent.
This Alang has very strict rules and cherishes his reputation, so he is very strict with his servants.
Ten to fifty lashes with a whip are called "whipping", and sixty to one hundred lashes are called "cane punishment" in this era.
The official's cane punishment could only reach two hundred blows at most, but some servants of the Li family were beaten to death directly. From then on, other people lived more cautiously, not daring to tarnish their master's reputation.
"Cui Shouye is over, there won't be any more attacks on this case, and I don't have to give in so much..."
Li Jingxuan looked at the chessboard, rearranged several chess pieces, and smiled.
After my mood improved, I couldn't help but feel a little strange.
He has written so many letters, why hasn't one of them been returned yet?
Although some things can be tacitly understood, in the end they are not as good as black and white letters on yellow paper.
Li Jingxuan thought of this, hesitated for a moment, and then took down a few chess pieces and murmured: "Forget it, let's give in more!"
At this moment, the servant in the inner house came to report again: "Alang, my wife seems to be returning home."
Li Jingxuan was startled, showing confusion, and stood up hastily.
This newlywed is the legitimate daughter of the Wang family in Taiyuan, and her background is not cheap.
Queen Wang, the former Queen of Li Zhi, ostensibly came from the Wang family in Taiyuan, but she was actually a branch of Pan, and the main line was not recognized. Queen Wang was supported by the Guanlong gentry because she was a descendant of Wang Sizheng, and gained the support of Changsun Wuji, Chu Suiliang and others.
The support actually has nothing to do with the Shandong gentry.
Li Jingxuan's third wife is the real legitimate daughter of the Wang family in Taiyuan. After the wedding, the dowry brought from the master's family alone was enough to raise the Li family's food and clothing expenses to a higher level.
Li Jingxuan hurried over and stopped Mr. Wang in the backyard, who was being shouted at by her maids: "Madam, where are you going?"
Mrs. Wang saluted with impeccable posture: "Husband, I will go back to my parents' home."
Li Jingxuan frowned and said: "This is a special time, so we can't add any extraneous matters. I hope Madam will give up this idea. When I come back in the future, I will see Madam off personally."
Mrs. Wang shook her head: "I won't bother you anymore, husband. I will give you a letter of peace and separation when you return home."
Li Jingxuan was stunned. He couldn't believe his ears for a moment. After a full ten breaths, he said in a deep voice: "What does this mean? Is there something wrong with my wife? Do I want to do such a wanton thing?"
Mrs. Wang said calmly: "It's not that I'm slandering my husband-in-law, it's actually my predecessor's misfortune. I don't want to make the same mistake again. I wrote a letter home and my elders agreed with me."
"You think I've lost power and can't wait to end the relationship!"
Li Jingxuan's face was expressionless, but his heart was furious.
The death of his second wife also caused a great uproar at that time. After all, the elders in the family were nobles. Seeing the misery of his daughter before her death, she naturally complained after she returned.
But Li Jingxuan published more than a dozen passionate articles about his love for his wife, and scholars praised him wildly, and then nothing happened.
The Shandong nobles still obediently gave up their third wife, and the Li family of Zhaojun even offered to merge the clan.
As a result, his legitimate son has just been arrested, and the Wang family is about to divorce, so he brought up his ex-wife as a reason?
Wang was actually not that anxious, but after she wrote the letter, she quickly received a reply from brother Chang'an.
The letter asked her to make peace with Li Jingxuan as soon as possible without disturbing the family.
She always felt an indescribable feeling of depression when she was with this cold prime minister. What she said in the letter was exactly what he wanted. At this moment, she bowed again: "The letter of reconciliation has arrived, and the financial accounts will be settled. I take my leave!"
Watching the newlyweds leave, Li Jingxuan's cheek muscles twitched violently.
He is greedy for power, but not money.
Because there is no need to be greedy.
The first two wives were both legitimate daughters of the fifth surname, and their dowries were a huge amount of wealth.
The wealth was apparently in his wife's name, but after his wife passed away, it naturally became the property of the Li family.
Therefore, every time Li Jingxuan gets married, his living standard rises to a higher level.
In addition, he is jointly affiliated with the Li family of Zhao County, and the business of the Li family chamber of commerce must be carried out with his clan members.
With all these things, there is no need to consider money issues.
But now that the wife is divorced and the property is divided, news of this matter will inevitably cause an uproar.
No matter how hard he shirks his responsibility, the divorce of a dignified prime minister from his wife will be a huge blow to his reputation.
Li Jingxuan thought about it, but there was no way to eliminate the influence, so he silently made up his mind: "If we can't reconcile, we must let the Wang family take back her mind!"
He immediately thought of Shilin, summoned his confidants who were specially contacted, and gave instructions in a low voice.
Unexpectedly, after listening to the instructions, the steward was embarrassed and said: "Alang, I looked for those literati yesterday, but I couldn't find them. They seem to be hiding."
Li Jingxuan said calmly: "Just change a batch."
Scholars are indeed a small group of people compared to all the people in the world, but officials are also a small group of people compared to the scholars in the world.
In Chang'an, there is no shortage of scholars who are eager to become officials, and it is extremely convenient for them to come and go.
The steward took the order and left. Only two hours later, he rushed back: "Alang, the situation is not good. Those literati dared to refuse and said... and said..."
Li Jingxuan's eyes darkened: "What's the rule for hesitating? Tell me quickly, go down and receive ten lashes!"
The steward said aggrievedly: "They say that you, Alang, are not what you seem, you are hypocritical in your treatment of others, you abuse your wife to the point of madness, and you are a complete hypocrite!"
Li Jingxuan was stunned: "Abusing your wife makes you crazy? Those jealous people, how dare they!"
He sat back and watched his second wife die miserably, and he also saw the harm of Yundan. He knew that if he took it for a long time, he would not be able to escape death, and the long-term pain was not as good as the short-term pain.
Facts have proven his foresight...
He had always framed others by himself, but now he was slandered by Shilin. Li Jingxuan was furious: "I will never forgive you. They are selected by the Ministry of Civil Affairs. They will never have a chance!"
But the prime minister is still the prime minister after all. He was cursing and cursing, and suddenly he came to his senses and his face changed horribly: "No! It's not them...it's your Majesty! Your Majesty wants to kill me!"
If a minister has a good reputation, even if he does something wrong and is killed by the emperor, the world will talk that it is the emperor's fault, and the scholars will be excited.
If a minister has a bad reputation, even if he makes no mistakes in his work and is killed by the emperor, the people will applaud and applaud him, the emperor is wise.
The latter is the reason why Wu Zetian killed cruel officials in history. His Majesty the God Emperor understands this.
Obviously, the Plum Blossom Internal Guards began to tarnish Li Jingxuan's reputation, not just by demoting him because of his crime, but by wanting him dead.
This time, Li Zhi really hated this former attendant. If he didn't kill Li Jingxuan, he would probably be in a panic.
Li Jingxuan finally realized the crisis. His legs weakened and he almost collapsed. The slave beside him quickly supported him.
His head was in severe pain: "I didn't spread the rumor. I was wronged, Your Majesty! No! I want to think about who can take my place! As long as I suppress that person, Your Majesty can grant me grace and there will be a chance of improvement!"
A mature political figure will never do anything too hastily.
Before taking down Li Jingxuan, Li Zhi had to consider who to replace him as prime minister.
Just like before using Wu Min, people were first sent to Lingnan to bring those demoted Wu family children back to the capital.
First of all, think about who will take over the key positions, so that you will not be in a passive situation after being appointed and dismissed at will without a more suitable minister to take over.
Li Jingxuan thinks he is very important.
It's not just about ability, there are many people who are better than him in terms of ability.
But among the four prime ministers, they had to suppress the Guanlong gentry and win over the Shandong gentry within a certain limit. They also had to show a clear will of a saint, and their own prestige and qualifications were also indispensable.
Under these conditions, it is not so easy to choose a successor.
Therefore, Li Zhi was sharpening his sword and selecting people at the same time. This process could take as short as a few months or as long as a year.
By that time, Li Jingxuan's reputation will be completely ruined, and he can attack the three tribes with a sword.
And Li Jingxuan's only way to save himself is to try his best to restore his reputation during this period, and on the other hand, suppress his successor.
It made Li Zhi realize that he was more useful after all.
"Hel me up! I'm going to write... write a letter!"
Li Jingxuan desperately thought of a solution and began to write a letter tremblingly.
The main wife, Mrs. Wang, left, and four beautiful concubines also came to the middle hall to serve Li Jingxuan. Their brows were filled with surprise and worry.
The surprise was not that she became a regular wife. It was impossible for her to become a regular wife because she was not born well enough, but at least without the oppression of a regular wife, the concubines would have a much higher degree of freedom.
What worries them is that they have never seen Li Jingxuan like this before, and they are so frightened that even the hand holding the pen is shaking.
After writing five letters, he couldn't hold on any longer. He put down the pen and gasped.
At this moment, a high-pitched voice came from outside the house: "The imperial edict has arrived!"
"Your Majesty knows that I was wronged?"
Li Jingxuan raised his eyebrows with joy, braced himself, and led the crowd to respectfully welcome the saint's edict.
"Order Li Jingxuan, the minister of West Taiwan, to go to Xuanwu Gate and watch the poisonous pills being destroyed."
Li Jingxuan knelt down, trembling all over.
At this time, let him see Pindan?
The chamberlain waited for a moment, half-smiling but not smiling: "Li Shilang, please accept the order, and then go to the palace as soon as possible!"
Li Jingxuan staggered and tried to stand up, but finally collapsed and cried out sadly:
"It's hard to redress my grievances! It's hard to redress my grievances!!"