As a member of the official residence, Cui Xin's political stance is neutral. Even because many members of the Cui family in Qinghe are attached to the East Palace, Cui Xin is slightly biased towards the King of Qin. This is caused by the survival instinct of a large family.
But now, Li Shan suspected that Cui Xin might have joined Li Shimin's command... Otherwise, it would be difficult to explain Cui Xin's unusual temptation today and his inconsistent remarks.
In fact, as early as the year before last in Qinghe County, Li Shan had made relevant speculations. Otherwise, even if he played an important role in the Shandong war, Cui Xin might not have listed him as a son-in-law.
Because on that day, the generals Li Shan had befriended...Tian Liu'an, Qi Shanxing, Li Daoxuan, and Xue Zhong were all from the lineage of the King of Qin.
In the eyes of many people, Li Shan planned the war in Shandong and unintentionally prevented the prince from conquering Hebei. This was a great help to the King of Qin... It should be a natural thing for him to join the King of Qin after returning to Beijing.
But unexpectedly, Li Shan first beheaded Cui Bo to relieve the siege of the East Palace, and then became an official through the imperial examination. In the battle for the right to inherit the throne, with the support of Li Yuan and Princess Pingyang, he even asked himself to leave the capital to avoid this whirlpool.
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Li Shan thought to himself, if Cui Xin was really Li Shimin's, then the weight shouldn't be heavy... If he was a confidant, he was the relationship between Weng's son-in-law, and Li Shimin should not have revealed anything about it.
"I heard that you came to visit the guest yesterday, and many of the Qin Prince's descendants gathered together?" Cui Xin kept deliberately bringing the topic to the Qin Prince's lineage, "I have been in Beijing for only three years, but I am very popular."
"My nephew has a good reputation and has always been kind to others." Li Shan said with a smile: "But I don't know him from the Qin Prince's family... But there were others who were present yesterday and later gathered at Dongshan Restaurant and Pingkangfang.
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"I heard that Duke Yang of Zhongshu Ling and the second son of Duke Jiang are all here." Cui Xin said with a smile: "This time Li Demou has been praised highly by the saint, I'm afraid the other disciples of Prince Qin's palace can't hold back."
He insisted on taking the topic in that direction, so Li Shan laughed, "There are countless civil and military heroes under the command of King Qin, and they are now in their prime...Brother Demou, it's just a coincidence."
Cui Xin nodded. He also knew that if it weren't for the personal relationship between Li Kai and Li Shan, he would not have snatched the seemingly low-ranking but actually very important position of Acting County Magistrate in front of the East Palace... If it fell into the hands of the East Palace,
Li Jiancheng can make waves with this.
Li Shan tried his best to change the topic, and Cui Xin did not continue to ask questions. After the two chatted for a while, Mrs. Zhang appeared outside the door, with the maid behind her carrying a tea tray.
"Mrs. Zhu's tea-making skills are wonderful. Today Huairen can try it." Zhang initially disliked Li Shan because of the Qinghe incident, but this was related to the situation and did not reject Li Shan himself. Now his future son-in-law has become famous.
The world's attitude has naturally softened.
Li Shan stood up and saluted, glanced at Cui Xin from the corner of his eye, picked up the tea cup and took a sip, frowning, and praised: "Yue... uh, my aunt's craftsmanship is worthy of the Zhang family of Wucheng, just fine grinding."
, I don’t know where to get the water, it has a unique taste!”
Mrs. Zhang chuckled and said: "There are several plum trees in the backyard. It snows heavily in the twelfth lunar month. I collect the snow from the petals every day and accumulate it for more than a month. It's just a small jar. Huairen will take it back later for Madam Zhu to taste it."
Cui Xin's face was a bit dark. His daughter braved the wind and snow every day to fetch the snow in person. As an old father, he has never had the chance to taste it...it turned out to be a gift!
Li Shan looked happy and thanked her continuously. Zhang asked with interest about the gifts Li Shan brought today. Most of them were jewelry, jewelry, furs and the like that were rare in the Central Plains. Some were bought in Xia City, and some were brought by caravans. Purchased in Yunzhou and other places, every piece is unique.
Cui Xin doesn't like this kind of son-in-law, but Zhang's mother-in-law still likes him very much, especially because he is so petty and often sends all kinds of toys, poems and poems. arts.
With the matter of beheading Cui Bo in front of him, Mrs. Zhang certainly knew that this young man was so careless and it was not because of Mr. Cui of Qinghe.
The two people were chatting happily. Cui Xin was sitting aside and couldn't say anything. Occasionally, he asked about the house in Yanshoufang. Mrs. Zhang took the initiative to take over the conversation, and what he said was...don't you Knowing that he had just returned to Chang'an, why did he ask such a question?!
"Don't worry, aunt. Mother said the day before yesterday that with such conduct, there will be harmony in the future."
Madam Zhang beamed, she naturally knew the meaning of Li Shan's words. Madam Zhu saw with her own eyes that day and heard with her own ears that her daughter spoke up for Li Shan. Such a strong temperament was exactly what Madam Zhu wanted.
Li Shan expressed his grievances, spread his hands and said: "It seems that mother is not choosing a daughter-in-law, but a son-in-law!"
"Giggle..." Mrs. Zhang covered her mouth and laughed, and said angrily: "You are talking nonsense, be careful of being sued in front of Madam Zhu!"
"Cough cough cough!" Cui Xin couldn't bear it any longer and coughed a few times, "It's getting late and there's a curfew..."
Li Shan looked at the bright sunshine outside speechlessly...
Mrs. Zhang glared at her husband angrily, turned and left, and told Li Shan not to forget to take the jar of snow water back later.
Li Shan looked at Cui Xin funny, "I can't please your father-in-law, nor my mother-in-law?"
I'll try to see if I can make any perfume later. Well, it's a bit difficult, but there's still a chance for soap. I'll deliver it to my mother-in-law when the time comes...
Cui Xin casually gave a few words. Since he didn't want to join King Qin's command, he should be more cautious during these days in Beijing. It was best not to visit other mansions except Princess Pingyang's mansion.
Li Shan agreed one by one, and just as he was about to stand up, Cui Xin whispered: "Pei Hongda's matter..."
"Wait a little longer." Li Shan chuckled and said, "How many more days do you have until you are over seventy?"
Watching Li Shan leave, Cui Xin stood there for a long time without moving. Although he had served as an official in the Sui Dynasty, he had not been in the officialdom for a long time. Face-to-face testing, he never found any clues... He knew the inside story. In this month of long thinking, there is an inexplicable guess.
Li Shan may have joined the King of Qin, or even may have already joined the King of Qin.
After Cui Xin returned to Beijing from Dai County last year, he went to Sun Moon Lake once and happened to meet Ling Jing from Xiu Mu. He saw with his own eyes that Zhu Shitou, who escorted him back to Beijing, was extremely respectful to Ling Jing, and Ling Jing was the most respectful to Li Shan. Close guards are also assigned at will.
And Ling Jing is now in charge of the daily affairs of the Tiance Mansion and has been regarded as a close aide of the King of Qin.
The relationship between Ling Jing and Li Shan, who lived in Sun Moon Lake, was too close, which made Cui Xinxin doubtful.
But this is only a secondary cause.
The most important reason is Li Shicai's last sentence: How many days will it take for Pei Shiju to be over seventy years old?
Pei Shiju threw himself under the door of the East Palace, which can be interpreted as wanting to eliminate Li Shan's future troubles for future generations, or to protect his descendants and the West House from Li Shan's revenge... But this is something that the prince cannot do. He can only wait for the prince to ascend the throne and become the emperor.
It's possible.
But how many years can Pei Shiju live?
Do you know that even though His Majesty is over fifty, he can still drink wine, eat meat, ride horses and shoot. Did Pei Shiju wait for the crown prince to ascend the throne?
If you only consider self-protection, Pei Shiju joins the army of King Qin and serves two masters with his cousin Pei Ji. This is the most correct choice. No matter whether he is the crown prince or the King of Qin, he can protect his descendants from Li Shan's cruel means of revenge.
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Therefore, after Cui Xin thought about it, the most likely thing was that Li Shan had already joined the army of King Qin, so Pei Shiju chose to assist the prince.
Moreover, what Pei Shiju wanted was not that his descendants and the Western Dependents' House would be protected from Li Shan's revenge, but that Li Shan's future trouble would be eliminated.