The dusk is getting thicker and the cold snow is shining brightly.
Orange lanterns were lit by the maids, carried on poles, and hung in front of the palace doors. The entire Tai Chi Palace was bathed in bright candlelight. The high walls and cornices cast shadows, like giants.
Beasts stand tall and birds dance.
In the Li Zheng Hall, His Majesty Li Er was sitting on the brocade couch, with the memorial that Fang Jun finally presented on his knees. Sometimes his thick eyebrows were tangled, sometimes he was concentrating on meditation, unaware of the passage of time...
The waiter outside the palace had already heated up the dinner many times, but now it was cold again.
Wang De leaned on the crack in the door and took a look inside the palace, feeling a little suspicious. Since His Majesty ascended the throne, he has become more and more skillful in handling government affairs. He has not encountered such difficult things in many years.
Could it be that Fang Er did something outrageous again to embarrass Your Majesty? When Your Majesty wanted to kill Fang Jun and feed it to the dogs, he was not in the Li Zheng Palace, and others did not dare to say anything, so he did not know that Your Majesty
Angry because of something.
I'm just curious, why has His Majesty been acting like this since he forced the second roommate into the prison?
Could it be that he really wanted to kill Fang Jun, so His Majesty once again thought about how to explain to Fang Xiang?
Well, that’s probably it!
In order to get along well with His Majesty, the Prime Minister, His Majesty wanted to kill the Prime Minister's son, which is indeed a bit difficult to explain...
The loyal Wang De scolded Fang Jun secretly in his heart. He was just a eunuch and would not care about any national affairs. Although he always had a good impression of Fang Jun, what did it matter? In his eyes, His Majesty is God.
, that is, the land, that is everything to him. What’s wrong if he doesn’t eat dinner on time?
Fang Jun deserves to be killed!
Although he knew that His Majesty hated being disturbed the most when he was thinking, Wang De didn't care so much anymore. He emboldened himself and pushed the door open to go in. He would rather be punished by His Majesty than to persuade His Majesty to have dinner before talking.
.
Before he could open the door, he heard the sound of rings behind him. He turned around in surprise and saw Concubine Wei, dressed in gorgeous clothes and with a head full of pearls, approaching surrounded by maids.
Why is this person here? Don't you know that when His Majesty is handling government affairs, the harem strictly enters the Rinzheng Hall?
Wang De muttered in his heart, but hurriedly stepped forward to greet him: "I have seen the imperial concubine..."
Although Concubine Wei, who is nearly forty years old, has long passed her prime years, she is naturally charming, has a pretty face, and her skin is as smooth as jade. Combined with proper maintenance, she does not appear to be aging at all, but exudes a mature charm.
It’s just that the pair of eyes that are full of autumn are a little red and swollen, making them look even more delicate, which makes me feel pity for them...
"Excuse me." Concubine Wei didn't even raise her hand, but said lightly: "Your Majesty, can you be in the palace?"
How could Wang De, who was over fifty years old, take Concubine Wei's contempt seriously? He just replied softly: "Your Majesty is reading official documents in the palace and has not eaten dinner yet."
Your Majesty's office is suitable for those who don't want to be disturbed by others. You must know this. If you really want to go in without fear of His Majesty's punishment, then you can take the opportunity to persuade Your Majesty to enjoy dinner. After all, it is more reasonable...
Concubine Wei glanced at Wang De with her beautiful eyes and nodded slightly, accepting Wang De's favor.
"You stay here." Concubine Wei turned around and told the maids behind her. She lightly lifted her skirt and walked slowly into the Li Zheng Hall with swaying steps.
His Majesty Li Er sat on the brocade couch with his back straight, contemplating and considering carefully, but did not notice anyone coming in. Until he smelled a gust of fragrant wind at the tip of his nose, he raised his head in surprise and saw Concubine Wei in front of her.
"His Majesty……"
Just as Concubine Wei called her, she saw His Majesty Li Er's face sinking and he said expressionlessly: "This is the Lizheng Palace. How dare you enter without being summoned?"
Concubine Wei was so frightened that her delicate body trembled, and she quickly knelt down on the ground, sobbing softly: "I naturally know your majesty's rules, but your majesty must also cherish the dragon body. Official affairs can never be finished, how can I be delayed because of official matters?
How about a meal? Your Majesty is my heaven, and I cherish my name more than my own name, so I boldly ask your Majesty to have a meal..."
His Majesty Li Er's face softened slightly. He closed the book on his knees and put it aside. Hearing this, he said: "Get up now. It's not because I'm doing anything difficult for you, but this palace is where I handle important military affairs, and there are a lot of secrets."
If there are any mistakes in the memorial, wouldn't it put me in trouble?"
"I know my mistake..." Concubine Wei lowered her head, her voice was delicate and soft, but she was thinking in her heart: What is the most important military mission? This is the palace of Queen Changsun, and you still remember Queen Changsun's love in your heart.
, other concubines are not allowed to set foot here...
His Majesty Li Er stretched his waist, but did not pass on the meal, but casually asked: "You have always followed the rules and will never disobey my will easily. Tell me, what's the matter here?"
"This..." Concubine Wei hesitated and said carefully: "I will pass the meal to Your Majesty. We will wait until His Majesty has finished dinner."
"That's alright." His Majesty Li Er followed suit, stood up from the couch, and moved his limbs. He knew that since Concubine Wei said so, it meant that it was nothing serious.
Soon, the servants waiting outside the palace brought the dinner and placed them one by one on a square painted and carved table in the palace. Concubine Wei held the chopsticks in her bare hands and served His Majesty Li Er gently and thoughtfully.
Dinner is very simple, including four vegetarian dishes, a bowl of black-bone chicken soup, and a large bowl of pearl white rice.
Although he ruled the world, His Majesty Li Er still maintained the dining habits of the old army. He finished his meal quickly, waved his hand and ordered the servants to take away the leftovers, took a sip of the tea cup, and raised his eyes.
He looked at Concubine Wei and asked, "Tell me."
"promise!"
Concubine Wei responded, but before she could speak, her eye circles turned red.
His Majesty Li Er frowned slightly and remained silent.
"Your Majesty, I have served Your Majesty for many years and have never asked for any favors for my mother's family. This is because I know that as the Supreme Being, Your Majesty must be fair in dealing with things to reassure people. But now, I beg Your Majesty for the sake of your Majesty.
After many years of love, I gave my younger brother an official position, just to keep him away from Guanzhong to prevent unexpected disasters..."
As he spoke, two lines of tears slanted down, like pearls with broken strings, each crystal petal was clear, and fluttered low on the crimson palace dress, like tears of blood...
His Majesty Li Er couldn't bear it, so he took Concubine Wei's delicate hand and comforted him: "What did Concubine Ai say? You and I are one and the same, why should we be so indifferent. But doesn't Wei Zhang have a position in Taichang Temple?"
Why do you want to stay away from Guanzhong again? I don’t want to say more. Wei Zhang is probably over-indulged by your father and has not made any progress. If he encounters any unexpected disaster, it is just to threaten you. He is your brother.
, that is a relative of the emperor, who dares to do anything to him?"
Concubine Wei clenched His Majesty Li Er's generous palm with her backhand and cried so hard: "I don't want to stir up trouble, but my brother is unworthy, how could I not know? All the faults are on my brother, I wish I could kill him! But after all, he is
He is my only younger brother, how can I just watch him be frightened? I just ask Your Majesty to transfer him to another place, so as to save his life..."
His Majesty Li Er frowned.
The more I say this, the more outrageous it becomes...
Looking at the Tang Dynasty, who would take the courage of a leopard and take the name of the emperor's brother-in-law for no reason?
At the same time, Concubine Wei gradually became impatient with the hesitant and scheming Concubine Wei.
If you complain, just complain, why bother to be circuitous and pretentious?
What about asking to be transferred out of Guanzhong, why all the faults are your brother's, or just roundaboutly saying that your brother has offended someone he can't afford to offend, and you want me to stand up for you?
This woman is cunning and cunning, which is really unpleasant...
His Majesty Li Er's expression became indifferent.
At that time, he defeated Wang Shichong in Luoyang and brought Wang Shichong's daughter-in-law Wei Nizi into his palace. Later, he saw that Wei Guifei was as beautiful as a flower and complemented Wei Nizi like a blooming flower. He couldn't help but arouse the man's dirty thoughts and brought the two sisters together
Marry together...
However, a woman must always have a talent and temperament that matches her beauty to be perfect. Although Concubine Wei is more delicate than a flower, she has a mean temperament and gradually fell out of favor with His Majesty Li Er and fell into the cold.
Furthermore, he is not close to the children he gave birth to.
Of Concubine Wei's three children, the eldest daughter, Li, was the daughter of Concubine Wei and her ex-husband. She was banished to the palace along with her mother until the Turks came to surrender in the fourth year of Zhenguan. In order to appease the many Turkic nobles who came to surrender, His Majesty Li Er sent her to the palace.
Li, who was still a palace maid, was named the head of Dingxiang County, replaced Li Tang's clan daughter, and married Ashina Zhong, a Turkic noble. You know, Turks were considered the lowest marriage partners in the eyes of the Tang nobles.
Hu people...
This shows that His Majesty Li Er is alienated from Dingxiang. Otherwise, Dingxiang should be the same as Princess Wencheng, who was granted the title of princess instead of county lord. Although due to Fang Jun's troubles, Princess Wencheng has disappeared and there is probably no trace of her in the world.
This title...
Even Princess Linchuan, the biological daughter of His Majesty Li Er and Concubine Wei, is not very popular. At least the honors Linchuan deserves are always delayed for a long time compared to other princesses. For example, princesses of the same age as Linchuan have long received
Although she was canonized, she was not canonized as a princess until she was already married at the age of eighteen, which was more than ten years too late.
As for King Ji Li Shen, he was not close either.
"Tell me, who did your brother offend?" His Majesty Li Er was a little impatient, but still asked patiently. After all, for such a trivial matter, he still had to give Concubine Wei some face.
Concubine Wei hesitated for a moment and said softly: "It's Xinxiang Hou Fangjun..."