The royal banquet will be held at the Qinzhengwu Main Building of Xingqing Palace on the occasion of the good weather. After the banquet, the saint will enjoy the moon together with all the people.
For this royal banquet, many important ministers stopped paying attention today.
The Hanlin Academy located in the city west of the Daming Palace became increasingly quiet, but Li Mi arrived at the public room early and sat down, thinking about the poems he should write for tonight's imperial banquet.
"Mr. Li."
Suddenly, a soft voice sounded outside the public room.
Li Mi opened his eyes and already guessed who the visitor was.
He is now enshrined in the East Palace, and only the people in the East Palace call him "Sir".
Sure enough, the door was pushed open, and Li Jingzhong sneaked in. He walked tiptoe in front of Li Mi, knelt down and cried, "Please help me, sir."
Li Mi sighed and asked, "Yesterday's murder case was really related to His Highness? Why didn't you tell me earlier?"
"Pei Mian and Du Hongjian are both dead. There is no news about the old slave. We only found out this morning."
"I didn't believe it when I heard that this case was related to the East Palace." Li Bi said, "Since Pei Mian has escaped, why bother sending merchants back to He to deal with it?"
Li Jingzhong had a bitter look on his face, knowing that he couldn't hide it from Li Mi's wise eyes, so he had no choice but to lie down on the ground and explain honestly.
"Is this old slave afraid that he will talk too much? Let Gu Wu Gu see if he can... silence him?"
"you!"
Li Mi stood up suddenly, looked at Li Jingzhong with a pair of eyes full of compassion, and shook his head with hatred.
"I have told you several times that the best kindness is like water. But you continue to want to kill His Highness? If you fail to bury Xue Bai alive, you will bring a big enemy to the East Palace. The damage has not been eliminated yet, but you still want to kill Pei Mian? What needs to be destroyed is not his.
The mouth is the demonic obstacle in your heart."
"I know my mistake! I really know my mistake!"
Li Jingzhong didn't know how to refute, so he knelt there, kowtowed to Li Mi, and said: "I really know that I was wrong. This matter was all done by me alone and has nothing to do with His Highness. When the time comes, I will ask for a cockfight to criticize His Highness. If I can
To pay for the crime with the old slave alone..."
"Stop talking." Li Mi sighed, "The foundation of the country is shaken, and the country is causing trouble. You can't bear it alone."
He knew very well that the mistake was indeed made by Li Jingzhong, but absolutely no one would criticize a slave. Li Linfu's target was only the Eastern Palace, or the important civil and military ministers who supported the Eastern Palace.
Li Jingzhong burst into tears and said: "It is not a pity for me to die, I just ask you, sir, to save your highness."
"Your Highness, please sin yourself to the saint."
"What?"
Li Bi said: "There is still time now, the saint is still resting, and the news has not yet been sent to the emperor. His highness's self-condemnation will never make the saint think about abolishing the throne."
This is what he thinks is the best way at the moment. This is also true for what he said when he was young: "Fang is like doing justice, perfection is like using wisdom, movement is like using materials, and tranquility is like being proud."
Li Jingzhong lowered his head and his eyes flashed.
"But... His Highness doesn't know about this. Could you please give His Highness a nice word?"
Li Mi shook his head and said: "It is useless to say nice things about this matter, but it will harm Your Highness. Only by asking Your Highness to admit his mistake and bear some responsibility can the big problem be reduced to a small one."
"yes."
When Li Jingzhong saw that Li Mi had only this option, he kowtowed and wanted to leave.
"One more thing." Li Mi leaned over to help him up and whispered: "Li Gong should remind His Highness that King Guangping is the eldest son, and His Highness and Zhang Liangdi should exercise restraint."
He didn't want to say this at first, but there have been many things going on in the East Palace recently, and as a subordinate official, he had to remind him.
He had heard that King Guangping had been banned, so he was worried that the prince would be swayed by King Guangping and rely on Zhang Liangdi's family background. Zhang Liangdi was born into a noble family, but if she gave birth to a son, it would be a bad thing for the East Palace in the long run.
…
Li Jingzhong entered the palace in the name of sending Mid-Autumn Festival gifts. He finally went to the Hanlin Academy, but he didn't expect to get such an idea. He was quite disappointed.
Returning to the Prince's Courtyard, he carefully explained Li Mi's answer.
"Sin against the saint?" Li Heng frowned, worried.
"Yes." Li Jingzhong said: "Mr. Li is not willing to intercede for His Highness, but he has forgotten that he is an imperial edict that His Highness asked his consort to find for him."
Li Heng put his hands behind his hands and looked out the window, sighing.
"Your Highness, you must not listen to Mr. Li's theory of self-incrimination. The saint is already biased against Your Highness. If His Highness admits this, he will admit to accumulating strength in private, just like admitting to intercourse with Wei Jian during the Wei Jian case. This is true.
The sins that could be easily shouldered by the old slave have become His Highness’s fault.”
It would be fine if Li Jingzhong could really take it on, but Li Heng knew that leaving Li Jingzhong behind would not solve any problem.
But now there are fewer and fewer people in the court who can intercede for him.
Thinking about this, he went to Zhang Liangdi's residence.
Zhang Ting started dressing up early in the morning for the royal banquet tonight.
"Everyone get down."
Li Heng picked up the comb and combed her hair himself.
"Your Highness is in trouble?"
"Something happened." Li Heng actually didn't know how to comb his hair, so he put down his comb and said, "Li Jingzhong arranged for a group of Huihe people to kill Pei Mian, but they all died, and even the token fell into the hands of Suo Douji."
Zhang Ting was surprised and asked: "Who killed him?"
"I don't know." Li Heng sighed: "Suo Dou Chong will definitely use this to criticize us tonight."
Zhang Ting smiled and combed her long hair on her chest.
Li Heng had already held her hand.
"Ting Niang, I have always felt that it would be too unfair to only let you do it for Liangdi. You should be my legitimate wife, and we should have children of our own."
~~
Du Zhai.
Lu Fengniang was still trying to persuade Xue Bai earnestly.
"You are going to the royal banquet again tonight. What if the saint offers you a princess to marry? This is the daughter of the Cui family of Qinghe. I don't know how many people want to marry a girl with the fifth surname. Cui Gongguan is appointed as Shangshu Zuocheng, the Ministry of Rites
Minister, it is very likely that he will preside over it again next spring. Cui Gong admired you very much when he saw you in Dali Temple. You are much more discerning than my brother and sister-in-law. I am not related to his family. This marriage is really too good.
Well, then I agree to come down and take you to see each other..."
"I also asked my aunt to reject the Cui family's kindness for me. It is true that I am not worthy of the Cui family of Qinghe." Xue Bai refused decisively and said, "I will go to the imperial banquet now."
"Going so early?"
"Yes, I will go to Xingqing Palace with Mrs. Guo Guo and look for her first."
"Then let's talk about it after the royal banquet. After all, she is a woman with the fifth surname."
"No, Mrs. Guo Guo doesn't agree."
Lu Fengniang was stunned, but she was speechless.
When Xue Bai left Du's house, he felt that this scene was quite similar to that during the Shangyuan Festival.
After all, the saint loved feasting and Lu Fengniang loved matchmaking, and their habits have not changed.
…
Mrs. Guo's Mansion.
Before Yang Yuyao got up, she heard that Xue Bai had arrived and ordered her maid to take him to the boudoir.
"After the banquet, we have to admire the moon again. I don't know how long the fuss will last. Why don't we sleep more during the day? Come over."
A jade hand stretched out the curtain to wave, Xue Bai stepped forward, and Yang Yuyao pulled him to the couch.
After a moment, Mingzhu hugged her clothes in front of her body, stood up, and whispered: "Slave, go prepare hot water."
She rustled outside the curtain, put on her clothes, and left.
Yang Yuyao smiled, knowing that both the maid and Xue Bai knew how to behave and never looked at each other.
"Did you know that something happened again in Chang'an City, and today's imperial banquet may not be peaceful again."
"I heard that." Xue Bai said: "They are fighting back and forth, it's annoying to watch."
"This matter has nothing to do with you, right?"
"I've been keeping to myself lately and not getting involved in these things."
"So good."
Yang Yuyao smiled and turned sideways, reaching out to pinch his chin.
"However." Xue Bai said: "I told you my identity. I checked this matter recently and got something."
"where?"
"In my arms."
Yang Yuyao reached for it, and after a while, she took out a body deed. After looking at it for a while, she couldn't help but laugh.
"Um?"
"Is it really Xue Pingzhao? He is two generations shorter than me." Yang Yuyao put a finger under her lips, her expression seemed very interesting.
"Not necessarily. I checked and found that there is no biological mother and no family status. Looking at the name, it is more likely that he is an orphan adopted by Xue Xiu..."
Xue Bai allowed her to undress him, but he told the truth frankly and sincerely.
Finally, he held her soft body in his arms.
"Sooner or later, I'm afraid I'll be accused of being a traitor. I hope I won't implicate you."
"You can't hurt me. I said, I will protect you."
Xue Bai was just saying hello when he said this before, but now the evidence has come out. Yang Yuyao thought about it and decided to do something to nip it in the bud and nip off the signs of the disaster.
She wasn't afraid to help, but she was afraid that he kept hiding it from her, or that it would only happen when the incident happened, and she wouldn't be able to help if she wanted to. Thinking about this, she liked his honesty even more.
Yang Yuyao said: "How about I solve this matter for you at the Mid-Autumn Festival banquet tonight?"
"Can it be solved?"
"Simple, let's go early and I'll talk to Yuhuan."
"You cover me?"
Yang Yuyao actually understood the pun in this sentence, but when she looked at him, he still looked serious and candid.
She couldn't help but feel emotional.
"Well, sister will cover you..."
~~
The sun is moving slightly to the west.
In Xingqing Palace, the palace people were still busy preparing for the royal banquet in the evening.
All ministers are also making preparations.
In Daozhengfang, An Lushan was preparing for the Mid-Autumn Festival gift he was going to present tonight, looking at a gilt silver box with wings, deer, phoenix and bird patterns in his hand.
The phoenix bird on the silver box is the symbol of the queen, which he plans to dedicate to Concubine Yang.
The gilding process was extremely complicated and he personally supervised the work. He was not satisfied with the first effect, so he performed the gilding a second time, which can be described as striving for excellence.
He spent this time because he had a great idea... He wanted to recognize Concubine Yang as his mother.
He knew that Concubine Yang also needed the support of the border generals and would be happy to recognize his son.
"Aniang."
An Lushan called out to the silver box like this, but he still felt that it was not funny enough, so he twisted his fat body and started practicing.
"Grandma, just accept this son, Grandma..."
After a long time, Li Zhuer led his attendants over and asked, "Alang, it's Shenshi time soon. Do you want to change your clothes?"
"Changing clothes, I have to go to Xingqing Palace early to wait for the saint."
An Lushan turned around and saw that the clothes Li Zhuer had prepared indeed had lapels, and couldn't help laughing.
"Yes, I have to dance a good Hu Xuan dance tonight, and this is exactly what I should wear."
Li Zhuer breathed a sigh of relief, and quickly stepped forward, pressed his head against An Lushan's belly, and asked someone to change his clothes.
~~
Mrs. Guo's Mansion.
"You guys wait here."
Mingzhu came with the maids holding the clothes that Yang Yuyao wanted to change. She walked to the door alone and said, "Ms. Yao, it's time."
No one answered inside.
Mingzhu waited for a moment, then went to the door and heard some movement inside.
"Okay, okay...sister has given up..."
"I'm older than you, call me brother."
"..."
Mingzhu was a little surprised by Xue Bai's boldness. From the sound of her voice, she could tell that he was bullying Yao Niang.
But she had no choice but to wait aside until Yao Niang called Xue Bai "brother" several times, and after a while, she called her in.
Yang Yuyao's face was still flushed. After regaining her breath, she glared at Xue Bai and said angrily: "I'm going to make a fuss. It's too late for the royal banquet. What should you do?"
Xue Bai just smiled and patted her head casually to comfort her.
Mingzhu didn't dare to look at it, lowered her head, and helped them pack it up. The group of people left the mansion and headed to Xingqing Palace.
That is to say, Yang Yuyao has always been naked, otherwise it will be too late.
All the way into Xingqing Palace, before the carriage stopped, I saw a plump figure in the distance walking towards the main building of Qinzheng Affairs surrounded by people.
"Is that An Lushan?"
"Well, since he came, the saint no longer plays dominoes. He makes me laugh every day." Yang Yuyao said softly: "I'm going to see Yuhuan first. How about you wait here? Don't move around."
However, Xue Bai was still looking at An Lushan and said casually: "Yesterday's case in Chang'an was said to have been carried out by soldiers from the border army. Nine people were hacked to death, and they were all killed with Mo Dao."
"How did you find out?"
"My teacher is the captain of Chang'an County."
Where Yang Yuyao looked, she saw Xue Bai still looking at An Lushan. She couldn't help being surprised and said softly: "You mean..."
"It may not be him, but I don't know who in Chang'an City can mobilize several powerful soldiers of the border army."
"A stupid fat man who looks so funny and funny can actually be so sinister and evil?"
"You can't judge a person by his appearance."
"I know, I'm leaving."
Yang Yuyao stepped forward and kissed Xue Bai again before getting off the carriage with some reluctance.
Xue Bai looked at her back and thought that she had come forward to help him when he went to Yuanye.
~~
"Does Third Sister like him this much?"
"Well, what else?"
"I thought the third sister was just with him for a while." Yang Yuhuan was looking at a box of money, which she was going to throw out to reward the ministers tonight, and she joked: "I didn't expect it, but he is getting more and more interested."
Already."
Yang Yuyao was stunned when she heard this and whispered: "A man like him is unique."
These words were said without thinking carefully.
After hearing this, Yang Yuhuan stopped moving her hands and finally said, "I promise you, Third Sister."
"real?"
"It's not that Xue Bai is a talent, otherwise I wouldn't help you."
"I know you are good to me, otherwise why would you let me come to Beijing to enjoy your happiness?"
"Third sister is enjoying a lot of happiness."
"..."
The two sisters were talking, and Yang Yuyao was ready to leave after a while, but she saw a palace servant coming in with many beautiful utensils.
"Your Majesty, this is a Mid-Autumn Festival gift from An Lushan. The saint ordered the slaves to deliver it directly."
"Hu'er is determined. If you return to the saint, they will be rare treasures. Taizhen likes them very much."
"yes."
Yang Yuyao's eyes fell on a five-legged hollow silver incense burner, and she thought to herself, Xue Bai asked her to do something very hard, but she asked Yuhuan to come forward, but she didn't give him a gift.
That ugly fat man from a foreign country gave gifts like this, which seemed like she didn't know the etiquette.
"There has been a big case in Chang'an City recently, have you heard about it?"
Yang Yuhuan was playing with an agate cup and looking at it carefully, and asked casually: "Huh?"
"Many Huihe people died, and the crime of harboring Pei Mian in the East Palace was confirmed. This matter was found to be done by Fan Yangjin..."
"real?"
The agate cup was placed back on the tray. Yang Yuhuan was a little surprised and a little scared, so he took the handkerchief and wiped his hands.
Yang Yuyao said: "I can't think of anyone else in Chang'an City who would dare to commit such a major crime..."
~~
"May I ask, who is Xue Bai and Xue at the top of the list?"
"Exactly."
Xue Bai turned around and saw a pretty maid standing behind him.
"I have a noble person to invite you. Could you please Mr. Xue to come and meet me?"
"no."
The maid was stunned for a moment, then she had no choice but to take a step forward and whispered: "My mistress has something important to discuss, please Xue Lang must go."
"This is Xingqing Palace. I am waiting for you. Is there anything more important?"
"Hey, you..."
The maid was a bit uneducated. She immediately changed her face when she was not invited and walked away angrily.
Xue Bai was too lazy to pay attention to her and continued to stand there waiting. His location was not conspicuous, but between the place where the carriages and horses were parked and the Calyx Xianghui Building.
After a while, Li Yuetu came over with several palace maids.
"Xue Shitou is very polite, can you please come and meet Zhang Liangdi?"
Li Yuetu said Wanfu, smiled somewhat self-deprecatingly, and said: "Otherwise, if I keep pestering you, you will be in trouble, right?"
"..."
Zhang Ting was sitting on a carriage at this time.
She was dressed up very delicately, her hair was neatly combed into a bun, and the makeup on her face was evenly applied.
As soon as Xue Bai came over, she pointed to another carriage and motioned for him to get on, and talked to him through the window.
The two of them are familiar with each other and are poker friends, but if such a private meeting is discovered, both parties will be in great trouble.
"Pei Mian is dead. You must have heard about this." Zhang Ting got straight to the point and said, "Suo Douji will take action against Pei Kuan and Wang Zhongsi tonight."
"not my business."
Zhang Ting looked at Xue Bai through the car window and found that his clothes were a bit messy, as if he had put them together hastily.
Her eyes fell on his neck again, and she suddenly had an intuition... He had a very intense love affair not long ago.
"Don't think that what you did can be concealed. You also have a lot of excuses. Before, we were all worried about each other and didn't want to kill each other. If we are really pushed to a dead end, it will be a dead end and the net will be broken. It will not be good for anyone. Now,
It will be of no benefit to us to let Suo Dou Cock and Hu Er severely damage the East Palace. Believe me, once the East Palace loses power, you will be the next to be dealt with."
Zhang Ting spoke very quickly and said: "Xue Bai, I know you have a grudge against His Highness, but you are still very young. I can promise you a longer future than His Highness. If you can believe me, sooner or later you will become the Prime Minister of the Tang Dynasty."
Persistence. And what I want you to do is very simple. When you ask for a fighting cock to attack the East Palace tonight, let your people defend Pei Kuan and Wang Zhongsi..."
She still has a lot to say. In the struggle for power, it is common for the weak to unite against the strong.
The Zhang family has also received the favor of the Holy Family. She will protect the East Palace tonight. At this time, it is nothing more than to win over one more party, even if Xue Bai and the forces behind him do not cause chaos.
However, Xue Bai looked very stern and raised his hand to interrupt before she finished speaking, saying: "You know? On the night of Yuan Dynasty, Li Jingzhong also said the same thing to me. He said that he would not regret his death. The strange thing is, Li Jingzhong
Heng still reuses him to this day.”
Zhang Ting's eyes lit up immediately and he said: "That's exactly what I want to say, I can kill Li Jingzhong. Many evil things, your Highness does not know, are all done by this eunuch."
"The important thing is, if you can't control even one eunuch, how can you rule the world?"
Zhang Ting couldn't help but widen his eyes, surprised that he dared to speak so rudely. After being stunned for a moment, he persuaded: "That's because Your Highness has no one available. You and I can work together to get rid of Li Jingzhong, then..."
Xue Bai said: "He didn't persuade me on the Yuan night, but could you persuade me on the Mid-Autumn night? Instead of asking for help again and again, donggong, why don't you think about how to correct yourself?"
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