The palace city was shrouded in darkness under the dark night, and only a few sporadic lights along the road could be seen, and the palace residents were walking around with the lights.
The vermilion palace walls were dark in the dark night, and the narrow corridors seemed like ferocious beasts that wanted to devour people in the dark night, trying to devour everyone who walked in.
A young eunuch held a lantern and walked in front. Su Lu sat on a scooter, pushed by Chang Ning from behind.
"Eunuch, is it always this dark in the palace at night?"
Su Lu didn't like such a night. In Su Lu's memory, there were bright street lights along the road at night, illuminating the palace walls beside the road and everything around him.
After this time, the palace wall should be illuminated.
The little eunuch was a clever master. When he heard this, he turned around, lowered his head and spoke in a high-pitched voice.
"My Lord Marquis Mingjian, I am proud that the Prime Minister made the decision the year before last and cut half of the palace's expenses. The lamp next to this corridor was ordered to be dismantled by the Empress. The Empress said that it was useless to light it anyway, so it was simply scrapped."
Chang Ning, who was pushing the cart, was also a little aggrieved: "The Marquis was angry, and the Right Prime Minister Guo Ping was overthrown. The Queen and the Queen mentioned to Your Majesty the restoration of the expenses. Unfortunately, the princes of the three provinces did not agree at that time, so the matter was settled.
"
Su Lu sighed: "It's okay. After this time, we will light the lamp ourselves."
In the distance, torches were burning in front of the palace gate, and a dozen or so armored Imperial Guards had their swords out of their sheaths, nervously blocking the palace gate.
Su Lu was a little strange: "Don't the palace doors have to be closed at night? Why do people still want to enter the palace? Isn't this an attempt to violate the ban?"
The young eunuch shook his head: "There are many noble people outside the palace. If you want to enter the palace, you can still ask for the palace door to be opened."
Before the three of them arrived at the palace gate, they saw Li Lin in front of a group of forbidden troops, and several court officials opposite Li Lin. The leader of the group, the man with three long beards, was an official whom Su Lu didn't know.
The little eunuch lowered his voice and introduced Su Lu.
"The one at the front is Zhang Tinghe, the Minister of the Ministry of Personnel. He was recently transferred from the post of governor of Weizhou to the position of the Minister of the Ministry of Personnel. He previously served as the Minister of the Ministry of Personnel. Although this promotion was excessive, he took the path of the eldest princess.
, plus he is a member of the Zhang family."
Su Lu understood. This was the frontline officer who came to clear the way for Li He. However, the relationship was strong enough, and the person who opened the way became the strongest.
"Get out of the way, I want to meet the noble concubine, and you Qiu Ba dare to stop me."
Zhang Tinghe's beard curled up and down, obviously angry.
"Strict search, what a strict search, how come I don't know about it."
Zhang Tinghe knew that Li Qing was back. This order to conduct a strict search must have been issued by Li Qing. As the vanguard of Princess Li He, if he allowed these forbidden troops to search, the momentum would be weakened first, and the battle for the reserve would not be possible.
Good fight.
The leader, Li Lin, had a smile on his face: "Master Zhang is laughing. This order was given by the Governor. The general is just following the order. Master Zhang can try the other three gates to see who dares not to search you."
Zhang Tinghe's face turned dark. Since he took office as the Minister of Civil Affairs, he has never encountered a forbidden soldier who dared to talk to him like this, not even the left and right palace guards. Especially now that the prime minister's power overwhelms the imperial power, and he is directly referring to
How can a right-wing person weaken his power?
With a glance, his subordinate official appeared.
Two pale-faced employees in green official robes, gauze crowns, and scarlet fish bags snatched it out.
"Bold, Lord Shangshu has an important case to meet with the imperial concubine. Can you afford the delay in the case?"
"Hurry up and open the door, otherwise there will be a fuss. Li Lin, you can't afford the punishment. Although you are the only one in your Li family, the daughter you marry must be from an official family. As long as she is an official, my Ministry of Personnel will control her.
"
This is a naked threat. Two officers from the Ministry of Civil Affairs have used this method to threaten countless generals and officials, and they have failed time and time again.
Li Lin's expression changed as expected. There were many girls in his family. Those who were married to officials included the third sister and the sixth sister, and those from the side branch included the eighth sister and Yunru sister. If this would implicate their husbands, Li Lin thought
It's a bit difficult to think about.
"Li Lin, when will you change your indecisive temperament? Who dared to stand in front of you and be so arrogant during the bloody battle in the Chang Street? It has only been so long before your temperament has been worn away by the prosperity of this capital."
Su Lu spoke from behind.
Li Lin was overjoyed, it was the Marquis, and the Marquis was back.
Zhang Tinghe didn't know Su Lu, and he had never had a good impression of military generals. Seeing this crimson-colored robe general in a wheelchair coming out of the palace gate, his dissatisfaction reached its peak.
"Get out of the way, I want to enter the palace to meet the noble concubine."
Zhang Tinghe strode toward the palace gate.
The two officers knew Su Lu. They were native-born officials of the Ministry of Civil Affairs. The memory of half of the Ministry of War having Su Lu beheaded was still fresh in their minds, so they were instantly frightened and did not have time to hold Zhang Tinghe back.
Zhang Tinghe puffed out his chest and walked over to meet the steel sword of the imperial army.
Li Lin turned around. The two Imperial Guards next to him thought that their governor was giving in. He decisively gave in. He turned the steel knife in his hand and allowed Zhang Tinghe to walk into the thicket of knives.
Su Lu raised his eyebrows. It's a good thing. He was worried that he had no way to establish his authority. Now, using an illegal official minister to operate on him should be enough to scare those disrespectful and rebellious officials and thieves.
"Master Zhang, why do you want to see the noble concubine?"
"The imperial concubine is a female family member. When we meet late at night, is there a royal edict or an edict from a saint?"
Su Lu asked with a smile, "It would be best if we had these. Not only could we hack Zhang Tinghe, but we could also pull down Concubine Zhang Guifei, killing two birds with one stone."
Zhang Tinghe passed through the thicket of knives, secretly thinking that the imperial army was just bluffing, and his temper suddenly grew louder.
"Go away, I am a relative of the imperial concubine. Why should I issue an edict when I see your imperial concubine?"
Zhang Tinghe said as he was about to pass by Su Lu's wheelchair.
Su Lu glanced at the excited Li Lin: "Li Lin, what crime should he face for breaking into the palace and breaking into the palace?"
Li Lin's pupils shrank, and a chill ran down his whole spine, not because of the cold night, but because of the Marquis' gaze. Zhang Tinghe was definitely dead.
"Kill him on the spot, and his relatives will be punished."
Su Lu nodded: "Then why are you still standing there? Send Mr. Zhang on his way. The prince has committed the same crime as the common people. Is it possible that Mr. Zhang is more noble than the eldest son of the emperor, Li Xun?"
Li Lin drew his sword decisively: "Take it"
Several forbidden troops rushed over and held Zhang Tinghe down.
Zhang Tinghe was angry. Although he was held down by the imperial guards, he almost roared at the top of his lungs.
"Li Lin, you dare to arrest me. I am the Minister of Official Affairs, one of the six departments. You dare to chop my head off!"
Zhang Tinghe thought Li Lin was crazy because the lame general dared to chop off his head with just one word. He was really crazy.
Li Lin thought he was crazy too, and the few guards who were holding Zhang Tinghe down thought they were also crazy. Just now, Su Lu gave an order, and they subconsciously carried out the order and held Zhang Tinghe down. But now that they were about to behead his head, they woke up.
This was one of the six ministers of the dynasty and one of the most respected ministers. If his head were chopped off tonight, the whole court would be in turmoil tomorrow.
Zhang Tinghe looked at Su Lu: "I don't care who you are. If you want to chop off my head, go back and ask your noble parents if they dare to take my head. Ask your Imperial Guard Commander, let's see.
Let’s see if she dares to chop my head off!”
"Let Master Shangshu go"
"You deserve to die if you commit the crime below. We will kill you tomorrow."
Several employees behind started shouting.
Su Lu pushed the wheelchair and came to Zhang Tinghe's side, looking at Zhang Tinghe with a smile.
"Master Zhang, Zhang Shangshu, Zhang Tinghe, do you know who I am?"
"I can chop off Guo Ping Tang Yi's head. How can you, a mere minister of six departments, do anything in front of me?"
"The order is sent to Zhang Tinghe for breaking into the imperial palace late at night. He should be punished for his crime. He will cause harm to his relatives and be beheaded."
Chang Ning pulled Su Lu's wheelchair slowly back and glared at Li Lin.
Li Lin waved his hand: "Cut it off."
The Imperial Army's sword fell, and Zhang Tinghe's head fell to the ground.
Su Lu looked at the clerk at the door whose legs were weak and said:
"Li Lin, if you don't want your relatives to be bullied, you have to be cruel to those who want to deal with your relatives. If you cower and give in, you will only make them more arrogant."
"If you seek peace by giving in, you will never have peace; if you seek peace with destruction, you will never have peace."
Li Lin's red eyes looked at several officials with weak legs.