It was already very late when Li Mu entered the palace, and Li Shimin was delayed for a lot of time by asking questions. When he arrived at Da'an Palace to see Li Yuan, the palace gate was already closed, and naturally he could not return home. Fortunately, Li Mu had already thought of this.
, let Li Chongyi go home and take the message, so he didn’t have to worry about his family worrying about his safety.
I chatted with Li Yuan for half the night and drank for half the night. When it was almost dawn, I coaxed the old man to go to bed. Heaven and Earth was about to open, and the old man was very excited these two days, almost at dawn.
Just went to bed.
Little Eunuch Chen brought a blanket to Li Mu, and Li Mu wrapped it around himself and took a nap. After dawn, before Li Yuan woke up, Li Mu hurriedly left the palace and went home. Otherwise, when he woke up, he would not be able to do it all morning.
It's impossible to cope with it.
Back in the house, the wife and the concubine were about to get up when Li Mu suddenly came back. Of course he would not let them go, but he did not bother them too much. After all, he had suffered a lot in the past two days and did not sleep well last night, so he was just simple and gentle.
Then he hugged the two girls and fell asleep.
Bai Qiaoqiao has never been in the habit of sleeping in. When Li Mu fell asleep, she got up and prepared breakfast for him. Li Zhien also wanted to help, but Bai Qiaoqiao stopped her. He asked her to sleep with Li Mu, otherwise there would be no one.
Stay with him, worrying that he will feel empty when he wakes up.
Li Zhien nestled in Li Mu's arms, listening to the sound of Bai Qiaoqiao's footsteps getting further away, and couldn't tell what he felt in his heart.
Logically speaking, one of the two women is a wife and the other is a concubine. They have different identities and positions. There is no comparison and there is no competition. But there is only one husband, so being a wife is better. After all, they have status.
But as a concubine, if she does not have the favor of her husband, the end will be so miserable. Therefore, whether in a large family or a small family, wives and concubines have their own thoughts. The wife is guarded against the concubine, and the concubine is guarded against the wife.
On the surface they look harmonious, but in fact they both wish the other party would die.
But in the Zhulu Hou Mansion, the situation was quite different. Bai Qiaoqiao had never behaved in a bid for favor, and even often created opportunities for Li Zhien. As for Li Zhien, although she understood everything in her heart, especially the way of flattering and inviting favor, she was
She had learned it since she was a child, but she had never thought about dealing with Bai Qiaoqiao.
Sometimes she also wonders whether she has become stupid after living with Bai Qiaoqiao for a long time. It is obvious that this lady has flaws everywhere, but why can't she be hostile?
While he was thinking about it, a hand suddenly appeared on his chest. Li Zhien's cheeks turned red with embarrassment, and he pursed his lips in shame, then turned around and looked at Li Mu resentfully.
This enemy has been touched, kissed, frivolous and frivolous, but he just didn't take the last step. What on earth was he thinking?
Is it because he didn’t disclose his identity?
Li Zhien sighed, not knowing what he thought of, and his eyes became confused.
…
Li Mu slept until three o'clock in the morning, and finally got up. He ate the rice porridge cooked by Bai Qiaoqiao himself with three eggs, and patted his belly with satisfaction.
Many people have contributed to his affairs in the past two days. Li Mu plans to entertain these people and make some plans for the future.
Just when he was about to ask Li Zhien to write a greeting note for him, Zhao Youcai came from the front yard to send a message that Eunuch Gao was here. Li Mu asked Li Zhien to prepare the gold cakes, and he hurried to the lobby of the front yard to meet him.
"Eunuch Gao." Li Mu gave a gift, and Eunuch Gao returned the gift. Li Mu sighed: "I can escape this time, thanks to Eunuch Gao's secret help." As he spoke, Li Zhien had already used the gold cake.
The box was packed and brought over. Li Mu took it and handed it directly to Eunuch Gao, saying: "It's just a small gift, not a sign of respect."
"Oh, how embarrassing is this." Eunuch Gao opened the box and took a look. Five gold cakes were shining brightly, and his eyes were shining. He had received countless gifts in his life, but this was the first time he had received gold cakes.
The little eunuch helped to take it, and he took the gold cakes out of the box one by one, stuffed them into his arms, and put them close to the meat. Then he spoke again and said: "It makes the Marquis laugh. Our family has nothing to do with it."
My other hobbies are these yellow and white things, which are tacky, very tacky."
"That's wrong," Li Mu said with a smile, "Who in the world doesn't love money? Compared with those who claim to be noble, Eunuch Gao's true character is even more valuable!"
Eunuch Gao laughed. Li Mu asked him to sit down, but Eunuch Gao waved his hand and said, "I'm not going to sit down anymore. Our family is here to run errands for His Majesty. Mr. Marquis, guess what, Your Majesty asked me to sit down this time."
Why did you come here?"
"This..." Li Mu's mind was racing, but he couldn't think of any oversight. Suddenly, his heart moved and he asked, "Could it be Wei Zheng again...?"
"Master Hou is indeed very smart." Eunuch Gao praised him and sighed: "Master Marquis, our family and Master Hou are not in contact with each other, so I would like to remind you. This Wei Zheng is a plaster, and you can't get rid of it if you put it on. Today
At the court meeting, Wei Zheng brought up the old story again, saying that the Marquis committed murder. Although he was exempted from the death penalty for the sake of His Majesty and the Supreme Emperor, the crime of living was unforgivable. He asked Your Majesty to remove you from your official position and demote you to
Common people. Your Majesty quarreled with him again. After the court meeting, Your Majesty left Wei Zheng and the important ministers behind, and asked our family to call you to come too. Mr. Marquis, you must be prepared."
"Ha! You are so tenacious!" Li Mu really admired Wei Zheng. Under his series of counterattacks yesterday, anyone else would have collapsed. Wei Zheng, indeed, lived up to his reputation, and his fighting power and endurance were extraordinary.
Li Mu thought for a moment and said, "Father-in-law, please wait a moment. I will take something and follow my father-in-law into the palace immediately."
"Your Majesty, please excuse me."
Li Mu took Li Zhien back to the backyard, asked Bai Qiaoqiao to take out his fish charm and seal, put them in a brocade box and put them in his sleeves, and then went out to the palace with Eunuch Gao.
In the Tai Chi Hall, Li Shimin smashed another pair of tribute bottles. Wei Zheng bowed his body and put on his 'death remonstrance' look again. Although his forehead was purple and his face was pale, he looked a little funny, but this look was also a weapon.
At least from the image, this is a remonstrating minister with strong bones.
Wei Zheng has a special temperament. Even if you hate him very much, you can't help but admire his tenacity and perseverance. And you can't say that he is completely wrong, but he has his own reasons. Just like
People often admire their opponents, and Wei Zheng is undoubtedly the opponent worthy of admiration.
When Li Mu entered the main hall, Wei Zheng looked back at him, with no resentment in his eyes, as if everything was just business.
Li Shimin saw Li Mu and said: "Okay, the people involved are here. Li Mu, Duke Zheng has impeached you again and wants me to remove you from your official position, strip you of your title, and demote you to a commoner. What do you have to say?"
"
Wei Zheng heard Li Shimin's yin and yang anger, but he was still very calm. He looked at Li Mu and said: "A murderer is punished by death. Although you escaped, you have to be punished. Removal from official position and deprivation of title are all what the title deserves.
Righteousness, according to the law, is not an exaggeration to distribute!”
Li Mu was not angry at all, but instead laughed. He took out the brocade box from his sleeve and presented it with both hands. Seeing this, Eunuch Gao did not dare to reach out and take it, but looked at Li Shimin. Li Shimin frowned and said: "Li Mu, I'm still here
If you haven't made a decision, what are you doing?"
"Your Majesty, this is my fish that conforms to the seal." Li Mu put the brocade box on the table in front of Li Shimin, took a step back, and said: "Your Majesty, please allow me to speak, and Lord Zheng will listen carefully."
Li Mu said calmly: "Your Majesty, I said that I would resign the day before yesterday, and today Zheng Guogong also mentioned that I would be dismissed from my official position. I can agree now, but I have something to say before me. I will kill you.
But Zhao Yuanlang had his own way to kill himself. Why did Duke Zheng insist on this matter? Duke Zheng knew it in his heart. The reason why I resigned today was not because I was afraid of anyone, but because I just didn’t want to get too entangled in this matter. Since Duke Zheng wanted to
He asked me to resign, and I agreed to it. I just hope that Duke Zheng will not be like a petty woman, nagging about one thing endlessly. If you have this time, it is better to think more about the way of a monarch and his ministers.
.”
After saying that, he looked at Wei Zheng again and said: "Zheng Guogong, I can resign from the position, but you can't take away the title. My title is because I recovered the jade seal passed down from the country. This title was promised by the Supreme Emperor back then.
, everyone in the world knows it. Anyone who recovers the jade seal handed down from the country will be granted the title of Marquis regardless of his or her age. I have not rebelled, so why should my title be deprived of me? And I have joined the royal family. Even if I kill someone for no reason,
Zongzhengji is also here to judge me, what does it have to do with you? I know you are not convinced when you lose, but what can you do? If you are not as good as others, you must be convinced. If you are entangled, you will only fall behind."
The monarchs and ministers who were eating melons next to them all thought that Wei Zheng would be furious when they heard Li Mu say such words, but they did not expect that Wei Zheng was not. He looked at Li Mu and said: "The Marquis is right, Wei Zheng's skills are not as good as others."
Li Mu saluted Li Shimin again and said: "Your Majesty, although I have resigned from the position of minister of the Ministry of Industry, there is one thing that I still want to ask your Majesty to agree to."
Li Shimin thought to himself, when did I agree to your resignation? Just as he was about to speak, he suddenly caught a glimpse of Wei Zheng. He was really annoyed by him and had a headache. He thought to himself, it would be better to accept it first, and then look for opportunities to reinstate Li Muguan to his post.
Already.
Thinking of this, Li Shimin nodded and said, "Okay, I agree. Tell me, what's the matter?"
Li Mu said loudly: "Your Majesty, I want to participate in the Spring Festival next year, and I want to take the first prize exam!"
"What?"
Li Shimin was shocked, Wei Zheng was also shocked, and the prime ministers and ministers who were watching the excitement were also shocked. What is Li Mu talking about? He wants to take part in the imperial examination... and take the No. 1 Scholar examination? Being the No. 1 Scholar is like cabbage. What do you mean by taking the exam?
Will it hit?
Li Mu said seriously: "Your Majesty, this is also the reason why I resigned. I am young but have a high official position, so I am always criticized. I plan to take part in the imperial examination. If I can get the top prize in high school, everyone in the world will know who I am.
A talented and learned person. When I become an official again, I think there will be much less criticism... Zheng Guogong, what do you think?"