A few days passed in a moment, and Yuan Tiangang came back to Taiji Palace to resume his life.
"Reporting to Your Majesty, Mrs. Peony has not been found."
"What do you mean you haven't found them? Bad people are all over the world. It's been so long, why is there no news about them?"
Yuan Tiangang answered truthfully: "Your Majesty, there is news, but no one has found it. The latest news is that Mrs. Mudan's whereabouts are like this. After leaving Chang'an, she went to Luoyang. When Li Mu was in danger, she went to Dingxiang, Datang
During the alliance with the Turks, someone discovered her traces, and then she returned to Luoyang and disappeared again."
Li Shimin frowned and said, "So, she met Li Mu during the alliance?"
"I'm not sure." Yuan Tiangang said clearly: "I don't dare to speculate randomly. Based on the information I received, I don't dare to be sure."
Li Shimin's expression became even colder. He was silent for a while and said, "You continue."
"What can be concluded is that there should be a force in Luoyang City that can block the exploration of undesirable people without knowing it. Combining the minister's inspections of Jisitang for many years, it can be basically concluded that this force in Luoyang City should be
People from Jisitang.”
"You mean, Mrs. Mudan is indeed related to Jisitang?"
"I dare not say such a thing. We haven't found anyone yet and there is no real evidence." Yuan Tiangang threw the ball back again. Li Shimin glanced at him and said, "Continue."
"I followed your majesty's order and met with Wang Gui, and also met the man who claimed to be 'uncle'. I ordered people to break his legs and let him beg for food near the Duke of Ju's palace. Mrs. Tang
I found him when I left the house——"
"how?"
Yuan Tiangang paused and said: "Mrs. Tang provided relief."
"Okay," Li Shimin's expression became colder and colder: "Okay, okay! The woman I like is from Jisi Hall, and the nephew I value is... Okay, I also boast that I have the ability to recognize people, okay! I
That’s why you’re blind!”
"deliver an imperial order!"
Li Shimin shouted, and Eunuch Gao knelt down on the ground and said, "Your Majesty! I have something to say!"
"What did you say? Do you want to get involved in politics?!" Li Shimin's eyes were like a hawk, staring at Eunuch Gao. Eunuch Gao put his head on the ground and said: "Your Majesty, this old slave is not for Li Mu, but for Your Majesty. This old slave is working day and night.
Serving at His Majesty's side, I know how much His Majesty values Li Mu. His Majesty can even forgive him for what happened to Mrs. Mudan. Now, it is just an unfounded charge. How can Your Majesty put Li Mu to death? There is no real evidence, Your Majesty, there is no real evidence.
!What if it’s a lie? If Your Majesty kills Li Mu, won’t you regret it for the rest of your life?!”
"I'm sorry..." Li Shimin's eyes regained a trace of clarity. He was silent for a long time and said to Yuan Tiangang: "Continue to investigate and start with Li Mu's biological mother. I will wait a few more days."
"I understand."
Yuan Tiangang turned and left. Li Shimin helped Eunuch Gao up and said, "Gao Gan, you did a good job. If you really have nothing to do with Li Mu, I will tell him and let him return the favor to you."
Eunuch Gao smiled and said: "Old slave is already this old and half-disabled. What do you want in return? Li Mu is a rare talent. With his assistance, Your Majesty will be able to fulfill his ambitions. In this way, the old slave will be able to fulfill his ambitions."
I got my wish." After murmuring, Eunuch Gao added, "There is one more thing I want to tell Your Majesty."
"What's up?"
"Your Majesty, the factory guard recently received a piece of news, which is also related to Li Mu... but it is not related to him, but to his second wife. The factory guard found out that after Silla envoy Jin Chunqiu arrived in Chang'an, he kept looking for him.
Find a Silla maid who was sold from Silla to Chang'an. What's even stranger is that Goguryeo is also paying attention to this matter. The people below found it strange and investigated it."
"What's the matter? Is it related to Li Mu's second wife?"
"Yes, Li Mu's second wife should be the person both parties are looking for."
Li Shimin frowned and thought to himself: "King Jinpyeong of Silla has no children. If nothing unexpected happens, the throne should fall on his brother. What does he want to do by asking the envoy to find someone? An illegitimate child? But Li Mu's second wife is
A woman - does he want his daughter to inherit the throne?"
"Let the Ministry of Rites send someone over tomorrow to ask. If you ask, let me know."
"promise."
…
After the imperial army took over the Dali Temple Prison, no one came to the door anymore. Li Mu finally lived the life a prisoner should live, but he was not without relief, because the person in charge of defense was Cheng Yaojin, and he was fine.
He would come to Li Mu, and the two of them would have a jar of wine and a bag of dried meat, and they would chat and talk while drinking. It was quite interesting. If it was boring again, they would grab their heads and come over with the jailer, and the four of them would play mahjong with five copper coins.
With one hand, the winnings or losses in a day would not exceed two guans. The people in the prison of Dali Temple were not ordinary people. The cell leader and the jailer were also very well-connected, so they could still afford to play with two or three guans.
"It's been several days, your majesty, are you going to kill me or not?" Li Mu fired a two-barreled shot, which was eaten by Cheng Yaojin. Cheng Yaojin shot another thirty thousand and said, "Who are you asking?
I've been watching you here, and I haven't gone to court."
"Uncle Cheng, who harmed me?"
"Ha," Cheng Yaojin laughed and said, "Although I didn't go to court, I still have some eyes and ears. This matter has nothing to do with that old boy Wang Gui."
Li Mu raised his eyebrows: "Why do you see that?"
Cheng Yaojin waved his hand, and the cell boss and jailer quickly took the money and left as if they had received an amnesty. They did not dare to listen anymore. If they got into trouble if they listened too much, they would be silenced.
Cheng Yaojin leaned close to Li Mu's ear and said: "Someone saw Yuan Tiangang going to Wang Gui's house, and then brought out an old man. He had the old man's legs broken and he threw it at the door of Tang Jian's house. Your mother went out.
At that time, I met this old man, asked the doctor and gave him the money."
"Although I don't know what the situation is, I can guess it. It must be related to you." Cheng Yaojin's eyes shone with shrewdness: "What does that old magician Yuan Tiangang do? You can guess it even if I don't tell you.
, why didn’t he find someone else but Wang Gui? Isn’t the reason just about to come out?”
"Then how did uncle know Yuan Tiangang's whereabouts?"
Cheng Yaojin smiled and said: "If it were outside, of course I wouldn't know, but my old Cheng is also responsible for the defense of Chang'an City. The four gates and patrols are all my subordinates. Isn't it normal for me to know some information?" He sighed.
He took a breath and said: "There has been trouble in the past few days. The news I received is that someone said that you are related to Jisitang - Li Mu, do you know Jisitang?"
Li Mu nodded and said, "I seemed to have heard a little bit about it when I was tracking down the killer in the valley."
"Jisitang is an organization formed by some people who supported Prince Yin and remained stubborn after his death. The purpose is to support Prince Yin's civilian sons and contend with His Majesty. It is a thorn in His Majesty's side and a thorn in his flesh." Cheng Yaojin said seriously:
"Your Majesty is wise and powerful, but this is the only thing where he has failed in his moral conduct. Although I don't know the details, I have heard that when it comes to tracking down the deceased son over the years, Your Majesty has always preferred to kill the wrong one rather than let him go.
Passed."
"So, do you think you can turn disaster into good this time?" Cheng Yaojin shook his head and said, "It's hard to say!"
Li Mu knew in his heart that he was not Sun's biological son, but he never thought that he would be related to Li Jiancheng. He pretended to be ignorant and said: "Uncle, what do you think this has to do with me? My mother, you
We have met before, I also have a father, how come I am related to Prince Yin?"
"Prince Yin is always merciful."
Li Mu immediately became serious and said, "Uncle, I don't want to fall out with you! My home is in Mayi!"
Cheng Yaojin hurriedly said: "You have such a short temper, why would you fall out with me if I say anything? I mean, Prince Yin is always merciful, not necessarily your mother - I mean, have you ever
Have you ever thought that you are not your mother’s biological child?”
"What?"
Cheng Yaojin looked at Li Mu and said word by word: "I didn't feel this way when no one said it, but someone did. I've been looking at you these past few days, and the more I look at you, the more I feel like a hidden prince. You
It's quite similar to him when he was young."
Li Mu had a speechless expression and suddenly said angrily: "If your Majesty wants to kill me, just kill me. Why do you need to find so many excuses on me? If I were the last son of Jiancheng, I would risk my life not to save him."
Life? How about letting those assassins kill him while he's in the valley?"
Li Mu said angrily: "If I had known that Your Majesty was like this, I wouldn't have stayed in Chang'an no matter what."
Cheng Yaojin patted him on the shoulder and said: "Don't be so angry. You are not an emperor and you don't understand the emperor's concerns - if you were in another position, maybe you would do the same."
"What's the meaning?"
Cheng Yaojin spread his hands and said: "Who told you to do so well in everything you do? You are good at making money, and you are good at reform. You went out and solved the problem of Western Turks. Can your Majesty?
Are you afraid? What if you are really the surviving son of Prince Yin? The prince is young, how can he be your opponent?"
Li Mu said speechlessly: "Uncle, you know me. Do I seem to have the slightest desire to be the emperor? Isn't it ridiculous to say that I want to rebel?"
"Whether it's funny or not is not what you say. It's useless for anyone to say it. It depends on what His Majesty thinks." Cheng Yaojin threw a piece of dried meat into his mouth and chewed it while saying: "Based on my experience of following Your Majesty for many years,
Your kid will probably not die, and at most he will be placed under house arrest...unless His Majesty finds out the evidence,"
"So, Your Majesty is still reluctant to kill me?"
"I don't dare to protect you. If His Majesty is willing to give up, he may kill you."
Li Mu lay down, looked at the roof of the shed, and muttered: "I still think it's ridiculous."
"How can anything involving the royal family be ridiculous?" Cheng Yaojin smiled like a wise elder, but with his face full of flesh, it looked a bit scary.
Li Mu had nothing to say and sighed.
Cheng Yaojin had nothing to say and just drank by himself.
Half an hour later, Cheng Yaojin went on patrol, leaving Li Mu alone.
He chewed the dried meat, feeling a little dazed.
…
We are not afraid of thieves stealing, but we are afraid that thieves will miss us. If someone intends to harm others, he will definitely succeed when he finds the opportunity. Three days later, Yuan Tiangang learned from the maid next to Sun that Sun had done it more than once
He talked in his sleep and mentioned that Li Mu was not his biological son.
Then there was new news. Li Mu's age and appearance were very similar to a former concubine of Li Jiancheng that the criminals had been tracking.
It was confirmed that Wang Ou's identity was that of the Saint of Snake Spirit. As for Snake Spirit, it had been confirmed three years ago that she had a close relationship with the Successor Hall.
News was placed on Li Shimin's desk every day, like reminders. It pressed on Li Shimin's nerves. Although there was still no real evidence, the evidence in front of him could no longer let him ignore it.
"High cadre, ask Yuan Tiangang not to send any more to me." Li Shimin paused and said, "Follow me to the prison."
Eunuch Gao was stunned for a moment and said "Promise".
Li Shimin took only Eunuch Gao to the prison in Dali Temple.
Li Mu was eating when he saw Li Shimin coming. He snapped his fingers and asked the jailer to bring a pair of bowls, chopsticks and a wine cup. Li Shimin sat opposite Li Mu, and the two looked at each other. Li Mu glanced at Li Shimin and said nothing.
Li Shimin didn't say anything. Li Mu lowered his head and continued eating. Li Shimin looked at him for a long time and finally couldn't help but said, "Li Mu, do you know that you are not your mother's biological son?"
"Your Majesty, let it be whatever you say. I have already said that if you want me to die, I will have to die."
"Wang Ou is the saint of Snake Spirit, and Snake Spirit has a close relationship with Jisi Hall."
Li Mu raised his eyes and looked at Li Shimin and said: "Your Majesty, you can just target me alone. There is no need to target a woman, right? She didn't do anything wrong? She just doesn't like you. Is this also a sin?"
"Li Mu, I never meant this. Snake Spirit, Jisi Hall, are all -" Li Shimin wanted to explain a few more words, but suddenly felt that there was nothing to explain. No matter what he said, Li Mu's attitude was that he was taking revenge.
Already.
Li Shimin pursed his lips and said: "I won't explain to you anymore. I came here to tell you. Li Mu, I can't let you out - at least until the investigation is clear, I can't let you out."
"Whatever your Majesty says is what it is." Li Mu looked at Li Shimin and said, "But I would like to ask: Your Majesty, have you made any contribution to the country of the Tang Dynasty?"
"have."
"Except for the Ou incident, is there anything I can do to your Majesty that I can't be sorry for?"
"No."
"The minister has made a request. Can your Majesty agree to it?"
"explain."
"If I die, please swear by your majesty to spare my family and send them all to Dingxiang and let my sworn brother take care of them."
Li Shimin was silent for a while and said: "I have no intention of killing you!"
Li Mu looked at Li Shimin, did not argue with him, and repeated, "Your Majesty, can you agree?"
Li Shimin took a deep breath and said, "Okay, I promise you."
Li Mu stood up and left the table, kneeling on the ground: "Your Majesty, Li Mu, thank you for your kindness!"
Li Shimin stretched out his hand to help, but he retracted his hand halfway. He saw the look in Li Mu's eyes, which was completely heartbreaking. He knew that the relationship between him and Li Mu had cracked and would never go back to the past.