Chapter 530 The Prime Minister's Mansion is as dark as the sea
Li Siye led his entourage to the gate of the Right Prime Minister's Mansion. Several officials were already standing outside the side door holding greeting cards, so he had to queue behind them.
He is now an official of the third rank, so he is wearing a purple robe, which is lighter than the purple robe of the third rank. In front of him are four or five fourth-rank officials wearing crimson robes.
Li Siye could feel the hesitation and hesitation in their eyes when they turned back, and the purple robe gave several people a sense of oppression.
They turned around and politely asked Li Siye to deliver the greeting card first, but Li Siye smiled and said, "No, no, no, everything must be done on a first-come, first-served basis. You go in first, I'm not in a hurry."
It would be a lie to say that he is not in a hurry, but he can foresee that today's visit will be full of setbacks and difficulties. If Li Linfu didn't try every means to make things difficult for him, he wouldn't be Li Linfu. So it is better to put on the attitude of a protracted war and be patient.
Wait, he didn't even expect to see Li Linfu.
These people went in quickly and came out quickly, with different expressions on their faces, either disappointed or melancholy.
When it was Li Siye's turn, he took out the greeting card from his sleeve and presented it with both hands. After the concierge saw Li Siye's name on the greeting card, he subconsciously raised his head and took another look, then the corners of his mouth raised and he said with a stiff smile: "
Li Zhongcheng, please follow me in."
He immediately waved to Yan Xiaosi and the two people carrying the load to follow him through the door. When he passed through the second doorway, the Youxiao Guard officer on duty outside stopped the porter and asked in a cold voice: "What is in the load.
"
Li Siye turned around and said with a smile: "It's just some local specialties brought from Qixi."
The officer showed no emotion: "Put down the load, I want to check it."
The followers who followed him looked at each other, and Li Siye winked at them. The two put down their burdens. The officer lifted up the linen covering the outside, opened his pockets, took a look, and nodded to the steward before letting them pass.
The chief steward of the mansion stood at the steps of the main wing and ordered the servants of the mansion to receive Li Siye's gift. He crossed his hands and said apologetically: "Your entourage will stay outside and wait. Li Zhongcheng, please come with me."
He followed the chief steward through the moon gate in the front yard, followed the corridor in the yard, and then turned into another wing.
At this time, the smile on the steward's face had disappeared. He nodded coldly and said, "Li Zhongcheng is waiting here for now. The right minister is meeting with foreign envoys and will see you later."
He wouldn't believe a word of this, but he had already been mentally prepared. He held his hands in his arms and said with a smile: "It doesn't matter, the right prime minister has everything to do every day, and I also know the priorities."
The steward replied stiffly: "It would be good if General Li knew."
The steward of the Right Prime Minister's Mansion walked out of the room, reached out and closed the partition, and he was left in the room.
He turned around and looked at the furnishings in the room. There was only a screen, a felt mat and a desk, but there was nothing else. He could feel the boredom and malice, so at least he had prepared some tea and books in the room.
Yes, it's also a good way to spend boring time.
Fortunately, he brought a book with him when he came, so he sat down, opened the book, and calmly read Li Jing's Art of War.
…
Li Linfu stood in the inner hall, holding scissors in his hand to prune the branches of tropical plants. He gently broke off the withered and yellow leaves, squatted on the ground and buried them in flower pots.
The chief steward walked into the inner hall and stood behind him. He bent down and folded his hands to report: "Alang, I have placed Li Siye in the wing in the outer courtyard to wait."
He didn't answer for a long time. After burying the dead leaves, he raised his head and said softly: "I understand, go down."
The steward took two steps back, then turned back and said, "He brought two stones of pepper and some sandalwood and frankincense."
Li Linfu paused for a moment with the scissors in his hand, turned around and said to himself in surprise: "So many?"
"Yes."
He raised his chin and thought for a while, then he laughed out loud and said: "Is this man a martial artist? It seems that he is not just a martial artist. I don't know how to distinguish him. He said he has the same interests as the prince's group.
But among the princelings in the past, there was no one who was as flexible as this to the point of slickness. It is said that he is a vulgar and greedy person with no bottom line, but this person is upright and has many talents. Those scholars who claim to be noble may not be like this.
There is almost no prior experience to judge his talent, and his ideas seem to fall from the sky."
The housekeeper couldn't understand this vague comment, so he had to cross his hands and ask: "Alang, do you want to meet him in advance?"
"Don't worry." Li Linfu waved his hand calmly: "Let's let him dry out for a while. No matter whether he is angry, arrogant, or kind, it is still beneficial to let him dry out.
Li Siye sat in the side room and read the book. Every once in a while, he looked up at the next window. The light filtering through the window paper was getting darker and darker. The room gradually became dim. The handwriting on the military book could no longer be seen clearly. He looked up again.
Staring will only damage your eyes.
Did the people in the prime minister's house forget about him, even if they didn't pour him tea, why didn't they even bring in an oil lamp, and just watched him groping in the dark?
Even though he was mentally prepared for a cold reception, deep down he was still feeling irritated and angry.
The room was completely dark. Li Siye was lying on the floor and leaning on the desk. He was thinking about the scene of meeting Li Linfu in his mind. He began to prepare the words he had prepared. What Li Linfu would say then and how he should respond skillfully. If he had changed his tone,
When asked, how should Li Siye respond?
While he was pondering these boring questions, a light appeared dimly outside the next door, as if someone carrying a lantern was about to pass by, or was coming here.
The next door was opened with a crash, and the housekeeper walked in with a paper lantern, bending down to apologize: "I really feel sorry for keeping Zhongcheng waiting for so long, but my Alang still has some things to deal with, so please ask Zhongcheng
Forgive me."
Li Siye no longer even had the interest to complain, and could only pretend to understand the other party generously: "It doesn't matter, I can continue to wait."
The steward smiled and shook his head and said: "I'm afraid there will be a curfew if we wait any longer. Our Right Prime Minister's Mansion never accepts foreigners. Otherwise, Zhongcheng will go back first and come back tomorrow."
Li Siye said nonsense, I brought a lot of gifts today, but you asked me to go home. I didn't even see anyone like this. Do I have to bring gifts when I come tomorrow?
He smiled politely at the other party and said, "No, no, no, I'll wait. The curfew doesn't matter. We can stay in the backyard in Pingkangfang, so we don't need to walk far."
The steward stared at Li Siye with a strange look, wondering if this man had lost his face?
"Then Li Zhongcheng, please wait a moment. I'll go see if Alang is finished."
The steward lit an oil lamp and put it down, turned around and left again.
Li Siye chuckled and continued to wait. Not long after, the steward arrived with two maids holding lamps, and said with a happy face: "Alang is finally done with his work. Let me invite Li Zhongcheng to come over."
The two maids sandwiched him one after another and walked along the dark corridor of the Prime Minister's Mansion. Lights were hung under the eaves and corners of each building in the mansion. The gleaming light and dark still could not dispel the gloomy atmosphere, which was as dark as the deep sea.
A corner of the wealthy family was revealed in front of him.
They passed through the neatly arranged charcoal and copper stoves and finally came to Li Linfu's inner hall. Li Linfu, wearing white linen, stood in front of the screen and turned around. Strange lights danced in his dark eyes, revealing a mysterious figure.
Smile: "Li Zhongcheng, I've kept you waiting for a long time."