After leaving the East Palace, Li Shen saw several eunuchs of His Royal Highness, loading things into a carriage one after another, and there were two petite eunuchs beside them. From the perspective of these people, Li Shen saw It turned out that these two young eunuchs were women disguised as eunuchs.
Moreover, the two of them were just standing next to another carriage and did not work with the others. Li Xu couldn't help but be curious about the identities of these two people.
"Don't look at it. Those two were sent by Silla and Goguryeo when I came back from Goguryeo. After meeting Uncle Ji, I will go back to Chang'an directly, so I have to take some things back. Let's go first and let them go later. Just wait at the door of the house." Li Hong patted Li Xu's shoulder, and the two of them continued walking out side by side.
After Li Xu heard Li Hong's simple explanation, he didn't ask who it was for. He saw that there were two palace ladies beside the two people, helping them pick up gifts and other items from time to time. It was obvious that they were in the East Palace. The status is still relatively respected.
Li Xu is of medium height. Because he has been managing the granary with King Ji for many years, his complexion is slightly dark. He has thick eyebrows and big eyes, and a righteous face. His medium body looks very strong and strong.
After inviting Li Hong to get on the carriage of Prince Ji's Mansion, Li Xu originally planned to sit on the carriage shaft with the coachman on the left and right sides, but unexpectedly, as soon as he sat down on the carriage shaft, Li Hong stretched out his hand and pulled him into the carriage: "You are like this That’s too polite, we are all a family, don’t be so outspoken, come in and sit together.”
"Then it's better for me to be respectful than to obey." Li Xu passively held the bun on his head in embarrassment, bent down and got into the carriage to sit with Li Hong.
This carriage is not his own carriage, but the carriage of his father, King Ji Li Shen. Today he came to invite Prince Li Hong. King Ji specially sent his own carriage to greet him to show that he and the entire Prince Ji's palace Respect and courtesy to His Royal Highness.
Horseshoes inlaid with horseshoes walked on the main road paved with bluestones in Luoyang City, and the sound of hoofbeats sounded leisurely. Since the palace guard of honor was not used, the carriages with the logo of Prince Ji's Palace were not on the road. There is no obstruction, but the speed is still relatively slow.
With the shouts, noises and other lively sounds outside the car window being left behind, not long after the carriage arrived, the carriage slowly stopped at the main entrance of Prince Ji's Mansion. At this time, King Yi Ji Li Shen was already standing at the door. Many people headed by him were waiting for the prince to get off the car.
Ji Wang Li Shen was good at writing, and he had high attainments in literature, history and astrology. Among all the royal families, Ji Wang Li Shen and Yue Wang Li Zhen both enjoyed high reputation and virtuous name among the people.
But on the contrary, Li Zhen, the king of Yue, was not as good at writing as Li Shen, but liked martial arts and was good at riding and shooting. Therefore, these two princes, both literary and martial, were called: "Ji and Yue" to show their People respect both of them.
It is no exaggeration to say that King Ji Li Shen is elegant, intelligent and graceful. He is also of medium height, but has a well-maintained figure. He is not like Li Zhi who has a big belly for a long time. His vermilion round-neck robe is fit and straight.
His eyes are bright and calm, and his whole person looks gentle and elegant. There is no beard on his chin, but it is clean shaven, making people look close to him.
"Your Highness, Li Shen, respectfully welcomes His Royal Highness." Li Shen walked down the steps slowly, and after Li Hong got off the station, he immediately led the rest of the people in the mansion to salute.
"Uncle Wang, you don't have to be polite. My nephew Li Hong has met Uncle Wang." Li Hong returned the courtesy slowly and said with a pleasant smile.
"Today I really have no choice but to go to the East Palace in person..."
"It's not good that you are always so polite. Brother Wang personally went to the East Palace to invite Li Hong, which already made my nephew feel uneasy. You actually greeted him at the door. If the father knew about it, he would definitely reprimand his nephew for not knowing It's polite." Li Hong couldn't stand King Ji's pedantry.
When with others, King Ji Li Shen is open-minded, cheerful and humorous, but with himself, he always puts the way of a courtier first. This is why Li Hong, although he admires Li Shen in his heart, is unwilling to have more contact with him. , too restrained.
"Okay, please, Your Highness." Li Shen turned sideways and smiled, standing at the door was not like that.
"Uncle Wang, please." Li Hong suddenly realized that his etiquette was actually not very bad. It would depend on who he was comparing to, right
Prince Ji's Mansion naturally occupies a huge area in Luoyang. After walking for a while, Prince Ji welcomed Li Hong into the main hall and sat down.
Regardless of whether Li Hong was a generation younger than Prince Ji Li Shen, at this moment, His Royal Highness the Prince had to sit on the main seat even if he was visiting relatives on the first day of the year, and Li Shen naturally had to sit next to him.
Li Xu and a few others were able to find a seat at this time. It was because His Highness the Crown Prince was informal, so those few people sat down on both sides of the lower head.
After a brief exchange of greetings, Li Shen was shocked when he learned that Li Hong planned to return to Chang'an today. The prince did not attend the court banquet yesterday, but he was rushing to Chang'an today. Is there anything he wanted? thing
"There is nothing wrong. My nephew has been out for several months. At that time, he was urgently summoned to Liaodong by his father. In a hurry, there were still many things on hand that he had not had time to deal with. After returning, he talked to his father today. After the mother reported the matter, she planned to return to Chang'an. By the way, I heard from Brother Xu that you have something important to do with your nephew. But what's bothering you?" Li Hong picked up the teacup and fiddled with the tea leaves again. Put down the teacup.
If he didn't touch the tea first, no one sitting in the main hall, including King Ji, would be able to touch the tea before him.
Li Xu rushed all the way and didn't have time to drink water in the East Palace. At this time, his mouth was already dry.
After watching Li Hong pick it up, put it down, and then smile at him, Li Xu understood Li Hong's intention. He smiled gratefully at Li Hong, paused, and then picked up the tea at hand.
Li Shen saw everything in front of him. He didn't expect that His Highness the Crown Prince's reputation for revenge would include such details as caring for others. At that moment, he felt a little more sure about what he wanted to say.
Li Shen thought for a moment, then looked at Li Hong and said: "A few days ago, Tubo came to ask for marriage from the Tang Dynasty again. But this time, it was not the Tubo envoys who proposed to the court or His Majesty, but Princess Wencheng. I am directly asking for marriage here, hoping to marry Li Chuyuan to Tubo Zanpu."
"Is there such a thing? Does Uncle Wang know whether this is Tubo's intention or Princess Wencheng's intention?" Li Hong was startled. Originally, Tubo proposed to marry again several years later, and the person he proposed to marry at that time was the same person. It's the little thing Li Lingyue in the palace now.
The father and mother were unwilling to marry their favorite princess Li Lingyue to Tubo, but they could not directly refuse Tubo's marriage request, so they built a Taiping Temple and declined Tubo's marriage request on the grounds that Li Lingyue had officially become a monk. Request, so Taiping became Li Lingyue's Taoist name.
As for her princess title, Li Zhi had given her the title to the highest level: Princess Taiping of Zhenguo.
"This..." King Ji Li Shen glanced at Li Hong with some embarrassment, and then looked at Li Xu and others present.
"Listen to Uncle Wang's arrangements." Li Hong said understandingly.
"In that case, would you please, Your Highness, take a look at the garden of your harem?" King Ji nodded and said gratefully.
"Uncle Wang, please." Li Hong stood up and saw that Li Xu and others looked as usual, not dissatisfied because of King Ji's taboo.
Li Shen nodded to Li Hong again, and the two of them came out of the main hall and walked to the garden behind the mansion.
Facing Li Xu and others here, it's not that Li Shen deliberately wanted to hide something from his son and confidants, nor does it mean that he doesn't trust them, but that this matter is not trivial and involves too many areas. If he doesn't act cautiously, , I’m afraid the consequences will be disastrous.
Moreover, the fewer people who know about this kind of thing, the better. Li Hong is the key to it, which makes him have to give up asking His Majesty and instead hope that Li Hong can help him solve the current problem.
It has already entered early winter. The entire Luoyang City, except for a few small gardens built with glass in Luoyang Palace, is still full of red flowers and green leaves. Other places, including the gardens of the palace, are bleak at this time, and it is difficult to find some bright flowers. Color, even green, is rare in gardens.
The shadowy retainers were walking back and forth in a remote area. After a while, Li Hong and Li Shen were left in the entire back garden of the palace.
"Hong'er, this is a serious matter. Uncle Wang is really in a difficult situation. Princess Wencheng has a tough attitude and will not give up until she marries Li Chuyuan. As Li Chuyuan's father, I am naturally unwilling to marry her. Tubo. What's more... Pei Xingjian has always been on good terms with me, and you know our relationship. I once wrote to him and asked him. He said that Tubo did not have such a plan, saying that it was impossible. Even if Tubo had intentions, they would not I will agree." Li Shen and Li Hong walked side by side on the warm stone path in the garden and whispered.
"Of course I can't agree. Tubo continues to use this bad move to reconcile with the Tang Dynasty, hoping to take this opportunity to obtain some of the advanced technologies of the Tang Dynasty again, but they have forgotten that Tubo is now part of the Tang Dynasty. How can we talk about a marriage? Even if Pei Xingjian and others did not enter Tubo, now that the Tang Dynasty is strong and Tubo is weak, it is simply nonsense to think that the Tang Dynasty will compromise and exchange for peace on the border." Li Hong said. He slowly lowered his head and said to relieve Li Shen's worries.
"I feel reassured by His Highness's words, but I can't tell His Majesty about the current situation. His Majesty has always been insensitive on such matters, and he is afraid that if I speak, he will agree. So after thinking about it, I just decided to come to discuss this matter with you. Since this matter is not determined by Tubo's national policy, it is Princess Wencheng and others who made the marriage plan." Li Shen watched Li Hong stop and followed suit. After thinking for a while, he continued: "So after Pei Xingjian gave me a clear reply, I secretly investigated. This marriage move may have been the idea of Pei Wang Li Xian for Wen Cheng."
(End of chapter)