Night fell slowly, and the sharp cold wind began to dance. The streets of Chang'an City were still bustling with people coming and going. They did not seem a little deserted because of the drop in temperature, but seemed to have become more lively.
Ordinary carriages without any markings drove away quickly from the back doors of the mansions of wealthy nobles, either towards the back doors of the mansions of other dignitaries, or towards the back doors of the mansions of wealthy families.
They were walking in a hurry, sneaking around, looking solemn, or forcing a smile. When the people in the carriage got out of the carriage, they all had different expressions on their faces, but overall, they were more solemn and less happy.
Tonight's night party in Chang'an is destined to be uncharacteristically unusual. Fewer and fewer people are wandering on the cold streets. More and more carriages and sedan chairs without any markings are coming in and out as if they have been arranged.
It seemed as if the Castle Guards also sensed the unusual atmosphere. This night, they intensified their patrols for the first time. The carriages and sedans passing by were routinely intercepted by the Castle Guards and then released in a matter of seconds. .
In the pagoda camp outside Chang'an City, Li Zhe, who had just returned from the palace, felt a trace of solemn atmosphere. The entire camp lacked its usual calmness. Even after seeing him come back, they all saluted respectfully. The easy-going developed over these days.
He originally had no hope of being able to return to the camp before the first day of the year, but he did not expect that his experience in Futu Camp would be recognized and praised by his father and mother, so he returned again. This would make him feel good all over. Feel comfortable in the barracks.
Lawless's face is not much different from usual, but his words are full of stern coldness and iron-blooded murderous intent!
Li Zhe walked out of the tent and couldn't help but look up at the night sky. The starry night sky didn't give him any inspiration, but he felt that the sky was going to change? Or is something big happening? I didn’t feel anything strange in the palace today!
No matter it was the father, the mother, the fifth or sixth child, they were all peaceful. Except for Li Hong spraying a mouthful of tea on Li Xian's chest, which caused Li Xian to glare angrily, everything else was normal. Everyone was as usual. It's like the atmosphere every time a family dines together.
Thinking of this, Li Zhe couldn't help but think about Li Xian's anxious look after coming out of the imperial city. He thought he was anxious to go back, but now it seems that he... does he know something? So does Li Hong know something
When Li Hong returned to the East Palace, Pei Xingjian was already waiting. He came out of the palace a little later than Li Xian and Li Zhe, and talked with his father in the study for a while.
"My minister Pei Xingjian has met the protector of the capital..."
"No, no, we haven't seen each other for more than a year, right? We haven't seen you since we were old. Life in Tubo is quite comfortable. It's in vain that Wanying and I are worried about you every day." Someone shamelessly treated someone else's daughter After being assigned to him, he didn't care about the surprise on Pei Xingjian's face, or whether he was willing to marry his daughter to him.
"The Protector is joking. I will report everything to you. I think you know the situation in Tubo very well, don't you?" Pei Xingjian's appearance, except that his skin color is slightly darker, and his cheeks have a little more plateau red, Although his beard seemed a little thicker, there were no other changes.
"When you return to Chang'an, don't call me the Protector again, lest people make excuses." Li Hong said with a smile.
Under the respectful welcome of Xiaoxue and others, Li Hong led Pei Xingjian into a study room in the Lizheng Hall. After putting down the two cups of tea, the two of them were left alone in the study room.
"Have you gone to report to my father that you are back?" Li Hong asked, motioning for him to sit down opposite.
"Yesterday, I went to Baqiao with other colleagues to welcome him. At night, I was summoned by His Majesty alone and asked some questions about Tubo."
"Nothing else?"
"No." Pei Xingjian said with a smile.
After continuing to chat for a few words, the topic of the two people shifted to Pei Wanying. After a few words, due to Pei Xingjian's helplessness, the two fell into a brief silence.
"I have an important purpose in calling you back. I have been with Anxi for more than four years. Now that I think about it, you and Ma Zai are the ones who understand my thoughts the most. The candidate for Youpu She has not yet been determined. Ever since Zhang Wenguan decided to retire. , many people have begun to compete for this position, just like the secret message to you, I hope you can take up the position of right servant." Li Hong finally got back to business.
"I have only been back for three or four days and have been away from the court for many years. If Your Highness puts me in such an important position, I am afraid that I will not be able to control the overall situation for a while. Above the court, it is no better than Tubo or Anxi. Whoever has a bigger fist will be the king! I am not disrespecting the royal family, but the intrigues and intrigues in this court are rampant. I... I think... should I wait for some time to have a certain understanding of the court's context before I take office... "
"No, it's too late. Nothing in this world waits for people, only people wait for things. I think the officials have already looked for you, right? I've also ordered the officials to hand over the documents from Zhongshu and the disciples. , but in the imperial court tomorrow, I’m afraid it will be difficult for the Ministry of Education to approve it, and it may be possible to stay in China but not be issued, but these are not important, the important thing is that you must be ambitious!”
Pei Xingjian did not answer immediately. He thought in his mind whether he had the ability to really take up the position of right servant! Also, can I sit firmly in this position
It is not an exaggeration to say that the position of the right servant is a position of great power. This is more important than the position of a high-ranking official! If Pei Xingjian is not moved, it is naturally impossible, but in the court, the first thing to do as an official is to save his life. Only when he has his life can he be an official. If he only focuses on the position of Youpushe, even if he reaches the At that time, I sat down with the support of His Highness. Whether it can last long is another matter.
"I am willing to go through fire and water for His Highness, no matter what happens tomorrow..."
"Pei Yan came to see you?" Li Hong asked suddenly, looking at Pei Xingjian's thoughtful expression and the meaning of his words.
Pei Xingjian was stunned for a moment, then understood and said: "Yes, after I arrived in Chang'an that day, I received his assassination, and held a private banquet in Pingkangfang that day, inviting me to attend. But... I don't know how His Highness saw it. ?”
From the moment he was stunned until he finished speaking, Pei Xingjian maintained a calm and calm expression on his face, as if he didn't think there was anything wrong with not telling His Highness this.
"You can tell, I'm not in Chang'an, it doesn't mean that your daughter is not in Chang'an either. It's hard for me to know what you are doing when you come back. Since he has found out whether you are interested in where your right servant shot, he will definitely be in the court tomorrow. If the superiors make things difficult for you, I will receive a lot of criticism even from the imperial court tomorrow, so you should be well prepared before the imperial court tomorrow.”
"Of course, Pei Yan is the Secretary of the Central Committee, and there is... King Pei..." Pei Xingjian's old face is a bit ugly. At least in front of her father, please don't talk about other people's daughters all the time.
"The only uncertainty now is Li Xian. It's going to be very difficult tonight. If he comes to me tonight, everything will be solved. If he doesn't come, I will pull Pei Yan from the position of Zhongshu Ling tomorrow. I'm afraid that We need to go through some troubles." Li Hong also frowned. Li Xian went straight back to the palace after leaving the palace and did not wait for him in the East Palace. This was a bit unexpected.
"Yes, I am afraid that all the officials, big and small, will be out in force tonight. The officials in Chang'an City will be like ants moving to visit relatives and friends." Pei Xingjian smiled. Although he has been away from the court for many years, it does not mean that He lost that sensitivity.
The anxiety in Li Hong's heart is still ready to stir up, but now, there is basically nothing he can do. Even the pagoda camp is ready to go, just because he is afraid of any accident tonight.
As long as Li Xian doesn't take the initiative to come to him, it basically means that Li Xian hasn't made up his mind yet whether he wants to part ways with Pei Yan.
Li Hong stroked his chin, thinking in his mind, is there anything else that he accidentally missed
But no matter how he tried, he couldn't find anything wrong with his plan. The only thing he had to wait for now was Li Xian. Only when Li Xian came, would Wang Bo, who was still in custody in his hands, have some value. If Li Xian If he doesn't come, it means giving up on Wang Bo, and there is no use in keeping him in his own hands.
Thinking of this, Li Hong signaled to Pei Xingjian that he could go back first. He could go to court tomorrow morning, but there was no point in staying here.
Moreover, the timing of Pei Xingjian's return will definitely make some officials guess whether he came back specifically for the right servant's position. Maybe there are already many officials, big and small, gathered in front of the mansion.
Therefore, after Li Hong made it clear to Pei Xingjian who he wanted as his right servant, Pei Xingjian naturally had to have his own circle to interact with. It was hard to say whether these people could help Pei Xingjian, but as long as they did not cause harm in the process, it would be enough.
Not long after sending Pei Xingjian away, Li Hong buried himself under the desk and finished writing a letter when Xiaoxue knocked on the door gently and walked in: "Your Highness, King Pei is here."
"Grandma's, it's finally here! Seal this immediately and give it to Lin Shiling, ask him to do it immediately, and hand it to the censor to take to the court tomorrow." Li Hong pointed to the secret letter on the table, and then ignored Xiaoxue. Then he walked straight out.
Xiaoxue looked at Li Hong's back in confusion, then looked back curiously at the words on the secret letter. It was a math problem!
"Three people went to stay in a hotel for thirty cents a night. Each of the three of them paid ten cents. They collected enough thirty cents and gave it to the shopkeeper. Later, the shopkeeper suddenly decided to give the three people a cheaper price, so he gave it to the shopkeeper. Five cents was asked to be returned to the three people, but the clerk became greedy and hid two cents secretly, giving each of the three people one cent.
In this way, each person paid ten cents, and now he got one cent back, which is ten minus nine. Each person only spent nine pennies. Three people each spent nine pennies, which is twenty-seven pennies. Including the two pennies hidden by the clerk, it equals twenty-nine pennies. So, where can the remaining penny go? Already? "
(End of chapter)