Dressed in an elegant blue shirt and skirt, simple and elegant, coupled with her tall figure, graceful figure, black hair hanging down to her waist like a waterfall, her beautiful face still has a touch of indifference, and her beautiful eyes are deep Bright, like a noble and holy blue lotus, it lay quietly in front of Li Zhi and Wu Mei.
Wu Mei sometimes had to admit that in this world, only Bai Chun could wear such monotonous clothes and create the stunning appearance that women yearn for. I'm afraid she is the only one who can turn this cold and ruthless temperament into a woman's advantage.
"Sit down." Wu Mei looked at Bai Chun calmly and said.
Li Hong has been with her the longest and most loyal maid, but until now, she still has not made any changes to her identity.
After so many years of perseverance, Wu Mei was completely relieved of Bai Chun, and she also understood that by not changing her identity, Bai Chun would prove to herself and His Majesty that she was just a slave of His Highness the Crown Prince, and she would not expect anything else.
"Thank you, Your Majesty. Thank you, Queen. Your Highness asked your servant to bring this to you. Please accept the five million eight hundred thousand tael silver note." Bai Chun wanted to hand the silver note to the palace maid, who then handed it to Wu. Charming.
But Wu Mei took it from Bai Chun's hand naturally, put it aside without looking at it, and said lightly: "In a few days, it will be time to choose the crown prince for Li Hong. When you are with the prince For the longest time, do you know who the person he prefers the most is?”
After Bai Chun sat down, she gave a rare smile and said: "Back to the queen, I think your highness likes Pei Wanying quite a lot. When your highness and Pei Wanying met, Pei Wanying didn't even know that your highness was the crown prince of the Tang Dynasty. If Pei Wanying becomes the prince in the future, Being able to marry His Highness is a good thing."
Bai Chun answered politely, only explaining the acquaintance process between Li Hong and Pei Wanying, but still did not give a clear answer as to who His Highness was most inclined to.
"Since I came back, have I almost regarded Pei Xingjian's mansion as his east palace?" Li Zhi asked from the side.
It's not like Pei Xingjian has never looked for him and the queen. He doesn't give people status, but he runs to other people's homes every day. At this time, he probably went to other people's homes again to have a tryst with his daughter.
There was also a hint of embarrassment on Bai Chun's face. Although what His Majesty said was not entirely correct, but... it seemed that it was not too far off, but it was true that we were not going to Pei Xingjian's mansion today.
"Back to Your Majesty, since Pei Xingjian and His Highness talked before returning to Chang'an, Your Majesty has not seen Pei Wanying since he returned to Chang'an. That day at Prince Pei's Mansion..."
"Then he can't be idle today, right?" Li Zhi looked like he knew his son better than his father, and interrupted Bai Chun's description of the scene in Prince Pei's Mansion. At that time, he fainted and didn't know many things, as if he had lost consciousness after drinking. , and Li Xian was already on his way to Bazhou, and he didn't want to mention what happened in Prince Pei's Mansion at this time.
Bai Chun smiled apologetically, and then continued to say respectfully: "Your Majesty, when I come here today, Your Highness has just received an invitation from Chen Jingzhi, the former governor of Yangzhou, to attend a banquet."
"Chen Jingzhi?" Li Zhi looked at Wu Mei thoughtfully, then turned his head and remembered that Chen Jingzhi was the governor who was framed by Li Jingye.
Li Hong walked to the glass window in front of Chongwen Hall, looked at the dozen people sitting at attention inside, and continued walking outside the East Palace without paying any attention: "Let them wait. If they are willing to wait, just wait."
"Then the servant went over to answer the question?" Hua Meng and Cheetah followed Li Hong on the left and right sides. The three of them were all dressed as ordinary people, preparing to go out to Chen Jingzhi's thank you banquet.
"Don't pay attention to them, just let them wait." Li Hong, who got on the carriage, glanced around and saw a figure that looked like Belus, looking around not far from the East Palace.
Li Hong, who ignored it and didn't take a closer look to see if it was Belus, got on the carriage and rushed out of the imperial city.
"What official position has Belus been granted by His Majesty now?" Li Hong, who was sitting in the carriage, thought for a while and asked Hua Meng and Cheetah outside.
"Back to Your Highness, Your Majesty granted Belus the title of General of the Right Guards of the Tang Dynasty's Wu Sanguan, and set up a Persian temple in Liquanfang for the Persians to gather here." Hua Meng sat beside the carriage and turned to face Li Hong said in the carriage.
Li Hong in the carriage did not make any more noise until the carriage arrived at the door of a restaurant. After Li Hong got off the car, he said to Hua Meng: "Let the Ministry of Rites contact Belus and see if there is anything wrong with them wandering around the gate of the East Palace." thing."
"Yes, Your Highness." Hua Meng looked at Di Renjie and Chen Jingzhi walking out of the restaurant and said in a low voice.
"Remember to go around Yeyue and don't let her know about it. This little girl has been very restless these days. She may also be negotiating some conditions with Belus. These words will be reported to the Ministry of Rites." After Li Hong finished speaking again, he He looked back at Di Renjie and Chen Jingzhi, who were already in front of him, waiting to salute.
There was an endless stream of people at the door of the restaurant, but no one paid special attention to this luxurious carriage and the tall Li Hong.
Luxurious carriages are now everywhere in Chang'an City, and there are countless even more luxurious carriages than Li Hong's, so the three of them chatting at the door will not attract the attention of others.
Under the guidance of Di Renjie and Chen Jingzhi, the three of them arrived at a private room that was not considered the best in this type of restaurant. Chen Jingzhi's daughter was already waiting respectfully for the arrival of His Royal Highness.
"You father and daughter are quite true to their word. I thought you wouldn't thank me." Li Hong smiled and said while looking at Chen Qinghan who was saluting him.
Sitting down as guests and hosts, Li Hong looked at Chen Qinghan carefully again. Compared with when he was in Jiangnan, Chen Qinghan looked much more beautiful at this time. He was not as tall as Bai Chun and Yeyue, but But it’s also flawless.
The complexion is obviously much brighter than before, and the fair skin seems to be glowing with a layer of light. The beautiful cheeks and a pair of talking eyes fully reflect the elegance and gentleness of Jiangnan women in their temperament.
Compared to Chen Jingzhi and Chen Qinghan, who were cautious and restrained, Di Renjie knew Li Hong much better, so the banquet room was more open, which played a good role in smoothing the banquet for four people.
As for why the two knew each other, Li Hong had no idea at all. Whether it was the officialdom of this era or the officialdom of later generations, there was a connection between officials that the monarch could not figure out.
Even if people tell you clearly, as a superior, you cannot find like-minded colleagues like them through countless connections.
Therefore, Li Hong never asked about the reason why Di Renjie and Chen Jingzhi met each other. Di Renjie and Chen Jingzhi naturally understood the reason, especially Di Renjie, who was smiling and funny, with a relaxed and normal expression. I don't care if the prince will ask.
During the dinner, under the advice of her father and Di Renjie, Chen Qinghan also drank a few glasses of wine with Li Hong. She was too drunk. After a few glasses of wine, her originally fair cheeks suddenly looked fairer and more attractive, with a blush. Gradually clinging to the cheeks, it is embellished with the unique graceful and shy beauty of Jiangnan women, and it seems to make the whole room more beautiful.
"My daughter is very grateful to His Highness for taking care of my daughter when he was in Jiangnan. If it weren't for Your Highness, I would have died in prison long ago." Chen Jingzhi picked up the wine glass and said gratefully to Li Hong after Chen Qinghan sat down.
Li Hong drank it all in one gulp after Chen Qinghan helped him fill it up. Then he looked at Di Renjie and said, "Now I've had three rounds of wine and five dishes. I guess you have something to do with Di Renjie today."
"Your Highness is wise. Even if Your Highness doesn't ask, I intend to offer you a glass of water and wine and then ask Your Highness for a favor." Di Renjie picked up the wine glass and stood up, saying with a smile.
"There were many officials in the Tang Dynasty who were filling in the gaps. Di Renjie, you only recommended Chen Jingzhi. What talents did you see in him?" Li Hong directly ignored the nonsense Di Renjie might say next and asked directly.
Di Renjie looked stunned. He obviously didn't expect that Li Hong would be so straightforward. He rejected all the foreshadowing words he prepared and directly asked himself what he liked in him.
"Your Highness, I think you know better than me the reputation of Mr. Chen Jingzhi when he was in Yangzhou. In terms of his talent, whether it is his ability to govern a state, or the way to get along with his colleagues, Mr. Chen Jingzhi is better than other scholars. There are not many advantages for those who fill the vacancy. But Chen Jingzhi has one thing that many officials in the Tang Dynasty lack, which is the advantages of being flexible and upright, not afraid of powerful people, not seeking personal gain, and not being nepotistic. These officials think that, It fits the characteristics of the officials our Datang needs now." Di Renjie thought for a moment and organized his words.
Li Hong fiddled with the wine glass in his hand and said with a calm expression, showing no trace of his inner emotions: "There is no shortage of such officials in Dali Temple, right? Dali Temple is now under your control, and it can be said that it has never been afraid of the powerful..."
"Your Majesty, you are joking. I think I can't do what Chen Jingzhi does. I look at current affairs and the world. Since I took charge of Dali Temple, I have never offended anyone from above or from below, whether it was a member of the royal family or a ninth-rank official. Foreign officials have no complaints about me. This is enough to show that I am obviously unable to be as good as Chen Jingzhi in dealing with people and dealing with people: I am not afraid of the powerful and do not know how to be flexible. Your Highness, your expectations." Di Renjie shook his head and sighed, drank the wine in one gulp, and said with a slightly lonely and self-reproaching expression.
In Li Hong's view, Di Renjie's self-criticism not only brought all his strengths and weaknesses to the table, but more importantly, Di Renjie was able to see himself clearly after occupying such a high position. In his opinion, it is an even rarer quality.
Let me ask, in this world, how many high-ranking officials and dignitaries, after holding important positions, are not overwhelmed by the praises and praises from around them, and do not know how high the sky is and how high they are
(End of chapter)