"Autumn Queen Asks and Beheads" first comes from the "Book of Rites·Yue Ling": "The cool breeze comes, the white dew falls, the cicadas chirp, the eagle is used to sacrifice the bird, and it is used to kill."
Dong Zhongshu, a Han Confucian, raised this meaning to a theoretical level in "Spring and Autumn Fanlu": "The king matches the sky, which is called his way. Heaven has four seasons, and the king has four political affairs. The four political affairs are like the four seasons, and they are universal." It is the same thing as heaven and earth. Celebration is spring, reward is summer, punishment is autumn, and punishment is winter.”
From then on, it was believed that celebration, reward, punishment, and punishment should be the four governing behaviors of the emperor, and they should be adapted to the changes of the four seasons. Therefore, the etiquette system stipulates that rewards should be given in spring and summer, and punishments should be carried out in autumn and winter, which is what is later called "asking and beheading after autumn".
On the night of the assassination, it was already late at night when Nuxia Wen returned to the palace. The Emperor of the Tang Dynasty, who had Nuxia Wen left behind to sleep with him, suddenly became somewhat agitated after reclaiming the wasteland of Wen Wen. regret.
The tireless Nvxia Wen was full of charm after amorous feelings, as well as her heroic appearance when she rescued Li Hong that night. Riding on Li Hong's waist, Nvxia Wen was chattering to Li Hong about her relationship with the world in the past few days. Things between rangers.
But when talking about why there were so many rangers running to the Luoyang River Embankment to assassinate Di Renjie and others, Wen Nuxia became confused. Logically speaking, this kind of thing shouldn't happen. Even if it did, it shouldn't happen. So many people, and... most importantly, some reckless men have already revealed these plans to her.
Li Hong, who was too sleepy to open his eyes, closed his eyes and pulled Wen Nuxia, who was still riding on him, into his arms. His hands unconsciously touched the skin as tender and tight as silk, and murmured. : "Tell Wan'er about these things tomorrow. Di Renjie and others had a secret conversation at Luoyang River, and why I happened to meet the assassin after I appeared in Luoyang River. There is a lot to be done here. Tell Wan'er about the ranger in detail. Wan'er will understand the rules and behavior."
Wen Nuxia curled up in her broad chest, her whole delicate body pressed tightly against Li Hong's body, her bright eyes were like gems at night, she blinked a few times and asked: "What can she do? What's her purpose?" ?”
"Just because you don't understand doesn't mean she doesn't understand what I'm thinking. Just tell her tomorrow. I believe she will understand." Suddenly he opened his mouth, gently bit Wen Wenwen's finger that had been playing with his beard, and then turned over , and suppressed Nuxia Wen beneath him.
"Uh... get up quickly. It's so heavy that I can't even breathe."
"sleep."
“….”
Early on the next morning, the atmosphere in Luoyang City was abnormal, and in front of the notices in the streets and alleys, except for some people who loudly read the contents of the notices to the onlookers, there were some seemingly inconspicuous people, generously Take those notices away under the eyes of the city guards.
The strange atmosphere in Luoyang City blended with the usual noisy and lively atmosphere. The people who were unaware of it were still enjoying the prosperity and well-being brought to them by the peaceful age as usual.
Most of the noble and wealthy families headed by Qi Wang of the fifth surname are in their own study rooms, carefully studying every sentence on the notice, even if they can memorize it word for word, or even to the point of memorizing it backwards. , some cautious and shrewd people still smelled a hint of strategy.
Li Zhe and Li Dan had already set off for their respective fiefdoms, along with the fiefdoms of Li Shangjin and Li Sujie. Li Hong personally sent censors and officials from the Ministry of Civil Affairs to accompany them.
Wen Wenwen broke away from Li Hong's arms early in the morning, and after getting ready under the service of the palace maid, she kept in mind what His Majesty had told her after he favored her last night.
So at dawn, Shangguan Wan'er, who had also been busy all night last night, had the bedroom door opened before she could get up. Before she could react, the gauze curtain on the bed was opened by a slender hand. , and then the teasing voice of Miss Wen rang out: "Hey, the little lady is not waiting for me, your husband is here, why don't you change his clothes quickly."
"Who are you? I don't know you, help me." Shangguan Wan'er stretched out a jade arm from the quilt, grabbed Wen Wen's other hand, and asked with a smile on her lazy face.
"Hey, you don't even recognize me anymore. I am Li Hong, the famous flower-picking thief in Luoyang City!" Wen Wen tried hard to imitate Li Hong's appearance, and then ran to Shangguan Wan'er's bed.
After a while, the screams of the two women playing together could be heard in the dormitory.
Hurrying to Zhenguan Hall, after having breakfast with Li Zhi and Wu Mei, the three of them sat in front of the huge floor-to-ceiling window of the Flower Hall, basking in the sun that shone through the bright glass into the room, while gently basking in the sun. chatting.
"Your father and I have read the notice. It seems to be upright and awe-inspiring, but in fact it is full of empty words. I'm afraid not everyone will believe this kind of strategy." Wu Mei personally placed a cup of tea in front of Li Zhi, and then He sat down next to him and looked at Li Hong and said.
"The country and the country of the Tang Dynasty are important, but no matter how hard these people try, they can't make any big waves, nor can they really shake the stability of the court. But the common people are different. The autumn harvest is around the corner. Whether it's the common people or the court's taxes, We all need to rely on these people. After all, they have been in their territory for at least two years, so I think it is for the sake of the people's food and clothing that I have to issue such a notice." Li Hong originally stretched out his hand. He was still waiting for his mother to give him another cup of tea, but unexpectedly, his mother didn't even pay attention to him. After his father put down the tea considerately, he put another cup in front of him, and his son could only It can be done and watched.
"It is certainly a good thing to care about the people of the world and it is the behavior of a wise king, but the court and the country are also equally important and should not be careless." Li Zhi's voice rang in Li Hong's ears.
Since the attack of vertigo, Li Zhi's body and bones have become even worse than before. Even when he was sitting there talking, he looked very weak, and his voice, which was full of energy at the beginning, became unsteady.
"Yes, I will remember my father's teachings." Li Hong watched the palace maid put the tea in front of him, stretched her neck to compare with his mother and father, and looked at the three cups of tea. Finally, he continued: "The notice is just a way, but in any case, it still depends on how Di Renjie and the others do it. I made it clear to them last night. First, follow the Boling Cui family and the Xingyang Zheng family closely, so as to make the notice It can also play a role in dividing people. Within a few days, as officials related to other noble and wealthy families were released to their respective places, officials related to the Boling Cui family and the Xingyang Zheng family continued to be detained and interrogated. At this point At that time, it would be weird if they could still be as good as they are now.
"Prince Ji also came here yesterday, together with several other clan members, under the guise of visiting my dragon body, and wanted to get some information from me about your risk-of-death remonstrance to Qiwang of the fifth surname. Thoughts. I didn’t say anything to your mother, but I felt that they obviously didn’t want to inform Qiwang of the fifth surname. They didn’t dare to support Qiwang of the fifth surname at this time. After all, they were all members of the clan, but I listened to them. The underlying meaning is that they both want to protect some officials." Li Zhi looked at the rising sun outside the window from time to time, and then continued to speak a little weakly.
"It is natural that relatives of the royal family and aristocratic families will have more or less contacts with the officials of the Five Surnames and Qiwang, or risk their lives to remonstrate with them. This is also normal. After all, they would not have thought that the Five Surnames of the Seventh I hope they will risk their lives to remonstrate with you, so that’s all I can say to your father. It’s obviously impossible to kill them all.” Wu Mei held the embroidery that King Ji had given her yesterday. The peonies are in full bloom, and both the color and stitching look top-notch.
"How could I not know this? Don't worry, I know it well." Li Hong smiled and nodded, and then changed the subject.
Not long after, the three of them had just chatted about other things, and Mangzhong quietly appeared in Li Hong's field of vision. Then Li Hong stood up directly, saluted Li Zhi and Wu Mei, and said that there were still political matters to deal with. So, he stepped out of Zhenguan Hall.
Just as he was led by Mang Zhong to the steps of Zhenguan Palace, a palace maid's voice asked Li Hong to stay. Looking back, he saw Wu Mei, accompanied by two palace ladies, slowly walking from Zhenguan Palace. Walked out.
When Wu Mei came up to him, Li Hong quickly asked, "What are your orders from the Queen Mother?"
Wu Mei glanced at Li Hong, and then started to walk down the steps. Looking at Mother Long, Li Hong probably guessed what the queen mother suddenly called him.
Following Wu Mei down one step, on the ninety-nine grand steps of Zhenguan Hall, except for the Central Army troops on both sides of the far end, only Li Hong and Wu Mei were slowly walking in the center of the steps. Go down slowly.
The majestic and majestic Zhenguan Palace stands behind you. Standing on the steps, you can even overlook the Luoyang City outside the palace and the Luoyang River that looks like a golden river.
The mother and son slowly walked down from the top of the steps. Wu Mei was wearing a palace dress that was not too grand, and Li Hong next to him was naturally wearing a golden round-neck gown. He stood at the bottom of the steps and looked up, especially Looking at Wu Mei's graceful appearance and Li Hong's scornful aura, people feel like they want to kneel down and worship her.
"Both matters have been discussed between me and your father. Now it is natural for you, the emperor, to make the decision." Wu Mei walked down the steps slowly, turning her head slightly and saying with a smile.
"You'd better say it first. If I can't do it, wouldn't it make me laugh?"
"Is there anything in the world that you, Li Hong, can't do? If there is, it's really new. 1: Your father has been lamenting that time is running out these days, so Li Xian must come back. The queen mother has no objection , I don’t support it either, you make your own decision.” Wu Mei stood at the buffer in the middle of the steps, looked back at the majestic and majestic Zhenguan Hall behind her, then turned her head again and looked at Luoyang City in the distance.
"What about the second one?"
"There is a list here, which contains some people who the father and mother do not want to see punished." Wu Mei sighed silently, and then continued to look into the distance with her eyes, but her thoughts seemed to have returned to the time when she was picked up by Li Zhi. Back to Taiji Palace, and the days when she and Li Zhi fought side by side to bring down the Long Group.
So Wu Mei's face was full of memories, and she murmured: "Some of the people inside are the descendants of officials who followed your father and me to fight against the forces of the Guanlong Group headed by Changsun Wuji. If it weren't for With their full support, your father has been on the throne for many years, but he is still restricted by the Guanlong Group. Therefore, these people are not considered to be meritorious officials to you, Li Hong, but to your father and mother, they are all firm in the past. The loyal ministers who followed Zhangsun Wuji and opposed Changsun Wuji have all retired and returned to their hometowns. The descendants are not as high-spirited in the court as they were back then. Now they are just giving them some facade. If they are all punished for their crimes, I am afraid that there will be serious consequences. If you break their hearts, your father and mother will also feel guilty."
(End of chapter)