In the following days, Li Hong had no intention of returning to Chang'an, not to mention that the officials had basically gathered in Luoyang, and the risk-of-death incident some time ago had already happened in Luoyang.
In addition, since the beginning of autumn and winter, Li Zhi's health has been deteriorating day by day. Now, vertigo attacks from time to time, making the entire Luoyang Palace seem to be enveloped in a faint medicinal smell and solemnity.
Pei Wanying, now the Empress of the Tang Dynasty, also hurried over from Chang'an. As the last female disciple Sun Simiao accepted during his lifetime, she was the last hope for Li Hong and Wu Mei.
But even though Sun Simiao gave him all his money to teach him, now Pei Wanying has no way to deal with Li Zhi's terminal vertigo. She spends every day in the Imperial College's medical clinic, taking the maids and eunuchs with her, carefully Reading through ancient books.
As long as there were various unique books related to medicine in the Imperial College and Chongwen Museum in Chang'an, Li Hong ordered them to be transported to Luoyang Palace by the truckload.
And as long as there is only one original copy, it is absolutely not allowed to have books printed due to the emergence of movable type printing in recent years. In this case, there is a deep fear that the printed books will have errors and omissions.
Although this possibility basically does not exist, out of an instinctive psychology, a large number of orphan books were still transported.
Li Hong and Wu Mei looked at Pei Wanying as if she was in the Imperial Academy every day. They felt helpless and helpless. At this time, both Li Hong and Wu Mei looked at Li Zhi suffering from illness every day. Don't know what to do.
Li Zhi, who was tortured by the disease, even ordered the eunuch to give him a pair of poison when his mind was dizzy, so that he could completely relieve himself and stop suffering from this disease.
Wu Mei and Li Hong looked at the desperate Li Zhi on the bed, and besides feeling heavy in their hearts, they could only sigh helplessly.
"I wish I could replace my father's illness and transfer it to me." Li Hong smelled the strong smell of Chinese medicine in the room and thought about how many people suffered from illness in the previous life. In the end, he just couldn't bear it anymore. He actually begged the doctor and his family to give him a quick break and not let him suffer from this kind of illness again.
But this time is not more than a thousand years later, not to mention that Li Zhi is still the Supreme Emperor and his father. This kind of treasonous idea, even for him who is so bold, looks at the tortured man moaning in pain on the bed, and he has lost weight. Father Long, who had been talking for a while, did not dare to say it in front of anyone.
A picture of a bitter potion similar to sleeping pills. Under the service of Li Hong and Wu Mei, the weak Li Zhi drank it one by one. Li Zhi, whose face was as pale as paper, had his eyes closed tightly, and there was thin sweat on his forehead. I wiped it over and over again, but it still couldn't stop leaking.
"Queen... Hong'er... I... I accept... enough..." Li Zhi reluctantly opened his eyes in a daze, looking at the worried Queen Wu Mei and Li Hong with a solemn face, in a weak tone , as if there is a trace of request hidden.
"In three days, Li Xian will be back." Li Hong grasped the skinny hand, feeling like he was grasping a branch, without feeling the slightest warmth or feeling of flesh.
"Really?" Li Zhi suddenly opened his eyes violently this time, and his cloudy eyes suddenly became a little brighter.
"Yes, there was too much snow in Anxi a few days ago, so Li Xian was delayed on the way. Li Sujie, Li Shangjin, Li Zhe, and Li Dan were also on their way back to Luoyang." Li Hong continued to hold the branch that was starting to tremble. hand, said seriously.
"That's good, that's good, that's good. I've wronged you Hong'er... Queen... wake me up when they come back. I want to have a good sleep." Li Zhi let go of Li Hong's hand, and Wu Mei hurriedly took it. Pass.
"I know, I will always be by your side." Wu Mei grabbed Li Zhi's hand with both hands, hugged her and said softly.
Li Hong left the next space for the old couple, and just as he stood up, he heard Wu Mei saying next to him: "Wait for me in the study for a while."
Li Hong was stunned for a moment when he got up, and finally nodded, then turned and walked towards the study. As he walked, he said to Hua Meng: "Bring all the memorials to the study here. When Di Renjie and the others come, let them stay in Zhenguan." Waiting in the palace."
"Your Majesty..." A look of danger flashed across Hua Meng's face, and he followed Li Hong hesitantly.
"explain."
"The Zhenguan Palace is now full of clan members and some veterans who came to the palace early in the morning to visit the Supreme Emperor, as well as some people from aristocratic families. They are all in the Zhenguan Palace now. If Lord Di and the others come..." Hua Meng said cautiously.
After all, these days, Di Renjie and others have been fighting to the death with some wealthy families and people with five surnames and seven hopes. Two days ago, Cui Xinggong, an official of Yizhou Prefecture, and Cui Xuanwei, the Duke of Anguo, were both imprisoned by Dali Temple and the Ministry of Punishment jointly.
Although the people gathered in Zhenguan Hall now have nothing to do with Qi Wang, or they did not support Qi Wang risking his life to remonstrate with him, most of the officials headed by Di Renjie now regard them as The officials who had risked their lives to remonstrate with him were called back to Luoyang one by one, or they sent people to try the case directly in other places.
Such a huge turmoil, coupled with the fact that Li Hong was indifferent to this matter and relied entirely on the memorials of Di Renjie and others, made these clan members feel that Di Renjie and others were committing treachery by concealing their deception. In fact, it is an act of excluding dissidents and forming cliques for selfish interests.
In the eyes of these royal family members, after all, His Majesty had already issued a notice in Luoyang City, expressing his disbelief in those rumors. Logically speaking, this matter should have ended here. After all, whether it was His Majesty or the people headed by Wu Xing Qi Wang, The rich and powerful nobles have saved each other's face and interests. There is no need to continue to risk the turmoil in the court and fight with the five surnames and seven hopes.
But now, after Di Renjie and the others had been dormant for an autumn harvest, they began to intensify their efforts to investigate the responsibility of the five surnames and Qiwang in risking their lives to admonish them. All officials related to the Boling Cui family and the Xingyang Zheng family, whether they were Not only did he participate in the desperate remonstrance, but he was thoroughly investigated by the judicial group headed by Di Renjie.
Now, both the Boling Cui family and the Xingyang Zheng family have been investigated and dealt with by Di Renjie and others. It has only been a few months? In less than two months, the two aristocratic families fell so easily under the impeachment, interrogation, and investigation of Di Renjie and others.
Even a blind person can now see the fate of the two great families in the future. Decline is their only way out.
In addition, the schools they had funded for the imperial court in recent years, or were ordered by the imperial court to be withdrawn by Xu Yanbo, the new priest of the Imperial Academy, and on the advice of court officials, had become an inevitable and unchangeable event. It is said that this paragraph During this time, Xu Yanbo had to go through the acceptance procedures personally, one by one, even if he braved the bone-chilling wind.
This is to draw fire from the bottom of the cauldron. It does not give the Boling Cui family and the Xingyang Zheng family any chance to make a comeback. They are determined to complete this matter.
Even if someone bypasses the Dali Temple, the Ministry of Punishment, the Ministry of Officials, and the Yushitai, and writes directly to Zhongshu or the sect, or uses his official position to write to His Majesty, Your Majesty will always rely on the judgment of Di Renjie and others, and will not accept it at all. Give them every opportunity to defend themselves and plead for mercy.
But even after this, Li Hong's imperial study room was still full of thin and thick stacks of requests.
But there are also some people who understood clearly from the beginning and knew that the original notice was just a deceit released by His Majesty to confuse the five surnames and Qiwang. Now Di Renjie and others are using thunderous power to impeach and investigate the Boling Cui family and the Xingyang Zheng family. , is entirely the result of His Majesty’s support behind the scenes.
Otherwise, whether it was Di Renjie or Li Qiao, or Yao Chong and Wang Xiaojie, these loyal ministers and generals who have always followed His Majesty loyally, how could they be so bold and cause such a big disturbance in the court!
"King Ji, do you mean this is not over yet?" Cen Changqian, an old man with the same gray hair next to him, slowly turned his head and asked.
Although there was not much noise in the Zhenguan Hall, because the Supreme Emperor was ill and was getting worse day by day, they, who were ministers under the Supreme Emperor, could only come and sit here every day as they did when they were in court. In Zhenguan Hall, the eunuchs were waiting to convey various news about His Majesty's dragon body.
"Master Cen, it is not easy for me and the clan to interfere in this kind of matter, so I hope you will not interfere, Master Cen. How many years have you been away from the court? And His Majesty treats you the same way..."
"Li Shen, you didn't have this kind of character back then. You were a virtuous king of our Tang Dynasty. Why are you starting to do this kind of thing now? Why, could it be because your son-in-law Xu Yanbo is now a virtuous king?" You went to the Imperial Academy to offer sacrifices, are you violating your conscience by accepting those schools with five surnames and seven hopes for him?" Cen Changqian held an important position when Li Zhi was in power, and was also an important minister whom the prince relied on when Li Hong was in charge of the country. , as His Majesty ascended the throne and he became old and frail, he stayed away from the court to enjoy his old age.
But since he entered Chang'an as an official, he has admired Li Shen of the clan as a person. But now seeing Di Renjie and others making the court a mess, Ji Wang Li Shen, who was originally known as a wise king, did not say anything to remind His Majesty at this moment. , Fulfilling the duty of a minister, he actually helped Di Renjie and others to look carelessly.
"Cen Changqian, am I, Li Shen, that kind of person? For my son-in-law's new sacrificial wine? It's an old man like you who can come up with such a ridiculous reason! For the sake of our long-term friendship, I will stay away from the court like you. You have been a veteran for many years, and this was all supported by His Majesty. You were relied on by His Majesty back then, and you are not unfamiliar with Di Renjie and others, nor do you understand them... "
"But people will change. As the power given by His Majesty increases, who knows whether these important ministers of the country will still be the same as before, whether they really are not in high positions and being flattered by others for their ambitions. Come on." Cen Changqian snorted, then thought for a moment and asked, "Are you sure His Majesty knows these things?"
"Not only does Your Majesty know, but all this was planned by Your Majesty. The notice was jointly issued by Zhongshu and the disciples. Let me ask you, who has the ability to make Zhongshu and the disciples jointly issue it? Who has the ability? He kept Cui Xinggong, an official from the governor of Yizhou, in Luoyang for half a year, and then was sent to prison? Yizhou, that was the fiefdom of King Xu Li Sujie back then. Although Li Sujie has not been in Yizhou for many years now, as his majesty's brother and "Look, a long-time official in Yizhou has been absent from office for half a year, how could King Xu not notice it?"
"Then... His Majesty will not really want to take this... this time." Cen Changqian stretched out a hand, waved it in front of King Ji Li Shen, and asked solemnly: "Then this winter, won't other families also have to... cool down? "
"You, an old man, still imitate His Majesty's speech? How dare you use the word "cold"?" Li Shen looked at the hand covered with age spots and finally nodded.
"Fortunately, my naughty son didn't get involved, otherwise he would have been... cold."
"Cold?"
"It's cold."
The two old men sitting in the front row of Zhenguan Hall suddenly laughed tacitly like two old foxes.
(End of chapter)