Those who were able to enter the Zhenguan Palace and wait for the eunuchs to convey the news about His Majesty's dragon body were naturally the loyal ministers and generals who followed Li Zhi in the past. At this time, all of them were already in their seventies and eighties, but they still showed a sense of confidence in their behavior and speech. With majesty.
Therefore, Zhenguan Hall, which was occupied by seventy or eighty people, did not appear to be very messy. Instead, it looked a bit like a large-scale court meeting. They were clustered together in twos and threes, and they were whispering about some of the people closest to the court hall.
Maybe something happened somewhere else, or maybe the painting boats on the Luoyang River are no longer working, and some young women with good looks have come ashore. Now a new brothel has opened there, and several people from the south have come. An oiran waits for these words.
When Di Renjie, Li Qiao, Yao Chong, Wang Xiaojie and others came in, the entire Zhenguan Hall was stunned for a moment, and then these old guys in their seventies and eighties continued to talk about the topics they were interested in regardless.
Or some older people who like to meddle in other people's business or listen to gossip will stand up and are about to walk in the direction of Di Renjie and others, but before they take two steps, they are pulled back by the people next to them.
"You are looking for trouble. Your son and grandson are not involved. Why are you talking so much?"
"I...I can't ask Di Renjie yet. Is it because he in Dali Temple is using his power for personal gain by causing such trouble in the court and impeaching officials?"
"Old man, if you are serious, you should still care about His Majesty's health. Your Majesty will deal with the affairs of the younger generation. You are worried about the humiliation of your ministers, and you will humiliate your ministers and die. A few days ago, your Majesty was forced to write a notice. , plastered all over the streets and alleys of Luoyang City, have they ever thought about His Majesty’s face? Now, Di Renjie and others, His Majesty’s loyal ministers, can earn some interest for Your Majesty, so why not?”
Di Renjie and the other four people listened carefully, but because of the distance, it was difficult to hear all the words they said. However, even these fragments of words made them understand how these veterans viewed them in their hearts. I have some awareness and understanding of the daily activities.
Waiting quietly in the side hall, they did not deliberately take the initiative to say hello. After all, they are still serving as court officials. Those old guys are living their lives and are not afraid of people who are not even afraid of death. If they go over to say hello, There was no telling what kind of unpleasant words would suddenly come out of their mouths. In this case, it would be Di Renjie and the others who would suffer.
And among these people, I heard that when His Majesty the Emperor's vertigo was at its worst two days ago, many of these old guys burst into tears in Zhenguan Hall, and their sorrowful voices almost overturned Zhenguan. There were even some people at the top of the palace who were about to commit suicide on the spot in the Zhenguan Palace, threatening to go to the spring for His Majesty first.
So simply, Di Renjie and others were greeted by the eunuch and stood in a corner of the side hall. They did not sit on the chairs brought by the eunuch and just stood there, waiting for Li Hong's summons.
"How many of these people do you think have sincerely come to visit His Majesty the Emperor?" Yao Chong took two steps forward slowly, blocking the sight of those in the distance with his back, and then looked at Di Renjie and Wang Xiaojie opposite and asked road.
When Li Qiao saw Yao Chong's appearance, he turned around and stood side by side with Yao Chong in an instant, completely blocking the sight of those old officials from looking at Di Renjie and Wang Xiaojie.
Di Renjie chuckled twice: "Master Yao, what do you mean by this?"
Yao Chong lowered his head and pursed his lips and smiled, and then said slowly: "I took a quick glance just now. There are many people's descendants here, but they are incompatible with us. Although some people have not been alarmed yet, but those It's only a matter of time. So, I think it's not ruled out that some people are taking advantage of this opportunity to visit His Majesty the Supreme Emperor, and even threaten to commit suicide and be buried with His Majesty in order to win the favor of the Supreme Emperor and the Empress Dowager. In this way, they hope to obtain His Majesty’s pardon for their heirs.”
"There are many people here." Li Qiao turned his back to the old ministers, looked up to the sky and sighed: "His Majesty's study has put many memorials for mercy in the past few days. Aren't the Emperor and the Empress Dowager also begging for mercy from His Majesty? I think your Majesty’s invitation to the four of us to see you this time may have something to do with this matter.”
"They no longer come to Zhenguan Palace every day or two to wait for news about the health of the Supreme Emperor. They have been here for at least ten days in a row. I believe that most of them come to visit His Majesty sincerely. What is the purpose of some of them? "It's hard to say." Di Renjie shook his head and did not come to a conclusion easily.
"That's the most annoying thing about you, Di Mazi. You always speak with caution, and you are too smooth in your behavior and officialdom. You are simply an old fox. Be careful that one day, if your Majesty is unhappy, he will belittle you again just like he did back then. Go to our Tang Dynasty." Wang Xiaojie clasped his hands, glanced at Di Renjie with disdain, and then continued: "Although these words are treacherous, everyone will die eventually, whether it is your Majesty or our Supreme Emperor. You know this. Some of these old guys want to take this opportunity to get some glory and dignity from the royal family! They just want to be the emperor one day..."
Even if it was Wang Xiaojie, even if there were only the four of them here at this time, Wang Xiaojie still lowered his voice. After looking around vigilantly, no one was paying attention to them, he said cautiously: "Isn't it because you want to wait for your majesty a hundred years later, or for them? After these old guys die, are they qualified to be favored by the Zongzheng Temple and the officials and buried with His Majesty? What an honor it is? This is a great thing that makes some of their ancestors shine with smoke and their ancestors are honored. How can they not be included? Come in a hurry?"
The four people were there quietly analyzing the old courtiers in Zhenguan Hall, and the many topics among the old courtiers naturally shifted from the young courtesan in the boat to the four of them.
In Li Zhi's imperial study, Li Hong was flipping through the memorials that Hua Meng and others had brought over. Most of the memorials did not even need to be read inside. Li Hong could basically guess who had written them. After entering the season when everything in the court and the world is basically fine, why are these people so enthusiastic about writing letters
After reading a few memorials, the study door was opened, and Wu Mei walked in with red eyes.
Seeing this situation, Li Hong simply waved his hand, and everyone, including Hua Meng, immediately walked out of the study and closed the door gently.
"Mother..." Li Hong's voice couldn't help but contain a bit of concern and worry.
"It's okay. I just saw your father being tortured by illness. My heart, which had been numb for many years, suddenly felt a little more painful for some reason today." Wu Mei sat down on the sofa in front of the floor-to-ceiling window, and the sunshine Under the bright light, Wu Mei's face could be seen to have accumulated many wrinkles unknowingly over time, and even dazzling white hair could be vaguely seen in the hair.
"Maybe after Li Xian comes back and my father is in a good mood, this disease will be cured." Li Hong sat down on the sofa opposite, looked at Wu Mei's sad face, and comforted her in a low voice road.
"What I'm afraid of is that once Li Xian comes back, your father's energy and spirit will be exhausted. In that case, it's better not to let Li Xian come back, but... seeing your father being tortured by illness, I can't wait to see you." Li Xian immediately appeared next to your father." Wu Mei turned around and looked at Li Hong, whose temperament was much more stable than in previous years, and couldn't help but shake her head.
Nowadays, her heart is full of contradictions, and she hates and feels helpless towards Li Xian at the moment, but she believes that if Li Hong was not the emperor, or if Li Hong was not by Li Zhi's side, Li Zhi, who is now lying on the hospital bed, would desperately want to The first son he wants to meet will definitely not be Li Xian, but only Li Hong.
"Mother, there is no need to worry. My son has grown up, so why worry about that? What's more, my son is now the emperor of the Tang Dynasty, so what should I be afraid of? Mother, don't worry." Li Hong smiled at Wu Mei and said.
"I haven't paid much attention to it in the past two years. I didn't expect... the prince who could make the whole palace into a fuss now has wrinkles at the corners of his eyes." Wu Mei looked at Li Hong kindly, who was in his thirties. , Nowadays, the wrinkles at the corners of his eyes are becoming more and more obvious, and the beard is getting longer and longer. Compared with the short beard before, it is less domineering and domineering, but more elegant and calm.
"We can't just let you and my father grow old, and my sons and ministers should always remain the same as before. Time is fair, and everyone will grow old one day. Birth, aging, illness and death are natural laws. No one can force time. Who can be allowed to go through the back door?" Li Hong said lightly, then pointed to the memorial on the table and said: "I have chosen some. I know that the old ministers who visited my father in Zhenguan Palace followed you and me. My father also made great contributions to the Tang Dynasty, but the court must have its own laws, and the Tang Dynasty also has laws to follow. Although the law is nothing more than human feelings, it is impossible to escape the death penalty. Some people do not want to be queens. Cover them up again.”
"Then what are you going to do? If you do this, people like them who are not even afraid of death have never violated the laws of the Tang Dynasty in their lives. Now for the sake of our children and grandchildren, it is rare to speak to your father and me once. You can't really refuse. Is that so? In that case, will the ministers in the court become cold-blooded? Will they think that the royal family is too ruthless and cruel now?" Wu Mei became serious when she saw Li Hong getting to the point.
"Alas... So I'm in a dilemma. No, I've called Di Renjie and the others over, and they're waiting in Zhenguan Hall now. Mother, don't worry..." Li Hong watched Wu Mei trying to speak, and hurriedly stabilized Wu Mei. Said: "The reason why I did this is to see what the attitude of the old ministers and the main people responsible for this matter would be. However, while I was waiting for my mother here, I also thought of a way. , I also ask the Queen Mother to help you think about it."
"Whatever you can do, just tell me."
(End of chapter)