Rule the Roost in the Tang Dynasty

Chapter 904: Zhenguan Palace in the snow

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Li Hong nodded happily, and his method was also very simple. Before Di Renjie and others impeached, investigated, and arrested the descendants of some old ministers, the royal family issued a decree to these old ministers. The general meaning is: After a hundred years, the royal family can allow them to be buried near Li Zhi's mausoleum to show the royal family's favor and history's recognition of them.

Faced with such a royal gift that honors their ancestors, it must be the greatest affirmation and praise for these people who have lived a long life and pursued "fame" all their lives.

After all, once the royal family recognizes that they can be buried with the late emperor, they need to be given a posthumous title by the royal family. In this way, faced with the temptation of fame, these people must not make trouble even if they know that Li Hong will embarrass their descendants. It's so awesome.

Wu Mei nodded thoughtfully. The method proposed by Li Hong was not a feasible method at this time. After all, no one was sure whether Li Zhi could survive this winter.

Even my daughter-in-law Pei Wanying, her face has become more and more sad during this period. She spends time in the medical library of the Imperial College every day, reading all the books, but every time she returns without success, every time she His expression was gloomy. Obviously, even if he read through the entire Tang Dynasty's medical books, he might not be able to survive this winter.

Everything that happened in Luoyang Palace was like a bellwether for the entire Tang Dynasty. This winter was much deserted compared to previous winters, and there was more snow this year than in previous years.

A few days ago, when Li Zhi was most seriously ill, Luoyang City would have scattered snowflakes every few days. In the long days of winter, snowflakes would suddenly fall from time to time, so Warm days and sunny days are rare this winter.

Most of the time, the sky above our heads was gloomy and lifeless, just like the solemn Tang Dynasty Palace. During this period of time, there was always a trace of heaviness and depression.

Li Sujie, Li Shangjin, Li Xian, Li Zhe, Li Dan and Li Lingyue, including other princes in the royal family, would be summoned into the palace by the red feather messengers speeding out of the palace from time to time to meet with the Supreme Emperor Li Zhi.

No matter who entered the Zhenguan Hall, either together or alone, when everyone walked out of Li Zhi's bedroom, the look on their face was even gloomier than the gloomy weather.

Li Hong has basically lived in the palace next to Zhenguan Hall these days. Just like ordinary people, once there is any trouble in Zhenguan Hall, he will immediately get up from the bed and run into Zhenguan Hall.

After being idle for many days, Li Hong assigned the East Palace of Luoyang Palace to Li Sujie and others and became their temporary residence. In this way, even if something happened, they could arrive as soon as possible. Zhenguan Hall.

There were no major events in the court after winter entered, so Li Hong didn't need to be too distracted by the court. Except for what Di Renjie and others had been doing this winter, there was nothing worthy of his consideration.

As for the group of old officials who had been coming to Zhenguan Hall to visit Li Zhi in the past few days, after Li Hong announced the list of people to be buried with them, some of them disappeared inexplicably the next day and did not appear in Zhenguan Hall again.

The snow outside the window started to fall again. This time it was much more serious than the snow in the previous days. The tiny snowflakes in twos and threes began to gradually increase in size after less than half an hour of brewing. Now the snowflakes have become bigger. It's like a heavy snowfall.

Both Luoyang Palace and the entire Luoyang City are now covered by a thin layer of snow. The Luoyang River, which had already frozen, also disappeared into Luoyang City in the snowy weather, covered by layers of continuous snow. The white snow covered up the real face, completely blending in with everything in Luoyang City.

In the side hall of Zhenguan Hall, there is a spring-like warmth, forming two worlds with the cold scene outside.

Li Xian, who was one-armed, walked to the door of the side hall and saw Hua Meng already standing at the door waiting for him. He put away the umbrella in his hand with one hand and rubbed his feet on the mat at the door for a long time. Then he smiled and looked at Hua Meng. Meng asked: "Is Brother Huang in there?"

"Your Majesty is waiting for you in the study." Hua Meng replied with a smile after saluting.

"I haven't seen you for many years, and you are getting older and your hair is gray." Li Xian looked at Hua Meng, who had gray hair on his temples, and said with a gentle smile.

"Yes, this slave has served His Majesty for thirty years, and it's time to get old. Please come in." Hua Meng bowed and saluted again.

Now Li Xian has not resumed his status as a prince. Although Fang Muqing and his children came with him when he returned to Luoyang this time. After arriving in Luoyang, he also enjoyed the treatment of a prince. However, His Majesty has not issued an order to restore Li Xian's status. So when talking to Li Xian, Hua Meng always avoided the embarrassing issue of addressing him.

"Thank you." Li Xian also thanked Hua Meng again.

Being exiled to Anxi for these years, both the years and the harsh conditions have long since sharpened the edges of the high-spirited King Pei who dared to compete with His Majesty for the position of crown prince.

The arrogant and aloof noble spirit that he had in Chang'an has now been restrained or dissipated, but the only thing that remains unchanged is that although his arm was cut off by His Majesty in Prince Pei's Mansion, it did not affect Li Xian at all. Handsome appearance since childhood.

Now, after years of precipitation, Li Xian, who is already in his thirties, looks more like an elegant and restrained scholar, with a kind of open-minded and broad temperament that Hua Meng cannot explain clearly.

"My younger brother Li Xian has met the imperial brother." Li Xian's slightly magnetic voice sounded from the unclosed study door.

Li Hong inside put down the memorial in his hand and looked at Li Xian standing at the door. His cheeks were slightly red from the wind and snow all the way, but even if it wasn't so, Li Xian's cheeks were reddened by the many years he spent in Anxi. , with some plateau red to some extent.

"Come in and sit down." Li Hong smiled at Li Xian, then stood up from behind the desk, pointed to the sofa in front of the window, and motioned to Li Xian.

"Thank you, Brother Emperor." Li Xian walked into the study, saluted Li Hong again, and then walked to the sofa in front of the window and sat down calmly on a seat below.

"Black tea or milk tea? Black tea, it nourishes the stomach. Luoyang is not as good as Anxi. The food mix is relatively reasonable. It's not like what you did in Anxi. There are too few vegetables and too much beef and mutton. I have to drink some milk tea to digest." Li Hong did not sit in the main seat, but sat down opposite Li Xian.

"Then let's have some black tea. It's good to warm up. I'm afraid the snow won't stop for a while today." Li Xian smiled, somewhat avoiding Li Hong's gaze, and moved his eyes to the wind and snow outside the window. said.

"Yeah, I guess it will rain for a long time this time, but compared to the snow in Anxi, I'm afraid it's still a bit dwarfed." Li Hong summoned the palace maid and began to quietly make tea for the two brothers.

The door of the study room was gently closed by Hua Meng who was standing outside. Hua Meng was heard whispering to the palace maids and eunuchs: "Remember, no one is allowed to disturb His Majesty. Be smart today and don't mess with him." Your Majesty is troubled."

The two brothers listened to the last moment when the door closed, Hua Meng's voice urging the other maids and eunuchs, while Li Xian lowered his head and smiled implicitly.

It has been seven or eight days since he returned to the Central Plains, the hinterland of the Tang Dynasty, and especially the dreamy Luoyang. Li Xian has not seen anyone else in Luoyang except for being summoned to Zhenguan Hall to visit his father when he first came back.

Moreover, even if some people came to visit him in person and offered assassination invitations, he rejected them one by one, and did not even meet him. During this period, it was basically the imperial palace, his temporary residence in Luoyang, and then became the East Palace. Going to Zhenguan Hall is simple and monotonous.

"How's it going? Are you getting used to everything after returning to Chang'an?" Li Hong leaned back comfortably on the sofa and looked at Li Xian and asked.

"It's good. In the first few days after I came back, I didn't get used to anything. But what I didn't expect is that there are still some people in Luoyang who still remember me. After visiting my father and mother, someone handed me a name card to the mansion. "Li Xian smiled and shook his head, looking at the reddish-brown tea.

"It's normal. After all, you are the prince of the Tang Dynasty royal family and my biological brother. It is normal for some people to come to you. Try this tea. It is better than the one you have in Anxi." Li Hong picked up the teacup and sniffed the tea. After incense, he said to Li Xian.

"I'm just curious about these pervasive people. It stands to reason that when I return to Luoyang, brother Huang, you shouldn't publicize it everywhere, but how do they know the specific itinerary? Even as soon as I entered Luoyang, they knew it was me. Back." Li Xian was very honest. He believed that he could not keep any secrets in Datang now.

Li Hong has been the emperor of the Tang Dynasty for nearly six years. In the past six years, except for the wealthy nobles headed by Qiwang of the Five Surnames who provoked troubles risking their lives to remonstrate in the past six years, Li Hong has been in power in the past few years. In the country of Tang Dynasty and in the imperial court and the country, there were no difficult things encountered at all.

Of course, if there is one, it is the natural disasters in the past two years. It is said that Li Hong was almost punished by the imperial edict, but no matter what, Li Hong, who has never lost since he was a child, was still safe in the end. got through it.

"Isn't it strange? In these days, my father's dragon body has been getting worse and worse. Every day in Zhenguan Palace, some old ministers from the past come to visit my father. Some people are lucky enough to be summoned by my father to the back hall to see him. Perhaps they are from my father's family. The emperor must have heard that your sixth son will return to Luoyang in the near future." Li Hong followed Li Xian's gaze and looked out the window. The snow outside was getting heavier and heavier, and it was gradually getting thicker.

Li Xian looked at the snowflakes tirelessly falling from the sky outside the window, sighed again and said: "There are only two words in the world, fame and fortune, which can make people take risks, even risk their lives. When a person gets old and has been an official all his life, it is natural that he will end up in the end." , I hope I can have a good death and leave my name in history, but... this is so difficult. "

"You can't say that. If you could not slack off on yourself when you were in power, and could do some good things for the court and the people, then naturally you would leave your name in history, and there would be no need to be so shy at this time. With an old face, he tried his best to hope that the imperial court would give them a status. By the way, let's talk about what happened to Jiling City." Li Hong put down his tea cup and started to get down to business.

(End of chapter)