He was not very experienced in the world, or in other words, as a prince of the Tang Dynasty, he did not have a clear outline and understanding of people's hearts and strategies. Unknowingly, he began to be regarded as the prince of the Tang Dynasty, and all kinds of people began to appear around him. people, get close to him openly and secretly, show their kindness to him, hoping to one day be able to enter Li Ye's circle.
Although Li Hong has not yet established the crown prince, it does not mean that the people below him will not secretly speculate on the holy will, and will not treat the queen's eldest son Li Ye as the natural crown prince, and then start to make political investments in advance.
Li Ye was able to keep away from everyone at first. It must have been before Li Hong was established as the heir apparent. Like everyone else, he was just an ordinary Tang prince, and his heart was more or less natural. I also thought that the crown prince of the Tang Dynasty must be my own.
But before he became the prince, neither Li Ye nor Pei Wanying regarded the position of prince of the Tang Dynasty as something that Li Ye should have for granted.
Li Ye was also able to keep this in mind, so he did not get carried away at such a young age because of the overt and covert pursuit and flattery of some people, and always abided by Pei Wanying's reminders and warnings to him.
But Pei Qing, the governor of Suizhou, was different. As his cousin, the son of Pei Xingjian's younger brother Pei Xingyan, he was also considered a relative of the emperor. No matter how cautious he was, he could not guard his family every day.
Moreover, as a prince, it is not impossible to interact with relatives of his mother's family, but it is a reasonable thing.
But he didn't expect that as his relationship with his cousin Pei Xuan, who studied at the Imperial College together, got better and better, a big net would slowly be drawn over him.
Everything happened without Li Ye being aware of it, and he let nature take its course. As time went by, Li Ye would occasionally go out of the palace to have banquets with the empress, with the consent of his mother, and even went to see his cousin in person a few times. Famous assassins were handed over for a banquet.
But in Li Ye's view, his cousin Pei Qing has always been an upright person and an honest official. Especially in front of him, as the governor of Suizhou, he has always behaved like a breeze.
But just like this, the past two days were discovered by Guo Jingzhi, a scholar who his father had personally settled the case for in Luoyang a few years ago. Now as the Sima of Suizhou, he had his immediate boss, Pei Qing, corrupt and perverting the law. The matter of factionalism was discovered.
Because of his status as a relative of the emperor, and because Pei Qing intentionally or unintentionally used the banner of the emperor's eldest son, some of them began to accept bribes from officials from various places in Suizhou. Even some officials from the capital were attracted by him. They hope that one day after Li Ye is established as the crown prince, they and others can enter the East Palace to serve and plan in advance for their future prosperity.
Li Ye didn't know all this at all. Even when he went to Pei Qing's banquets, he would often meet officials from other places and the capital. When he was confused, Pei Qing would excuse him with coincidental reasons.
And Li Ye didn't delve into this matter, and didn't think carefully about why there would be such a coincidence every time. Over and over, Pei Qing would also choose some good things while accepting gifts from officials from various places. Send it to the palace.
At first, Li Ye would refuse, but Pei Qing went from simple to complex. At first, there were some items that were worthless and could not even be put on the table. Gradually, they started to become heavier and heavier. In this process, naturally It also completely wiped away Li Ye's vigilance.
So now, Li Ye was drawn in by Pei Qing, and with Li Ye's reputation, he established a large official circle for the future prince.
Pei Wanying sighed helplessly, but didn't know what to say. She didn't like this cousin very much. Before entering the palace, only a small number of people knew about her love affair with His Majesty. This man had never known anything. The cousin who visited his house began to become attentive.
Pei Xingjian lived in Anxi and Tubo for a long time, and then stayed in Chang'an for a few years. He and Chen Jingzhi, the father of Qinghan's sister, served in the Navy in Quanzhou.
In those early years, Pei Wanying had been living with her mother in Chang'an. Her cousin and second uncle rarely came to visit her and her mother.
When my father was still in Tubo, my house was deserted, but it was very clean and cold. But after my father came back, my relatives suddenly changed their faces, and they all suddenly became warm to me and my mother. stand up.
Fortunately, Pei Wanying, as the empress of the Tang Dynasty, has always abided by her duties and never participated in court matters. She never even blew pillow wind in Li Hong's ears.
For these relatives at home, Pei Wanying never had a good word to say about them. As for their career, Pei Wanying never asked about it. Only when she came home from the palace, faced with so many relatives suddenly appearing in the family, she would be out of mind. Ask politely, but try not to get into important court matters.
After being cautious and walking on thin ice for so many years, watching Li Ye grow up little by little, the relatives in the family did not cause trouble because of her being the queen.
Although His Majesty has never established a crown prince, Pei Wanying, who has always been indifferent, has never mentioned this matter in front of Li Hong.
But who would have thought that something like this is happening around Li Ye now. As the eldest son of the emperor, if he is implicated by Pei Qing and others, he, Li Ye, may not be able to bear the blame.
"It's over, you have been tricked by your uncle and cousin. Your father will definitely not be able to spare you." Wen Wen curled her lips, and suddenly realized that she gave birth to a princess for Li Hong, which was simply impossible. What a great thing.
At least you won't have these troubles, and no one will use your name outside the palace to cheat and form factions to establish their own power and interests.
Pei Wanying rolled her eyes helplessly at the heartless gentleness. A few days ago, she was envious that she had given birth to two princes for His Majesty, but now she began to feel better about giving birth to a princess.
"Say a few words, it's time to act like a concubine." Pei Wanying glanced at Li Ye who was kneeling on the ground and said softly.
"My mother and concubine are helpless, and even your mother and queen can't help you. You'd better tell your father the truth honestly. As for your mother and queen, you'd better not listen to any advice, lest you get in trouble with your father again." In front of the emperor, your mother has been implicated." Wen Wen said at the end, but there was a pun in Pei Wanying's ears.
He couldn't help but roll his face with a gentle and unformed look, and then said to Li Ye: "Get up, if you have figured out how to tell your father, then go see your father now. If you haven't figured it out, just go to Li Ye." When will you decide where to go?"
"I've thought about it, I'll go now." Li Ye stood up, took a deep breath, saluted Pei Wanying and Wen Wen, then turned and walked out.
Watching Li Ye's still very young back leave, Wen Wen felt a little weird. She placed an index finger gently on her red lips, looked at the back that disappeared from the door again, and then turned around to look at the calm face. Pei Wanying suddenly said anxiously: "Aren't you worried at all? You... you should think of a way for him. Do you think I'm in the way here? Then I'll call Ye'er back."
Pei Wanying sighed silently and rolled her eyes again: "Why should I be anxious? You left this morning because I thought you were in the way, so why are you still sitting there now?"
"Hey, do you really don't understand or are you pretending not to understand? Ye'er is the eldest son of the emperor. Aren't you afraid that this will affect his future appointment as crown prince?" Gentleness is incredible. As a mother, you just have to be indifferent. Don't It hindered the eldest son of the emperor from inheriting the position of crown prince.
"That's your Majesty's business. He should have a headache. It's your Majesty's responsibility to think about who to appoint as the prince. As long as your Majesty thinks which prince is suitable, he will appoint whichever prince is the best. It doesn't have to be the eldest son of the emperor. And now Before Li Ye was established, people started to have ideas about him. Who knows what will happen if he is appointed as the crown prince... "
Pei Wanying quietly lowered her voice, and then looked at Wen Wen and said a little sneakily: "I would like it if I didn't make Li Ye the crown prince. At least this way I don't have to worry about being afraid. As long as I can live a peaceful life, in my opinion, that's the best option." It couldn’t be more appropriate.”
"I'm not pursuing it. No wonder Li Ye's temperament is becoming more and more like yours. Sooner or later, he will completely lead you astray. However, Princess Ye Zi's personality is not like yours, and is somewhat similar to His Majesty." Wen Wen raised her head, He said, thinking of the beautiful eldest princess of the Tang Dynasty.
"She was spoiled by His Majesty. She is lawless and doesn't look like a princess at all. And Li Lingyue has never taught Li Ye anything." Pei Wanying looked dissatisfied when she thought of her sister-in-law.
When she was seven or eight years old, Li Lingyue began to teach Li Ye how to put on makeup. The heavy makeup she painted once almost made Li Hong angry. The beautiful little princess was deliberately created by Li Lingyue. She looks like the girl next to the dancing master. She has a thick layer of foundation on her face, and her cheeks look like two pomegranates. The red dot between her eyebrows is not the right color, or how she got it. , like a mole.
"Anyway, I won't let Li Mei get along with Li Lingyue alone. If she is led astray by Li Lingyue..."
"Is it okay to just follow you? How old is Li Mei? The palace maids in Tiantian are not holding stuffed toys, they are weapons such as swords, guns, sticks, axes, hooks and forks. Don't be careful as a mother-in-law and be careful as I bring them to my place. "Pei Wanying feels that Wen Wenwen and Li Hong are two irresponsible parents, Wen Wenwen is even worse, and they only care about children and not raising children."
"That won't work, that's my darling. What will I do without her? I also want to pass on my martial arts skills to Li Mei." Wen Wenwen immediately jumped on her feet like an old hen.
The two women sat in the palace and continued to talk about things, not worrying at all that their eldest son, the emperor, was walking towards the Zichen Palace.
(End of chapter)