The sunset covered the city of Tokyo, and night was approaching. However, the area around the Kaiguogong Mansion was crowded with people, and people of all kinds kept coming. People from far and near also gathered around to watch the excitement and listen to rumors.
Amid the noise, a middle-aged woman in the crowd muttered: This Li family has suffered retribution.
A young scholar in a long robe nearby was surprised when he heard this and glanced sideways.
The woman spat again: "The Li family used to be so rich and prosperous, and they had such a grand ceremony when they went out. Tsk tsk, now that the pillar of the family has fallen, how can they still be so proud? They must have done something against the will of heaven and earth, and now they are in trouble."
Upon hearing this, the scholar sighed, then smiled bitterly and shook his head, squeezed next to the woman, crossed his arms across his chest and said casually: I don’t think so. I guess you will have to bend down and look up at the Li family’s pomp when you pass by here in the future.
The woman said: Didn’t they say that the Li family died because they offended the emperor
The scholar was stunned when he heard this, and then said helplessly: "Why does the emperor want to kill people like this?" You, it doesn't matter if you are illiterate or ignorant, but I would like to advise you that if you want to make people laugh or poke their backs, you have to consider their status, otherwise why bother to suffer misfortune
The woman said angrily: We'll wait and see. I heard that the Li family moved here from a remote area. They were just a poor family before, so what's so great about them
At this moment, the sound of horse hooves was heard, and a large group of cavalry came over in a swagger. The iron armor shone with a metallic luster, and the red tassels on the helmets fluttered like flowing clouds in the sky.
All bystanders should stay away. A young general raised his scabbard, looked angry, and roared with full energy.
The scholar took a look and turned to the woman and said: This is what we call a grand ceremony, the emperor has come to the Li family in person.
Two carriages with four horses stopped in front of the Duke of Kaiguo's Mansion and were immediately surrounded by people, including court ministers, imperial guards, and a large number of palace maids. Jingniang, wearing a lapel robe, looked around vigilantly.
Two palace maids in cloth with their hair in buns and wearing futou came forward and helped Guo Shao, who was wearing a purple robe and black gauze, get off the carriage. They put him on a chair covered with a yellow canopy, and four strong eunuchs came over.
In the carriage behind, the red-eyed and pale Concubine Li was also helped down by the palace maids in mourning. Everyone said: "Long live your majesty." Your majesty has just recovered from his illness and should take care of himself.
Guo Shao was poisoned, and it could not be concealed because a large number of imperial doctors and ministers knew about it, but what was publicly said was that he was ill.
He sat listlessly in the chair, his slightly lifeless eyes not looking at anyone. He just slowly raised his hand and made a casual gesture without saying anything.
As the sedan chair walked up the steps of the tall red gate, the gate opened and a group of Li family members in white knelt inside the gate and bowed. Concubine Li staggered forward, knelt on the ground, and cried bitterly with a woman.
Guo Shao's eyes suddenly moved. He glanced at the crowd and pointed at a young man about fifteen or sixteen years old and said: Boy, come here.
The young man got up from the ground, walked to Guo Shao's chair, wiped his tears and looked up at Guo Shao.
The young man Guo Shao had seen was Li Chuyun's eldest son, Li Jilong. He was not tall but very sturdy, with dark skin on his face. Guo Shao didn't have the energy to talk nonsense with him, so he said: Your father was a hero in the court of Daxu, and made great contributions to the foundation of the empire. Don't embarrass your father. After the funeral, go out with your uncles in the imperial army to gain some experience.
Li Jilian clasped his fists and bowed in a very formal manner: Thank you, Your Majesty.
Guo Shao said calmly: You will be the youngest duke in this dynasty.
The emperor's gentle words immediately attracted the attention of everyone around him, and even the woman who was crying raised her head. The emperor's words were powerful, and Li Jilong had already risen to the top and sat on the position of Duke.
The dark clouds hanging over the Li Mansion seemed to dissipate in an instant.
The emperor was still ill and had people carry him to the Li family's home. The first thing he said was to acknowledge the honor of Li Chuyun's life. The second thing he said was that he would allow his eldest son to inherit the title. It seemed difficult to be more generous than this.
Anyone with any insight would no longer believe that Li Chuyun was secretly poisoned by the emperor. Even if the emperor did kill Li Chuyun, it would not be considered a bad treatment to the Li family.
Guo Shao was still very weak, but he was still efficient in his work. It could be said that he cleared up the suspicion between himself and the Li family with just two sentences.
After he finished speaking, he did not speak to Li Jilong again. The most important thing to him about this young man was that he was Li Chuyun's son.
People gathered around Guo Shao's chair and entered the palace. Guo Shao stretched out his hand and gestured upward. The eunuch Cao Tai next to him immediately said: The emperor allows you to be free from formalities.
Thank you, Your Majesty.
Guo Shao was carried to the door of the study where the incident occurred. The two bodies were still lying there, but they were covered with cloth. Guo Shao held the armrest of the chair and slowly stood up.
Cao Tai immediately stepped forward, bent over and lifted a piece of white cloth, revealing Li Chuyun's wide-eyed face.
When Guo Shao saw the familiar beard and the miserable state, his heart immediately ached. He remembered the tacit understanding when he fought side by side with Li Chuyun. Now the lifeless eyes on the dead body reminded Guo Shao of the passionate and resolute battles in the past.
Regardless of whether there were any unpleasant things later, memories are memories and are difficult to erase from Guo Shao's heart.
Time is so helpless, with constant joys and sorrows, and when you look back, everything has changed. Some people can only be seen for the last time, and some people can still be seen, but the friendship is no longer the same as before, such as Luo Yanhuan and even Zuo You who are also present now.
Guo Shao was so cautious. Deep in his heart, he cherished those passionate memories and vows, and did not want to touch them casually for the sake of power and pay too much price.
Maybe one day, I will really become a lonely person? Maybe one day, only distant memories will remain
Your Majesty and his attendants hurriedly supported him, and the crowd was suddenly in a panic.
Guo Shao clenched his fists. He suddenly pushed aside a servant roughly and slammed the table next to him. A sick man suddenly slapped so hard that the people in the yard were shocked and suddenly became silent.
He turned around, his eyes filled with tears, and he gritted his teeth and said murderously: "I order the Privy Councilor Wang Pu to supervise, the Cabinet Assistant Huang Binglian, the Ministry of Internal Affairs Yang Shiliang, and the officials in charge of criminal law to find out who is behind this. No matter who it is, even if it is the emperor, I will tear him into pieces."
The emperor's tears are rare. The emperor's wrath is terrible, and every word represents countless bloodshed and death.
Wang Pu said loudly: "Your Highness, obey your order.
Guo Shao covered his face and went out. A group of people helped him to sit on a chair, and they quickly left Li's house surrounded by people.
Cao Tai sneaked back to the imperial city before the imperial carriage, met Fu Jinzhan, and reported everything that had happened from beginning to end.
After listening to this, Jinzhan pursed her red lips and said: The last words the emperor said were for me, for Concubine Li to hear.
After hearing this, Cao Tai pondered and said: "What the Empress Dowager said is very true. Few people in the court believe that the death of the Duke of Kaiguo was ordered by His Majesty. I am afraid that Concubine Li also does not believe the Empress Dowager's suspicion at all."
Jinzhan nodded slightly: "The emperor is so sad and angry, it's hard for people to believe that I did this. It's hard for me to hide such a big thing from him, and it's even harder for the emperor to cover up such a thing so easily."
At the very least, it can greatly reduce suspicion.
After a while, someone came to Jinxiang Hall to report that the emperor had returned to Xu'en Hall.
Fu Jinzhan left Jinxiang Palace and went to see Guo Shao.
Guo Shao lay listlessly in the wooden basin, and the bald man put the steaming stuff in again. Since it seemed to be effective, he still insisted on using that method to expel the poison.
Fu Jinzhan knelt slightly and saluted: Your Majesty
Guo Shao opened his eyes, waved his hand to dismiss the maid, sighed, and after a while he asked: Luo Yanhuan sent a letter to the front line and met Zuo You. Was it he who went to find Zuo You both times
Fu Jinzhan said slowly: That’s right.
Guo Shao said: Zuo You may not really be willing to conspire with them. He and Luo Yanhuan are already close friends. If Luo wants to go find him, he may not be willing to do so.
Jinzhan said: Your Majesty is right, you always think of others' good. Anyway, it is difficult to find out whether Zuo Fuzheng is willing or not.
Guo Shao added: Luo Yanhuan must have thought that Jinzhan and I would not know about those things. Now there are not many people who know about the existence of Neichang.
Now that the matter is over, I think we should not mention it again, let them think that I didn't know about it and just let it go.
Fu Jinzhan picked up the towel and wiped Guo Shao's face, and said softly: I will listen to your Majesty.
Guo Shao heard the soft voice, opened his eyes and looked at Jinzhan, he felt that he had not been close to her for a long time, and now she looked more gentle. But his body was not good, he seemed to be influenced by Jinzhan, his mood became much gentler, he pondered: It is not shameful for people to think about themselves. Sometimes they are not loyal enough, but fortunately they don't do anything too excessive.
The key is that it is not appropriate to expand the internal strife now.
The room was steaming hot and foggy. Guo Shao was groggy and in a trance, he seemed to be back in Wuqi Town in Hedong, where the earth and dilapidated houses were everywhere, and a group of people who had almost nothing but passion were raising their spirits and roaring. Zuo You was also younger at that time. He issued an order to kill four people with a wave of his hand, but Guo Shao felt that he was a talented little official.
The sound of hurried footsteps, the melodious sound of bows and arrows, and the feeling of having no choice but to go all out without hesitation, all seemed to have just passed.
Guo Shao was caught up in a mixture of emotions and couldn't extricate himself.
After a long time, his thoughts finally returned to reality, the messy power struggle. He suddenly felt very tired and wanted to be quiet for a while.
But he couldn't back down just like that. The mess before him had to be cleaned up by someone no matter what, and he was the only one who could do it.
Pu Xiang Zhenren, who has written books in Zongheng, has a new book published on Qidian.com. You can go and have a look. Maybe there will be surprises. I think he is an author with great ideas and insights. Link: