On August 16th, the autumn light is brisk, and the ground is full of silver frost. The Mid-Autumn Festival has just ended, and all the officials met in the imperial city, and they all greeted each other. Everyone was talking about the excitement, coming from afar? A red lacquered gold figure, when all the officials saw it, they all lowered their expressions and bowed to salute: "See Shengyuan Zhenguo? Princess?"
On the twenty-sixth day of last month, the cat demon caused chaos in the palace city. Li Chaoge was ordered to turn the tide and kill the black cat by the sword. The Queen of Heaven was frightened and recuperated in the palace for three days before she recovered. Afterwards, the Queen of Heaven gave Princess Shengyuan a big reward, and gave Li Chaoge and Gu Mingke a marriage, and took the opportunity to revoke the suspension penalty. Li Chaoge was not only reinstated as an official, but also named Princess Shengyuan Zhenguo.
Zhen Guo? Two words, unusual. The title of an ordinary princess? Either? It is the place name of the fief, such as Princess Guangning?, or? It is a word that symbolizes auspiciousness and virtue, such as Princess Wende? There has never been a princess? Can you? Add "township" to your title Country?" suffix.
After all, Li Chaoge was rescued by the black cat twice? Tianhou, Tianhou rewarded her so much? I understand, but the emperor didn't know why, but he didn't care about it at all and let it go. During this period of time, the court hall was not peaceful, and everyone could smell the smell of rain coming? and the building was about to collapse. But Li Chaoge, who was at the center of the storm, was recuperating in the mansion calmly. At that time, she blocked a blow for Tianhou, and ten blood holes were caught on her arm. Although Li Chaoge resumed the post of commander, she did not go to court during this period, but "recovered according to order", and she did not come back until after the Mid-Autumn Festival holiday.
Today was Li Chaoge's first public appearance after his suspension. When the officials saw her, they had mixed feelings in their hearts. Wherever Li Chaoge went, the chatter and laughter became quiet. Li Chaoge didn't care, and swaggered all the way into the demon town.
The Dali Temple next door is also very busy. Some time ago, Li Chaoge was suspended from his post, and by the way, Gu Shaoqing, the chief executive of Dali Temple, was taken away. After Li Chaoge was reinstated, Gu Mingke followed suit. Li Chaoge took a paid vacation very arrogantly because he had suffered a work-related injury, but Gu Mingke was not so thick-skinned, and the imperial edict was not issued. The next day, he went back to Dali Temple to work overtime.
The nominal leader of Dali Temple is Dali Temple Qing, but Dali Temple Qing is old and does not have the energy to deal with heavy daily tasks, so the actual head of Dali Temple is Gu Mingke. After Gu Mingke was suspended, no one in Dali Temple signed, and many cases were forced to be suspended. It was so easy to wait until Gu Mingke was reinstated. He had already waited for the impatient officials of Dali Temple to swarm up. Gu Mingke had to deal with the accumulated official duties and take over the new cases in the past few days.
But Li Chaoge rested until after the Mid-Autumn Festival holiday, and was condescended to be "invited" back to the court. Li Chaoge entered the gate of the Zhenyaosi, thinking of the long-lost environment in his heart, when suddenly there was a knocking of gongs behind the door, and the officials of the Zhenyaosi ran out of the room quickly, lined up on both sides, raised their necks, and shouted: "Welcome The Commander is back? Congratulations to the Commander for getting married!"
Li Chaoge didn't expect this when he entered the door, but was startled by the sudden sound. Moreover, I don't know if it is Li Chaoge's illusion, but she always feels that the Dali Temple next door seems to have stagnated
The demon town is adjacent to the Dali Temple, and these idiots shouted at the top of their voices, and the next door must have heard them. Now that the imperial edict of bestowing marriage has been announced to the world? No one in the imperial city knows that Li Chaoge's son-in-law is Gu Mingke, the Shaoqing of Dali Temple.
Li Chaoge was so embarrassed that she fisted her hair? Hard, she pulled the corner of her mouth with a smirk, and asked, "Who taught you?"
Seeing that Li Chaoge was angry, everyone immediately carried out the spirit of "Brothers are supposed to be brothers? They are birds in the same forest and fly separately in the face of disaster", and pointed at Bai Qianhe in unison. Bai Qianhe was pushed out from the corner? She smiled embarrassingly, and said flatteringly: "Today is the commander's first day back to the demon division. I want to give the commander a surprise to make you very happy. Hahaha , Commander, how funny you look."
Li Chaoge looked at Bai Qianhe and sneered, moving his knuckles slowly: "Really? It's funny."
The rest of the people dispersed with a sound of coaxing, and disappeared in an instant. Relying on his good lightness skills, Bai Qianhe jumped up and down in the demon town: "The commander told you to calm down. Your arm injury hasn't healed yet, so you can't move? Wu... ouch, take it easy..."
After Li Chaoge repaired Bai Qianhe, the demon town finally returned to normal order. Zhou Shao and Mo Linlang waited for Bai Qianhe to be beaten up, and then went to the main hall to look for Li Chaoge with official business.
"Commander." Mo Linlang, holding a half-person-high scroll in her arms, piled it on Li Chaoge's desk and said, "This is a case that has been accumulated during this period of time. It hasn't been dealt with yet, Commander." Let you take a look."
Li Chaoge looked at the dossier that instantly drowned the desk, and was speechless for a moment? But this is not the end, Zhou Shao took out a list from his sleeve, and said: "These files are about ghosts and ghosts handed over by other departments and other places. Many people reported the crime. Anyefang was haunted by ghosts. A scholar in Meng County encountered a fox demon on his way to the exam. He was cheated of money and sex. Several chickens were lost in Baima Temple... "
"Wait." The more Li Chaoge listened to the more outrageous, he had to stop Zhou Shao, "White Horse Temple lost a chicken? Why is this kind of thing? Are you looking for the demon master?"
Bai Qianhe quietly elbowed Mo Linlang: "Isn't the monk a vegetarian? Why is there a chicken in the White Horse Temple?"
"Monks eat eggs." Mo Linlang lowered her voice and said quietly, "If you have eggs, you need chickens."
Bai Qianhe said "Oh", then nodded thoughtfully: "That's true."
Zhou Shao ignored the two people who were whispering next to him. He spread his hands and said truthfully, "I don't know either. The novice at the White Horse Temple suspected that someone had stolen the chicken, but they had been staring at him for several days but they couldn't find the thief. They thought it was Spirits and monsters are causing trouble, so I have to report to the town demon division."
The expression on Li Chaoge's face was indescribable. She sighed resignedly, and said, "Put everything down? Let me take a look."
"Yes." The other three responded, and put it down cracklingly. After a lot of things, they finally left. Li Chaoge randomly pulled out a scroll, and after reading only two lines, he felt a headache.
Zhenyaosi killed several monsters in a row, and gradually established his prestige among the people, but troubles followed one after another. A lot of trivial things, such as walking at night and encountering ghosts, losing chickens in Xicuntou, etc. are obvious? Non-existent things, they are forced to be enlarged by suspicious people into monsters, and reported to the town demon department. It is a good thing that the common people report the case to show that they trust the demon master, but Li Chaoge really doesn't want to care about such unimaginable things as throwing chickens.
She suppressed her impatience and looked through the scrolls impatiently. She put the more reliable cases into another bamboo basket, and the others? They were all nonsense cases? They were all thrown into the wastebasket by Li Chaoge. Li Chaoge turned over for a while, silently kneading his sore neck.
She understood why? Gu Mingke went back to work in Dali Temple early. Facts? It proves that Gu Mingke is right. The work will not be reduced. No matter sooner or later, he will have to deal with these matters. It is better to go back early.
Li Chaoge leaned on the back of the chair and sighed.
Li Chaoge was suspended on July 18th. Her suspension was revoked at the end of July, but she did not come back until August 16th. During this month, the seas and rivers in the Great Tang Dynasty were clean, and the world was peaceful. It seemed that everything was running on the right track, but under the undercurrent? Many things changed.
Li Chaoge was granted the title of "Princess" of Zhenguo, and the feudal city surpassed that of the prince, which was the most in history. Li Changle became a monk and moved to Shangqing Temple outside the city to practice Qingxiu. The daughter of the king of Jiangxia was appointed as the head of the county. She was named Princess Wende, representing the marriage between Tang Dynasty and Tubo Zanpu.
So far, the marriages of the three princesses in the palace have all been settled. After the marriage was bestowed on Li Chaoge and Gu Mingke in the palace, it would not be appropriate for Gu Mingke to live in the princess mansion as the quasi-consort. Therefore, after the decree of the marriage was promulgated, Gu Mingke also found a reason and moved out of the mansion.
After all, Gu Mingke was "robbed" to the princess's mansion. Li Chaoge's marriage had not yet been decided before, and it was inconvenient for him to leave. Now that everything has been settled, according to the custom that unmarried couples are not allowed to meet before marriage, it is difficult for Gu Mingke to keep it. But Gu Mingke did not return to Pei's house, but bought another mansion in the city and set up his own family.
Parents are here, regardless of family separation, Gu Pei's still lives in Pei's house, but Gu Mingke? Moved out on his own initiative? It has to be said that there is some intention to draw a clear line. But Gu Pei's family has no energy to pursue Gu Mingke, because now the Pei family can't protect themselves.
After the news of Pei Ji'an's refusal to marry spread to the Pei family, it was like pouring a ladle of water into a frying pan, and it exploded in an instant. The Pei family has been very lively these past few days, Prime Minister Pei scolded Pei Ji'an angrily, and wanted to escort him to the palace to apologize, but Pei Ji'an refused, Prime Minister Pei was furious and broke the family law, Mrs. Pei, Mrs. Pei Later, when he heard that he was very frightened, he hurriedly stopped him, and the whole Pei family was in chaos. At a time like this, who still cares about Gu Mingke.
But no matter how much trouble there is, there is a consensus in the court, that is, before Princess Wende's marriage, no one can make a fuss about it. Family ugliness should not be publicized, no matter how much deep hatred there is, it must be endured until the Tubo people leave before liquidation.
Li Chaoge was dealing with a backlog of cases over the past month, and the palace was also busy preparing for Princess Wende's marriage. Princess Wende has been transferred from Rencheng to Dongdu, and she has been living in Ziwei Palace as a princess during these days. At the beginning of September, Emperor Tianhou led all the civil and military officials to visit Luoyang outside the city. The emperor bid farewell to Princess Wende earnestly, and watched Princess Wende and her marriage team go away.
The Tubo people left with the Luanjia of Princess Wende, and the marriage marriage finally came to an end. But everyone's mood is not relaxed, because they know that the settlement after autumn has only just begun.
Sending off Princess Wende? It's an important event for the court. Both Li Chaoge and the prince will be present. Li Chaoge saw the crown prince and the crown prince's concubine in the team, she glanced at it casually, then retracted it, and did not take the initiative to speak. After Li Shan saw Li Chaoge, he hesitated to speak, but he didn't say anything in front of many courtiers.
After Princess Wende left, the emperor drove back to the palace. After the Hall of Renshou, the foreign ministers saw that the emperor was not in good spirits, and after a few words of condolences, they retired one after another. Gradually, only his own people remained in the palace. Li Shan's fingers gradually clenched, and sure enough, he heard Tianhou say: "The foreign ministers are gone, the others stay?"
Li Shan's heart shrank suddenly, and then his face showed relief. The sharp sword had been hanging on his head for a month, and now, it was finally time to drop it.
Today is the day to bid farewell to Princess Wende. Except for Li Changle who is a Taoist priest outside the city, the other princes and daughters are all here. Wu Wang, Li Zhen, Li Huai and others were shocked and all cheered up. The crown prince? The concubine is not good at nourishing Qi after all, she looked nervously at the prince?, and whispered: "Your Highness..."
"Prince? Concubine and Prince? What are you talking about?" A voice suddenly rang out from above, and the Empress looked at them with a smile, and said unhurriedly, "What? You can't even hear me?"
The crown prince? Concubine trembled in her heart, she forced her smile to look up, and said dignifiedly: "I don't dare. I just have some private conversations with the prince, it's nothing? It's special, it makes the Queen of Heaven laugh."
"Really?" Tianhou said softly with soft eyes, "I thought that the crown prince or concubine was speaking ill of me to the crown prince."
The prince? The concubine's face froze, and she couldn't even keep smiling. The Queen of Heaven didn't take the prince or concubine seriously at all. After she knocked on the East Palace, what? Without saying a word, she turned to Li Chaoge: "Chaoge, have you found out about the black cat?"
Li Chaoge quietly glanced at the prince and his wife, took a step forward, cupped his hands and said, "Reporting to the queen, I have found out the whole story. I don't know where this black cat came from, five years ago? It suddenly appeared in the Ye Ting, after that, no one knows where it lives. In the past two years, its actions have become more frequent, but most of the time it hides in Ye Ting. On February 30 this year, it killed its first human being, and after that, it became courageous. It's getting bigger and bigger, and it's eyeing Mrs. Korea and the queen. After the sudden death of He Lanmin's maidservant on March 24, the next target of the black cat was originally Mrs. Korea. Ordered to investigate the case at Helan Mansion, the black cat saw Erchen and shifted its target, Mrs. Han Han? luckily escaped. In July, the demon cat attacked Erchen and Tin Hau one after another, but it failed twice, but it still persisted. It didn't know what method it used to quickly increase its demon power in a short period of time, and then attacked Tianhou again. Fortunately, Tianhou was blessed by heaven, and nothing happened. Now that the black cat has been executed, the saint Tianhou can rest assured that this cat will not cause trouble again gone."
The Queen of Heaven was really frightened at the last palace banquet. Such a tough person, Queen of Heaven, had to rest for several days before returning to normal. Ever since the cat demon appeared in Shangyang Palace, the inspection of the palace gates has been very strict. Li Chaoge has placed exorcism talismans at every palace gate. If the cat demon was not attached to Mrs. Han?, it would never be able to enter the palace.
After Li Chaoge finished speaking, the people standing in the hall visibly tensed up. What is the Queen of Heaven? People, if they are vengeful, they will kill the grass and root out the roots, even if they are not guilty? To accuse the enemy, what is it like now? How can the Queen let go of such a big matter when it hits the hands of the Queen of Heaven
Before, she was worried about getting married, and the Queen kept pressing the button but not sending it out. Now, it's finally time to settle the accounts. Tian Hou smiled expressionlessly, and said: "The cat demon has been punished, but who knows if it has any accomplices? The last time I went to the Yang Palace, the investigation was so strict, and I checked inside and out? Three times, I was still caught by the cat." The demon fled outside the palace. If there is no one to respond, who will believe it?"
Needle drop can be heard in the hall. The emperor was lying on the couch, breathless, but he didn't stop the Queen of Heaven. After all, Tianhou is the wife who has been with the emperor for twenty years? She shares weal and woe with the emperor, and their relationship is extraordinary. Tianhou was almost killed by a cat demon, and the emperor felt pity for him, so he let Tianhou be angry afterwards. Even when Tianhou granted Li Chaoge the title of Zhen Guo? Princess?, the emperor acquiesced.
Even if the emperor is cruel, he is still a person. Wife? Almost killed, how can the emperor? Can? Not feel bad? Li Chaoge once again saved the Queen of Heaven, no matter who the black cat was, Li Chaoge made a contribution. Compared with Li Chaoge's achievements and abilities, her disobedience to the prince and self-assertion are really not worth mentioning.
After Tianhou finished speaking, all eyes fell on Li Chaoge. It is known both inside and outside that the Empress Dowager now relies heavily on Li Chaoge, and Li Chaoge is in charge of the cat demon case. To put it bluntly, now that Li Chaoge says that whoever is the accomplice of the cat demon will be in trouble immediately.
The crown prince? Concubine's expression is ugly? Under the persuasion of the prince's concubine and the prince's young teacher, Li Shan advocated sending Li Chaoge to Tubo for marriage. When the crown prince and concubine pushed for it, she never thought that it would not work. One is the princess?, and the other is the prince of the East Palace? Is there any need to consider who the emperor will choose? But who could have imagined that Li Chaoge was not sent to get married, and he didn't even avoid suspicion. He married the person he liked, and even got promoted.
Now that the marriage team is gone, Li Changle is sent to become a monk outside the city, but Li Chaoge has made another meritorious service and has been conferred the title of Zhen Guo?Princess?. Li Chaoge's status has risen sharply, and he has become an unstoppable trend in the Eastern Capital. Everyone knows that the sage Tianhou is very dependent on Princess Shengyuan? No matter whether it is the foundation of the society? The crown prince? or Princess Guangning, the jewel in the palm of the empress
This is the real, irreplaceable existence.
The whole thing? Pretty outrageous. What's more terrible is that Li Chaoge still has the power of life and death, but now the East Palace has turned to Li Chaoge.
The crown prince? The concubine's superficial skills are not very good, and everyone present is smart. Her changes are in the eyes of everyone, and it is obvious at a glance. Li Chaoge ignored it, she lowered her eyes slightly, and said calmly: "I haven't found out the accomplices of the cat demon for the time being. However, I found out that the reason why the cat demon was able to escape from Shangyang Palace that day is I borrowed the power of Princess Yi'an. The cat demon hid in Princess Yi'an's carriage. The guards at the palace gate did not dare to check the princess's carriage, so it escaped. My son went to Yi'an a few days ago The princess’ mansion obtained evidence, and it was true that black cat fur was found at the bottom of the carriage, and the maid of Princess Ngee’an’s mansion confessed that she had seen black cats haunting the mansion at the end of July.”
Li Zhen's complexion suddenly changed. She looked around in a hurry, everyone avoided their eyes, and no one was willing to look at her. Even the elder brother buried his head deeply, as if he didn't hear Li Chaoge's words.
Li Zhen reacted? She immediately realized that she had been abandoned. She hurriedly lifted her skirt and knelt down, and just said a word, her eyes turned red: "Tianhou Mingchao, my son doesn't know anything."
Li Chaoge waved his hand, and immediately some demon guards entered the hall, presenting all kinds of evidence found in Princess Yi'an's mansion. Li Zhen's lips were all white. When did these people enter her house? Why? She doesn't know anything
Li Zhen looked shocked, but Li Chaoge didn't care. With Bai Qianhe around, it couldn't be easier to find something quietly. Li Chaoge thought it was nothing, but in the eyes of others, it was completely different.
The town demon master's hands and eyes are open to the sky, to such an extent. Li Chaoge is searching for Li Zhen today, but what about tomorrow
When Tianhou saw that the evidence was complete, she immediately sneered and said, "Bold! Why did you collude with evildoers, the following? Offend? You are a deep palace woman? Why? Have the guts to say, who ordered you? "
When the King of Wu heard this, he also knelt down in panic, and couldn't say anything except "my son and minister are wronged". Both King Wu and Li Zhen are the sons and daughters of Concubine Xiao Shu, the "master behind the scenes" that the Empress called, who else could there be besides King Wu
Although Li Chaoge held great power, she did not avenge herself publicly. The evidence was indeed found by her in Nghe An Mansion. As for how the Empress will go about her career, and whether she will take advantage of the issue, that is out of Li Chaoge's control.
Li Zhen bit her lip, and suddenly made up her mind, saying: "Forgive me, the queen, that cat sneaked into my carriage. I was scared out of my wits by the cat demon, and I don't know about that evil cat." The animal hides in the son's carriage. As for the princess? There is a black cat in the mansion... The son is wronged. The son eats fast and chants Buddha all day long. I didn't see the black cat at all. Perhaps, it was the girl in the house who kept the cat behind my back, so I misunderstood."
Li Chaoge shook his head secretly. Li Zhen wanted to get rid of everything and keep King Wu, but he didn't know that Tianhou had the idea of killing King Wu. Tianhou had already convicted the king of Wu in her heart, so even if Li Zhen was eloquent, what's the use
Sure enough, Tianhou was not moved at all. Her complexion was frosty, and she said sharply: "The maids in the princess' mansion are so negligent, what use are they? Come on, beat all the maids around Princess Yi'an to death." , other slaves filled the teaching workshop. I don't know that Yi'an likes to chant scriptures. If so, then let you read enough. Dongdu is too noisy, which may interfere with Yi'an's practice and sense karma. The master of the temple is here to give Princess Yi'an a shave, and then take Yi'an to the temple to practice, so as not to let cats and dogs wrong Princess Yi'an again."
Li Zhen's expression changed drastically. The Ganye Temple is the place where the family members of the royal family were sent off, and all their hair was shaved off. As a princess, how could Li Zhen be willing to be insulted like this? Li Zhen hurriedly looked at the emperor, kowtowed and begged: "Father, Queen of Heaven, I know my mistake. Please give my father another chance."
Li Zhen reacted very quickly, knowing that the only person present who would pity her was the emperor. After all, this is his own daughter, the emperor couldn't bear it, and said: "Yi'an just got married with the son-in-law. If he becomes a monk like this, the son-in-law may have objections. The princess? It's someone else's daughter-in-law. She and her son-in-law have no sons or heirs, so it's not appropriate to become a monk."
The emperor's face? Tianhou still has to give it. Tianhou took a step back and said: "I almost forgot that Yi'an just got married. Children? Heirs are important, and the Buddha can't relax, so let Yi'an stay Princess? You can get ordained in the mansion, as long as you are sincere, it doesn’t matter where you serve the Buddha.”
This time the emperor did not speak again. Li Zhen felt a chill in her heart, and immediately looked around for help. Wu Wang Wu Wangfei noticed her gaze, immediately lowered her head, staring at the ground; Li Chaoge stood upright, with clear eyes, looking straight ahead; Back to the prince? Don't dare to intercede with Li Zhen again.
As for Li Huai, he is not capable of writing or martial arts. He eats, drinks and has fun all day long, and is afraid of the Queen of Heaven to the bone. Now Li Huai can't wait to hide outside and completely draw a line with Li Zhen. How can Li Huai? Maybe? Stand up for Li Zhen
Li Zhen burst into tears, and she finally understood that she was just an ant in someone else's hand and had no bargaining power at all. If she wants to survive, she must be shaved.
Li Zhen burst into tears, no longer defending herself, obviously resigned to her fate. Li Chaoge sighed inwardly, the Queen of Heaven really had a strong desire for revenge, the black cat almost killed her, so she tortured Concubine Xiao Shu's children even more. A young princess? She has her head shaved, and she is still in her own princess? Mansion, facing the son-in-law and maids every day, maybe she will be dragged out by the Queen of Heaven to attend a banquet in the future... It would be better to kill Li Zhen with one knife.
Li Zhen finished beating, and the next one is King Wu. Wu Wang and his wife trembled more and more violently. When Wu Wang noticed Tianhou's gaze, he immediately knelt down, kowtowed, and cried to himself: "My son deserves death, and I failed to discipline my sister. I am willing to become a monk and become a vegetarian, and I will never step out of the palace for the rest of my life!"
Li Xu is very courageous in surviving by cutting off his tail, but it is a pity that these are far from enough? Satisfied, the Queen of Heaven frowned and said, "King Wu, you are the only son of Concubine Xiao Shu? You are responsible for continuing the incense of the royal family. What are you doing as a monk? ?”
Li Xu's heart was half cold. He originally thought of going all out. It's better to shave than to lose his life. But, can't you even become a monk
Tian Hou said in a slow voice, "However, Yi'an has been kept by Ben? Gong's side. Ben? Gong knows how timid she is. She absolutely does not have the guts to collude with the cat demon. I don't know who gave her Did she take the initiative? Or, she deliberately took the blame, trying to cover someone? "
Li Xu knelt on the ground in a daze, losing his ability to react. The Empress had enough of her appetite, so she said mercifully: "Collude with the cat demon, deliberately assassinate, and beheaded according to the law. But you have a fight with Ben? The palace opened the door and issued an order to remove Li Xu's title of king of Wu and demote him to a commoner. He banned Shouzhou and could not leave the mansion for life. Come here, escort the king of Wu, no, Li Xu and his family My wife, Mrs. Xu, go back to Shouzhou."
Li Xu kowtowed to the Queen of Heaven and withdrew gratefully. Even if he was deprived of the throne and reduced to a commoner, he still couldn't show a little bit of resentment, and he still had to be grateful to the queen.
After Li Xu and Mrs. Xu were taken away, the Queen of Heaven glanced at her and said, "Send off Princess Yi'an? Go back to the mansion, and she will be ordained tomorrow. Li Huai, you should go out too."
The Empress sent Li Zhen and Li Huai away, leaving only Li Chaoge and the prince and his wife in the hall. Li Shan tightened his fingers, and finally, calmly opened his robe and knelt down, saying: "I know I'm wrong, please let the Empress know."