Concubine Xiao Shufei and Li Hong looked at Yi Yang and Gao An at the same time, and two happy birds flew out of the door.
Then Concubine Xiao Shufei signaled the palace maids to leave, and only she, Li Hong, and Li Hong's two palace maids Xia Zhi and Xiao Xue were left in the entire courtyard.
Concubine Xiao Shu knew very well that Xia Zhi and Xiao Xue were different from other palace maids. Ever since Hong Er lost two palace maids in Taiyi City, the status of these two palace maids had undergone a drastic change. Now not everyone dared to order them around.
Concubine Xiao Shufei and Li Hong were both silent for a while. Suddenly, Concubine Xiao Shufei said seriously, "Hong'er, although I don't know the grudge between you and Helan Minzhi, as a person who has failed, I want to give you a few words of advice."
Li Hong smiled, sat up straight and said, "Just tell me, mother. I will remember it."
Concubine Xiao Shu smiled, her face full of calmness. She knew very well in her heart that if it weren't for Li Hong, she would have died long ago, and Sujie, Yiyang, and Gaoan would never have been as happy as they are today.
Concubine Xiao Shufei's beautiful cheeks turned a little cold in an instant, and her extraordinary temperament seemed to disappear in an instant.
"Anyone who achieves great things must eventually know how to be ruthless! Indecision has never been something an emperor should have. You are the future ruler of our Tang Dynasty, much better than your father! Although your father is also wise and resourceful, he is probably not comparable to you." Concubine Xiao Shufei tilted her head and looked at Li Hong with a serious face.
"Mother, you are joking. Father is not as bad as you think. Otherwise, he would not have been able to control the court so easily over the years..."
...
...
"How much of this is not your mother's credit? Don't use the words you used to lie to Yi Yang and the others to lie to me. Although I failed in the competition for the throne with your mother, there was certainly the subjective factor of your majesty's deep love for your mother, but there was also the factor that I looked down on your mother." Concubine Xiao Shu stared blankly at the mottled palace wall and said slowly.
Li Hong was not in a position to interrupt. Back then, he relied on his young age to only save Concubine Xiao Shu's life. But it was not so much that he was incapable of Queen Wang, but rather that he also wanted to be the crown prince. Therefore, when it came to Queen Wang's affairs, he really didn't care as much as he did Concubine Xiao Shu.
Concubine Xiao Shu glanced at Li Hong and saw that he was just grinning. Then she stood up and patted Li Hong on the head in annoyance. She said calmly, "Some things need to be decided early. If they are delayed for a long time, it will easily cause trouble. Besides, your father and mother are not here now. Hong'er, this is your best chance now."
Concubine Xiao Shu's expression was calm, her tone was even, and even her beautiful eyes were calm. But the meaning of her words still made people feel the majesty of Concubine Xiao Shu, who was once a powerful figure in the imperial palace.
Li Hong sighed in embarrassment. He knew what Concubine Xiao Shu was talking about. As long as Helan Minzhi was not dead, he would always be a scourge. No one knew what he would do next time.
"Hong'er understands that some people should not be allowed to exist, otherwise the royal family's reputation will be lost sooner or later. It's time to strangle them in the cradle." Li Hong thought about the pros and cons of getting rid of Helan Minzhi.
Concubine Xiao Shu looked at Li Hong quietly with bright eyes, and said to him with comfort: "With your careful management over the years, I dare not say that your position as the crown prince is now as stable as Mount Tai. But at least, no one can completely shake you and create a threat to you. So, you don't have to worry too much. Hesitating when you should make a decision will lead to chaos, which is a taboo for those in power."
Li Hong nodded thoughtfully. He was not afraid that getting rid of Helan Minzhi would destabilize his position as crown prince. What he was worried about was that if Helan Minzhi was eliminated, it would worsen the relationship between him and his mother.
Who is the Queen Mother? The first woman in China's 5,000-year history, a person no one can surpass!
If he didn't handle it well, it was not impossible that he would be hostile to his mother in the future, but this was something he didn't want to see. In the final analysis, Li Hong himself was very afraid of being hostile to his mother, and he was afraid that his mother's true energy would burst out.
Moreover, Helan Minzhi was favored by Lady Rongguo rather than by his mother. Why was he so favored? He was favored to the point that his mother was willing to turn a blind eye and let him do whatever he wanted!
In the final analysis, it was because of the dirty things between Helan Minzhi and Mrs. Rongguo. How could the Queen Mother not know about it? But because of Mrs. Rongguo's feelings, even the Queen Mother could not really put Helan Minzhi to death for a while!
Concubine Xiao Shufei looked at Li Hong who was deep in thought, stretching lazily, revealing her curvy figure.
He continued calmly, "It's hard for you to get support from your father, but Hong'er, why don't you use your mother? I'm afraid your mother doesn't want to see Helan Minzhi continue to act recklessly, right?"
"Why do I feel that you, mother, asked me to kill Helan Minzhi in order to save Yi Yang and others from future troubles?" Li Hong tilted his head and asked with a smile.
Concubine Xiao Shu slapped Li Hong's head angrily and said, "You're asking for a beating. Your father has been flirting with Lady Korea and his daughter Helan Minyue, so your mother is naturally upset. That's why your mother allowed Helan Minzhi to do whatever he wanted before, just to get angry with your father. But now... I'm afraid your mother has found out. This will not only make your father restrain himself, but also make Lady Korea and Helan Minyue more unscrupulous. If you can use Helan Minzhi as a breakthrough point and give Lady Korea and Helan Minyue a beating, your mother will definitely support you when the time comes. She will definitely not stand idly by if something happens."
Li Hong scratched the back of his head and said, "Mother, you said you know my mother so well, how come you lost to her so badly back then?"
Concubine Xiao Shu didn't care at all that she was the loser that year, and said calmly: "So what if I understand? Understanding doesn't mean I have the means. Even if I have the means, it's not necessarily better than your mother. Go ahead and do it. I, Xiao, can assure you that all this is what your mother is happy to see."
At the end of the conversation, a hint of normal intrigue and deception appeared on Concubine Xiao Shu's expression, which had always been calm and peaceful.
Li Hong gave Concubine Xiao Shu a thumbs up and praised her, "Mother is amazing. Living alone in the deep palace, she can still have such unique insights. It seems that the legend that Mother is extremely intelligent is not without reason."
"Don't be so ungrateful. But I am not without selfish motives. It's because you have involved Helan Minzhi and Yi Yang and the others. Are you forcing your mother to give you advice and reassure you?" Concubine Xiao said, blinking her beautiful, bright eyes.
Li Hong was not embarrassed at all by having his tricks exposed. He said, "If there is anyone in this world who knows my mother best, it must be you. Now that Hong'er is in trouble, I will naturally look for you."
Concubine Xiao Shu rolled her eyes at him and said, "Go ahead and do it. It's rare that you can remain so calm at this moment. As the saying goes, those who are involved are often confused. Hong'er, I am satisfied that you can respect me as a bystander."
"Okay, then Hong'er will take his leave. If you need anything, send someone to tell me, or tell Yi Yang and the others and ask them to pass the message to me." Li Hong stood up, saluted to Concubine Xiao Shufei, then turned and left.
Concubine Xiao Shufei continued to sit quietly until Li Hong's figure disappeared, then she slowly lay down comfortably on the recliner again.
But in her mind, she was thinking, Li Hong ignored Wu Mei's objection and spared her life, was it just to wait for this day? Or was he afraid that he would turn against his mother one day, so he kept her to deal with her?
That little figure was sometimes mysterious and vague in her mind, and sometimes clear and distinct. Even though Concubine Xiao Shufei was extremely smart, she felt that she could not see through Li Hong at this moment.
But no matter what, Li Hong has been truly sincere to her, Yi Yang, Gao An, and Su Jie over the years, and has protected them out of true affection.
Putting aside the things that bothered her, Concubine Xiao Shu began to close her eyes and rest. She had gotten used to it over the years. No matter how the royal family changed, it had nothing to do with her anymore.
Li Hong returned to the Eastern Palace and had made up his mind on the way back. If the new money really came from Changlefang, he would never let him go again!
"Tell Hua Meng to notify the three ministries and six departments tomorrow to discuss the issue of sending troops to Goryeo and Japan's request to send envoys to the Tang Dynasty." Li Hong looked at Li Yifu and Xu Jingzong who were sitting in the living room waiting for him, and whispered to Xiaoxue.
Xiaoxue nodded obediently and left, leaving Xiazhi to accompany Li Hong to the living room.
"Your servants Xu Jingzong and Li Yifu greet His Royal Highness the Crown Prince." The two men looked at Li Hong walking in and hurriedly stood up and said.
"Please take a seat, gentlemen. We are all so familiar with each other, so we should save as much as possible." Li Hong gestured for the two to sit down, and he sat down on the other side.
"I wonder why His Royal Highness the Crown Prince summoned us?" Li Yifu's warm and sincere smile has not changed over the years, and it still looks so charming that makes people let down their guard involuntarily.
"I don't want to send troops to Goryeo, and I don't want Japan to send envoys to the Tang Dynasty again, so I would like to hear your opinions." Li Hong also said directly.
Xu Jingzong stroked his beard and pondered for a moment, then asked, "When does Your Highness plan to discuss matters with the three provinces and six ministries?"
"Tomorrow. So you only have half a day today." Li Hong said as the sun outside had begun to set.
"Your Majesty, what about...?" Xu Jingzong asked in a mature and steady manner.
"I haven't received any imperial edict yet. Maybe my father will let me make my own decision." Li Hong blinked and said.
Li Yifu stood up and said solemnly: "Your Highness, if you want to order these two things, I think you should first..." Li Yifu made a knife-like gesture with his hand, cut it horizontally in the air, and then continued: "This is the safest way."
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