At the gate of Ci'en Temple, Li Zhi stood in front of the carriage with a cold face, being seen off by Huineng and Shenxiu. Wu Mei, Li Hong and other officials stood behind him, waiting for him to get on the dragon chariot.
Li Zhi turned around with his hands behind his back, and when he saw Li Hong still held by Wu Mei's hand, he was furious. Li Zhi felt regretful. If it weren't for this little bastard, even if this story was false, it would be a good publicity for his power as an emperor if it spread throughout the world. But all this was ruined by this little bastard in front of him.
Li Zhi pointed at Li Hong who was forcing a smile at him: "You...you...humph."
"Father, I suddenly feel uncomfortable in my stomach. It may be that I am not used to the lunch in Ci'en Temple. Please allow me to leave first. No, I really can't hold it any longer. I'm sorry, father." Seeing that Li Zhi was about to scold him, Li Hong quickly slipped away.
"And you, you quarreled with the prince regardless of the occasion. How disgraceful! As the Minister of Rites of the Tang Dynasty, you..." Li Zhi saw the little bastard running away, then turned and pointed at Dai Zhide angrily.
"Your Majesty, I am doing this for the sake of our great Tang country and the welfare of the people. I have no selfish motives..." Dai Zhide said hurriedly while bowing.
"Okay, okay, okay, go away. I don't want to listen to your nonsense." Li Zhi waved his hand impatiently and dismissed a group of ministers.
Then he looked at Wu Mei and said coldly: "The Queen is the head of the harem and the mother of the country. The etiquette and morality of this prince are the Queen's responsibilities, but I don't see any royal etiquette in the prince..."
"Your Majesty, he is now also your subject, the Minister of Revenue among your six ministries, and the Crown Prince in your Eastern Palace. I have the responsibility to educate the prince, but as the emperor of the Tang Dynasty, it is naturally your duty to educate your subjects as well." Wu Mei looked at Li Zhi. Wasn't it just an auspicious event that was exposed by Li Hong? Was it necessary for him to get so angry? He didn't like anyone.
...
...
"I will naturally discipline him strictly, but is this my responsibility alone? The prince is in the Eastern Palace. No matter what, he will first go from the harem to the Eastern Palace. Before that..." Li Zhi looked at Xu Jingzong, Shangguan Yi and others, who followed Li Hong's steps and left, and suddenly forgot that he was still arguing with the queen.
Suddenly, he pointed at Xu Jingzong and said to Wu Mei, "Why did Li Hong go to Pingkangfang to help Xu Jingzong last night? Why did Madam Hanguo and the Ministry of War, the Ministry of Justice, and the Zongzheng Temple all submit memorials to me this morning?"
"It is to demonstrate his influence on the court. You should tell Wu Shun that he should behave himself when he sees Li Hong in the future. You don't know who your prince is. You should see what happens. Xu Jingzong will not get away with it."
"Helan Minzhi beat up Xu Jingzong's grandson. This was Helan Minzhi's fault first. If he hadn't beaten him for no reason, Li Hong wouldn't have almost been fooled by Xu Jingzong."
One of them could become the emperor, and the other could become the empress. They were both very capable people. They knew better than anyone what kind of person Xu Jingzong was. If Xu Jingzong and Li Yifu hadn't been there when they defeated the Guanlong Group, it might not be certain that Li Zhi would have the final say in the court now.
The two men looked at each other. In fact, they were both unhappy that Li Hong had ruined the prophecy of the Emperor and Empress's arrival and the Buddha's appearance today. However, Li Hong was as slippery as a loach. As soon as he saw that the situation was not right, he slipped away immediately.
Li Zhi asked Wu Mei for no apparent reason, "Why did you delay getting off the car today?"
"My shoes are lost."
“…”
Naturally, Li Hong did not dare to return to the palace before his father and mother. He stood with many other officials and court eunuchs, and watched his father and mother's carriages drive away one after another before he hurriedly got in the carriage. Under the arrangement of the Ministry of Rites, Taichang Temple and others, he slowly followed the emperor and empress's carriages towards the palace.
In such occasions, Xia Zhi and others could only follow on both sides. Even Bai Chun followed beside the carriage. She did not look like a palace maid, and did not look like a princess. However, such a woman without a clear identity gradually became a character in the palace that could not be ignored.
Li Hong sat in the carriage and thought for a long time. After what happened today, he certainly knew why his father was angry.
Sometimes the royal family naturally needs some artificial illusions, fabricating mysterious divine inspiration to prove the connection between the emperor and heaven, and to prove that the royal family's rule over the world is truly heaven's will.
Fortunately, Huineng's kapok robe could somewhat comfort the wounded hearts of the old couple, but for him, it would be difficult to leave the palace and go to Taiyi City as soon as possible in a short time.
My father has just appointed me as the Minister of Revenue. I can't just run away and have fun without attending court for a day. I'm afraid my mother will be angry if I do that.
Moreover, what happened to Xu Jingzong last night proved that this old fox is still unwilling to give up. He has been dormant for five or six years, and now he has begun to exert his influence in the court for Xu Yanbo. He must punish Xu Jingzong and make him give up this idea. This is why he appointed Xu Yanbo as the prince's attendant.
Li Hong opened the window a little and waved to Bai Chun under the car. When Bai Chun came closer, he said, "Make preparations tomorrow. You go back to Taiyi Scale first. As for the soap, soap and perfume, 'Jingwei' has shown me the samples. They have indeed met the requirements. When you go back this time. First, strictly limit the quantity of these three items and never let others know. Second, transport them to the palace in batches in the shortest possible time. Use the prince's urgent decree so that you don't have to be checked by the Chang'an City Guards. Third, remember not to rush for success in the 'medicinal diet recipe', otherwise people will die. Tell Ren Laoren that no ironware can enter the medicinal diet recipe, otherwise you will be severely punished. Also, now that it is almost the end of the month, merchants from various countries and merchants from several southern regions will come. Inform them that the manager left at Taiyi Scale. You need to make a plan in advance and distribute it to them for their research and discussion."
"Didn't you tell me yesterday to wait for you?" Bai Chun silently noted the key points and wondered.
"Do you think I can leave under the current situation? By the way, withdraw the people who are monitoring Xu Jingzong, and check whether Dai Zhide has any secret contacts with the Japanese envoys." Li Hong said, leaning his head against the window.
"You suspect Dai Zhide and the Japanese envoy..."
"It's not suspicion, just curiosity." Li Hong obviously didn't want to say more about this matter. After thinking for a while, he said, "I have just been appointed as the Minister of Revenue. Even if I want to go to Taiyicheng tomorrow, my father will not allow it. If things go wrong, he will chase me around the palace and beat me up. Besides, Xu Jingzong, this old fox, has tricked me. No matter what, I have to take revenge as soon as possible. It's not my character to be used as a pawn for him for nothing."
Thinking about what happened last night, Li Hong still felt suffocated in his heart. This Xu Jingzong was simply... indescribable. Just like the Tai Chi technique of using a little force to move a large object, with just a slight push, he almost tricked the entire royal family.
I must do something to make Xu Jingzong behave himself from now on. I believe my father and mother will not mind.
Li Hong also knew that Liu Renyuan, Sun Renshuai and others had already returned from Baekje. Liu Rengui requested permission to continue guarding Baekje, and his father also allowed him to do so.
The reason why Liu Rengui did not dare to leave was that Baekje had already sent envoys to Goryeo and Japan for help. This made Liu Rengui, who had joined forces with Silla, dare not return to the court. He had to lead the Tang army and the Silla army to continue guarding to prevent Baekje from counterattacking.
Japan's support for Baekje was also the source of the conflict between Dai Zhide and Li Hong. Therefore, at this moment, Li Hong did not dare to leave Chang'an at will, not to mention that he was the Minister of Revenue.
What's more, another famous Tang general, the Baekje surrendered general: Heichi Changzhi, will return to Chang'an with Liu Renyuan and others.
Li Hong has always been curious about Heichi Changzhi. After Liang Jianfang's death, Li Hong's tentacles have begun to slowly reach out to Heichi Changzhi.
Li Hong didn't know that after Li Zhi learned the news, his first reaction was to give Heichi Changzhi to Li Hong as the General of the Left Guard of the Prince's Sixth Army.
After returning to the palace, Li Hong was inevitably scolded by Li Zhi, who kept warning Li Hong before leaving that if he dared to mess up during the court session tomorrow, he would beat him up.
Wu Mei sat aside and smiled without saying anything. She knew that Li Zhi was still angry and Huineng's kapok cassock had not been delivered to the palace yet. It was not a bad idea for His Majesty to vent his anger on Li Hong.
Li Hong rolled his eyes and looked at his mother who was sitting there watching the fun. Suddenly, his neck stiffened and he asked, "Father, there is something I don't understand. Please enlighten me."
"What's the matter?" Li Zhi said coldly.
"Tomorrow when I attend the morning court, should I wear the crown prince's court dress or the third-rank minister's court dress?" Li Hong blinked his eyes, deliberately giving Li Zhi a difficult question.
When Wu Mei heard this question, she stood there in a daze with her red lips slightly parted: "Yes, what should he wear to court tomorrow?"
But when she saw the cunning flash in Li Hong's eyes, she knew that the little girl did it on purpose. However, she would not offend the emperor now, so she let the little thing suffer on its own.
"You have Shangshufu? Why are you still wearing court clothes? Let me tell you, if you dare to argue with Dai Zhide in the court tomorrow about the Japanese students sent to Tang Dynasty, you wait and see how I will deal with you. This court is not like your East Palace. You can't do whatever you want. You have been spoiled for the past few years. Your mother let you do whatever you want, but I..."
"I will never let you do whatever you want. The court is where all officials participate in politics and discuss state affairs. As the Minister of Revenue, you can punish me with justification... I will take my leave. By the way, this is for you."
Li Hong took two steps and suddenly turned around and walked to Li Zhi, taking out another pair of slippers from his arms. The fabric on the upper was brighter yellow, and what was displayed was naturally the dragon, which symbolizes the supreme ruler.
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