Cao Xi did not doubt Li Zhang's identity, especially when he learned about his son's situation from Li Zhang's mouth, he was even more happy to let people set up a banquet to entertain Li Zhang, and Li Zhang also gave some gifts he brought at this time, although Cao Xi shirked a few times, but finally accepted it very happily.

After Cao Xi drank a few more glasses at the banquet, he kept asking Li Zhang about his son, Li Zhang had already known Cao Yu, so he didn't show any flaws, and Cao Xi even wiped his tears in the end, and he got rid of an old father who was thinking about his son.

However, Li Zhang felt a little wrong at this time, there was something wrong with this Cao Xi in front of him, not that this Cao Xi was fake, but that the other party was completely different from what he imagined before, in Li Zhang's heart, how much guts and courage does it take for a person who dares to report his daughter from a second marriage to the palace to participate in the pre-election of the queen?

So in Li Zhang's previous imagination, Cao Xi was either a bold man, or a very deep scheming person, or both, but now the Cao Xi he saw was completely different from what he imagined, that is, he was not bold and there was no city, and he didn't even have any doubts about his sudden appearance, even if Li Zhang pretended to be like him, but there must still be some flaws, but Cao Xi didn't find it at all.

Thinking of the above, Li Zhang couldn't help but look at Cao Xi carefully again, he was nearly ten years younger than Cao Wei, both of them were born to Cao Bin's wife Gao, but Cao Xi and Cao Wei are not very similar, and their personalities are very different, Cao Wei's personality is decisive and heroic, but Cao Xi doesn't seem to have anything outstanding, and even being an official has only been a small position like a foreigner, which is far from being comparable to Cao Wei.

"Nephew Li Xian, why do you keep staring at me, is it possible that my face is blooming?" At this time, Cao Xi also found that Li Zhang was looking at himself, and asked with a smile, he had drunk a few more glasses just now, and now his face was slightly red, but he was not drunk, after all, people like them who were born in Jiangmen, under the influence of their elders, generally drank a lot of alcohol.

At this time, a bold idea suddenly appeared in Li Zhang's heart, only to see him hesitate for a moment and suddenly said: "Uncle Li's forgiveness, in fact, I lied to you just now!" ”

"Fooled me?" Cao Xi was also stunned when he heard Li Zhang's words, and then looked at him with a puzzled expression, as if he didn't understand what Li Zhang's words meant.

"Don't hide it from Uncle Cao, in fact, it's not Li Wei in the next place, Li Wei is my brother's name, and my real name is Li Zhang!" Li Zhang immediately identified himself and said, he believed that he would never look at the wrong person, after all, he was a human being in two lives, and he still had this eyesight, since Cao Xi did not have the courage and charm, then there must be other people to help him make up his mind in this matter.

"Li Zhang?" Cao Xi immediately felt very familiar when he heard Li Zhang's name, and immediately reacted and immediately shouted in shock, "You...... You are Li Zhang, the nephew of Empress Dowager Li? ”

"Yes, it's Li Zhang, come to Yongcheng to investigate some things this time!" Li Zhang immediately admitted that he even stated the reason why he came to Yongcheng, as for what to investigate, he didn't need to say it clearly, Cao Xi would guess even if he was stupid.

Sure enough, when he heard that Li Zhang came to Yongcheng to investigate the matter, Cao Xi's face immediately showed a panicked look, and there was a bit of fear in his eyes, which also made Li Zhang more sure of his guess, Cao Xi probably didn't have the courage to do anything to deceive the saint, but this also made him more curious, who gave Cao Xi the idea behind his back?

Li ...... Li Duwei, under the ...... Xiaguan ......"

Cao Xi was shocked and frightened at this time, and he couldn't even speak, but it was normal, after all, if it was serious, he was guilty of bullying the king, even if his daughter had now told the world that she was the future queen, but if Zhao Zhen really didn't care about repenting of the marriage, then all of their Cao family would have to be convicted for it.

"Uncle Li doesn't have to be too nervous, I met Uncle Cao in the army, and I worked together in martial arts, and he took good care of me, so you just need to treat me as a junior." Li Zhang spoke again at this time.

Hearing Li Zhang say this, Cao Xi finally calmed down a little, smiled a little embarrassedly at the moment, and then asked a little nervously: "I don't know what happened to you coming to me Du Wei?" ”

Li Zhang didn't answer immediately at this time, but looked around, and then spoke again: "Uncle Cao, Ling Ai has been canonized as the queen by the edict, and a big wedding will be held soon, but I want to ask, who reported Ling Ai's name in the first place?" ”

At the beginning, the selection of the new queen was not only Cao Xiaoniang, but from many noble families to be married, these women need to report their names and birthdays, and even need to have a portrait of a woman, but in the end, no one expected that the queen's position would fall into the hands of Cao Xiaoniang, a second-married woman.

"This ...... Be...... It is the name of the old man who reported the little girl. Cao Xi hesitated for a moment, and finally said in a slur manner.

However, Li Zhang shook his head secretly when he heard Cao Xi's words, because he was sure that Cao Xi should not have the courage, and even when he spoke, he still said that Cao Xi's hands and feet were trembling slightly, just with his courage, it was impossible to sign up for his daughter on the premise of knowing that she had already married.

"Uncle Cao, although I have an old relationship with Uncle Cao, I don't dare to deceive the emperor, so please answer truthfully!" Li Zhang's tone was also a little stern at this time, and he said again.

At this time, Cao Xi was even more uneasy, the whole person was almost on pins and needles, and his eyes did not dare to look at Li Zhang, but in the end, he suddenly gritted his teeth and said: "Captain Li, what the lower official said is the truth, and there is no half of it...... Half a lie! ”

Cao Xi's tone was resolute, but in the end, he still lost his momentum, and the whole person returned to his previous submissive appearance. This made Li Zhang sigh too, if Cao Xi disobeyed, I am afraid that the other party should be someone very close to him, and as far as he knows, Cao Xi's wife died early, in addition to Cao Yu, he also has a son, but he is not yet an adult, if he comes, the only adult in the family who can call the shots is the little lady Cao.

Thinking of the above, Li Zhang was also silent for a moment, and then he spoke: "Uncle Cao, I want to see Ling Ai, is it okay?" ”

"This ...... According to the rules of the palace, I'm afraid this is a little inconvenient, right? Cao Xi was obviously a little reluctant, after all, his daughter had been canonized, and now she was about to get married, and he was about to leave for the capital, and before that, it was naturally inconvenient for his daughter to meet outsiders, not to mention that Li Zhang was still a young man.

"It's okay, I'll explain this matter to Your Majesty!" Li Zhang took the responsibility directly, and now he is becoming more and more curious about this little lady Cao.

Hearing Li Zhang say this, Cao Xi couldn't refuse, after all, since Li Zhang was ordered to investigate their Cao family, he must have the authorization of His Majesty, especially Li Zhang is Zhao Zhen's most trusted person, I heard that he can enter and leave the palace at will, even if he doesn't let him see his daughter now, he can also enter the palace to see him in the future.

"This ...... All right! Cao Xi finally nodded, but he didn't let people invite his daughter, but took Li Zhang to the inner house, after all, his daughter's identity is different now, and even the palace has sent someone to take care of her, and by the way, teach her some etiquette in the palace, so even if he, a father, wants to see his daughter, he has to go to his daughter's residence in person.

Although the Cao family is a little dilapidated, but the area is huge, and finally Li Zhang walked through the courtyard under the leadership of Cao Xi, and finally came to a quiet courtyard, but in front of the courtyard gate were guarding two female officials in the palace, as early as when Cao Xiaoniang was selected as the queen's candidate, they were sent to the Cao family.

Cao Xi first stepped forward to salute, and then showed Li Zhang's identity to the female officials, although these two female officials did not know Li Zhang, but naturally heard of Li Zhang's name, and at this time they also looked at him with surprised eyes, and Li Zhang stepped forward with a dry cough and said: "I came to see Little Lady Cao on the order of His Majesty, and please make it convenient for the two of you!" ”

"Li Duwei is polite, but there are rules in the palace, if you really want to see Little Lady Cao, you must have us present!" At this time, the female officer replied that they were also duty-bound, even if the other party was Li Zhang, they didn't dare to be careless.

Li Zhang frowned after hearing this, then thought about it and said again: "That's it, I see Little Lady Cao in the courtyard, you can follow, but stay away, I have something to ask Little Lady Cao!" ”

Hearing Li Zhang's words, the female officials also showed a look of embarrassment, because Li Zhang's request was beyond their authority, and in the end they could only let Li Zhang wait a while, they wanted to go in and discuss with the other female officials, and they also had to ask for the opinion of Cao Xiaoniang, and Li Zhang also agreed.

As a result, after waiting for a while, I saw the female officer who went in and ran out and said: "There is Lao Li Duwei who has been waiting for a long time, and the little lady Cao agrees with you, but you must not leave our sight!" ”

Li Zhang nodded after hearing this, and then walked into the courtyard, only to see that this courtyard is quite quiet, and the flower beds on both sides of the road are also full of flowers and plants, but because of the cold weather, these flowers and plants are withered, but they have been carefully trimmed with dead leaves, so they do not look messy.

And Li Zhang, under the guidance of the female officer, bypassed a rockery, and a gazebo appeared in front of him, and in the pavilion, a woman in a cyan dress sat there, and Li Zhang was also shocked at this time, and finally wanted to see the legendary Empress Cao.

At that moment, Li Zhang stepped into the pavilion, and at the same time looked at the woman in the blue dress, only to see the other party's goose egg face, apricot eyes, long eyebrows and sideburns, it turned out to be a beautiful and abnormal woman. The history books say that Empress Cao's appearance is average, but this is generally not outstanding compared with the women who are selected first in the palace, in fact, the Empress Cao in front of Li Zhang is still a rare beauty.