Chapter 085 Claiming power for the crown prince

The eunuch Li Jingzhong led the way, and Li Heng and Zhang Xuan followed behind, and went straight into the imperial study.

Outside the door of the imperial study, Li Jingzhong looked back and smiled respectfully, "His Royal Highness the Prince, the emperor is waiting inside, and the little ones won't go in." ”

Li Heng habitually just wanted to smile and say "greetings" to Li Jingzhong, he has always been so humble that he didn't dare to offend the people around the emperor, even if it was a eunuch. At this time, seeing Zhang Xuan frowning and shaking his head, Li Heng suddenly remembered Zhang Xuan's "teachings" in the past few days, so he settled down, smiled indifferently, and took the lead in reserve.

Li Heng's attitude made Li Jingzhong a little uncomfortable. The crown prince Li Heng has always been humble and polite, but now why does he suddenly have a shelf?

Li Jingzhong's eyebrows jumped, and Zhang Xuan had already walked past him with an indifferent smile, casting a peaceful but condescending glance. Li Jingzhong's heart sank, and he quickly lowered his head again.

Li Heng and Zhang Xuan walked into the imperial study one after the other, and saw Li Longji sitting on the dragon chair, staring at the two of them with a blank expression. Don't dare to slack off, hurry up and pay respects, "Son-in-law Li Heng, meet my father, long live my emperor." ”

Zhang Xuan also followed Li Heng and bowed, "Minister Zhang Xuan pays a visit to the emperor." ”

Li Longji smiled indifferently and waved his hand, "That's it, flat down." Sit down - Zhang Xuan, you should also sit down. ”

"I don't dare. In front of the emperor and His Royal Highness, how can there be a position of a minister. Zhang Xuanxie never sat down, and walked over and stood behind Li Heng.

Li Longji glanced at him deeply, but turned his head to look at Li Heng and smiled, "Heng'er, I heard that you have been studying state affairs every day in the East Palace recently, and I am very relieved. ”

Don't look at Li Longji's beautiful words, but under his prestige, Li Heng still had a stirring in his heart, for fear of arousing Li Longji's suspicion again, so he quickly got up again in fear and said, "Back to my father's words, my son's ministers were negligent in etiquette before, and I was ashamed to live up to my father's teaching expectations. Today, the court ceremony will be resumed, and the officials of the East Palace will be urged to take care of government affairs......"

Li Longji smiled, "Very good." Thou shalt be able to follow the rules of propriety and manage government affairs, and thou shalt be diligent every day without slacking off, and my heart is very happy. Heng'er, I am old, and this Tang Dynasty will still be handed over to you after all, but whether you can keep the family and country founded by your ancestors, I don't worry......"

"Erchen didn't dare. The father was prosperous in his youth, which was the blessing of the people of the Tang Dynasty. The son is willing to be the minister of his father forever, and it is the greatest wish of the son to serve by his father's side every day. Of course, Li Heng immediately said "humility", similar words he has repeated countless times, and as early as ten years ago, Li Longji said that he would support him to come to the front and grasp the power of the Tang Dynasty, but so far it has always been just talk.

"Heng'er, you are the prince of the Tang Dynasty for me...... Some of my state affairs are hesitant, so I will listen to your opinion. Li Longji suddenly changed his words, and said indifferently, "Yang Guozhong is now holding more than a dozen positions, and he has not been able to catch it, I have been thinking about it in my heart these days, whether I should remove Yang Guozhong from the post of Jiannan Dao Jiedu envoy, so that he can feel at ease about the important affairs of the imperial court." ”

This is the first time in so many years that Li Longji has discussed state affairs and the appointment and dismissal of courtiers with Li Heng in a consultative tone. Li Heng was happy in his heart, but he became more vigilant and calm, he pondered for a moment, and then carefully said softly after considering his words, "Father, the son thinks that Yang Guozhong has too many part-time jobs, which is not conducive to the dynasty...... If you dismiss Yang Guozhong from his post as the envoy of the festival and choose someone else, it will be better to consolidate our Datang border defense. ”

"Oh?" Li Longji smiled, looked at Zhang Xuan again, and said, "Zhang Xuan, I also listen to your opinion." ”

Zhang Xuan's heart moved, but he saluted respectfully, "Your Majesty, it is related to the appointment and dismissal of important ministers in the imperial court, and the ministers are humble and dare not discuss ......"

Hearing that the emperor intended to remove Yang Guozhong from his part-time job, Zhang Xuan immediately realized in his heart that Li Longji was preparing to weaken the power of Yang Guozhong (or the Yang family), and he was secretly happy.

Li Heng's current situation is very difficult, with Yang Guozhong, a powerful minister, pressuring inside, a feudal town threat like An Lushan, and a few powerful princes aiming for the position of the crown prince, it can be said that internal and external troubles are in turmoil. But the emperor's suppression of the Yang family is a rare opportunity for the East Palace.

Zhang Xuan understood that Li Longji did not really want to completely suppress Yang Guozhong, but must have felt that the power of the Yang family was too great, overshadowing the royal family and forming a potential hidden danger, and he wanted to suppress it a little. And suppressing Yang Guozhong must not cause Yang Guozhong's "riot", which requires a third-party force to intervene in the balance - there is no doubt that the East Palace is now Li Longji's best choice.

In other words, when Li Longji had this idea, Li Heng of the East Palace gradually walked into Li Longji's sight under the leadership and promotion of Zhang Xuan-so there was today's point and temptation.

Based on Zhang Xuan's understanding of Li Longji's heart, if Li Longji did not have this kind of thought, he would definitely not summon Li Heng at such a time and talk about it.

"I forgive you for your innocence, but it doesn't hurt to speak." Li Longji waved his hand.

Zhang Xuan pretended to hesitate, but stepped forward and said loudly, "Your Majesty, the minister agrees with His Royal Highness the Prince's words. Yang Xiang has too many part-time jobs, and his strength is not enough, so it is better to choose someone else to share Yang Xiang's worries, which is more conducive to stabilizing the border defense. ”

Zhang Xuan looked up, and saw that the emperor seemed to be smiling, so he couldn't help gritting his teeth, bowed down, and said loudly at the same time, "Your Majesty, the minister thinks that His Royal Highness the Crown Prince is well-versed in government affairs and is benevolent and filial...... Can lead the post of the envoy of the South Road of the Sword and the South! ”

As soon as Zhang Xuan's words came out, Li Longji didn't react much, but Li Heng was shocked, and immediately got up in panic and confessed again and again, "This is absolutely unacceptable." Erchen has always lived in the East Palace, and he is not familiar with military affairs, how can he concurrently hold the important position of envoy of the feudal town? I can't do it, I can't do it! ”

Zhang Xuan's move was purely improvised, and he didn't communicate with Li Heng beforehand, which naturally frightened Li Heng. Based on Li Longji's rejection and suspicion of him in the past, he dared to take the initiative to seek the military post of the feudal town, which was simply "ill-intentioned and ill-intentioned."

Li Longji was silent, and a strange smile appeared on the corner of his mouth.

Zhang Xuan looked back at Li Heng, and said softly and resolutely, "His Royal Highness King Rong can concurrently serve as the envoy of the remote leader Longyoujie, and His Royal Highness the Prince's character and talent are not inferior to His Royal Highness King Rong, so why not lead the sword of the South Dao Jiedu envoy?" ”

Li Heng's eyes flickered, he read a faint hint from Zhang Xuan's eyes, and he slowly lowered his head, no longer refusing, and he felt faintly excited in his heart - the opportunity has finally come.

After years of forbearance, there is finally a chance to come out. Li Heng's mind was slightly agitated, but he calmed down in an instant. Of course, he has a cowardly side, but this cowardice is sometimes not a kind of rationality and calmness.

……

……

"Okay, Rong Zhen think again." Li Longji waved his hand and said a little tiredly, "Wait a minute, stand down." ”

Although Li Longji did not agree, since he did not veto it, it means that there is still a chance.

Zhang Xuan turned around and secretly glanced at Li Heng, and Li Heng bowed down in understanding, "Father, son-in-law retires." The retainers heard that the concubine was sick and wanted to visit...... I also ask my father for permission. ”

Li Longji was stunned for a moment, and then smiled, "Go ahead." Yuhuan is sick these days...... Thou hast this filial piety, and thou hast been at ease. ”