(2-in-1)

In the early morning of the next day, the news of the death of Li Linfu, the right minister of the current court, was already known all over the city. There was a lot of discussion in Chang'an City, and the topic of discussion in every tavern and teahouse was the death of Li Linfu, the right minister. Although the news came out that Lee Sang-kook's death was due to the aggravation of Lee Sang-kook's condition caused by the wrong medicine of an imperial doctor, the imperial doctor also committed suicide in fear of crime. But this theory was quickly interpreted into several theories in the market, and the word spread.

One said that Li Linfu had too many enemies, and he was assassinated by an assassin in the middle of the night by an assassin who entered the Prime Minister's Mansion and died. This statement is quite reliable, after all, there are rumors of assassins in the Prime Minister's Mansion from time to time, and it is considered a mainstream statement, and some other statements are a bit laughable.

It is said that news came from the Prime Minister's Mansion that Lee Sang-kook actually died on the woman's belly. It is well known that Sangkook, who is in his sixties, likes women, and has countless wives and concubines in his family. Regardless of the hardships and dangers of the disease, he actually got the folk saying that he was exhausted immediately.

An even more bizarre version derived from this statement is that Li Linfu was actually given to death by His Majesty's poisonous wine. Because Li Linfu was drunk and crazy at the banquet on the birthday of the concubine, he coveted the beauty of the concubine with bad intentions, which made His Majesty angry, and then he was given to die at home.

More bizarre rumors are boiling, and the imagination of the people of Chang'an is endless, and they can make countless versions of Li Linfu's death through false rumors. No one will really believe in the authenticity of these versions, but only as a talking point between them. For ordinary people, the death of high-ranking officials and nobles in the DPRK had little effect on them. Li Linfu died, and he changed to another Xiangguo, in short, the people still live the life of the common people, whether Li Linfu dies or lives, life is still like this.

Of course, for the whole court, Li Linfu's death was quite shocking. Those who hate Li Linfu are certainly smiling, but those who are attached to Li Linfu are like mourning. But none of them could avoid the fact that Li Linfu's death was like the loss of a pillar of the imperial court, which made everyone's hearts feel confused.

Since the twenty-third year of the Kaiyuan Dynasty, Li Linfu officially worshiped as the secretary of the Ministry of Rites, the three products under the door of the same Zhongshu, and added the silver Qingguanglu doctor, and served as the prime minister together with Pei Yaoqing and Zhang Jiuling. For more than a decade, everyone has become accustomed to living under the iron fist of this powerful minister. Li Linfu has done a lot of eye-catching things for the past ten years, and he is jealous of the virtuous and can kill many talented people. He excluded dissidents and killed many political opponents who opposed him. His methods were cruel, and his subordinates' 'Luo Tong Ji Net' made all the officials of the current dynasty fearful. All in all, he was by no means a good man. However, it cannot be denied that during the more than ten years he has been in office, the Tang Dynasty has been politically stable and its national strength has steadily improved. Xuanzong went down, and the hundred officials were subdued by him. There are no major mistakes in the administration of the DPRK. In terms of governing ability, there was no minister in the court who could be as familiar and calm and stable as he was. It is really difficult to comment on merits and demerits, and no one dared to make a conclusion about whether Li Linfu was a competent prime minister or an incompetent prime minister for a long time.

……

At three o'clock in the morning, Wang Yuan rode to the Xiangguo Mansion in the southwest of Pingkangfang with several personal guards to offer condolences. But seeing the white lights hanging high in front of the door of the Prime Minister's Mansion and the black cloth wrapped around the frieze, more than a dozen servants of the Prime Minister's Mansion stood in front of the door in mourning clothes and with sad faces. On the avenue in front of Xiangguo, the horses and vehicles that came to mourn were densely packed, and the courtiers also came to mourn.

Wang Yuan handed over the name post, and immediately someone led Wang Yuan into the front yard and into the mourning hall in the main hall. A black cloth curtain divides the Xiangfu hall in two, and a half-human-high Nanmu coffin exposes a tall coffin head outside the cloth. The incense table in the head of the coffin was lit with white candles and sandalwood on it, and dozens of pots of offerings were placed. In the brazier, the flame of paper money is rising, and the wind blows through the black ash and the charming eyes.

When Wang Yuan entered the incense to worship, more than 100 Li Linfu's children, wives and concubines standing on both sides howled and cried, shocking the earth. Li Linfu has many children, with 25 sons and 25 daughters. The eldest son, Li Xiu, is nearly fifty years old, and the youngest son is still in infancy. Among the wives and concubines, there are old and yellow old women, and there are even young, beautiful and beautiful girls with flowing eyes.

Wang Yuan's worship was finished, and after greeting many of Li Linfu's wives and concubines, he turned back after greeting and saluting one by one. Wang Yuan didn't want to stay here for a moment, no matter what kind of hatred he had for Li Linfu, at this moment, Wang Yuan still felt that all hatred should disappear. Looking at the group of relatives left by Li Linfu, most of them had a panicked expression, and Wang Yuan felt a little heartache. When Li Linfu was alive, they were all blessed under that big tree, and when Li Linfu died, their sky fell. If there is no accident, someone in the DPRK and China will initiate a liquidation of Li Linfu. This point has appeared countless times in the history of the Tang Dynasty and in the history of the previous dynasty, and Wang Yuan will almost certainly have such a thing.

Walking in the courtyard of Xiangguofu, the autumn sun sprinkled down from the branches of the tall trees in the courtyard of Xiangguofu, driving away the cold feeling in the mourning hall. Wang Yuan walked briskly to the gate of the mansion, and simply exchanged a few words of greeting with several courtiers who were standing in the courtyard to greet him. After the condolences, Wang Yuan was going to enter the palace to resign, he wanted to rush back to Jiannan, he didn't want to watch the next farce in the capital. Moreover, for Wang Yuan, as soon as Li Linfu died, there was not much time left for him.

When he was about to reach the front of the wall, a figure shook his head on the side and shouted: "Wang Jie Du envoy, please stay!" ”

Wang Yuan frowned, but saw that Li Fuguo was standing under a tree on the side and arching his hand towards him. Wang Yuan stood up and said in surprise: "Why is Li Neishou here?" ”

Li Fuguo walked over with a smile and said softly, "Have you forgotten?" It was you who recommended His Royal Highness the Crown Prince to find out about the poisoning of Li Linfu. How could His Royal Highness the Crown Prince not come to search for some clues. Our family can only follow His Royal Highness the Crown Prince to serve. ”

Wang Yuan looked into the depths of the courtyard, and sure enough, on the side of the rockery in the west head, he saw the crown prince Li Heng standing there looking this way.

"Your Highness wants to stay here to see who came to mourn, who sincerely mourned, and who just went through the motions, so we stayed here." Li Fu National Road.

Wang Yuan almost laughed out loud, Li Heng really wanted to pretend to be a serious case. The thief shouting to catch the thief is really ridiculous.

"I see, then I won't bother His Highness with the case, please convey my greetings to His Highness on my behalf." Wang Yuan said with a smile.

Li Fuguo smiled and nodded, "I will." I will convey your greetings. ”

Wang Yuan arched his hand and said, "Thank you so much, farewell." ”

"Wait!" Li Fuguo hurriedly said: "Are you planning to go to the palace to resign and return to Jiannan?" ”

Wang Yuan smiled and said, "Yes, I have been in the capital for more than ten days, and I have to go." If it weren't for Xiangguo's business, I would have resigned last night, and now I'm afraid I'm already on the way back to Jiannan. ”

Li Fuguo nodded slightly and said, "It's okay, you are in a hurry to stay away from the land of right and wrong." After Li Linfu's death, I am afraid that the capital will be in chaos for a while. That's it, then leave it at that, and have a good trip. ”

Wang Yuan smiled and said, "Thank you." ”

Wang Yuan turned around and strode away, and Li Fuguo's soft voice came from behind him: "On behalf of His Royal Highness the Prince, I thank you for recommending the Crown Prince to investigate this case last night." The prince doesn't understand, but I do. You're smart and capable, but you can only take it to heart and pretend you don't know anything. ”

Wang Yuan stopped slightly, did not look back, did not speak, and walked away from the Prime Minister's Mansion again.

……

In the early afternoon, in the hundred gardens of Xingqing Palace. The winter sun is warm, shining on the flower beds all over the garden, I don't know what method is used, the flowers in the hundred gardens are still blooming in this season that should not be opened. Occasionally, you can even see a few butterflies fluttering among the flowers. It gives the impression that the seasons are out of place.

Xuanzong, who was in a bad mood, met Wang Yuan, who came to resign, next to the gorgeous flower garden that bloomed in the hundred gardens. Hearing that Wang Yuan was leaving Beijing for Jiannan, Xuanzong's face showed reluctance, and he sighed: "I guess you are probably going to leave Beijing too." I want to keep you in the capital for a few more days, I'm so tired of things here, I really want to find a day with you to talk about poetry and music. But I know that the affairs of Jiannan and Longyou are urgent and heavy, and you can't stay. ”

Wang Yuan smiled: "Your Majesty, there are many opportunities. At present, Jiannan, Longyouhe, Xi'an, and Xixi Sidao are recruiting troops to replenish the source of troops, these things are imminent, and the Tubo War lost more than half of the soldiers and horses, if you can't quickly replenish the troops for training, you can't ensure the stability of the northwest. So for the time being, it's urgent. However, it is not difficult for His Majesty to talk about poetry and music with His Majesty, and after a while, the Minister will take the time to return to Beijing and discuss poetry and music with His Majesty for a day. ”

Xuanzong smiled and said, "Okay, that's it." When the time comes, don't say that the affairs are busy, let me wait. ”

Wang Yuan smiled: "How dare you." ”

Xuanzong sighed lightly, stretched out his old palm and stroked the flower stand beside him, and his face returned to a gloomy color. Wang Yuan was silent beside him, and after a while, Xuanzong suddenly said, "Wang Yuan, I have something I want to ask you, can you tell me the truth." I want to hear what my courtiers have to say. ”

……

A few hours later, Wang Yuan, Li Xin'er, Gao Moyan and others, surrounded by the guards, had already set foot on the official road in Jingnan. As the sun sets, the Zhongnan Mountain in the distance is clearly visible, and the Qinling Mountains lie in the distance. The axles of the accompanying several large cars made a harsh and monotonous grinding sound because of the city carrying goods, and the monotonous pale sound of horses' hooves made the journey even more boring and boring.

For more than an hour after leaving Beijing, Wang Yuan sat on his horse and was silent. His mind kept thinking back to the words that Xuanzong had asked him in the Hundred Gardens a few hours ago. Xuanzong asked Wang Yuan a question that Wang Yuan couldn't answer, even if Wang Yuan had an answer in his heart, Wang Yuan couldn't tell the truth according to Xuanzong's request.

Xuanzong only asked two questions, and Wang Yuan couldn't answer either of these questions.

"In your opinion, is the crown prince the best candidate to succeed him, does he have the talent to continue the Tang Dynasty and maintain the prosperity of today?"

This is Xuanzong's first question. This kind of question that should not have been asked from Xuanzong's mouth, or this question that should not have been asked to Wang Yuan at all, was asked, at least let Wang Yuan understand the problem that Xuanzong was considering in his heart. Xuanzong must have known Li Linfu's death, must have known that this matter was done by the prince, and must have known that he recommended the prince to investigate the case precisely to let the prince cover up this matter. Otherwise, Xuanzong would definitely not have asked Wang Yuan such a thing.

Neither of them made it clear, but both of them knew in their hearts that Li Linfu was poisoned by the prince, so such a question would be meaningful.

The subtext of Xuanzong's question was that such a bold prince was not suitable to take over his throne. Of course, Wang Yuan couldn't answer. In fact, Xuanzong's question didn't need an answer, he already had the answer in his heart. When Xuanzong agreed to Wang Yuan's recommendation last night and asked the crown prince Li Heng to investigate the case of Li Linfu's poisoning, Xuanzong had already made a choice. He was just a little angry, a little unwilling. He was angry that Li Heng dared to do this, but apart from Li Heng, he couldn't find another candidate to succeed the throne, so he asked this question, in fact, it was just a vent.

"Li Linfu has passed away, can Guozhong really take on the responsibility?"

This was the second question that Xuanzong asked Wang Yuan. Wang Yuan was also unable to answer this question. Asking Wang Yuan this question is to know that Wang Yuan and Yang Guozhong have a close relationship. If he followed his heart, of course Wang Yuan would say that Yang Guozhong was not suitable, but Wang Yuan obviously wouldn't say that. But if Yang Guozhong is suitable, it is against his will, and even if he sincerely thinks that Yang Guozhong is suitable, he will be thought by Xuanzong to say such things because of his close relationship with the Yang family. Xuanzong said that he had to listen to the truth, and since he couldn't tell the truth, it was better not to say it.

So Wang Yuan used two 'ministers don't know. 'to answer Xuanzong. Xuanzong didn't ask any further, just stood quietly in a daze. Until Wang Yuan quietly retired, Xuanzong still stood there in a daze, not knowing what he was thinking. Wang Yuan's mind is still imprinted with Xuanzong patting the flower column and sighing deeply.

On the way out of Beijing, Wang Yuan sighed with emotion. During the short meeting before noon, Wang Yuan really felt that the emperor who had created a glorious and prosperous era was already old, and he was beyond his power to do many things. There were many things that he was angry about, but he had no choice or had to compromise.

The tide of history is really rolling forward and unchangeable, a generation of emperor Li Longji is finally irretrievably becoming a thing of the past, and the era that belongs to him is quietly slipping away, even if he himself knows this, but he has no choice.

The curtains of the carriage were lifted, revealing the flower-like faces of Li Xin'er and Gao Moyan, pulling Wang Yuan back from his silent thoughts.

"Erlang, it's getting dark, and it's the last town before entering the mountain, so let's spend the night in the town tonight." Li Xin'er said.

Wang Yuan looked at the two beautiful faces in front of him, looked at their affectionate eyes like autumn water, and his heart suddenly calmed down. I was obviously affected by Xuanzong's emotions, and I still had a lot to do, such as protecting the beauties in front of me and not letting them be hurt in any way. You don't have to think too much about it, because it's asking for trouble.

"Okay, I'll listen to you, I'll rest in the town ahead tonight." Wang Yuan smiled and said: "I will enter the Qinling Mountains tomorrow, and it will be difficult at that time." Let's get a good night's sleep tonight. ”

"Where can I get a good night's sleep? You've brought dozens of boxes of money, which can be very scary. Gao Moyan said angrily.

"Afraid of what? Who would dare to rob the general of the town? That's a big joke. Li Xin'er said.

The two women laughed. Wang Yuan looked back at the slow and heavy cart that was closely guarded by the guards, and the cart was indeed loaded with money boxes, which were full of copper coins, gold and silver. It was a huge sum of three million guan lent to herself by Mrs. Qin Guo.

Mrs. Qin Guo really did her best, in order to make up the huge sum of three million guan, she persuaded the concubine to take out the inheritance that Mrs. Yu Guo kept in the palace, and also borrowed hundreds of thousands from Mrs. Han, and scraped together the money of the dead and the living, and finally scraped together the three million. The three million guan had been sent to the Jing'anfang royal mansion as early as four days ago, and Mrs. Qin Guo didn't even frown.

Before leaving, Wang Yuan naturally wanted to say goodbye to Mrs. Qin Guo, and lunch was also eaten in Mrs. Qin's mansion, so naturally there was a lingering before parting. Wang Yuan is grateful to this woman, she still helped herself at a critical time, although Wang Yuan has always thought that the Yang family is the first in Mrs. Qin's mind, and she can give up herself at any time for the sake of the Yang family. But that is now changing. Wang Yuan also solemnly told Mrs. Qin Guo once again that she would sell her land and transfer it to Chengdu as soon as possible. But Mrs. Qin Guo smiled, thinking that Wang Yuan wanted to accompany him in Chengdu, so she asked herself to do so. She wanted to, but she couldn't. Wang Yuan couldn't explain it, so he could only secretly make up his mind that he must take Mrs. Qin Guo to Chengdu at a critical time.

……

Just three days after Wang Yuan left Beijing, the funeral of Li Linfu, the right minister of the Tang Dynasty, was solemnly held. The funeral three days after the mourning caused a sensation throughout the city. Emperor Xuanzong of the Tang Dynasty personally went to the Prime Minister's Mansion to mourn before his burial, and issued a holy decree, posthumously presenting Li Linfu as a lieutenant, adding the governor of Yangzhou, and being crowned as a first-class prince of Jin. Li Linfu's sons and daughters were also given official positions to show their favor.

After that, the funeral procession of nearly 800 people set off from Pingkangfang, detoured to the place of several squares, and then went south along Suzaku Street to the place where the Li family's yin house was buried twenty miles away from the south gate. The long procession stretched for three or four miles, and the paper money was sprinkled on the road with a thick layer. The sound of the monk's chanting and the sound of the funeral music spread for more than ten miles, and the scene was spectacular