The first month of the spring of the second year of the Tang Dynasty. Pen | fun | pavilion www. ｂｉｑｕｇｅ。 ｉｎｆｏ

In a few days, it will be the time when the former crown prince and the current king of Liang will leave Beijing for the fiefdom.

In the entire Taiji Palace, there was silence, like a pool of stagnant water.

However, everyone knows that under such silence, there is more undercurrent.

At the beginning of the morning, there was a burst of chimers in the Taiji Palace, which woke up the birds on the branches and the sweet dreams of Mei Niang.

She frowned and raised her head, but unexpectedly found that Li Zhi, who should have already entered the court, actually held herself in her arms and slept deeply, and couldn't help but be surprised for a while, looking up at the outside of the samana, but it was a morning blue light, and when she first entered the hall, there was a touch of water, so she called softly: "Where is Ryan?" ”

Silently appeared in front of the tent, it was Ryan: "What is the matter with the mother?" ”

The voice...... But ......" Mei Niang wanted to get up, but she was hugged by Li Zhi and couldn't move, so she had to turn her head to look at him.

Ryan turned his head to listen carefully for a moment, then turned back and said, "If the prince and prince ask to see the lord in the morning, he should sing the chime." It's the old rule. ”

Mei Niang lowered her eyes: "Is it gold?" Or is it a vegetarian festival? You go check it out. ”

Ryan took the order, but Mei Niang lay down, staring at the top of the tent, not knowing what she was thinking.

After a while, Ryan returned, but his voice was a little surprised: "Niangniang, Ryan has already asked, but it is not the two kings of Yongqi, but ...... His Royal Highness King Xu. ”

"Xiao'er?" Mei Niang was also taken aback by this sentence, and couldn't help but raise her voice: "Is it him?" It's hard for him to get out of the house, but what is he doing this time? ”

"This ...... But isn't it related to the fact that in recent days, Xu Li and the two have gone up and down? Ryan was slightly suspicious: "After all, Xu Li Shangshu is advocating Lixian...... There are already old ministers in the court who are discussing, and when it comes to virtue, King Xu is also good. Compared with our Royal Highness the Acting King, who was just an adult, it seems that it is more suitable to establish a prince. Will it be His Royal Highness...... Are you here to test the Lord's heart? ”

Mei Niang lowered her head and said slowly: "But not necessarily." He came to probe, but I was afraid that it was also to find an excuse to push away such trouble. Among these children, he knows best that he definitely won't come for the sake of savings. It's like his character to push away such things. ”

Mei Niang struggled again, wanting to get up, but Li Zhi really hugged her tightly and didn't let go at all, and even frowned and sighed twice, taking her even more into her arms. provoked her to roll her eyes helplessly, sighed and instructed Ryan: "Pass the word, Haosheng invited Xiao'er into the palace, and Yu ......"

She originally wanted to say that it was placed by His Royal Highness Taiji, but after thinking about it, she changed her words and said: "And in the Ganlu Palace, Haosheng placed Xiao'er." ”

"Manna Temple?" Ryan was stunned for a moment, and said in surprise: "But Niangniang, the prince entered the palace to see him, shouldn't Yili be in the Taiji Palace......"

"That's politics. Xiao'er came here to see his father, and asked his father to be safe, what are you doing in the Taiji Palace? Mei Niang said lightly.

Ryan was stunned again: "His Royal Highness King Xu came here this time to discuss the government of the crown prince...... Ah......h

Mei Niang sighed, shook her head and said: "Xiao'er's temperament, do you have to make the whole Tang Dynasty know that he entered the palace this time to discuss politics?" At such a juncture......"

Ryan immediately understood, and hurriedly called himself ignorant twice, then turned around and wanted to walk, but was stopped by Mei Niang again: "Slow down." ”

He turned around, and Mei Niang commanded again: "You can't do this matter, you have to find the Taiji Palace." Got it? ”

"But the Lord is already known to the world to sleep at the back of the night tonight, is the mother too deliberate?" Ryan couldn't help but ask.

Mei Niang glanced at Li Zhi and said lightly: "There is a difference between inside and outside." Although it is said that everyone in the world wants to see that Xiao'er is going to the Ganlu Hall this time, it is also necessary to let Xiao'er understand that his father is not unaware of his intentions...... Only in this way can the father and son open their hearts and discuss with each other...... Got it? ”

Ruian immediately understood what Mei Niang meant-indeed, compared to Li Zhonglai, I am afraid that Li Xiao's heart knot towards Li Zhi will not be so small. If he goes this time. Then Li Xiao must think that his father is still blindly attached to Mei Niang, and even sees himself by her. On the contrary, if it is arranged by the people around Li Zhi himself, it will naturally be equivalent to giving Li Xiao a very clear signal......

Li Zhi, his father, has always taken him to heart and seriously considered him for him.

……

Looking at the figure of Ryan leaving, Mei Niang let out a long sigh, but was gently turned over by a pair of gentle big hands, put it into a pair of eyes that were so bright that she didn't feel sleepy, and said with a smile: "What are you sighing for?" ”

Mei Niang was stunned, and immediately frowned: "You are not asleep, why are you pretending to be asleep?" The child is here, why don't you get up and take a look......"

Before she finished speaking, she was tightly held in her arms by Li Zhi, and she could only listen to the voice from his chest that shook her heartbeat: "You have already handled it well, it's okay if I don't wake up." ”

“…… But in the end, you still have to see each other after all. After being silent for a while, Mei Niang couldn't help but speak out after all.

Li Zhi was silent and hugged her tighter.

Yes, he still has to face it after all. In the face of this other one, he was deeply hurt by him, and it also made him extremely guilty, so guilty that he didn't know how to face the child.

But subconsciously, I just want to escape...... Even he knows that sooner or later he will have to face it.

……

A moment later.

In the manna hall, in the side hall.

As soon as Li Zhi, who was dressed in civilian clothes, entered the hall, he saw Li Xiao who was sipping tea while looking at him curiously. He couldn't help it, he stopped, stopped the people around him from driving, and stood in the distance to take a closer look at the child.

How long has it been since I saw him?

He thought, he struggled to recall.

The last time I saw this kid...... It was still on the day of Yuan Zhengri, and he came to congratulate with the hundred officials. But there were a lot of people at that time, and there were too many people to pay attention to, so he never paid close attention to this child.

Speaking of which, in fact, he has never paid serious attention to this child.

A strong sense of guilt hit his heart, making him involuntarily lighten his steps, and approached the child little by little, with some hesitation.

The closer he got, the more distressed and guilty he became—this child's body was so thin that he couldn't even hold up the silk robe that looked half-new......

He......

Li Zhi stopped, hesitated, and finally waited for him to put down the cup before he asked softly: "Got up so early, have you eaten?" ”

Rao was so soft-spoken, and Li Xiao was so startled that he almost jumped up from the chair, and knelt down in a hurry with his lips and white face, but the panicked appearance made Li Zhi even more unbearable, and hurriedly reached out to pull him up--really pulled up--when he grabbed his arm, Li Zhi was shocked to realize that this child's arm was as thin as a five-year-old Hong'er......

Gritting his teeth, he wanted to angrily reprimand those servants who didn't do anything for a long time - no matter what, after all, it was his son, the prince of the Tang Dynasty, the prince and noble, how could he be tossed like this- but he also knew that if he was angry at this time, it would startle the child even more, so he swallowed this breath hard, adjusted two breaths, and then smiled gently: "It's cold on the floor, and only the father and the emperor and you, so you will be exempted." ”

Seeing that Li Xiao was fixed and grateful, Li Zhi smiled faintly, turned his head and asked, "Can you prepare food?" Qinghe nodded and said: "The queen mother knew that His Royal Highness had come to the palace to see her, and she knew that the Lord must be used with His Royal Highness King Xu, so she prepared it early." ”

"Xiao'er, can you accompany your father to dinner? These days, my father has a lot of things, and he always can't use a good meal, and he often doesn't eat well because of the medicine that hurts his spleen and stomach...... You accompany your father to dinner, and let your father have you with you, so that you don't bother your uncle and them, okay? ”

Li Zhi's soft-spoken inquiry, but it was a family relationship that Li Xiao had never dared to think about all along, how could Li Xiao refuse? So he immediately nodded timidly, hesitated, and then asked, "But the queen...... No...... Queen Mother ......"

"She just added a younger brother to you, and she got another one in her belly, and she still guards Hong'er by her side...... These days, I don't have much time to have breakfast properly. Li Zhi smiled and took Li Xiao's hand to the side of the table, sat down on two sides, and watched the courtiers put crisp cheese and other things one by one, and then looked at Li Xiao.

Sure enough, Li Xiao was a little stunned: "It turns out that the queen mother is so hard......"

"It is hard for a woman to give birth to a child. You are young now, and after a while, your mother will accept a concubine for you, and you will naturally know about it. ”

As soon as these words came out, the young Li Xiao was a little shy, so he lowered his head and reddened his ears, and didn't say anything.

Seeing him like this, Li Zhi felt even more pity and guilt in his heart, so he immediately reached out and picked up his teeth, and first put a piece of jade cake in the small plate in front of him, and said with a smile: "This is a recipe newly concocted by your mother, which does not make those hard noodles, but it is easy to digest." Taste it. ”

Yibi said, Yibi signaled that Li Xiao didn't have to be polite anymore, and watched him use it with his hands, so he went to fill a bowl of hot fresh cheese with his own hands, mixed some osmanthus nectar juice, took a spoon and carefully stopped it before putting it in front of him, and Wen said: "With this, eat together." You too...... People of this age will never take care of themselves...... Look at how thin it looks like...... No wonder your mother thinks your father doesn't take good care of you all day long. It's true that my father didn't take good care of you......"

"No...... No, no...... Father's ...... Filial piety...... Xiao'er ......" Li Xiao stammered when he heard this, but was stopped by Li Zhi with a smile, shook his head and said: "What you want to say, my father understands." The grievances you have suffered over the years, my father is also clear. But Xiao'er, what my father wants you to know is ......"

He looked at Li Xiao, his eyes were slightly wet: "As far as you are concerned, my father is not a good father, and he has not fulfilled his responsibility to take care of you - although my father has a thousand reasons to explain, when facing you, he is really un......speakable" He paused, sank his head, and said lightly after a while: "But there is one thing, Xiao'er." Your gentleness and generosity are known not only to your mother, but also to your father. So no matter what, the Father Emperor will not let you get involved in anything that you don't want to be involved in. will also be the same as your mother, protect you well, and do your father's best to let you live the life you want. You give your father this chance, okay? ”

Li Xiao looked at Li Zhi in a daze, two pairs of ink eyes that seemed to be extremely good at each other, and suddenly, both of them burst into tears.

……

A full hour later.

Standing at the door of the Ganlu Palace, seeing Li Xiao, who seemed to be much straighter than when he came, walked out of the gate of the Ganlu Hall with brisk steps, Li Zhi's eyes were still difficult to fade from tears.

Seeing this, Qinghe on the side called softly: "Lord, ......"

"Spread my will and ask De'an to go to Xiao'er's Mansion in person." Li Zhi said in a steady voice: "Remember to pick up Xiao'er when he was in the house, go without making a noise, and then say what I mean, one by one, take all the slaves and evil servants who bully the master, and put them into the water prison of the secluded court. And some new ones, and the servants who had to be sent into the house to serve, and the child could never be made to suffer again. ”

"Yes."

"Qinghe, is it too late for me to do this?" Li Zhi asked Qinghe as if he was asking himself.

Qinghe thought about it, shook his head and said, "According to Qinghe's opinion, it is just right. At this time, the hearts of the people in the DPRK and China are surging. His Royal Highness King Xu entered the palace to such a situation, and everyone could participate in it to some extent, and he must have come for the matter of establishing a prince. If after His Highness returns to the house, the Lord does not act at all, and it will definitely arouse everyone's suspicions. But if the action is too big, I am afraid that it will confirm the fact that His Royal Highness King Xu himself also intends to compete for the prince, and the matter will be even more difficult to handle, but it will be the most necessary disposal for His Royal Highness King Xu...... In the eyes of those who only know the desire for profit, it is not a real love and care, but it will make them firmly believe that His Royal Highness King Xu must have no intention of competing for the throne. Otherwise, everyone can understand the thoughts of His Royal Highness the Lord who wants to establish the King, and if His Royal Highness King Xu really comes to fight for the throne for himself, it is only right that he is afraid that he will be snubbed by the Lord.

As for whether it's too late......"

Qinghe paused, thought about it, but shook his head even more and said: "When His Royal Highness the former Crown Prince was standing in the East Palace, every time he thought that he was weak and could not compete with His Royal Highnesses King Yong, King Qi and His Royal Highnesses, he always pulled His Royal Highness King Xu in, making people think that His Royal Highness King Xu was a party member of His Royal Highness the Prince...... If the lord takes even a little care of his departure from the palace and the establishment of his own mansion, I am afraid that it will make His Royal Highness the Crown Prince and His Royal Highnesses King Yong, and even the old ministers of the court have some thoughts. What's more, it was His Royal Highness King Xu himself, at that time, because His Royal Highness the Crown Prince was there, he might not dare to accept this favor calmly. The timing is just right. First, it shows that His Royal Highness King Xu has no intention of arguing for the prince, ensuring that he stands safely among the princes, and cutting off the thoughts of the ministers. Second, I finally let him understand that the Lord and his mother are really taking care of him, so it has been difficult to start. ”

Li Zhi was silent, just silent.

After a while, he smiled astringently and said, "Yes...... At this time, it is indeed the best...... But think about it another way...... As an emperor, for the sake of national politics, even his own son must be so jealous, so careful, and so calculating...... What is the use of this emperor? ”

He seemed to be asking himself, and he seemed to be asking Qinghe. This time, Qinghe did not answer. Li Zhi didn't ask any more questions, just turned around, and after walking a few steps, he sighed softly and said, "You go and pass on the decree to send the clothes and materials that Mei Niang will prepare for that child on his birthday over the years into King Xu's mansion!" ”

"Huh? But didn't Niang Niang say that these things were sent, but I was afraid that His Royal Highness King Xu would not dare to accept them, so she just put them there and waited for the opportunity? ”

"That was before, and now ......" Li Zhi said without looking back: "He will dare to accept it." After a pause, Li Zhi listened to Qinghe's response, and said: "In addition, ask the master to transfer two teams of capable shadow guards into King Xu's mansion and hand them over to Xiao'er in person...... Remember, I personally handed it over to him and told him that this was the self-defense I gave him, and that it should not be used without permission when there was no great emergency, understand? ”

Qinghe was stunned again, and said in a lost voice: "Shadow Guard?!" But Lord, this shadow guard has been since the first emperor, except for you, Lord...... He never gave any of his servants or princes...... Even the crown prince Chengqian and His Royal Highness the King of Wei never ...... Even the princess of Changle back then was never favored!

This matter, the entire front and back court is a secret that everyone knows? Wouldn't it be ...... to do that?"

"So be very careful not to let anyone see it. It really didn't work, so I told De'an to put them into the filial piety guard. At the same time, you must also tell Xiao'er that no matter what, this shadow guard must not be moved lightly until it is in a hurry. Because this is a little compensation I gave him, and it was also a peerless soldier that I gave him to save his life. ”

Li Zhi turned around, his eyes were slightly cold: "The last move to ensure that he escapes from the next plan that King Ji of Han will have, and his net worth is not lost." ”