(Thank you Deng Shuang for the reward from his book friends!) ——

At the beginning of March of Tianbao's twentieth year, Yang Xi's filial piety period was over.

The mansions of the Duke of Wei and the four brothers Yang Xi, Yang Xuan, Yang Xuan, and Yang Xiao have all removed the filial piety banners, and the filial piety clothes on the masters and subordinates in several mansions have also been stripped off, and the dull atmosphere in the mansions has also been quickly eliminated, and the whole mansion has also returned to normal life.

The content of the edict is nothing more than praising Yang Guozhong's contributions to the Tang Dynasty for many years, and then praising how Yang Guozhong's sons are filial piety to their father, and also praising their talents and learning, and they are the ministers of the Tang Dynasty and so on.

Yang Guozhong, who has been dead for almost three years, will be slowly forgotten from now on, but his death has benefited several of his sons.

The eldest son, Yang Xuan, naturally continued Yang Guozhong's title as the Duke of Wei, and was promoted after the expiration of the period of filial piety, and was appointed as the secretary of the household department of the school. Yang Hao and Yang Xiao also got merit: Yang Hao was appointed as Taichangqing, the Ministry of Works, and Yang Xiao was appointed as Hongluqing. And all of Yang Xi's positions were also restored, and in the imperial edict, Yang Xi was appointed as the general of the military department and the general of Long Wuwei, and was promoted to the title of Duke of Ningguo.

It can be said that on the surface, Yang Guozhong's four sons are all in important positions in the court, and the scenery is infinite.

However, discerning people can also see that among Yang Guozhong's four sons, the most "promising" is only Yang Xi.

In the edict of reinstatement, Yang Xi's original "Shoubu Shangshu" was also removed, and it became the actual Wubu Shangshu. Many people are speculating that the reinstated Yang Xi is likely to be awarded the title of "Tongzhongshu Menxia Pingzhangshi", becoming the youngest prime minister in the history of the Tang Dynasty.

However, because Yang Xi is too young, many ministers do not want Yang Xi, who is only in his twenties, to be in the political hall. There are not many people in the court who have made greater contributions than him, but there are many people who are older than him. In any era, merit is as important as seniority. People who have no merit but qualifications. It is not necessarily possible to mix in a high position, but it is difficult for people with great merit and insufficient qualifications to squeeze into the ranks of the top officials in the court, which is the same in any dynasty. The situation was a little better in the Tang Dynasty, but in the later Ming and Qing dynasties, these were more exquisite.

But Yang Xi very much hopes that he can hang a title of "Pingzhangshi under the Tongzhong Shumen" behind his official position, located in the political affairs hall, and if he becomes the prime minister of the Tang Dynasty, then his prestige in the court will grow day by day. No one dared to underestimate him.

After the expiration of the period of filial piety and the restoration of all Yang Xi's duties, Li Longji summoned Yang Xi to the palace chief for the first time to talk.

Spring in Chang'an has arrived, and although the weather has warmed up, Li Longji's condition has not improved much, and most of the time he is still lying on the couch, unable to get up, let alone deal with state affairs. The crown prince Li Ying was again entrusted with supervising state affairs and handling court affairs on behalf of the emperor after the year. Yang Xi walked into Li Longji's dormitory. Seeing Li Longji, who was lying on the couch, his beard was white, and he was not angry at all, he couldn't help but feel a burst of pity in his heart.

This once commanding figure. The monarch who created the greatest prosperous era in Chinese history, the Kaiyuan Dynasty, is also like this when he is old. At this time, Li Longji no longer has the slightest heroic spirit of the past, what is the difference between him and ordinary people in the twilight?

When he saluted Li Longji on the sickbed. Yang Xi felt sad for a while, but also a little guilty. This is his own grandfather, someone who is related to him by blood. But when Li Longji was sad on the sickbed, he also cheated with Yang Yuhuan several times. I'm sorry for Li Longji, this is the guilt that Yang Xi felt in his heart in an instant.

However, he quickly expelled this guilt and stood respectfully beside Li Longji, listening to his orders.

"Shiro, sit down and talk!" Li Longji was half-lying on the pillows cushioned by the eunuchs, and motioned for Yang Xi to sit down on the side.

After Yang Xi thanked him, he also obediently sat down beside Li Longji.

"Shiro, it's been almost three years since your father died of illness, and your filial piety is over, time flies really fast!" Li Longji said, sighing with emotion, as if reminiscing about the past, looking ahead attentively, "Alas, your father has passed away, and there is no one around me who can talk to me, in the past two years, I have lived a very lonely life, except for Yuhuan, there is no one who can talk well!"

Hearing Li Longji say this, Yang Xi's heart moved, and he hurriedly replied: "Your Majesty, the minister suggests that Gao Lishi be summoned back to serve Your Majesty!" Father-in-law Gao has followed His Majesty for many years and is familiar with His Majesty's habits, and His Majesty also trusts him. Although he made a mistake back then, a few years later, his mistake has also been punished and can be pardoned. The minister thinks that it is better to let Gao Gonggong come back to accompany His Majesty and talk to His Majesty every day!"

After Li Heng's rebellion, Yang Xi strongly recommended that this person be killed on the issue of dealing with Gao Lishi, and even did not hesitate to let Yang Yuhuan persuade him, but in the end, Li Longji pardoned Gao Lishi's capital crime and exiled Gao Lishi to Yazhou on Hainan Island.

When Li Longji made this decision, he also made Yang Xi gloomy, but when he saw Li Longji like this today, he was immediately glad that he was lucky that he didn't kill Gao Lishi that day. Li Longji is very old now, and he may have to return to the West after a while, and this kind of time is the time when a person misses the past time and knows people in the past. It would be a great comfort to him if he had someone close to him in his company that would bring back more memories of the past.

Yang Xi's suggestion made Li Longji's eyes light up, and his eyes stared straight at Yang Xi, he couldn't imagine that Yang Xi's mind was so delicate and could think of this immediately. In the past few days, Li Longji has really missed Gao Lishi, who has been loyal to him and has been with him for many years, and he really wants to summon him back to accompany him, but he has not told anyone. Summoned Yang Xi into the palace today to talk about things, originally planned to talk to Yang Xi about Gao Lishi, and asked Yang Xi that he wanted to pardon Gao Lishi's crimes, let him come back from exile, and accompany him for a while. didn't expect him to say it yet, Yang Xi took the initiative to mention the matter. Li Longji was a little moved in his heart, and he was also pleased with Yang Xi's understanding.

"That's fine, let me have a familiar person to accompany me!" Li Longji also immediately obeyed Yang Xi's persuasion, and a bitter smile appeared on the corner of his mouth, "In the years since Gao Lishi left, I have not been accompanied by someone as caring as him, and it is a pity when I think about it." What if Colliers hadn't been involved in this? ”

"Your Majesty, I believe that after Gonggong Gao returns to the court, he will no longer ask about court affairs, but serve His Majesty wholeheartedly!"

"Shiro, then you can handle this matter, it's best to let Gao Lishi return to Chang'an as soon as possible!"

"Yes, Your Majesty, in accordance with Your Majesty's will, I will definitely let Gonggong Gao return to Chang'an as soon as possible to serve Your Majesty!"

Yang Xi took the initiative to mention this matter and was willing to bear it, Li Longji was in a much better mood, and immediately talked about other things.

"Shiro, after you keep filial piety, you can finally come out to do things, but I am already old, and I no longer have the energy to take care of court affairs, and I can't ask you to do many things, and the things that I originally wanted to do can only be cut off after the new monarch ascends the throne!" Li Longji looked regretful, closed his eyes slightly as he spoke, sighed and then said: "I also know that my yang life is approaching, it's time to pass on the throne to future generations, and let future generations do many things!" Shiro, I believe that you have already thought very clearly about what you are going to do when you are filial piety, and when the new monarch ascends the throne, you can let go of many things, but I will never see the grand occasion of the Tang Dynasty reappear!"

"Your Majesty, you are just temporarily ill, you will be fine soon, don't say these discouraged words, the weather is still cold now, when the weather is warmer, your body will definitely get better immediately, and you can continue to deal with court affairs at that time!" Yang Xi is not good at comforting people, and he can only say these words dryly, which sound a little awkward.

He believed that Li Longji's life was coming to an end. Li Longji is seventy-seven years old this year, which can be regarded as a long life in ancient times. If it weren't for the illness of the last winter, Li Longji might have lived for a few more years, but this wind and cold crushed his body all of a sudden. The imperial physician in the palace was almost helpless, and according to a certain imperial physician in private, they could no longer administer medicine.

Before An Lushan's rebellion, Li Longji's health was not bad, but the huge blow of An Lushan's rebellion and Li Heng's subsequent rebellion made him haggard and very devastated. Lack of sleep time, worry all day long, and the body slowly deteriorates.

Li Longji smiled bitterly and waved his hand, signaling Yang Xi not to say these comforting words, and then said: "Shilang, your father has made a lot of contributions to the country, and you are not bad, not only led the army to quell the rebellion, but also worked with your father-in-law to expel the Tubo people who violated my border pass, so that the Tubo people will no longer be able to touch the rivers and mountains of my Tang Dynasty." Both generations of your father and son have made great contributions to Datang, and I am very pleased. I didn't pay attention to some people's comments and gave you a lot of use. I also hope that you can do better things for Datang in the future and live up to my expectations!"

"Your Majesty, please rest assured, the minister will not disappoint your expectations, and work hard for the prosperity of Datang, which will definitely make Datang more prosperous, the national strength stronger, and the people richer!" Yang Xi said these words very justifiably, which is of course his goal.

Of course, Li Longji couldn't understand the true meaning of Yang Xi's words of assurance, and if he knew, he might behead Yang Xi on the spot.

Yang Xi's assurances made Li Longji quite satisfied, and he nodded with a smile to show his approval. Then he suppressed his smile and asked Yang Xi with a serious face: "Shiro, I want to ask you today, is it better for me to pass the throne to the crown prince or to King Yong?" ”

"Huh?!" (To be continued......)