Like ordinary Chang'an people, Li Longji, the son of the Tang Dynasty, also held a grand Chinese New Year's Eve banquet in Xingqing Palace, and nearly 100 people from his royal sons and grandsons and various royal concubines attended the royal family banquet, and Yang Guifei's three sisters and brothers-in-law Yang Hao and Yang Qi were also specially invited to the banquet.

The night banquet is held in the Agarwood Pavilion, the Agarwood Pavilion is completely built with precious agarwood wood, the fragrance is lingering, although it is called the pavilion, it covers a vast area, it is like a small palace, it is planted all kinds of rare flowers and plants such as peonies, moon seasons, decanting grass, etc., the windows in the pavilion have been closed, and there are thirty-six huge night pearls hanging in the middle, and the night banquet shines like day.

The royal family's family banquet is different from the folk, mainly in its etiquette is complicated, the rules are strict, everyone's seat is arranged by Zongzheng Temple according to the noble status, during the banquet shall not be loud, shall not sit toast, shall not eat whales in the sea, shall not be drunk and gaffe, in short, anything that has a share is not allowed to do.

In front of the emperor's father and ancestors, many princes and grandsons were even more cautious, for fear of saying the wrong thing and doing the wrong thing, and they were all silent and didn't even dare to raise their heads.

However, there are also people who are not bound by these rules, Yang Huahua raised her glass to toast left and right, and laughed constantly.

"Your Majesty, today is the good day of the Chinese New Year's Eve, the slave family toasts you with a glass of wine, and wishes Your Majesty a peaceful year and a prosperous year."

"Huh! The third sister is quick to talk, and I drank this glass of wine. ”

Li Longji raised his wine glass and drank all the wine in the cup, he looked at Yang Guifei, who was pink and ruddy beside him, and said with a smile: "After only a few glasses of wine, is the lady drunk?" ”

Yang Guifei drank a few more glasses tonight, she seemed to be greasy and delicate, she leaned on Li Longji, and said coquettishly: "San Lang, you know that the concubine can't drink, and the concubine has to drink three cups in a row, I am drunk tonight, you have to carry me back to the palace." ”

"Good! Drink and get drunk, and I will carry you back. ”

Li Longji was in a good mood, he raised his glass again and smiled at everyone: "It's all family tonight, everyone can drink at will, don't be too restrained." ”

Although he frequently persuaded him to drink, none of his children and grandchildren dared to agree, even the crown prince Li Heng was silent, Li Longji's heart was a little unhappy, at this time, Yang Huahua smiled and said: "Your Majesty, how can you do this night banquet without wine and music, it is better to announce a team of music and dance to help everyone." ”

A sentence reminded Li Longji, and he hurriedly smiled: "I'm confused, hurry, Xuanle dance!" ”

After a while, the melodious music in the Agarwood Pavilion sounded, a team of dancing girls danced in, and the stiff atmosphere in the hall finally began to ease, and under the cover of music and the long sleeves of the dancing girls, the princes began to whisper.

Qingwang Li Cong as the eldest son of the emperor, he sat in the second seat of the crown prince, although the distance between him and Li Heng was less than five feet, but he did not say a word to Li Heng from beginning to end, as if Li Heng was his rival, but the relationship between the two of them has been a little bad recently, the cause is not the competition for the throne, although the competition for the throne is a big deal, but it is not enough to make Li Cong face to face, at least on the surface it will be passable.

But what happened in Yangzhou pierced the thin layer of masking paper between the two, old hatred and new hatred, and the two didn't even have the most basic greetings.

Li Longji was drinking, while quietly observing the situation of his sons, the eldest son Qing Wang Congzheng and the fourth son Di Wang Yan were talking in a low voice, in the past two years, I heard that the eldest son was quite modest, and rarely heard rumors of his excessive silver, his body was not as fat as before, his face was radiant, and his physique was strong.

Li Longji couldn't help but look at the prince again, but the prince Li Heng described him as haggard and weak, and he had been bowing his head and silent since he entered the door.

Li Longji sighed slightly, he also knew that he had forced the prince to look like this, a Wei Jian case, a Du Youlin case, forced the prince to divorce two wives one after another, especially the crown princess, the relationship between husband and wife is very deep, it is these two big cases that have caused a serious physical and mental blow to the prince, making him haggard day by day.

In fact, which dynasty and which generation of princes will not have their own power? If he ascends the throne with nothing, it will be detrimental to the stability of the society, Li Longji also knows this, the key is the military power that the prince does not want to be involved in, if the prince is not because he is friendly with Huangfu Weiming and Wang Zhonghei, he Li Longji will not persecute the prince like this.

Although Li Longji's heart was as cold as iron, on Chinese New Year's Eve, at such a moment of family reunion, his heart was somewhat filled with a bit of fatherly warmth, after all, it was his own son.

"Hen'er, if you're not well, drink less." Li Longji said softly.

When did Li Heng hear his father's heartfelt concern for him, his nose was sore, and he was so moved that tears were about to flow.

He hurriedly trembled and said: "Father Xie cares, his sons will drink abstinently, and I hope that my father will also pay attention to his body." ”

Li Longji remembered Gao Lishi's advice to him again, so he nodded and smiled: "Father originally wanted you to move to Xingqing Palace as well, but Xingqing Palace is too small, and it is inconvenient for you to live here, so let's do it!" You can move to the East Palace, take care of your body, and if you need anything, just ask it. ”

Li Heng was stunned, and then his heart burst into ecstasy, can he move to the East Palace? He had been looking forward to this day since the twenty-sixth year of the Kaiyuan Dynasty, but he did not expect that it would be realized on the Chinese New Year's Eve of the sixth year of Tianbao, and he strongly restrained the joy in his heart, and thanked him: "The grace of the father and the emperor is engraved in the heart of the son." ”

Li Longji smiled, and said to King Qing Li Cong: "Cong'er, I heard that you have made great progress, which makes me feel very gratified. ”

Li Cong hurriedly said: "Father, the son was a bandit by mistake in the past, and he was confused for a while, but the son only woke up in the past two years and decided to change his past wrongs and never let his father down." ”

"You make friends, I am allowed, but you must make friends with people of insight, and you must make more friends with the pillars and talents of the Tang Dynasty, so that you will not go astray, you are the eldest son, and you must lead by example at this point, understand?"

Li Cong listened to his father's intentions, and seemed to allow himself to recruit talents, he was overjoyed, and hurriedly said: "Sons remember the teachings of their father. ”

At this time, Gao Lishi hurriedly walked in through the side door and whispered a few words in Li Longji's ear, Li Longji was stunned and asked, "How many people are killed or injured?" ”

"The old slave doesn't know."

"Immediately announce that Li Linfu and Jingzhao Yin Xiaojiong will enter the palace and report this matter to me."

"The old slave obeys!"

Gao Lishi hurriedly went, and at this time Li Longji had no intention of continuing the banquet, and a fire broke out on the night of Chinese New Year's Eve, which was not a good sign in any way, and he had to figure it out immediately.

He turned back to Yang Guifei and said, "Yuhuan, I have something to deal with, do you continue or go back to the palace to rest." ”

"The concubine is too strong to drink, and she wants to go back to the palace to rest."

"Good! You go with me. ”

Li Longji explained a few more words to the prince, and then ordered him to drive back to the palace, he sent Yang Guifei back to the harem first, and he hurried to the Datong Palace.

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The fire in Dongshi was extinguished in less than an hour, and the cause has been ascertained, and it was caused by someone who secretly released Kong Ming lanterns to cause the fire.

Overnight, Jingzhao Yin Xiaojiong wrote a detailed and detailed report, listing the causes of the fire in Dongshi and the process of fighting it one by one, especially the heroic deeds of Yang Zhao.

Xiao Jiong hurried to Xingqing Palace, and at this time, Li Linfu's carriage also arrived, and Xiao Jiong hurriedly shouted: "Xiangguo stays!" ”

Li Linfu turned around and saw that it was Xiao Jiong, so he smiled and said, "Xiao Envoy, did the Holy Lord also summon you into the palace?" ”

"Exactly!"

Xiao Jiong hurriedly took out the fold, handed it to Li Linfu and said, "This is the details of tonight's fire in Dongshi, please take a look at it." ”

Li Linfu took the fold, flipped through it, and said to Xiao Jiong: "Tonight, we are just answering the emperor's inquiry verbally, I already know the real reason, it is not as simple as what you wrote, and your fold must be approved by each level before it can be submitted to the emperor, don't take it out tonight." ”

"Subordinates obey!"

Xiao Jiong put away the fold, and the two came to the Datong Hall one after the other, and after waiting at the door for a while, a eunuch came out and said, "Xiangguo, Your Majesty announced that you will enter." ”

The two entered the imperial study, and saw Li Longji standing in front of the window with his hands behind his back, looking in the direction of Dongshi, the firelight was gone, only black smoke was faintly rising.

"Minister Li Linfu see Your Majesty!"

"Chen Xiao Jiong see Your Majesty!"

Li Longji slowly turned around and asked, "Has the fire in Dongshi been extinguished?" ”

"Back to Your Majesty, the fire has been extinguished!" Li Linfu said.

"Oh! What about the losses? How many casualties? ”

Li Linfu gave Xiao Jiong a look, and Xiao Jiong immediately stepped forward and said: "Your Majesty, the fire was caused by someone putting Kong Ming lanterns, which burned the city office, but the Yang County Order of Wannian County arrived in time with the officials, and under their courage, the city office only burned a corner, thirteen houses were burned, and none of the shops were burned, and there were no casualties, but some account books were burned. ”

"Yang Zhao?"

A smile appeared at the corner of Li Longji's mouth, and at this time, Li Linfu stepped forward and said: "Your Majesty, on the night of Chinese New Year's Eve, the officials and the people rested, but Yang County Ling still went to the streets to patrol, conscientious, admirable, subordinates thought that the fire in the East City was actually a mirror, let us see the conscientiousness of the Yang County Order, it was he who arrived in time, commanded properly, and the soldiers and soldiers went all out to extinguish it, so that a fire that could burn the East City was nipped in the bud, and there were no casualties, which is simply incredible, It can also be seen from this that Yang County ordered the urgency of fighting fires and saving people, and the minister suggested that Wannian County be rewarded and Yang County should be rewarded. ”

Li Longji nodded, "I know, after the New Year, you will have an official excerpt, and I will give instructions." ”

"Obey the order!"

Li Longji glanced at Li Linfu and saw that he had something to say, so he smiled and said, "Xiangguo, please speak!" ”

"Your Majesty, the fire in the East City can not only be commended, but also punished, the minister has found out that Kong Ming Lantern was put by a group of children, and now the perpetrator cannot be found, but the patrol camp was next to it, but it was not stopped, and the patrol camp also found a fire in the East City, but did not take the initiative to extinguish it, resulting in the spread of the fire, and he was guilty of dereliction of duty, and the minister suggested that the inspector Li Qing'an be immediately dismissed from his post!"

At this time, Gao Lishi next to him was taken aback, why was Li Qingan responsible in the end? Could it be that Li Qingan offended Li Linfu somewhere?

He was hesitant in his heart, Li Longji was also stunned, and said for a long time: "Even if the patrol battalion occasionally derelicts its duties, it has nothing to do with Li Qing'an, after all, this army is my ten thousand cavalry, and he has not long taken over, so it is not fair to let him take responsibility?" ”

"Your Majesty, the inspection battalion is derelict in its duties, of course it can't be blamed on the soldiers, Li Qingan is the inspection envoy, whether he knows it or not, but once he is in his position, he will bear his responsibility, if he doesn't take responsibility, how can he praise Yang Zhao?"

Li Longji was silent for a moment, and then said: "Since Xiangguo insists, then it is okay, his patrol envoy is also temporary, so he will be dismissed, and other than that, his other positions will not be affected." ”

"Your Majesty Shengming!"

Li Longji smiled faintly, and said to Xiao Jiong: "Xiao Aiqing retreat first!" I have something to say to Xiangguo. ”

Xiao Jiong retreated, Gao Lishi also went down to prepare for the night, only Li Longji and Li Linfu were left in the imperial study, neither of them spoke, the atmosphere was a little awkward, and after a while, Gao Lishi brought a bowl of bird's nest soup and put it on the imperial case, "Your Majesty, let's eat something first!" ”

"Good! Give Xiangguo a bowl too. ”

"Thank you, Your Majesty!"

After a moment, a eunuch brought another bowl of bird's nest soup, and Li Longji said with a smile: "Tonight is Chinese New Year's Eve, but I asked Xiangguo to ask for advice, so I can only ask Xiangguo to drink a bowl of bird's nest and apologize." ”

Li Linfu also smiled: "Then the old minister is welcome." ”

The two sat down, tasted the bird's nest unhurriedly, and after drinking, Li Longji took the wet towel and wiped the corners of his mouth, and rinsed his mouth in the golden bowl, then said with a smile: "In the past few days, I have been considering the new candidates for the Ministry of Industry and the Ministry of Rites, and I have already considered a plan, and I would like to ask Xiangguo to consider it together." ”

Li Linfu's heart suddenly hung up, it has only been a few days, has Li Longji decided on the plan? He understood, in fact, Li Longji had already thought about it, and even before Xi Yu and Lu Jingrong were not ready, he had already considered the plan, but Li Linfu didn't expect that this answer would be revealed at the last moment of Tianbao's sixth year.

What kind of solution will it be? Li Linfu's mind was like lightning, and he deduced all kinds of possibilities, the Ministry of Industry Shangshu must be Yang Shenjin, this is undoubted, Wang Heng's impeachment cannot be resolved, it has already foreshadowed the finality of Yang Shenjin's entry into the prime minister, the key is the candidate for the Ministry of Rites, who will be?

Li Linfu knew in his heart that this person would definitely not be his own person, and he had already decided this when he recommended Chen Xilie as the left minister, Li Longji's imperial technique would not allow him to monopolize the power of the DPRK and the Central Committee, would it be a centrist? This is the only result that Li Linfu is looking forward to, Yang Shenjin is the secretary of the Ministry of Industry, and he has already erected a rival for himself, will the emperor erect two opponents for himself? Probably the surname should not be large.

"Your Majesty's decision is firmly supported by the minister." At this time, Li Linfu had no choice.

Li Longji smiled: "I know that Xiangguo has always supported my ideas. ”

He pondered for a while, and then said: "I plan to make Yang Shenjin, the head of the household department, the secretary of the Ministry of Industry, the secretary of the Ministry of Industry, do you have any opinions?" ”

"Yang Shilang is a famous family, with an outstanding reputation, he is completely competent, the minister has no objection, and at the same time, the minister is willing to recommend Yang County Ling of Wannian County to take over the post of Hubu Shilang."

"Yang Zhao?" Li Longji shook his head, "How important is the position of the head of the household department, he has been an official for too short a time to be qualified for this position, and Wei Jiansu has not been the left head of the household department for a long time, and he is a little inexperienced, so I consider transferring the right Cheng Cui Qiao of the Shangshu to be the right head of the household department, and take on the heavy responsibility of the household department with his rich experience, what does Xiangguo think?" ”

This was out of Li Linfu's expectations, he thought that Li Longji would take the opportunity to promote Yang Zhao to the head of the household, but he didn't expect to transfer Cui Qiao, Cui Qiao is the son-in-law of King Ning and belongs to the Conglong faction, which is probably Li Longji's balancing strategy.

However, Li Linfu is concerned about the book of the Ministry of Rites, which is the core of tonight.

"Cui Qiao has been in politics for a long time, and his qualifications are enough to be a household servant, and the minister has no opinion."

Li Linfu intentionally or unintentionally pointed out the question of seniority, which is to tell Li Longji that the qualifications of the Ministry of Rites are the most important.

Li Longji smiled slightly and said: "Xiangguo mentioned qualifications, and I deeply agreed, so when I considered the candidates for the Ministry of Rites, the first thing I considered was the qualifications. ”

Li Linfu was stunned as if there was thunder above his head, he wondered if he had heard it wrong, Pei Kuan, that was his first opponent, the only survivor of Wei Jian's case, Pei Kuan, who had been brought back to life by him, kneeling down to beg for mercy from the cool official Luo Xizao, actually came back.

At this moment, Li Linfu suddenly remembered what Li Qing'an said: 'Yang Zhao is far from being an opponent of Xiangguo in terms of strength and connections, so the Holy Lord will use Yang Shenjin and even two new Shangshu as Yang Zhao's shields. ’

One sentence broke the sky.

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Li Linfu retreated, Li Longji sat on the dragon couch and was silent for a long time, as if he was thinking about something, at this time Gao Lishi said in a low voice: "Your Majesty, it's late at night, go back to the palace!" ”

"Alright! I am tired. ”

Li Longji stood up with a smile, he glanced at Gao Lishi, but smiled intentionally or unintentionally: "Li Qingan actually offended Xiangguo, it's a pity!" ”

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The carriage was speeding in the dark, Li Linfu's face was extremely tired, he had a kind of gratitude for the death of a rabbit and a fox, he had served Li Longji in front of the saddle and back and forth for him, and eradicated one after another supporters of the prince for him, but now that Wang Zhongsi had just been imprisoned, he was impatient to start a confrontation for himself, and began to cut off his own power, laying the foundation for Yang Zhao's ascension to the throne in the future.

"Stop!" Li Linfu suddenly ordered.

The carriage stopped, and the guard stepped forward and bowed and said, "Please give orders to Xiangguo!" ”

"Go! Go and find Li Qingan. ”

"Yes!" The guards were just about to leave, but Li Linfu stopped him again.

He sighed, waved his hand weakly, and said, "Forget it, go home!" ”

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(To be continued)