Li Jiangyao nodded: "That's right." In addition to putting Shen Lie in prison, your accusation also has a deeper effect, which is to arouse the suspicion of the emperor and the imperial court in this regard. And once the chain of suspicion is formed, it doesn't matter whether you are framed or not. ”

He paused, and then continued: "For the emperor, it is important that the case must be thoroughly investigated, and the suspicion that Shen Lie instigated the king of Huaiyang must be completely ruled out. Because logically, this thing makes sense, and there are full possibilities. Only by finding out the mastermind behind the entire conspiracy can Shen Lie's crisis be truly resolved, and at the same time, the princess can also be said to have been deceived by others, because she was eager to save her brother, so she sued the emperor without verification. This can only be regarded as negligence, not as a frame-up. ”

Li Xi thought for a moment, and suddenly asked, "Brother, you said last night that Jinghui was in your hands, did you deceive me?" ”

Li Jiangyao smiled embarrassedly: "When did you find out?" ”

"After you left yesterday, I sensed something was wrong." Li Xi couldn't help but laugh and said: "I think that if Jinghui is really arrested, she will definitely not be able to withstand your means, in that case, my brother will all understand, why bother acting with me?" ”

"Then why are you still willing to come to me today?" Li Jiangyao was a little curious.

"I'm glad I figured it out." Li Xiyan smiled: "Otherwise, being my brother's enemy is worse than death." When I asked Jinghui, I suddenly thought of a possibility, which might be helpful in finding out who was behind the scenes. ”

Li Jiangyao also secretly admired Li Xi's shrewdness at this time, and couldn't help but humbly ask, "What are your good ideas?" ”

Li Xi analyzed: "Jinghui was waiting for me in Xiangji Temple in advance. And going to Xiangji Temple to worship the Buddha and incense was temporarily proposed when Concubine Hui came to visit me the day before. What does this mean by the short interval? ”

Li Jiangyao looked at Li Xi's eyes and said with a smile: "This shows that either it is by your side or Murong Ling's side, and there is Jinghui their eyeliner." ”

"Brother is really smart!" Li Xi praised: "I thought about it for a long time before I suspected this, and you actually heard it through." ”

Li Jiangyao waved his hand: "Princess, don't praise me anymore, let's continue to talk about business." If you have doubts, you must have made discoveries, right? ”

Li Xi nodded: "I feel that there seems to be something wrong with the personal maid Xiaoting, but unfortunately there are not many means to confirm it, so I can only observe it silently in secret." ”

"As long as you have a goal, it's easy to do." Li Jiangyao said with a smile: "The princess gave me two days, and I will be responsible for verifying Xiaoting's innocence." ”

Li Xi originally planned to ask Li Jiangyao how to verify Xiaoting's innocence, but after thinking about it, she held back again.

Soldiers have always been decisive in killing. In case Li Jiangyao's people want to be ruthless to Xiaoting and torture her, it will not be good if you know about it.

At this moment, the housekeeper of the Hu Mansion suddenly communicated outside the door, saying that the palace had just come to pass the word, and asked most of the people to escort into the palace to accompany the emperor to lunch.

Li Jiangyao responded with a smile, and immediately asked Li Xidao: "I have never eaten with the emperor, are there any rules that need to be paid attention to?" For example, what kind of clothes to wear? Can you take the initiative to pour His Majesty to drink? ”

Li Xi sneered when he heard this, glanced at Li Jiangyao and said, "Brother, sometimes you are so smart that people feel scared, and sometimes you are so stupid and cute. ”

-

Li Jiangyao was dressed in a court dress and a crown belt, and walked into Changqing Palace under the guidance of the chamberlain.

In the huge hall, there are only two tables. One on a high platform and one under a high platform.

Li Jiangyao looked around, thinking that when Li Bing came later, he would have to give a cumbersome ceremony, so he simply didn't sit down first, and stood in place and waited quietly.

Sure enough, not long after, the chamberlain sang loudly, "The emperor has arrived—"

Li Bing, who was also dressed formally, walked into the temple accompanied by the forbidden army. He waited for Li Jiangyao to finish saluting, beckoned the other party to take a seat, and at the same time sent out the forbidden army, leaving only two small chamberlains to serve beside him.

Li Jiangyao secretly said in his heart: This emperor is also quite courageous. With my martial arts, even if I don't bring the Star Falling Sword, I can completely take his life within three moves. Sitting down with me in such a grand banquet doesn't seem to have any intention of forcing me to death today.

He smiled faintly, and according to the rules of Li Xijiao, he arched his hand and said loudly: "The minister is humble and meritorious, and he is loved by His Majesty, and he is given a meal and a banquet. ”

Li Bing bowed his head slightly and said, "Li Qing has made great contributions to the country. And he has been fighting abroad all the year round, and he has experienced wind and frost for a long time, and it is rare to return to the imperial capital, which is all as it should be. ”

As he spoke, he picked up his wine glass: "Although I am not strong enough to drink, I still have to drink three glasses with Qing first!" ”

This first cup is to thank Li Qing for his rescue in Luoyi back then. Without you, I would not be where I am today. ”

When Li Jiangyao heard this, he hurriedly picked up the cup on the table and drank the wine at the same time as Li Bing. He had taken the antidote provided by the Intelligence Department in advance, and he had strong internal strength, so he was not worried about being poisoned in alcohol and food.

The waiter refilled the cups of the two of them with wine, and Li Bing said: "The second cup is to reward Li Qing for crisscrossing the border and guarding thousands of miles for the Holy Tang!" ”

Li Jiangyao said a few words modestly, and drank it all together with Li Bing.

"The third cup is for the first emperor," Li Bing said solemnly: "Li Qing recovered the imperial capital, eliminated the Turks, and avenged the first emperor, I thank you from the bottom of my heart, please!" ”

"Your Majesty, please." Li Jiangyao raised his glass again and drank with Li Bing.

After three rounds of drinking, Li Bing smiled meaningfully, and then said: "Li Qing, Fang Dicai's three glasses of wine are my gratitude to you and my respect for you. However, in addition to the three respects, I still have three resentments against you, resentful resentment, do you know? ”

Li Jiangyao was a little curious, looked at Li Bing calmly, and responded: "Forgive the ministers for being stupid, and ask Your Majesty for advice." ”

Li Bing shook his head lightly and waved his hand: "I don't say it, you can go back and think about it slowly." Come, try the dishes first, it's all good. ”

Li Jiangyao didn't bother, obediently picked up the jade chopstick, tasted everything on the table. Sure enough, as Li Bing said, they are all rare delicacies.

Seeing that he ate calmly and happily, Li Bing was also secretly surprised: Li Jiangyao is indeed a hero. Knowing that I was dissatisfied with him, and even said three grudge words, he was still calm and calm, and he was not worried about being assassinated by poisonous hands. Just this calm and calm appearance is quite general-like.

Li Jiangyao ate attentively, but Li Bing barely moved his chopsticks. He waited for Li Jiangyao to swallow a crystal shrimp ball into his stomach before he asked leisurely, "Is Shen Lie okay?" How's the recovery going? ”

Hearing this, Li Jiangyao couldn't help but be stunned, but the expression on his face and the movements in his hands did not change in the slightest

I only heard Li Bing continue: "Li Qing doesn't have to deny it, and he doesn't have to admit it, I don't plan to pursue it. Alas, I also know that Tian Mu and the others are very heavy, if they hadn't wanted to ask more secrets from Shen Lie's body, I'm afraid they would have killed him a long time ago. ”

Li Jiangyao heard what the other party said, gently put down the jade chopstick, and said coldly: "Your Majesty, why is this difficult?" ”

Li Bing knew what he meant: Why bother letting a loyal minister like Shen Lie go, but using Tian Mu's gang of traitors, and letting them brutalize Zhongliang?

After being silent for a moment, Li Bing smiled bitterly: "Li Jiangyao, what do you think, what is a loyal minister?" What is a courtier? ”

"Those who cherish their family and country and sacrifice their lives to protect them are loyal." Li Jiangyao replied loudly: "Those who are jealous of the virtuous and can use power for personal gain are the best. ”

Li Bing nodded and shook his head again: "That's right, it's right, it's not right." Didn't you notice? The standard you just mentioned is missing the most critical link? ”

"What's missing?" Li Jiangyao was a little puzzled.

"Missing the Emperor." Li Bing's tone was a little dignified: "Those who use power for personal gain may not only seek their own selfishness, but sometimes also seek the selfishness of the emperor; Those who cherish their family and country may not have the Holy Tang Emperor in their hearts, but perhaps more of them are born in the world. Shen Lie, and you Li Jiangyao, you are all the mainstays of this country, however, you are not my loyal ministers. ”

The loyal servants of the state and the loyal servants of the emperor are obviously not the same.

Li Jiangyao understood the young monarch's point of view, and also understood that this was not simply black and white. If the ruler of a dynasty cannot grasp all the power 100% firmly, then what is the meaning of this dynasty to him.

Even, his survival and safety will always be in great uncertainty.

Li Bing didn't hate Shen Lie, but was afraid of Shen Lie; It's not that I'm afraid of Shen Lie as a person, but I'm afraid of Shen Lie's unpredictable mind and the power in his hands.

In comparison, what are the ugly deeds of corruption and bribery and bullying of men and women done by Wei Zixuan and others?

A minister who can be easily taken down by the emperor at any time is a good minister. In other words, a stinking minion is a good minion.

It's a pity that Shen Lie is not a minion, and Li Jiangyao is not.

That's why Li Bing is deeply afraid of them.

Thinking of this, Li Jiangyao smiled lightly: "Your Majesty, you just asked the minister, what is loyalty and what is it." The minister also wants to ask His Majesty a question, what is Mingjun? ”

Li Bing's face suddenly showed displeasure, but he still replied patiently after all: "The great cause of creating eternity, returning the world to peace, is for the Ming Jun." ”

"The minister thinks, it's right, it's not right." Li Jiangyao said seriously: "Your Majesty, being one with the country and putting the country first, is actually Mingjun. As you just said to the minister, if you and the Holy Tang are truly one, then aren't the loyal vassals of the country the loyal vassals of the emperor the emperor? ”

Li Bing was slightly stunned when he heard this, and couldn't help but think about the meaning of Li Jiangyao's words.

One with the country, with the country first?

One with the Holy Tang, the loyal ministers of the country and the loyal ministers of the emperor?

This...... Will it really work?

After being silent for a moment, Li Bing waved away all kinds of thoughts in his mind one by one and looked at Li Jiangyao: "Today, you and I have spoken out. I ask you, and I hope you can answer honestly, does the assassination at the princess's wedding have anything to do with you and the Zhenjiang Army? ”