At the imperial banquet on the night of Shangyuan, Princess Yuzhen was also present.

She didn't want to attract attention, and sat a little farther away in the side hall to watch the singing and dancing, but she didn't expect that the most lively thing this night was not the singing and dancing, but someone in the temple to exhort the saint bluntly.

She hadn't seen anything like that for more than a decade since those stubborn authoritarian prime ministers.

When Xue Bai was escorted out of the main hall, she turned her head and glanced behind her, only to see that the two disciples were stunned and looked in the direction of the hall gate, as if their souls had been taken away.

After that, An Lushan began to dance the Hu Xuan Dance again.

Princess Yuzhen has always hated this kind of ugliness, so she covered her eyes with her sleeves and said to the two disciples: "Since you can't stay any longer, you can retire first when the banquet is rested." ”

"Really?"

Li Jilan came to the Shangyuan banquet for the first time, and she didn't think it was interesting, at least so far she hadn't heard good poems and songs, so she said: "Disciple ......"

"The disciple is a little tired." Li Tengkong was worried that she would say something unseemly, so he responded lightly.

"Yes." Li Jilan covered her mouth with her hand and pretended to yawn, "I'm a little tired." ”

When the drums stopped, the sage was going to change his clothes after playing the drums, and the imperial banquet was temporarily rested.

No one cared at all, An Lushan turned fifty times.

Li Jilan withdrew from the main hall and looked at the brightly lit Chang'an City, and couldn't help but be shocked by the scene in front of him, and said:

"Vacate the air, where are we going to find Xue Lang?"

"Who said they were looking for him?" Li Tengkong replied, raising his eyes to look at Chang'an, but there was deep worry in his eyes.

She turned around and looked around, and saw a group of officials hugging Li Linfu to rest in the house, so she said, "You go to Kyauknu and wait for me." ”

"Hey, where are you going?"

Li Tengkong had already run quickly towards her grandfather, and was stopped at the door to identify herself before she was allowed to enter.

In the room, Li Linfu was giving orders to many officials.

"The North Ya and the South Ya have sent people to find Li Yanye and Feng Jiayi, and the others must find out this matter first."

"According to the lower officials, Xue Bai will have nothing to do with this matter."

"Shilang, you take someone to find Xue Bai......"

Li Linfu said, suddenly stopped talking, watched Li Tengkong come in, and said lightly: "Why are you here?" ”

In front of a group of officials, Li Tengkong gave him a lot of face and only asked a question.

"Grandpa, can you ask your daughter to help Brother find someone?"

Both father and daughter understood each other's thoughts, Li Linfu thought for a while and sighed: "Go ahead, let him do it himself." ”

"Whoa."

Li Xiu saluted, withdrew from the room with his sister, and took the token to leave Xingqing Palace.

Out of Tongyang Gate, I saw that Xue Hui was assigning people to search the city.

"I can't live in peace." Li Xiu sighed, "You say, why can't he stop a little? ”

"Father and brother are both court officials." Li Tengkong's tone was slightly compassionate, and said: "If the official stops, maybe the people of Shengli will not stop?" ”

"The woman doesn't stay, and her elbow always turns out."

"Brother, I have seen everything that happened in the temple with my own eyes, and I am inspired by it. However, if what you say is not what you want, it means that I have no opinion, and everything is towards Xue Bai. Brother, grandfather, and even saints, can't listen to a word of disobedience? ”

Li Xiu didn't answer immediately, and after a while, he smiled bitterly: "Isn't this already disobedient?" ”

He had always been obedient to Li Linfu, so he could most keenly feel that there was an important change on the night of the ninth year of Tianbao—some people in the court had begun to stop welcoming saints.

"Xue playing cards" and "Xue singing" suddenly changed into "Xue Zhizhi" and "Xue Dare to Speak", and there are still people who dare to cooperate with them.

The court is like a pack of wolves, as soon as they notice that the saint and the prime minister are getting older, the little wolf cubs are ready to move.

The aftermath of "convulsions" that Wang Weld shouted has not yet dissipated.

"Juro, I found it."

"Where?"

"He's gone to East City."

"Let's go."

Chang'an City is brightly lit, like daytime, and you don't even need to mention lanterns when you walk on the road. The group walked to the southwest and entered the East Market, where the front was becoming more and more lively.

"Where is he?" Li Xiu had to raise his voice and asked in the ear of his subordinates.

"Crossroads."

In the distance, someone was dancing the firebird, winning a burst of shouting.

Li Tengkong suddenly felt something, raised his head and saw a person walking on stilts, walking on the head of the crowd.

This scene seems familiar, and she and Xue Bai also came to Dongshi on the Shangyuan Festival of Tianbao's sixth year, looking for a pharmacy.

"It's just ahead, he should be going to Fenghui Bank, Mrs. Qiu's property."

"Lead the way."

Li Xiu raised his eyes and saw a lantern in the shape of a gold coin hanging in front of a shop, and was about to pass by, but he heard a report that Xue Bai had gone forward.

Finally pushed through the crowd and out of the East City, he was about to ask his men to speed up their journey.

"Shilang, the person was invited away by Xue Hui."

"Damn." Li Xiu instructed, "Keep an eye on Xue Hui's people and see what they find." ”

~~

The deeper the night, the brighter Chang'an.

The two female crowns led their entourage to walk around the East Market, sometimes looking up at the Wanghuo Tower not far away, and sometimes buying some cloth and jewelry.

In the end, they bought two lanterns at the stall, and each asked for a pen to write and draw on the lamp paper.

Li Jilan is good at writing poems, but this year she didn't bother to carve the words, but took the pen and sketched lightly, outlining the image of a young man.

Li Tengkong accompanied her to pass the time, silently writing the Tao Te Ching.

"Dao Ke Dao, very Dao Dao?" Li Jilan turned her head to look at it, shook her head, and muttered, "Shangyuan Festival, are you carrying such a lantern?" ”

"Painting lanterns is also practice."

"It's me who is so stupid that you always use such lies to perfunctory me."

Li Teng has no distractions and only cares about writing scriptures, which looks simple and unique in this lit night.

Suddenly, there was a singing voice not far away.

"It's Xue Lang's words." Li Jilan stood up, listened carefully, then looked up at Wanghuo Tower, and muttered to himself: "He made an ambition three years ago to stand in the lamplight. ”

Li Tengkong was stunned.

In my ears, the song has been sung for the second time, "The moth snow willow is golden, and the laughter is full of dark fragrance." ”

The world was intoxicated by it, but only she knew that it was written to her.

Li Tengkong lowered his head, and then she copied the "Tao Te Ching" and wrote a small poem in the back.

"I have a heart, and no one can talk about it."

"Send the wind to blow away the clouds, and speak to the sky and the moon."

Looking up, at the top of the willow tree, a bright moon is full, and the light is everywhere.

suddenly

"Xue Bai is down."

"With Jin Wuwei following, it's not easy to take it."

"Don't let Xue Hui's people see us."

Li Xiu knew Xue Hui's intentions, so he had to stop tonight.

"Sooner or later, when you can't protect him, let's go."

Li Tengkong looked back, only to see Xue Bai walking to the small stall in Fangcai, buying a lantern, writing for a while, and walking away with the lantern.

~~

Early in the morning, Xuanyang Fang, Xue House.

Qinglan settled Xue Bai to sleep, but heard that there were two female crowns outside the door asking to see her.

"They are Lang Jun's friends, that is, Lang Jun has been out for a year, so you don't recognize them."

Qinglan was quite happy and went to the inner hall to greet her.

"Vacate the air, Ji Lanzi, why are you here?"

"We have something we want to remind Xue Lang." Li Tengkong said.

She knew that Xue Bai was on the cusp of the storm again last night, so she would go to see Li Linfu and follow Xue Bai with Li Xiu, in order to protect him.

The attitude of the Right Prime Minister towards him is still uncertain, it may be tolerated, it may be removed, and she needs to remind him a few words.

Qing Lan felt the seriousness of the matter from her tone, and hurriedly said, "Then I'll call Lang Jun out." ”

"Okay."

Li Jilan saw Qinglan running away and asked, "Vacant son, is there a mirror?" I stayed up all night. ”

"You're beautiful."

"Really?"

Li Jilan had already discovered that there was a Yangzhou water heart mirror on the inner hall, so she walked over.

Li Tengkong blinked his eyes, but his eyes fell on the extinguished lantern on the ground, and he saw that it was inscribed with a poem.

It was written by Xue Bai when he bought a lamp in the East Market, and although it was far away, she could feel a little melancholy when he wrote the poem.

Because you lost your office, you're very unhappy, right?

She couldn't hold back, stepped forward, lifted the lantern and glanced at it.

It was a five-character poem, and his handsome face was as handsome and timeless as his people.

"On New Year's Eve last year, the flower market was lit up like daylight."

"The willow tops on the moon, people about after dusk."

"On New Year's Eve this year, the moon and lights are still the same."

"I didn't see last year's people, and my tears wet the sleeves of my spring shirt."

~~

A tear ran across her delicate cheeks and landed on her sleeve.

Li Tengkong tried to hold back his tears, and when he turned around, he saw Xue Bai standing behind her at some point.

She was startled and hurriedly put down the lantern, at a loss.

Thinking about her thoughts, she didn't know how long it had been, and Xue Bai seemed to have been there calling her for a long time. But she didn't want him to see her gaffe, so she walked quickly out of the inner hall and into the path in the courtyard, sniffling.

"Vacate?"

"That...... Ji Lanzi has something to say to you. ”

Li Tengkong made an excuse, and after waiting for a while, Li Jilan didn't know how to come to solve the siege, and there was no sound behind him.

She glanced back, and when she saw Xue Bai standing not far away, she quickly turned her back again.

"Vacate."

"I saw the poem......"

"Hmm."

"I shouldn't have seen it." Li Tengkong wiped his tears, looking a little stubborn, "I cultivate my Tao, and I am at ease...... When I see your heart, it's easy to feel regret and grievance......"

"I shouldn't have written that poem."

"You're messing with me." Li Tengkong couldn't hold back, and complained to Xue Bai in a crying voice.

This kind of unreasonable complaint is only used by a little woman to the closest person.

After she finished speaking, she realized that she became more and more panicked, forced herself to calm down, and said, "I want to cultivate the Tao well, and you are also going to get married, so you can't write this kind of poetry again." ”

"Okay, last night, I ...... Indeed, I think of you. ”

"No."

"Okay." Xue Bai felt her emotions and said slowly: "Don't worry, I just feel it, and it's the attitude of treating friends." ”

"Well, I just see you as a friend."

"As a person, I care most about myself, and I always focus on myself." Xue Bai said, gradually becoming frank, "Therefore, although I have you in my heart, I will not change my position and take refuge in the Right Prime Minister's Mansion for you." I'm first and foremost, and only occasionally ...... Some miss, occasionally. ”

"Hmm." Li Tengkong also calmed down and said, "Me too, first of all, I am me." I was born in the Prime Minister's Mansion, cultivating the Tao and accumulating virtues, atoning for my sins, for what I have asked for in my life, and I will not change it for you. ”

"Okay."

After a few words, the two seemed to be more estranged.

Li Tengkong heard footsteps behind him, and it seemed that Xue Bai felt that she was strong enough, so he was leaving.

She couldn't help but turn around and asked, "Do you occasionally ...... Also...... Will you miss me too? ”

~~

"Vacate?"

Li Jilan waited for a while, walked out of the inner hall, and walked towards the path in the courtyard, calling in a low voice on the way.

She actually didn't know what was going on, but she knew that Li Tengkong was in a daze, and ran away after being called by Xue Bai several times. Maybe it's too sleepy to stand there asleep, startled by a nightmare?

Turning the path, two figures came into view in front of him, and Li Jilan's eyes widened and he was taken aback.

"Yikes."

"Ji Lanzi."

"You ...... I ......" Li Jilan put her hand over her mouth, pretended to yawn, and said, "I'm so sleepy." ”

"yes."

The three of them then walked to the inner hall.

Xue Bai said: "By the way, you guys came to me, do you have something to say?" ”

"Yes, you have offended my grandfather, and you have angered the saint, it is easy to dodge with an open gun, but it is difficult to defend against a hidden arrow. Do you want to avoid it first? ”

"Where to go?"

"We thought of a place to go." Li Jilan looked at Li Tengkong and wanted to make eye contact, but Li Tengkong lowered her head, she had no choice but to say, "How is Wangwushan?" ”

"Wangwu Mountain?"

"Lingdu Temple is Master's Residence, and no one can harm you in it."

Xue Bai shook his hand with a smile and said, "Don't dare to work with Princess Yuzhen, I have no official position now, and I have nothing to do with others, so I don't have to worry about my life." ”

"Has Xue Lang really dismissed? So what's next? Li Jilan asked, "Do you write dramas?" ”

"I have some ideas, I should ...... Alchemy. ”

"Huh?" Li Tengkong asked, "You also cultivate?" ”

"It should only be alchemy, not cultivating."

Li Tengkong cultivated and practiced medicine, and he also knew a little about alchemy, and he didn't like those pills other than medicinal materials, so he was quite puzzled why Xue Bai was interested in alchemy.

Li Jilan was very happy, and hurriedly said, "Then we will also help, right?" Vacant Zi can be known as the holy hand of the Dan furnace. ”

"I don't have it."

"Okay." Xue Bai had actually caught a Taoist priest who was very powerful in this area, but he didn't refuse their kindness, "I've been free recently, so I have to ask the two Taoist masters for advice." ”

After the snow, the sky was clear, and Li Tengkong, who had just cried, suddenly got better.

~~

"Grandpa, there's one more thing...... Seventeen Niang went to Xue Bai's house. ”

Returning to the Right Prime Minister's Mansion from the Calyx Tower, Li Linfu looked very tired, but he still had to listen to Li Xiu's report on many things that happened after the first night of the New Year.

"Let them go, you don't care about Seventeen Niang, the two are happy, can you stop it?"

"Yes." Li Xiu was about to retreat, only to remember that the matter of Nanzhao Proton had not yet received a clear answer, so he stopped and asked, "Feng Jiayi's death?" ”

"January, there are a few pieces." Li Linfu said: "The ministers please seal Xiyue, and the sage has approved it." ”

Li Xiu was stunned.

"The Huayue Temple has been built, and the Huashan Road is in full swing. Feng Chan is in October, you say that Nanzhao rebelled? ”

"That ......"

"If you rebel, you will also be pressed down by the saint."

"Whoa!"

Li Xiu finally got a clear reply, hurriedly retreated, rushed to the meeting hall, and instructed the officials what Li Linfu meant.

It is divided into two aspects, on the one hand, the Zhongshu decree was passed to the southwest, and officials such as Zhongtong and Zhang Qiantuo must keep an eye on Ge Luofeng and never allow a rebellion in Nanzhao; On the other hand, officials in the capital such as Nanya and Jingzhaofu were strictly ordered to block the news, so as not to make a big deal about Feng Jiayi's defection......

~~

Li Linfu rarely slept deeply, but in fact, he woke up at noon.

When he woke up, he thought that Xue Bai had lost his official position, Chen Xilie and Yang Guozhong had all obeyed, and the phase shaking caused by Wang Jie's death had finally passed, which made people feel a lot easier.

As for whether Nanzhao rebels or not, it doesn't matter, because the imperial court has long been on guard, and once Ge Luofeng has a different intention, the imperial court's arrangement in the southwest is enough to easily take him down.

In the eighth year of Tianbao, he also ordered He Luguang, the general of Zuo Wuwei, to lead the army into Nanzhao, take Anning City and Yanjing, and control the salt of Nanzhao to control its lifeline.

In other words, there can be no major turmoil in the southwest, and there is no need to make a big fuss about whether Ge Luofeng has treacherous intentions, so as not to affect the major affairs of Fengchan Xiyue.

This is the reason why he will win, but unfortunately, Xue Bai and the others don't understand these inside information.

The question now is only who is involved...... Zhang Yan? Lee Hyung?

Li Yanye's death is obviously strange, and it can be investigated down the line, and another big case against the East Palace can be set off.

In addition, Li Linfu is also considering whether King Yong is suitable for the throne.

"Is Grandpa awake?" Li Xiu's voice came from outside the hospital.

"What?"

Li Linfu keenly felt that something was wrong again.

Sure enough, when Li Xiu hurriedly came in, he took a newspaper in his hand.

~~

In the evening, Xue Bai woke up and saw someone sitting on a stool next to the couch looking at him, it was Mingzhu.

"Why? Weird and scary. ”

"Yao Niang is worried about your safety and sent someone to protect you."

"It doesn't have to be that way."

"I told the little lady of the emperor that I came to see you, and she moved a stool for me to sit on."

Qinglan lowered her head a little embarrassed, and said embarrassedly: "I thought I was just sitting here and watching......

Xue Bai said: "Did Yu Yao see the Di Bao?" ”

"Yes, Yao Niang said that Lang Jun was a little too much."

"Show me."

Mingzhu then took out a newspaper from his bosom and handed it over.

Xue Bai actually knew the content for a long time, but he still read it again. There are two most important news, one is that Nanzhao proton Feng Jiayi defected, and Nanzhao colluded with Tubo to betray the Tang Dynasty, which is an indisputable fact; The second said that Li Linfu deceived the saint and whitewashed the peace, and the direct ministers such as Hanlin Li Mi and Yushi Xue Bai went to the Yuan night to admonish and were dismissed.

It's all true.

As Xue Bai and Du Yan said, once this matter is summoned to the world, no matter how secretive it is, everyone will know that he did it.

This is also the reason why Yang Yuyao sent people to protect Xue Bai.

"Lang Jun has recently gone to the Lady of Yuguo's Mansion to live for a while." Mingzhu persuaded.

Qinglan said: "I have already packed all my luggage. ”

"This time, Yu Yao can't protect me, but don't worry, I'll probably be fine."

Xue Bai finished speaking calmly here, but there were already officials over there who had brought the documents of the officials.

"Tianbao nine-year system, grant Xue Bai Haiyang County the order to take off!"

Mingzhu came out behind Xue Bai, heard this shout, was taken aback, lowered her head and thought to herself, and didn't know how angry Yao Niang should be.

"Supervise the imperial history Xue Bai, the scrintner is handsome, there are talents who should be discerned, and they are really encouraging, so they are from the excellent rank, and now they are awarded the copper seal, and they are slaughtered in Haiyang."

Xue Bai didn't seem to dare to answer the confession, and excused himself: "But I have already resigned." ”

"I haven't heard of Xue Lang's resignation, but congratulations to Xue County Commander for his promotion, Haiyang County is the seat of Chaoyang County, and the county order is a seven-rank official."

~~

Night.

There are three nights in Chang'an City during the Shangyuan Festival that there will be no curfew, and this is the second night.

The lamp market is still prosperous, and it has not been affected by the disputes in the court, but there is more talk in the market.

On such a night, even the kings of the Ten Kings' Mansion were able to come out and stroll...... Tianbao's five-year major case was also caused by this.

King Li Cong has changed his clothes and is ready to take his children and grandchildren to see the lantern market.

But he's still waiting for news.

"Dalang."

"How?"

"Something happened, he was relegated to Chaoyang, and he died in the evening, and then he was called cold and couldn't afford to pretend to be sick."

Li Cong asked, "Descend to Chaoyang?" Can he still hide? ”

"I don't know, it's better not to see him, the current situation is ......"

No matter how you look at the current situation, Li Linfu has already won, and several officials who have directly admonished him have belittled and voted for it.

But Li Cong couldn't help but always think of the scene when Li Heng walked to the hall before him to argue with reason, and at that moment, he felt that he was inferior to Li Heng.

"No, if I don't come forward, he will be able to avoid being degraded by taking refuge in Li Linfu, let's go."

He knew that Xue Bai had other choices, there were many princes, and the East Palace and the Right Prime Minister's Mansion were all wooing Xue Bai. It can be seen from Xue Bai's attitude at the imperial banquet that although he was disappointed in him, he was very calm.

If he doesn't go, he will lose.

Li Cong then went out and went to Dongshi to see the lanterns.

He was dressed in an ordinary robe, and he was inconspicuous from a distance when he walked in the crowd, but the scars on his face were quite shocking when he looked closely.

So, when he passed by a stall selling masks, he bought a mask and chose a monkey, although his least favorite thing in his life was a monkey...... His face was scratched by monkeys.

Someone was dancing in front of him, and Li Cong took his family to avoid a restaurant and asked for a private room.

And behind him, someone is following not far away, looking for evidence to set off a big case.

~~

After only a pillar of incense, Li Cong was already dressed as a small servant, passing through the secret passage from the backyard of the restaurant and entering a quiet courtyard.

He looked very calm, but there was some uneasiness in his heart.

Ahead, a door was pushed open, Li Cong sorted out his clothes and the mask on his face, let out a long breath, and walked in.

Xue Bai was actually in the house, he was supposed to be pretending to be sick at home, and he was being watched by countless people, it was extremely dangerous to come out to meet, and there was a woman with a cold temperament standing next to him.

Li Cong didn't recognize who this woman was at first sight, but when he looked at it again, he couldn't help but be surprised and recognized her as the original prince Liangdi Du Yan.

When Xue Bai saw someone coming, he actually reached out and patted Du Yan's waist, making a soothing movement.

"King Qing."

What answered Xue Bai was an expressionless monkey mask.

Li Cong did not speak, and under the cover of the mask, he looked very majestic.

But his back was already cold.

There were still many strong men in the room, all of them stood there, looking at Xue Bai and Du Liangdi, listening to him shouting "King Qing", which made him feel very dangerous.

"If you want to know what you can get in exchange for working hard, I will tell you tonight that it is from the dragon's work! This is the eldest son of today's saint, His Royal Highness King Qing. ”

Xue Bai said, walked up to Li Cong to salute, and said, "Don't you want to greet King Qing?" ”

"I've seen King Qing!"

Li Cong wanted to make everyone quiet, but at this moment, the blood of Tianhuang nobles flowed in his body.

He actually said in a deep and gentle voice: "If you strong men are willing to live and die with this king, why bother to be polite. ”

"The saint is old, deceived by traitorous ministers, appoints corrupt officials to extort tyranny, listens to slander, and kills three sons in one day. It is the king of Qing, who adopted the orphan of the prince, painstakingly lonely, wanting to turn the tide in the fall, support the general of the building, and protect the foundation of the Tang Dynasty. And the orthodoxy of Sheji is only in the Qingwang lineage, who dares to have different opinions?! ”

When Xue Bai said this, everyone in the room was in high spirits, because they knew that what they were assisting was the orthodoxy of the Tang Dynasty.

Even Li Cong was excited, feeling that he was one step closer to the storage position.

He looked at Xue Bai's burning gaze, nodded, and slowly took off the mask on his face.

There is no need for more proof, his face full of scars is the best proof of his identity.

"This king asks you, do you want a prince with a good face but a cowardly face, or a prince who looks sad but cares about Li Shu?"

"We will swear to die for King Qing!"

Hearing such a shout that was not neat, Li Cong was a little moved, and said solemnly: "This king will never fail you strong men!" ”

"I'll introduce King Qing." Xue Bai first pointed to a man with a weathered face and said, "Fan Gao, I used to be a bad handsome in Huaizhou. This time, he found out about Feng Jiayi's defection, so that we can grasp the news in advance......"

In the crowd, Ren Mulan couldn't help but smile.

She knew that Fan Jiao had not found out about Feng Jiayi's defection, but in fact, Fan Gao's defection with Feng Jiayi.

The reason why I know is because she disguised herself as a slave and infiltrated Li Yanye's mansion, sneaked into Li Yanye's house and stabbed him, and stole the token and important evidence.

When she went to Chang'an this time, she found that although Chang'an was good, the people of Chang'an were not like her.

As for the King Qing in front of him, he obviously didn't take her as a little girl, he didn't even look at her, and only cared about encouraging those strong men with his eyes.

……

After seeing these dead soldiers, Li Cong talked with Xue Bai and Du Yan alone.

"I heard that Brother Nu demoted you to Chaoyang County, do you have any response?"

"It's not that I need to deal with it." Xue Bai said, "It's about how we should take over state affairs when the brother slave can't control the situation." It's just the darkness before dawn. ”

"Really?"

Li Cong raised his eyebrows, surprised that the result was much better than he expected.

"Can Xue Lang be sure?"

"I got Zhang Qiantuo's missing recital, do you want to see it?"

"Okay."

Li Cong was very relieved that Xue Bai had finally regained his closeness with him.

After that, several transcripts were handed to him.

"The situation in the southwest is much worse than the Manchu ministers expected. At this time, only Abel can turn the tide and shoulder the heavy responsibility of the emperor's eldest son......"

(End of chapter)