Jiuxi

Chapter 653: 651 [Because I am at the highest level]

Capital city, outside the imperial palace and Ningmen.

A carriage came slowly.

When it reached the edge of the square, the carriage stopped steadily, and then a tall young man got off the carriage, stretched out his hand respectfully, and helped an old man get off the carriage.

Standing on the wide and flat square, the old man stopped for a moment, his eyes full of emotion.

He gently patted the back of the boy's hand, and Li Gongxu helped him to the palace gate.

The captain of the imperial guards on duty had already come forward to greet him. Without waiting for him to salute, the old man said, "Please tell him that I, the old minister Li Daoyan, would like to see Your Majesty."

The lieutenant did not dare to delay and said respectfully, "Please wait a moment, old prime minister."

Li Daoyan nodded slightly, then stood upright without saying a word.

After about an incense stick of time, the Junior Supervisor of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, Yuan Yuji, came running in with several eunuchs. When they got to the front, they said hurriedly, "Your Majesty has spoken, summoning the Left Prime Minister to see you."

Li Daoyan said to Li Gongxu, "Wait outside the palace."

The young man bowed his head and said, "Yes, Grandfather."

Yuan Yuji came up and supported Li Daoyan, saying humbly, "Old Prime Minister, please."

Li Daoyan was old and frail, and his steps were slow. It took him a long time just to walk from the palace gate to Duancheng Hall, and this time he seemed to be particularly slow.

Yuan Yuji and several eunuchs had no idea what was going on, and they showed no impatience at all, but smiled cautiously.

Arriving in Chongzheng Hall, Li Daoyan let go of Yuan Yuji's arm, looked up at the young emperor behind the imperial desk, and bowed solemnly, "Your Majesty, I, Li Daoyan, pay my respects to you."

Li Zongben was slightly surprised when he saw this, and then he raised his hand and said, "No need to be so polite, Left Prime Minister. Stand up quickly."

He winked at Yuan Yuji, who immediately went to help Li Daoyan up.

Li Zongben continued, "Give the left prime minister a seat."

A eunuch brought a round stool and put it down, but Li Daoyan did not sit down. He looked at Li Zongben and said calmly, "Your Majesty, I have a favor to ask."

Li Zongben suddenly felt nervous and said quickly, "Left Prime Minister, just say whatever you want."

Li Daoyan bowed his head and said, "Your Majesty, I have been feeling weak and exhausted lately. I have been relying on the Right Prime Minister to take care of government affairs. I feel deeply ashamed. The ancient sages said that one should do his job, but I am just occupying the position for nothing. For the long-term benefit of the court, I would like to retire and return to my hometown to end my remaining life. I hope Your Majesty will grant me this."

The hall suddenly fell into deathly silence.

Li Zongben's lips twitched, and his eyes even lost focus for a moment. After he came to his senses, he stood up hastily without caring about his appearance, and said blankly: "Left Prime Minister..."

Yuan Yuji and a group of palace maids nearby all held their breath and dared not even breathe.

Everyone knows that Li Daoyan is old, and they also know that he will not stay in the court for too long, but the old man's body is not to the point where he can't walk, and his mind is still clear. He should have no problem holding on for another year or two, at least until the New Year comes and the emperor changes the era name.

No one expected that this day would come so suddenly, and there was absolutely no sign of it before.

Li Zongben managed to regain his composure and said with concern: "Could it be that someone in the court has disobeyed the Left Prime Minister? If there is such an official who does not know what is good for him, please speak up, Left Prime Minister. I will definitely not let him off easily!"

Li Daoyan smiled slightly, shook his head and said, "Your Majesty, there is no such thing. In fact, as early as two years ago, I had resigned several times from the late emperor, but in the past few years, Da Qi has been plagued by internal and external troubles, and even the late emperor has been struggling with illness, so I can't let go. Last winter in the imperial garden, the late emperor told me that I must assist the new emperor to protect Da Qi. How could I not obey? Now that your majesty's throne is stable, you have wise and capable ministers such as Rong Guogong, You Xiang and Zhong Shangshu, and Lu Chen, Liu Shouguang and a group of brave generals of the border army. Da Qi is unstoppable and no longer needs me."

Li Zongben was deeply moved by these words. He said firmly, "I need the support of the Left Prime Minister. Great Qi cannot do without the Left Prime Minister sitting in the center. Please take back your previous words. If the Left Prime Minister is physically exhausted, he can stop attending the court meeting. I will have someone send the important memorial to the Prime Minister's residence."

Li Daoyan was silent for a while, but finally said calmly: "Your Majesty, how dare I risk the disapproval of the world? Birth, aging, sickness and death are inevitable, and I really have no power to do anything. Besides, the Right Prime Minister and Minister Zhong are well versed in government affairs, and they will also assist Your Majesty wholeheartedly."

Li Zongben sighed, looked at the old man's face, and said slowly: "Left Prime Minister, sit down and talk."

"Thank you, Your Majesty, for the seat."

Li Daoyan was very polite and immediately sat on the round stool.

Li Zongben also sat back, not knowing where to start for a moment.

What he said just now was not false, but he was indeed not prepared for the other party to resign.

Although Han Lingfu died suddenly when he first ascended the throne, the old master had retired from the court for a long time, and his death did not have much impact on the operation of the court.

However, Li Daoyan's situation was completely different. It was not just a matter of the departure of the left prime minister.

Li Daoyan served as prime minister for more than ten years and promoted countless officials. He was also the head of a prominent family in Jiangnan, and his influence among the people was even more far-reaching.

The sudden resignation of such a big shot will inevitably affect the power structure in all aspects.

Li Daoyan looked at the emperor's expression and said gently, "Your Majesty, don't worry."

At this moment, Li Zongben suddenly felt a little sad, because he vaguely saw the shadow of the late emperor in this old man. As if he was thinking of some past events, his face looked a little unnatural, and then he coughed lightly and said sincerely: "I really don't want to see the left prime minister leave the court, but the left prime minister has made up his mind, and I can't force him to stay, because you have worked hard for Da Qi all your life."

Li Daoyan smiled and said, "Thank you, Your Majesty."

Li Zongben shook his head and said with a sigh, "I am very worried when I heard about this. I have a few things I want to ask the left prime minister."

Li Daoyan said: "Your Majesty, please speak."

"After the left prime minister resigns, who will take over the position of left prime minister?"

"Of course it's Xue Nanting."

"Who is the right prime minister?"

"Minister of Personnel Zhong Cheng is fully qualified for this task."

Li Zongben was silent for a moment, then asked again: "May I ask, Left Prime Minister, who can take charge of the Ministry of Personnel?"

Li Daoyan looked into his eyes and said slowly: "It should be judged by the Holy Lord."

Li Zongben did not hear Li Shizhi's name from the old man. He felt both relieved and disappointed. The complexity of his emotions was difficult to express in words.

At this moment, he was sure that the old man was determined, so he did not even submit a petition to beg for retirement, but went directly to the palace to ask for an audience.

Otherwise, according to court practice, Li Daoyan would submit a letter of resignation, but Li Zongben would refuse to allow it, and the matter could often be delayed for several months.

Li Zongben just felt a little blocked in his heart.

In fact, he should have gladly accepted Li Daoyan's resignation, because the old prime minister had too many supporters in the court. Many times, no matter what the emperor wanted to do, he had to take Li Daoyan's ideas into consideration. Even if the other party would not object rashly, this feeling still made him uncomfortable.

Once Li Daoyan leaves, the power in Li Zongben's hands will be further concentrated. After all, although Xue Nanting is very capable, his reputation is far from comparable to Li Daoyan.

There was no one in the court who could exert the same restraining force as Li Daoyan.

But for some reason, looking at the old man's aged and calm expression, Li Zongben felt a little bit at a loss for no reason, as if a young eagle was about to face a storm for the first time.

Noticing the reluctance expressed by the emperor, Li Daoyan's heart softened and he said slowly: "Your Majesty, the court structure has been adjusted by the previous emperor, and this old minister has also contributed. It is now relatively stable. As long as there is no major turmoil, Your Majesty does not need to worry."

Li Zongben nodded and said, "I've made a note of it."

Li Daoyan added: "Xue Nanting is upright and impartial, and Zhong Cheng takes the overall situation into consideration. Maybe sometimes their honest advice may be unpleasant to the ear, but please believe that they are both wise and capable ministers. After I leave, if they do anything to disobey Your Majesty, I hope Your Majesty can forgive them a little."

Li Zongben should have said: "Please rest assured, Left Prime Minister."

Li Daoyan smiled lightly, a touch of warmth appeared on his face, and then he said earnestly: "I know that your majesty is not very confident about Lu Chen. Whether it is the many measures your majesty used when he was in the capital before, or letting Xu Yanbi take over as the governor of Dingzhou not long ago, they are all arrangements to prevent trouble before it happens. I don't think your majesty is wrong in this move, but Lu Chen is a minister who is different from ordinary people. If your majesty doesn't mind, I would like to say a few more words."

Until this moment, Li Zongben's expression finally became a little embarrassed.

Naturally, he could not hide what he had done from the old man in front of him, but now that the other party had exposed it publicly, he was inevitably at a loss as to what to do.

Li Daoyan pretended not to see it and said calmly: "Your Majesty, I have watched Lu Chen grow from an unknown commoner to the Duke of Shanyang County and the commander of the border army today. I have also witnessed how the late emperor treated Lu Chen. In fact, I fully understand your Majesty's worries, but I dare to say that as long as your Majesty trusts people, Lu Chen will not let you down."

Li Zongben remained silent.

Li Daoyan stood up and said solemnly: "Your Majesty, please trust the late emperor and this old minister's judgment of people."

Li Zongben's heart trembled. Looking at the old man's sincere eyes, he suddenly remembered his feelings after the conversation with Lu Chen in Moyuan.

"If you don't let down Da Qi, I will definitely not let you down."

The words are still in my ears.

The young emperor stood up again, bowed to the old man, and said, "I will accept your instruction."

Li Daoyan stepped aside and saluted, saying, "This old minister will take his leave."

Li Zongben looked at Yuan Yuji and said without question, "Go and ask for a sedan chair to escort the old prime minister out of the palace."

Li Daoyan declined politely, but Li Zongben was extremely determined, so the old man finally gave up.

Sitting on the sedan chair, from the Chongzheng Hall to the Qianchao Duancheng Hall, passing through this towering imperial palace, the old man looked at everything around him with a calm and indifferent gaze.

Every glazed roof, every pavilion and palace, every long bluestone staircase.

When he was outside the palace, he looked back again, and his eyes seemed to reflect the changes and vicissitudes of the past ten years.

Eventually it turned into relief.

(End of this chapter)