Lanting prelude

Chapter 51 Fall Out of Favor
Since his failure to frame the prince last year, Li Tai has fallen into the lowest ebb of his life.For the first time in his life, Li Tai tasted the taste of falling out of favor.

At about three o'clock in the morning, Chu Lisang secretly sneaked back to the royal residence in Qinglongfang.

She was extremely tired, and after asking Lv Xiu about the situation last night, she fell asleep on the bed.Unexpectedly, just after sleeping for half an hour, Wang Hongyi knocked on the door, "Sang'er Sang'er" screaming non-stop.Chu Lisang got up with disheveled temple hair and yawned endlessly to open the door. He said angrily, "I knocked once in the middle of the night last night, and now I'm knocking again. Why don't you let people sleep?"

While observing her expression, Wang Hongyi smiled apologetically: "The mansion was burglarized last night. Father was afraid that you would not sleep well, so I came over to have a look."

"It's not that I don't know martial arts, but I'm afraid that one or two little thieves will fail?"

"Yes, our Sang'er is brave and invincible. Dad is worrying too much." Wang Hongyi laughed a few times, "Dad came to see you, and he wanted to tell you that this house is not peaceful, and Dad has already let someone look for a new place. The house, we will move there today, you should tidy it up quickly."

Chu Lisang had already expected that he would do this, but he pretended to be surprised: "Isn't it just a thief, and we are going to move?"

Wang Hongyi smiled, said a few perfunctory words, and told her to pack her luggage quickly, and then left in a hurry.Chu Lisang closed the door and threw herself back on the bed again.Lu Xiu was thinking about something, so she came over and tugged at her: "Miss, don't sleep, tell me, what happened last night?"

"Someone wants to kill him." Chu Lisang lay on the bed, eyes closed, and said inarticulately.

"Who is going to kill him?"

"Enemies."

"Then why did you go there in the middle of the night?" Lu Xiu tugged again, "I was so worried, and I didn't know where you went, so I had to block you. You don't know how bad that Su Jinse is, I kept trying to break in and scared me half to death..."

Before he finished speaking, Chu Lisang had already snored.

Lvxiu was out of breath and pinched her.Chu Lisang woke up with a scream, and stared, "What are you doing? Can you let me sleep longer?"

"No." Lu Xiu said coldly, "You have to tell me clearly, are you still planning to go with him?"

Chu Lisang was so sleepy that he died, so he said angrily: "He is my own father, if I don't go with him, who will I go with?"

"But he killed your own mother!" Lu Xiu was anxious, "And he killed your adoptive father! Why did you betray so easily?!"

Previously, Luxiu had heard Chu Lisang talk about what had happened in the past six months, and couldn't help hating Wang Hongyi to the bone, but looking at the current situation, Chu Lisang seemed to be about to recognize this father, so he couldn't figure it out.

"Am I such a rebellious person?" Chu Lisang knew that he couldn't sleep, so he turned over and sat up.

"Okay, then let's leave today." Lu Xiu was overjoyed, "We just slipped away while they were moving."

"Where are you going?"

"Go back to Yique, isn't that our home?"

When mentioning Yi Que, Chu Lisang couldn't help but look gloomy: "Our house has burned down long ago, where is our home?"

Lu Xiu was at a loss for words for a while, thought for a while, and said: "Then let's just keep wasting, waiting for Xiao Lang to come to you?"

Chu Lisang remained silent.

"What if Xiao Lang never returns to Chang'an?"

"No." Chu Lisang thought thoughtfully, "Maybe he's back now."

"But didn't the court always want to arrest him? How dare he come back?"

When returning from Huaizhen Square this morning, Chu Lisang was sitting in the carriage, secretly paying attention to the bulletin boards along the street, and found a strange thing - there was not a single picture of her or Xiao Junmo on all the bulletin boards paperwork.She couldn't help thinking: Could it be that Xiao Lang did something beneficial to the imperial court in Qizhou, made meritorious service, and then the imperial court pardoned them all?
Chu Lisang told about this discovery, but Lu Xiu still didn't take it seriously: "Even if Xiao Lang came back, it took him years of monkeys to find us?"

"It doesn't have to wait for him to come over, I can also go to him."

"How did you find it? Do you know where he lives?"

Chu Lisang shook his head.

"I said you are too! I have been with him for so long, and I didn't ask where he lives."

Chu Lisang smiled wryly: "At that time we were running for our lives all the way, and we didn't dare to think about where we would be tomorrow. How could I inquire about his home in Chang'an?"

"Then your eyes are black now, how do you find them?"

"If my guess is correct and he has been pardoned, then he will definitely return to Xuanjiawei, and I can wait for him at the gate of the imperial city."

Luxiu rolled her eyes helplessly: "My lady, there are five gates in total in the imperial city. Do you know which gate Xuanjiawei enters and exits from? Do you wait at each gate?"

"If you can wait for him, what's the point of going to every door?" Chu Lisang looked at Lu Xiu with persistent eyes again.

Lu Xiu sighed, and was about to say something, when there was a knock on the door outside.Lu Xiu looked displeased: "Who is it?"

"It's me, Jinse."

Chu Lisang and Lu Xiu looked at each other and motioned for her to open the door.Lu Xiu pursed her lips, walked over to open the door, and gave Su Jinse a white look: "Does Miss Jinse want to come to check the room again?"

"You girl, you are pretty at first, but it's not good to stare all day long." Su Jinse said with a smile, "I'm looking for your lady, she should wake up now, right?"

"I'm not awake yet, come back later." Lu Xiu said, and was about to close the door again.Su Jinse stretched out her hand to hold back, just as Lu Xiu was about to go mad, Chu Lisang's voice came from the room: "Lu Xiu, let her in, I'm up."

The green sleeve was helpless, and then let go of her hand angrily.

Chu Lisang sat in front of the window to make up, without looking back.Su Jinse walked behind her with a smile on her face, and looked at her through the bronze mirror: "Sister Sang'er, did you sleep well last night?"

"Fortunately."

"Is there no one to disturb you?"

Chu Lisang combed his long hair by himself: "I heard from Lu Xiu that you came here in the middle of the night, I don't know if that counts?"

Su Jinse chuckled: "My sister cares about you. If I disturb you, then my sister will apologize to you."

"No need, anyway, I slept like a dead, and you didn't wake me up."

Su Jinse stared fixedly at Chu Lisang in the bronze mirror, then suddenly bent down and leaned towards her: "Your sister's eyes are so red, it looks like she didn't sleep last night."

"Yeah, I didn't sleep all night." Chu Lisang turned around and said with a smile, "The thief broke into my room last night. He is still a very handsome man. When I saw it, I didn't feel sleepy at all. , so I left him talking for a night. He just left now, if you send someone to chase after him, maybe you can still catch up."

When Lu Xiu heard it, he couldn't help laughing.

Su Jinse was taken aback for a moment, and then giggled: "If there is another handsome man visiting in the future, please tell my sister to come over and open her eyes."

"I can't promise that. If he comes again, maybe I'll elope with him."

"Sister is such an interesting person." Su Jinse naturally took the wooden comb in Chu Lisang's hand and combed it for her, "We have a lot of men in this family, so it was quite boring. Now that you are here, sister It’s time to find someone to talk to.”

"Is Miss Jinse telling the truth?" Chu Lisang smiled and let her comb, "I think, actually, I shouldn't come to this house."

"How did my sister say such a thing?" Su Jinse pretended to be surprised.

"As soon as I came, I robbed you of your 'Miss' status, and I feel very sorry."

"Look where my sister said." Su Jinse laughed, "I'm just my father's adopted daughter, and you are my father's own flesh and blood. This 'Missy' is yours in the first place. Why are you talking about grabbing it? You say that, It really made my sister feel ashamed."

"Miss Jinse, don't worry. I told my husband that I'm only staying with him temporarily. Whenever I want to leave, I'll leave right away. This 'Miss' is still yours."

"Sister Sang'er," Su Jinse said suddenly, "I see that Daddy treats you meticulously and obediently, but you are always so 'Mr.' Long' and Mr.' Short, how sad he must be! You can't Call him 'Daddy'?"

"This is between me and him, so I don't need you to worry about it." Chu Lisang took the wooden comb back from her hand, "Didn't you say that you are going to move? I have to clean up. Miss Jinse, please go ahead." Bar."

Su Jinse felt a little embarrassed, then stroked Chu Lisang's shoulder with his hands seemingly intimately, and smiled: "Okay then, the younger sister is busy first, and we will talk slowly when we get to the new home." He lowered his head inadvertently, glanced at the shoes on Chu Lisang's feet, and then walked out.

Lu Xiu made a face at her back.

Chu Lisang was thoughtful, and suddenly reached out to touch his shoulder, and a trace of worry flashed in his eyes.

Wang Hongyi stood in front of the main hall with his hands behind his back, and Wei Laoliu followed beside him.A group of subordinates and servants were busy moving things, carrying large and small boxes in and out.

"Old Six, who do you think our opponent will be?" Wang Hongyi said without turning his head.

Wei Laoliu thought for a while: "Aren't they the Zoroastrians? I see that the killers last night, except for Ayong, are all Persians."

"Whether it's those people from last night, or Saurons and Doris, in my opinion, they are just pawns. The black hand behind is absolutely extraordinary!"

"Then who is this guy?"

Wang Hongyi frowned deeply: "This person has been protecting Xu Wanniang for so many years, so he must be the one who hides the crown prince. He has also deliberately laid a big net to wait for me, so it can be seen that he must know me, and even know me very well, so it is certain that I will sooner or later I will track down Xu Wanniang. The hateful thing is that I don't know anything about this opponent."

"If he was an official of the East Palace back then, then he must have taken refuge in King Qin later, and he must be a high official in the court now."

"There is no doubt about this. But what makes me wonder is that since Jinse was kidnapped by them last year, this guy has obviously grasped our information. As a senior member of the court, why didn't he report to Li Shimin and send us Catch them all at once, but just send people to lurk in?"

Wei Lao Liu also looked confused and was speechless.

"Maybe there is only one explanation..." Wang Hongyi lowered his head and pondered, as if he was talking to himself, "This guy is not just a member of the imperial court. He thinks that betraying us to Li Shimin will not do him any good, and may even be harmful to him. It is unfavorable, so I dare not act rashly."

"Not just people from the imperial court?" Wei Laoliu became more and more confused, couldn't help scratching his head, and said casually, "Could it be that we are still from the Tianxing League?"

Wang Hongyi smiled, but the smile froze as soon as it opened.He suddenly turned around and stared at Wei Lao Liu: "What did you say?!"

Wei Laoliu was taken aback: "No, it's nothing..."

"That's right, that's right!" Wang Hongyi's eyes lit up, he rubbed his hands, and paced back and forth excitedly, "There is only this explanation, and this is the only reasonable explanation!"

Wei Laoliu didn't expect that his casual nonsense would hit the right spot, so he couldn't help grinning and said: "If it's really a member of our Tianxing League, then this subordinate can be regarded as a blind cat and a dead mouse."

"Whether you really ran into a mouse, you have to verify it."

"Sir, you mean..."

Wang Hongyi smiled coldly: "You think, since this person wants to monitor us, why would he only send one Ayong? If my predictions are correct, I'm afraid they have ambushed their eyeliners in front and back of our house. And we Transfer today, they will definitely follow. What to do next, don't I need to teach you?"

Wei Laoliu was stunned, and immediately became excited: "Sir, then this subordinate will make arrangements?"

"Go. Remember, to live."

"My subordinate understands."

As soon as Wei Laoliu left, Su Jinse walked over quickly, with a strange expression on his face.

"Jinse, we're leaving right now, why don't you pack your luggage?" Wang Hongyi's expression was a little cold.

"Father, daughter... My daughter has something to say to you."

"What can't be said after we move house? Don't you see that you are busy inside and out now?"

"Father, I can be sure..." Su Jin paused for a moment, and then mustered up her courage, "Last night, Sonny... she wasn't in the room at all!"

Wang Hongyi's eyes froze, but he said nonchalantly, "How do you see it?"

"The clothes on her body are wet, and the shoes on her feet are also wet. Isn't that enough to explain the problem?"

Wang Hongyi was thinking about something, and smiled lightly: "What can this explain? Sonny likes to build snowmen. Maybe when it snows at dawn, she goes around the yard again. Doesn't this make clothes and shoes wet?" ?”

"But……"

"Okay, okay, look at the weather, it's going to snow again soon, I have to go quickly, Dad still has some things to tidy up." Wang Hongyi smiled and patted her on the shoulder, "Go and tidy up quickly, don't dawdle. .”

After Wang Hongyi finished speaking, without waiting for her reaction, he walked around the main hall and walked to the backyard.

Su Jinse stood there in a daze, feeling sad for a long time.

After Wei Zheng asked Li Anyan to come out to meet Xiao Junmo, his body felt uncomfortable due to sitting for a long time, so he asked Wei Shuyu to help him back to the room to rest.Li Anyan immediately reported the general situation of Linchuan Ruo to Xiao Junmo, but concealed everything related to Xu Wanniang.Including Wang Hongyi's information, because the matter involved Xu Wanniang, he did not intend to disclose it unless it was absolutely necessary.

Xiao Junmo observed his expression while listening, and concluded intuitively that he probably also knew about his life experience, but Wei Zheng had taken care of him beforehand, so he kept his mouth shut like Wei Zheng.

It seems that this mystery of life experience still has to be investigated by oneself after all, and there is no one to count on.

Xiao Junmo couldn't help sighing in his heart.

"Leader, the East Palace is about to move right now, I wonder how you plan to deal with it?"

Li Anyan doesn't have feelings for the prince like Wei Zheng, so this is what he is most concerned about now.

Xiao Junmo sat quietly, as if he hadn't heard of it, and after a while he asked nonchalantly, "Which door did General Li come in from just now?"

Li Anyan was stunned: "The situation is sensitive now, so naturally my subordinates dare not go through the main entrance, they came in through the small east gate."

Xiao Junmo nodded slightly, then fell silent again.

Li An was like falling into the clouds, confused about what kind of medicine was sold in the gourd of the new alliance leader, wanted to ask but dared not ask, and felt very upset for a while.

"Last year, the rescue of Zuo Envoy's father and daughter was helped by General Duomeng. I haven't thanked General yet." Xiao Junmo suddenly smiled.

Li Anyan hurriedly said: "Leader, please don't say that. The left envoy's body is in the safety of the alliance, and the subordinates must fight to the death to protect it. Besides, this is also the order of the master, and the subordinates are even more duty bound."

Xiao Junmo nodded: "The general is in charge of guarding the palace, but I took the hostage. Afterwards, the Holy One will punish you, right?"

Li Anyan smiled wryly: "It's okay, it's just that the rod is twenty, and one year's salary is confiscated, and nothing else."

"Oh?" Xiao Junmo was slightly surprised, "So, the Holy One still trusts you."

"That's right. I've been in the guard palace for so many years, and I've never had anything wrong. This is the first time, so the sage gave me a small punishment."

Xiao Junmo stopped talking after listening.

Li Anyan held back for a while, and just about to speak, Xiao Junmo suddenly asked: "When you came in through the small door on the east side just now, did you notice anything unusual?"

Li Anyan shook her head inexplicably.

"The person who is responsible for protecting the safety of the Holy One should have an extra eye at the back of his head." Xiao Junmo smiled and got up, and walked straight to the door, "Let's go, let's go meet our friends outside together."

Li Anyan became more and more confused, but she didn't have time to think about it, so she quickly got up and followed out.

Li Chengqian and others plotted in Xie Shaozong's study for more than an hour, and roughly drew up an action plan.

The coup was scheduled for the night of the Shangyuan Festival on the fifteenth day of the first lunar month.

According to the practice of the Tang Dynasty, every year on the night of the Shangyuan Festival, the emperor will visit a certain prince's mansion for a banquet. Usually, they take turns every year in the order of the elders and concubines. For example, last year they went to the East Palace. .During this period, the emperor will invite a group of relatives and veterans of the emperor to accompany him to show that the emperor and his ministers have fun and celebrate together.At the same time, the chief chancellor of the imperial court—Fang Xuanling last year and Changsun Wuji this year—will also entertain civil and military officials in the Shangshu Province in the imperial city.

In the eyes of Li Chengqian and others, this is undoubtedly the best time to launch a coup.Firstly, everyone's defenses were lax, and it was easy to succeed in one blow; secondly, all the important figures headed by the emperor were present, which was conducive to killing them all.

Their plan is to divide the troops into two groups: one is for Li Chengqian and Prince Zuowei to lead Feng Shijin and several guards, and to join hands with Li Yuanchang and Du He who went to the Wei Palace for a banquet to kill Wei Wang and hold the emperor hostage; Junji led his own soldiers to control the Shangshu Provincial Government Office in the imperial city, and held Changsun Wuji and all the civil and military officials hostage; while Xie Shaozong, Xie Qian, and Xi Tang's helmsman were divided into two groups-Xie Shaozong led people to ambush in Yankangfang. Near Wei Wang's mansion, cooperate with Li Chengqian's action; Xie Qian led people to ambush in Xingdaofang outside the Zhuque Gate of the imperial city, and cooperated with Hou Junji's action.

Today is the eighth day of the first lunar month, and there are only seven days left before the Shangyuan Festival. Everyone must act intensively and make some plans and preparations.Therefore, after a general agreement, Li Yuanchang and Hou Junji left one after another, and now only Li Chengqian and Xie Shaozong were left in the study.

"Sir, do you think our plan...can be successful?"

Li Chengqian looked at Xie Shaozong fixedly, his eyes were both earnest and not without anxiety.

"Your Highness, the ancients said: Those who travel thousands of miles will not follow the right path and stop; Tang Chujun, the destined real dragon emperor, has repeatedly been plotted against by villains like the king of Wei, and the sage is just unprincipled and muddled, which is tolerable but unbearable! Having reached this point, you should show the decisiveness and arrogance that a king should have, and don't look forward and backward, worrying about gains and losses!"

Hearing this, Li Chengqian was refreshed, and a confident look appeared in his eyes.

At this time, there was a rhythmic knock on the door outside, and a slightly hasty voice said, "Alcoholic Taodan Mansion."

When Xie Shaozong heard that it was his son Xie Qian, he was overjoyed and said to Li Chengqian: "We must have news from Wei Zheng." Then he said to the door: "Wu Ruo You Tang."

Xie Qian pushed the door open, saluted the two hastily, looked at Xie Shaozong, but hesitated to speak.

"What's the matter?" Xie Shaozong noticed that his expression was different, "Is there any news from Yongxing Square?"

"Return to Father, Your Highness," Xie Qian said with a bitter face, "Yes, there is news, but it is bad news..."

"Tell me what's going on!" Xie Shaozong said angrily, "How many times have I told you, I have to be calm!"

"Yes, the people over there replied that from yesterday to now, none of the Wei Mansion's sects have found anything, but the two brothers who were watching at the east gate have disappeared."

"Missing?!" Li Chengqian couldn't help standing up with a look of surprise.

"Your Highness, don't worry." Xie Shaozong frowned slightly, motioned Xie Qian to go out, and then pondered for a moment, "It seems that the people lurking in the east gate must have discovered something, but it's a pity that Xingzang was exposed, and the other party gave..."

"Then what should we do?" Li Chengqian was angry and anxious, "If they were caught and confessed to you, wouldn't we be in big trouble?!"

"Don't worry, Your Highness, the bones of my brothers are not so soft." Xie Shaozong tried to calm down, but there was still a trace of worry in his heart.

"Are you so sure?" Li Chengqian's eyes slanted, "I don't even trust myself, so you trust your subordinates that much?"

"Your Highness's concern is not unreasonable." Xie Shaozong quickly thought about it, "Well, I will let Qian'er escort you back to the East Palace. In case of accidents, I will arrange the transfer immediately..."

"You guys move as soon as possible, don't send me off, and give me a message after you settle down." Li Chengqian flicked his sleeves and hurriedly walked out.

"Respectfully send off Your Highness." Xie Shaozong quickly got up to see him off, but Li Chengqian didn't even turn his head, and disappeared from the door after walking a few steps.

After all, this young and vigorous prince still lacks the calmness to do great things. Would it be a mistake to bet all his wealth, life and lifelong ambition on him?
After following the prince for so long, this was the first time that Xie Shaozong had doubts about him and himself.

However, as soon as this idea popped up, he forcibly suppressed it.

Now that he has come to this point, there can be no more hesitation or retreat. No matter whether the front is the pinnacle of power or the abyss of life and death, he can only rush forward regardless of everything!
Near Wuliu Lane in the northeast corner of Qinglongfang, two strong men supported an injured middle-aged man and ran away in a hurry, followed by a group of men in black with knives.Two groups of people walked back and forth in the labyrinthine alley, and after burning a stick of incense, the three fleeing in front suddenly stopped in their tracks.

They fled into a dead-end alley.

A tall gable wall of a big family in front completely blocked the way of the three of them.

The men in black from behind chased after them in an instant, staring at them with playful eyes.The injured middle-aged man smiled miserably, and said to the two people on the left and right: "You two, it's time for us to be loyal to the husband!"

"Want to die? It's a pity it's not that easy!" Wei Laoliu grinned grimly, and strode over from behind the group of men in black.The man in black quickly stepped aside and bowed his head.

The three of them turned a deaf ear to each other and gave each other irresistible smiles. Then the middle-aged man suddenly shook his right hand and slipped out a dagger from his sleeve, holding it firmly in his hand.

Wei Laoliu's face changed, and he shouted to the left and right: "Give me all! Catch the living!"

More than a dozen men in black rushed forward.

But the middle-aged man was still faster than them.The dagger in his hand flashed coldly, swiped twice, and quickly slit the throats of the two people beside him.Blood spurted from the wound.When the two fell down, they had the same smiles on their faces, as if this fatal knife was a beautiful gift from the middle-aged man.

The middle-aged man wanted to kill himself with a knife at last, but it was too late.The men in black rushed up to subdue him, grabbed the dagger and pinned him to the ground.

Wei Laoliu heaved a sigh of relief, walked up to him and knelt down, patted his cheek, and said with a smile, "Brother, it's really hard for you to stare at us in Wuliu Lane for so long."

The middle-aged man snorted coldly: "Your surname is Wei, you are loyal enough to see me off for the last time."

Wei Lao Liu laughed loudly: "Don't worry, I will let you die, but not now."

"I will die if I want to, but you have the final say." The middle-aged man said very firmly, without seeming to be blunt at all.

Wei Laoliu stared at him, suddenly realized something, quickly grabbed his chin, trying to take something out of his mouth.However, it was too late, the middle-aged man's mouth, nose and ears were bleeding at this moment.In the end, Wei Laoliu, who was in a state of desperation, took out half a small wax pill from his mouth.Obviously, he had already swallowed the remaining half of the pill.

Inside the wax pellets is arsenic.

It seems that he had put the wax pill in his mouth long ago, just to avoid being caught alive at the last moment.

Wei Laoliu was very annoyed by his own hindsight.

At this time, one of his subordinates came to report in a panic, saying that the Wu Houwei in the workshop had been dispatched and was rapidly approaching here.Wei Laoliu cursed a few times, then waved his hand and led his men out of the alley.

More than half an hour later, Wei Laoliu rushed to his new house in Chongdefang and reported the incident to Wang Hongyi in frustration.

Wang Hongyi was furnishing his new study, and he couldn't help throwing a volume of books in Wei Laoliu's face.Wei Laoliu was ashamed, and immediately plopped down on his knees, pleading guilty repeatedly.Wang Hongyi's face was gloomy, and he said after a long while: "I didn't catch him alive, and didn't you find any other clues?"

Wei Laoliu hurriedly said: "Just as Mr. predicted before, I can be sure that they are also members of our Heavenly Punishment League."

“How come you see?”

"Before they committed suicide, they said that they would 'dedicate their loyalty to their husbands'. Listening to this tone, they are undoubtedly members of the League."

Wang Hongyi didn't say anything more, and motioned him to get up.

Only then did Wei Laoliu get up slightly trembling, but he didn't dare to raise his head.

"Dai Lisi disappeared inexplicably yesterday, what do you think?" Wang Hongyi suddenly brought up this topic.

Wei Laoliu hesitated for a moment: "This... this subordinate is also very puzzled."

"Besides wondering, do you have any other ideas?"

Wei Laoliu was thinking about something, but hesitated to speak.

Wang Hongyi glanced at him: "If you have anything to say, just say it."

Wei Laoliu hesitated for a while, and then summoned up his courage and said: "This subordinate has some ideas, but... just don't know whether to say it or not."

"If you tell me, you can say it!" Wang Hongyi emphasized his tone.

"Yes. This subordinate dares to think that apart from Ah Yong, Doris may have internal support in our house."

"I asked you to bury those eight people last night, isn't it just because of worry?"

"Yes, but the subordinate suspects that this inner response is not among the eight, but someone else."

Wang Hongyi's eyes flashed: "What proof?"

"When I left Wuliu Lane this morning, my subordinate walked around the house again before leaving, and found that there were signs of climbing on the wall of the backyard..."

"Dai Lisi and those Persians probably came in from the backyard last night, what's so strange about that?" Wang Hongyi disagreed.

"Sir is right, but the problem is that the subordinates found two climbing marks in the backyard."

"Two places?!" Wang Hongyi couldn't help frowning.

"Exactly. There are multiple footprints in the north, which were obviously left by Doris and the others, but there is another one in the northwest corner, but there is only one footprint."

"If one of the eight people last night was Doris' internal agent, this footprint was left when he helped Doris escape?"

"But after the incident last night, my subordinates went to the backyard to observe carefully, and only found one climbing trace, that is, the one with multiple footprints in the north; while the single footprint in the northwest corner was from this morning. Just found out."

"You mean to say that the footprint was left after the eight people were buried?"

"Yes, the time should be around [-] o'clock this morning. The subordinates speculate that this person must have rescued Doris last night and returned to the house this morning. Judging from the traces of the footprints, it should be when he crawled in from the outside. left."

Only then did Wang Hongyi realize the seriousness of the problem, and he frowned even deeper: "Then, in your opinion, who is this ghost?"

Wei Laoliu's eyes flickered for a moment: "This... this subordinate dare not speculate."

Wang Hongyi bowed his head and pondered: "Except for Ayong and the eight people recruited by the same group, the rest of the servants have been with us for more than ten years. Could it be Dai Lisi's internal support?"

"The subordinates think it is unlikely."

"It's not a servant, is it still a brother of Ben Duo?"

"This is even more impossible. The brothers who came to Chang'an with us this time are all people who have followed Mr. for many years. They are all loyal and loyal. I believe that they will never be ghosts."

He is neither a servant of the mansion nor Ben Duo's brother, the implication of Wei Lao Liu's words is already obvious - the object of his suspicion is Chu Lisang!
This was the conclusion that Wang Hongyi was least willing to accept, but it was also his inner suspicion.

When the green sleeves refused to let Su Jinse in last night, Wang Hongyi was already suspicious. Now that Su Jinse and Wei Laoliu each provided strong evidence, he could no longer avoid it.

Sonny, if you are really this moron, what will Daddy do with you? !

Wang Hongyi frowned deeply, the veins on his forehead popped out, and he hopped unconsciously.

Wei Laoliu couldn't help but sneak a glance.

He knew that this was the expression that the husband would only have when he was in extreme embarrassment and pain.

At sunset, Wei Wangfu.

Wearing a thick fox fur cloak, Li Tai stood under the cornice of Chunnuan Pavilion, looking at the Tai Chi Palace in the northeast, with a depressed and sad expression.

Since his failure to frame the prince last year, Li Tai has fallen into the lowest ebb of his life.

Although the emperor found a scapegoat to help him cover up this embarrassing incident, he has been neglected since then, and he has not been summoned again in the past six months, as if he has forgotten that he is a son.

For the first time in his life, Li Tai tasted the taste of falling out of favor.

Looking back on the years of fighting openly and secretly with the crown prince, Li Tai sometimes feels in a trance, as if the person who is fighting for the position of crown prince by all means is another Li Tai, and the real him has been studying with a group of scholars in the literary museum of the palace. Learning, appreciating calligraphy and painting, and living a carefree life.

Wouldn't it be great if you could live like this for the rest of your life?Why do you have to fight for the throne with all your might?

These days, Li Tai asked himself this question more than once.After some analysis, he found that there were at least three sources of his desire to seize the heir apparent: First, of course, he had a strong desire to make contributions, and he believed that he was far superior to his elder brother Li Chengqian in terms of knowledge, talent, and mind; secondly, It was his father's excessive favor and trust in him, which made him feel confident, which gave birth to and strengthened his desire to seize the heir; in the end, it was the counselors around him such as Du Chuke, Liu Ji and others, as well as the powerful children such as Fang Yi. The instigation and flattery of Ai, Chai Lingwu and others made his ambition gradually inflate until he got carried away.

After thinking about these things clearly, Li Tai suddenly had an impulse to have a frank and honest talk with his eldest brother Li Chengqian in Donggong, telling him that he didn't want to fight anymore, that we were both siblings, and there was no need to fight each other for the throne; He went into the palace to confess to his father, told his father that he was wrong, and from then on he never coveted the position of the crown prince, and only wished to be a prince who protects the country and serves his father and brother with peace of mind.

However, impulse is only impulse after all.

After calming down, he couldn't help laughing at himself—since ancient times, who was able to retreat unscathed from the life-and-death struggle for succession?Even if you sincerely want to put down the butcher knife, who would believe that you can really become a Buddha right away?In a sense, from the day you were reincarnated into the emperor's house, you have already fallen into a Shura field surrounded by powerful enemies and everyone is in danger; Opened a road of no return to win the king and lose the bandit, until death!But you only want to turn around until today, isn't this a big joke in the world? !

In this way, Li Tai made a circle, and finally returned to the original place.

He thought he had figured out a lot of things, but in the end he found himself in a deeper confusion and loss than before...

The heavy snow fell down one after another without knowing when.

Leaning on the railing, Li Tai reached out and grabbed a snowflake, then spread his palm, watching it gradually melt in his palm.In an instant, he felt that everything in the world was like this snowflake—you thought you had grasped it, but in fact you just grasped the phantom, the void.

An eunuch walked softly from the other end of the corridor and whispered, "Your Highness, Liu Shizhong and Du Changshi are already waiting in the study."

Li Tai remained motionless, as if he hadn't heard anything.After a long time, he slowly turned around and walked down the Chunnuan Pavilion with heavy steps.

Recently, these two loyal advisers noticed that there was something strange about him, and they wanted to come to see him several times, but he refused them all.Today, Li Tai took the initiative to ask them out.Because he knows that there is no way for him to continue to indulge in this way. No matter whether he wants to seize the heir or how to seize the heir, he has to return to reality, return to the role that is destined to belong to him, and face him. everything of.

When he entered the study, Li Tai sneezed heavily, and Liu Ji and Du Chuke who were whispering hurriedly stood up to greet him.

Li Tai waved his hand, went straight to the couch and sat down, without looking at them, just tucked his fox fur cloak, as if the blazing charcoal fire in the study was not enough to resist the chill on his body.

Liu Ji and Du Chuke looked at each other, feeling a little apprehensive.

Du Chuke coughed, and said cautiously: "Your Highness went to the Chunnuan Pavilion? The terrain is high there, and the wind is too strong. What if you get wind and cold..."

"Don't worry, I'm not that delicate." Li Tai forced a smile, "Besides, wouldn't it be good if I really got a cold? Once I'm sick, I don't have to make a fuss about entertaining my father during the Lantern Festival. It saves trouble at both ends, and Donggong is even more happy to see me fall out of favor, isn't everyone happy?"

Hearing Wei Wang utter such negative words, the hearts of both Liu Ji and Du Chuke couldn't stop sinking.

"Your Highness doesn't know something," Liu Ji said quickly, "Your Majesty is only busy with government affairs these days, but in fact he still misses you very much. I have heard him talk about you a few times with my own ears."

Liu Jie lied, but he had to.

"Liu Shizhong, please don't comfort me." Li Tai said with a self-deprecating look on his face, "Do you know why I feel cold? It's not that the Chunnuan Pavilion is very windy, but that I stand on the pavilion, halfway across Chang'an City, and I can I felt a chill coming from Taiji Palace. Do you know what kind of chill it is? It's the chill in the heart of Emperor Father."

As he spoke, Li Tai sneezed again, and quickly wrapped his cloak tightly around his body.

Liu Ji and Du Chuke looked at each other again.

"Your Highness, please forgive me for saying a few disrespectful words." Du Chuke finally couldn't bear it anymore, "Those who have achieved great things since ancient times have always strived to improve themselves in the face of adversity. "Spring and Autumn"; Qu Yuan was exiled, but wrote "Li Sao"; Zuoqiu was blind, and there was "Mandarin"'. Now His Highness has only encountered a little setback for a while, how can he be so self-pity and self-defeating?"

Although this is reasonable, it is really not very respectful.But Li Tai didn't think he was disobedient, he just smiled lightly and said, "If I really give up on myself, why should I invite you two over today?"

"I don't know what your Highness invited us to come over, what instructions do you have?" Liu Ji asked.

"The Shangyuan Festival is coming soon, I just want to discuss with you two, how should I... how should I treat my father?"

"Naturally, the more grand and festive the banquet, the better." Du Chuke said.

"There's no need to talk about it." Li Tai thought about his words, "I mean, I haven't seen my father for so long, how should I... how should I face him?"

"Everything is as usual." Du Chuke said without thinking, "What happened in the past is what it is now, just pretend that those unpleasant things never happened."

"It's easy to do if it's just that." Li Tai smiled wryly, "Of course I can pretend that nothing happened, and the problem is Father? I'm afraid he wouldn't think so?"

Du Chuke was at a loss for words.

"Your Highness, I have a suggestion." Liu Ji said thoughtfully, "Although the Holy Majesty has not met His Highness recently, after all, father and son are connected, even if you don't say it, you still miss it in your heart. In my opinion, the Holy Majesty wants to What I know is that His Highness has lived in seclusion for the past six months, what are you thinking and doing. So I suggest that Your Highness might as well make a gesture to show His Majesty, firstly, to let His Majesty understand your recent situation, and secondly, also from the side Show your loyalty."

Li Tai nodded slightly: "The waiter is right. Then in your opinion, what should I do?"

Liu Ji slightly thought about it, and said: "Respectfully invite a highly respected mage to give precepts to His Royal Highness, and then from the fifteenth day of the first lunar month, His Highness can announce to thank guests behind closed doors, and devoutly observe the eight precepts for a period of one month. At the same time, His Royal Highness can also spend money to dig a Buddhist cave in Longmen, Luozhou, and make a statue of Queen Wende to pursue blessings. On the night of the Shangyuan Festival, when the Holy Spirit comes, His Highness can pretend to be unintentional. Let the Holy Majesty know your plans. In this way, the Holy Majesty will not only be aware of your intention to fade out of the government, but also let the Holy Majesty feel your loyalty and filial piety. I believe that in the eyes of the Holy Majesty, this will be His Highness Best holiday gift ever for him."

Empress Wende is Li Tai's biological mother and the eldest grandson of Li Shimin's empress.

Hearing this, Li Tai couldn't help but brighten his eyes: "The waiter's idea is great!"

Du Chuke was a little disapproving: "Brother Sidao, it's all right for His Highness to pursue blessings in the Longmen statue, but is it too self-sufficient to thank guests behind closed doors and practice the eight-pass fasting for a month?"

The so-called eight-pass fasting is a method of pure practice specially formulated by the Buddha for lay people, which is equivalent to a short-term monkhood.During the period of practice, you must strictly abide by the eight precepts. In addition to the basic five precepts, husband and wife must not have intercourse, do not eat after lunch, do not wear jewelry and smear makeup, do not watch Kabuki music, and do not sit on high and large beds. Very demanding.Once it is held, it will be very difficult, and this ring is usually only required to be held for one day and one night, but now Liu Ji asked Li Tai to hold it for a month, no wonder Du Chuke would complain for him.

"Brother Shanshi, please forgive me for speaking bluntly." Liu Ji said indifferently, "After what happened last year, if His Highness doesn't take the initiative to restrain himself, how will he get His Majesty's understanding? If he can't regain His Majesty's favor, how will he regain his strength? , and compete with Donggong again?"

"What the waiter said is true!" Li Tai hurriedly said, a long-lost brilliance appeared in his eyes, "It's not too late, I'll write to invite my convert teacher to come." After speaking, he immediately took off the fox fur Cloak, then spread out the letter paper, bowed his head to the desk, and began to write eloquently.

Soon, an invitation letter with brilliant writing and sincere feelings was written.Li Tai read it silently by himself, and seemed very satisfied. He was about to read it to Liu and Du, when an eunuch suddenly came to the door of the study in a hurry, bowed and said, "His Royal Highness, Zhao's envoy from the palace has come and said The sage ordered it to be proclaimed."

Li Tai was startled, and quickly gave Liu and Du a wink.The two didn't have time to think about it, and hurriedly hid behind the screen.

"Please!" Li Tai got up, straightened his collar, and walked out quickly.

This was the first time in half a year that Li Tai received his father's order, and he was both nervous and excited.He guessed that Zhao Dequan's coming here at this moment must have something to do with the fact that his father was coming to his house for a banquet on the Shangyuan Festival.

Li Tai greeted Zhao Dequan at the door of the study, and after a brief exchange of greetings, he respectfully invited him into the study, and then knelt down to accept the order.Zhao Dequan helped him up: "Your Highness, please stand up, this old slave is here just to pass on an oral order to everyone, not a formal announcement, Your Highness does not need to perform such a grand ceremony."

Li Tai was slightly surprised, so he smiled and said, "I'm sorry, I don't know what your father taught me?"

"Well, it's actually not a big deal, just a word." Zhao Dequan smiled all over his face, but there was a trace of worry in his eyes that couldn't be concealed.

Li Tai noticed it, and his heartbeat suddenly accelerated, and he looked at him nervously: "Yes... What did you say, please let the envoy express it clearly."

"Everyone said..." Zhao Dequan hesitated again, before he said, "Everyone said that the recent government affairs have been tedious and I feel a little tired, so...so this year's Shangyuan Festival, everyone will not go out of the palace, and will have a banquet in the palace for the princes and friends. Veteran."

When Li Tai heard this, he felt a loud noise in his head and froze in place.

He never expected that his father's feelings for him had gone to such an extent that in order not to see him, he even canceled the annual ritual of leaving the palace for banquets.

"Your Highness..." Zhao Dequan looked at his expression and couldn't bear it in his heart. "Your Highness, you don't need to think too much. In fact, everyone has no other intentions. It is true that you have been a little tired recently, so you made this decision."

"Of course, Father has his own reasons for making such a decision, so why would I overthink it?" Li Tai managed to recover, showing a blunt smile, "That's fine, I'm planning to retreat and fast for a while. Yue, do some good deeds for your mother, if you don't have a banquet here, it will be cleaner."

"Retreat and fast?" Zhao Dequan was a little surprised.

Li Tai took the letter on the desk: "No, the letter to respectfully invite the master to come to the mansion to give the precepts has been written."

Zhao Dequan took it and glanced at it, handed it back to him, and said in admiration: "It's rare and rare, His Highness is so diligent in cultivation, it is really rare and rare, it makes people praise, praise!"

Li Tai humbled himself a few words, then sent Zhao Dequan to the gate of the mansion, and "incidentally" mentioned along the way that he wanted to dig a cave to make a statue of his mother in Longmen.After Zhao Dequan heard this, he couldn't help but compliment him again.

When he turned back to the study, Li Tai sneezed a few more times, thinking that he really might have caught a cold.

Liu Ji and Du Chuke came out from behind the screen.Du Chuke looked anxious and said impatiently: "Your Highness, the Holy Majesty will not come to the banquet, this is not good news!"

Li Tai said expressionlessly, "I had a hunch."

Du Chuke rubbed his hands anxiously: "It seems that the Holy Majesty is really chilled this time, what should I do?"

"Brother Shanshi, don't be impatient." Liu Ji said calmly, "In such an extraordinary period, it is even more important to deal with it calmly. For example, His Highness has done a good job just now, letting Zhao Dequan go back to the palace to spread the word without any trace, and let the sage know His Highness's situation. It’s a smart plan.”

Liu Ji is now the prime minister, so his words naturally have more weight than in the past.Although Du Chuke was still dissatisfied with him in his heart, on the surface he had to hold back three points, so he remained silent.

"I'm hiding at home and practicing asceticism, at most it's just to reassure my father." Li Tai smiled wryly, "But I'm afraid that the position of the crown prince will never be with me in this life."

"Your Highness, don't be discouraged." Liu Ji looked at him meaningfully, "As long as the crown prince has not ascended the throne, variables will exist at any time, and it is still uncertain who will win in the end!"

Li Tai forced a smile and said nothing.

(End of this chapter)