People in the Tang Dynasty, Jian'an style

"Where to go?"

"I came to Chang'an to visit a Taoist friend."

"Haha, you see, if you had spoken human language earlier, you wouldn't have gotten beaten."

At this moment, Wu Yang turned around and saw the Taoist priest being beaten. She was a little surprised: "Master Yuan, why is it you?"

A Taoist priest named Yuan?

Could it be him?

A person's name suddenly appeared in Li Wenbin's mind.

Yuan Tiangang!

Yuan Tiangang (birth and death years unknown), a native of Chengdu, Yizhou, was a mystic and astronomer in the late Sui Dynasty and early Tang Dynasty.

According to the New and Old Book of Tang, he once read the fortune of the young Wu Zetian and said that she "can become the ruler of the world."

Yuan Tiangang was later called a god. It was also said that he and Li Chunfeng calculated the fortune of the Tang Dynasty and created the "Tui Bei Tu" which was recorded in history.

Almost all the things in the Tui Bei Tu came true, not to mention the fact that the Book of the Later Tang records that he once made a comment for Wu Mei, a cradle girl dressed as a man:

"Dragon pupils and phoenix neck are extremely precious signs." But he added with regret, "If she were a woman, her future would be limitless. She would definitely be the ruler of the world in the future!"

What was unexpected was that the captured traffickers pointed at the Taoist priest and shouted, "It's him, it's him, it's him! He paid us a hundred strings of cash to kidnap this young lady."

Wu Yang was somewhat doubtful after hearing this and looked at Yuan Tiangang: "Master Yuan, is what they said true?"

"This...ah, I don't know what to say."

Seeing that more and more people were watching, Li Wenbin didn't know how many different versions of himself he would wear tomorrow, so he quickly said to Wu Yang: "Madam Wu, the Prince Qin's Palace is not far ahead. Why don't you take the young lady to rest first? It's better than being on the street."

Wu Yang hesitated for a moment. Although it was a bit rude to do so, it was better than being watched like a monkey on the street. "Then I'll have to trouble you, young master."

The captain of the police ordered several detectives to bring the abducted child back to the county government office.

He led the rest of the people and protected everyone as they went to the Prince of Qin's Palace.

Even Yuan Tiangang came along - but it was not Li Wenbin who invited him, but he cried and shouted that he must come along.

"Master Yuan, if you are willing to visit my humble home, that's fine. Please come in." Of course there was no reason for Li Wenbin to refuse.

When he turned around, Yuan Tiangang suddenly laughed, and his expression became strange: "I have practiced Taoism for a lifetime, but this is the first time I have seen such a strange thing. Since I have met such a strange person, I might as well follow him and see what kind of person he is. Maybe I can get a glimpse of the secrets of heaven from this."

Arriving at the residence, Li Wenbin asked Ruyue to inform Zhangsun Wugou while asking Wu Yangshi and Yuan Tiangang to sit down: "Madam Wu, what is going on?"

Wu Yang was a little embarrassed: "Young Master, I don't know where to start with this matter."

After she told Li Wenbin what had happened, he realized that Yuan Tiangang had read the face of the infant Wu Mei last year, and then for some unknown reason, he hired someone to secretly kidnap his daughter while she was taking her children to the temple to burn incense.

At this time, the young Wu Mei shouted, "My mother said that the bad guy once said that if I were a girl, I would be the ruler of the world. You should kill this bad guy quickly."

After hearing this, Li Wenbin felt more and more uncomfortable: Although Wu Mei is only two or three years old, she has already begun to show her domineering side.

The tone of speech is imperative rather than consultative.

Fortunately, Wu Mei is still young and her voice is still childish when she speaks like this, so others will just find it funny and won’t think of anything else.

Li Wenbin ignored her and said to Yuan Tiangang, "Master Yuan, why did you kidnap Duke Ying's daughter?"

Yuan Tiangang covered his wound and said with a grin, "I have good intentions. If not, the Empress will rule the world and there will be chaos."

"speak English."

"You..." Yuan Tiangang was so angry at Li Wenbin, but there was nothing he could do. "I have already divined. If you want to change her fate, you must do this. Only in this way can you meet someone who can break the impasse."

"Anyway, that's what Tianji said. As for why, I don't know either."

Li Wenbin pinched his chin, he felt that this matter seemed to be vaguely related to him.

If Yuan Tiangang had not stolen Wu Mei out, she would not have met herself here, and she would have most likely lived according to her original destiny, and finally became the empress who ruled the world.

Could it be that I am really the person who broke the impasse of Wu Zetian, the ruthless killer?

Before Li Wenbin could think about it, Ruyue tiptoed in and whispered in his ear, "Young Master, the princess is calling you out."

Chapter 28: Escape

"Madam, please wait a moment. Wenbin will be back soon." Li Wenbin apologized.

"Please do as you wish, young master." Wu Yang said hurriedly.

When Li Wenbin came out, he saw Zhangsun Wugou waiting there: "Meet the princess."

"Wenbin, what's going on? How come you went out and brought back the wife of Duke Ying?"

"Princess, not only is she the wife of Duke Ying, but also his second daughter."

"Ah?" Zhang Sun Wu Gou's eyes suddenly widened. "You, you, you won't even let go of Duke Ying's wife and his daughter?"

Li Wenbin: “?”

My dear princess, do you have any misunderstanding about me?

"Puff." Li Wenbin almost choked to death on his saliva. "Princess, how could I be that kind of person? Please listen to my explanation."

He told the whole story of how he caught the human trafficker and saved Wu Mei, which made Changsun Wugou feel relieved:

"If you really do such a beastly thing, I will kill my relatives for the sake of justice without your father."

"Don't worry, Princess. Wenbin really doesn't have this hobby. But, Princess, don't you think this is a good opportunity?"

"what chance?"

"The Duke of Ying, Wu Shigui, is now the Chief Clerk of the Yangzhou Military Governor's Office. He is a rare talent. Why don't you take this opportunity to win him over?"

Zhangsun Wugou's eyes sparkled, and after a long while she patted Li Wenbin on the shoulder: "Wenbin, you are really a lucky general of your father."

"You are too kind, Princess."

Changsun Wugou brought Li Wenbin into the room and comforted Wu Yang, which deeply moved her.

He also ordered the preparation of a banquet to calm the wife and daughter of Duke Ying. The banquet was to be held in Li Wenbin's courtyard, and Yuan Tiangang, who had been cleared of all charges, was also among the invited guests.

During the banquet, Changsun Wugou saw Wu Mei often staring at him without blinking, and couldn't help but laugh and asked, "Why do you always stare at me?"

She liked this delicate little girl very much, and suddenly understood why Li Wenbin paid attention to her.

Wu Mei said in a baby voice: "Your clothes are so beautiful and majestic."

"Like it?"

"like."

"Then you can wear it when you marry a prince. You are so beautiful, you will definitely be able to wear it."

As Changsun Wugou spoke, he occasionally glanced at Li Wenbin standing beside him.

She praised Li Wenbin a lot, and had praised him as a rare good man in the Tang Dynasty. The implicit meaning of her words was: What do you think, sister? My son is not bad, how about we become relatives?

Although Wu Yang also felt that Li Wenbin was a suitable candidate for son-in-law

Of course, she was willing to marry into the Qin Palace, but... Li Wenbin was more than ten years older than her daughter.

Fortunately, Zhangsun Wugou was just talking for the time being. Even if the decision was to be made, it was not up to the two women to make it, so she immediately changed the subject.

Yuan Tiangang was already drunk at this time, but he still held the wine jug and refused to let go.

In his words: It is a great fortune to be able to drink such good wine. I don’t know when I will have the chance to drink it again, so I must drink enough.

"Master Yuan, Master Yuan, please stop drinking."

Seeing how drunk he was, Li Wenbin found it funny and tried to comfort him.

"Good wine, good wine." Yuan Tiangang shouted again, then tried to open his drunken eyes and said to him, "My dear, can I tell you a fortune?"

Everyone knows his abilities, so Li Wenbin certainly wouldn't refuse.

"Then I'll trouble you, Taoist Yuan."

Li Wenbin nodded and sat up straight.

But after Yuan Tiangang looked at it for a long time, he spat out a mouthful of blood and then fainted...

Everyone was horrified and tried to wake him up by any means necessary.

But Yuan Tiangang didn't say another word. He turned around and ran away all the way, fleeing from the Prince Qin's Mansion and disappeared.

……

As time went by, the children who were abducted by kidnappers basically found their parents with the help of the Wannian County Government.

When sending their children home, the yamen runners did not forget what Li Wenbin had said. They only told the children's parents that their children were found by the King of Qin, so if they wanted to thank someone, they should thank the King of Qin.

In the court, Crown Prince Li Jiancheng and Prince of Qi Li Yuanji used almost every means to discredit Li Shimin.

And it was not just the front battlefield, Li Jiancheng also asked the concubines in the harem who were on good terms with him to persuade Li Yuan.

Li Shimin had no choice but to do nothing about this - during the war to unify the world, he was mainly responsible for fighting outside, while Li Jiancheng was responsible for logistics, so he had a natural advantage.

However, he lost something in one place but gained something in another. Li Wenbin, who was originally just a small army, achieved unexpected results in the city.

Now among the people, sympathy for the King of Qin has almost reached its peak - if the Tang Dynasty had votes, Li Shimin would undoubtedly be elected emperor of the Tang Dynasty with a high vote.

Li Jiancheng had heard the rumors circulating among the people, but he simply didn't care - in his opinion, they were just a bunch of peasants, how could they cause any big waves?

However, His Royal Highness the Crown Prince of the Tang Dynasty soon tasted the bitter fruit of his own actions.

With the instruction of Li Jiancheng, the imperial censors who attacked Li Shimin in the court were surrounded by angry people before they could return home after the court session.

"Why did you, a dog official, frame the King of Qin?"

"If there was no King Qin, Chang'an would have been conquered by the Turkic barbarians long ago. Are you blind?"

"I think he is not only blind in his eyes, but also blind in his heart."

"Bah, such an ungrateful person is still an official? I threw a bone to a stray dog, and the dog still wagged its tail at me!"

The blocked censors were speechless and dared not do anything, not even to talk back - those who surrounded him were all neighbors living in the same neighborhood, and even a first-rank official could not show off his power on his neighbors.

The Book of the Later Tang Dynasty once recorded an interesting story. Changsun Wuji's neighbor was a small family, whose ancestral home was not even as big as his courtyard.

But when the son of this family got married, they solemnly sent an invitation to Changsun Wuji. In the end, this big shot who was already the Duke of Zhao and the head of the civil servants of the dynasty sat among a group of common people and drank to his heart's content, and then went home drunk.

If even the first-rank officials of the current dynasty are like this, what about them who are only seventh-rank imperial censors?

The common people had their own set of simple ideas. The censors could neither beat them nor convince them, so they could only flee in fear and close the door.

As a result, the number of people attacking and criticizing Li Shimin the next day decreased greatly - those young censors could only pretend to be dead or blind to Li Jiancheng's fierce gaze, which made the King of Qin, who had been pretending to be a wooden man in the court for many days, breathe a sigh of relief.

"Your Highness, Prince Qin, please stay."

On this day, just after the court session ended and Li Shimin walked out of the Taiji Hall, he was stopped by someone.

Chapter 29: Surprise

When Li Shimin turned around, he found that it was Yingguogong Wu Shigui.

In the eleventh year of Daye, Wu Shigui became friends with Emperor Gaozu Li Yuan, who was then the ambassador of appeasement in Hedong, and followed Li Yuan in his army into Chang'an, providing him with military supplies and funds.

In the first year of Wude, he was awarded the title of Duke of Taiyuan County for his meritorious service in "first participating in the uprising" and served in an important position in the imperial army. In the third year of Wude, he was promoted to Minister of Works and was awarded the title of Duke of Yingguo.

"Duke Ying called me to your place, but what is your advice?" Li Shimin didn't know why Wu Shigui wanted to see him - Changsun Wugou hadn't had the chance to tell him about Li Wenbin rescuing Wu Shigui's wife and daughter.

It can be said that Li Shimin and Wu Shigui were not very familiar with each other on a daily basis, and they had never had any friendship at all.

When he was stopped by him at this time, Li Shimin was completely confused.

"Your Majesty, when I returned home yesterday, I heard my wife mention that my daughter was nearly kidnapped. Fortunately, Young Master Li Wenbin from the palace rescued her. Otherwise, father and daughter would never see each other again, and my wife would have been in tears all day. I would like to thank you in advance!"

As he spoke, Wu Shigui straightened his court robes, took a step back, and bowed deeply to Li Shimin.

Only then did Li Shimin understand why Wu Shigui was looking for him.

It turned out to be related to that brat again.

Ok……

Not bad.

But why didn’t Guanyinbi tell me about this?

Li Shimin didn't have time to think about it, and hurried forward to help Wu Shigui up.