Madam, protect me!

Princess Chun was a graceful and beautiful woman. This was the first time Li Nuo met her. She called her to her side. The princess held her hand and said something to her with a smile...

King Chun is right when he says that the reunion dinner requires a large number of people to make it lively.

If it were dinner at Li's house tonight, Li Nuo could imagine how deserted the scene would be.

But it's different in Prince Chun's Mansion.

The table was filled with elaborate dishes, and dancers danced to the music below.

Sitting next to Li Nuo was the lady, and opposite her was Li Anning.

King Chun looked at Li Nuo and the others and said, "Li Nuo, beauty, and An Ning, don't be polite, just treat the palace as your own home..."

He raised the wine glass in his hand and said with a smile: "Cheers, everyone, and I wish that in the new year, Li Nuo will be able to take the imperial examination and go to high school, the beauty's cultivation will be improved to a higher level, and An Ning will be able to find a satisfactory prince-in-law..."

Li Yun, who was sitting in the corner, looked at his father, waiting for his father to wish him something, but King Chun was already drinking with his head raised.

What was placed in front of Li Nuo and the others was a pot of fruit wine. The taste was not very spicy, but the aftertaste was long and the drink had a lot of staying power.

Watching Li Anning drink cup after cup, Li Nuo silently moved the wine bottle to his side.

Although it’s okay to drink some wine to have fun on New Year’s Eve, you shouldn’t drink it as water.

During the dinner, King Chun asked Li Nuo: "How are the preparations for the imperial examination going?"

Li Nuo said: "Do your best."

Prince Chun looked at Li Anning again and asked: "An Ning, the Ministry of Rites has chosen so many consorts, but you are not satisfied with them. Which one do you like?"

Li Anning said calmly: "I'm not in a hurry to get married. Li Yun is older than me and he hasn't even gotten married yet. Why should I be in a hurry?"

Li Yun, who was eating in the corner, trembled when he heard this and buried his head lower.

Speaking of Li Yun, King Chun showed anger on his face.

What kind of son is he giving birth to? He has all the beauties in Chang'an for him to choose from. He doesn't want any of them. He insists on treating a wooden woman as his treasure...

Because of this incident, King Chun often scolded him.

Today is New Year's Eve, An Ning and Xuanjing's family are all here, so I won't talk about him to save him some face.

After dinner, his father and King Chun were playing chess in the study, and Li Nuo and his wife came outside.

The two held hands and stood in the yard, looking up at the bright fireworks that bloomed in the sky from time to time.

Not far away, Li Yun was also holding a figure in his hand.

The fireworks in the sky reflected the colorful colors in her glass-like eyes.

In the darkness, these lifeless eyes seemed to be a little more lively, but even Li Yun, who was closest to her, did not notice it.

further away.

Li Anning stood there alone.

It was very lively outside today, but this liveliness had nothing to do with her.

She looked at the figure standing next to Li Nuo, with a hint of envy in her eyes...

There is no curfew in Chang'an on New Year's Eve.

From New Year's Eve to Lantern Festival, there is no curfew in Chang'an.

During this time, people can party as much as they want.

Although it's too late to go back to Li's Mansion now, going back at this time always feels like the end of the story. King Chun has already arranged a place for them to stay in the Prince's Mansion tonight.

When Li Nuo got up early the next morning, his father and King Chun had already left the palace.

Li Anning also left with them.

Every year on the first day of the Lunar New Year, the imperial court held a grand meeting.

At the great court meeting, the chief officials of various states and ministries would go to the palace to report their work, so that the court could summarize the past year and start looking forward to the new year.

All the princes must attend this annual court meeting, and the princess and the prince-in-law cannot be absent.

Even some low-level officials who are not qualified to stand in the court on ordinary days have the opportunity to stand in the court during the great court meetings.

Because there are many people participating in the Dachao, it usually lasts for three consecutive days.

When Li Nuo and Song Jiaren returned to Li Mansion, the court meeting had been held for a while in the palace.

Today's court meeting is very different from the past.

Not only were there an extremely large number of officials participating, but more importantly, His Majesty, who had not been seen for a long time, rarely appeared in front of the ministers.

Sitting on the dragon chair was a middle-aged man with a handsome face.

Your Majesty is over sixty years old this year, but he does not look old at all, with black hair and no beard, and no wrinkles on his face. Compared with several older princes, he looks more like a brother than a father and son.

According to the order of duty reporting at the Great Court Meeting, first there are the three provinces and six ministries, then the nine temples and the guards' offices, and then the chief officials of each place.

During the process of officials reporting their duties, the dignitaries of Daxia could report at any time.

Today is the first day of the court meeting. Generally, after the three provinces, six ministries and nine temples report their work, today's court meeting will end.

During this period, taking advantage of His Majesty's difficulty in appearing, the dignitaries began to impeach Li Xuanjing, the Minister of Dali Temple.

What about corruption and bending the law, murdering loyal people, disregarding human lives, monopolizing power, threatening courtiers, interfering in royal affairs... One by one, the evidence is conclusive and the facts are correct.

"During the period when Your Majesty is not in court, the Minister of Dali Temple, taking advantage of the power in his hands, acted wantonly and lawlessly!"

"I don't know how many officials were arrested by him on unfounded charges and sent to Dali Temple and the Mirror Department, which made the people in the court panic and the atmosphere was full of chaos..."

"Please also ask Your Majesty to take back his authority over the Mirror Division!"

"Your Majesty, please tell me clearly!"

…

Li Xuanjing, the minister of Dali Temple who was standing in front of the courtiers, had no expression on his face when he heard these words.

Those senior officials above the third rank also had expressionless faces.

Some officials at the back of the court had a look of anticipation on their faces. The Minister of Dali Temple was too intimidating to low-level officials like them.

His single thought could make all their previous decades of hard work in vain. Without him in the court, they would not be able to sleep peacefully.

However, officials who have experienced previous imperial meetings do not have any hope for this matter.

Every year there are people who impeach Li Xuanjing.

Until now, he is still standing here fine.

On the contrary, those who impeached him changed one batch after another.

Sure enough, His Majesty ignored these dignitaries at all. After a long silence in the hall, the Minister of Rites could only stand up and began to report on his work on behalf of the Ministry of Rites.

This year is the year of the imperial examination, the busiest year for the Ministry of Rites, and the content of the work report is more than in previous years.

At the end of his report, he mentioned by the way that Princess An Ning was already eighteen years old and it was time to choose a consort.

Somewhere in the hall, a nervous look appeared on Li Anning's face.

This time, the figure sitting above the Golden Palace did not remain silent. He rarely asked: "Has the Ministry of Rites selected the list of potential consorts?"

The Minister of Rites respectfully said: "We have selected a few people before, but Mr. Li, the Minister of Dali Temple, feels that the talent and beauty of those people are not worthy of Princess An Ning. The Ministry of Rites is already making new selections..."

The Emperor of Daxia spoke again: "Who did the Ministry of Rites choose?"

The Minister of Rites said: "The son of the Right Minister of the Ministry of Civil Affairs, the grandson of Zhang Lian, the great scholar of Hongwenguan, the son of the Imperial Servant Shaoqing... These people are all outstanding among their peers in terms of family background and talent. If they are not good, then There are not many people to choose from.”

The Emperor of Daxia thought for a moment and said: "My daughter should be matched with the best young talents in Daxia. The imperial examination is coming soon. An Ning's consort, let her choose one of the number one in this imperial examination or the number one in the six subjects. ”

Li Anning turned pale when he heard this.

Most of the courtiers sighed in their hearts, Your Majesty really dotes on this little princess.

Designating the number one scholar as the consort had already set a precedent in Great Xia, and letting the princess choose her own consort was unprecedented and even violated etiquette and law.

But His Majesty's words were so eloquent that no one dared to object.

The Minister of Rites bowed and said: "I obey the order."

Although His Majesty did not issue an edict, what he said in front of all officials was no different from an imperial edict.

Your Majesty has already spoken. Now, the Minister of Dali Temple can't stop him, can he?

If he dares to stop him again, he will be disobedient and disrespectful, and even His Majesty will not protect him.

After the Ministry of Rites, the Ministry of Personnel continued to report on their work. The officials had long forgotten the incident. Only Li Anning, standing among the princesses, bit her lower lip tightly, her face extremely pale...

Her father spoke in person. This time, no one could help her...