Linzhi

He Rong rubbed his eyebrows: "Can you let me be quiet for two days?"

He Xi's eyes were full of tears: "It's about my life, third brother, you can't just ignore it!"

He Rong was helpless: "You also know that I am the third brother, not the eldest brother, the second brother, and not even the father."

He Xi sat down cheekily and refused to leave.

"Father refused to agree, and my elder brother and second elder brother also refused to intercede with my father for me. I can only come to beg you."

He Rong: "I don't want to care about it either."

He turned around to leave, but He Xi, with sharp eyes and quick hands, flew forward, hugged He Rong tightly from behind, and cried loudly: "Third brother, you can't leave! Look at the marriage that father has found for you. I died after passing through the door, do you have the heart to let me suffer this crime too! Third brother, younger brother, I will be pushed into the fire pit, you can't just ignore death!"

For the first time in He Rong's life, he had the urge to beat someone violently, but the target was his younger brother.

"release."

"Wuuu, third brother..."

"Let go!" He Rong kicked him down mercilessly, He Xi groaned and fell dizzy.

He Rong said coldly: "If you don't want to speak well, don't come in again."

He Xi shuddered, the wailing stopped abruptly, and he shut up immediately.

For some reason, even though He Rong is not the head of the family, and he is usually unsmiling, only Goro is not afraid of the majesty and is always willing to get close to him, but when he encounters difficult things, He Xi thinks of this third brother.

He Xiqi Ai Ai: "Third brother, I'm not making trouble out of no reason, you know, I've always liked those supernatural things..."

He Rong: "Zibuyu speaks strangely and confusedly, have you read all the books in Chongwenguan for nothing?"

He Xi: "I don't say a word, but I don't think it exists, I still say I keep it at a respectful distance, it can be seen that I just don't want to study it carefully, besides, don't everyone say that the emperor is the son of heaven, and he follows the will of heaven, if there is no god in the world Ghost, then why do you call him the Son of Heaven again? Do you dare to say that His Majesty is just fooling the world?"

He Rong smiled but said: "You have grown up and learned the way of sophistry."

He Xi shrank his neck: "I want to go to Qin Tianjian, but my father said that Qin Tianjian's position is low and powerful, and it's not something that royal children can be involved in. Let me not wishful thinking."

In this dynasty, Qintianjian was also known as Huntianjian. This yamen was under the control of Taishiling in the previous dynasty, and later it was under the supervision of Secretary. Although the name was changed frequently and the official position was different, the calendar solar terms were always calculated according to the astronomical phenomena.People who can enter the Qin Tianjian, even if they don't know astronomy at the top and geography at the bottom, they are definitely not people like He Xi who are half-clinking with water.

The important affairs of the country are only sacrifices and soldiers. It can be seen that things related to heaven, one bad thing can shake the country, so whenever there is a change in the sky, if the Qin Tianjian cannot detect it in advance, it must give an appropriate explanation afterwards, and even the emperor. Behavior gives guidance, as well as the time of birth of the royal children, whether the marriage horoscope is compatible, will often pass through the Qin Tianjian. At this time, the position of the Qin Tianjian becomes sensitive and delicate. There is no fate with this yamen.

Although He Tai is often confused, he still can't be confused about this kind of thing.

He Rong said: "Father is right."

He Xi sighed: "That's why I thought that if I become a Taoist apprentice, I can still practice outer alchemy, watch the sky, and learn Taoism!"

He Rong stared at him for a moment: "It depends on how you enter the Tao. If you learn the Tao from a teacher, what does it have to do with not getting married?"

He Xi: "If you want to learn something, you have to devote yourself wholeheartedly. I look down on those who enter the Tao without delaying their marriage and children. If you want to learn, naturally you have to focus on nothing else, I heard that the Taoism divides the Quanzhen way and the righteous way, the former must strictly abide by the precepts and never marry for life, which coincides with my thoughts!"

He was talking happily, and suddenly felt that He Rong's expression was a bit wrong, stopped and laughed dryly: "Third brother, why are you looking at me like that? In our family, you are the most unconventional, father and elder brother don't understand me , I can’t do anything about it, but third brother, you must agree with me, right?”

He Rongxin said thank you for looking at me so highly, but I didn't feel honored at all.

He asked blankly, "Since you want to become a monk, why don't you become a monk?"

He Xi scratched his head: "But there is no way of cultivation in Buddhism. I sit there and meditate all day long. I can't sit still, and I have to memorize scriptures. You know, those are the things that bother me the most...Third brother, you Why are you looking at me like that?"

He Rong suddenly picked up the bamboo stick in his hand and hit him.

He Xi scrambled and backed away, with an innocent face: "Third brother, why are you beating someone!"

He Rong said coldly: "I think father and elder brother are too kind, they didn't use family law against you, like you who always have unrealistic ideas, you can be honest if you beat them hard."

After that, he stood up and wanted to make a move, so scared that He Xi didn't even bother to put on the shoes he kicked off, and ran outside, shouting as he ran, "Third brother, you are really my dear third brother! You are just like my father!" So, if I can't say it, I'm going to do it, I won't tell you!"

A person came in from outside, and they couldn't dodge in time, the two collided, He Xi fell back with a groan, and the object held by the other person inevitably fell to the ground and shattered.

"My almond dew!" He Zhan wailed.

Among the fragments of the soup bowl on the ground, a large piece of Baibai came into view impressively.

He Zhan was about to die of anger. When he came back, he saw Li's shop outside, and remembered that the sweet almond milk that they used to have to queue up to buy was still in stock today, so he quickly bought a copy and gave it to the third brother to taste. It was all screwed up.

He Xi got up while rubbing his buttocks, and said guiltily: "It's none of my business, you bumped into it yourself!"

He Rong sneered: "Wu Lang, beat him up, it's mine."

He Zhan was still scruples about brotherhood, so he was not good at fighting. Hearing this, he immediately rolled up his sleeves and approached He Xi with a smirk: "Fourth brother, you heard, this was ordered by third brother!"

He Xi yelled: "How can this happen, third brother, this is not fair, Wu Lang is the one who can beat a cow to death, I will be beaten to death by him!"

He Zhan didn't care so much, he just raised his fist, and the two chased after each other, and ran outside. He Xi's crying and begging for mercy came quickly, and I don't know how his nephew He Xin heard the news and came out. Onlookers cheered for Uncle Wu at the same time.

Wen Jiang couldn't laugh or cry when he heard it, and said to He Rong: "Will you not let them stop, Mr. Lang, don't break people."

He Rong: "Goro has a sense of propriety, just break it if it is broken, just save it and then anger people."

Taking a closer look, he still had a slight smile on his face, but he was actually not as angry as He Xi imagined.

Although it is bitter beyond the Great Wall, and hovering between life and death, after all, there was only one goal at that time, and that was to deal with Jia Luo wholeheartedly, and to seek power for Princess Zhending. Although Princess Zhending was a former princess, there were Han people in her body She is of Turkic origin, and has a natural alliance with the Central Plains court, so He Rong doesn't have to worry that Princess Zhending will betray him.

But after returning to the capital, the situation was obviously much more complicated than when he was in Turkic. After a few days in court, He Rong already felt the turbulent undercurrent of various forces.

The emperor was old and the prince had not yet been established. Under such circumstances, the courtiers either actively or passively voted for a certain camp, and very few of them could be truly neutral.

Before He Tai returned to the capital, if the emperor wanted to establish a crown prince, he could only be the king of Qi in terms of meritorious deeds. There was almost no objection to this, but after He Tai came back, he was first crowned king by the emperor and let him take charge of the Ministry of Industry. Immediately after He Rong and He Zhan made such great achievements, many people inevitably wavered and fell to He Tai's side one after another.

In the past two years since He Rong and the others left home, a group of courtiers and aides who are willing to get close to him have gradually gathered around He Tai. Therefore, a separate courtyard was opened in the Prince Lu's mansion for those diners to live in. He Rong hasn't visited it yet. I heard that He Mu got closer to them.

But after all, King Qi has been in business for many years, the power in the court is stable, and he has not made any major mistakes, so it is impossible for the hardcore King Qi party to be scattered.

Regardless of whether the emperor is willing or not, things will eventually develop in this direction.

In the Xuanzheng Hall, a courtier was playing a performance, talking about building a pagoda for the old prince to pray for blessings.

He Rong was not familiar with this person, but he only knew that he was a servant of the Ministry of Industry, that is, under his father's command.

Everyone knew the emperor's feelings for the old prince. This year, on the anniversary of the old prince's death, the emperor made a special trip to the prince's mausoleum. It's not surprising that some people would fall in love with him.

He Rong looked in He Tai's direction, he was seated obliquely behind He Tai, the other party lowered his head, and could only vaguely see the side.

After hearing this, the emperor was noncommittal, and sure enough, he asked He Tai first: "King Lu, what do you think?"

He Tai didn't rush, straightened his upper body: "Reporting to Your Majesty, I think that although the crown prince passed away for many years, he was kind and filial, and he was an example for a son of man. Now that I think of it, I often cry secretly. Your Majesty's condolences may also allow me to always look forward to remembering the benevolence of the prince."

As soon as He Rong heard this, he knew that it must not be He Tai who thought it up on the spot, maybe the reason why this courtier will present this memorial is also from He Tai's instruction.

Thinking of this, he couldn't help frowning slightly.

He Rong discovered that in the past two years, everyone has actually changed a lot. Like today's event, his father hadn't consulted him beforehand.

The emperor asked King Wei of Qi again. King Qi hesitated for a moment and agreed to He Tai's words, but King Wei objected politely, saying that the imperial court was short of treasury. If I go back, I'm afraid I won't be able to afford the money to build the pagoda now.

He Tai said: "If Your Majesty doesn't want to take too long, the pagoda doesn't need to be built too high, just a three or four foot exquisite pagoda, made of pure gold, and it will be enshrined in the palace at that time, and there is no need to spend a lot of manpower, it can be enshrined in the pagoda The Buddhist scriptures will be recited by eminent monks for three days and three nights, and incense will be offered regularly to borrow the spirit of the former prince in heaven."

The Linglong pagoda is not necessarily cheaper than a pagoda built with bricks and stones. If it is made of pure gold, it requires more craftsmanship. He swallowed back the words that came to his mouth.

The emperor hummed, and seemed a little moved. He looked around, and his eyes fell on an inconspicuous position behind Zhang Tao, Marquis of Wuwei.

"He Rong, what do you think?"

Those who desert in the court hall are the most fatal at this moment. Once someone was distracted during the court meeting, and when asked by the emperor, he answered "the minister seconded the proposal", but was scolded by the emperor and dismissed on the spot.

He Rong said slowly: "I dare to ask, did the prince believe in Buddhism, Taoism, or a Confucian apprentice before he was alive, and did not believe in Buddhism, Taoism, ghosts and gods?"

A smart person already understood what he was going to say, this answer was too narrow, the emperor couldn't help but slightly raised his mouth, and still asked, "What's the difference?"

He Rong: "If the prince believed in Huang Lao before his death, wouldn't it be torture to let him listen to the eminent monk's chanting scriptures? If he doesn't believe in Buddhism and Taoism and only reads sage books, then why build a Linglong pagoda and invite a great Confucian to stand in front of the prince's tablet Just give him lectures, the prince will be happy under the nine springs."

Puchi!

Some people couldn't help but laughed out loud.

Several honest and honest officials who originally wanted to speak out to persuade, heard this extremely euphemistic and hilarious remonstrance, they couldn't help smiling, and secretly praised He Rong for his wit.

The emperor hummed: "It sounds quite reasonable."

In contrast, He Tai's complexion was not so good-looking.

Although King Qi was annoyed at the fact that he had just admired the pagoda, he felt happy when he saw He Tai's face.

If you are a son, you don't even give me face, and you refute in public, so what if you are capable?

This matter came to an end, and others talked about other things, but He Tai didn't care to listen. When the court meeting was over, he came out of the Xuanzheng Hall, and instead of walking towards the palace gate, he walked towards the Zichen Hall. Let Mahone stop him.

"His Royal Highness stay."

He Tai hurriedly said: "I would like to ask His Majesty to explain what I did just now, and please Ma Changshi to pass it on for me."

Ma Hong smiled and said: "It's not that the villain deliberately stopped him, but His Majesty is actually summoning Duke Ango inside, and he won't let anyone in."

He Tai was taken aback.

……

"You haven't seen my elder brother's face today, it's really wonderful."

In King Wei's mansion, King Wei personally picked up a piece of pastry from the plate and handed it to the diners next to him.

"Try it, sir. This is the recipe in the palace. I tried it at my mother's place, and asked the chef to try it. It tastes good."

The doorman thanked King Wei: "I don't know how King Qi's reaction will be?"

"King Qi," King Wei laughed, "my ninth brother is even more interesting. He was asked by His Majesty. Although he didn't want to follow the elder brother's opinion, he knew that His Majesty missed and loved the old prince. In the end, he had to hold back. Nose agrees with my elder brother, but in the end, my nephew's words make him look like a human."

Doorman: "If His Majesty asked you first, how would you answer?"

King Wei was silent for a moment, and had no choice but to say: "Fortunately, I didn't ask me first, otherwise my answer might not be as good as Brother Jiu's. It is precisely because Brother Jiu agrees that I object."

Doorman: "In your opinion, does His Majesty value An Guogong's suggestion more, or yours?"

King Wei laughed, and pointed at the doormen with his finger: "I treat you to cakes, but you come to poke my heart!"

The doorman also laughed, stood up and cupped his hands to plead guilty: "I didn't mean to read His Highness's joke on purpose, but if His Highness wants to have the last laugh, he will know himself and the enemy, and understand his current situation."

King Wei laughed at himself: "It's just that I was too low-key before, so I didn't get into His Majesty's eyes!"

He paused for a moment, then lowered his voice again: "Besides, I doubt that His Majesty may have guessed about me on the way back to the mausoleum last time. Otherwise, why did he not mention a word after he came back, and made the eldest brother king?"

The doorman was surprised: "It shouldn't be? This matter is very hidden, and it stands to reason that no one can find out."

King Wei shook his head with a complicated expression on his face.

King Qi has been in charge of the criminal department for many years, and he intervened in many cases without anyone noticing.

For example, many years ago, Chen Wuliang, who traveled through Lingnan and put down the Nanman rebellion, passed away due to illness. The censor of Lingnan Road accused him of being corrupt and extravagant during his lifetime. Wang, hand over the Chen family's Wanguan family wealth, in exchange for Qi Wang to destroy all evidence of Chen Wuliang's involvement in corruption and even rebellion during his lifetime, in exchange for the Chen family's safety.King Qi agreed, and then the case was turned into a minor matter. The supervisor was exiled for false accusation, but the Chen family was safe and sound.

No matter how wise the Son of Heaven is, it is impossible for him to know everything about everything. King Qi seized this point and concealed it from the sky. If King Wei hadn't become suspicious of other cases and sent people to investigate secretly, he might not have discovered this matter. .

King Wei managed to put all the evidence he had found in the prince's tomb, and put it under the name of the inspector censor who was exiled and then died unjustly, so that the emperor could find it when he sacrificed to the tomb.

He originally thought that the emperor would be furious and investigate King Qi on the spot, but in the end it turned out to be calm and nothing happened.

King Wei couldn't figure it out: "The king of Qi has already deceived the king by acting like this, why is your majesty indifferent?"

The doorman also shook his head: "Since your majesty doesn't want to pursue this matter, let's not think too much about it, let's focus on our eyes. In my opinion, your majesty is probably hesitating now, and he doesn't know who should be the best, otherwise he will stand in the middle." The voice is raging, and I don’t believe it, His Majesty is really indifferent.”

King Wei sighed: "I suffer because I am at the bottom of the ranking. It is too late to exert my strength. I thought that there is only my ninth brother in front. As long as I wait for the right time, I can sit firmly on the Diaoyutai. Unexpectedly, another big brother will come out halfway. He Even though she is muddle-headed and incompetent, but her womb was born well, her ranking is even older than the old prince, and she has given birth to several good sons!"

The doorman also frowned: "The main thing is still in An Guogong."

King Wei nodded: "Yes, just like today, my eldest brother admired the pagoda, but He Rong objected again, so it doesn't matter whether His Majesty repairs it or not, the father and son have already taken all the benefits, and He Rong will help him find it. It doesn’t matter if the elder brother makes more mistakes.”

Thinking of this, even the most delicious cakes are tasteless.

King Wei got up and paced back and forth in the study, and suddenly stopped: "Say, should I make a way to bring up the matter of He Rong's biological mother again, make him fall out of favor with His Majesty, or drive him out of Chang'an? Otherwise, he Now, my elder brother will stop doing stupid things."

The doorman reassured: "Your Highness, don't worry, there is a person who is more anxious than you. He probably wants to see King Lu's misfortune more than you now. We don't need to do it, he will do it naturally."

King Wei was taken aback, shook his head and laughed: "You are right, I forgot, King Qi must be more anxious."