Chapter 16
Early the next morning, the sky was blue, and the sun shone through the clouds, covering the earth with a golden veil. Emperor Taizong of the Tang Dynasty, as usual, wore a dragon robe and walked steadily towards the court, but found that the minister Li Qingge did not appear. It happened that Cheng Yaojin also went to Yangzhou for official duties, and Taizong couldn't help but show a puzzled look on his face.
"Why didn't Li Qingge come to the morning court today?" Taizong asked His Highness the ministers, with a hint of unnoticeable worry in his tone. The ministers looked at each other in confusion, not knowing what was going on. They secretly speculated in their hearts, but did not dare to speak easily.
"Where is General Cheng now?" Taizong asked again, frowning slightly.
“I don’t know, have you seen him?” Someone responded cautiously, for fear of offending Long Yan.
"No, I haven't seen it either." Taizong shook his head, and his doubts became even worse. He looked around and saw that the ministers were either bowing their heads in deep thought or discussing in low voices, but there was no news about Li Qingge.
Taizong thought to himself: "What is this kid doing again? As an important minister of the imperial court, he suddenly disappeared. This is too outrageous!" He knew Li Qingge's temperament well. Although he was a bit unruly, he You have always acted in a measured manner, how could you be so rude this time?
"Do you really not know where he went?" Taizong asked again, with a hint of urgency in his voice. The ministers shook their heads to express their ignorance, and some even began to discuss it privately.
"Li Qingge usually goes his own way, but now he doesn't even come to the morning court. How arrogant!" A minister who usually had problems with Li Qingge muttered in a low voice.
“That’s right, relying on one’s own merits, one becomes more and more presumptuous!” Another person echoed.
"If this continues, I'm afraid even the emperor won't take it seriously." Someone else whispered.
These words pierced Taizong's ears like needles. He smiled bitterly and shook his head: "You people, how can you understand my thoughts? Although Li Qingge behaved unruly, he did not mean any harm, he just thought It's just a leisurely life. And because he is so talented, this little thing is not a big mistake."
Thinking of this, Taizong felt a little better. He decided to go to Cheng Yaojin's house to have a look in person, and maybe he could get some clues from it. So, he asked the officials: "Do you have anything else to report?" Seeing Taizong's serious look, everyone calmed down and reported seriously.
After retreating from the court, Taizong took several eunuchs and went straight to Cheng Mansion. The eunuchs shouted loudly: "The Emperor has arrived!" The sound echoed in the mansion, disturbing Li Qingge who was sleeping soundly.
Li Qingge woke up from her dream and asked in surprise: "Why is the emperor here?" She rubbed her eyes and sat up. Her long hair fell on her shoulders like a waterfall, looking a little messy.
"Xiao Cui, what time is it now?" Li Qingge asked the maid beside him, with a hint of laziness in his voice.
"It's already noon. General, please get up quickly. The Emperor has already arrived at the inner hall. I will prepare some water for you to wash up." Xiao Cui replied, and asked Li Qingge with concern if he was hungry and if he wanted anything. Prepare meals.
Li Qingge waved her hand and said no. After the maid left, she quickly packed her clothes and went out to greet her. Although she was a little reluctant, she had to welcome the emperor as he came. She secretly murmured in her heart: "Li Shimin is really troublesome. Didn't he oversleep? Why is he making such a fuss? There are so many ministers in the court. One more of me is not more, and one less of me is not much. He is quite leisurely. This kind of I have to come over and ask about little things in person."
When I walked to the pavilion, I happened to meet Taizong walking quickly. Li Qingge hurriedly bowed and saluted: "Your Majesty is here in person, but I am sorry to hear you come from afar." Her voice was clear and sweet, with a hint of apology.
Taizong looked at Li Qingge and asked, "Why didn't you come to the morning court today?" There was a hint of reproach in his tone, but more of concern.
Li Qingge explained: "Wei Chen saw that the watermelon in the garden was ripe, so he wanted to study the cooking method so that he could taste it for His Majesty. Unexpectedly, he accidentally got addicted to it and missed the morning court time. Please, Your Majesty Forgive me." After saying this, she looked aggrieved, as if she really missed the morning session because of studying watermelon.
After hearing her explanation, Taizong's anger subsided a little. He looked at the woman in front of him and thought to himself: "Although Li Qingge acts unruly, I know her intelligence and loyalty. Maybe this time she really delayed her morning court because of studying watermelon." Thinking of this, he said: " Although you have your reasons, the early dynasty is a major national event, how can you ignore it so easily? I'm afraid the ministers already have opinions on you."
Li Qingge secretly regretted it after hearing Taizong's words. She knew that her behavior was indeed inappropriate, but when she thought of those round watermelons and the delicious food she was about to cook, she felt a little aggrieved. She looked at Taizong with a hint of pleading in her eyes: "Your Majesty, Wei Chen knows that he was wrong. He will definitely pay attention to the time in the future and not delay the morning court again. Please give Wei Chen another chance."
Taizong looked Looking at Li Qingge's pleading eyes, he secretly laughed in his heart. He knew that although this woman acted unruly, she was still loyal to the country and the monarch deep in her heart. He nodded and said: "Okay, I will forgive you this time. But in the future, you must pay attention to the time and don't delay the morning court again."
After finishing speaking, Taizong asked curiously: "Watermelon What is it? I haven't heard of it before." There was a hint of curiosity and expectation in his tone.
Li Qingge felt secretly proud after hearing Taizong's words. She knew that Taizong was always curious about new things, and this was the perfect opportunity to let him experience the delicious taste of watermelon. She smiled and said: "Your Majesty, watermelon is a very delicious fruit. Its outer skin is green, but its inside is red flesh. It tastes sweet and juicy. Wei Chen has already thought of several cooking methods. Wait a minute I will offer it to His Majesty for tasting.”
Taizong became even more curious after hearing Li Qingge’s description. He decided to see this magical fruit for himself. So, he followed Li Qingge to the backyard. I saw a green patch of green in the yard, with vines intertwined and covered with round watermelons, which were green and attractive. Taizong saw this plant and fruit for the first time and liked it very much. He asked Li Qingge to give him a detailed introduction to the growth process and cooking methods of watermelon. Li Qingge happily agreed and took Taizong to observe carefully. While introducing the characteristics and cooking methods of watermelon, she imagined Taizong's satisfied expression after tasting the watermelon. She knew that although the morning court was delayed this time, she would definitely be able to gain Taizong's understanding and appreciation with the delicious watermelon and her own intelligence.
"Master Cheng, is this the watermelon you are talking about? I haven't tasted it yet." Li Shimin's face was filled with sincere joy, and his words were full of sincerity and expectation, as if a child was about to explore A whole new world.
Li Qingge thought to himself: [It’s normal if you haven’t seen it before. After all, this watermelon was introduced from the Western Regions during the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms. As an emperor, how can you know all these rural things? Only since I am here can you have a chance to try something new. Otherwise, you may never come across this thing in your life. Hey, I'm afraid you'll have to ask me how to grow this melon after eating it. If you want to plant it in a large area, that would be troublesome. If it wasn't to please you, how could I take it out so easily? I grow so many fruits and vegetables, you may have never seen them if you pick them randomly. 】Despite what he thought in his heart, Li Qingge's face still smiled as warm as spring, as if it could melt all ice.
"Your Majesty, this is the watermelon. Cut it with a knife. The red flesh inside is sweet and juicy. Please taste it." Li Qingge's words were calm and full of respect. After a while, the servant had picked the melon, cut it into pieces carefully, and placed it on the ice cubes. The crystal clear ice cubes and the bright red watermelon cubes contrasted with each other, which greatly increased people's appetite.
Li Qingge felt that it was not thoughtful enough, so he quietly gave a few instructions to the servant, and the servant rushed away. When he came back soon, there were a few delicate bamboo sticks on the watermelon piece. This detail undoubtedly makes the already tempting watermelon more convenient to taste.
"Your Majesty, please enjoy." Li Qingge invited again, with a hint of imperceptible tenderness in his tone.
However, Li Shimin's mind did not seem to be entirely on the watermelon. His eyes occasionally wandered, as if he was thinking about something important.
【A country person? This kid always talks in a roundabout way, which makes it uncomfortable to hear. Forget it, the matter between the imperial court and Princess Changle has given me enough headaches that I don't want to bother with you. 】These thoughts flashed through Li Shimin's mind, and then he withdrew his mind and focused on the watermelon in front of him.
He took a look and saw red watermelon cubes scattered on the ice in a transparent bowl. The color was as bright as gems, making people salivate.
"Is this watermelon?" Li Shimin asked seriously, with curiosity shining in his eyes.
"Yes, Your Majesty, please taste it." Li Qingge showed a rare gentle smile, and there was a bit of cunning hidden in that smile, as if he knew what would happen next. The servant immediately brought the bowl between the two of them, and the sweet aroma of watermelon filled the air.
"What are these small signs for?" Li Shimin had never seen this new thing before, and asked again, with a child-like innocence in his tone.
"Your Majesty, this is for eating watermelon, I will show you." Li Qingge saw that Li Shimin's thoughts were not entirely here, so he replied kindly with a bit of flattery. He picked up the bamboo skewer, stabbed it into the red flesh gracefully, took a bite and showed it to Li Shimin.
Li Shimin also followed suit. After one sip, the sweet and fresh melon juice overflowed, refreshing his mouth, and even his stomach and intestines felt comfortable. It was a wonderful taste that he had never experienced before, and he couldn't help but praise it.
"It's so delicious! I have never eaten such delicious food in my life!" Li Shimin praised sincerely, his eyes filled with gratitude and admiration for Li Qingge.
"Master Cheng, where does this watermelon come from? Why is it so delicious!" Li Shimin asked while eating, his face full of expectation, like a child eager to explore the unknown world.
"Your Majesty, I bought this from a businessman when I traveled around." Li Qingge told the truth, but he was muttering in his heart, foreseeing the trouble that would follow.
【I knew that once Li Shimin knew about this thing, he would definitely break the casserole and ask the truth. How annoying! Just eat it yourself. I'll teach your subordinates and you can eat it often. If you really think about the people, you can spread the seeding method, but just don't bother me again! The sweet potato thing last time kept me busy, and I don't want to waste any more time this time. well! Why is the majestic king of a country so troubled? 】
Despite the constant complaints in his heart, Li Qingge still maintained a decent smile on his face.
Li Shimin heard his slander, but didn't take it to heart. He had long been accustomed to Li Qingge's laziness and straightforwardness, which was one of the reasons why he valued Li Qingge so much.
However, for the future of the royal family and the well-being of the people, he must make some decisions.
Li Shimin thought of this, and a playful smile appeared at the corner of his mouth. He knew what Li Qingge was thinking, and he also understood that he didn't want to take on the task of promoting watermelon. But Li Shimin also had his own considerations.
Who is the best person to do this? The answer is self-evident. It was Li Qingge who was the first to discover watermelon and had superb cultivation skills. He didn't want to trouble Li Qingge, he just wanted to leave things like planting to experienced people so that he could get twice the result with half the effort.
"Cheng Qing, you still need to be personally responsible for the promotion of watermelon. I will send people to assist you. When the people can grow it, I will definitely be rewarded." After Li Shimin finished speaking, there was a smile on his lips. He was secretly proud, feeling that he was finally better this time.
However, when Li Qingge heard this, his heart was turned upside down.
【Holy crap! Last time about the sweet potato incident, Li Shimin was polite to me, but this time he just gave orders! There is no humility at all, as if this is a matter of course! I'm so angry! 】
Li Qingge cursed in his heart and glanced at Li Shimin, with a trace of helplessness and dissatisfaction flashing in his eyes.
【This emperor is getting more and more excessive, there are more and more things happening, he is so annoying! I originally wanted to be a salty fish, but who knew it would be so difficult! 】
Although he was overwhelmed with emotion, Li Qingge still barely resisted the urge to protest. The other party is the emperor, even if he is not afraid, he still has to give him enough face.
"I obey the order. However, none of the farmers have seen this thing. Please give your Majesty more time." Li Qingge reluctantly agreed, but he was already thinking about how to deal with the next trouble. He knew that this would be a long and arduous road to promotion, but he also understood that he must do his part for the well-being of the people.
Li Qingge seemed quite calm on the surface, and answered Taizong's words very smoothly. She lowered her eyes slightly, with a faint smile on her lips, as if she had everything under control. In fact, what she was thinking was that growing watermelons was very simple. It was no different from growing sweet potatoes. It was just a simple job in the field. She just wanted to be free and at ease, and didn't want to live like a war, so she used watermelon planting as an excuse, and she could also push Taizong's arrangements along the way. As for Taizong, he saw through her little thoughts at a glance, but he didn't say anything and agreed with a smile, without blaming her at all.
"Okay, just do as Cheng Aiqing said, but you have to work hard and set a good example for everyone!" Taizong said, holding a piece of watermelon in his hand and chewing on it, the red juice It flowed down the corner of his mouth, looking quite embarrassed, but he didn't care, looking like he was enjoying it.
Li Qingge actually felt a little unhappy after accepting his life. She secretly muttered: "Hey, when will this day of being forced to open business come to an end? I could have been an idler comfortably, but why didn't this guy Li Shimin refuse to let me go? Think about it, I used to be like salted fish. I had such a happy life, but now I have to get up early and go to bed late every day, and I’m as tired as a dog.”
< br>"From now on, I can no longer show off my treasures casually, otherwise Li Shimin will have to ask me to promote them all over the world. These days will be endless. I have to become an agricultural expert." Li Qingge complained in his heart. He kept talking, but on the surface he was still respectful and looked like a loyal minister and good general.
...
Looking at Li Qingge's duplicity, Taizong couldn't laugh or cry, and was too lazy to argue with her about such trivial matters. He had bigger worries on his mind, and his brows were furrowed as if he could pinch a fly.
"Alas!" Taizong sighed again. After entering the mansion, the sighing sound did not stop. He sat on the stone bench of the pavilion, staring blankly into the distance, as if thinking about some major life issue.
When Li Qingge saw Taizong's sad face, he also murmured in his heart. She thought to herself: "What happened to Li Shimin today? I haven't seen him smile since he walked in. He must be in big trouble."
She thought about what happened recently, and suddenly realized: "I heard that Princess Gaoyang was imprisoned yesterday. Could it be that the scandal between her and Monk Bianji was exposed?"
Looking at Taizong's worried face again, Li Qingge became even more convinced of his guess. She thought to herself: "Nine times out of ten, this is what happened. Li Shimin loves Gao Yang so much, how can he imprison her easily if it is not a big deal? This must have been exposed."
Taizong saw that Li Qingge guessed so quickly When it comes to my own thoughts, I secretly admire it in my heart. He thought to himself: 'This kid is really smart. I just imprisoned Gao Yang, so he can guess the hidden secrets. How great it would be if he could use all his intelligence and energy on national affairs! ’
Taizong sighed again, but this time Li Qingge didn’t guess why he sighed. She thought to herself: "What do they have to worry about? Since it has already happened, there is no point in worrying about it."
"Gao Yang has been imprisoned, and Monk Bianji can't escape. Who can How dare he be so bold as to have a private meeting with the princess?" Li Qingge complained silently in his heart, "What a pity, Bianji, this matter is related. The royal family can only deal with it secretly. In this way, Gao Yang's reputation may be preserved."
"This matter is actually not a big deal, why should he sigh all day long? It was so short, Zhenguan was gone for twenty-three years." Li Qingge silently commented on Taizong's lifespan.
When Taizong heard what Li Qingge said, he agreed with it for the first part, but when he heard about his life expectancy, he felt bad. He remembered that Li Qingge had said before that he would not survive the 23rd year of Zhenguan. He did not take it seriously at the time, but now when he heard this, ripples appeared in his heart.
"I'm only thirty-one years old. I'm in my prime. I thought I could live for a few more decades, but I didn't expect that I only have twenty-one years left." Taizong calculated silently in his heart. Thinking about his own lifespan, he couldn't help but feel a sense of fear. Twenty-one years sounds like a long time, but when I think that I will eventually leave this world, that kind of fear arises spontaneously.
But Taizong quickly adjusted his mentality. He thought to himself: 'Whether this prophecy is true or not, I have to work harder from now on and make the remaining time worthwhile. ’
Taizong was cheering himself up, and Li Qingge began to think about Taizong’s life again. She thought to herself: "Although Taizong is sometimes indecisive, it is undeniable that he is indeed a powerful emperor. In twenty years, he created a prosperous period in the Tang Dynasty, and allowed so many countries to come to worship him. This is not something ordinary people can do.”
“What a pity, what a pity, he is in his later years. It's a bit ridiculous. He became superstitious about elixirs and wanted to live forever. But he died early because of this ridiculous reason. "Li Qingge silently commented on Taizong's later life, "What a fate. It’s so elusive that no amount of manpower can change it.”
Taizong was stunned when he heard Li Qingge commenting on him like this. He didn't expect that she had seen through all the ridiculous things he did in his later years, and she said it so straightforwardly. But then I thought about it, and realized that the merits and demerits of my life were indeed like this! He smiled bitterly and said to Li Qingge: "You are right, fate is indeed elusive. But I still want to try my best to change it, even just a little bit."
Li Qingge looked at Taizong's firm expression. Looking at her eyes, she couldn't help but feel a surge of admiration in her heart. She thought to herself: "Yes, although destiny is elusive, as long as we work hard and struggle, we will be able to create a brilliant life of our own!" Li Shimin watched Li Qingge bathing with wide eyes, surprised by her erudition He is so talented, but he can't help but feel secretly ashamed. The early morning sunlight shines through the gauze curtains and shines on Li Qingge's wet long hair, as if it were coated with a layer of golden light, making her skin look like snow, pure and refined.
"No, no, since I know this in advance, when I get old in the future, I must not repeat the same mistakes and let my body decay." Li Shimin thought to himself, frowning slightly, There was a flash of worry in his eyes. Everyone is afraid of death, let alone an emperor? It is not a wise move to contend with destiny despite knowing that it is hard to disobey it.
"Alas!" Unknowingly, Li Shimin sighed again, his voice low and long, as if carrying endless troubles.
"I hope I can wake up in the future and don't go to the end of my life in a daze." He muttered silently in his heart. Because he was distracted, he sighed again, with a hint of helplessness and confusion in his breath.
"Your Majesty seems to have something on his mind?" Li Qingge heard his sigh and greeted him kindly, but he still couldn't help but want to complain. She tilted her head slightly, her hair sticking to her cheek, looking a little playful. [Those who sigh, is Li Shimin specifically used to sigh? How strange! Even if it is for the sake of Princess Gaoyang, it would not be like this. Sacrifice the small one to protect the big one. This has been the principle since ancient times. Why is Your Majesty's mind so fragile? Sitting on the throne, he seemed very depressed. I suspected that he had not taken some elixir to cause the problem, but was suffering from depression. 】
Li Shimin's face sank slightly. Although he had a gentle temperament, he couldn't stand others always bringing up such taboo topics as life and death. Regarding life and death, everyone avoids it. Li Qingge said this, which is really annoying.
"There are indeed a few tricky things in the morning meeting this morning." Li Shimin thought for a while and decided to tell Li Qingge, hoping that her erudition could give him some help. There was a hint of exhaustion in his words, as if he was really overwhelmed by those things.
"If my words can alleviate your Majesty's worries, I am willing to listen attentively." Li Qingge answered politely, but did not directly promise to help solve the problem, but just allowed Li Shimin to express his heart. Her words were gentle but firm, like a warm current slowly flowing into Li Shimin's heart.
Li Shimin was stunned for a moment, but finally told the truth. "I read the memorial yesterday and learned that the envoys sent to the Tang Dynasty from Japan were misbehaving in our Tang Dynasty. The memorials submitted by Jing Zhaoyin and various local officials described their evil deeds in detail." At this point, he sighed again. His tone was filled with helplessness and anger.
“They said that the Japanese oppressed the people, took possession of good girls, beat others at every turn, and refused to pay for meals, which caused public resentment. This kind of behavior has not been done for a day or two, but Jing Zhaoyin has been dragging it until today. Only important matters involving human life are reported to me." When Li Shimin said this, he was already angry, and his voice rose slightly, obviously he was extremely dissatisfied with this matter.
Hearing this, Li Qingge's face also darkened. She clenched her fists, a flash of anger in her eyes. As a modern person, she has a very bad impression of Japan. She has personally experienced their history of oppressing the country, and the pain is still unforgettable to this day.
【Bah! Li Shimin was so tough on the surface, but he allowed other countries to bully us, the people of the Tang Dynasty. It is easy for small countries to surrender to us. Why are they so helpless against Japan? The Tang Dynasty was in its prime and its national power was strong, but you, Li Shimin, as one of the most powerful monarchs in history, were willing to endure the humiliation of Japanese pirates. It is really disappointing! The Japanese are just here to learn and communicate. What virtues and abilities do they have to deserve your partiality? It is so sad that you ignore the suffering of the people! 】
Although Li Qingge was furious, he still suppressed his emotions, saluted and said: "This matter still needs your Majesty's sanction, but it is related to the dignity of the country. I hope your Majesty will think twice before acting." Her voice was firm and powerful, It's like a sharp sword, pointing directly to the core of the problem.
Even without hearing Li Qingge's voice, Li Shimin could feel her anger. After hearing her words, Li Shimin felt even more guilty. He lowered his head and was silent for a while, then slowly raised his head, a trace of determination flashed in his eyes.
When he first became emperor, he vowed to bring peace to the people and enrich the country, and to allow all nations to come to court. But the current situation was contrary to his wishes, which made him very sad. He secretly swore that he would no longer act hastily and that he would handle the matter fairly and not let foreigners laugh at him.
"I have a general understanding of the situation." He said to Li Qingge as if he was talking to himself, and then motioned to the young eunuch to drive back to the palace. His mind was confused and he needed to sort out his thoughts. He walked down the long corridor with heavy and firm steps, as if he was stepping on the pulse of history with every step.
For the first time in his life, Li Qingge lost the mentality of lying down. Regarding the affairs of Japan, even a person with a salty personality like her wants to know the final result. She stood outside the court, looking firmly at the closed door, as if she wanted to concentrate all her worries and expectations on that one point.
Li Qingge arrived early the next morning. She was not here to inquire about the news, but wanted to see with her own eyes how Li Shimin handled the matter. She sat on one side of the court and looked at Li Shimin with bright eyes, as if she wanted to convey her expectations and trust with her eyes.
In order to hear the case, Li Shimin specially summoned Jing Zhaoyin. "The humble minister Wang Shouzhi bows to the emperor, long live, long live, long live!" Wang Shouzhi of Jingzhao Yin came to the court for the first time and fell to his knees in fear. According to his rank, he should not have attended such an important occasion, but Li Shimin specially summoned him to show that he attached great importance to the case.
The atmosphere above the court hall was solemn. Li Shimin sat on the dragon chair, looking majestically at the ministers below. He spoke slowly, his voice low and powerful: "Wang Shouzhi, as Jing Zhaoyin, why do you delay in retaliating for such evil deeds? Do you know that this is related to the dignity of the Tang Dynasty and the safety of the people?"
< br>Wang Shouzhi trembled all over, and cold sweat dripped down his forehead. He trembled his lips and wanted to defend, but found that he was speechless. He knew that he had really angered the emperor this time and angered this wise king who was always known for his benevolent government.
Looking at Wang Shouzhi's embarrassment, Li Shimin felt a surge of anger in his heart. He slammed the armrest of the dragon chair and said angrily: "Come here! Take Wang Shouzhi to the prison and wait until I find out the truth before dealing with him!" His voice resounded through the court, shocking the hearts of the ministers. A shudder. They knew that the emperor was really angry this time.
Looking at this scene, Li Qingge felt an inexplicable emotion well up in his heart. She was impressed by Li Shimin's decisiveness and majesty, and felt sad for the suffering people. She knew that this storm had just begun, and the outcome would be related to the fate of the Tang Dynasty and the safety of the people. She clenched her fists, and a trace of determination flashed in her eyes, as if she was ready to face any challenge.
"Wang Shouzhi, have you checked carefully about the envoy sent to us from the Tang Dynasty by Japan?" Li Shimin sat steadily on the dragon chair, his eyes as sharp as an eagle, scanning his highness and ministers, and finally fixed on Wang Shouzhi. , with an unquestionable majesty.
When Wang Shouzhi heard this, he shivered with fright, as if he had been blown by a cold wind, and quickly fell to his knees, his voice trembling: "Your Majesty, the envoy from Japan has been staying with us for more than a year. Yes, they usually do There were actually some small actions, but I thought they were all trivial, so I didn’t go into details, thinking that big things would be trivialized and trivial things would be forgotten.”
When Li Shimin heard this, he became even more angry and frowned, as if he could. Clamp a fly. He thought to himself, these Japanese envoys dared to oppress the people on our territory of the Tang Dynasty. How could it become a trivial matter in the eyes of you, Jing Zhaoyin? Don’t you know that the people’s support is the foundation of a country? How can you despise it?
Wang Shouzhi did not see Li Shimin's anger, and continued aggrievedly: "This report is because the envoy sent to the Tang Dynasty accidentally killed a young man. This is a serious matter of human life, so we must report it. "
When Li Qingge, who was standing aside, heard this, the fire in his heart began to rise, like a ignited firewood, burning brightly. She bit her lower lip tightly, her eyes were burning, and she was thinking secretly:
[Where is the accidental killing? It was clearly a premeditated and arrogant act! 】
【You don’t know that in the years to come, foreigners’ cruelty to our Tang Dynasty and their vicious methods are simply unimaginable. They not only plundered our wealth, but also trampled on our culture as if we were lambs to be slaughtered. 】
【These current envoys to the Tang Dynasty are nominally foreign students who come to learn our Tang Dynasty culture, but after they completed their studies, they turned to strengthen their own countries, and eventually they turned to attack us. How can we, the people of the Tang Dynasty, tolerate this act of repaying kindness with hatred? 】
【You people are simply lackeys of foreign countries. Instead of protecting your own people, you give preferential treatment to those thugs. If this continues, it will only chill the hearts of our people in the Tang Dynasty! Don’t you know that water can carry a boat and also capsize it? 】
Li Qingge thought so in his heart, and an angry expression appeared on his face, like an enraged lion, ready to pounce on the enemy at any time. There was a firm light in her eyes, which was a kind of persistence for justice and loyalty to the country.
She knew that from the beginning of the seventh century to the end of the ninth century, Japan sent more than a dozen groups of envoys in order to learn about the culture of the Tang Dynasty. These envoys came frequently, on a large scale, for a long time, and learned a wide range of things. They made a great contribution to the spread of our Datang culture. Their arrival has undoubtedly built a bridge for cultural exchanges between the two countries.
Especially since Emperor Shuming first sent envoys in AD 630, envoys sent to Tang Dynasty have been coming to Datang in an endless stream to learn the essence of our culture. They eagerly absorbed the wisdom of the Tang Dynasty, like a sponge greedily absorbing water. The Tang Dynasty also treated each other with courtesy, showing the style of a great country. It hoped that all countries could come to worship and share this cultural feast.
Over the past two hundred and sixty years, Japan's culture has become increasingly enriched by learning from the Tang Dynasty. Especially during the Nara and Heian periods, the Japanese court sent envoys to the Tang Dynasty nineteen times. With their thirst for knowledge and their vision for the future, they set foot on this land full of wisdom. Among them, Abe Nakamaro's eighth trip was the most famous. His talent and knowledge were widely praised in the Tang Dynasty.
Every time Tang envoys were sent, there were hundreds of them, sometimes even more than a hundred. They learned a lot from our Tang Dynasty, including law, culture, technology, customs and so on. It can be said that the culture of Japan has been influenced by our Tang Dynasty to a large extent. Their writing, architecture, art, etc. all absorbed the essence of the Tang Dynasty and formed their own unique style.
However, Japan eventually betrayed its faith and invaded our Central Plains. This act of repaying kindness with hatred made future generations like Li Qingge feel extremely angry when they heard it. She seemed to be able to travel through time and space, seeing those innocent people struggling in the flames of war, and seeing those beautiful cities destroyed in the smoke of gunpowder. Her heart was filled with grief and anger, and she grieved for the lives lost and the homes broken.
Although Li Shimin did not know what happened in later generations, as the monarch of a country, he had a strong sense of national justice. He fully understands the importance of people's hearts and the dignity of a country that cannot be violated. How could he sit idly by when he saw his people being bullied? There was a firm light in his eyes, which was a kind of persistence for justice and loyalty to the country.
"Hmph! Wang Shouzhi, tell me the truth, did the envoy to the Tang Dynasty really make a mistake?" Li Shimin's eyes were as sharp as knives, so majestic that people dared not look directly at him. His voice was full of majesty and power, as if it could penetrate people's hearts.
Wang Shouzhi knew that he couldn't hide it, so he had to tell the truth: "Your Majesty, there is actually a hidden secret in this matter. He sent the Tang envoy to the 'Donglaike' wine shop, and when he saw a beautiful girl, he had evil thoughts. They The four people wanted to get close to her as usual, and they didn't do anything excessive at first, but the girl's brother did nothing. He was a hot-blooded young man. When he saw his sister being bullied, he went up to argue with them. As a result, he accidentally lost control and the four of them killed the girl's brother by mistake."
Wang Shouzhi also murmured in his heart after saying this. : In the past, Your Majesty never asked about sending envoys to the Tang Dynasty. Why are you suddenly so strict today? And seeing how ugly his face is, this is not a good thing. He was filled with anxiety and uneasiness, like a lamb about to be slaughtered.
After hearing this, Li Shimin sneered, with endless chill and ridicule in his voice: "What an 'accident'! My people of the Tang Dynasty lost their lives like this; the women of the Tang Dynasty were also almost injured. Humiliation! I will never forgive this kind of thing!" His voice was full of anger and determination, like an enraged lion ready to pounce on its enemy. There was a firm light in his eyes, which was a kind of persistence for justice and loyalty to the country. He would never let something like this happen again, and he would never let Datang's dignity be violated!
Li Shimin roared angrily, and the anger in his chest seemed to burst out. His voice echoed in the empty hall, causing the candlelight in the hall to sway slightly. "Why didn't you report the whole story truthfully in the first place? The evil deeds sent to the Tang Dynasty have been piled up, but you have concealed it!" His eyes were like burning flames, staring closely at Jingzhao Yin Wang Shouzhi who was kneeling below.
Li Qingge listened quietly to the conversation between the two, her eyes were profound, as if she could see into people's hearts. She couldn't help but sneer in her heart, full of disdain for this so-called parent official.
[Li Shimin, is this the parent officer you selected? They have no sympathy for the sufferings of the people and only think about their own official positions and salaries. Because of your words, if all nations come to court, they will ignore the life and death of the people and only think about how to make the envoys to Tang Dynasty happy. Such officials are truly a disgrace to the Tang Dynasty! 】
[As the people of the Tang Dynasty and the parents and officials of the people, they should set an example and protect their people, instead of treating foreign envoys favorably and forgetting their roots. This is really chilling! 】
【Those envoys sent to the Tang Dynasty were just people from a foreign land who came to study. They were neither relatives of the emperor nor heroes. Why can they enjoy such protection from the Tang Dynasty? 】
[Even if they are relatives of the emperor and heroes, if the emperor breaks the law and are guilty as the common people, what privileges do they have? 】
Li Shimin noticed the dissatisfaction and ridicule in Li Qingge's heart, and his anger became even stronger. Because what Li Qingge said was also what he was thinking. He glanced at Jing Zhaoyin coldly, his eyes full of anger and disappointment.
Jing Zhaoyin felt Li Shimin's majesty and was so frightened that he avoided his gaze. He lowered his head and said in a trembling voice: "Your Majesty, when the Japanese envoys arrived, you personally said that you would treat them preferentially. Spread culture and highlight the virtues of our Tang Dynasty."
As soon as these words came out, Li Shimin was so angry that he almost vomited blood. He slammed the armrest of the dragon chair and said angrily: "Jing Zhaoyin, how dare you misinterpret my meaning like this!"
He asked coldly, watching Wang Shouzhi kneeling on the ground and trembling. , the anger in his chest erupted like a volcano, and he wanted to get off the throne and kick him.
"The preferential treatment I am talking about is for you to treat each other with courtesy and show the etiquette of the Tang Dynasty. I will never allow you to condone their misbehavior!" Li Shimin's voice resounded through the hall, shaking the hearts of the ministers.
After saying that, he angrily walked down from the throne, walked up to Wang Shouzhi, pointed at his nose and scolded him: "I reiterate, the meaning of preferential treatment lies in etiquette, not indulgence! As a parent official, What is your duty? If you condone evil deeds and oppress the people, where is the law?"
When Li Shimin said this, his body trembled slightly and his breathing became rapid. His eyes were like sharp swords piercing Wang Shouzhi, as if he wanted to see through him.
"You! Jing Zhaoyin, as a parent and official of the people, what have you done? You ignored the life and death of the people and instead helped outsiders oppress your own people. Your crime is unforgivable!" Li Shimin The sound was like thunder, making the entire hall seem to tremble.
Jing Zhaoyin was so frightened that he quickly defended: "Your Majesty, I really should have reported it earlier. This is my fault." However, he did not realize the seriousness of the problem. Such a thing has become The unspoken rules, as they have been for a long time, have never been strictly regulated. The emperor's anger today was beyond his expectation.
Li Shimin saw that he was still defending, not knowing where his mistake was, and became even more angry. He grabbed Wang Shouzhi by the collar and lifted him up.
"What a Jing Zhaoyin! It's not that you can't report it, but you don't want to report it! You take sending envoys from the Tang Dynasty to oppress the people as a matter of course, forgetting that you are also a subject of the Tang Dynasty, and instead become a lackey of outsiders. ! They are just students from Japan, how dare they bully the people of Tang Dynasty?" Li Shimin's voice was like a roaring wind, full of anger and dissatisfaction.
After saying that, he kicked Wang Shouzhi angrily. "If there were no casualties, I'm afraid you would never ask about this matter!" He kicked a few more times, still aggrieved.
Looking at Li Shimin’s actions, Li Qingge felt a little relieved from the knot in his heart. She nodded secretly, agreeing with Li Shimin's anger.
[Li Shimin, you finally did something humane. 】
[The emperor of the Tang Dynasty should be so domineering! Jing Zhaoyin is a scoundrel who is willing to be Japan's lackey and has disgraced the face of the Tang Dynasty. What's the use of keeping him? 】
Li Shimin seemed to hear Li Qingge’s thoughts and nodded in agreement. Jing Zhaoyin's behavior really made him feel disappointed and angry. As an official who is the parent of the people, but does not consider the people, such officials will only be a disaster if they stay.
Li Shimin was furious and kicked Wang Shouzhi several more times. His anger is like a burning fire that cannot be quenched.
"Jing Zhaoyin, you are really good at getting things done! I'm so angry! I'm so embarrassed. I really don't understand why you are like this!" Li Shimin's voice was like thunder, shaking the whole body. The whole hall seemed to be trembling.
"Since you are a parent official, you should shoulder the important responsibility of asking for orders for the people. You can't fulfill your duties and you are in vain as a parent official. What's the use of keeping you?" After Li Shimin said this, his eyes filled with disappointment and anger.
Wang Shouzhi was so frightened that he quickly crawled to Li Shimin's feet and hugged his legs to beg for mercy: "Your Majesty, this is really not what I want. It is really forced by the current situation. I also feel sad for the suffering of the people, but there is nothing I can do. I hope your Majesty will learn from this!"< br>
Li Shimin threw away his hand in disgust, sat back on the dragon chair and sneered: "Okay! I will hear today what unspeakable secrets you have, how dare you say that there is nothing you can do, regardless of the life and death of the people!" There was a hint of laughter in his voice. Full of ridicule and dissatisfaction.
Jing Zhaoyin knelt on the ground and explained with a trembling voice: "Your Majesty, this is really not my intention. It is the order from above that is difficult to disobey. Your Majesty, you like the grand occasion of thousands of dynasties coming to congratulate you, so you ordered us It is really a helpless act for me to treat foreign countries well in order to attract envoys. I hope your majesty will understand!" His words were full of pleading and helplessness.
Li Shimin’s face became even more gloomy after listening to his explanation. He looked at Jing Zhaoyin coldly and said: "Order from above? Isn't my order an order? As an official of the Tang Dynasty, you should put the interests of the Tang Dynasty and the interests of the people first! Instead of ignoring the people to cater to my preferences!"
His voice was as biting as ice, making Jing Zhaoyin feel even more frightened and desperate. He knew that his crime could no longer be covered up and he could not get the emperor's forgiveness.
(End of this chapter)