As we all know, there are no secrets in Taiji Palace. This was true during the time of Emperor Gaozu, this was true during the time of Emperor Taizong, and it is even more true now.
When the sky darkened, rumors about the game between the emperor and his ministers in the side hall of Wude Hall spread out. A little later, the breaking news that His Majesty slapped the Queen spread throughout Chang'an in an instant, and was heard by both the government and the public.
The capital was shocked.
Everyone knows that His Majesty and Fang Jun work together and work together. His Majesty gives Fang Jun trust, which makes him more popular in the emperor's heart and authority. Fang Jun repays His Majesty's loyalty, making the throne stable and the empire peaceful. Now there is a rift between these two. , conflicts, does it mean that the unbreakable alliance has collapsed and gone separate ways?
Some people who have ulterior motives and covet the throne are naturally celebrating with their foreheads and hands, and are ecstatic.
However, His Majesty and the Queen have always been a harmonious couple, and have gone through a period of extremely dark and desperate years side by side. Now they finally sit in the world and dominate the world, but they are in love with each other. Why bother?
Is it true that in this world we can only share adversity, but not wealth?
*****
Pingkangfang, Zuixian Tower.
The sky was getting dark, the cool night breeze was blowing, and light rain was falling. The water droplets on the eaves flowed down one after another. The light of the lanterns reflected the raindrops softly, and the flowers and trees in the courtyard were renewed.
Tea was boiling on the coffee table, the lights were bright, Fang Jun and Li Xiaogong were sitting opposite each other on the floor by the window, the sound of silk and bamboo orchestral music could be faintly heard from behind the bead curtain, and it merged with the gentle sound of rain, which was actually a bit cleansing. The transcendental meaning of earthly things.
The tea is mellow and leaves a fragrance on your lips and teeth.
Li Xiaogong took a sip of tea, put down the cup, frowned at Fang Jun who was enjoying himself, and asked, "What do you want?"
Fang Jun took a sip of tea and said calmly: "The prince should ask your majesty what he wants."
Li Xiaogong was displeased: "That is your Majesty, the lord of the world."
Fang Jun disagreed: "He is just the co-master of the world. This world is not just for him, but also for the clan, and even more for everyone in the world. Besides, even if he is the master of the world, can he do whatever he wants?"
There has never been a "Lord of the World" in this world. There has never been one before and there will never be one in the future.
He is just a "head of the family" who manages the world on behalf of a certain interest group. In many cases, he can only be called a "puppet". How can he be the master of the world?
Dynasties rise and fall, emperors change, and interests are eternal.
When you can balance the interests of the world, people in the world are willing to call you "common master", gather around you, and share everything; when the balance is broken and the interests are unevenly distributed, you are the sinner of the world, and everyone will abandon you without mercy. You, even throw you into the abyss of eternal destruction.
This is the emperor.
Not the Son of God, nor the Lord of Earth.
Li Xiaogong was obviously stunned: "You, you, you... how could you have such rebellious and unethical thoughts?"
Fang Jun drank tea again, his voice slightly lowered: "If the king regards his ministers as his hands and feet, then his ministers will regard him as his belly and heart; if his ministers regard his ministers as dogs and horses, then his ministers will regard him as a countryman; if his ministers regard his ministers as earth and mustard, then his ministers will I regard you as a bandit... When the people meet me, I will repay you with the people; if the country's soldiers meet me, I will repay the country's soldiers."
No one can gain the loyalty of others as a matter of course, not even the emperor. Loyalty is always mutual.
Li Xiaogong was shocked and speechless.
In the past, His Majesty regarded Fang Jun as his confidant, trustworthy and obedient, so Fang Jun was willing to fight bloody battles for him and make enemies of all the noble families. Now His Majesty has a feeling of dissatisfaction and is quite suspicious of Fang Jun, so Fang Jun's reward is to evade imperial power and plunder military power.
It seems reasonable.
But Li Xiaogong always felt that something was wrong. However, although he was born in a wealthy family, had a noble status, and had unparalleled military power, he had not read a few serious collections of classics and history, and he could not find enough words to refute...
Fang Jun poured tea for Li Xiaogong and said with a smile: "Instead of trying to persuade me, it's better to keep an eye on the clan. Those guys have long been seduced by the so-called supremacy of the imperial power. I also pay attention to one thing: "When everyone meets me, "Everyone repays me; when a soldier of the country meets me, I will repay him as a soldier of the country," but they don't care about this. Even if your Majesty is promoted to a higher position, they can't curb their greed. "
Again, when the emperor is willing to balance interests, everyone is willing to call you the Lord of the World, and they are willing to regard you as the Supreme Being of the World. But when the interests are unevenly distributed, some people will abandon you like a worn-out shoe and just want to live in peace. replace it.
So, how can there be any master of the world?
Li Xiaogong said distressedly: "But if you have such trouble with His Majesty, doesn't it just give those people an opportunity to take advantage of it?"
Fang Jun shook his head and refused to take the blame: "Only a thousand days to be a thief, not a thousand days to guard against thieves. They are determined to be thieves, so naturally they won't care whether His Majesty and I are still closely united."
How many of the Zhenguan nobles cherished Emperor Taizong's last wishes and refused to recognize Li Chengqian's legal authority?
How many generals in the army are unwilling to follow the steps and hope to rise to the top from the power of the dragon?
The aristocratic family has temporarily ceased its activities, but the heavy losses and humiliation it has suffered, how can it stop there?
Up and down, inside and outside the government, they have always been divided into small groups due to interests. They usually lower their eyebrows and lower their eyes, submissive and dormant, but they are holding back their energy and want to be furious and rise up to fight.
This is especially true for those children in the clan who have the blood of the great ancestor and emperor. What about the emperor?
He can take his place!
Li Xiaogong let out a long sigh and said dejectedly: "I shouldn't have come back to life in the first place. Wouldn't it be nice to just roam around in the woods and play with my grandchildren when I'm an old man? I have to step into this mud pit again, just to cause trouble."
Fang Jun said with a smile: "Is the prince really confused? With your merits, status, and prestige, even if you want to stay out of it, you may not be able to have peace. If you don't want to step in, someone will throw mud on you."< br>
Even an old ghost like Li Shenfu is unwilling to be lonely, let alone Li Xiaogong, the "first handsome man in the clan"?
The trees want to be quiet, but the wind doesn't stop.
Li Xiaogong glanced at him and said: "Your Majesty wanted me to join the Lao Shizi 'committee', but I declined. I am old and lack the impulse for power, wealth, and beauty. I just want to get through this peacefully." Wait for a while and then retreat completely.”
Fang Jun nodded clearly: "I guess it was the county prince who took the initiative to refuse. Otherwise, compared to Zheng Rentai and Pei Huaijie, the county prince would be more suitable to join."
Of course, it’s not necessarily that Li Xiaogong doesn’t want to, but he is worried that once he joins, he will become a “big flag” within the clan. Someone will take the initiative to gather under his big flag and lead him to a direction he doesn’t want to go. .
Power is a double-edged sword. Sometimes, the more power you have, the more you can't help yourself.
At this time, there was a sound of footsteps outside the door, and Li Chongzhen went in without asking for permission. After saluting, he whispered: "Just now, His Majesty was furious in the palace and slapped the Queen, causing her to fall and faint. She escaped after being diagnosed and treated by the imperial doctor..."< br>
He recounted everything that happened in the palace, then without waiting for the two of them to speak, he saluted again and left.
Apparently he got the news from the "Baiqisi" and immediately came to inform his father Li Xiaogong...
Li Xiaogong looked shocked and in disbelief. After Li Chongzhen had walked out for a long time, he was surprised and said: "How is it possible? Your Majesty and the Queen have always had a deep relationship, and they have always raised eyebrows. They never even had a quarrel in normal times. Why is this happening?"
< br>
Li Chengqian and the Su family have always been a model of a "loving couple". Li Chengqian was gentle and elegant, while Su family was knowledgeable and courteous. When he was still the prince, Li Chengqian did not accept concubines. Apart from the crown prince, he only had a few concubines, even after he ascended the throne. As an emperor, the number of harems is extremely limited, and the status of women in the palace is extremely low. No one can compete with the queen.
Actually hit someone?
Fang Jun had no expression on his face, slowly drinking tea, and said: "Some people are like this. You treat them with all kinds of kindness and they just do what you should, but if you don't go well with them at all, they think it's unacceptable. It's like everyone in the world owes them." , and he was born superior to others, everyone Everyone has to crawl at his feet, and he is willing to show his master's generosity. When he finds that the world has changed, and what he originally thought was his own is getting farther and farther away, he becomes cynical and feels that everyone has betrayed him. "
< br>
Li Xiaogong was stunned and speechless, as if Li Chengqian's character was really like this.
There was a time when Emperor Taizong had the intention of Yi Chu. Li Chengqian was so anxious that he changed his usual smart, cheerful, gentle and elegant style. Instead, he acted and spoke in a violent manner. He even tried to warn Emperor Taizong of Yi Chu by assassinating his teacher and brother. as a result of.
Now that he suffered setbacks in the court and swallowed his anger, he went back to the palace to vent his anger on the Queen, showing everyone his tough, violent, and ferocious character, trying to warn some people, but it was indeed possible.
It's just that the poor queen's majesty was shattered by this slap. How will she manage the harem in the future?
Where to put the love between husband and wife?
That is the wife who has accompanied you through the dark and desperate days...
The rain was pouring outside the window, and the breeze blew in through the window and the lights were swaying. Fang Jun straightened his back and said solemnly: "Some people are gifted with genius, and even if they have supreme power, they can wake up and take warning. But some people are vulgar and violent. Once If you have unlimited power, you will do whatever you want. I went my own way and finally let the empire die for it, pushing the people of the world into dire straits. We, the ministers, must not only help the emperor to achieve hegemony, but also correct his shortcomings and speak out to ensure the prosperity of the empire and the peace of the people. Otherwise, it will be in vain. ”
Li Xiaogong was a little distracted, and after a long while he exhaled heavily: "The reason why you reformed the military system is not to avoid the so-called warlord separatism. The real purpose is to restrict the imperial power?"
Fang Jun shook his head: "It's both. Unrestricted imperial power is a scourge, and the harm of warlord separatism is equally serious."
In this matter, he must win the support of Li Xiaogong, otherwise he alone would not be able to fight against Li Ji, who has great military achievements and unparalleled prestige. He didn't want the big plan he had planned to break up with Li Chengqian to end up being picked by Li Ji...