Chapter 245: Imperial Examination Case (7)

Li Longji never came to the imperial study room these days, but came to see it in the afternoon, usually leaving for only one hour, and the large number of memorials were reviewed by Gao Lishi for him. This was just like boiling a frog in warm water. When habits had become natural, it was difficult to change. The improvement of finance and the expected salt tax revenue made Li Longji's tense nerves slowly relax, and he gradually became obsessed with the trivial matters of the pear garden, which was unexpected when Li Qing first implemented the new salt administration.

It was almost noon, and the eunuchs on duty in Qinzheng Hall began to get busy, ventilated, warmed the room, put Hanlin into the side rooms, and notified the guards to clear the venue. All signs indicate that the emperor was about to arrive.

"The Emperor is here!"

With a clear shout outside the hall, a large number of guards and inner officials surrounded the Emperor of the Tang Dynasty and slowly appeared outside the hall. Although they had not started to deal with government affairs, Li Longji's face was already showing fatigue, his eyes were blue, his eyes were obvious, and his steps seemed a little frivolous.

Gao Lishi followed him closely, his eyes full of worry. The emperor was really because of excessive indulgence. The secret recipe An Lushan offered was powerful and he could not suppress himself. If this continues, the emperor's body will collapse. Gao Lishi couldn't help but curse An Lushan secretly and present aphrodisiac to those over 60 years old. His heart is punishable!

Li Longji walked into the imperial study room in a daze and couldn't wait to sit in the somewhat unfamiliar seat. Even he himself clearly felt exhausted. Li Longji closed his eyes for a while, and the dizziness in front of him gradually disappeared. He looked at the clean and smooth tabletop, with only two or three memorials scattered. He suddenly relaxed his heart and looked at Gao Lishi with satisfaction. He dealt with the rest for himself.

"How is the situation of the imperial examination?" Li Longji picked up a memorial and asked absent-mindedly.

"The day before yesterday has ended, and the papers are being reviewed now. It is estimated that the results will come out today and tomorrow." Gao Lishi responded while quietly observing Li Longji's face. The memorial he was reading was just sent by Li Qing, impeaching King Qing to cover up the remnants of the Hai family, and bullying men and women on weekdays. He was followed by Jia Hai's confession, which was recorded in detail.

The reason why Gao Lishi left this memorial was because of the consideration of protecting Prince Li Heng. Prince Li Heng's current low-key performance made him very satisfied. Seeing that Li Longji's health was getting worse, Gao Lishi had to find a way out for himself. Li Cong's hope for the throne ceremony was gone. At this moment, he was a favor to Li Heng. Gao Lishi could still settle the account.

Sure enough, Li Longji did not take Gao Lishi's answer to heart. His face gradually turned solemn, and his eyes flashed from time to time. However, his long-term political experience told him that this matter was just an appearance, and there must be a deeper background. Thinking of this, Li Longji slapped the memorial on the table and said angrily: "It is said that Li Qing will come to see me quickly!"

Li Qing was reviewing reports transferred by the Salt and Iron Supervision in the Ministry of Revenue Department at the moment. In order to prevent the recurrence of the Salt and Iron Supervision overturning the Ministry of Revenue in history, when formulating the new Salt Law Regulations, he specially added the article "The account form of the Salt and Iron Supervision will be submitted to the Ministry of Revenue Department for judgment and then returned". In this way, the Ministry of Revenue actually has the power of supervision.

At this time, Li Qing's aide came in and said anxiously: "Sir, the emperor's imperial edict has arrived!"

As soon as he finished speaking, several eunuchs had arrived at the door, but did not break in directly. "Mr. Li, the emperor ordered you to go and see the car quickly. Without further ado, please follow us immediately."

"I understand!" Li Qing took out a note from the drawer and put it in his arms, then put on his clothes and followed the eunuch.

In less than a quarter of an hour, he rushed to Xingqing Palace. At this moment, he had already thought about the draft in his mind. He knew why Li Longji was looking for him. Last time, he spared King Qing and did not pursue the assassination of himself. However, people like King Qing are typical people who bully the weak and fear the strong. Only by teaching him a lesson can he be truly afraid and dare not feel disgusted again.

"Report to the emperor, Li Qing has brought it!"

When Gao Lishi saw the eunuch's eyes at the door, he immediately reported to Li Longji who was sleeping.

"Let him come in!" Li Longji slightly opened his narrow dragon eyes, and the emperor's majesty gradually spread out.

Not long after, Li Qing was taken into the imperial study. He rushed forward and knelt down to salute, "My minister Li Qing bowed to His Majesty the Emperor!"

Li Longji glanced at him, without a smile on his face, "Flat! I have something to ask you."

He raised the memorial in his hand and said coldly: "Why don't you report to me about the matter behind this memorial?"

Li Qing stood up from the ground and bowed and said, "It's not that I don't want to report it, but there is no direct evidence for some things. It's just that I'm inferring that King Qing is the eldest son of the emperor, so I really dare not speak out."

Li Longji's face cleared a little. He understood Li Qing's meaning, and he also knew King Qing's mind. He must have done something major attempt and was covered up by Li Qing. Li Longji was a little moved. Li Qing repeatedly protected his face, but his son was ungrateful. He was really too bullying.

"Mr., what happened to you?"

Li Qing pondered for a moment and said, "King Qing ordered the remnants of the Hai family to pretend to be a Chengdu merchant to save 100,000 yuan in Xishi Cabinfang for three months, but he withdraws it only a few days later. During this period, he seemed to know that the money in the Cabinfang was borrowed and the timing was very clever. If we could not repay it, the reputation would be cleaned up. I only inferred from what happened and the possible results, and there was no direct evidence."

Li Qing had already made it very clear, and Li Longji immediately understood that King Qing wanted to use the tight funds of the court to force the cabinet, causing Li Qing's experiment to fail. Li Longji also heard another meaning in Li Qing's words, "He seemed to know that the money in the cabinet was borrowed." The implication was that someone colluded with him and planned this conspiracy together. Who was this person? Li Qing did not say it, and Li Longji did not want to ask.

"Where is the remnant of the Hai family now?" Li Longji tried hard to make his tone calm, but his hands were already trembling slightly. If Li Cong was really involved in the Hai family incident, it would be a major scandal in the royal family.

Li Qing said lightly: "I originally wanted him to disappear quietly, but he was assassinated last night and made a stir. This matter has spread throughout Chang'an and I can't stop it even if I want to."

"What!"

Li Longji stared at Li Qing tightly. Seeing his calm face, he naturally understood that it was King Qing's move, but it was probably Li Qingbu's plan. He was bitter and awkward at this moment. He wanted to have an attack but had no reason, so he had to hold it back in his heart in one breath.

"What should you do if you have to do with that 100,000 guan?" Li Longji stretched his face and his tone.

Li Qing was calm and handed over a memorial and said, "This is the income and expenditure in the past few months. The treasury is about to be exhausted. Since the remnants of the Hai family confessed that it was the property of the Hai family in Chang'an, I confiscated him and confiscated him."

Li Longji did not say anything. He took the note and read it. It was obvious that three intrauterine expenses were written. In just three months, nearly 500,000 guan was allocated. His face was a little hot. He knew very well in his heart that the costumes made of golden silk and silver thread of the Liyuan disciples were worth tens of thousands of guan.

‘Forget it, even if you teach him a lesson!’ Li Longji sighed secretly, and returned the memorial to Li Qing. “You can do this and don’t need to ask me for instructions anymore. I’m a little tired now.”

After saying that, he closed his eyes and ignored Li Qing.

"I'm going to leave!"

When Li Qing retreated, Li Longji's eyes suddenly opened and he turned around and sternly said to Gao Lishi: "Go and warn me that rebellious son. If he dares to make a slight mistake again, I will demote him to a commoner and will never go out!"

Just as Gao Lishi was about to leave, Li Longji called him again and said coldly: "Tell him again that since he has money and has no place to spend it, from now on, he will confiscate all his land and fine him for five years of salary."

Gao Lishi felt cold in his heart. In addition to killing his three sons in the 25th year of Kaiyuan for the throne, this was the first time he had encountered such severe punishment for his son. It seemed that the emperor was really angry this time, so he didn't dare to say much, so he took the order and left with a timid.

Li Longji lay dejectedly on the chair. He felt exhausted all over. He didn't want to ask anything or care about anything. He just wanted to have a good sleep. After a long time, he waved his hand gently, "Go back to the palace!"

In the Qing Palace, Li Qiu was beaten up by King Qing and was locked up. He was punished for not leaving the palace for half a year. Li Cong was so angry that he had nowhere to vent. At this time, Yang Guozhong came to apologize.

"No!" Li Cong hit the table viciously, and the gate of Prince Qing's mansion closed Yang Guozhong with a rumbling sound. He was both worried and glad to King Qing's property and reputation. Yang Guozhong was worried and glad that his son was unknown because of this, and glad that he did not follow King Qing to invest money, otherwise Li Qing would lose all his money. Until today he realized the power of his old shopkeeper.

Yang Guozhong was turned away. He looked at the closed Zhuhong gate, but he didn't see that it was opening to him again. He had to go down the steps in disappointment. He was about to get on the carriage, but he couldn't help but walk back to the steps and shouted loudly at the crack of the door: "Please tell His Highness Qing that Yang Guozhong has no malice, so he apologizes to him!"

"What is Yang Zhongcheng who wants to apologize to His Highness Qing?" Yang Guozhong was startled. When he turned around, he saw Gao Lishi holding his hands behind his back, looking at him with a smile. I really don't know when he would come behind him.

Yang Guozhong was immediately startled and sweated. How could he be caught by a sensitive figure like Gao Lishi? He heard that he coughed twice and said incoherently: "The carriage of Beizhi hit King Qing, no! King Qing's carriage, Beizhi comes to apologize to him!"

Gao Lishi smiled slightly and teased a little, "Haha! So that's it. It's probably because he was ruthless, so King Qing wouldn't let you in." At this moment, he already knew who the person Li Qing had just said was colluding with King Qing, so didn't he stand in front of him?

"Do you want me to open the door for you?"

"No! No!" Yang Guozhong was so scared that he waved his hand repeatedly, "I have something to do, Ah Weng please take care of yourself." He stepped down a dozen steps in two steps, but his feet slipped, and he fell on the steps, then jumped up from the ground, patted his butt and fled in panic.

Gao Lishi kept seeing his carriage go away, then snorted coldly, turned around and looked at the door slowly, said: "Tell King Qing, just say that the imperial edict has arrived, let him come out to receive the edict!"

Let’s talk about Yang Guozhong’s sweating after running into the carriage. He was like a thief caught on the spot. He was so guilty that he curled up in his carriage. Until the carriage turned around and could not see the Qing Palace, his courage slowly recovered, and the questions in his heart also increased, ‘What did Gao Lishi come to find Qing to do? Could it be that the emperor had any order?’

The more he thought about it, the more likely it was. Now that the matter of King Qing covering up the Hai family was spread all over Chang'an, how could the emperor not know? The matter also had something to do with him. His heart was like a cat caught. He wanted to go back and see it, but he was afraid of being caught again. After hesitating for a while, Yang Guozhong made up his mind, "Forget it, whether it is dead or alive, King Qing has nothing to do with him, it's better not to go and see it!"

With an order, the carriage accelerated and moved away from the place of right and wrong. Seeing that it was about to reach the mansion, there was a sound of gongs and drums coming from the front. A dozen men were walking towards his mansion happily, "Ah! Could it be?"

Yang Guozhong immediately realized that this must be his son who made the list.

"Hey! You guys wait!"

Yang Guozhong jumped out of the carriage, opened his arms and blocked the way of several officials who announced the good news. He asked in a trembling voice: "But Yang Xuan is on the list?"

Yang Guozhong is now Jingzhao Yin, so how could the officials who announced the good news would not know him? He immediately bent down and smiled charmingly: "Congratulations to Lord Yang, Yang Xuan is ranked fourth in the senior high school. I am a special expert to report the good news!"

"Ahha!" Yang Guozhong jumped high, and his son actually won the fourth place. He touched his beard and couldn't close his mouth. "It's really good! A tiger father has no dog son!"

"You guys keep going!" Yang Guozhong turned around and ran back. He wanted to worship his ancestors and thank God, but the most important thing now is to find his son to pick him up.

"Master, the eldest son has never come back the afternoon of the previous day." The butler looked at Yang Guozhong timidly. The master ran out of breath, and there were gongs and drums in the distance. He naturally understood what had happened. Yang Xuan was probably still happy in the brothel at this moment!

"Why don't we go and find the eldest son back now?"

"Go to find me quickly!" Yang Guozhong kicked the butler hard in the butler and scolded: "If you can't find it within half an hour, you can go to the farm for me to farm!"

The sound of gongs and drums had reached the gate, and they still kept beating. Such a huge noise had already attracted a large number of onlookers, pointing and talking, and they all felt incredible. The eldest son of the Yang family, who was always ignorant and lustful, actually passed the Jinshi. Isn’t this the sun hit the west?
Chapter completed!