novelSusiti Chapter 85 Your Majesty Li, Don't Talk Nonsense
Chapter 85 Your Majesty Li, Don't Talk Nonsense
Chapter 85 Your Majesty Li Er, Don't Talk Nonsense
The next day, as soon as the gates of the city opened, Yang Zhengdao took the three volumes of "Lianpingchun" and headed to the imperial city.
Although the first two volumes had already been passed into the palace by Su Hongyi, Yang Zhengdao still had to pretend not to know. He understood this basic social etiquette.
After entering the palace gate, he was informed by the eunuch that Yang Zhengdao was waiting at the Wude Gate as arranged by the eunuch Cao.
Unexpectedly, the person who came to collect the manuscript was not the eunuch Cao in his dark green robe, but someone in a purple robe.
In the Tang Dynasty, officials of the seventh rank and above wore green robes; those of the fifth rank and above wore scarlet robes; and those of the third rank and above wore purple robes.
The man was in his forties, with a fair complexion, no beard, and a tall, upright figure. He wore a gold and jade belt around his waist, and the goldfish-shaped pouch hanging from it was particularly eye-catching.
His steps were steady, and his breathing was even, unlike the usual submissive eunuchs.
Moreover, this was not the late Tang Dynasty where eunuchs held absolute power, and few people in the palace wore official robes.
The person who came must be wearing a purple robe according to the rank of a minor official, which shows that he must be someone favored by Li Er.
Yang Zhengdao bowed with his hands clasped in greeting.
Before he could ask any questions, the man spoke first: "Is this Young Master Yang in person? I have come on His Majesty's orders to retrieve the complete manuscript of 'Spring Screen Curtain'."
Yang Zhengdao hesitated for a moment, not because he didn't trust the person in front of him, but because this matter required utmost caution.
Because he was very clear about the power and staying power of "Spring Curtain Screen".
If people knew that he wrote it, the scholars of Shandong would probably tear him apart and grind his bones to dust.
He cupped his hands in a respectful gesture, his face serious: "I truly do not understand what the eunuch is saying."
Upon hearing this, the visitor burst into laughter, displaying a boldness rarely seen in eunuchs.
"The matter was accomplished in secrecy; Young Master Yang is indeed a cautious man. His Majesty revealed a secret phrase that Young Master Yang would surely understand: 'Under the grape trellis, a golden bullet shoots a silver goose.'"
this!!
Li Erfeng really has a twisted sense of humor.
Upon hearing this, Yang Zhengdao immediately presented the manuscript with both hands.
Of course, he dared not give this purple-robed man a bean this time; that would be an insult.
After receiving the manuscript, the visitor put it into his personal wooden box and said with a smile, "Young Master Yang, I am Zhang Anan, a palace attendant. From now on, we may work together."
Yang Zhengdao quickly bowed again.
He knew Zhang Anan; he was the only eunuch buried with Emperor Zhaoling, which shows how much Emperor Li treated Zhang Anan with kindness and trust.
This Anan was originally a member of the previous dynasty's palace. He had served Li Er (Emperor Taizong of Tang) from an early age, and it is even possible that he was a spy planted in the palace by the Li family.
It is likely that many of Li Er's secret affairs were handled by this person in the dark, so it is reasonable for this person to be responsible for disseminating "The Spring of the Curtain Screen".
But when it was time to part, Zhang Anan hesitated to speak.
Yang Zhengdao had some doubts, so he asked directly, "Eunuch Zhang, please speak freely."
Zhang Anan seemed hesitant to speak: "Um—His Majesty asked me to tell Young Master Yang that my surname is Cao."
Yang Zhengdao was quite helpless. Amid Zhang Anan's confused expression, he slipped a few gold beans into the other's hand.
"Zhang, the Imperial Envoy, do not ask. Simply hand this over to His Majesty."
Watching Zhang Anan, dressed in purple, gradually disappear into the morning light, Yang Zhengdao shook his head, inwardly complaining that he was really paying to work.
However, Zhang Anan's heart was not as calm as it appeared on the surface.
He knew that it was customary for foreign officials to give gold beans to eunuchs, and after a little thought, he understood the reason behind it.
Your Majesty seems to be more informal with those you are close to, and more respectful with those you are distant from. The fact that Your Majesty could make such a joke with Young Master Yang shows how close Your Majesty is to him.
He entered the palace during the reign of Emperor Wen, and having lived through four dynasties and two reigns, he was naturally very clear about the secrets of the Yang and Li families and the entanglements between them.
When the Sui dynasty replaced the Zhou dynasty, Emperor Wen of Zhou executed all the male members of the Yuwen clan, sparing even infants, thus ending the Zhou dynasty's ancestral rites.
Emperor Wen set this bad precedent and reaped the consequences, resulting in only this young man, Yang, remaining in the Sui dynasty. Unexpectedly, he gained the emperor's favor.
On this day, martial arts practice continued as usual in the Wude Hall.
Just as Yang Zhengdao was about to leave after finishing his martial arts practice, Eunuch Cao came to summon him.
He followed the eunuch Cao along the palace road, passing through the side corridor of the Liangyi Hall.
Before long, they arrived at the Ganlu Hall.
The eunuch Cao asked Yang Zhengdao to wait in the corridor while he went into the palace to report.
With nothing else to do, Yang Zhengdao began to look around at the structure of the Tang Dynasty palace.
The pillars of the hall are thick and sturdy, the brackets are grand and steady, and the eaves are deep and expansive, inheriting the style of the Qin and Han dynasties, without any sense of crampedness.
It is completely different from the elaborate and intricate style of the Ming and Qing Forbidden City.
Just then, a small head peeked out from behind a pillar. It looked about three or four years old and had snot running down its nose.
The child looked up, his words slightly mumbled, and asked, "Are you Yang Zengdao?"
Yang Zhengdao was taken aback. This three or four-year-old child was probably Li Er's kid, one of his brothers-in-law.
He then squatted down and asked, "Do you know me?"
The child's eyes darted around, and he laughed, "Hangcai, I heard Abao call you Yang Nangjun."
Ah Bao? I never would have guessed that Old Cao had such a cute name.
Yang Zhengdao continued, "So what's your name?"
"Zi Nu" (子奴).
A slave to a child?! More like a child slave!
So it was Li Zhi! Then it's no surprise that he appeared in Ganlu Palace.
"Zhi Nu, how did you know my name was Yang Zengdao?"
"Brother Qingque, you're so nagging! You want to lift up my sister!"
"Is Qingque inside the hall?"
"Um."
"Then why did you run out?"
"I stole—"
At that moment, two palace maids ran out from the side hall, their faces filled with panic: "Your Highness, Your Highness—"
Li Zhi immediately shushed Yang Zhengdao, then hid behind a pillar again, but his little bottom was still sticking out.
Two palace maids rushed over upon seeing Li Zhi.
Before being captured, Li Zhi snuggled into Yang Zhengdao's arms.
"If you want me to call you brother-in-law, then pay me!"
Seeing that Li Zhi's snot was about to get onto his chest, Yang Zhengdao had no choice but to pick up the naughty child.
When the two palace maids saw that the young prince was being held by a strange man, they were caught off guard and could only stand helplessly to the side with their heads down.
Yang Zhengdao wiped away the snot that was about to drip into Li Zhi's mouth with his hand, and then wiped it on Li Zhi's clothes with a look of disgust.
This scene was witnessed by Eunuch Cao, who had just stepped out of the palace gate, and his lips twitched involuntarily.
He really didn't know what to say about this young master Yang. Was he unconventional or incredibly audacious?
Few ordinary officials would dare to pick up a prince directly, but this Young Master Yang actually dared to wipe the prince's nose like that.
"Young Master Yang, His Majesty has summoned you. Please see—"
The eunuch Cao was clearly telling Yang Zhengdao to quickly hand His Highness over to the palace maids.
But at this moment, Li Zhi clung tightly to Yang Zhengdao's neck.
"Brother-in-law, please don't hand me over!"
Upon hearing this, Yang Zhengdao was overjoyed. This brother-in-law was a good match!
He immediately replied, "Don't worry, Zhinu!"
Cao, the eunuch, twitched his lips again. You two, one dared to call out, and the other actually dared to respond!
He quietly waved to the two palace maids, who were then relieved as if they had been granted a pardon.
And so, Yang Zhengdao carried Li Zhi into the Ganlu Palace.
Just as they stepped through the palace gate, they saw Li Tai about to leave.
Upon seeing Yang Zhengdao holding the infant, Li Tai was initially taken aback, then cupped his hands and said, "At the Mid-Autumn Festival literary gathering, I, Li Tai, respectfully welcome the Venerable San Shang!"
Oh my god! He forgot about this when he promised Li Yuanjia he would attend the literary gathering yesterday!
Yang Zhengdao was speechless in the face of this top donor.
He really wanted to tell Li Tai that Mikami Yuya was really not a refined nickname; it was actually rather... not very elegant.
Before Yang Zhengdao could react, Li Tai blinked again and whispered, "I asked my father, and he agreed to grant you leave during the Zhonghuan period."
After saying that, he reached out and patted the little slave's head before leaving.
Yang Zhengdao could only shake his head with a wry smile. He carried Li Zhi into the hall, then put Li Zhi down and respectfully bowed to Li Er behind the imperial desk.
Li Er was also taken aback, but he didn't ask any further questions and had the eunuch Cao take Li Zhi away again.
When only Li Er and Yang Zhengdao remained in the hall, Li Er gently tapped the wooden box containing "Spring in the Curtain Screen" on the imperial desk.
"Tell me about it!"
Yang Zhengdao immediately bowed and pleaded guilty: "I, Zhengdao, have acted presumptuously and disturbed Princess Changle's marriage. I deserve a thousand punishments. I dare not beg Your Majesty for leniency, but only ask that you allow me to lay bare my heart and explain myself!"
Li Er nodded; the kid's attitude was good.
He actually believed it to a large extent; Yang Zhengdao had come up with such a treacherous scheme precisely because he coveted Azhi.
If he had any improper thoughts, he would certainly not risk offending the scholars of Shandong.
Perhaps this kid also had the idea of voluntarily handing over his weaknesses in order to protect himself.
Moreover, this weakness does indeed put him at ease.
Because this incriminating evidence is significant enough, once it is made public, Yang Zhengdao would be effectively cutting himself off from the world.
Therefore, he was quite satisfied with *The Spring of the Curtain Screen*, certainly not because of the unorthodox methods in the book...
Strange and ingenious skills.
However, since this kid has taken the initiative to admit his mistake, he can't blame me for being difficult and harsh.
Li Er's lips curled up: "A heartfelt confession? I'd like to hear what you have to say."
Yang Zhengdao cupped his hands in greeting and began his performance.
Mencius once lamented, "What good are ten thousand bushels of grain to me?" Tao Qian once said, "I will not bow down for five pecks of rice!" So, does that mean I will eat from five tripods?
"Five cauldrons for cooking? It's all just a mirage, nothing more than that!"
These bold words made Li Er's eyelids twitch.
Others might say that the Five Tripods are nothing special, like bitter plums by the roadside, but this kid can actually say that.
Seeing the change in Li Er's expression, Yang Zhengdao felt that the groundwork had been laid, and he bowed deeply again.
"I believe that fame and fortune are but dust in this world. If a great man cannot live to be drunk among the flowers, he shall die to be a ghost among the flowers! If he cannot obtain what he desires, then death is the only option. I humbly beseech Your Majesty to have mercy."
Li Er's expression froze, and the Ganlu Hall was so quiet you could hear a pin drop.
Can you please stop making your lustful nature sound so self-righteous and impassioned?!
It took Li Er a long time to recover.
He suddenly understood Yang Zhengdao a little. Putting himself in Yang Zhengdao's shoes, if he were in Yang Zhengdao's shoes, he would not be able to fulfill his ambitions after losing his country, and he would be easily suspected after making achievements. He could only express his passion through lust.
He coughed lightly, unsure how to answer for a moment. Finally, he sighed softly and uttered four words: "It's only human nature."
Ok? !
Your Majesty Li Er, please don't speak nonsense.
I absolutely did not say sorry to Ah-Zhi; that would be very painful.
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