Li Zhi, don't be a coward

Chapter 355 Forgive me at last
For the first time in his life, Li Qinzai felt the pressure from the Empress so close.

When I saw Empress Wu in the past, she was the virtuous and gentle wife next to Li Zhi, and she was the graceful and noble queen in the eyes of the courtiers.

But at this moment, she looked like a lioness ruling the grassland, exuding an aura of looking down on the world from top to bottom.

Maybe this is what she really looks like.

It was acting in front of Li Zhi, and it was also acting in front of his courtiers.

After many years of brutal fighting in the harem, she eliminated the enemy and became ruthless. In the fierce fighting in the harem, she became the only winner in the end. How could she still be as gentle and kind as before?

Back then when Li Zhi was ill, she asked her to review the memorandum as a ghostwriter, and finally released the magic box in her heart. Her ambition was not just to be the master of the harem.

A layer of cold sweat broke out on Li Qinzai's back, and he lowered his head and tried to organize his words.

If I don't deal with it well today, I'm afraid I will become a deadly enemy with her from now on.

"Queen, in the case of merging state food, I can only discuss the matter as it stands. Mrs. Han is not guilty of death. If she is killed, it may cause criticism from the government and the public, and it will also damage the reputation of Your Majesty and Queen."

Empress Wu raised her eyebrows: "Oh? So, Jing Chu didn't kill Mrs. Han for the sake of the emperor and this palace?"

Li Qinzai said in a low voice, "I'm not that great and selfless. I just want to protect myself. If the empress really wants to kill Mrs. Han, I believe there are many people who are willing to serve the empress."

"So, isn't Jing Chu willing to serve me?" Empress Wu pressed on step by step.

Li Qinzai thought for a moment, then said cautiously: "Of course I am willing to serve the queen, but after all, I still have to do what is within the limits of the law, otherwise, not only the queen will find it difficult to stand up, but the minister will also find it difficult to stand up."

Empress Wu sneered and said: "I can't see that Jing Chu is such an upright person, who looks exactly like the absurd dandy back then, I've missed it."

Li Qinzai hesitated for a moment, and then he went all out and said: "Queen, if the minister really killed Mrs. Han, the Queen is certainly satisfied, but... If Your Majesty really has the heart to ask Liu, the Queen killed Mrs. Han, and there are other women who cater to His Majesty regardless of shame. , the empress lives deep in the harem, don't ask about everything, just kill, so many women, when will you stop killing?"

"Every time the queen kills a person, the relationship between husband and wife with His Majesty will be weakened, and His Majesty's heart will be chilled by the killing. Will the Queen have a good result? If the husband and wife turn against each other, the minister fears that the Queen will repeat the same mistakes as the queen who abolished the queen in the past. Please, Queen Think twice."

Empress Wu was shocked, and murmured in a dazed way: "If you kill her, there will be someone who comes after you, yes, when will I stop killing her?"

Seeing that Empress Wu's attitude had loosened, Li Qinzai hurriedly said: "I have no other intentions. The queen and the emperor are deeply in love with each other. It is a blessing for the minister and the people of the world. If the palace is not peaceful, the emperor can govern the world calmly. The empress and the husband and wife maintain the relationship." Just like controlling water, blocking it is worse than dredging it.”

Empress Wu came back to her senses and stared at him with a smile that was not a smile: "Unexpectedly, besides the flattering remarks, Jing Chu also has a set of principles when he talks about it."

"The principle of the minister has always been to do a complete set."

The tense body gradually leaned back, and Empress Wu's expression also became tired.

"Forget it, let's pretend that the Bingzhou matter never happened. I entrusted you with these shady matters. It was my fault."

Li Qinzai's shoulders also loosened.

This hurdle has finally passed.

It can be seen that Empress Wu's suspicion of him has disappeared, and finally there is no need to worry about it anymore.

But Li Qinzai also knew very well that Empress Wu forgave him not because of what he just said, but because of his own value.

Yes, the value of Li Qinzai determines the attitude of Empress Wu.

If it was a mediocre courtier, even if she knelt in front of Empress Wu and wept bitterly, she would never let this trash live.

Li Qinzai is different. His incredible achievements in the past two years and the invention of objects that can change the Tang Dynasty are by no means comparable to mediocrity.

Li Zhiyang thought of a courtier as a national weapon, even if Empress Wu had a suspicion, she could only tolerate everything about him.

Killing Mrs. Korea is important, but not the most important thing. Empress Wu revealed this meaning to Li Qinzai at the beginning. In fact, it was mainly to test Li Qinzai, and vaguely forced him to stand in line.

Empress Wu has party members in the court, but she hopes that there will be one more capable official like Li Qinzai among the party members in the court.

Unfortunately, it is much more difficult to control a courtier like Li Qinzai than to control a mediocre waste.

In the Bingzhou grain case, the way Li Qinzai dealt with Mrs. Korea had already told Empress Wu his attitude in a very vague way.

You can do things, but don't stand in line.

He didn't want to join any camp in the court, let alone be labeled as a party member.

What can Empress Wu do with him?
What else can I do but forgive?
Seeing Empress Wu's dazed expression, Li Qinzai retreated cautiously.

After Li Qinzai exited the room for a long time, Empress Wu came back to her senses and sighed quietly: "Talents are hard to come by after all."

…………

Walking out of the backyard and coming to the atrium, Teng Wang was sitting alone by the corridor in the courtyard, lost in thought.

Li Qinzai met him head-on, King Teng was stunned, and suddenly his old hatred welled up in his heart, he stepped forward and grabbed Li Qinzai, and shouted: "Repay the money!"

Li Qinzai was taken aback and struggled left and right.

"What's the money? Who owes you money?"

King Teng was furious: "During Bingzhou, you defrauded me of all my money, don't you admit it?"

Li Qinzai was also angry: "Are you crazy? Obviously you gave it to me voluntarily. Think about it, who took the initiative to enter the door of my governor's mansion? Who brought a car full of heavy gifts? Did I invite you to the door? I Did you ask for a gift?"

King Teng was taken aback, and subconsciously blurted out: "It seems to be also..."

Then he came back to his senses, and King Teng said angrily: "You, you insult my daughter's innocence, saying that love is stronger than gold, and you need to pay more. Isn't this a lie?"

"Of course it's not a lie. You took the initiative to come to the door and give gifts. I just said that you have to add more money. You really added more money. Show me how to refuse?" Li Qinzai said angrily: "The gift that was sent out is now thinking of going back. , Your Highness King Teng, is there such courtesy in the world?"

King Teng was furious: "I don't care, just pay back the money! You cheated me of the money, this matter will never be reconciled, if you don't pay back, I will sue the emperor in front of you!"

Li Qinzai spread his hands: "There is no money, it has already been spent."

"Flow... finished?" Teng Wang was stunned: "That's tens of thousands of coins, is it all spent?"

"Oh, I asked a craftsman to build a small house inlaid with gold and jade. It cost a lot of money, so I ran out of money."

King Teng asked stupidly, "Why did you build a house of gold and jade?"

Li Qinzai blinked: "I plan to give it to the county magistrate of Jinxiang. Didn't Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty say that he would build a golden house to hide Chen Ajiao? I want to emulate Emperor Wu's elegance and hide the magistrate of Jinxiang in the golden house."

King Teng's hairs stood on end, and he shouted sharply, "How dare you!"

"I am stronger than gold with the county master of Jinxiang. If I give her a golden house, I think she will be delighted."

King Teng was so angry that he bumped into Li Qinzai's belly like a mad cow.

"This king will fight with you!"

(End of this chapter)