Tiantang Splendid

Chapter 4771: Driving the tiger and swallowing the wolf
The graceful zither girl played the guqin behind the pearl curtain. The sound of the zither sometimes sounded like the sound of ringing bells, lingering in the air for three days, and sometimes sounded like pearls falling on a jade plate, like the sound of flowing water in the mountains. On the other side of the pearl curtain, in the middle of the main hall, there was a table with several dishes of exquisite side dishes and a jar of rice wine. Li Xiaogong and Fang Jun sat opposite each other and drank, while Cen Changqian was in charge of pouring the wine.

There is a breeze outside the window and the night is cool. It is a beautiful and leisurely day.

Li Xiaogong took a sip of wine, sighed, and said with emotion: "Age is not forgiving. I used to eat big chunks of meat and drink a lot of wine without getting drunk. Now I can only satisfy my cravings with this mild yellow wine, and I can no longer bear the invasion of strong liquor."

Fang Jun picked up a bean and put it in his mouth to chew. He glanced at Li Xiaogong suspiciously, thinking that he had something else in mind...

"If the prince has any advice, please speak up. Otherwise, wouldn't it be embarrassing if I guessed wrong?"

Li Xiaogong laughed dumbly and pointed at Fang Jun with his finger: "Your personality is not suitable for officialdom. If you did not rely on your father's influence and the favor of the late emperor, you would have no place to use your abilities even if you have all the abilities. But this is also one of the reasons why I like you. You are simple, clean and pure. If you put more energy into doing things instead of being an official, you will definitely be able to achieve a career that will shock the world."

"Oh, the praise from the prince really frightens me. If you have anything to say, please tell me directly. Are you asking me to mobilize the elite soldiers of the Left and Right Jinwu Guards to help you break into the Taiji Palace?"

"Pfft...cough cough! Asshole! How can you say such things?"

Li Xiaogong nearly choked to death on a mouthful of wine. He coughed and scolded, then said helplessly: "You are not a child anymore. A real military and state official should be calm and restrained. How can you still act impulsively and ignorant of the rules like before?"

His eyes were fixed on Cen Changqian who was pouring wine beside him.

I was so angry. How could this be a joke? If it got out, it would be a big deal.

Cen Changqian lowered her eyebrows and eyes, as if she didn't hear anything.

Fang Jun said with a smile: "It's just a joke, why take it seriously? There's a lot of commotion at the Xiangyi County Prince's Mansion tonight, and I was planning to go over to join in the fun, but the county prince called me over for a drink, and there seemed to be something in your words, which was implied but not revealed. I really can't guess what you are up to."

"Just pretend to be stupid!" Li Xiaogong snorted and asked, "Do you really not know what I'm talking about?"

"I don't know."

"Whether you know it or not, I have to say this. Stop it. Don't make the situation too serious and cause unrest in the world. Otherwise, it will not end well."

Fang Jun blinked: "The more you talk, the more confused you become. I don't know what you are saying."

Li Xiaogong said angrily, "Do you think no one has any suspicions about Li Jingshu's death?"

Fang Jun looked innocent: "He was trampled to death in the chaos. This is something everyone knows, and the murderer will be brought to justice soon. This matter will also come to an end."

"Oh," Li Xiaogong sneered, "Let me guess, the murderer must not be related to the royal family or the nobles, because if the murderer is from one of them, the matter can only be suppressed in the end, and the purpose of completely disrupting the situation can not be achieved. Then he must be a child of aristocratic family. I just don't know if he is a child of Guanlong or Hedong? Oh, now the Hedong family has been submissive to you and allows you to drive them around. There is no reason to cheat them. Then he must be a child of Guanlong. Tell me if my guess is right?"

Fang Jun was slightly embarrassed: "Coincidence, it's all coincidence."

"How can there be so many coincidences in this world? The more coincidences there are, the more they are not coincidences. The Prince of Xiangyi paid a lot of price tonight and finally calmed down the royal family and nobles. As a result, another murderer who killed Li Jingshu appeared tomorrow morning. All efforts were in vain and all efforts were meaningless. The entire royal family and nobles fell into chaos again. Everyone is calling for war and killing, and they are irreconcilable with the Guanlong clans... Do you think the Prince of Xiangyi will be so angry that he will vomit blood?"

Li Xiaogong didn't care whether it was Li Jingshu or anyone else who died. What he cared about was that the royal family would never have peace.

"Whether it's the royal family or the nobles, they all need different voices. If everyone loves each other and advances and retreats together, Your Majesty will not feel at ease when he sleeps."

Fang Jun looked up at Li Xiaogong and said calmly, "The prosperity of the Tang Dynasty today is hard-won. We cannot let this good situation be ruined by some people with ulterior motives."

Li Xiaogong remained silent.

He did not agree to split the royal family, but he also knew that his prestige alone was not enough to intimidate the royal family. Li Shenfu's achievements were naturally not as good as his, but in terms of seniority and prestige, he was not inferior to him. If Li Shenfu was allowed to develop steadily, no one knew what kind of rebellious actions he would do based on the expansion of his power.

From the perspective of His Majesty, the court officials, and even the entire world, allowing Li Shenfu's "interest group" to split and attack from within is most in line with the current situation.

But Li Xiaogong was neither an emperor nor a mere minister. He was a member of the royal family of Li Tang. His interests lay not in the empire or in the court, but in the royal family.

After struggling for a long time, it finally turned into a long sigh.

"When people get old, not only do their blood and energy decline, but their previous courage and boldness also disappear. If they were young, how could they allow those people to do whatever they want? If they dared to show any signs, they would be suppressed with thunder and lightning, even if it meant rivers of blood. But now it's no longer possible. I have endured it for too long and have too many concerns. I dare not bear the consequences."

Li Xiaogong drained the wine in his glass in one gulp, and watching Cen Changqian refill the glass respectfully, he sighed, "Now it's you young people's world, an old man like me should just stay at home and wait for death, and shouldn't get involved in the court anymore."

Fang Jun raised his glass and drank with Li Xiaogong, saying sincerely: "Your Majesty is an old horse in the stable, and your sword is still sharp. As long as you are in the royal family, there will be no chaos. A small group of people who are obsessed with dreams of the Spring and Autumn Period will be defeated sooner or later. When the time comes, you, the Prince, will have to step up to preside over the overall situation and stabilize people's hearts."

Li Xiaogong knew that Fang Jun and His Majesty must have had a meticulous plan to deal with the chaos in the royal family. He was slightly relieved but could not help but remind him: "Driving the tiger to devour the wolf is a good strategy, but don't underestimate Li Shenfu. Maybe his achievements are not as good as Li Xiaoji, Li Shentong, or even Li Daozong and Li Yuanji, but his meticulous character and extraordinary wisdom are definitely first-rate. Moreover, as long as people live longer, they will always have more advantages than others. You must be careful and never be careless."

Fang Jun nodded repeatedly to show that he accepted the instruction.

The reason why some people are not famous is not because of their own lack of ability, but because their contemporaries are too brilliant, which makes them lose the opportunity to shine and their brilliance is overshadowed. However, as long as the opportunity permits, they can immediately shine brightly.

In a clan where seniority and seniority are mixed up, the power contained in an old man is absolutely beyond the imagination of outsiders...

*****
They stayed overnight in Pingkangfang. The next morning, Fang Jun got up early before daybreak. After washing up and having a simple breakfast, he and Cen Changqian went straight to the general's tent outside Mingde Gate. As a result, they found that someone had arrived before them...

"Oh, isn't this the bedridden Duke Yun? You are so weak and sick that you should stay in the mansion to recuperate. We can handle the trivial matters here. You don't have to worry about it. It would be a pity if you delay your treatment and shorten your life."

Facing Fang Jun's sarcasm, Zhang Liang couldn't help but roll his eyes. Did I want to come? I had already given up lying down, but you sent imperial doctors to your house. If I don't come, won't you accuse me of "disobeying the imperial edict"?

However, he still had a little dignity left. According to Fang Jun's request, he was supposed to report yesterday afternoon, but he dragged it until today to show that he was not afraid of Fang Jun and still had the courage to resist...

"Duke Yue, you are joking. The situation in the capital is tense right now. As the general of the Right Jinwu Guard, I have the responsibility to maintain public order. I have to perform my duties even if I am sick. However, Duke Yue has been handling affairs on my behalf for the past two days, and I am really uneasy."

So what if His Majesty has ordered you to command the Right Jinwu Guard?
After all, I am the general of the Right Jinwu Guard, and you are just a temporary commander. After you leave, I will still be the commander in name only...

"Haha," Fang Jun glanced at Zhang Liang and said with a half-smile, "Duke Yun is right. You are one of the few remaining meritorious officials of the Zhenguan period, with rich experience and outstanding ability. I am just stepping in to do the job. Since Duke Yun has recovered from his illness, you will be in charge here. I'm going home to catch up on some sleep. If there is anything, please send someone to inform the mansion. Goodbye."

After saying this, he stood up and rushed away with his personal soldiers, entering the city from Mingde Gate, and actually went home to catch up on some sleep...

Zhang Liang: “…”

The power to command the army that he had always dreamed of suddenly fell on his head, making him somewhat confused and unbelievable. He looked at Fang Jun's receding back, then at Cen Changqian who was standing silently beside him, and subconsciously said, "This...Duke Yue is going home for something?"

Cen Changqian said respectfully, "I don't know, but the Duke of Yue has already said that you will be in charge here, so it doesn't matter whether he comes or not."

Zhang Liang was suspicious. Is this what Fang Jun’s henchmen should say?

Not right.

He sat in the commander's tent, thought for a moment, and asked, "Is there anything urgent that needs to be dealt with today?"

Cen Changqian smiled reservedly: "My humble position is the Chief Clerk of the Left Jinwu Guard."

You are the General of the Right Jinwu Guard, you have no right to order me to do anything...

Zhang Liang's face darkened as he scolded, "How dare you! His Majesty has ordered that Duke Yue be in charge of the Jinwu Guards. This shows that the left and right Jinwu Guards should be one and the same. Isn't the distinction between left and right ridiculous? Since Duke Yue has asked me to take charge, you should naturally obey me."

Cen Changqian nodded: "Duke Yun's teaching is correct. I know I was wrong. As for the matter that needs to be dealt with today... Oh, handing over Wei Shuxia and his files to the Three Law Departments is one of them. Of course, Duke Yun does not have to go there in person. You just need to sign and seal it."

Zhang Liang felt something was wrong and frowned as he asked, "What crime did Wei Shuxia commit that he had to be handed over to the Three Judicial Departments?"

"This case involves the death of Li Jingshu, and it is a major case."

“…Shit!”

Zhang Liang regretted it too late. He knew Fang Jun had bad intentions but he didn't expect that he would be blamed for such a big crime...

Whoever signs and transfers the case will be responsible for the case and become the de facto "chief judge".

Is the death of Li Jingshu a case that anyone can be involved in? If Wei Shuxia is found guilty, it will offend the Jingzhao Wei family. If Wei Shuxia is found not guilty, the royal family will definitely not agree... No matter what he does, he will be a nobody on both sides. Zhang Liang covered his forehead and knew that he had fallen into Fang Jun's trap again. He actually took the initiative to take this huge black pot for Fang Jun.

I couldn't help but swear.