The emperor would rather have a

Chapter 68 Chai Rong Appears
"I pay my respects to Envoy Zhang Du."

Li Yi didn't expect to meet Zhang Yongde at the gate of the Privy Council.

"Envoy Li, would you have time to come to the government office and have a cup of tea with me?"

Zhang Yongde invited with a smile. Li Yi was stunned when he heard it, not knowing what the other party was planning.

But he naturally couldn't offend Zhang Yongde.

He immediately replied, "I am sorry to bother Envoy Zhang."

"You two take Li Hanchao back to the Inner Palace Guard station and wait for me."

Li Yi turned around and gave instructions to Ma Renyu and Zhang Jiangong.

Zhang Yongde suddenly invited him to have tea together, which obviously meant something, and it would definitely not be appropriate to have other people present.

Ma Renyu and the other two responded and then left the Privy Council office.

"Who is Li Hanchao?"

When Zhang Yongde heard Li Yi mention this name specifically, he couldn't help but ask out of curiosity.

"I dare not hide it from Envoy Zhang Du. During the reign of Emperor Yin, this man served as a captain in the Tianxiong Army. However, he offended his superiors and had to resign to protect himself."

Li Yi explained, "When I was passing through Daming Prefecture, I happened to meet this man at the post station. I thought he was a talented person, so I brought him back to Tokyo and enlisted him in the Imperial Guard to serve Your Majesty."

Zhang Yongde smiled and said, "Since he was chosen by Li Dushi and brought back with him, he must have some skills."

"Then I'll speak to Envoy Wei Shu for you and recruit him as a general under your command."

As soon as you join the Imperial Guards, you start as one of the ten generals, which is a treatment that not everyone can have.

Although the Ten Generals are only equivalent to squad leaders, according to the organization of the Imperial Guards, starting from the Tenth General, they are all serious military generals.

It is a qualitative leap compared to the rank of squad leader or sergeant leader.

Zhang Yongde obviously mentioned this for Li Yi's sake.

However, Li Hanchao got the benefits, but Li Yi had to bear the favor.

As the saying goes, there is no need to show kindness... Li Yi felt that it would be better not to take this benefit.

After entering the official office, Zhang Yongde asked the servant to bring two cups of tea.

Then he waved his hand and drove out all the servants who were serving on the side.

"Envoy Li, did your visit to your family go smoothly?"

It seemed like Zhang Yongde really just wanted to chat with Li Yi.

He took a sip of tea and spoke with a smile.

"They say returning home in glory is the way it is. Envoy Li Du must be enjoying immense glory when he returns to his hometown of Xiajin, right?"

Li Yi said, "I've been away from home for several years. Apart from my uncle's family, I don't have any relatives in the countryside, so not many people know me. Whether I'm famous or not is secondary."

"But this time when I went back, I brought my uncle and his family to Tokyo to enjoy their good life."

"Oh?" Zhang Yongde raised his eyebrows slightly and praised, "Envoy Li has been very kind to your uncle's family."

Li Yi picked up the teacup and replied, "I have been living with my uncle's family since I was young, following my mother. Now that I have achieved some success, I naturally want to repay this kindness."

"This also proves that Li Dushi is a kind and righteous man who knows how to repay kindness."

Listening to Zhang Yongde's praise, Li Yi felt uncomfortable all over.

It was because he was not familiar with the other party and they did not have much interaction.

There is nothing to talk about at all.

After Zhang Yongde finished praising Li Yi, he stopped talking and just looked at Li Yi with a smile on his face.

And gestured for him to taste the tea.

Li Yi had no choice but to pick up the teacup and take a sip.

Suddenly, bitter, salty, spicy, all kinds of flavors exploded in my mouth.

He really couldn't get used to drinking this kind of tea brewed with seasonings.

Li Yi could only pretend to be intoxicated and praised: "What a great tea!"

“It’s really good tea.”

Zhang Yongde took a sip of tea and looked very comfortable.

"This is the first buds of new tea from a few old trees in Shu. Only a few cans are produced each year."

what?
Li Yi was stunned when he heard this.

Why does this sound so familiar to him?

I seem to have heard it somewhere... Oh, right, Li Erniang, the pretentious girl from the wine shop in the outer city!

Li Yi couldn't help but take a closer look at the tea leaves in the cup.

It is indeed very similar to what I had at Li Er Niang's.

The only difference is that Li Erniang cooked it in plain water, while Zhang Yongde cooked it in thick soup.

What a waste of such good tea.

In comparison, Li Yi felt that the pretentious girl knew better how to make tea.

But how did this tea end up in Zhang Yongde's hands? Moreover, the words he used to introduce the tea were exactly the same as Li Erniang's. Could it be that... Thinking of Li Erniang's identity, Li Yi seemed to have figured it out.

It seems that these old people are indeed making friends with high-ranking officials everywhere.

I just don't know what results they achieved...

"Ugh--"

At this moment, Zhang Yongde suddenly sighed.

coming soon!
Li Yi perked up, knowing that the other party was about to get to the point, he immediately pricked up his ears to listen.

As expected, Zhang Yongde sighed and said, "I think Envoy Li has returned and should know some news, right?"

Li Yi naturally pretended to be dumbfounded and asked, "What news?"

"Envoy Li really doesn't know?"

"I really didn't know! I just came back today and was at the government office to handle some paperwork when I ran into Envoy Zhang."

Hearing this, Zhang Yongde nodded noncommittally: "It's not a big deal. Your Majesty is not feeling well and has not attended court for several days."

He said it lightly, but during the chaotic Five Dynasties period, when the emperor appeared every day, there was no guarantee that the warriors would do something stupid.

Not to mention that the emperor has not appeared for a long time.

Take the first month of the lunar year, for example. Before Guo Wei passed away, he was already terminally ill and had difficulty walking.

But Guo Wei still forced himself to hold the Circular Mound to offer sacrifices to heaven despite his illness, just to show his face in front of everyone and calm people's hearts.

However, Li Yi felt that Zhang Yongde was most likely testing him now.

Otherwise he would not have directly told the emperor that he was ill.

After all, no news of this matter leaked out from the palace.

Even though Zhang Yongde was the emperor's brother-in-law and had the means to know the inside story, he would not spread it casually.

Li Yi's thoughts raced, but he pretended to be surprised and asked, "When did this happen?"

"It just happened in the past two days." Zhang Yongde picked up the teacup and brought it to his mouth, but put it back on the table without taking a sip.

"Your Majesty is not seriously ill, but this matter cannot be spread outside. I will only tell Envoy Li."

Then he added, "The military affairs in front of the palace are very busy. It's just right that Li Dushi has returned. He can help me relieve some of the worries."

After hearing this, Li Yi wondered to himself, is Zhang Yongde trying to win him over?
On the one hand, he only told himself about the emperor's illness, implying that he trusted himself very much.

On the other hand, he asked me to help him share the affairs of the palace army.

But the problem is, doesn’t he still have a younger brother, Zhao Kuangyin?

Why are you offering me an olive branch for no reason?

Besides, there is Li Jixun, the chief guard in front of the palace.

It was definitely not Li Yi's turn to share Zhang Yongde's worries.

"Li Dushi of the Imperial Guards hasn't been to the yamen these past few days. I heard he's been staying at the Longjie Army's base. He's really good at avoiding work."

For some reason, Zhang Yongde brought the topic back to Li Chongjin.

Li Yi didn't want to say much about this matter, so he could only drink his tea and remain silent.

Afterwards, Zhang Yongde chatted with Li Yi about miscellaneous matters for a while.

After waiting for three refills of tea, he finally asked to let Li Yi leave.

"Envoy Li, you and I are now colleagues. We should visit each other more often in the future."

Before leaving, Zhang Yongde held Li Yi's wrist very closely.

Li Yi naturally said yes.

Return to the inner palace guards' barracks.

Li Yi recalled what Zhang Yongde said, and suddenly felt a chill in his heart.

Because he figured out why Zhang Yongde mentioned Li Chongjin.

Zhang said that Li had not been to the government office for several days, but had been staying in the camp of the Long Jie Army.

It is clearly an allusion to Li Chongjin's evil intentions!
In this world, the emperor must be of a certain type, and the one with the strongest army and horses will be the emperor. Whoever has the support of a large number of soldiers can become the emperor.

During this sensitive period, Li Chongjin hid in the camp of the main force of the Imperial Guard.

What does he want to do? What can he do!
Could it be that Zhang Yongde wants me to impeach and report Li Chongjin for having evil intentions?
Because he had a private conflict with the other party, this matter was basically known to everyone.

Was he worried that his own impeachment of Li Chongjin was not convincing enough?

Of course, it is also possible that Zhang Yongde simply wanted to win over Li Yi.

Li Chongjin was just a casual mention by him.

"If I really have to choose between Zhang Yongde and Li Chongjin, which one should I choose?"

Li Yi had to prepare for the worst in his mind.

But fortunately, two days later, things took a turn for the better.

Chai Rong showed up!
　After uploading this chapter, several hundred words were inexplicably deleted. I have revised it again. Please read it again.

　　This AI artificial stupid review is really cheating!
　　
　
(End of this chapter)