It was quiet in the imperial study. Ning Que was silent for a long time and then said slowly, "Disappointment is inevitable, but it is not hopeless yet."
Li Yu smiled.
Compared with her previous pitiful smile, this smile was more self-deprecating.
She said, "This is really beyond my expectations. I thought you had completely given up on me."
"From Wuzhou to Chang 'an, including when I entered Chang' an, you did not use the army."
Ning Que looked at the red walls of the palace and said, "I appreciate this. Or perhaps you have no army to use now, and I have misunderstood you."
Li Yu said, "No matter how difficult the situation is, when it comes to life and death, even if I have to squeeze, I can squeeze out some troops. You know my temperament, I will always leave some cards for the last."
Ning Que said, "In fact, I really hope that you can use those cards."
Li Yu asked, "Why?"
Ning Que said, "In that case, I can wash away those cards of yours, and I can kill you the first time I see you without any psychological barriers."
Li Yu said softly, "Why do you want to kill me the first time we meet? Because I tampered with father's edict? Or is it because you found out that I am not the kind of person you imagined and are disappointed, so you are angry? "
"Although you quietly listened to my fairy tale for a whole night by the bonfire, I have never regarded you as a princess in a fairy tale. How could a woman who married into the Wilderness and returned safely be a simple person? I am not disappointed in this aspect, so I will not be angry because of this."
Ning Que said, "As for tampering with the edict, it may seem rebellious in the eyes of others, but I really don't care. My coldness and reality are far beyond what you and the world can imagine."
"If you can really make the Tang Empire flourish after you help Li Huiyuan seize the throne, and the people live happily, then maybe I will support you. But the reality is not like that."
Listening to his words, Li Yu's eyes gradually brightened. She looked at him and said seriously, "You promised before that in this matter … you will support me."
Ning Que said, "Wrong, I promised you that I would not support the Empress."
Li Yu said, "Then what are you doing now? Why did you bring that woman and her son back to Chang 'an? What do you want to fight for for her? "
Ning Que said, "You are wrong again. I support His Majesty's last wish."
Li Yu looked a little lonely. After a moment, a determined expression returned to her face. She said, "This is the Li family's business after all. It's not up to you and the Academy to interfere."
Ning Que said, "This is the third time you have said something wrong today."
"First of all, the Tang Empire does not belong to the Li family. It belongs to the Tangs. Secondly, the Headmaster of the Academy founded the Tang Empire a thousand years ago. Even if it belongs to someone now, it should belong to the Academy."
Lee Yu frowned slightly.
"For thousands of years, Chang 'an has never been breached. If it was breached, it would be the people in the city who let it be. I can understand that you and Li Huiyuan want the throne, but you chose the wrong time and the way you chose was terrible. As I said before, this is what disappoints me the most. "
Ning Que said.
Li Yu stared into his eyes and said with a trembling voice, "In this situation, who do you think can do better than me? You … or that woman? "
"I know what you mean. In your opinion, the Tang Empire has no chance of winning if the whole world fights against the Tang Empire."
Ning Que said, "But it is normal that we are not as smart as the enemy and not as powerful as the whole world. But some mistakes should not be made. For example, Xu Shi should not have died. Many soldiers should not have died."
Thinking of the tragic scenes he had seen on his way back to the south and the silent City of Wei, he was silent for a moment and then continued,
"Since I killed people in the woodshed when I was a child, I became selfish and cold. I did not care about anyone except Sangsang. It was not until I went to the City of Wei that I changed. Then I entered the Academy. Some changes have been quietly happening in my heart, but I did not notice it."
"The year before last, on my way to the Lanke Temple, I saw the wilderness in the south of the Tang Empire. The scenery there was beautiful and the people there were good. The Tang Empire is really a good place. I like it and I do not want it to be hurt. But now, it's severely injured, and it's even dying. "
Ning Que looked at her and said, "I believe that many stupid mistakes are not made by you, but by him. So I want to know how he is going to bear the responsibility."
Lee Yu clenched her fists and trembled slightly. She did not speak.
Ning Que looked into her eyes and asked again, "Where is the prince?"
Lee Yu said in a hoarse voice, "His Majesty is resting."
The two of them addressed Li Huiyuan differently, which meant that they had different attitudes.
The imperial study fell into silence again.
Ning Que suddenly said, "Let him abdicate first. We will talk about other things later."
Lee Yu shook her head and said, "I cannot let His Majesty abdicate, because that means death."
Ning Que said, "Now many people know who His Majesty passed the throne to. You and your brother cannot continue to lie."
Lee Yu said coldly, "You do not have a Posthumous Edict, and the edict from the West-Hill Divine Palace clearly states that the woman is a remnant of the Devil's Doctrine. How many people in the imperial court and the military will support her?"
Ning Que said, "You know me. I do not care how many people support me. I only care how many people oppose me."
"Then you will kill all those who oppose you? You do not care that the entire Tang Empire will fall into division because of your actions, and no longer have the power to resist foreign enemies? "
Lee Yu sneered and said, "You said that you do not despair because I did not use the army to deal with you. Then you should know why I did not do so! I am my father's daughter. No matter how much I want to kill that woman, I do not want the Tang Empire to fall into internal strife in the current situation! What about you? "
Ning Que was silent.
Lee Yu looked into his eyes and said in a pleading tone, "The Tang Empire cannot be divided now. There cannot be internal strife. Otherwise, no one can bear the terrible consequences. The only way now is for you to stand up and support me and my brother. As long as the Tang Empire can be reunited, with the support of the Academy, maybe we can really turn the tide. "
Ning Que frowned slightly and said, "Have you ever thought about it? You and your brother can lead the ministers and the army loyal to you to pledge loyalty to the Empress and the Sixth Prince?"
"Then what should we do in the future? That woman will definitely kill us! And don't forget, she is from the Devil's Doctrine. Even if I speak up, many ministers and generals will not support her! "
Lee Yu said, "I know you are not reconciled and you are very angry. But I have severely punished His Majesty. Tomorrow, the imperial court will issue an edict of self-condemnation …"
"Severely punished? How many slaps? "Ning Que looked at her and said sarcastically.
Lee Yu was greatly stimulated by his expression and cried, "I only have this brother. I raised him with one hand. How can I watch him die? I let you into Chang 'an and took the risk to let you speak to the palace just to beg you to let him go. Can't I do that too? "
Ning Que looked at the tears on her face and suddenly remembered the past many years ago.
If not for Lee Yu, he would have returned to Chang 'an, but he might not have been able to enter the Academy. Without her help, it would not have been so easy to get the stamped document from the Ministry.
From a certain point of view, this beautiful woman in front of him changed his and Sangsang's lives.
Lee Yu said with tears in her eyes, "Think about Sangsang. She was raised by you. No matter how big a mistake she made, do you have the heart to let her be hurt? I am the same as her sister. "
"So you have always loved Sangsang." Ning Que said thoughtfully.
…
…
The long night passed and morning came. The chaos in Chang 'an had gradually calmed down. The smell of incense and candles wafted through the morning fog and many ministers could be seen.
Today was not the day of the Grand Court Meeting, but it was held. Everyone knew why. It was because the Empress and the Sixth Prince had returned and were outside Chang 'an.
Some ministers even knew that Mr. Thirteen of the Academy, Ning Que, was in the palace and had a long talk with Her Highness the Princess. As for the content of the talk, it was obvious.
At this time, the Tang Empire was facing a very serious situation. In contrast, the authenticity of the edict and the ownership of the throne were really not important.
Just as Lee Yu had predicted, from the Prime Minister to the ordinary people in Chang 'an, everyone only hoped that the two sides could reach an agreement as soon as possible and not let the Tang Empire fall into civil strife.
After confirming that Ning Que and Her Highness the Princess had talked for a long night, the officials finally calmed down a little. There was no bloodshed in the palace, which meant that at least this matter could be discussed.
Even those officials of the Empress's faction who had survived the chaos caused by He Mingchi stood straighter than usual and looked more solemn. However, they still kept their silence rationally.
They believed that even if the Academy could not let the Sixth Prince ascend the throne, they could at least fight for enough compensation for the Empress and the Sixth Prince. They could also explain what had happened that day.
…
…
The Grand Court Meeting officially began.
After confirming that his royal sister had convinced Ning Que, Li Huiyuan walked out of the heavily guarded side hall and sat on the cold imperial chair. His face was a little pale.
Behind the imperial chair was a bead curtain. Lee Yu sat quietly behind the curtain.
The ministers in the hall looked between the bead curtain and the imperial chair.
Ning Que, who was wearing a black Academy robe, stood on the golden brick floor in silence.
A eunuch opened the court meeting.
The Emperor began to read out his own edict.
Then, to everyone's surprise.
The Emperor walked down from the imperial chair and knelt to the ministers in the hall, kowtowing to them.
The ministers were shocked and speechless. They hurriedly knelt back.
The Emperor kowtowed to the people outside the hall and apologized to the Tang army and people.
Finally, he knelt to Ning Que, who was beside the imperial chair, and asked for the Academy's forgiveness.
For thousands of years, no Tang Emperor had ever knelt and apologized in the court meeting.
Not to mention the ministers who were loyal to Lee Yu and her brother were moved to tears. Even the officials of the Empress's faction felt the Emperor's sincerity and looked a little better.
The bead curtain made a sound and Lee Yu walked out from behind it.
She bowed to the officials in the court and said, "I only have this one brother. As his elder sister, I will bear the responsibility for the mistakes he has committed. When the war is over, I will give the Tang army and people an explanation. His Majesty will make the Sixth Prince the Emperor's younger brother. Mr. Thirteen will go out of the city and report to the Empress Dowager later. "
In the current situation, in order to avoid the division of the Tang Empire and prevent the ministers, soldiers, and people in the court from choosing between the two factions, this was undoubtedly the most appropriate arrangement.
The hall resounded with the praises of the ministers, and the content of their speech was nothing more than this.
At this moment, a voice rang out.
Thus, the entire hall became extremely quiet.
Because the person who spoke was Ning Que.
"You said you only have one brother." He looked at Lee Yu and said, "… Actually, you are wrong."
Lee Yu was a little confused. She did not know why he suddenly said this.
"You have two brothers."
Ning Que said. Then he pulled out the podao behind him and slashed at Li Huiyuan.
…
…
With a crisp sound, Li Huiyuan's head was separated from his body.
Fresh blood spurted out from the wound, reaching the ceiling of the hall before falling down powerlessly.
The golden brick floor of the hall was covered with blood.
Ning Que looked at Lee Yu and said, "Now, you only have one brother."
There was dead silence in the hall.
No one could believe what they were seeing.
After a long time, a minister let out a heart-wrenching cry.
Several old ministers fainted directly.
…
…
A thousand years after the founding of the Tang Empire.
Li Huiyuan was the emperor who reigned for the shortest time.
He was also the only emperor who was killed in the palace.
Of course, only Ning Que knew that Emperor Taizu was also killed by the Headmaster in the palace.
His Majesty was beheaded at the Grand Court Meeting.
This bloody scene, this shocking and indescribable truth, caused everyone to be dumbfounded.
Lee Yu's face was pale and bloodless.
She looked at her brother who was lying in a pool of blood and fell down.
Ning Que took out a white handkerchief from somewhere and wiped the blood on the podao.
Then he looked at the ministers who were still in a state of extreme shock and said, "Just now, I heard a lot of things from you, such as choice and unity. You are very worried, so I will help you solve your worries."
"His Majesty is now dead, so the former emperor only has one son left. The throne can only be inherited by him, unless His Highness is also interested in the throne."
Ning Que looked at Prince Li Peiyan who was standing at the head of the line of nobles.
Li Peiyan's face was extremely pale and he did not hear what Ning Que said.
"You are afraid of division, afraid of civil strife, afraid of making a choice that will make the current situation more serious. Then now you don't have to make a choice, nor does the entire Tang Empire."
Ning Que put the podao back into the sheath and looked at the ministers in the hall. Finally, he said, "There is no need to choose. This is what I think the Tang Empire needs most now, and I will work with all of you."
…
…
(Not today, but there is a separate chapter.) (To be continued. If you like this work, please come to Qidian.Com to vote for me. Your support is my greatest motivation.)
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