"Really?" Song Qingshu was overjoyed. Thinking of how Li Shouzhong had been the Chancellor of the Directorate for so many years, his network was extensive and he was incomparably familiar with the rules of the Imperial Court, he might really have a way.
"Wang Ye, please come with me." Seeing the other so excited, Li Wan let out a sigh of relief. It seemed that she had guessed his troubles.
Li Wan was wearing a plain long dress. She didn't have any makeup or jewelry that women usually wore, but she had an indescribably elegant and dignified temperament. Song QingShu followed behind her and looked at her graceful back. He couldn't help but sigh.
Li Wan couldn't help but ask curiously: "Why is Wang Ye sighing?"
Song Qingshu answered: "I am lamenting that Madam is in the prime of her youth and has such a dignified and beautiful appearance. But she can only spend the rest of her life alone. It is truly a reckless waste of God's gift."
Li Wan's expression changed: "Wang Ye, please be careful with your words!"
Seeing her reaction, Song Qingshu couldn't help but smile bitterly: "It seems that my reputation in this area isn't very good. Madam misunderstood that I was flirting. In fact, I was just thinking that in my hometown, it is normal for a woman to remarry after a divorce, not to mention the death of her husband."
"Isn't Wang Ye's hometown near Jingzhou's Wudang? That is also the territory of the Great Song. I have never heard of such a custom," Li Wan shook her head, answering seriously: "Moreover, how can a virtuous woman serve a second husband? I hope that Wang Ye will not say such troublesome things in the future."
Even though he knew that she was poisoned by the etiquette of this world, he still respected her steadfastness.
The two sank into silence, quickly arriving at Li Shouzhong's study. Seeing Song Qingshu and his daughter coming together from the inner chamber, Li Shouzhong's expression also changed: "You?"
Li Wan's face reddened slightly, and she explained the whole story.
Hearing that he had escorted Li Mochou back, Li Shouzhong let out a sigh of relief: "Wang Ye previously allowed us women to reunite, and this time he saved Mochou again. This great kindness, the Li family really doesn't know how to repay."
Li Wan seized the opportunity to speak: "Father, isn't the Prince of Qi currently having a vexing matter? Helping him out with some ideas can be considered as repaying him."
Li Shouzhong furrowed his brows and thought to himself, "Daughters are really losers. All of them turn to outsiders when they grow up, but all three of my children are daughters!"
Song Qingshu was famous for his scandal. Hearing Li Wan speak up for him, Li Shouzhong's first reaction was that this guy wouldn't come to seduce his precious daughter, right? However, on second thought, he knew his daughter's character the best. She would never do anything that would bring shame to the family's reputation. Only then did he heave a sigh of relief.
Seeing the change in Li Shouzhong's expression, Song Qingshu also had some misgivings in his heart. He had a vague feeling that something was not right. He hastily said, "During the morning court session, I was attacked by a group of people. I hope Mister can teach me how to break out of this situation."
After hesitating for a moment, Li Shouzhong said to Li Wan, "Wan 'er, go to the rear hall and accompany your older sister. I have something to discuss with the Prince of Qi."
"Yes." Li Wan did not feel that there was anything wrong. Bowing, she took her leave.
Song Qingshu was somewhat surprised. He did not understand why Li Shouzhong had deliberately sent his daughter away. It couldn't be that his reputation was so bad that Li Shouzhong was worried that he would have crooked thoughts about her?
"Although Wan 'er is my biological daughter, she has long since married into the Jia family and is now a member of the Jia household. As a result, there are some things that are inconvenient for her to hear," Li Shouzhong explained.
Only now did Song Qingshu realize that he was overthinking. However, he became increasingly curious about what Li Shouzhong was going to say next.
Li Shouzhong sighed. "I am the Chancellor of the Directorate of Studies. I have a good relationship with the Jianshan Academy. Zhen Dexiu and Wei Liaoweng are also close friends with me. Originally, even if my Li family owes you a great debt of gratitude, I would not help you come up with ideas to deal with them. However, you are related by marriage to the Wang family. In addition, you helped Yue Fei overturn the verdict. Everyone will view the Li family and you as one. I have no choice but to help … "
"Wang family related by marriage? Yue Fei overturned the verdict? " Song Qingshu was startled. Suddenly, he remembered that Li Qiushui was also a member of the Li family. Her sister was Yue Fei's second wife. The Li family had a complicated relationship with the Wang family and the Yue family. Now that he was the future "son-in-law" of the Wang family, and had once advocated for Yue Fei to overturn the verdict and protected Xiao Long Nu in the palace, everyone knew about this. Therefore, the honor and disgrace of both parties had unknowingly been linked together. Even if Li Shouzhong wanted to stay out of this matter, other forces would not believe him.
"I have implicated you." Song Qingshu said apologetically.
Li Shouzhong shook his head and said, "The main thing is that I have thought it through. Instead of doing nothing and waiting to be punished in the future, it is better to seize the opportunity now. Perhaps I can even bring honor to the ancestors of the Li family."
Song Qingshu had been in this world for so many years. He was very clear that for some big families, the interests of the family were the most important. Sometimes, it could even surpass the interests of the country.
Li Shouzhong took a sip of tea to moisten his throat. He then said, "If you want to stay in the palace legitimately, it is not that there is no way."
"Oh?" Song Qingshu immediately sat up straight.
Li Shouzhong said, "Right now, they are using righteousness to force you. As long as you also have a righteous status, they will have nothing to say. In the palace, other than the officials, other men are not allowed to exist. However, there are a few exceptions. They are the guards and the imperial physicians. However, even the guards and the imperial physicians can only stay in the outer palace. They are not allowed to enter the inner court unless they are summoned. But other than these people, there is a special kind of person who can enter and leave the inner palace with the emperor. "
"Who is it?" Song Qingshu was, after all, a foreigner. He was far less familiar with the official system of the Song Dynasty than someone like Li Shouzhong.
"Now there are so many martial arts masters in the world. If they break through the defense lines outside the imperial palace and get close to the emperor, won't the emperor be at their mercy?" Li Shouzhong explained, "In order to avoid this situation, the emperor always keeps a few martial arts masters around him. Generally speaking, most of them are eunuchs. However, eunuchs are born with defects. Except for a few, their talent in martial arts is limited. They are far inferior to ordinary people, so they often need some normal guards to supplement them."
"Imperial equipment!" Song Qingshu finally came to his senses.
Li Shouzhong nodded with a smile. "Over the years, the reason why there are very few imperial equipment is because of the strict selection of martial arts and family background. In fact, there is a very important reason. That is, no emperor wants to have too many other men in the harem. Therefore, every emperor only has a few imperial equipment around him. This way, his safety can be guaranteed, and it is easy to monitor and prevent trouble in the harem."
"I see." Only then did Song QingShu realize that there was actually such a hidden story. Previously, during the battle of Mount Wudang, all of the imperial equipment had been killed or injured. The only survivor, Ding Dian, was now unconscious and recuperating at home. This was enough reason to replenish the imperial equipment.
Li Shouzhong continued, "Of course, just the identity of imperial equipment may not be enough to stop people's mouths. Therefore, Your Highness needs to marry the princess as soon as possible. Originally, the emperor's son-in-law was not qualified to stay in the palace. However, the key is that the emperor's son-in-law is Commandant. In this way, Your Highness and the emperor's family will become family. With this identity, many matters will become family matters. The court officials are outsiders and cannot interfere. In addition, there was an assassin in the palace today and the Crown Prince was injured. This matter is actually very beneficial to you. Take advantage of this opportunity, and since you don't have the status problem, it is natural for you to stay in the palace. "
Song Qingshu had a strange expression. He wondered how Li Shouzhong would react if he knew that the assassin was his daughter.
At this time, Li Shouzhong sighed. "In fact, staying in the palace is not difficult. What is difficult is another matter."
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