Hearing the knock on the door, the Administrator, who had been flipping through a book from the previous dynasty, raised his head and gently put down the book. He straightened his clothes and said calmly, "Come in."
The familiar figure pushed open the door and entered. He said to Li Gongde, "The General of Lingzhou greets the Administrator."
Li Gongde's expression was complicated. This second-level official, who was known for his skill in flattery, rose and said in a low voice, "His Royal Highness came at the right time, but he came later than Li Gongde expected. The reason he said this is because the matter of the two secret letters was indeed secretly planned by His Highness. Beiliang needs this kind of King of Beiliang, so he said, 'He came at the right time.' He came late because he was dissatisfied with His Highness' soft-heartedness. After Li Gongde handed over a secret letter, he didn't immediately turn hostile and didn't immediately open the letter. He knew that the secret letter was the real one. This means that His Highness has been hesitant these days. Even if he mistakenly believes that Li Gongde has decided to join the court, he still doesn't want to kill him. His Royal Highness like this is more than enough to be the General of Lingzhou or the Provincial Governor of Lingzhou. If he is merciful, how will he command the 300,000 Beiliang cavalry that are the best in the world? "
Hsu Fengnian didn't refute this. Li Gongde smiled and brought out two chairs. The two of them sat across from each other. The Administrator, who was very different from usual, looked at this young face that was becoming more and more angular. He sighed softly and said, "His Highness, you might ask why Li Gongde did this. Since he clearly didn't join the court and wasn't tempted by Zhang Julu, why did he deliberately hide a 'fake letter?' It's very simple. His Highness carefully planned this time and almost passed off the fake as the real one. He wanted to test Li Gongde, the head of the civil officials in Beiliang. Li Gongde also wanted to know whether it was wise for him to stay in Beiliang. Your Highness … "
At this point, Li Gongde stopped talking. Unlike the previous time in the study, this time, tears flowed from the bottom of his heart. Li Gongde did not wipe them away and slowly said, "Your Highness has come late, which means that Your Highness is not an ambitious and ruthless person who would kill anyone for your own achievements. Li Gongde felt regret in his heart, but he was even more grateful. I had entrusted Hanlin to such a King of Beiliang. Even if he really died on the battlefield one day, Li Gongde would grit his teeth and not have half a word of complaint. Li Gongde had been an official for 30 years, but he had never seen anyone who was truly heartless. In the end, they did not suffer from evil retribution. Even if they were honored before their death, it would be a disaster for their descendants. If the upper beam was not straight, the lower beam would be crooked. His Highness's methods were sinister, but he did not lose his kindness and mellow heart. He was exactly the same as the General. This was the new King Liang that Li Gongde truly wanted. To be honest, Your Highness might not believe it. It was not that Li Gongde was cunning and saw through Your Highness's plan at a glance. It was because Li Gongde believed that the General's son would not treat the Li family unfairly and would not let Hanlin down. That was why he never thought of going to the court to be some bullshit first-rank official. If I went to the capital, Hanlin would break off all relations with me and my son, and would not recognize me as a father for the rest of my life. His schemes were all for the good of his descendants. His son was gone, and Li Gongde was already in his fifties. He had become a powerful official in the court. He would be in his coffin in a few years. What was the use of a posthumous title? Besides, how could being an official in the unfamiliar capital compare to being the Administrator of Beiliang? Li Gongde had spent his entire life pondering the path of an official and studying the art of climbing up the ranks. As the old saying goes, ginger is destined to be spicier with age. I will not make such a big mistake at this age. "
"Your Highness, don't worry. Li Gongde will never mention the secret letter to Hanlin. Your Highness has a clear conscience towards Northern Liang regarding this matter, and you shouldn't create a rift with Han Lin over this matter. Just treat it as Li Gongde's sincere request to Your Highness to prevent Han Lin from going down a dead end. Your Highness, when the time comes, Han Lin can only die at the border! If Your Highness has a guilty conscience towards Hanlin alone, Li Gongde also asks Your Highness to consider Hanlin and not speak of this matter! "
Li Gongde, who had never knelt before Hsu Fengnian, slowly knelt down and said in a low voice, "If Your Highness does not agree, Li Gongde will resign as the Administrator!"
Hsu Fengnian handed the secret letter to the Administrator and said calmly, "Uncle Li, Hsu Fengnian promises you one thing. If I have the chance to tell my descendants my last words in the future, I promise that as long as the Xu family is prosperous, regardless of whether the descendants of the Li family are loyal to the Xu family, even if they commit treason, I will ensure the safety of the Li family. The Xu family will not kill anyone."
Li Gongde's body trembled. He lowered his head and said with a choked voice, "This old official thanks Your Highness for your kindness!"
At the door, Li Fuzhen saw the scene of his father kneeling and screamed, "Hsu Fengnian! What are you doing?! "
Li Gongde, who was being helped up by His Royal Highness, shouted, "Zhen 'er, don't be rude!"
Hsu Fengnian smiled, "Uncle Li, I want to apologize to you. From today onwards, Xu Beizhi will be the provincial governor of Lingzhou."
Li Gongde wiped his face and chuckled, "This is not a big deal. It's not worth Your Highness to tell me personally."
"Also, Hanlin has safely returned to Youzhou."
Hsu Fengnian said this in a low voice and left, brushing past Li Fuzhen. Li Gongde, who was overjoyed, carefully hid the secret letter and stared at his daughter, "You don't know the severity of the matter!"
Li Fuzhen said angrily, "Father, you are the Administrator of Beiliang. You kneeled to Uncle Xu and flattered him. When did I say anything? But Hsu Fengnian is just a general of Lingzhou. He is not even the hereditary King of Beiliang and he wants you to kneel. What right does he have?! He calls you Uncle Li and it sounds nice, but when has he ever treated you as an elder?! "
Li Gongde narrowed his eyes and stared at his daughter. He smiled, "What right does he have? Just because His Royal Highness is stirring up trouble in Lingzhou. He has already made me, the Administrator, unable to make ends meet and flustered. Just because he dared to take down Zhong Hongwu in the Beiliang Army and not pick on a soft persimmon to become a laughing stock! Just because he has lived until today! "
Li Gongde saw that his daughter's face was covered in tears and his heart ached. He lowered his voice and walked in front of her to help her wipe her tears. Li Fuzhen turned her head to avoid him. The Administrator sighed, "How could I not know? He never treated me as an elder in the past. Besides, I also never treated him as His Royal Highness. However, it will be different in the future. You ah, don't be angry with your father. The stupidest thing a woman can do in the world is to be angry. "
Li Gongde seemed to feel that his words were too harsh and laughed softly, "Zhen 'er, today is a double blessing for the Li family. It is even happier than when I became the Administrator. Want to have a drink with me?"
Li Fuzhen was silent.
The old fox Li Gongde said casually, "I recently found out about the details of His Highness going to Beimang. Sigh, it is a pity that child Hanlin is not here. I have no one to talk to. Zhen 'er, why don't you listen to me? Otherwise, it would be boring for me to drink alone. "
Li Fuzhen made a sound of acknowledgment.
— —
Sir Zhou returned home. When he got off the carriage, his face was still glowing. Zhou Jianshu's son, whose White-hoofed Shadow had been slapped to death by His Royal Highness, Zhou Congwen, was afraid that something bad had happened to his father in the general's manor. He waited at the door for an hour. When he saw his father's happy face, his heart that was in his throat finally relaxed. He was about to ask when Zhou Jianshu smiled and said, "Let's go back to the manor and talk."
After the father and son sat down, they waved their hands to disperse a few beautiful servants who were good at serving them. Zhou Jianshu tugged at the collar of his official robe. Zhou Congwen hurriedly asked, "Father, what did that person say after entering the manor? Will our Zhou family be hated? "
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