Gao Lishi hadn't heard the name "Little Gao" for many years. Although it was a very casual name, it was what Li Longji often called him when he was young.
At that time, Li Longji hadn't yet grasped the power of the Tang Empire, and he didn't have the air of an emperor. He treated Gao Lishi like a friend. Later, when he ascended the throne, he didn't forget Gao Lishi and gave him great power as a reward.
Time passed quickly. In the blink of an eye, they were all gray-haired old men. Recalling the things when he was young, Gao Lishi held back tears.
"Everyone, I …"
Gao Lishi was so emotional that he didn't know what to say.
"Well, Little Gao, you and I have been old partners for many years. Even if I suspect everyone, I won't suspect you. Your loyalty to me is unparalleled in the entire Tang Empire. I trust you more than anyone else."
Li Longji had already guessed Gao Lishi's thoughts, so he quickly comforted him.
"Everyone, I'm sorry that I couldn't stay by your side when you were attacked."
Gao Lishi revealed his true feelings and burst into tears.
"Don't cry. I'm fine, aren't I?"
Li Longji paused, looked outside, and said, "Little Gao! Go outside and see what's going on. Come back and tell me. "
"Yes, everyone."
Gao Lishi wiped his tears and walked out of the Zichen Palace. It didn't take long for him to come back.
"How is it? Everyone who should be here is here, right?"
Li Longji asked.
"Everyone is basically here, except for the princes and the imperial grandsons. Only Prince Shou isn't here. Assistant Minister Li isn't here."
Although Gao Lishi only took a few casual glances, he had basically figured out the situation. He had even memorized the gazes of the princes, imperial grandsons, and ministers.
Li Longji pondered for a moment and said, "Assistant Minister Li is busy developing airplanes, so he might not know. Besides, he doesn't care about showing his loyalty, so it's fine if he doesn't come. Prince Shou has been praying and burning incense all day, so he must be in the temple. The news will spread quickly, and the people inside and outside the capital will soon know about it. But the temple is an exception. The people won't go to the temple to talk about the assassination."
"Everyone is right. They have been waiting outside for two hours. As long as they see that His Majesty is safe and sound, they can rest assured."
Gao Lishi nodded.
"There's no hurry. Let them wait a little longer!"
After Li Longji finished speaking, he closed his eyes and rested like an old monk.
He was still thinking about the traitor. At the same time, he also sent some of his confidants to secretly observe the reactions of the princes, imperial grandsons, and ministers. He wanted to know what these people were doing, what kind of expression they had, whether they were afraid, worried, or secretly happy.
"Little Gao."
"Everyone, what's your order?"
"Send someone to inform Prince Shou and Assistant Minister Li. Let them know about this."
Li Longji ordered.
"Yes, everyone."
Outside the Zi Chen Palace Hall, the princes and ministers were still in a heated discussion. However, some of the older ones were already feeling tired. How could they not be tired after standing for more than two hours? However, they were here to show their loyalty. Without seeing the Emperor safe and sound with their own eyes, they could not leave casually.
Li Linfu's body wasn't very good. After all, he was old. So after standing for a while, his forehead was sweating. A few of the older ministers were also sweating on their foreheads.
However, unless they directly fainted, they couldn't sit down and rest. The Emperor had been assassinated. They could only show anxiety and concern. How could they sit there and rest like lords?
At the end of the discussion, the core problem that everyone was thinking about was the traitor. When talking about the traitor, they all lowered their voices without exception, for fear of being heard by people far away. Only the officials who had a good relationship with each other would talk about the traitor. However, no one dared to casually speculate about someone, lest they give the traitor a handle.
In the meditation room of Xingguo Temple, Li Mao was resting with his eyes closed. He must be in a very bad mood right now. He naturally knew that Yang Yuhuan and Li Longji went to the hot spring in Pure Flowers Palace together. Therefore, his mood was needless to say. If he didn't suppress it with his Buddha nature, his mood would really collapse.
"Prince Shou, someone from the palace is here."
"Let him in."
Li Mao answered expressionlessly.
"This servant greets Prince Shou."
"Mm."
Li Mao didn't bother to ask and just answered with a hum.
"Prince Shou, His Majesty was attacked by assassins when he went out today. His special train fell into the river. Fifty assassins attacked His Majesty …"
Hearing this, Li Mao was stunned. The first person he thought of was Tashi Zan, the Tubo who came to him a few days ago. At that time, Tashi Zan boasted that he would assassinate the Emperor. He didn't take it seriously. He didn't expect that he really did it and the consequences were quite considerable.
He didn't have much affection for his father in his heart, so of course, he wouldn't feel sad. With no expression on his face, he asked lightly, "Is His Majesty really fine?"
"His Majesty is just bruised and frightened. The imperial physician said that he only needs to rest for a few days. Don't worry, Prince Shou."
Li Mao nodded, "I see."
The little eunuch turned to leave. After a pause, he turned back and said, "Prince Shou, all the princes are in the palace. You're the only one left."
"Mm."
Li Mao didn't plan on going to the palace. Even his reply was forced. He didn't care about his father's life or death, nor did he care about being looked down upon. He was already looked down upon enough. There was no need for him to express his loyalty.
As for whether or not he would be suspected, he didn't care. Moreover, with his father's character, no matter how well he pretended, he would still be suspected. He didn't participate in the assassination, so he had a clear conscience.
In the R&D center's office, Ang Lee was reading the report sent by his subordinates. There was a lot of progress in the development of the plane. The design of the plane's wings was completed and they were about to start manufacturing.
The engine and propeller were more troublesome. They still needed to be researched slowly. As for the problem of funds, they didn't lack any.
"Assistant Minister Li, someone from the palace is here."
"Oh, someone from the palace is here? What could it be?"
Li An muttered to himself as he stood up and walked out to greet them.
"What is His Majesty's decree?"
Ang Lee asked.
"Assistant Minister Li, His Majesty was on his way to Pure Flowers Palace today and encountered an assassin."
"What? His Majesty encountered an assassin? What's the situation? How is His Majesty?"
Ang Lee was shocked. The assassination of an emperor was a major matter. If the emperor died, it would seriously affect the fate of the empire. However, he was certain that the emperor was still alive. Otherwise, the eunuch wouldn't have said that he encountered an assassin on his way. Instead, he would've reported the emperor's death with a sorrowful expression. No, if the emperor had died, there wouldn't be a need for the eunuch to report it. The bells and drums in the capital would've already reached the R&D center.
"Assistant Minister Li, don't worry. His Majesty is fine. He only has bruises and a bit of shock. The princes and officials are all in the palace. We're only lacking Assistant Minister Li."
"It's good that His Majesty is fine. This official will make some preparations and head to the palace in a moment."
Ang Lee replied. Then, he went to make some simple arrangements. After which, he spurred his horse and the eunuch to the palace.
Along the way, Ang Lee asked about the details of the assassination. The eunuch didn't know too much, but he still had a rough idea of the situation.
Through the eunuch's narration, Ang Lee finally understood the situation. At the same time, he was also shocked. The emperor's train actually fell into the river. It was fortunate that the emperor was fine. Otherwise, even he would've been implicated. Even though he was the one who invented the train and the railroad tracks, what about it?
Of course, even if he were to take a carriage, he would still encounter an assassin. However, no one would listen to his explanation.
"Right Minister, Yang Taifu, you're all here?"
Ang Lee greeted everyone warmly.
"Assistant Minister Li sure is a busy man! We've already waited here for more than two hours. "
Yang Zhao's words carried a hint of reproach, blaming him for coming too late. However, Ang Lee didn't mind it.
"I'm not that busy. It's just that someone informed me just now, so I hurried over. How is it? How is His Majesty?"
"Assistant Minister Li, there's no need to worry. His Majesty is fine. However, to hear that the train derailed and fell into the river, it's quite scary."
Li Linfu said.
"It's good that His Majesty is fine. These assassins sure are brazen. To actually dare to make a move on His Majesty, they must be tired of living!"
"Isn't that so? His Majesty has already ordered a search. Right, we captured two Tufan assassins this time. Perhaps, we might be able to get some information out of them. "
Li Linfu said. Then, he looked at Ang Lee and said, "I heard that Assistant Minister Li is busy developing airplanes, machines that can fly in the sky."
"That's right. Right Minister Li is also interested in airplanes."
Li Linfu sighed. Then, he said meaningfully, "Assistant Minister Li! Let's not talk about whether airplanes can fly in the sky. Even if they can fly in the sky and fly very fast, it won't be a joke if they fall down. This time, His Majesty had such a big accident on the train. If it's an airplane, the consequences will be unimaginable! "
"Right Minister Li is right. A machine that can fly in the sky is too dangerous. If we're not careful, we might fall down."
"If such a dangerous thing is developed, won't it kill a lot of people?"
Many ministers chimed in.
Ang Lee nodded and said, "Right Minister Li is right. Even if the airplane is developed successfully, there's still the possibility of it falling down. Moreover, as long as the airplane falls, almost all the people sitting in it will die. However, airplanes are fast enough. The Tang dynasty still needs them. In the future, delivering urgent documents will be much faster than a post horse."
"But if it falls down, the loss will be too great."
"It's precisely because of the huge loss caused by falling down that we have to focus on developing it to reduce the chances of accidents. Occasionally falling down won't affect the overall situation. Of course, such a dangerous machine can only be used by ordinary people."
Ang Lee explained.
"Assistant Minister Li, I still think …"
Ang Lee went to the palace to visit the Emperor. As a result, the topic went to the airplane and most of the officials joined in.
Outside the Zichen Palace, there was a heated discussion about the airplane. Inside the Zichen Palace, Li Longji was still thinking about the assassin.
"What's the situation outside? What are the princes and ministers doing?"
Li Longji asked when he saw his trusted eunuch come in.
"Everyone, the princes and ministers have been talking about the assassination of His Majesty. However, since Assistant Minister Li came, they began to talk about the airplane again."
The eunuch reported truthfully.
"What? They talked about the airplane?"
Li Longji's mind flashed with a myriad of curses. He had just experienced a life and death calamity, but the ministers and princes outside had suddenly changed the topic because of Li An's arrival. This also reflected Li An's strength from another angle.
"How are the princes and ministers? Is there anything unusual?"
Li Longji looked at the eunuch with a frown.
"Your Majesty, this servant didn't find anything unusual. The princes and ministers are very worried about Your Majesty and are waiting for Your Majesty to summon them."
"Well, it's time to meet them. Pass down the decree and let them enter the palace."
Li Longji had tested them enough and let them enter the palace.
Everyone entered the Zichen Palace in line according to their positions and identities. They knelt and saluted the Emperor.
"I've made everyone worried. I'm fine."
In order to let the princes and ministers see that his body was healthy, Li Longji stood up and walked toward the princes and ministers.
"You must be very happy that I'm safe and sound. However, are some people unhappy?"
"Your Majesty, we dare not."
Everyone understood the meaning of the Emperor's words and quickly knelt to show their loyalty.
"Get up! I know that you are all loyal to me. The Tufan assassination will be over soon. When the real culprit is found, you won't have to worry anymore. "
Li Longji smiled and looked at everyone, observing the changes in their expressions.
Every minister who was being observed felt a little scared. They were worried that the Emperor would suspect them, but at the same time, they had a clear conscience. Therefore, they weren't too worried.
After observing for a long time, Li Longji was puzzled. The expressions of all the ministers were within his expectations. None of them were abnormal. In other words, none of them looked like they were in cahoots with the assassins.
"I'm just a little frightened. My body is fine. My beloved ministers, you can rest assured. You can all return!"
Li Longji waved his hand and asked everyone to return. He asked a few ministers to stay.
"How's Assistant Minister Li's plane?"
Li Longji first looked at Ang Lee with a strange expression.
"Your Majesty, I'm doing my best to develop it. I believe that we can test fly in half a year's time."
Ang Lee replied without any warning.
"I'm very pleased that Assistant Minister Li is so confident. However, I don't dare to take a plane in my life. I fell into the water when I took a train. If the plane crashed, how could I be fine?"
Li Longji praised Ang Lee on the surface, but his words were very sour. He seemed to be slightly dissatisfied. However, he understood that it wasn't Ang Lee's fault. He was just venting his dissatisfaction.
Ang Lee soon understood Li Longji's dissatisfaction. Although he didn't do anything wrong, he was the one who invented the train. If he didn't invent the train, how could the Emperor fall into the river?
"Your Majesty is right. This time, Your Majesty is in danger. I can't shirk my responsibility."
Ang Lee sincerely apologized.
"Oh, what crime did Assistant Minister Li commit?"
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