Ang Lee was speaking from the bottom of his heart. In his view, Crown Prince Li Heng did not have the bearing and talent of a wise ruler, nor did he know how to win over talents. He was a selfish and weak crown prince who was not worthy of loyalty at all. Compared with Li Longji, Li Heng was far inferior.
Moreover, Ang Lee believed that if the An – Lushan Rebellion did not happen, Li Longji could continue to rule the Tang dynasty for at least 20 to 30 years. At that time, the depressed Li Longji would have died.
"Haha, Li Xiaowei is right. His Majesty is healthy and does not look old at all. I am destined to be loyal to His Majesty in this life."
Li Linfu looked at Ang Lee with a smile and agreed with Ang Lee's words. At the same time, he also knew that he would most likely die before Li Longji. In other words, he could not wait until the day the Crown Prince ascended the throne. He had been opposing the Crown Prince because the situation forced him to. He could not stop even if he wanted to. Moreover, how could he not consider the things after his death?
Ang Lee smiled faintly and said respectfully, "Your Majesty's health is due to your contributions. If you did not assist His Majesty in handling state affairs, His Majesty would have to work hard. In this way, how could he still be so lively in his sixties? You have done your best for the Tang dynasty. Ang Lee admires you very much."
These words were mocking Li Linfu for controlling the court. Ordinary people might not understand, but Li Linfu could. However, he did not care about Ang Lee's sarcasm. It was a fact that he controlled the court. In order to reduce the burden, Li Longji deliberately left the trivial matters to him. He did not care about Ang Lee's words.
Li Linfu picked up a bowl of hot tea and blew on it a few times. He raised his eyes and said, "Li Xiaowei is a straightforward person. I like this kind of person. Today, I invited Li Xiaowei here for no other reason than to see Li Xiaowei's elegance again. A few days ago at the Supreme Liquid Pool, Li Xiaowei's skiing skills were really amazing. It really made me gasp in amazement."
"It's just some acrobatic tricks. I've made a fool of myself in front of Xiang Guo."
"Ai, Officer Li is too modest. This is a well-deserved skill. Come, try the pastries from my Prime Minister's residence."
Ang Lee cupped his hands in thanks, but his heart was also very comfortable. He didn't feel the slightest pressure when chatting with Li Linfu, and it was very relaxed. Of course, if he thought of Li Linfu's honeyed words, his back would be slightly cold.
Li Linfu rolled his eyes and said with a smile, "Li Xiaowei, you and I are both His Majesty's subjects. We should do our best to share His Majesty's burdens. This prime minister assists His Majesty in handling state affairs. Li Xiaowei's martial arts are superior, so you can share His Majesty's burdens even more. You and I, one civil and the other military, should do our best to cooperate and do our best for the Tang dynasty. What do you think, Li Xiaowei?"
After that, a pair of flashing eyes stared closely at Ang Lee.
Ang Lee grinned and cupped his hands in obeisance, saying, "What Xiang Guo said is very true. Ang Lee is His Majesty's subject. Of course, I will be loyal to His Majesty wholeheartedly. Even if I have to sacrifice my life, I will have no regrets."
"Good, good, good, haha."
Li Linfu smiled and applauded on the surface, but there was a trace of dissatisfaction in his heart. His words just now were hinting that Ang Lee would throw himself into his arms, but Ang Lee's statement was that he was loyal to Li Longji wholeheartedly. It was simply a refutation of his face and he didn't intend to join him.
A trace of dissatisfaction inadvertently flashed in Li Linfu's eyes, which was caught by the attentive Ang Lee. He knew that such a statement would definitely make Li Linfu dissatisfied, but he couldn't do something he didn't want to do in order to please Li Linfu. If he really joined Li Linfu, he would have to do things according to Li Linfu's wishes in the future. In this way, he would be living under someone else's roof and be manipulated everywhere. How much meaning would there be in such a life?
Ang Lee was not an arrogant person, but he didn't intend to be manipulated everywhere and live a meaningless life. Even if he couldn't be conferred the title of Marquis or Prime Minister, at least he wanted to be able to control his own destiny.
As for the possible consequences of rejecting Li Linfu, Ang Lee had already considered it clearly. Li Linfu was sinister and cunning, and he was best at framing people who went against his will. However, Ang Lee wasn't afraid of this. The experience of two lifetimes made him understand that even if he risked being framed by Li Linfu, he had to be an independent person.
Compromise and retreat in many cases couldn't be exchanged for peace and tranquility. Ang Lee's talent and ability already posed a potential threat to Li Linfu's position as Prime Minister. Therefore, even if Ang Lee relied on Li Linfu, it was difficult not to be envied. Once Ang Lee's position in the Emperor's heart rose to a certain height, Li Linfu would certainly find it difficult to tolerate. Even if he was a trusted ally, he would be framed by him.
The conversation that followed was basically mutual flattery and perfunctory. There wasn't much that came from the heart. Ang Lee didn't eat dinner, but he ate a lot of pastries from Li Linfu's residence.
"Haha, this Prime Minister has a long talk with Li Xiaowei today. It's really an honor. It's getting late, this Prime Minister won't keep Li Xiaowei."
Li Linfu's attitude was still amiable, a sweet smile hanging on the corner of his mouth. From the surface, there wasn't the slightest hint that he had any intention of chasing away a guest.
Hearing this, Ang Lee hurriedly stood up and bowed. "Prime Minister, Ang Lee has disturbed you today. It's time for me to leave."
"Wait."
Li Linfu looked at a few servants and said softly, "Li Xiaowei loves to eat our residence's pastries. You guys prepare some more for Li Xiaowei to bring."
"Thank you, Prime Minister. Ang Lee will take his leave."
Ang Lee bowed respectfully and turned to leave the main hall of the Prime Minister's residence.
After Ang Lee had walked far enough, Li Zhonglin said discontentedly, "Alang, this Ang Lee thinks that he is valued by His Majesty. He actually dares to refuse Alang. What an ignorant brat."
Li Linfu's face was completely cold. He said, "Aren't all young people like this? After experiencing many hardships, they will change. Ang Lee is very capable and talented. It's inevitable that he will be proud and arrogant. However, although he refuses to submit to me, he doesn't seem to be very satisfied with the Crown Prince. So, at least for the time being, he won't oppose me. The matter of Dongnu Province concerns the prestige of the Tang dynasty. We can't harm the interests of the Tang dynasty just because Ang Lee doesn't know how to adapt to the situation. Do you understand?"
"Yes, Alang. Zhonglin understands."
Li Linfu waved his hand and asked Li Zhonglin to leave. Then, he began to pace in the main hall.
This long talk was the first real contact between him and Ang Lee. Through this long contact, he had a deeper understanding of Ang Lee than before. At the same time, he unconsciously admired Ang Lee from the bottom of his heart. In the whole world, there were very few people who could make him feel this way.
Since ancient times, heroes came from the young. This Ang Lee's temperament is extraordinary. He has the momentum of His Majesty in the past. He is not simple.
Li Linfu secretly sighed in his heart.
Outside the gate of the Prime Minister's residence, Kun Xiong, Fei Yu, and Li Feishou Yu had been waiting for Ang Lee. They secretly followed him and didn't even have dinner. All of them were hungry. However, Ang Lee still hadn't come out after so long. They were very worried, so they didn't have the mood to look for food.
"Big Brother has been in the Prime Minister's residence for so long. Why hasn't he come out yet? Did something happen to him?"
"Yes, Li Linfu's heart is not right. He's a hypocrite. I said long ago that this must be a Hongmen Banquet. What happened? It's been so long, and he still hasn't come out."
"Alright, you two stop arguing. Prime Minister Li is the Prime Minister of the Tang dynasty. If his vitals are really fine, there are many ways. He wouldn't have sent people to invite him into the residence."
Li Feishou Yu and the other two people quietly argued.
"Why are the three of you here? Didn't I tell you not to come?"
Ang Lee had just taken a few steps out of the Prime Minister's residence when he saw the three people hiding not far away. He led his horse and walked over.
"Big Brother, why did you come out so late? Did the Prime Minister make things difficult for you?"
"Big Brother, in order to wait for you, we didn't even have dinner."
Ang Lee grinned and handed the pastries in his hand to the three of them. "These are pastries from the Prime Minister's residence. They taste very good. You can share them."
"Wow, Big Brother, did you know that we would follow you? Is that why you brought so many pastries from the Prime Minister's residence?"
"Eat yours."
Ang Lee reprimanded, but his heart was very warm. He was invited into the residence by Li Linfu, and his brothers were so concerned about him that they didn't eat dinner and waited for him to come out. This brotherly love made him extremely touched. With these brothers who were sincere to him, he had nothing to be afraid of in Dongnu Province.
"Wuyang, why did Li Xiangguo invite you?"
Ang Lee said softly, "He wanted me to submit to him, but I politely refused."
"I see. Wuyang, since you rejected Li Xiangguo, you have to be careful in the future."
Ang Lee smiled indifferently. "Don't worry, we just have to do what we are supposed to do. In half a month, we will be escorting Prince Gui Chang out of Chang 'an City. This mission is extremely important, we can't make any mistakes. Otherwise, even without Li Xiangguo framing us, His Majesty won't let us off."
"Wuyang, don't worry. As long as we brothers are here, this mission will definitely be completed smoothly."
"Big Brother, as long as we brothers work together, we will definitely be able to complete this mission."
Ang Lee was overjoyed and patted the three of them on the shoulder. "Come, let's go back."
####
After the sixteenth day of the first month, Ang Lee would be leading a group of soldiers to escort Prince Gui Chang to Dongnu Province. Because the Tibetan assassins wouldn't give up so easily, this escort mission was destined to be filled with danger.
The collusion between the royal family of Dongnu Province and the Tibetans, as well as the spies hidden by the Queen of Dongnu Province, caused this trip to Dongnu Province to be filled with unknown risks.
In this short half a month, Ang Lee not only had to supervise his men to be fully prepared, but at the same time, he had to learn how to speak Tibetan as quickly as possible so that it would be beneficial for the operation in Dongnu Province.
However, the Tibetan language was curvy and it was relatively difficult to learn. Yan Ruyu was beautiful and her breath was like an orchid. She often distracted Ang Lee unconsciously. Because of this, the efficiency of learning was not very high.
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