Hearing this, Li Ming's expression did not change. He looked at Pei Wenxuan, who was kneeling on the ground, as if he already knew what was going on. However, he still opened his mouth and said, "Dear Official Pei, what do you mean? You are an official of the imperial court. How can anyone kill you? "
"Your Majesty," Pei Wenxuan knelt on the ground, seemingly in grief and indignation, "Since Your Majesty already knows that this humble official saved Princess Ping LE yesterday, then Your Majesty should know a thing or two about this humble official's predicament."
"Predicament?" Li Ming found a stone next to him, brushed off the dust, and slowly sat down, "You don't have to be afraid. You might as well tell me directly."
"Yesterday, this humble official was on the way back to the city when this humble official saw a group of soldiers galloping by. A group of people on the horses vaguely said something about kidnapping the princess. This humble official felt uneasy, so this humble official sent a servant back to the city to ask for help from the Crown Prince's residence. This humble official rushed to see what these people were doing, just in case."
"Yes." Li Ming responded. This was all true. He had already sent people to investigate last night. He said indifferently, "And then?"
"This humble official followed behind them. These people were obviously servants of someone's family, but they had changed into bandits' clothes and pretended to be bandits. This humble official knew that this was not good, so this humble official set up roadblocks on the road in order to share the princess's worries at the critical moment."
"You are very smart." Li Ming laughed, "Those stone boards were your handiwork?"
Hearing this, Pei Wenxuan knew that Li Ming had sent people to investigate that night's incident. He was afraid that he had already investigated all the clues left behind.
Pei Wenxuan had worked for Li Ming for a year. He was very familiar with Li Ming's personality. He was suspicious and sensitive, so everything had to be verified. Therefore, Pei Wenxuan thought about his own words and continued, "Yes. At that time, this humble subject was waiting on the road. Not long after, we saw the bandits chasing after the princess. The princess had a secret guard protecting her. At the critical moment, I used the roadblock to help save the princess. I didn't want the princess to be injured and unconscious in the chaos, so I could only take the princess and flee in panic. I used my horse to lure those people away and ambush them in the reed field. After that, I heard a man chasing after me, scolding my subordinates for being useless. Even the Princess couldn't stop him. This time, the Princess didn't even see him, so how could he win the Princess's heart? "
Li Ming listened to Pei Wenxuan's words and chuckled. "These young people are very active." Li Ming looked up at Pei Wenxuan and asked, "Is it Yang Quan?"
Pei Wenxuan pursed his lips and said in a low voice, "Yes."
"Your humble servant was in a panic and did not know where to go behind Your Highness' back. After I woke up, I discussed with Your Highness and learned that Your Highness did not know about this matter, so I did not say anything. This morning, the princess and I were rescued. The Empress summoned this humble subject to enter the palace, and then the Empress told this humble subject … "
"What did she say?" Li Ming asked faintly. Pei Wenxuan paused and seemed to hesitate. After a long time, he said, "The Empress told this humble subject to hide the fact that I was together with Your Highness! Even if Your Majesty asks, I cannot speak the truth. I can only say that I met Yang gongzi last night and saved Your Highness with Yang gongzi. We were chased and I was lost on the way. It was Yang gongzi who saved Your Highness. "
Li Ming listened to Pei Wenxuan's words and couldn't help but laugh. "This is the reason you asked zhen for help?"
"Your Majesty," Pei Wenxuan took a deep breath and straightened up. He seemed to have made a life and death decision. He looked at Li Ming and seemed to have abandoned life and death. He said directly, "Since I have said this much, this humble subject will speak frankly. What this humble subject saw last night and what the Empress said today, everything is very clear. The Empress had long decided to form a marriage alliance with the Yang Family. Yesterday's matter was just an act for Your Highness to see. The Empress wanted Your Highness to see Yang Quan in a new light because he saved Your Highness. But this kind of matter was discovered by this humble subject. With Yang Quan's narrow-mindedness and the Yang Family's audacity, if this humble subject leaves the palace, how can this humble subject live? "
Li Ming was silent. After a long time, he said slowly, "Don't worry, the Empress won't harm you for such a small matter."
"Your Majesty really thinks," Pei Wenxuan stared at Li Ming and deliberately slowed his voice, "that the marriage between Your Highness and the Crown Prince is a small matter?"
Li Ming finally straightened his expression at Pei Wenxuan's question. He raised his eyes and stared at Pei Wenxuan. After a long time, he said slowly, "You seem to know a lot?"
"Your Majesty," Pei Wenxuan calmly reminded him, "Three years ago, when this humble subject's father was still alive, this humble subject was the eldest legitimate son of the Pei Family. At that time, this humble subject was the top scholar and the Emperor's disciple. A centipede dies but never falls down. Although my father has passed away, some things, "Pei Wenxuan raised his eyes to look at Li Ming and hinted," are still there. "
Li Ming listened to Pei Wenxuan's words and revealed a somewhat playful expression: "Then tell me, why isn't the marriage between Your Highness and the Crown Prince a small matter?"
"The Yang Family has been tyrannical at the border for many years. They have troops and are self-important. There are many wars at the border. Every time a war starts, the Yang Family wants money, food, and troops to defend against Rong Country. They win every war beautifully, but they never send troops to eradicate Rong Country. Your Majesty has repeatedly requested to send troops to eradicate Rong Country, but the Yang Family has always rejected it on the grounds that it's not the right time. There is a folk song in the northwest, 'Xia has two emperors, Yang in the north and Li in the south.' This shows the Yang Family's power in the northwest. "
"Speak." Li Ming's expression was calm, "Continue."
"The court fears and respects the Yang Family. They fear the Yang Family's military power and respect the Yang Family's many years of defense at the border. Therefore, even though Your Majesty is angry at the Yang Family, he has never done anything extreme. However, at the end of this winter, a new emperor of Rong Country ascended the throne. Rong Country attacked again, and the Yang Family surrendered without a fight. They lost two cities, and Your Majesty ordered them to defend the third city to the death. They defended it with fifty thousand troops and twenty thousand troops, and the enemy was defeated. Now, they have retreated to Changping Pass, and only after temporary reinforcements did they confront Rong Country. Has Your Majesty thought about why the Yang Family, who has defended the border for so many years, would suddenly be defeated? "
"You know?"
"This humble subject thinks that Your Majesty also knows," Pei Wenxuan said calmly, "For many years, the Yang Family has been bribing Rong Country with military pay. The so-called war every year is just a show with Rong Country. Rong Country is weak in the art of smelting iron, and their strength cannot withstand a single blow. It's just that the Yang Family has nurtured them for many years, giving them a chance to recover. Now that the new emperor has ascended the throne, his heart is in Da Xia, and he is unwilling to accept money. Therefore, in one war, they were defeated. "
"You dare to say so." Li Ming said in a low voice. Pei Wenxuan immediately kowtowed and said in a low voice, "This news has long been known at the border, and Your Majesty should have already known. Otherwise, with Your Majesty's wise heart, why would you have the intention to attack the pillar of the country?"
Hearing Pei Wenxuan's flattery, Li Ming's heart relaxed slightly. He straightened up and said coldly, "Continue, what does this have to do with the Princess's marriage?"
"Your Majesty knew that the Yang Family was defeated, but you suppressed the news and did not release it. You even brought the Princess into contact with Yang Quan. This humble subject guesses that Your Majesty's intention is that Your Majesty does not want the Princess's marriage to become a bargaining chip for the Crown Prince."
"In recent years, as the Crown Prince has grown older, the Empress's maternal family, the Shangguan Clan, has been rapidly expanding their power in the imperial court. The Crown Prince does not respect Your Majesty and has repeatedly disobeyed Your Majesty. Your Majesty is worried that the Shangguan Clan will use the Princess's marriage, so the Princess's marriage partners are all suitable people who are not involved in politics. Although Yang Quan has military power, he will face a disaster. Your Majesty should now be collecting evidence and waiting to catch the Yang Family in one fell swoop. But? "
Li Ming did not say anything, which meant that he tacitly agreed. Pei Wenxuan said seriously, "But if Your Majesty has such a plan, then you are gravely mistaken."
"Oh?"
Li Ming did not seem to care, "Beloved Official Pei, what do you think?"
"Your Majesty, do you know the strength of Rong Country?"
"Extremely strong."
"Then Your Majesty has misunderstood," Pei Wenxuan explained, "Rong is a land of barbarians. Our dynasty's blades can easily cut through their armor. As long as our dynasty's soldiers are fully equipped, one against ten is not a problem. Today, Rong defeated the Yang Family because the Yang Family has been supplying them with military equipment for many years. This time, Rong counterattacked with our dynasty's weapons. However, they did not make their own weapons, so there will be a time when they will be exhausted, right? "
In Li Ming's previous life, the Yang Family organized a counterattack half a month later and won a great victory.
Pei Wenxuan pondered and slowly sorted out the situation he knew in his previous life.
Although he did not say it clearly, Li Ming immediately understood, "You mean to say that after Rong's weapons are exhausted, our dynasty can attack again and easily win?"
"Yes." Pei Wenxuan said calmly, "Although the Yang Family has lost fifty thousand of their direct descendants, they have deep roots in the northwest. No one knows how many soldiers they have in secret. Now, Your Majesty has sent his trusted aides to fight with the Yang Family at Changping Pass. Yang Quan returned to Beijing to marry the princess. If the Yang Family successfully marries the princess, what do you think will happen next? "
"What do you think?"
"Next, the Crown Prince and the Yang Family will work together. The Shangguan Clan will use the princess's marriage as an excuse to send large amounts of money to the Yang Family. After Your Majesty's trusted aides receive the strongest wave of enemy troops, the Yang Family will use the Shangguan Clan's money to recruit soldiers and counterattack again. At that time, the Yang Family will use the princess as an intermediary to gain a foothold in Huajing. When everyone sees that Yang Quan married the princess, they will misunderstand Your Majesty's intentions and will not dare to do anything to the Yang Family. If they turn defeat into victory, the Yang Family's reputation will rise again. It will not be easy for Your Majesty to pursue the matter of the past. "
"Other than that, the Yang Family will have soldiers. The Crown Prince will have another fierce general."
After Pei Wenxuan finished speaking, Li Ming remained silent. After a long time, he finally said, "Then, according to Minister Pei's intentions …"
"Don't give the Yang Family any chance to breathe."
Pei Wenxuan said calmly, "Now is the best time to make a move on the Yang Family."
"What about the border?" Li Ming frowned. "The Yang Family has deep roots at the border. If we make a move on them now, the Yang Family will rebel at the border …"
"Leave this matter to the Crown Prince."
These words stunned Li Ming. Pei Wenxuan looked at Li Ming and said seriously, "The border is a mess now. In Huajing, other than the Shangguan Clan, the Su Clan, the Pei Family and other large clans, there is no way to clean it up. Your Majesty, why don't you leave this matter to the Crown Prince? If anything happens to the Crown Prince, you can use this as an excuse to appoint another Crown Prince. For the Crown Prince, the Shangguan Clan will definitely go all out to stabilize the Yang Family. "
"What if the Crown Prince does well?"
"If the Crown Prince does well," Pei Wenxuan smiled. "If the Crown Prince can really stabilize the Yang Family and exhaust the main forces, then Your Majesty can replace the Crown Prince before the final battle and arrange for your trusted aide to be the main general to fight against the Rong Country and obtain the first merit. Wouldn't that be perfect?"
Hearing this, Li Ming remained silent. He thought for a while. Pei Wenxuan knelt on the ground and waited for Li Ming.
After a long time, Li Ming turned his head and looked at Pei Wenxuan. "You are a smart person."
"Thank you, Your Majesty."
"Then," Li Ming said calmly, "why not pledge loyalty to the Crown Prince?"
"Because," Pei Wenxuan looked at Li Ming and said firmly, "Your Majesty is Your Majesty, but the Crown Prince may not be the Crown Prince."
Li Ming stared into Pei Wenxuan's eyes.
He rarely saw a young man in his twenties with such calmness and boldness in his eyes. Even when they looked at each other, there was some sharpness in his eyes.
This sharpness seemed fierce, but in the imperial court, it was easy to break if it was too hard.
It was a saber, but it was and would only be a saber.
If Pei Wenxuan was so tactful and tactful, Li Ming would be a little afraid. But looking at Pei Wenxuan's ambitious eyes, Li Ming felt a little funny.
After all, he was only a young man.
"I understand." Li Ming nodded. "You are right, but in the imperial court," Li Ming sighed as if he was regretful, "there are not many people who dare to touch the Yang Family at this time."
"This subject is willing to recommend someone to Your Majesty." Pei Wenxuan said respectfully. Li Ming raised his eyebrows, "Speak."
"This subject is Pei Wenxuan." Pei Wenxuan kowtowed, "This subject is willing to share Your Majesty's worries."
"Ha …" Li Ming chuckled, "You are very bold. I don't know how Dear Official Pei plans to share your worries? "
"When this subject returns to the residence, I will trouble Your Majesty to send a group of secret guards to secretly follow this subject back. If the Yang Family wants to make a move today, this subject will use this as an excuse to ask for a thorough investigation, starting from the assassination of this subject, investigating the kidnapping of the Princess, and then investigating the collusion at the border."
"If they don't make a move?"
"If they don't make a move, this subject will report the kidnapping of the Princess tomorrow. At that time, if no one dares to investigate this case, this subject will ask for orders to investigate this case."
"Good." Li Ming nodded. He raised his head and looked at the sky, saying indifferently, "It's getting late. You should go back. Don't let Master Yang wait too long."
Pei Wenxuan respectfully complied. He stood up and supported Li Ming as they slowly walked out.
The two of them didn't talk about Li Rong's marriage, but Pei Wenxuan knew that as long as Li Ming treated him as one of his own, Li Rong's marriage should be inevitable.
The two of them chatted as they returned from the garden. Pei Wenxuan asked to be excused.
He was led out of the imperial study by the eunuch. When he arrived at the square in front of the palace gates, he saw Li Rong's sedan from afar.
Li Rong seemed to have just come out of the Eastern Palace. He held a sword in his hand and was stroking the jewels on it.
When Pei Wenxuan saw Li Rong walking over, he and the eunuch stepped aside and respectfully stood on both sides.
When Li Rong saw Pei Wenxuan, he stopped them and sat on a high place. He smiled and said, "Lord Pei, why are you still in the palace?"
"Just now, His Majesty summoned me," Pei Wenxuan respectfully said, "I chatted with His Majesty for a while before leaving."
"So it's like that," Li Rong looked at the person beside him and smiled, "You saved me last night. Did Imperial Father reward you?"
"This is what I should do. I don't deserve a reward."
"Then he didn't give you a reward." Li Rong sighed, "Imperial Father is really stingy."
As she said this, she looked at the sword in her hand. She held it horizontally and handed it over. She said reluctantly, "Forget it. This is for you. Take it as my gift of thanks."
Pei Wenxuan was stunned. Li Rong raised her eyebrows and said, "What? You dare to refuse this consort's reward?"
"How would this humble subject dare to refuse the Princess's reward?" Pei Wenxuan reacted and hurriedly received the sword with both hands. Li Rong looked at Pei Wenxuan's bowing and couldn't help but purse her lips. She leaned closer to Pei Wenxuan and whispered, "Lord Pei, you look very handsome like this."
When Pei Wenxuan heard this, he knew that Li Rong saw him bowing to her and felt proud. He put away the sword and smiled gently, "The Princess's current appearance is really innocent and very cute."
Li Rong could tell that Pei Wenxuan was scolding her for being pretentious.
She was most afraid of people saying that she was innocent and naive.
She put on a fake smile and looked at Pei Wenxuan, "This consort still has to go see Imperial Father. Young Master Pei, please take care. Walk slowly on the road. Don't be careless and get into an accident."
— — I won't be able to see you for the rest of my life.
She conveyed the rest of her words with her eyes. Pei Wenxuan expressed his disdain with his eyes, but he still said, "Many thanks for Your Highness's concern. Your Highness, please take care."
"Goodbye." Li Rong smiled, then leaned closer to Pei Wenxuan and whispered in his ear, "I sent you a few people. There's no need to thank me."
After saying this, Li Rong straightened her body and elegantly held her chin. Then, she ordered the sedan to set off again in the direction of the Imperial Study.
Pei Wenxuan watched her departing figure and was escorted out of the palace by the eunuchs. As soon as he left the palace, he saw Dong Ye waiting for him with a carriage at the entrance. He looked around and knew that someone was following him. He didn't pay attention and pretended not to know anything. He hugged his sword and sat in the carriage. The carriage swayed as it set off.
He didn't know if Yang Quan would come, but it didn't matter. He was already prepared.
The carriage turned into a small alley. At this time, the sound of fighting suddenly came from the crowd. A person suddenly rushed into Pei Wenxuan's carriage and said directly, "I'm here on the Princess's orders to protect Young Master."
After he finished speaking, he curled up like a bat, sticking to the roof of the carriage and curling up.
Pei Wenxuan wasn't surprised. When Li Rong said that she was sending someone else, he knew that Li Rong didn't just come to see him. He nodded to that person and then closed his eyes. No matter how loud the fighting outside was, he was like an old monk in meditation, majestic and unmoving.
After a long time, the carriage was fiercely rammed by someone. The curtains were abruptly lifted and then Yang Quan rushed into the carriage, covered in blood and holding a blade.
Pei Wenxuan hugged his sword and opened his eyes. At that moment, a sharp blade suddenly pierced through Yang Quan's body from behind. Yang Quan's long blade was only inches away from Pei Wenxuan.
Blood splattered. Pei Wenxuan calmly looked at the shocked Yang Quan.
"You dare …" Yang Quan's voice trembled. "You dare … to kill me?"
Pei Wenxuan's expression didn't change. He said each word calmly, "Colluding with the enemy, possessing troops for your own sake, taking bribes and bending the law, kidnapping the Princess, assassinating an official of the imperial court, ignoring the laws of the imperial court."
"Your Yang family dares to do these things. I'll kill you." Pei Wenxuan's tone became heavier. "Why wouldn't I dare?"
Between each word, Yang Quan lost his breath.
The person who attacked bowed respectfully to Pei Wenxuan and quickly said, "The Princess said to remember to kowtow three times in front of her portrait when you go back to thank her for saving your life."
With that, the person jumped out of the carriage and disappeared.
Pei Wenxuan didn't even have time to curse before the person disappeared. He was silent for a moment. Outside, he heard Dong Ye hurriedly return to the carriage. When he saw Yang Quan on the ground, he jumped in fright and hurriedly asked, "Young Master, are you alright?"
Pei Wenxuan didn't answer. He looked at Yang Quan on the ground. After a moment of silence, he said calmly, "Return to the palace."
"Return to the palace?" Dong Ye said in surprise. "Return to the palace?"
After killing the young master of the Yang Family, shouldn't he quickly run away?
"Yes, return to the palace." Pei Wenxuan's voice was calm as he said seriously, "He scared me. I have to report him."
Dong Ye: "…"
Young Master, you really don't look scared, okay?
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