Chapter 287 Soldiers Surround Pingkangfang

"Prime Minister Li is a man of integrity and uprightness, and is a blessing to the court. If there is indeed something wrong with the Xin'an Order, Prime Minister Li does not need to blame himself."

After hearing Li Xuan's solemn words, Li Longji stopped trying to persuade him.

How to deal with such problems depends on Li Xuan himself.

People often say that one should sacrifice relatives for the sake of justice, but how many people can actually put it into practice?
Li Longji only hoped that Xin'an Ling Li Yu would only give a small bribe, so that a big matter could be turned into a small one and a small matter could be forgotten.

Li Xuan's generous words also made the civil and military officials in the court nervous.

Judging from the examples Li Xuan cited, Li Xuan wanted to handle the matter fairly.

But Li Linfu disagreed.

Because Dou Gu Yu Tu only punished his tribesmen but did not kill them.

Just look at “Sanbei Zhigong” and you will know that in the State of Chu, stealing a sheep would result in the death penalty. Could the crime committed by the nobles be less serious than stealing a sheep?
Li Linfu believed that he had evidence of Li Xuan's guilt, and according to Li Xuan's standards, this crime was sufficient to punish him with death.

Li Xuan's words sound nice, but faced with such a thing, no one would be at a loss.

After all, Li Yu was Li Shizhi's nephew.

Under internal and external pressure, Li Xuan could not help but feel compassion and develop selfish desires.

If we are not careful, the favorable situation for the reformists will be lost.

"Your Majesty..."

"Han Dynasty Prime Minister Bingji was so wise, but his son Bingchang colluded with corrupt officials; Jin Dynasty Xie An's son-in-law Wang Guobao was arrogant and did not follow the law, but this did not prevent the world from praising Xie An. What's more, Xin'an Ling is only Li Xiang's cousin, please let the Censorate handle this case. Li Xiang's character is obvious to all, and it should not be linked to Li Xiang in any way."

Just when the civil and military officials in the court had their own thoughts and even the reformists were at a loss.

Li Xian, a doctor in the Ministry of Revenue, stepped out and reported to Li Longji.

He was genuinely thinking about Li Xuan, and used this metaphor to tell all civil and military officials that even if Xin'an Ling committed a heinous crime that angered God and the people, he should not be linked to Li Xuan.

He had the same idea as Li Xuan. Since the conservatives dared to report Xin'an Ling Li Yu to the court, it showed that they had already obtained solid evidence against Li Yu.

"Doctor Li is right. I agree. Doctor Yang, you can do this."

Li Longji nodded and handed the matter over to the Imperial Censor Yang Shenjin.

Even though Li Xuan spoke uprightly, he was his cousin after all and had to avoid suspicion in this case.

"The minister obeys the order!"

Yang Shenjin stepped out and received the order.

The conservative ministers were very dissatisfied with Li Xian's words.

Li Xian was clearly trying to reduce the impact of this case on Li Xuan.

How is it possible that it has nothing to do with Li Xuan?

Wasn’t it because of Li Xuan that Li Yu was promoted from a county lieutenant in Zhong County to a county magistrate in Ji County?
From a causal perspective, this was Li Xuan's fault.

"Retreat from the court..."

Gao Lishi shouted loudly, and Li Longji left in a depressed mood.

"Congratulations to Your Majesty..."

All civil and military officials bowed deeply.

After the court meeting, civil and military officials gathered in groups of three or five, discussing in low voices.

Li Xuan remained calm, straightened his purple robe, left the Xingqing Palace, and put on his shoes.

"Qi Lang, the stubborn minister is too despicable to report Si Lang's affairs to the emperor."

Li Qian came to Li Xuan and said indignantly.

From now on, it seems that these ministers, who are ranked as high-ranking officials, were very uncomfortable and had no ethical principles when they went to see the county magistrate.

"I don't know this cousin. My eldest brother should know what kind of person he is. He doesn't need to be as pure as water. Can he stick to his bottom line?"

Li Xuan asked Li Qian in return.

Li Qian is 35 years old this year, and Li Yu is two years older than Li Qian.

They used to live in Chang'an and often played there.

When Li Yu was about to reach adulthood, his uncle took him to the prefecture and county.

So Li Xuan had no impression of Li Yu.

He had only met Li Yu twice, once when he was appointed as the governor of four towns, and once when he got married.

My impression of Li Yu is also mediocre.

"How can we generalize childhood events with adulthood? Just like me now, I am not as naive as I was then."

Li Qian didn't know how to answer Li Xuan's question, he really didn't know.

I just recall that when they were minors, they played together and even went hunting on horseback.

So Li Qian instinctively wanted to protect his relatives.

"Lets see!"

Li Xuan said no more. He said to Li Qian, "Brother, you guys are busy with your own things. I'm going to the lower hall of the Zhongshu Gate to handle official business."

After saying this, he walked towards the back of Xingqing Hall without showing any sign of panic.

Li Xuan's confidants wanted to stop Li Xuan, but they didn't know where to start.

Just like the robbery by An Lushan's guards, no one would think it was An Lushan's order.

It’s the same today, no one thinks that Li Xuan’s crime is related to Li Ming.

But Li Xuan was the prime minister and his influence was too great.

The reformists could only wait until Xin'an Ling Li Yu was escorted back and then interrogated him.

Fortunately, Li Longji asked Yang Shenjin to try the case. Yang Shenjin was Li Xuan's most trusted confidant.

However, there are conservatives in the Censorate, so it may not be easy for Yang Shenjin to get away with it.

"Prime Minister Li, do you think Li Yu has colluded with the powerful to obstruct the new law?"

In the hall of Zhongshumenxia, ​​Li Linfu asked Li Xuan.

Although nothing seems to happen on the surface, I feel angry inside.

He had a backup plan, waiting for Li Xuan to bend the law for personal gain and then produce evidence when he felt compassion. "The Political Affairs Hall is where the country's military and political affairs are discussed, while the prime minister is concerned about the people's livelihood. So Bingji would ask about the cow, and small matters will naturally be handled by small officials. If the right prime minister asks about these things, he might as well become a county governor."

Li Xuan was already in a bad mood, and knowing that it was Li Linfu's doing, he was naturally very rude and spoke rudely.

Li Linfu was so angry that he was fuming. Even at this time, Li Xuan was still so vicious.

He no longer paid attention to Li Xuan and prepared to handle his own government affairs.

However, many drafted documents now have to go through Li Xuan's hands.

Only after Li Xuan agreed would Pei Kuan sign and send it to the six ministries for execution.

Otherwise, it would be useless for Li Linfu to just sign his own name.

Li Xuan held an important position, and Li Linfu was a clueless prime minister. He could not take back the power and could only be controlled by Li Xuan.

In addition, Li Longji felt that Li Linfu was old, so he gave priority to Li Xuan in policy and discussed matters with Li Xuan.

This made Li Linfu, the chief prime minister, seem out of place.

Just as the rumors in the court and the public say: Zhuge Liang's sword is the real prime minister, not his pen.

Li Xuan was not a man of clay. When he was handling government affairs, he thought of ways to take revenge on Li Linfu.

When the clerk was handing over the official documents, he clearly felt that the husband was reading the documents a little slower than usual.

At noon, Li Xuan summoned Yang Yan, the Shaoqing of the Dali Temple, and Han Chaozong, the Jingzhao Yin, to the Zhongshu Menxia Hall.

About a quarter of an hour later, Han Chaozong and Yang Yan went out.

Since Li Xuan had a private meeting with Han Chaozong and Yang Yan, Li Linfu did not know what they were talking about.

He looked suspicious and had a bad feeling in his heart.

After Han Chaozong left, Jingzhao Yin and Dali Temple led soldiers to surround Pingkangfang.

All brothels, whether they were northern, central, or southern brothels favored by the rich and powerful, were blocked...

Lingcui Tower.

As the largest and most expensive brothel in Chang'an, it was a place frequented by princes, nobles and dignitaries.

In addition, local county officials and wealthy merchants in Chang'an, no matter how rich they are, are not qualified to enter Lingcui Tower.

If one wants to discuss love affairs, music, chess, calligraphy and painting with the prostitutes in Lingcui Tower, and discuss matters with the elders in the family, one must hold a fifth-rank official position.

Or the ancestors held a third-rank official position.

Even princes and nobles would invite prostitutes from Lingcui Tower to accompany them when they went on outings in the suburbs.

Lingcui Tower is not only famous for this. A few years ago, the current Prime Minister and King of Tianshui Li Xuan beat up Li Linfu's son Li Yi in Lingcui Tower, which made Lingcui Tower even more famous.

Because Li Xuan was so noble at that time!
His outstanding military achievements can be compared with those of the famous generals in the Taigong Shangfu Temple.

Fortunately, the temple is dedicated to the dead and receives incense, otherwise Li Xuan would definitely be included in the Taigong Shangfu Temple.

A few years ago, there was a stunning beauty in Lingcui Tower who was enrolled in the Jiaofang. She was awarded to Li Xuan by the saint.

This also made the people of Chang'an believe that Lingcui Tower was related to Li Xuan.

In fact, it has nothing to do with it.

Yang Yan personally led more than one hundred soldiers from the Dali Temple to block the front and back doors of Lingcui Tower.

The guards of Lingcui Tower were very confused. Although Lingcui Tower was a brothel, it was a noble place in Chang'an and the prime minister's son often stayed there. Who would dare to be presumptuous?
"Go in, and arrest anyone who dares to interfere with public affairs immediately!"

When the guards of Lingcui Tower went to inform the person in charge, Mu Sanniang, Yang Yan waved his hand and ordered the soldiers to rush in.

In the courtyard of Lingcui Tower, there are pavilions, towers, birds singing and flowers blooming.

There were many noble sons and prostitutes playing games, reciting poems, writing couplets, playing chess and painting in the courtyard.

In the attics, beautiful women were singing and dancing, and the sound of stringed instruments and the aroma of wine wafted out.

"Why did Yang Shaoqing have to go to this extent?"

When Mu Sanniang learned that the soldiers had suddenly broken in, she straightened her appearance and immediately came to greet Yang Yan.

Yang Yan used to be a frequent visitor here.

When facing a prostitute, he said things that he shouldn't have said, and thus got on Li Xuan's boat and could never get away.

Just like today, he must complete Li Xuan's orders.

"Is the Right Prime Minister's son here?"

Yang Yan suddenly asked Mu Sanniang.

"Balang is in Baihua Tower, Shijiulang is in Qingxue Tower..."

Mu Sanniang answered subconsciously.

Lingcui Tower was the number one brothel in Chang'an, and it was naturally a place for the prime minister's son to have fun.

However, the Right Prime Minister Li Linfu had so many children that he certainly could not take care of them all on a regular basis.

It is said that the Right Prime Minister was so afraid of assassins that even his children did not know where he slept at night.

So it is very normal for my son to stay out all night.

"Distribute some of our people to surround Baihua Tower and Qingxue Tower."

Yang Yan's face became solemn and he gave orders to the soldiers on his left and right.

He actually hoped that Li Linfu's son was not there.

Because Li Xiang gave him an order, he was afraid something might happen.

Since Li Linfu's son is here, he cannot pretend to obey, otherwise Prime Minister Li will definitely be dissatisfied.

Now Yang Yan is terribly afraid of Li Xuan, he knows Li Xuan's methods well.

Li Xuan also promised to recommend him to wear the purple robe soon.

Because Li Daosui, the Minister of the Dali Temple, was over seventy years old and in poor health, Li Longji had already told Li Daosui that he did not need to attend court unless there was something important.

Now the affairs of the Dali Temple are basically presided over by Yang Yan.

But Yang Yun was always one step away from the third rank.

The only one who could help Yang Yan was Li Xuan.

(End of this chapter)