Chapter 3 Li Shizhi
"Li Yi, where is Shuang'er?"

Li Xuan didn't care about Mu Sanniang. He grabbed Li Yi's hair and lifted him up.

"Beat me to death if you dare... My father will never let you go..."

Li Yi threatened with a ferocious look. He had never been insulted like this since Li Linfu became prime minister.

As soon as he gets the chance, he will take revenge!
"Boom bang..."

Li Xuan threw him to the ground again and kicked him hard twice.

"what……"

Li Yi's nose bled more and more. He wanted to continue to speak harshly, but was afraid of being beaten by Li Xuan.

Everyone was distressed.

"You, tell me Shuang'er's whereabouts, otherwise I will continue to beat Li Yi."

Li Xuan turned and shouted at a servant.

"Your maid has been sent to the Right Prime Minister's Mansion!"

The servant did not dare to hide it and told Li Xuan.

If anything happened to Li Yi, these slaves would surely die.

"Go and bring Shuang'er here!"

Li Xuan ordered these servants.

The servants did not dare to move for a moment and looked at Li Yi.

"Bang!" "Bang!"

Seeing that the servants did not move, Li Xuan continued to kick Li Yi.

At this time, Li Yi was in so much pain that he was unconscious and kept groaning.

"We'll go right now, right now..."

The servants were so frightened that they ran away quickly.

Every time Li Xuan kicked Li Yi, it was like a hammer in their hearts.

Mu Sanniang was also the most anxious person.

If Li Yi was seriously injured, Li Linfu would definitely vent his anger on Lingcui Tower.

But Li Xuan refused to listen and she had no way to deal with him.

The network of relationships that one usually builds up is useless when facing princes and nobles like Li Xuan and Li Yi.

"Qilang, please don't kill Li Yi..."

Pei Huang whispered something to Li Xuan.

He is brave and aggressive, and is not afraid of Li Yi's background, but he always keeps his distance.

Pei Huang suddenly discovered that Li Xuan seemed like a different person. Not only did his fighting power increase dramatically, but his attacks were also ruthless.

"rest assured……"

Li Xuan responded to Pei Huang.

He did not use any fatal force and controlled his strength.

Everyone in Lingcui Tower knew that something big had happened in Baihua Tower. They gathered in front of Baihua Tower, talking about the matter.

When they learned that it was the two prime ministers' sons who were fighting, they looked very excited.

Such a good show performed in the brothel gave them more topics to talk about before and after meals.

In less than three quarters of an hour, Li Linfu's eldest son Li Xiu and Wannian County Magistrate Zheng Yan led people into Lingcui Tower.

Li Xiu, currently the Junior Supervisor of the Imperial Household, is Li Linfu's most trusted son.

Pingkangfang was under the jurisdiction of Wannian County, so it went without saying that the Wannian County Magistrate came here with Li Xiu.

"Li Xuan, that's too much!"

Li Xiu entered Baihua Tower and frowned when he saw the miserable state of his eighth brother.

"County Magistrate Zheng is here too. I would like to ask you a question?" Li Xuan ignored Li Xiu and asked Zheng Yan.

"Qi Lang, please speak!"

Zheng Yan was in a dilemma. The prime minister's sons were fighting. If he handled the situation inappropriately, the prime minister would definitely hate him.

"May I ask why the son of the Right Prime Minister can disobey the laws of the country?"

While speaking to Zheng Yan, Li Xuan looked at Li Xiu, and every word he said was heart-wrenching.

"This... I don't know how serious Li Yi's injury is. Please ask the doctor to treat him first. I will report today's incident to the two gentlemen."

Zheng Yan glanced at Li Xiu, took a deep breath and said.

It is better to offend the gentleman than the villain.

He already knew the whole story.

Li Yi actually forced Li Xuan to buy her maid, which was a taboo among the nobles.

What’s ridiculous is that a group of people can’t beat three people.

Even though Li Yi was severely injured, there was no way to seek justice.

Li Xuan completely refuted it with "self-defense".

It was impossible for Zheng Yan to really arrest Li Yi, otherwise the vengeful Li Linfu would not let him go.

On the contrary, Li Shizhi would not do anything to him, after all, Li Xuan was in the advantageous position.

"I am just a commoner, so I will naturally obey the orders of Wannianling!"

When Li Xuan responded to Zheng Yan, he moved his feet away from Li Yi.

He didn't want to make a big deal out of it.

It was not realistic to put Li Yi in jail. Xiao Jiong, the Minister of Justice, was Li Linfu's confidant.

"Where is my maid?"

Li Xuan questioned Li Xiu again.

"It has been sent back to the Left Prime Minister's Mansion."

Li Xiu replied calmly, but was very angry at Li Yi's incompetence.

My father is in a high position and is the target of public criticism.

If future generations continue to behave like this, they will sooner or later run into disaster.

"Before I came here, I was reading the Book of Han. Huo Guang of the Former Han Dynasty made such great contributions, but the ending of his descendants was disheartening. When I read the biography of Liang Ji in the Book of the Later Han, I was very puzzled. Why did he dare to be so cruel and arrogant when he had the lessons of the past? Sometimes, the smallest things can become the key to success or failure. People still need to restrain their desires and focus on virtue!"

Li Xuan glanced at the princes and young men in Baihua Tower, then looked up at the exquisite ornaments and said something thought-provoking.

"What are you trying to imply?"

Li Xiu's heart moved. The young man in front of him had always been unknown.

Only now did he know that Li Shizhi actually had such a son.

Li Xuan did not reply to Li Xiu. He believed that Li Xiu had sent Shuang'er back home.

A dragon gives birth to nine sons, each one is different. Although Li Linfu was a treacherous prime minister, his stories of Li Xiu admonishing his father and Li Tengkong practicing Taoism and saving the world are still remembered today.

"This is compensation for the damage to the tables, chairs, cups and bowls, to be paid by Li Balang!"

Li Xuan handed Li Yi's piece of gold to Mu Sanniang, then bowed to the Wannian Ling Zheng Yan and walked out of Baihua Tower.

Pei Huang and his nephew Pei Zhou hurriedly followed.

"Brother, avenge me..."

Li Yi woke up and begged Li Xiu pitifully.

As long as Li Xiu was willing to come forward, Li Linfu would definitely find ways to deal with Li Xuan.

Li Xiu was the son of Li Linfu's first wife when he was not yet rich. In terms of position in the prime minister's mansion, Li Yi was far inferior to Li Xiu.

"Carry it back!"

Li Xiu did not respond and ordered the servants to carry Li Yi away.

"Thank you, Magistrate Zheng, for coming. I will report this to my father."

Li Xiu bowed to Zheng Yan and said.

Zheng Yan was the magistrate of Jing County and a fifth-rank official.

"Alright!"

Zheng Yan was able to stay out of it, which was what he wanted most.

In fact, Zheng Yan had a good impression of Li Xuan. He was logical and well-reasoned, and knew when to advance and retreat, without the arrogance of a dandy boy.

He felt that Li Xuan would become a great man in the future!
……

After leaving Lingcui Tower, Li Xuan invited Pei Huang and Pei Zhou to drink at Dongshi next to Pingkangfang to thank them for their help. After a hearty meal and drinks, it was already afternoon, so they parted ways and went back to their respective homes.

"Qilang, you are finally back. Your husband already knows that you beat Li Yi in the brothel. Is he angry?"

Butler Zhao Zong was guarding in front of the door. When he saw Li Xuan coming back, he immediately told Li Xuan that Li Shizhi was in a bad mood.

"Is Shuang'er back?"

Li Xuan asked Zhao Zong calmly. He had a clear conscience and was confident.

"I'm back. But Qilang still needs to think about how to face her husband."

As a servant, Zhao Zong was deeply moved by Li Xuan's loyalty, but Li Shizhi was the head of the family, and he had no right to shake his will.

"I see."

Li Xuan went to see Li Shizhi immediately.

Zhao Zong told Li Xuan that Li Shizhi was waiting for him in the front hall.

"Father……"

Entering the front hall, Li Xuan bowed to Li Shizhi, who was sitting on the main seat reading a book.

Li Shizhi was nearly fifty years old and was known for his ability and pragmatism. Before he became prime minister, he served as a local official in more than ten places, and his lenient and gentle governance made him deeply loved by the people.

The opportunity for him to be appointed as prime minister was his contribution in controlling the Luo River and Gu River, and he engraved his plan on a stone.

While serving as Jiedushi of Youzhou, he made meritorious services on the frontier and was appointed Minister of Punishments.

Soon after, Gao Lishi added fuel to the fire and was appointed as the left prime minister, concurrently as the Minister of War and the scholar of the Hongwen Academy. He was granted the titles of Shang Zhuguo and Guanglu Dafu, and was granted the title of Duke of Qinghe County.

Since the beginning of the Tang Dynasty, the head of the Menxia Province was the Shizhong, and the head of the Zhongshu Province was the Zhongshu Ling.

But when the reign was changed last year, Li Longji changed the official system, changing the Zhongshu Ling to Youxiang, and the Shizhong to Zuoxiang. He restored the left and right chancellors of the Shangshu Province to the left and right pushes. He changed the Huangmen Shilang to Menxia Shilang...

In the early Tang Dynasty, the left was respected, so Fang Xuanling, who was also the Shangshu Zuo Pushe, was the chief prime minister.

In the heyday of the Tang Dynasty, the right was respected. Therefore, the right prime minister during the Tianbao period was the chief prime minister.

The Jiedushi of Youzhou was changed to Jiedushi of Fanyang last year, and Pei Huang’s grandfather Pei Kuan was appointed to the position.

Precisely because he had traveled to many places for half his life, Li Shizhi, who was not even fifty years old, looked quite old, with his hair being a mixture of black and white.

"For the past two months, I have seen you studying in your room. I am very pleased that you will change your ways like Huangfu Mi and Zhou Chu did." Li Shizhi put down the book and glared at Li Xuan, his words suddenly becoming more serious: "How dare you fight in a brothel? Don't you know that your father is the prime minister?"

"Father, since you know that you are the prime minister, you should not hold me accountable for my actions today. Of course, you are an adult, and I am willing to be scolded for doing justice." Influenced by the thinking of later generations, Li Xuan subconsciously defended himself.

"How can you talk to your father like that?"

Li Shizhi got angry when he heard this. He stood up suddenly and picked up a thin stick half a meter long from the table.

"Father, what are you doing..."

When Li Xuan saw Li Shizhi holding a stick, he glared at him.

As for?
"Kneel down..."

Li Shizhi attaches great importance to family rules, and today he wants to teach Li Xuan a lesson.

He had finally formed a tacit understanding with Li Linfu, and he couldn't allow a rift to arise because of this.

"Father, Li Yi was wrong first, insulting my Zuo Xiangfu, but you didn't distinguish right from wrong. Is the Minister so afraid of the Minister of the Central Secretariat?"

Li Xuan did not listen and refuted Li Shizhi.

"What do you know? Li Linfu and I respect each other and we both support the saint. You ruined my plan because of a maid. Kneel down!"

Li Shizhi shouted at Li Xuan again.

kneel?
be punished!

I definitely won’t kneel.

Li Xuan turned around and ran...

"You little brat..."

Li Shizhi became even angrier and chased after him with a stick in hand.

Li Xuan was afraid of being caught by Li Shizhi, so he ran out of the front hall and immediately went to the back garden.

Li Shizhi pursued her relentlessly, but he was already old, how could he compare to the young Li Xuan?

"Someone...someone...capture Li Xuan for me!"

Li Shizhi couldn't catch up for a while and started calling for help.

At this time, there were dozens of servants in the house. After hearing Li Shizhi's order, they gathered together and blocked the front and back doors tightly.

Even the eldest son Li Qian and the fourth son Li Jiqing, who were at home, showed up.

"Father, Qilang is naughty, please don't take it to heart."

Upon seeing this, Li Qian immediately chased after Li Shizhi to persuade him, fearing that Li Shizhi might accidentally fall.

Since Li Xuan's mother died of illness early, Li Xuan, as the eldest brother is like a father, has always loved Li Xuan.

"Get out of the way. He won't learn his lesson unless you give him a beating."

Li Shizhi was determined to beat Li Xuan.

He wasn't that angry at first, but Li Xuan's words were too harsh. A son shouldn't speak to his father in such a tone.

Seeing Li Shizhi's rage, Li Qian did not dare to disobey and could only shake his head helplessly.

The servants formed a human wall to block Li Xuan.

At this time, Li Xuan planned to escape from the Zuo Xiang Mansion first and wait for Li Shizhi to calm down before coming back.

Li Xuan rushed straight towards the servants.

When the servants saw Li Xuan approaching, they rushed forward.

Grab Li Xuan's waist and arms.

"drink!"

Li Xuan shouted loudly and twisted his body using all his strength.

The servants who captured Li Xuan felt a huge force hitting them.

The next moment, all of them were thrown out.

Li Shizhi was slightly surprised when he saw this scene. With such strength, he was definitely a fierce general in the army.

He only knew that Li Xuan was strong and good at riding and shooting.

Now it seems that Qilang has grown up!
"If your father hits you and you run away, are you still a filial son?"

Seeing that Li Xuan was about to escape through the back door, Li Shizhi leaned on a stick and shouted at Li Xuan.

"In ancient times, Emperor Shun served his father. He would take a small beating and run away if he was beaten hard. This is not unfilial." Li Xuan responded directly.

In Li Xuan's view, Li Shizhi was afraid of Li Linfu.

He didn't dare to draw his sword head-on, which led to the destruction of his family.

Although the Right Prime Minister was the chief prime minister, the establishment of the Left Prime Minister was to restrain the Right Prime Minister.

If the Right Prime Minister drafts a document and the Left Prime Minister does not sign it and returns the document to the Secretariat, the Right Prime Minister will feel very uncomfortable.

In the "Political Affairs Hall", prime ministers could formulate policies to the emperor, speak freely, and even attack each other.

It can be said that as long as the left prime minister is stubborn, the right prime minister will feel like a thorn in his throat.

When Zhang Shuo, a famous prime minister of the Kaiyuan period, was appointed prime minister again, he made clear arrangements for the chief prime minister Zhang Jiazhen; afterwards, Li Yuanhong and Han Xian were at loggerheads and were dismissed together; then, the chief prime minister Xiao Song and prime minister Han Xiu quarreled endlessly and both left the stage; and when Zhang Jiuling was the chief prime minister, Li Linfu "carved two rabbits with one eagle".

Looking at the political situation in the Kaiyuan period, everyone had to fight for their own rights. Compromise is weakness and will make political opponents more unscrupulous.

Even famous figures like Yao Chong, Song Jing and Zhang Shuo did not give in when competing with each other.

Did Li Shizhi really want to share power?
"Qilang, I'll give you one more chance to make your point clear..."

When Li Shizhi heard what Li Xuan said, he suddenly became serious.

Because in history, sons used Emperor Shun as an example to advise their fathers.

"You are not Niu Xianke. Li Linfu is already thinking in Yanyue Hall about how to deal with you." There was nothing Li Xuan was afraid to say.

Everyone knows that when Niu Xianke was the left prime minister, he was mediocre and cowardly, and he obeyed Li Linfu's orders.

Although Li Shizhi was of casual temperament and not particular about details, he always wanted to maintain his dignity as the left prime minister.

Therefore, conflict with Li Linfu was inevitable.

"Ridiculous! Li Linfu just told me that 'there is a gold mine in Huashan, mining it can enrich the country', and asked me to report it to the saint during the court meeting. If he can give me this credit, it means that he recognizes my position as the left prime minister."

Li Shizhi thought Li Xuan was talking nonsense.

When he went to Li Linfu's house to check on Li Yi's injuries just now, Li Linfu took the initiative to apologize to him, humble and respectful, and told him the news.

Li Shizhi was deeply moved and felt unhappy if he didn't beat Li Xuan.

(End of this chapter)