Start with detective Li Yuanfang

Chapter 241 Sacrifice a prime minister first
"Yuan Fang, after Li Jingxuan's downfall, I have thought about who you will target next time. After all, there are not many people going up."

"I didn't expect it, I didn't expect it, you really dare to even empress..."

"Don't be dazzled by the big victory!"

It took Li Dejian a while to recover, and he tried to persuade him bitterly.

Li Yan said calmly: "My lord, please rest assured that Empress Wu is not Li Jingxuan. She once ruled the court with His Majesty, and she is also the birth mother of His Highness the Crown Prince and the three princes. The position of Empress is unshakable. I am very clear about this."

Li Dejian was puzzled: "Since you know what is good or bad, you still dare to say that you want to deal with the queen?"

Li Yan described what he saw and heard along the way: "Now the pass is full of mourners, people are eating each other, and the dead are lying on the road!"

Even though he tried to simplify it as much as possible, Li Dejian still changed color when he heard it: "How could the disaster in the pass be so serious?"

Li Yan asked: "What is the current price of food in Chang'an?"

Li Dejian said without hesitation: "Thirty Wen a bucket, I just asked yesterday, it is already very high."

Li Yan said coldly: "Thirty Wen is very high? The price of rice in Lanzhou in Longyou has skyrocketed to a hundred Wen, let alone in the Guan!"

"I've traveled all the way, and you can see prostitutes everywhere, but even if you sell them, the food you get in exchange is only enough for ten days at first, and then it's not even enough for three days!"

"The farther you go to Guanzhong, you see that the people who were originally well-to-do began to sell their fields and land. They went bankrupt, but there was no rice to buy!"

"The houses of the aristocratic families who stockpiled food early are locked, and the gates of the Buddhist temples are closed. Outside the high walls, starvation is everywhere, a purgatory on earth!"

"If the disaster continues for a few more months, the population in the pass will drop by more than half!"

Li Dejian was furious, and stood up abruptly: "In this way, the rice price in Chang'an is so stable this time, making the courtiers think that the disaster this time is as usual, and someone is deliberately restricting the price of grain to create the illusion that the disaster is not serious. ?”

Li Yan asked: "Who is in charge of this disaster relief?"

Li Dejian said: "Wei Chengqing, the new minister of the household department, was originally the governor of Qizhou...it shouldn't be, the pass is the foundation of Webster's, and the counties and counties have really reached that situation, and Webster's can't please him. Why doesn't he try his best? Disaster relief?"

A cold light flashed in Li Yan's eyes: "Under normal circumstances, it is true that the disaster has reached such a point that the aristocratic families in the pass have suffered a lot, but these families have great achievements and great fortunes. The political structure at the top is the current top priority for Webster!"

Li Dejian understood the meaning, and his expression was extremely solemn: "Yuan Fang, this matter is no small matter. Do you have any evidence for Webster's connection with the Queen?"

Li Yandao: "When the envoys passed through Fufeng County, we dealt with Wei Chengqing and Wei Zhenxuan because of auspicious things..."

Li Dejian focused his gaze: "Xiangrui?"

Li Yan explained the matter: "Wei Zhenxuan, magistrate of Fufeng County, found a piece of jade quarried from Mount Qi. It has the shape of a dragon and a phoenix, which indicates that the two saints are coming to court, which is in harmony with Shangyi."

Li Dejian thought about it carefully: "Half a year ago, Qizhou did offer auspiciousness, and Wei Chengqing joined the Ministry of Household Affairs, but he has been the governor of Qizhou for many years, so no one objected, and the auspiciousness did not cause much trouble... According to you, this matter was arranged by Jingzhao Wei and the queen alone?"

Li Yandao: "That's right. Jingzhao Webster's attitude is very obvious with the auspiciousness being used to build momentum for Empress Wu. Dou Lu Qinwang, the leader of the Cabinet of Internal Guards, is also in it. They are all Empress Wu's henchmen now."

Li Dejian's chest rose and fell violently, and his voice gradually became stern: "But how can your majesty allow it? Yes, recently, your majesty hardly opens the morning court, and all major decisions are made in the Zichen Palace. It seems that the empress is taking advantage of her majesty's poor health to train her. power!"

"During this period of time, the calls for the Empress to be called the Queen of Heaven are getting louder and louder. It is precisely because of this rare opportunity that she must first determine the position of Queen of Heaven, and put aside the disaster situation. Webster also tries his best to cooperate!"

"The second sage's coming to the court, isn't it a repeat of the rooster's morning in the previous Sui Dynasty? Dugu's favor and transfer of his descendants led to the disaster of Sui Yang. How can we repeat the same mistakes?"

Li Yandao: "Yang Guang was able to become the prince because he was humble and frugal before he ascended the throne, and he was good at disguising. It can't be blamed entirely on Dugu, the queen of literature. Emperor Wen of the Sui Dynasty and the queen of literature ruled the court together, which is beneficial to the country. , Your Majesty only has the plan of the Second Saint coming to court, so we can't start from this point!"

Li Dejian said: "Then what do you think?"

Li Yan asked: "Since when did Your Majesty become so sick that he couldn't even preside over a normal court meeting?"

Li Dejian immediately said: "Three months ago, Your Majesty fainted directly on the throne, and the court meeting was in chaos. From then on, he was the servant of the six departments of the three provinces, and went to the Zichen Palace to discuss matters."

Li Yan said quietly: "After His Majesty fainted, what did the imperial doctor say?"

Li Dejian said: "According to the doctor's words, His Majesty is suffering from overwork and needs to rest in peace. As far as I know, His Majesty has been in a coma all day long, and it is rare for him to wake up. Almost all political affairs are handled by the Empress."

Although Li Yan knew the answer, he still had to make sure: "Where is the prince?"

Li Dejian smiled wryly: "Dai Pushe and Hao Chujun asked the crown prince to supervise the country, they were both severely punished, and now they are shutting up in the mansion to reflect on their mistakes and are not allowed to go out."

Li Yandao: "Is it His Majesty's edict? Or the Queen's will?"

Li Dejian said: "It is an edict personally issued by His Majesty, there is no doubt about it."

Li Yan nodded: "Sure enough, at this time, His Majesty will not allow the crown prince to take power..."

Dai Zhide is Shangshu Youpushe, a guest of the prince, and a staunch princeling among the prime ministers. It is completely normal to propose that the prince supervise the country.

Hao Chujun was the servant of the family, the prime minister who firmly opposed Empress Wu's meddling in politics. He suggested that the prince supervise the country in order to prevent Empress Wu from being the rooster in the morning and monopolizing power.

In fact, the prince's supervision of the country should have played a role at this time.

As a result, when Li Zhi was in good health, he asked the prince to supervise the country six times, creating a sense of trust that a father is kind and his son is filial.

When it came time to really need trust, the prince went away, and the prime minister who supported the prince was also locked up at home.

If it is a courtier who has hope for a saint, I am afraid it is difficult to accept it, but Li Yan knows the emperor's cold-blooded selfishness too well, it is really not surprising at all.

But this just shows that Li Zhi is really seriously ill this time.

"Sick...?"

Li Yan's eyes turned cold, and he stood up and said, "My lord, I'll go out first, and I'm going to invite you to come forward this time!"

Li Dejian said seriously: "Okay! This matter is related to the foundation of the country and cannot be shaken. I have lived in the pass for most of my life, and I can't just watch the people here suffer and remain indifferent. My old face is worth it at this time. Don't worry, and Look, father has invited reinforcements for you!"

Li Yan thanked him politely this time, bowed and walked out with great strides.

He didn't go to the inner guard of the imperial city, but went directly out of Pingkangfang and came to Xuandu Temple.

Guannei Daoist naturally recognized him, and after serving the tea, he asked, "Li Shanxin is back, do you want Xiaodao to invite Master Ming?"

Li Yandao: "Where is Daoist Ming now?"

Daotong replied: "In Xiangwang's mansion, Xiangwang has been recruiting frequently recently, and Ming Daozhang is not in the temple most of the time."

Li Yan's eyes moved slightly: "Then there's no need to inform him, I'll wait here."

Not long after, Ming Chongyan walked into the temple with a haggard look.

After seeing Li Yan, he was almost overjoyed and rushed over: "Liu Lang, you are finally back!"

Li Yandao: "Chongyan, sit down, what's the current situation in Beijing?"

After Ming Chongyan let Daotong back down, he couldn't wait to say: "Your Majesty is seriously ill, Meihua's internal guards are in chaos, Shang Palace is shaking, and there is a possibility of taking refuge in the Empress!"

Li Yan looked at him and smiled: "Recently, you have been to Xiangwang's residence more often, because you are running for His Royal Highness?"

Ming Chongyan said without hesitation: "You support His Highness the Crown Prince, so naturally the poor will also support His Highness the Crown Prince!"

Li Yan nodded: "Thank you!"

Ming Chongyan frowned and said: "However, the time when the poor Taoist entered the Plum Blossom Internal Guard was later, and the influence is far less deep-rooted than that of the Shang Palace. His Royal Highness is benevolent, and the old man of the Shang Palace is ruthless. He must have some scruples. I am afraid that in the end she will I will really rely on the Queen!"

Li Yan asked: "What happened to Your Majesty?"

Ming Chongyan sighed: "Your Majesty's dragon body is not healthy. He spends a lot of time in drowsiness and less time in waking up. Sometimes he can't say a complete sentence in a day. When Pindao entered the palace to refine Wuyun Pill these few times, They are not allowed to be summoned, if things go on like this, I'm afraid... I'm afraid... Alas!"

Li Yan looked solemnly: "In your opinion, is there any possibility of His Majesty being poisoned?"

Because Li Zhi has been sick and in poor health, and people in this age have a short life expectancy, and living to the age of forty is not considered a short life, so Li Zhi fell down, not many people thought it was strange .

Only Li Yan knew something was wrong, because the historical Li Zhi would not die in more than ten years.

Of course, due to his arrival, many things in Datang have changed.

But Li Zhi has the highest enjoyment in the world, and the famous doctors in the Taiyuan Hospital take good care of him. Now he has no bumpy journey to Luoyang. He was diagnosed by Sun Simiao before, and the toxicity of Wuyun Dan has gone a lot. Should be better than original history.

So he has this question.

"Poisoned?"

Ming Chongyan was moved, but when he thought about it carefully, he found it impossible: "Then why didn't the imperial hospital notice? The palace testing medicine is so strict, if poison is poisoned in the food or medicine, then the eunuchs in the palace and the doctors of the imperial hospital Zuo must die!"

Li Yandao: "I'm just guessing. There are no absolutes in everything, especially diseases. It is indeed possible to fall seriously ill suddenly, but we must also prevent traitors from plotting."

Ming Chongyan's expression fluctuated: "But if His Majesty was poisoned to cause the current lethargy, this matter will open the sky, and whether His Majesty's health can still recover, rashly participating in it, I'm afraid it will affect the whole family! "

Li Yan knew that this man's sense of morality was very low, so he briefly mentioned the misery of the disaster outside, and asked emphatically, "What's wrong with Li Jingxuan?"

As expected, Ming Chongyan didn't feel deeply about the disaster. When he heard about Li Jingxuan, his brows furrowed immediately: "After His Majesty became seriously ill, that old thief also became restless. He obviously collapsed on the bed before. The day actually hosted a banquet for guests at the mansion!"

Li Yandao: "After all, he has been the prime minister with real power for many years, and he is also a servant of the official department. He has many disciples. If His Majesty is safe, there is absolutely no possibility of him recovering. But now that Empress Wu is in power, everything is unknown."

Ming Chongyan changed color: "Does the queen dare to go against your majesty's wishes and reuse this old thief?"

Li Yan said indifferently: "If I don't come back, it's hard to say. If I come back, I will never allow this to happen."

Ming Chongyan's breath was stagnant, and he was in awe and joy at the same time: "Liulang, when you go to Tubo, your majesty is even greater!"

Li Yan got up and came to the window, looking at the seemingly unchanged Chang'an City, with his hands behind his back, his eyes were cold and solemn:

"I've always been kind to others, and I always stay on the line in everything. I know that the world is hard, and many people can't help themselves..."

"But this time we are going out to fight on an envoy to defend our home and the country, but the thieves are behind us, making trouble for the court, and people are dying!"

"Then don't blame me for killing them all, first use Li Jingxuan to sacrifice the disaster victims who died in vain outside!"

　Thanks to the book friends "Fengyu Wufei", "Rogeotarifos", "Xianhe" and "There is a kind of juice" for their rewards.

　　
　
(End of this chapter)