Chapter 323 Give Him a Dignity

Changan.

Duke Lu’s Mansion.

Cheng Zhijie was holding the thermos, walking back and forth anxiously.

Cui was sitting on the side and was almost dizzy by him.

“My husband, why is it so?” Cui couldn’t help but say, “It has already happened. So many days have passed. Is it possible that just because you walk a few steps at home, it will change?”

Cheng Zhijie paused, and said angrily, “Just tell me, how bold are you guys?”

“You dare to do such a thing?”

“Others are just dragging others down with them, and they are corrupt, but they don’t have much substance to save face.”

“This time it was really powerful, it burned everything in one go.”

The last part of his statement was completely sarcastic.

Cheng Zhijie was also implicated in this incident. He was called back from the New Army and ordered to stay at home, not go out, and be confined to his mansion.

Even his sons were like this.

He finally had a second spring in his military career in his old age.

He also followed His Majesty to destroy Goguryeo.

After the First World War, he thought his position in the new army was secure, and that His Majesty would retire when he saw that he was still strong and could still last a few more years.

The result was a series of twists and turns, with each crisis becoming more severe than the last.

This time he was detained directly at home. In a moment of carelessness, his military career came to an end and he continued to be a powerless duke in Chang’an.

“Husband, many people are unaware of this. It was done by the great families of Qizhou.”

Cui said: “No matter how foolish or daring the Shandong family is, they will never do something that would destroy their own Great Wall.”

“Yes, I won’t do it.” Cheng Zhijie sneered, “Cui Dunli, Cui Renshi and others are also under house arrest.”

“Lu Chengqing is even under surveillance at the Censorate.”

“You think they won’t panic?”

“Do you still think that this is the Tang Dynasty and you aristocratic families can do whatever you want?”

Many high-ranking officials from aristocratic families in Chang’an were ordered to stay at home and not work.

Although no action was taken, this also shows that the court was waiting to see how things went in Qizhou.

“Hey.”

“Things won’t end so easily unless the high-ranking officials in Chang’an step down.”

Cheng Zhijie sat down dejectedly and sighed, “Whether I can keep my position depends on how deeply you, Cui, are involved.”

“So, if Cui gets too involved, then…” Cui couldn’t sit still anymore.

In her opinion, Qizhou committed a serious crime, so all she had to do was deal with those people.

How would you know where the joints are?

Can Qizhou alone handle it?
“Don’t worry, ma’am. No one can escape.”

Cheng Zhijie said indifferently.

“How could this be?” Cui said in disbelief, “Since it is Qizhou, then we can just deal with the great families in Qizhou.”

“How could it implicate other people?”

Cheng Zhijie saw that she was flustered and didn’t want to talk more.

It’s that simple.

Today in Chang’an, there would not be so many high-ranking officials under house arrest.

“Aye.”

Cheng Chubi ran back quickly and said, “Duke Liang has also been ordered to stay at home.”

Cheng Zhijie didn’t seem surprised at all and didn’t react much.

Fang Xuanling’s wife was from the Lu family of Fanyang. They were together before he became famous.

They can really be considered a married couple.

“Aye, aren’t you surprised?”

“It’s obvious…”

Cheng Zhijie suddenly thought of something, stood up, and said to himself: “It’s him.”

“Aye, what are you talking about?”

Cheng Chubi asked doubtfully.

“nothing.”

Cheng Zhijie waved his hand and said, “You continue to get information, but remember not to attract attention.”

Cheng Chubi was a member of the Prince’s personal army and a member of the first class of the Embroidered Uniform Guard.

Today, the Jinyiwei are deployed in large numbers to guard every household under house arrest.

Relying on his status as the big brother of the first period of Jinyiwei, Cheng Chubi was able to talk to Jinyiwei and inquire about some news outside.

Otherwise, Cheng Zhijie would be at home and no one outside would know anything.

……

“Husband, I have implicated you.”

Lu said this with a sense of self-blame, not at all the overbearing attitude she had shown towards Fang Xuanling before.

Fang Xuanling shook his head slightly, patted the back of his wife’s hand gently, and said comfortingly: “It’s none of your business, don’t blame yourself.”

“But my husband, you…”

Lu was about to say something, but was interrupted by Fang Xuanling, who said, “You don’t understand.”

“It’s not as simple as you think.”

“Now I am already seventy years old, I should thank His Royal Highness the Crown Prince for allowing me to rest at home and recuperate.”

Mrs. Lu opened her mouth and finally smiled bitterly: “You are quite open-minded.”

“I have been handling state affairs in the court for so many years. What have I not seen?”

Fang Xuanling twirled his beard with a certain amount of satisfaction, saying, “We’ve been through big storms before, why would we be afraid of this one?”

“However, your Lu family may be in great trouble.”

Mrs. Lu shook her head and said, “I have never wanted to get involved in family affairs, but my husband should understand that many things are beyond our control.”

“Now that my husband is in trouble, it’s because of the family. How can I still think about the family and ignore my husband?”

Fang Xuanling felt relieved and benefited greatly from these words.

At least, her position as a lady comes before that of her family members.

He looked outside silently, a trace of worry flashing in his eyes.

It’s not as conceited as he makes it out to be.

“I hope the prince can give me the last bit of dignity.”

……

“Your Highness.”

“According to the time calculation, King Jiangxia and Xu Jingzong should have arrived in Qizhou almost one after the other.”

Di Renjie said.

Li Chengqian nodded and looked at the mountain of memorials, feeling a little tired.

He ordered the left and right ministers of the Shangshu Province to stay at home. All matters of the court, big or small, were brought to him for him to handle personally.

Fortunately, the East Palace still has a staff group that can help him relieve some of the pressure.

“What is the reaction of Duke Liang?”

“No.”

Hear the words.

Li Chengqian was silent for a moment and said, “Please ask Shou Xinghou to check on Duke Liang’s health.”

“Yes!”

Di Renjie quickly walked out of the East Palace and went to find Sun Simiao to pass on the message.

When we arrived at Duke Liang’s mansion, the outside was guarded by the Embroidered Uniform Guards.

“Shou Xing Hou.”

“Mr. Di Lang.”

Fang Xuanling bowed and said.

“Greetings, Duke Liang!”

The two of them hurriedly returned the gift.

“His Highness asked me to come and examine the Duke.”

Sun Simiao stated his purpose and said, “Your Highness is very concerned about the health of Duke Liang.”

“Even the Duke of Zhao doesn’t have this kind of treatment.”

“Duke Liang is deeply loved and valued by His Highness. He is truly the only one in the court.”

Fang Xuanling’s movements and expression paused, and his body trembled uncontrollably. After Sun Simiao finished speaking, he just took his pulse and said nothing more.

Di Renjie was a little strange.

Seeing this reaction from Duke Liang, he should have shown joy on his face, or at least said a few words of humility. So why did he remain silent?

“Marquis Shouxing is older than me, so please give me some advice.” Fang Xuanling said.

“Duke, human life span is limited. The body becomes more fragile as it ages. A minor illness or disaster may be a death warrant.”

Sun Simiao said: “Some time ago, I diagnosed Duke Zheng.”

“Duke Zheng has caught a cold and is now bedridden. Although I prescribed a prescription, his condition is still worrisome.”

“It is said that illness comes like a mountain falling, and goes away like pulling a thread.”

“As people age, minor illnesses and disasters turn into major ones. Even if they recover, they will probably have lost a lot of their vitality…”

He said this with great emotion.

No one understands old age better than he does.

Because he is the oldest.

“Quit while the going gets tough?”

Fang Xuanling murmured to himself: “Can I retreat?”

“The Duke’s worries are unnecessary.”

Sun Simiao loosened his hand that was feeling the patient’s pulse and said, “Although I cannot bring the dead back to life, I can still give you a prescription and see what happens.”

“The Duke is in good health, he just needs to make sure to rest.”

“The weather has been bad recently, so be sure to keep warm and don’t catch a cold.”

Fang Xuanling paused for a moment before coming to his senses and said, “Thank you for troubling Shou Xinghou.”

“No problem.”

Sun Simiao packed up his things and said goodbye.

Di Renjie had been observing and listening the whole time, and he always felt that something was wrong, as if the two people were talking with hidden meanings.

“how?”

“Don’t you understand, kid?”

Sun Simiao asked with a smile.

“I am a stupid boy, please give me some advice.” Di Renjie said respectfully.

“I came here to tell Duke Liang what the prince meant.”

Sun Simiao said dimly: “I will give him a decent one.”

Di Renjie looked up suddenly.

He understood it instantly.

What Duke Liang meant by retreating at the height of his career might have been referring to the Qizhou incident.

“Boy, don’t be like the kid from the Changsun family, who has been following the Crown Prince without making any progress.”

Sun Simiao said: “Read more and learn more.”

“Thank you for your teachings!”

After returning to the East Palace, Di Renjie reported the situation truthfully and Li Chengqian nodded slightly.

Di Renjie couldn’t help but say, “I dare to ask your Highness for advice.”

“explain.”

“Your Highness, are you planning to remove Duke Liang?”

Li Chengqian looked at Di Renjie with amusement and said, “Huaiying, when did I ever say that?”

“Your Highness asked Shou Xinghou to examine the Duke of Liang…”

Di Renjie hesitated and did not finish what he said.

Li Chengqian said calmly, “Duke Liang knows that he is in poor health and old. Like Duke Shen, he is afraid of delaying state affairs and causing big mistakes, so he took the initiative to resign.”

“Why do I want to dismiss Duke Liang?”

Di Renjie suddenly realized.

This is what Shou Xinghou meant by decency.

The fact that Shou Xinghou went to Duke Liang’s residence instead of going to any other house revealed that Duke Liang was in poor health.

in this way.

If Duke Liang resigns on his own initiative, then it will be a bit decent.

But everyone knew that the most important reason why Liang Guogong died was because of the Lu family.

“Master Wei, I have no avail. Please go there for me and keep an eye on his health.”

Speaking of Wei Zheng, Li Chengqian was a little worried.

Wei Zheng, who was seventy years old, caught a cold this winter and was bedridden, so he was unable to help him with state affairs.

The cold can be serious or minor, but it is hard to say whether Wei Zheng can withstand it.

Li Jing also fell ill this winter.

The condition is also very serious.

He is older than Wei Zheng.

If I can’t make it, maybe…

“The same goes for the Duke of Wei. Send more medicinal herbs over there.”

(End of this chapter)