The Moon Over Tang Dynasty

Chapter 145 Prime Minister’s Meeting and the Beginning of the Disaster

Going east from Taiji Hall and exiting Zuoyanming Gate, you will find the official office of Menxia Province. Although the building with white walls and black tiles is not as majestic and gorgeous as Taiji Hall, it still has a dignified atmosphere.

The sun had just begun to move westward, and it was the Shenzheng time when people returned home from dinner. Officials wearing various colored robes came out of the red lacquer gate one after another, either walking alone in silence or chatting and laughing together. The originally quiet and empty palace suddenly became filled with excitement. A little more angry.

Pei Xingjian held the rosewood box in his hand and walked slowly up the bluestone steps towards the political hall in the middle of the official office. Just as he entered the threshold of the political hall, he saw Pei Yan holding a stack of documents and standing next to Yuan Gongyu, the censor Zhongcheng. The two seemed to be discussing something, and they were startled when they saw him.

Pei Xingjian held up his hands to them and smiled, but Yuan Gongyu spoke first with a smile, "Pei Ming's house is a rare visitor to the political hall. Why are you here to report on official business today?"

Pei Xingjian smiled and shook his head, "It's not official business, but I'm here to return Prime Minister Chu's calligraphy."

Yuan Gongyu raised his eyebrows and asked, "Did Prime Minister Chu actually get a good job again?"

Pei Xingjian glanced at the crowded lobby and smiled without saying a word. There were too many people obsessed with calligraphy at this time, and whoever got Zhang Zhi's original work would not publicize it everywhere, so as not to attract countless obsessed people who came to watch and borrow it.

Yuan Gongyu did not pursue the question, but just smiled and said, "It's a pity that you and I are a step too late. I just learned that a meeting with the prime ministers was arranged today. Now several of the ministers have entered the meeting hall, and not half of them have arrived." I'm afraid it won't come out for an hour, but these documents are what Prime Minister Chu has called for today. I was just asking Zilong to stay and wait. Why don't Pei Ming Mansion go for a walk outside with me? "

Pei Xingjian was slightly startled. Chu Suiliang said in the morning that he would come over in the afternoon to return the invitation, but why didn't he mention the prime minister's dinner? Looking at Yuan Gongyu's sincere smile, he could only smile and say, "In that case, I'll go find an official and ask him to pass it on..." Before he finished speaking, a man dressed as an official came up quickly and said, "This Is this the Pei Ming Mansion?"

Pei Xingjian frowned and nodded. The official smiled and said, "Pei Mingfu is here to find Prime Minister Chu for morning business? Prime Minister Chu has an order. When you come, go directly to the inner room of the east hall. He will arrive soon." ”

Yuan Gongyu suddenly couldn't believe his ears. The prime minister's meal was a big event. During the meal, officials were not allowed to disturb him for anything, and the prime ministers were not allowed to leave the meal before the end of the meal. Therefore, as the censor Zhongcheng, he was summoned by Prime Minister Chu to come to the political affairs hall to discuss matters. Only because he met an official from the political affairs hall on the way and said a few words that delayed the time, he had to wait in the lobby like this. But how could Prime Minister Chu make such an exception because of a copybook written by Pei Xingjian? When did Pei Xingjian become so valued by them?

Yuan Gongyu felt that the smile on his face suddenly became surprisingly heavy. No matter how hard he tried, he couldn't hang it anymore. He lowered his head and coughed twice before he could calm down. He turned to look at Pei Xingjian, but saw that his face suddenly changed. There was no expression at all, and the eyes looking at the official were even calm and almost indifferent.

The smile on the official's face was obviously a bit unbearable, and he bowed and saluted, "Pei Ming Mansion, please come this way!"

Pei Xingjian still looked at the official indifferently. The official stood there with his head lowered, not daring to say another word. Yuan Gongyu felt that this situation seemed a bit strange. Just when he was about to speak, he saw a strange smile suddenly appeared on Pei Xingjian's face, which seemed to be a little mocking and disdainful, but also seemed to be a little relieved. When he spoke, his voice was surprisingly gentle, "Thank you! "He turned around and bowed his hands to Yuan Gongyu and Pei Yan, then turned around and followed the officials slowly towards the east hall.

Yuan Gongyu looked at Pei Xingjian's back and was stunned for a long time. He was about to turn around and give Pei Yan a few words, but he saw the curtain of the west hall was raised, and the chubby Changsun Wuji and the lean Chu Suiliang came out hand in hand, looking straight at each other. He walked quickly towards the east hall.

Yuan Gongyu suddenly wanted to rub his eyes. It wasn't until the curtain of the east hall fell down, covering the two purple figures, that he came to his senses: He had indeed seen it right. It was Taiwei Changsun and Prime Minister Chu who went there together. Meet Pei Xingjian in the east hall! He stayed for a moment, and when he glanced around, he saw all the officials in the official offices and military buildings coming and going in the outer hall of the political hall. Everyone had a look of dementia on their faces, and he couldn't help but feel cold in his heart. He snorted and turned back to Pei Yan with a smile, "This clan brother of yours is really lucky! To be able to make both the Holy Emperor and the Lieutenant look upon him with such special eyes, I'm afraid the Tang Dynasty won't be able to find another one."

Pei Yan's eyes also fell on the door curtain that was still slightly floating in the east. Hearing this, he smiled faintly and said, "Zilong doesn't dare to compare with Pei Ming's mansion."

Yuan Gongyu looked at Pei Yan's cold face and suddenly felt a little better. He smiled and shook his head, "Zilong is too modest. Your character and knowledge are obvious to all. It's just bad luck. Just like last time, It's obviously someone else's business, but the master stayed out of it, but it was you who suffered the unreasonable disaster. When I hear people making fun of you, I feel a little aggrieved for you. "

Pei Yan lowered his eyes, "We are all brothers, so it is not an unreasonable disaster."

Yuan Gongyu smiled and nodded repeatedly, "Zilong is indeed Zilong, and his magnanimity is unmatched by ordinary people." He originally planned to let Pei Yan wait here and go out for a walk, but he didn't want to leave at this time. , Pei Yan, who had nothing to say to each other, was talking, and even though the other party cherished words like gold, his interest did not diminish.

More than a quarter of an hour later, the sound of boots and voices could be heard in the east hall, and Changsun Wuji sighed, "I have long heard that keeping promises has a bright eye and a mind for the world. I just learned it today. We really know each other." I’m sorry it’s late, but when I have time in the future, I’d like to keep my promise and come to stay in my humble house for a while.”

Chu Suiliang also said, "I have told Taiwei a long time ago that he is a prodigy in keeping promises. How about he is a prodigy in keeping promises? What he said today is enough to shock the deaf and enlighten the world. Alas, it will not be too late to elaborate in detail in the future."

The door curtain opened, and three figures, one red and two purple, came out one after another. Changsun Wuji and Chu Suiliang both looked a little solemn, but Pei Xingjian still had a faint smile on his face. When he walked out of the door, he turned around and bowed, "It takes a little effort, but I dare not Lieutenant Meng and Xianggong were so complimentary that I resigned."

Chu Suiliang smiled and said, "Where is it? I can come today as promised..." Suddenly he saw Yuan Gongyu and Pei Yan in the hall and smiled, "I will discuss it with you later when the Taiwei and I meet."

Pei Xingjian replied calmly, "I will obey my orders." He took a step back, turned around and walked out of the hall. Yuan Gongyu could see clearly that there was no trace of smile on his face. When he saw himself, he just nodded and walked out of the hall. He walked out of the hall without stopping.

Yuan Gongyu had a thought and said hurriedly, "Pei Mingfu will stay here." Then he met Changsun Wuji and Chu Suiliang who were walking to the west hall, "Prime Minister Chu, I'm a step too late..."

Changsun Wuji frowned and did not stop for a moment, but Chu Suiliang stopped and smiled, "Yuan Zhongcheng will wait for a moment. I am afraid that Prime Minister Li and Prime Minister Lai are a little impatient. After dinner, I will send How about the junior official going to invite Zhong Cheng?" After saying that, he turned back and caught up with Changsun Wuji. The two of them entered the west hall in low voices, and could vaguely hear the words "What Pei Shouyue said is true..."

Yuan Gongyu's face completely darkened, and he almost wanted to throw away his face and leave, but he managed to hold it back, took a deep breath, turned around and walked to Pei Xingjian's side, and sighed, "I wanted to go out for a walk with you, look. I have to wait here for a while..." He glanced at Pei Xingjian and said, "It doesn't look like keeping the promise!" Pei Xingjian's face was still calm and almost indifferent, "Thanks to the great love between Taiwei and Chu, I feel ashamed to be a low-ranking official."

 It seems that he will not say another word. Yuan Gongyu felt a little disappointed and could only say goodbye to Pei Xingjian with a smile. Seeing his back disappear under the high threshold of the political hall, the smile on his face suddenly turned cold.

A minor official from the Political Affairs Hall, probably after receiving the order, came forward with a smile and invited Yuan Gongyu and Pei Yan to sit down in the outer room of the east hall. He also brought two glasses of buttermilk. Pei Yan was originally taciturn. Yuan Gongyu was also a little absent-minded at this time. He flipped through the documents he brought and was lost in thought. He thought about Pei Xingjian, Wu Zhaoyi, and all the recent incidents in the court. He couldn't help but sneer in his heart: When is it? Does Pei Xingjian still want to please both sides? Maybe it won't be long before people like me, who are not treated well by the captain, will have a really easy life...

Seeing that the sunlight outside the pavilion has dimmed, the sounds of people coming and going in the outer hall have gradually stopped, and even the clerks don't know where to hide. Yuan Gongyu couldn't help but frown and look at Pei Yan, "If I had known this, I would have stayed the same as you today. It would be cheaper."

Pei Yan also sighed. Today's Prime Minister's Dinner was too long. If they continue to eat, Yuan Gongyu must first ask the doorman to open the gate if he wants to go home today. When he returns to the official office in the imperial city for the night, I'm afraid I won't be able to use the dinner provided by the palace.

The two of them were looking at each other and smiling bitterly, when they suddenly heard a burst of chaotic sounds from the west. Yuan Gongyu couldn't help but let out a long breath, and stood up after pushing the case, but he heard the deep voice of Zhongshu Ling Laiji, " The only plan we have now is to work together, and we can’t just watch the Holy One make the world laugh without saying a word!”

Yuan Gongyu was stunned and suddenly realized that maybe the prime ministers didn't know that he was in the east room, so he couldn't help but stop. I heard Changsun Wuji sneer, "It's more than just making the world laugh. Isn't it clear what Pei Shou said today?"

Lai Ji said in a deep voice, "I only thought that Pei Shouyue was just a person sitting on the wall watching the wind. I didn't expect that he still had such a heart. It's just that the Holy One treated him very kindly. Why didn't he say this to the Holy One clearly?"

Chu Suiliang let out a long sigh, "It is precisely because the Holy One treated him so kindly that he found the Taiwei and me today. It is said that people speak lightly, so he went to report to the Holy One. Will the Holy One listen? Alas, if the Wu family is the queen, the country will Trouble will start from here. Pei Shouyue has the skills to deal with people, so I’m afraid this is no child’s play!”

Yuan Gongyu's expression suddenly changed, and he looked back at Pei Yan. Pei Yan also stood up with a stern expression, suddenly walked up a few steps, lifted the curtain and came out, and said in a clear voice, "I have met all the gentlemen." Yuan Gongyu secretly said Stomping his feet, he deeply regretted that he had brought such a stupid young man who thought he was a gentleman here today, so he had no choice but to follow him out with a smile on his face.

　　Several prime ministers who came out of the West Hall were stunned for a moment, but Chu Suiliang was the first to laugh, "It's all my fault that Yuan Zhongcheng has been forgotten. Come on, come on, let's talk here."

Yuan Gongyu calmed down and gave greetings to several prime ministers. Then he took Pei Yan and Chu Suiliang into the back hall. He handed over the documents related to the supervisory censor's inspection of Chang'an that Chu Suiliang asked for, and said with a smile, "These inspections Most of the affairs in Beijing are handled by Pei Yushi, and the official brought him here specially. "

Chu Suiliang nodded, obviously a little uneasy, and turned over the documents. He asked Pei Yan a few questions casually and then said with a smile, "It's getting late, so I'll leave these documents first. You'd better go back and stay overnight. If you don't come back, I'm afraid I won't even be able to receive the Tongzhong pillows and green quilts issued in the palace."

Yuan Gongyu's mind was not on official duties at the moment, and he didn't want to explain that he was not on duty today. Hearing this, he smiled and said, "Thank you very much, Prime Minister Chu, for your understanding. In this case, I will leave first. If there is anything unclear to Prime Minister Chu, I will inform you at any time." Just send someone to summon the official."

The green door curtain of the back hall of the Political Affairs Hall was lifted up with some eagerness and then fell suddenly, covering the two figures who were more or less in a hurry. Changsun Wuji walked slowly in from the side door and glanced at the still slightly fluttering door curtain. He stroked his short beard and laughed, while Lai Ji who followed behind him frowned.

Chu Suiliang took a long breath and said, "The Taiwei has a clever plan. These two people seem to be convinced of this matter."

Lai Ji sighed, "Don't talk about them. If Taiwei Shicai hadn't told the truth, I would have just assumed that Pei Shouyue really said this."

Chu Suiliang smiled and said, "I'm afraid that these words will reach the ears of the Holy One tomorrow. We have to be one step ahead and teach a few more people to know about this after tomorrow morning! But I am a little worried. The Holy One is quite worried now." In order to make a decisive decision, will Pei Xingjian be dealt with according to the situation? "

Changsun Wuji glanced at Laiji and smiled faintly, "I also know a bit about the Holy Emperor's temperament. No matter how angry he is, he will definitely summon Pei Shouyue to see him, and most likely he will believe Pei Shouyue's excuse. If he doesn't Dealing with Pei Shouyue, or handling it too lightly, will be a waste of all previous efforts. The civil and military officials in the court and the court knew that Pei Shouyue, who was deeply favored by the Holy Emperor, actually came to you and me, asserting that Wu Zhaoyi would bring disaster to the country, and the Holy Spirit didn't care much about it. How could it be possible? Don't you have any doubts? If he is dealt with harshly, Pei Shooyue feels innocent. For the sake of his future, how can he not defend himself? The so-called villain is always in trouble. How clever Li Yifu and others are, once they understand that Pei Xingjian is just a man. Being plotted against you and me, yet the Holy One immediately treats his former favorite minister like an abandoned son, how can we not be shaken?"

"What's more, you and I are passive now. Zhongshu Sheng has already controlled most of the real power for Li Yifu. The Holy One has repeatedly praised Pei Shouyou for his knowledge of people. It is obvious that he wants to join the Ministry of Personnel, which is the most important thing in the imperial court. Seriously, if Pei Shouyue is allowed to join the ministry as an official with the name of the Prime Minister and the favor of the Holy One, the government will be even more uncontrollable. If today's incident comes out, the Holy One will deal with Pei Shouyue no matter what. , there is absolutely no reason for him to join the official department again!"

Lai Ji nodded silently, and Chu Suiliang also smiled and said, "The Taiwei is still thoughtful. In any case, Pei Shouyue has absolutely no room for self-defense in this matter. For one thing, unlike Li and Xu, he has never said anything before. If you prefer Wu Zhaoyi's words, how old is he? How can the civil and military officials of the entire dynasty trust him and be suspicious of you and me?"

The smile on Changsun Wuji's face slowly faded, and he sighed, "What if I am just suspicious of you and me? You and I have been deeply favored by the late emperor, and we will never sit back and watch the emperor die because of a former palace official for the sake of our own reputation. He has become the laughing stock of the world! Now he can only do this to save the situation. After all, the Holy Lord is young and energetic, and he only wants to keep his word. He just doesn't understand your pains at this moment, and he will eventually do so in the future. Slowly understand.”

There was the sound of drums coming from far outside the window, and Changsun Wuji couldn't help but look out with a deep gaze. Under the high palace walls, the sun has set and twilight has not yet set. The sound of dusk drums ringing from the major bell and drum towers in Chang'an City is announcing the end of the day.

The palace gates of Taiji Palace and the square gates outside the palace were closed one after another with rumbling sounds. The Jinwu Guards in charge of the curfew lined up and were ready to go. Outside Chengtian Gate, a fast horse was galloping on Tianmen Street in the imperial city. Passed by and went straight to the Duke Ying's Mansion in Xuanyangfang.

Hmm, I have written 4,000 words for two days in a row, and I asked for a pink... Anyone who wants to see me torture Pei Jiu, please support me with your vote!

 (End of this chapter)