Tibet

In Chang'an, Li Dai came to his official room as usual. He was very busy these days. As the Minister of Rites, the most important thing every year was the imperial examination.

The annual imperial examination is held in March and April, but preparations start in December of the previous year, and the plan must be formulated even earlier. Of course, Li Dai's men formulate the plan. After the plan is handed over to Li Dai, Li Dai begins Initial review of revisions.

After it is finalized by him, it will be submitted to the Zhengshitang. The Zhengshitang will definitely return and ask for modifications, and then the Ministry of Rites will submit it again. After the Zhengshitang passes the review, it will be submitted to the emperor for instructions. Generally, when it comes to the emperor, the general principles will not change, and at most the details will be changed. Once changed, and it cannot be modified on the final version submitted by Zhengshitang, I can only post a note.

The Political Affairs Hall will come up with a supplementary clause based on the emperor's opinion and submit it to the Ministry of Rites.

It is now mid-December, and Li Dai must come up with a plan within these two days, otherwise it will be too late. Generally, the overall plan must be finalized before the New Year, and the implementation phase will be officially entered after the New Year.

Li Dai was concentrating on reviewing the draft in the official room. At this time, a eunuch hurried over and shouted in the courtyard: "Is Li Shilang here?"

"Ah! It's Eunuch Han." Li Dai came out with a smile.

Han Fengen was a popular figure in the imperial study room recently. He got involved with Li Fuguo, and Li Fuguo arranged for him to be on duty beside the emperor in the morning. The morning was a time when officials reported more, so Han Fengen naturally became famous.

Han Fengen said quickly: "Your Majesty summoned the minister, probably to ask about the imperial examination. Please hurry up and follow me."

Li Dai was startled, and quickly took the draft and followed Han Fengen to the imperial study.

Of course, the emperor can ask about the imperial examination at any time, he can also read the draft, and he can also put forward his own opinions. These are all understandable. It is not a formal review anyway, and anyone can express their opinions.

Arriving at the Imperial Study Room, Li Dai bowed and saluted, "I am here to see you, Your Majesty!"

Li Heng said with a smile on his face: "Ai Qing, without courtesy, please sit down!"

Li Dai sat down on the couch beside him. They were all used to sitting on their knees, which was relatively low, but the emperor sat higher, which felt a bit condescending.

"The draft of the imperial examination is ready, I want to take a look!"

"Reply to Your Majesty, it's ready."

Li Dai hurriedly handed over the draft of the imperial examination. In fact, it was ready yesterday. He planned to check it again today, just as the emperor wanted to see it.

Li Heng looked through the imperial examination manuscript and asked quietly, "Has the prince also read it?"

Li Dai's heart trembled, and he suddenly understood that reading the imperial examination manuscript was just an excuse for the emperor.

He quickly and honestly said: "Reporting to Your Majesty, His Royal Highness has not read the manuscript, but the day before yesterday he asked the ministers about the imperial examination and put forward some ideas."

"Oh? What did the prince have in mind?"

"His Royal Highness the Crown Prince suggests that next year the quota for admitting children from poor families should be slightly wider."

"Only this?"

"Reporting to Your Majesty, that's all. Later, he even cared about Your Majesty's health!"

Li Heng's face immediately darkened, and after a while, he snorted coldly.

Li Heng continued to look down at the draft. In fact, he didn't read a word of it. Li Dai didn't speak either. The imperial study room was awkwardly quiet.

After a moment, Li Heng put down the draft and said gently to Li Dai: "I have thought about it. After the spring of next year, Aiqing should enter the political hall!"

Li Dai was startled and said quickly: "Your Majesty, Weichen is deeply grateful for your kindness. However, Weichen has just become proficient in the affairs of the Ministry of Rites. Can you allow Weichen to work for another two years?"

"Ai Qing can continue to serve as the Minister of Rites. There is no conflict. Moreover, Miao Xiangguo is already old, over seventy years old. He has repeatedly begged me for his bones. I want to give him a chance to enjoy family happiness!"

It turns out that the emperor summoned him to restore his position and replace Miao Jinqing, who was about to retire.

Li Dai no longer refused, bowed and said: "I would like to thank Your Majesty for your kindness!"

"Go ahead! I'm very satisfied with the draft."

"Wei Chen resigns!"

Li Dai stood up to say goodbye. As soon as Li Dai left, Li Heng's face became very ugly. The prince actually cared about his own body. What did he mean? Do you think he can really take over the throne?

The abolition of the crown prince is not just a treat for dinner, it can be settled in a few words. The abolition of the crown prince involves struggles in all aspects. The prince Li Yu does not have any relatives, and the princess is from the Shen family of Jiangnan. It is not a big problem. However, she has just married a daughter of the Dugu family as a child, which is a little bit A bit troublesome.

But the real trouble for deposing the prince is the political hall. The political hall unanimously supports the prince, which gives Li Heng a headache. The only way is to gradually change the situation so that the political hall no longer supports the prince or remains neutral.

The first person he wanted to replace should be Wei Jiansu, but he couldn't be so direct. He had to start from the most inconspicuous person, and Miao Jinqing was the first one. Didn't he want to retire? Then let him fulfill it.

The reason why Li Dai was replaced as prime minister was partly because of Li Ye. Li Ye's progress in Longyou and Hexi was so fast that Li Heng was shocked. In just over half a year, he had captured most of Longyou and also occupied Liangzhou. He felt that he had to win over Li Ye a little bit to prevent him from being won over by the Supreme Emperor.

The Supreme Emperor was a problem that Li Heng couldn't touch deep in his heart. He didn't want to think too much about it. If he touched it a little, his thoughts would immediately turn away.

On the other hand, it is also because of Li Ye. On the surface, Li Dai is a generous man and has orthodox ideas. Everyone likes him, and the political affairs hall will regard him as one of his own. But Li Heng knows that the real influence on Li Dai is his son. If Li Ye wants to rebel against the prince , Li Dai will also support it. As for letting Li Ye rebel against the prince, it will depend on the exchange of interests. Li Heng has always known that Li Ye is someone who can negotiate.

So Li Heng put Li Dai into the political affairs hall, so that he had two people in his hands, one was Finance Minister Wu Qi, and the other was Li Dai, Minister of Ceremony, and then slowly replaced the other three, and finally dealt with Li Fuguo, Yu Chao En

Li Heng slowly closed his eyes, imagining in his mind how high he was, with all the civil and military officials and the people of the world kneeling down to worship him. That was the real emperor.

Li Heng didn't know that Han Fengen was hiding in the corner and staring at him, with a cold light shining in his small eyes, like a poisonous snake.

Li Dai came out of the imperial study room, feeling happy and sighing in his heart. He was happy that he was going to see his face again. Of course he knew that it was because of his son. If his son was doing well, he could also benefit from it.

The emotion was that he saw with his own eyes the indifference and cruelty of the family relationship between the royal father and son. In the past, the father and son could still help each other and fight for a common destiny. But now, it has become a taboo for the prince to even greet his father's body. Imperial power is really a poison that destroys people's minds.

Li Dai was deeply moved and returned to his official room.

As soon as Li Dai sat down, Dugu Ming appeared in his yard and said with a smile: "Jingwen, how about going out for a drink?"

Only then did Li Dai realize that it was already noon.