On the 26th day of the first lunar month, the Luoyang Palace will hold a grand palace banquet. Princes and nobles and ministers in the court were invited. It is estimated that more than 100 nobles will be present.

Li Mao and Princess Xianyi will also attend the banquet.

In the afternoon of the same day, the brother and sister entered the palace to prepare. After worshipping Concubine Wu Hui, Li Mao went to see Li Longji again. Then he met with the brothers in the Lu Palace Courtyard and waited for the evening banquet.

As a frequent visitor to the Luoyang Palace, Princess Xianyi was not too polite and did not think about getting along with all the brothers and sisters. Instead, she stayed in the inner curtain and chatted with Concubine Wu Hui for a family.

"...In the past, you didn't like to attend such banquets. Your father had so many princesses. You said you had enough of this kind of occasion and didn't want to attend again. But it was very difficult for others to get an opportunity to attend... What's your purpose for you to take the initiative to attend this banquet?"

Concubine Wu Hui had a wide connection and was very scheming. When she found that her daughter was unusual, she asked her directly.

Princess Xianyi smiled and said, "It's just a matter of attending the palace banquet. What's so strange? I heard that Mrs. Gongsun will perform this time, it's a pity if she doesn't look at it... In addition, my daughter hasn't drunk with her father for a long time. This time she specially prepared some good wine and prepared to taste it with many princes and ministers at the palace banquet..."

Concubine Wu Hui gave her daughter a blank look: "Someone told me that you have been very close to some idle people, which will damage the royal face."

Princess Xianyi's face changed and she immediately said unhappily: "It must be Yang Hui gossiping in front of you."

"He just said something."

Concubine Wu Hui said this to be equivalent to admitting that Yang Hui informed him and quietly called Princess Xianyi's report, confirming her despicable character.

Princess Xianyi looked disdainful: "In Wan'an Temple that day, he brought a group of scholars to say that he would recite poems and write a question. In front of me, he trampled on the flower fields. I couldn't stand it and said that he was cold and cold to him. He was definitely unwilling to go to his mother's place to spread rumors... This man was not arrogant at all and could not do a big thing."

"I think he is very good. His family is widely spread in both capitals, which is very helpful to your brother's great cause." Concubine Wu Hui said bluntly.

I like Yang Hui not because I think Yang Hui is so upright and talented, but because the Yang Hui family is powerful and helpful for her and Li Mao to take power.

The more I say this, Princess Xianyi's rebellious mentality is stronger.

Why does my marriage serve your needs?

"Mother, will Prime Minister Zhang come to the palace to attend the banquet today?" Princess Xianyi didn't want to discuss matters about Yang Hui with Concubine Wu Hui, and deliberately changed the topic.

Concubine Wu Hui stared at her daughter and asked in confusion: "I always think you are not ordinary today. Why do you want to ask about that old man? He has always been picky about your brother and never has a good face to you."

Princess Xianyi smiled and said, "In the past, at palace banquets, he always learned with his power. He used poetry and essay metaphors to make people call him good... Today I also wrote a poem and wanted to tease him well. My mother would say a few good words to my father at that time, so that I could come out to write poems."

"Nothing."

Concubine Wu Hui didn't think that her daughter was capable of making Zhang Jiuling, who was full of knowledge, make a fool of herself.

You should know that Zhang Jiuling has been talented and extremely talented since childhood. He was able to recite poems and write matchmaking at the age of five or six. He was called a child prodigy at the time. After adulthood, he became famous. Zhang Shuo called him "the most famous poet in the future". In "Looking at the Moon and Embracing the Distance", "The bright moon is born on the sea, and the ends of the world share this time" can be said to be a song that has been sings forever.

Such a big boss in the poetry world actually said that his daughter would slap the other person in the face by writing poems. Concubine Wu Hui didn't believe it.

At this moment, a female official came in at the door to report the matter.

Concubine Wu Hui looked at Princess Xianyi, waved her hand, and signaled the female official to approach her.

The female official whispered to Concubine Wu Hui with her ears. Princess Xianyi's ears were very sharp. After hearing this, her face remained silent.

After the female official left, Concubine Wu Hui stood up and said, "I have something to do. Let the palace servant take you to dinner... At the evening palace banquet, you must pay attention to your conversation and behavior, follow the rules, and never do anything out of place."

"Mother, is it Li Linfu, the minister of the Huangmen? What did he ask for you? As the lord of the harem, you should not meet with foreign ministers." Princess Xianyi stood up and persuaded him anxiously.

Concubine Wu Hui shouted angrily: "I am not old and have a lot of leisure. Li Xilang is virtuous and talented. Your father praised him very much, and he could just absorb him as a helper... As long as it is beneficial to us, what's wrong with meeting?"

She didn't explain too much to her daughter and took the palace servant to leave directly.

...

...

Concubine Wu Hui met Li Linfu in Taoguang Garden.

Li Linfu came to express his gratitude to Concubine Wu Hui for helping him become the Minister of the Yellow Sect when he entered the palace to attend the banquet.

The Huangmen Minister is from the fourth rank and has a low rank, but he is an adjutant from the Ministry of Education.

Menxia Province is one of the three provinces and six ministries. The chief called it Shizhong. He was in charge of the matter with the Secretariat, discussed national affairs together, and was responsible for reviewing edicts and signing memorials, and had the right to refute.

In the first year of Kaiyuan, Menxia Province was renamed Huangmen Province, and Shizhong was renamed Huangmen Supervisor. In the fifth year of Kaiyuan, the former title was restored.

As the prime minister who was in power for more than ten years, Li Linfu was also an important figure in the turning point between Kaiyuan and Tianbao. He was fifty years old and had just made his fortune. He was in high spirits. However, when he saw Concubine Wu Hui, he was extremely respectful and knelt down from a distance and bowed to him. Then Concubine Wu Hui sat in the pavilion, while Li Linfu bowed his waist outside the pavilion to speak.

"I am grateful to the kindness of Empress Hui, and I specially brought some local specialties from my hometown. I have sent them to the mansion and gave them to the house. The servants and maids and carriages are driving to the empress."

Li Linfu explained his purpose.

I'm here to give gifts, and the gift has been delivered to your Wu family.

However, in the 21st year of Kaiyuan, Pei Guangting, the minister of the prime minister, died of illness. Pei Guangting's wife was Wu Sansi's daughter. The Wu family was not very polite and had an affair with Li Linfu. The eunuch Gao Lishi was born in Wu Sansi's mansion. Wu family had a master-servant relationship with Gao Lishi.

After Pei Guangting's death, when Wu went to visit Gao Lishi, he proposed to Gao Lishi that his old prime minister Li Linfu replaced Pei Guangting as prime minister, but Gao Lishi did not dare to accept it casually.

Later, because Xiao Song recommended him to serve as the right prime minister, Gao Lishi informed Wu in advance, and Wu passed it on to Li Linfu, and then Li Linfu told Han Xiu. In this way, Han Xiu accepted Li Linfu's love.

After Han Xiu became prime minister, his performance was mediocre, but he kept praising Li Linfu in front of Emperor Xuanzong of Tang for his ability as a prime minister, and with Concubine Wu Hui secretly assisted him in the palace. In this way, Li Linfu finally had the opportunity to become the Minister of the Yellow Sect.

Now Li Linfu came to give gifts to Concubine Wu Hui, but in fact he wanted Concubine Wu Hui to continue to blow the wind beside Xuanzong's ears so that he could go further.

In history, Li Linfu also benefited from this. With the help of Concubine Wu Hui, he gradually ascended the position of prime minister. He had been in power for 19 years. He was also the prime minister who had been in power for the longest reign of Emperor Xuanzong. Later, he could only cover the sky with one hand.

Not counting Yang Yun, Li Linfu is definitely invincible in his current power management skills.

Concubine Wu Hui received the gift list submitted by Li Linfu and found that what Li Linfu sent was not a "local specialty". Every gift was worth a lot, and the specifications were far beyond imagination.

"Why did Li Xilang spend so much money?"

Concubine Wu Hui put down the gift list and was very satisfied with Li Linfu's obedience and generous work... It was a great thing for Concubine Wu Hui to have a high-ranking official in the court whom she used for. In this way, she had support in the court and could help her depose the prince.

Li Linfu replied with a smile: "The Empress can accept the gifts, and the old minister is very relieved. There are many places to rely on the Empress in the future. The old minister will serve his life with all his heart and live up to the cultivation of the Holy Lord and the Empress."

Concubine Wu Hui was so happy.

Li Linfu had a very deep qualifications and had given her a lot of gifts in recent years. He also said that he would do his best to help Li Mao ascend to the position of crown prince... Now that Li Linfu has begun to enter the core of power of the court, it is equivalent to an extra strong assistant to her.

"How can I just let Li Xilang spend money? The person who came will take the Jade Ruyi rewarded by His Majesty and regard it as the gift from this palace to Li Xilang."

Concubine Wu Hui gave the Buddha with flowers and gave Li Linfu what Xuanzong gave to him, which showed that she was not a person who only wanted to repay the kindness but did not know how to give back.

Yu Ruyi looks precious, but she cannot be sold because of the emperor's reward. Concubine Wu Hui kept it just a decoration, and handed it to Li Linfu, but it can reflect her value for Li Linfu.

"Thank you, thank you."

Li Linfu bowed and bowed, his face full of touching expressions, and tears flashed in his eyes, vividly interpreting what gratitude means. The more he showed his importance to the reward of Wu Huifei, the more he made Wu Huifei feel that he could trust.

...

...

As the sun sets, princes and ministers attending the palace banquets enter the palace one after another.

Zhang Jiuling, who had just been promoted to the position of the Secretary-General of the Central Secretariat, became the target of the ministers. When he entered the palace, many people deliberately moved closer to him. In addition to greetings, they would also discuss matters of the court.

Among them, the one with the best relationship with Zhang Jiuling is Pei Yaoqing, who was promoted by Zhang Jiuling and had just been promoted to Shizhong.

Pei Yaoqing has been responsible for building granaries in Jianghuai, collecting money and grain to send to both capitals. When he returns to Beijing this time, in addition to reporting to the emperor, he also has to complete the necessary procedures for being promoted to Shizhong and clear the relationship between the court.

“…Brother Nu took the yellow gate, which is very different from the past.”

When passing Changlemen, Pei Yaoqing suddenly said something to Zhang Jiuling.

Genu is Li Linfu's nickname. Li Linfu became famous entirely because of his career. The orthodox civil servants in the court despise Li Linfu very much and do not respect his private names.

"Um."

Zhang Jiuling nodded, not saying anything.

Pei Yaoqing sighed: "I heard that the Wu family came forward to make plans and the palace servants helped me a lot. He had already entered the palace one step earlier today and spent millions of money to handle the matters."

Pei Yaoqing had been dealing with money and food before, and was very sensitive to money. Millions of money were equivalent to thousands of stakes, and ordinary officials could not afford so much bribes.

"His promotion was completely unruly and was harmful to the court but not beneficial."

Pei Yaoqing continued to complain in Zhang Jiuling's ear.

Zhang Jiuling looked at Pei Yaoqing, and the general meaning was that even if you think Li Linfu was harmful to ascend to power, you should propose effective ways to suppress it instead of warning me, and there was no constructive opinion at all.

Zhang Jiuling looked cold: "Your Majesty is wise and will not appoint evil people. Even though Li Genu has now been listed in the Yellow Sect, he has never been able to take charge of the cardinal position. To prevent him from endangering the court, he must find his misconduct to impeach him so that His Majesty can see his despicableness and shall not be used seriously."

According to Zhang Jiuling, it is a fact that Li Linfu has taken office now. To prevent Li Linfu from becoming prime minister, the best way is to find a handle to impeach him. Now only the emperor can decide whether Li Linfu will stay or not. Even as the left prime minister, he has no choice but to Li Linfu.

Pei Yaoqing sighed and said, "As his immediate boss, why don't I want to do it? But he has been prepared for the past few times he failed to impeachment. Now he is extremely cautious in his actions. It is probably even more difficult to find his mistakes."
Chapter completed!