jdhmnovel Chapter 1070 The Origin of the Duan Inkstone
Chapter 1070 The Origin of the Duan Inkstone
“Duke Zhao… there really is an assassin…” Fang Xuanling’s expression at this moment could be described as amiable. He was like an honest elder coaxing a younger person who had tripped and fell, as if he was going to “beat up” the ground that had caused the person to fall. His tone was full of patience and… tenderness: “The other party attacked too quickly and retreated even faster, so that you didn’t even see who the target was, but you concluded that it was me who hurt you…”
"..." At this moment, Changsun Wuji suddenly realized that among all the officials in the same dynasty, those above the third rank were basically old hooligans. However, Fang Xuanling had hidden it too deeply in the past, so he ignored this point. Now, he understood: "Okay... okay, okay, okay... Then Prime Minister Fang, let me ask you, what do you think of the bloodstains on the back of your right hand and the sleeves of your robe?"
"Duke Zhao..." Fang Xuanling said with a wronged look on his face, "The assassin was too cruel. I couldn't bear to watch, so I covered my face with my sleeves. This bloodstain... was splashed on at that time..."
"Splash your @￥%#!!!" Changsun Wuji's defense was completely broken now.
"That's enough!" Emperor Li Er was already in a bad mood, and the two of them had to make such a scene: "Wuji, is your injury serious?"
"Your Majesty, please make the decision for me! Your Majesty!" Changsun Wuji had never been as unlucky as he was today in his life.
"There is indeed an assassin in the palace." His Majesty Li II thought that this matter... He could only smooth things over: "Wuji, Xuanling is not aimless..."
"..." When His Majesty Li II said this, Fang Xuanling and Zhangsun Wuji were both stunned.
"I am not biased towards anyone." Seeing Fang Xuanling's face turned touched after being shocked, while Zhangsun Wuji looked sad, His Majesty Li II said with a gloomy face: "I... have no way to catch those assassins..."
"Is it... Is it His Royal Highness the Prince of Chu?" Fang Xuanling realized that he was being sentimental. Of course, maybe that wasn't entirely true.
"He is worried about his brothers and sisters. What can I do?" Upon hearing this, His Majesty Li II sighed, then looked at Zhangsun Wuji and said with a double meaning: "If you want to blame someone, just blame that bastard Kuan'er!"
"In short, Xuanling is innocent!"
"..."Who can understand the sincerity of His Majesty Li II at this moment?
Changsun Wuji obviously didn't understand, so he was silent at first, then turned his head and glared at Fang Xuanling with hatred, and then said to His Majesty Li Er in a muffled voice: "Your Majesty... understand..."
"Do you really understand?" Emperor Li II knew that it was impossible for Changsun Wuji to understand.
"I understand." Changsun Wuji was still being stubborn.
"Well, I'll let Zhang Nan escort you out of the palace, so that you won't encounter assassins on the way." After saying this, His Majesty Li II probably felt that this was too hurtful, so he said to Fang Xuanling: "Xuanling, I suddenly remembered that Fang Yiai was so stupid, and it was obviously because you, as a father, didn't discipline him well. Therefore, I want to fine you half a year's salary. Do you have any objection?"
"Your Majesty, can you give that bastard a beating instead of fining my salary?" Fang Xuanling said with a bitter face, "Two beatings will do!"
"I am discussing this with you, that's right." Upon hearing this, His Majesty Li II put down the memorial he had just picked up and said in a dignified tone, "But do you want to discuss this with me?!"
"Punish...you should be punished!" Fang Xuanling was honest now. Who told him to not help either of them and wait for the price to rise...
"Alright, Wuji, go back and have a good rest." After saying this, His Majesty Li Er gave Zhang Nan a look. Zhang Nan understood and hurried to Changsun Wuji's side, helping him up from the ground: "Duke Zhao, I will take you back."
"..."Chang Sun Wuji felt that today was very weird. Not only were the people weird, but the things that happened were even weirder!
He had clearly entered the palace to see the emperor because of Fang Yiai's false accusation, but the matter of Monk Bianji and the matter of the Tibetan envoy seemed to be nothing...
So what on earth did he do wrong?!
Changsun Wuji couldn't figure out the matter until he returned home.
Although Fang Xuanling understood a little more than Changsun Wuji, he did not understand everything.
Just as he was leaving, His Majesty Li Er suddenly said to Yun Shang, who was standing guard outside the Taiji Hall and taking Zhang Nan's place, "Yun Shang, go call the Crown Prince!"
"Yes!" Yun Shang bowed and accepted the order.
But Fang Xuanling's whole body trembled at this moment!
After being reminded by His Majesty Li II, he suddenly understood... he understood everything!
No wonder His Royal Highness the Prince of Chu insisted on letting me come forward...
No wonder His Majesty turned a blind eye to me beating Changsun Wuji...
It turns out that His Royal Highness the Prince of Chu was not trying to support me in a competition with Zhangsun Wuji, so as to make His Majesty afraid...
And Your Majesty, it is not because you are afraid of His Royal Highness the King of Chu that you choose to tolerate his arrogance...
The real purpose of His Royal Highness the Prince of Chu...is actually to protect His Royal Highness the Crown Prince!
After figuring out the key, Fang Xuanling's eyes suddenly warmed up. He looked back at the majestic Taiji Hall and suddenly laughed: "Your Highness the King of Chu... you have such a broad mind and such a strategy. I am willing to do it... willing to do it!"
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When Crown Prince Li Chengqian arrived at the Taiji Hall, three thousand bright candles in the hall illuminated all the dark corners.
"Chengqian, come here." When His Majesty Li II saw Li Chengqian limping in alone, he couldn't help but frowned slightly: "Why didn't you ask someone to help you?"
"Father, I can do it myself." Li Chengqian smiled slightly and said, "I wonder why you called me here?"
"It's nothing important." His Majesty Li II looked at his eldest son, whose temperament was as stern as the abyss. He thought of that little rascal who was a pure "negative example of the royal family": "Has Kuan'er written to you recently?"
“No…” Li Chengqian was stunned at first, then he realized something and knelt down on the ground: “Father…if brother Kuan has made any mistakes, I beg you—”
"——He made a big mistake this time. It's useless for you to plead for mercy." After saying this, His Majesty Li II took out the inkstone on the table that he had buried in the pile of memorials, and then held it in front of Li Chengqian: "Do you recognize this inkstone?"
"..." Li Chengqian stood up silently after hearing this, and then His Majesty Li II stretched out his hand and pulled him up from the ground: "Take a good look and see if you can recognize him."
"Father..." Li Chengqian was a little confused when he heard this: "This Duan inkstone, should I recognize it?"
"You are at least knowledgeable." His Majesty Li II sighed upon hearing this: "This Duan inkstone was mined in Duanzhou in the early years of the Wude era. When the first batch of Duan inkstones were presented to the palace as tribute, your royal grandfather was very happy about it, so he gave one to your father. Of course, Li Jiancheng and Li Yuanji also had one."
"So this Duan inkstone was given to you by your royal grandfather?" Li Chengqian asked in surprise.
"No, my inkstone is over there." His Majesty Li II pointed to the imperial desk, and then pointed to the inkstone in his hand to Li Chengqian: "As for the inkstone in my hand, it is the one left by your royal grandfather. It is the best of the best. But as to why it appeared here today... Haha... I can only say that your good second brother, that little bastard Kuan'er... he... took away a lot of good things from Hongyi Palace back then..."