Chapter 173 The Crying Lantern Festival

On the seventh day of the first lunar month, Li Ke ended his social activities in Chang'an City. From the first to the sixth day of the lunar month, he would visit his uncles from the royal family one by one, his teachers Cen Wenben, Chu Suiliang, and ministers in the court who were close to him.

At the same time, he also had to receive Sun Fujia, Di Zhixun, Deng Tongda, Zuo Yi and others who came to visit him in the mansion. It can be said that he has been very busy these days. Today, he can finally rest in the mansion. Sitting on the collapse of the side hall, drinking the tea that Lan'er made for him, he finally breathed a sigh of relief. Li Ke was enjoying a moment of tranquility, and the Eagle Guard reported outside the door that Miss Changsun asked for a meeting. Li Ke was overjoyed and quickly ordered someone to invite Changsun Bingning to the study. Changsun Bingning had not seen Li Ke for more than ten days, and Li Ke was the same. The two of them could not help but express their feelings to each other when they met. Before they knew it, it was the hour of You.

Li Ke learned from Changsun Bingning that Mrs. Changsun was in poor health recently and was in a very disappointing mood.

Changsun Bingning had to take care of Mrs. Changsun and could not stay in the mansion for too long. At Li Ke's insistence, the two of them had dinner in the side hall before leaving. After Changsun Bingning left, Li Ke thought of Mrs. Changsun, who was seriously ill, and his heart was a little heavy.

He doubted whether the means he used to Changsun Huan were too cruel. However, when he thought that Changsun Wuji had falsely accused and persecuted him after Li Zhi ascended the throne, his depression disappeared. War is the continuation of politics through one means, and isn’t the mutual killing of politicians another manifestation of his own politics? The atmosphere of the Spring Festival has faded a lot on the eighth day of the first lunar month, and the annual leave of the Tang officials has ended here. Today is the second year of Zhenguan, which is the first morning court in the new year. Standing in the Taiji Hall Hall, Li Ke’s spirit has been out of the court after everyone shouted long live to salute Li Shimin. He was thinking about the changes in the court today.

At today's court meeting, he saw two people in the ranks of military generals, Li Jing, the god of the Tang Dynasty and Li Daozong, the famous general of the royal family, who was Rencheng.

In the past, Li Jing fought outside for many years, and even when there was no war, he was not in Chang'an for many years. Instead, he ruled the entire northern border army of the Tang Dynasty and resisted the separatist forces from the Turks, Tuyuhun and Shuofang.

Appearing in the court today is definitely not as simple as attending the first New Year's ceremony. There is also the famous royal general Li Daozong, who is only twenty-eight years old now. He is another general who can fight after Li Xiaogong, the Li Tang royal family. He also guards the border for many years and spends more than five days in the capital during festivals. It is definitely not accidental that he appears in the court today. The main issues discussed in the court in the Tang Dynasty in the new year are the summary of previous years' work, such as the performance assessment and promotion of officials, treasury tax revenue and expenditure, military expenses, etc.

But Li Ke didn't listen to these questions at all, because he was thinking about the abnormal phenomena of Li Jing and Li Daozong appearing in the court.

The court meeting lasted until noon. After the court was dispersed, Li Ke wanted to have a condom relationship with Li Jing and Li Daozong, but they were not expecting that both of them were called to Liangyi Palace by Li Shimin to discuss matters. Li Ke was very depressed and could only leave the palace in dejectedly. Ma Zhou, who returned to the Han Palace, found Li Ke's somewhat disappointed mood and asked about the reason. Li Ke told Ma Zhou about what he saw in the court. Ma Zhou thought for a long time but did not think of it. He could only analyze that Li Jing and Li Daozong might have to enter the court to become officials and leave the border army. Li Ke thought for a long time and felt that there was only this kind of explanation, so he no longer had to worry about this matter.

Ma Zhou knew that the change in the court was that he knew the result and it was difficult to change its itinerary, so instead of worrying about it, it was better to wait for the result. Therefore, Li Ke and Ma Zhou chatted for a few words and did not investigate the matter. After Ma Zhou left, Li Ke returned to the study and began to think about the problem of how to establish a relationship with Li Jing. Thinking of Li Jing's reputation and prestige in the Tang army, he couldn't help but be moved. A person who could be called the God of War by the Tang soldiers not only had strong military commands to get such a title, but the key was his personal charm. The personal charm of the commander lies in his martial ethics, his ability to remain calm in cruel wars, command battles calmly, and he would not be proud when he won, and in the dilemma of failure, he could also allow soldiers to respect and trust him. Therefore, the question Li Ke is thinking about now is how to have a good relationship with him after Li Jing returned to Beijing to serve.

It’s not that he had thought of being a student of Li Jing. Just like Li Ji, he was a student of Li Jing. But this idea was obviously unrealistic. His sensitive identity was enough to make a person like Li Jing who was good at protecting himself, let alone the dispute over the stock market.

Li Ke thought about it for a long time but couldn't think of any good idea to deliberately approach Li Jing. He could only sigh and stop forcing himself. As the saying goes, the moon is full, and the water is full. He has made Li Chengqian and Li Tai very jealous. If he has formed a relationship with Li Jing again, let alone them, even Li Shimin probably won't make himself feel better! It's better to go with the flow and wait for the opportunity! When Li Ke thought about this, he felt much more relaxed and leaned on the chair and fell asleep unconsciously.

After the eighth dynasty meeting, Li Ke stayed in the Han Palace and waited for Li Shimin to punish him. To put it bluntly, he was waiting for Li Shimin to issue his will to Bingzhou. During this period, he was apart from reading books and practicing swords in the mansion, and went to the palace to accompany Concubine Yang and his three younger brothers and sisters. He had no other thoughts, and just wanted to spend his last few days in Chang'an to gather with them.

On the 15th day of the Lantern Festival on the first lunar month, Li Ke stayed in the mansion from morning to night. He no longer had the interest in traveling and wanted to celebrate the last Lantern Festival in Chang'an in the mansion. But what he didn't expect was that Changsun Bingning suddenly visited and asked him to accompany him to watch the lantern festival. Li Ke naturally would not refuse Changsun Bingning's request, and the two came out of the Han Palace to look towards Zhuque Street.

Li Ke and Changsun Bing walked side by side to Zhuque Street. They didn't say a word when they left the Han Palace. There were many people watching lanterns on Zhuque Street, and the black-clothed guards could only sneak into the crowd to secretly protect Li Ke's safety.

Li Ke and Changsun Bingning walked through the two streets without saying a word. Changsun Bingning was the first to break the silence. "Your Highness, Bingning is a little scared now."

Li Ke gently held Changsun Bingning's left hand with his right hand and said, "Bingning, what's there to be afraid of with this king by your side? Could someone bully you again?"

"Your Highness, it is because of you Bingning, who is afraid." Changsun Bingning's voice was very small, and she spoke like a child who had made a mistake.

Li Ke stopped and pulled Changsun Bingning's right hand with his left hand so that Changsun Bingning's gaze could just look at him, "Bingning, do you have anything to say to me?"

"Your Highness--" Changsun Bingning turned his head over and dared not face Li Ke. Li Ke didn't say anything, and just stared at Changsun Bingning silently. The crowd of people watching the lanterns rushed by. Changsun Bingning was hit and leaned forward. He fell forward in Li Ke's arms. Li Ke hugged Changsun Bingning who was lying in his arms tightly and put his mouth close to her ear. He said softly, "Bingning, say whatever you have in your heart. No matter what you say, I will not blame you, just like when you left Chang'an without hesitation."

"Your Highness--" Changsun Bingning hugged Li Ke tightly with his hands, snuggled in Li Ke's arms and said in a choked tone, "Bingning knows some things I shouldn't ask you, but Bingning really wants to know."

"Bingning, ask what you want to know. I will not hide it from you." Li Ke gently wiped the tears from Changsun Bingning's cheek and said gently.

"Yeah." Changsun Bingning answered obediently and asked in a low voice, "Your Highness, did you arrange the case of Changsun Huan?"

"It's my plan." Li Ke said seriously, "It's just that Changsun Huan killed himself. I just created a favorable killing condition for him."

Changsun Bingning didn't say anything after hearing Li Ke's words. Li Ke sighed and continued, "I thought you would ask me this question, but I didn't expect you to endure it until today. Is there anything else to ask? As long as you speak, I will not refuse."

"Your Highness--" Changsun Bingning wanted to speak but stopped. Li Ke also let go of his hands. Changsun Bingning turned his eyes to a light in the distance. He didn't know whether he was thinking about the problem or hesitating whether he should continue to ask Li Ke.

"If you don't say it, I know what you are thinking in your heart, what are you talking about? You will say that my methods are too despicable and vulgar. Using this method to deal with a gentleman who only knows how to eat, drink, and have no threat to you at all, is not considered a gentleman? You will say that through this matter, you will find that I am not the King of Han who recites the heroic poems of "Manjianghong" by the Wei River, right? You will also say that I have become a narrow-minded person now for revenge, right?" Li Ke spoke very slowly and his tone was also very plain, "Because of this, you just said you were very afraid, right? Are you afraid that you will fall in love with someone who can sacrifice other people's lives for your own interests, right?"

Li Ke's words hit Changsun Bingning's heart. She opened her mouth to say something, but she wanted to speak but stopped. She just turned her eyes to another place and stopped looking at Li Ke.

Li Ke continued, "If you think that I am a despicable and shameless villain just because of this, have you ever thought about who Changsun Wuji is? What he did for his own interests? I think you are a member of the Tang Dynasty, right? I don't want to explain what his actions are for, I just want to ask you that I am a villain, not a gentleman you think. Could it be that Changsun Wuji took advantage of the chaos to plan and secretly assassinate others for his own interests, and deliberately breaking up the two people he likes for his own interests is what you think of as a gentleman, and is what you think of as an open and honest person?"

Changsun Bingning bit her lips hard and said nothing. The tears in her eyes were already wet her white and elegant clothes.

Li Ke sighed and continued, "Bing Ning, I hope you can understand a truth: any successful politician is stained with the blood of innocent people. The reason why you don't see them is because everyone's ways and means of doing things are different. Just like some people's words can kill hundreds of lives, and some people's purpose can provoke wars between the two countries."

"Your Highness - Bingning--" Changsun Bingning wanted to speak but was stopped by Li Ke. Li Ke took a deep breath and said, "I know that you are a filial girl. Changsun Wuji's family has nurturing you. It is very difficult for you to get between me and Changsun Wuji. Therefore, I will not make things difficult for you to make any choice between me and Changsun Wuji's family. I just want to tell you one thing, if one day you are tired of wandering outside and want to go home, my Li Ke's home is your home, and the door of the Han Palace will always be open for you."

After Li Ke finished speaking, he ignored Changsun Bingning, who was crying in front of him like a tearful person, and disappeared into the crowd.

Changsun Bing stared at Li Ke's back as he left, dazed in a daze, his mind was filled with what Li Ke said to her just now: If one day you are tired of wandering outside and want to go home, my Li Ke's home is yours, and the door of the Hanwang Mansion will always be open for you.

Li Ke was in a bad mood when he returned to the Han Palace. He locked himself in the study and kept silent, making Ma Zhou, Xu Jingzong, Liu Rengui and others worried for a long time. It was not until Chen Qi went to the study to report to Li Ke back and told everyone that Li Ke was fine. Everyone was relieved.
Chapter completed!