Empress Zhangsun married Li Shimin at the age of thirteen. The two of them experienced ups and downs together, playing the zither and playing the zither together.
Li Shimin didn't want to get angry at Empress Zhangsun. He restrained his anger and said angrily,""It's not Wei Zheng, it's that brat Du Kefa.”
"Du Kefa?" Empress Zhangsun placed the lunch box on the table and squatted down to pick up the scattered books on the ground.""How did he anger His Majesty?"
"Isn't it because Dang Renhong violated the law? If he was in the army, I would have chopped off his head long ago. However, both of his sons died on the battlefield. I wanted to protect his life, but Du Kefa insisted on going against me. If he led the officials of the Supreme Court to resist the law, if I wholeheartedly went to save Dang Renhong, I would have to wear the hat of a fatuous ruler.”
"Could it be that Your Majesty still wants to punish a crime that can be punished? Then Lizhi would be a widow before marriage. No matter what happened, Fa was still a member of the Du family and Lizhi's husband.”Empress Zhangsun's gentle voice was soothing Li Shimin's anger.
"But, Guanyin, you say that Dang Renhong has made great contributions to the Great Tang. Was it wrong of Us to protect his life?”
"Your Majesty is not wrong, but I feel that Fu Ma's actions are also not wrong. He is the Minister of Judicial Review, and it is his duty to uphold the law, so it is best for Your Majesty to decide what to do. However, there is one thing that I want to congratulate Your Majesty first.”
"Congratulations?" "What's there to be happy about?"”
"His Majesty often laments that Wei Zheng's outspoken remonstrance can correct the gains and losses. Du Fuma was not afraid of the Emperor's anger and insisted on his own views. He could also be a mirror for the Emperor.”
"Hmph, with Wei Zheng as a mirror, I already have enough headaches. However, you are right. Du Kefa was able to persist under my anger. He is indeed courageous and not a bootlicker.”
Empress Zhangsun saw that Li Shimin's anger had mostly subsided and smiled.""It's all thanks to Your Majesty's insight that you found a good partner for Lizhi.”
Li Shi Min smiled.
"Does Your Majesty really want to remove the official position of the Supreme Court?" Empress Zhangsun took the opportunity to ask.”
Li Shi Min looked confused and asked,""When did I say I was going to remove Dukefa from his position?”
……
There are no secrets in the palace.
Not long after, the news of Du Kefa meeting Li Shimin and angering him spread in the government.
In Shangshu Province, Left Prime Minister Zhangsun Wuji was reading a document. A servant approached him and whispered a few words in his ear.
"Du Kefa angered His Majesty and was dismissed? Are you sure?"
"Wang De told me," the servant nodded and said in a low voice.”
Zhangsun Wuji narrowed his eyes as rays of light shot out from the slits.
"What about his marriage with Princess Chang Le?”
He had already given up, but now he saw a glimmer of hope.
"Wang De didn't say anything about this."
Zhangsun Wuji stood up abruptly and strode out of the government office towards the palace.
"This is a good opportunity. I need to discuss the marriage between Chong-er and Princess Chang Le with the Empress.”
In the Ministry of Central Affairs, Li Jing saw a few officials gathered together and chatting, so he walked over.
"Duke Wei." After the officials greeted him, Li Jing asked,""What is everyone discussing?”
"Duke Wei, we are discussing the matter of the Supreme Court's Minister Du Kefa offending His Majesty and being dismissed.”
Li Jing had experienced countless battles, big and small. He still had the ability to remain calm even if Mount Tai collapsed in front of him. However, when he heard this news, he was still slightly stunned.
"Du Kefa was fired?"
Li Jing had spoken to Du Kefa before in the Supreme Court and had a good impression of him. He felt that Du Kefa was quite gentle and had a good eye for things. He did not have the naivety of a newcomer in the officialdom and had Du Ruhui's deep scheming style.
Would such a person anger His Majesty?
Li Jing listened to the officials in confusion and had a new understanding of Du Kefa.
Du Kefa had extraordinary courage to insist on his own opinion in front of the angry Emperor.
Li Jing didn't say anything. He turned around and walked away. When he passed by the Prime Minister's office, he saw the thin Du Ruhui playing chess with the broad, square-faced, and plump Fang Xuanling.
Li Jing thought for a moment and walked towards them.
Fang Xuanling held the white chess piece and stared at the chessboard with a frown. His eyes would stare at a few positions from time to time. He wanted to place a piece but did not. He hesitated. After a long time, he chose a place to place his piece.
As soon as the white chess piece fell, Du Ruhui picked up a black chess piece and dropped it onto the chessboard without hesitation.
Fang Xuanling slowly picked up the white piece, his mind thinking about the possible changes that could be brought about by the various pieces.
The plan for the house was cut off.
Although Li Jing's footsteps were light, the two of them still heard him and nodded at him.
"The two prime ministers are so elegant." Li Jing sat beside the chessboard.
"Duke Wei, I'm sorry." As soon as Du Ruhui finished speaking, he coughed heavily.
Fang Xuanling finally placed his piece." You've been coughing more and more recently.”
"Old habits." Du Ruhui coughed a few more times and looked at Li Jing." Duke Wei, shall we play the next round?”
Li Jing stared at Du Ruhui.”
Extraordinary bearing? Du Ruhui was somewhat confused by Li Jing's flattery. It was just a game of chess, what was so special about it?
Seeing that Du Ruhui was staring at him with a questioning look, Li Jing knew that Du Ruhui still didn't know about Du Kefa, so he told him everything he had heard.
Du Ruhui coughed for a long time.”
"I think his courage is commendable." Li Jing said.
Fang Xuanling advised Du Ruhui not to be anxious.
"How can I not be anxious? His Majesty had just promised him a marriage with Princess Changle. What if His Majesty got angry and canceled the marriage? Zhangsun Wuji had always wanted his son to marry Princess Chang Le. He would definitely grab this opportunity.”
Li Jing shook his head and said," Duke Cai, don't worry about this. His Majesty has promised to marry your third brother to the Princess of Changle. He will not go back on his word." After all, this concerned the reputation of Changle Gongwen.”
"Duke Wei is right." "I've seen Kefa a few times before, but I didn't expect him to be like Wei Zheng, daring to argue with His Majesty."”
"I don't want him to be like Wei Zheng.”
Du Ruhui was speaking the truth. Wei Zheng's temper was too straightforward, so straightforward that he did not have many friends in the imperial court. He was simply a lone official.
He wasn't in the mood to play chess anymore. He stood up and said to Li Jing and Fang Xuanling,""I'll go back and persuade him to apologize to His Majesty.”
Du Ruhui left in a hurry. Fang Xuanling asked Li Jing,""Does Wei Guogong think he can persuade Du Kefa?”
"What do you think?" Li Jing asked instead of answering.”
In the Wei Residence, Wei Zheng was lying on his desk writing a memorial. His eldest son, Wei Shuyu, walked in gently." Father, there are rumors in the palace that the newly appointed Minister of Justice, Du Kefa, angered His Majesty and was removed from his post.”
Wei Zheng raised his head and frowned.”
After Wei Shuyu finished telling the story, Wei Zheng pondered for a long time and said to himself,"Is Du Kefa's direct advice sincere, or is it for the sake of fame?”
He was silent for a while, then put down the brush in his hand and put on his faded court clothes.
"Father, where are you going?"
"Enter the palace and remonstrate. Regardless of Du Kefa's motives, His Majesty could not dismiss a third-grade official so rashly.”
Wei Shuyu looked at his father's back with respect and helplessness.
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