The foolish monarch actually talked about "national law" with Gu Qing, which is inexplicably ridiculous.

In fact, the person who destroys the most national laws is Li Longji. The will of the king has always been above the law. The emperor's art is balanced in the court, and the word "balance" never asks about black, white, good and evil, and it is absolutely in conflict with the law.

In an era when the power of the monarch is absolutely greater than that of the ministers, the only thing that can check and balance the power of the emperor is the public opinion of the court and the public.

This is also the reason why Gu Qing hurried back to Chang'an and apologized to Li Longji before the government and the opposition were discussed. If the case of killing the governor was known to the government and the public, when the public opinion of the civil and military officials in the court said that Gu Qing was going to kill him, Li Longji could not save him.

But if Li Longji dealt with it before public opinion, it would be okay no matter how loud the discussion was. Gu Qing had been punished, and Li Longji could not have been punished for the second time. The face and authority of the emperor are very important.

"I am guilty, and I am willing to be punished." Gu Qing knelt in front of Li Longji, and his attitude of admitting guilt was particularly correct.

Li Longji stared at Gu Qing, really wanting to kick the bar into the dragon pond and feed the fish.

The reason may be just, but the approach is a big rebellion. If it is used by someone with a heart, there will be another storm in the court.

After all, Gu Qing saved Li Longji's life, and he was also a talented and irresistible person. No matter how cold Li Longji was, he could not bear to punish Gu Qing severely.

Besides, since Li Linfu's death, the court was a sensitive period of the transition from old to new forces. Li Longji had been suffering from a minister who was not easy to use. At this time, Gu Qing saved his life. Judging from his origins and experiences of distress, Gu Qing's position in Li Longji's heart became more and more important. He originally planned to reuse Gu Qing, but who knew that Gu Qing had caused such a big disaster.

"Gu Qing, you are not an impulsive person on weekdays, why did you commit such a serious crime? I don't know how to excuse you if you kill the fourth-rank governor. If the censor in the court learned about this, the memorials of impeachment of you may be piled up like a mountain. Tell me what should I do with you?" Li Longji shook his head and sighed.

Gu Qing lowered his head and said, "I know my crime. No matter how Your Majesty commits me, I have no complaints."

Concubine Yang stepped forward to take Li Longji's arm and begged softly: "Your Majesty, although Gu Qing's move is a little impulsive, he has taken advantage of the truth after all. The governor of Shangzhou is too bad. Gu Qing insists on avenging his personal guards regardless of his future and life. It just proves that Gu Qing is a person who values ​​friendship and friendship. He is a kind and kind child. If such a minister can be used by Your Majesty, I am happy for Your Majesty. If you punish Gu Qing too much, it will hurt the hearts of kind people in the world..."

The white jade-like arm shook Li Longji's arm, and Yang Guifei said coquettishly: "Sanlang, I have been away from my hometown for many years. There is only a small fellow villager like Gu Qing in Chang'an City. If you punish him severely, I will be sad..."

After saying that, Yang Guifei sobbed a few times, her eyes turned red and she suddenly felt like crying.

Li Longji was amused and laughed: "My wife, the national law is ruthless and has nothing to do with personal friendship. Even if I am the emperor, I will be concerned about the world. Gu Qing committed such a serious crime. If I expose it gently, how can I face the many ministers in the court? Their eyes are all staring at me."

Concubine Yang got upset and cried, "The governor should have died. If Gu Qing did not kill him, but presented his evidence to His Majesty, His Majesty would also issue an order to kill him. Gu Qing just did this in advance. What was his fault? Just killing a bad person, why should he mobilize all his troops?"

Li Longji shook his head and smiled bitterly, but did not argue with her. It seems that Li Longji's age is not in vain. He has learned not to reason with women, otherwise even if he defeated her logically, he would be defeated in love.

"Madam, I'm in a difficult situation..." Li Longji tried helplessly to appease Yang Guifei.

Concubine Yang snorted, twisted her body and ignored him.

Princess Wanchun, who had been silent for a long time, finally spoke: "The father governs the country with benevolence and filial piety, and the principles of sages spread throughout the world in order to educate the people to be kind. Gu Qing was wrong because he lost the law, but his courage was correct. If the father punished Gu Qing severely, then if the people in the world knew that the cause and effect of this matter, they ignored it in the future and did not do it, and the people were benevolent and moral, and what was the use of keeping the legal principles of the Tang Dynasty?"

"My daughter thought that the so-called 'prosperity' under the rule of the father's emperor was not about wealth or military power, but about the people's hearts and actions of benevolence and righteousness. The king, sage, minister, wise, and the people's goodness are called 'prosperity'. Gu Qing's actions are wrong, but it should not be punished heavily. Otherwise, the father will maintain the law but lose benevolence and righteousness. The harm will outweigh the benefits. The father must not ignore it."

Gu Qing looked at her unexpectedly, her eyes full of gratitude.

I didn't expect that this seemingly rude princess would say such a big truth, and I didn't expect that she would plead for him.

At this moment, Wanchun's image suddenly became tall and majestic in Gu Qing's heart. The typical image of a white and rich goddess, the three words "white and rich" are well deserved. Her appearance is indeed beautiful. The face of a mixed-race beauty is second only to Yang Guifei. She is from the royal family. In theory, his father's money is hers, and she is rich in the world.

As for "white", well, this Gu Qing has the most say, it's really white.

After Wan Chun finished speaking, she stopped talking and faced Gu Qing's grateful gaze, but she didn't even look at him coldly, as if she had just said a few fair words.

Both women were helping Gu Qing talk. Li Longji's originally angry expression gradually calmed down. He glanced at Gu Qing indifferently and snorted: "You are smart. Before apologizing for guilt, you did not forget to bring the imperial concubine and my daughter to be a lobbyist for you. Do you think I can't see it?"

Without any embarrassment of being exposed, Gu Qing simply admitted: "I am not brave enough to die. In fact, I am afraid of death. It is sincere to apologize to Your Majesty from your sincerity, and to invite the Imperial Concubine and His Highness the Princess to be lobbyists."

Li Longji smiled angry, waved his sleeves hard, and said, "Save your life first, come, take Gu Qing's official uniform and hat, and take it to Dali Temple."

The Yulin Guard stepped forward and quickly stripped Gu Qing's official uniform and hat.

Concubine Yang was anxious: "Does Your Majesty still have to punish Gu Qing severely?"

Li Longji said angrily: "I can't give an order to praise him if I have done such a big thing, right? Go to Dali Temple for a while and wait until the wind is over before coming out."

Gu Qing buryed his head and said, "I thank Your Majesty for your kindness."

…………

As expected, Gu Qing was indeed shot into Dali Temple.

Yulinwei took Gu Qing into the prison. When the prisoners saw Gu Qing, they felt very familiar. After recalling carefully, they found that this was an old acquaintance who was imprisoned for three days after taking people to rob the Wannian County prison last time? Why are they coming again?

Moreover, this old acquaintance is the only strange person who was promoted during the jail period since the opening of Dali Temple. When Gu Qing was released from prison, his legend was widely circulated in Dali Temple and everyone envied it.

The prisoners inquired again and found that the old acquaintance had been sent to Dali Temple by His Majesty himself. No one knew what the crime had been committed. Moreover, the acquaintance had been promoted to the General of the Left Guard and the Marquis of Qingcheng County.

I don’t know whether Li Longji intentionally or unintentionally sent a decree to incite Gu Qing to Dali Temple, but he never mentioned how to deal with Gu Qing’s official title. Therefore, Gu Qing was not dismissed from office or removed from his title. His identity was still the General of the Left Guard and the Marquis of Qingcheng County.

This is interesting. Another strange story since the opening of Dali Temple was thrown into prison, but the official title was not dismissed. It was like a gilded layer of grassroots, and it was squatting for a few days before leaving.

The jailers dealt with the officials who had committed crimes at Dali Temple all day long, and learned about official rules by 40% or 50%. Seeing Gu Qing's identity, the jailers suddenly felt that it was not simple, so they did not dare to be disrespectful to Gu Qing at all, and politely invited him into prison.

It was only more than an hour since Han Jie came in to visit the prison with a large bag of small bags.

Kneeling outside the prison door, Han Jie looked guilty and blamed himself, and cried with tears to scold himself and his personal guards for not maintaining their strength, causing the Marquis to be imprisoned.

Seeing that Han Jie was getting more and more outrageous when Gu Qing saw that he was so guilty that he wanted to draw a knife in front of him, Gu Qing had to comfort him with a few words of gentle words. Finally, he persuaded Han Jie to leave, and Gu Qing finally became quiet.

When the environment becomes quiet, the mind becomes particularly sensitive.

Gu Qing sat cross-legged on the clean mattress brought by Han Jie, constantly recalling every word that Li Longji said today, and then speculated on how Li Longji would deal with him.

Most likely, he should not be executed.

Li Longji is definitely a clear distinction between pros and cons, lightness and heavyness. Killing a trivial governor is nothing, and what is important is that Gu Qing takes the truth, and Xing Shen should kill him, but the order and means are wrong.

The life-saving grace for Li Longji is not a bargaining chip, Gu Qing’s real bargaining chip is his value in Li Longji’s heart.

So, where is he in Li Longji's heart? A sensible boy, a boy who is occasionally impulsive and calm most of the time. For utilitarians like Li Longji, Gu Qing's occasionally impulsive personality just meets the emperor's requirements for his subjects.

Ministers cannot be perfect everywhere. Ministers must have shortcomings, and their shortcomings must be obvious. Only ministers with shortcomings can be held in the hands of the emperor. For Li Longji, who is confident and arrogant, being too loyal is Gu Qing's shortcomings.

In order to avenge a few personal guards, he dared to kill the governor. For Li Longji, this is a foolish meaning, and it is an obvious shortcoming. This shortcoming makes Gu Qing's image not perfect, but this imperfect image is the most perfect for Li Longji.

Such a perfect minister, especially who saved his life, is undoubtedly loyal. How could Li Longji be willing to kill Gu Qing?

I don’t know whether it’s luck or sadness when I was born in this era. The superiority of rule of man over rule of law is that the will of the emperor is above the law. In other words, no matter how much sin I committed, if the emperor thinks that this person should not die, then he will definitely not die. Therefore, a foolish monarch is a truly lawless person.

This is not Gu Qing's self-speculation, but a precedent.

An Lushan once sent a dead soldier to assassinate Zhang Jiuling, but Zhang Jiuling survived. After returning to Chang'an, he wrote countless memorials to impeach An Lushan, but Li Longji ignored it and even refused to admit that it was happening.
Chapter completed!