The Thirty-Seven Great Assemblies (1)

  Waking up naturally after a good sleep is what almost everyone yearns for, and it's also what Su Ning yearns for. Disturbing someone's peaceful sleep is like the resentment of having one's wife taken away, which is like killing one's parents, and killing one's parents is an irreconcilable feud. Therefore, based on mathematical principles, disturbing someone's peaceful sleep is also an irreconcilable feud!

  Su Ning was just about to decide on a life-and-death duel with this guy who had been disturbing his peaceful sleep, defending his right to sleep until he woke up naturally. But when he opened his eyes, he found Su Dingfang's big face pressed against his own: "Second Brother! Wake up! Today is the grand court assembly! We must attend the imperial reward ceremony! Hurry up and get dressed! We also need to go to General Li's residence for a meeting!"

  Su Ning was suddenly shocked, okay! Grand court meeting! The grand court meeting that kills the day! This damn sky hasn't even lit up yet! Were ancient emperors all so diligent?! Were ancient officials all so hardworking?!

  The answer is naturally fixed. The Grand Court will only be convened when there are major happy events and major bad things that need to be announced nationwide, and large-scale rewards and punishments are carried out. Other things such as morning court meetings are also held every few days, of course, there is no fixed number. Sometimes things are urgent and the court is held every day, sometimes there is nothing for more than a dozen days without holding court, as long as they do their job well.

  Otherwise, not only would Emperor Li not have enough time and energy to favor his own 3,000 beauties, but officials would also complain endlessly. This Zhu Yuanzhang was a psychological freak and this Chongzhen was a workaholic, attending court every day, handling affairs with such diligence that the evil consequences of imperial over-centralization appeared: not only did he sleep poorly himself, but he also made his many ministers sleep poorly; at this time, only a tiny minority of the emperor's confidants could meet with him daily to discuss important matters in the Two Instruments Hall.

  The great army marched north, defeated the enemy, destroyed their country, captured their people, and spread its prestige throughout the world. The leaders of the nomadic tribes were said to be so frightened that they were preparing to jointly petition Li Er to become their "Tian Kehan" (Heavenly Khan), flattering him with excessive praise, trying to keep the arrogant and self-loving Li Er calm, lest he send troops north to burn them down again.

  Of course, everyone's heart is as bright and clear as a mirror. Such great achievements are all thanks to that extraordinary Su Ning from San Yuan County. He was ruthless! With one big fire, he roasted the 30,000-strong Turkic army. It's said that the delicious smell of meat attracted all the wild beasts within ten miles around. That's really miserable! I heard many people are already preparing to impeach this young man, saying he is cruel and tyrannical, and asking the Emperor to deal with him.

  But such a great achievement, everyone knows that the emperor wants to ring the bronze bell of the Temple of Heaven 99 times, it is clear that Emperor Li has decided to honor Suning. At this time, jumping out would make Emperor Li embarrassed and hit the muzzle?

  Don't worry, the Tang Dynasty has many officials who are not afraid of death. Emperor Li II also said that the Tang Dynasty does not punish people for their words. You can say whatever you want as long as you don't rebel. I won't bother you. That's the principle. Therefore, there are many officials willing to risk their lives to defend the truth in their hearts. They also know that even if they die, they will leave a good name and bring blessings to future generations. Why not do it?

  It seems like today's imperial court meeting is going to be interesting...

  All the officials were thinking like this, but Su Ning, who had unknowingly become the protagonist of today's grand court meeting, was still dozing off on Su Dingfang's horse. Su Dingfang couldn't take his second brother anymore, and despite telling him about the importance of today's grand court meeting, he still looked sleepy. As soon as he got on his horse, named Lai Fu, he fell asleep on its back. Lai Fu even considerately lay down, making it safer and more comfortable for Su Ning to sleep, causing everyone to stifle a laugh...

  Helpless, Su Dingfang had no choice but to lift Su Ning onto his horse and let him sleep on the horse's neck, while he sat behind him and galloped wildly, still having to ensure Su Ning's safety, as it wouldn't be funny if he fell off.

  Rushing to arrive at Li Jing's gate, he had already put on his armor and mounted his horse, ready to leave. As it was a reward for military merit, the meritorious generals all wore their most magnificent uniforms to show respect. Li Jing felt anxious because he suddenly remembered that according to that young man's habit of loving sleep and laziness, he would definitely not wake up before sunrise. What if something big happened at this time!

  The red-clothed woman felt very displeased: "Old master, Su Ning's attitude is too high! He still hasn't arrived at this hour! Does he want His Majesty to personally go and receive him?" Li Jing sighed: "Madam, don't speak nonsense. That little brat from Sanming has always been lazy by nature. In the past when we were in the army, almost every day he wouldn't get up until the sky was bright. Occasionally a few times I even had to personally go and wake him up. Alas, this child doesn't know who he's learned from! Alright, I'll go take a look. Madam, you go back to sleep for a while."

  Li Jing finished speaking and prepared to ride his horse to Yongning Square to find Su Ning, but as soon as he turned the horse's head, he saw a fast horse galloping towards him. Li Jing took a closer look and found that it was indeed Su Dingfang! But why was there only one horse? Where was Su Ning? Could something have happened?!

  Li Jing was startled in his heart and immediately rode up to greet him: "Ding Fang, where is San Ming? Why didn't San Ming come over?! Didn't something happen?"

  Su Dingfang saw Li Jing, pulled the reins to stop his horse, jumped off, and walked his horse to Li Jing's side. Pointing at Su Ning who was hugging the horse's neck and snoring loudly, he said awkwardly: "General, I'm really sorry, but I couldn't wake up my younger brother."

  As soon as this was said, the family members and servants who came out to see Li Jing off from his mansion burst into laughter. Is there really such an interesting person in this world? Can't wake him up? He's sleeping with his arms around the horse's neck! How ridiculous is that?! The Su family's second son, who had been quite famous lately, was actually such a person? Hong Zhaonu laughed so hard she couldn't straighten her waist, and her displeasure instantly turned into laughter, laughing nonstop.

  Li Jing also coughed for a long time, and with great difficulty suppressed the laughter that was like a tidal wave. He turned his head and scolded in a loud voice: "Don't laugh anymore! What kind of discipline is this!" As soon as General Li spoke, everyone immediately became silent as if they had been frozen. Then Li Jing came to Su Ning's side, patted Su Ning's face: "Sanming, Sanming, wake up, wake up!"

  Su Ning furrowed his brow, rubbed his nose, turned his head and fell asleep again. Li Jing felt a wave of helplessness, so he went to the other side and patted Su Ning's cheek: "Sanming! Hurry up and wake up! We have to go to the Grand Court Assembly! Wake up quickly!" Su Ning furrowed his brow again, then relaxed it, muttering: "Call me when it's time to eat..."

  Su Dingfang was stunned, and Li Jing was also stunned. Then he suddenly became furious: "Sanming!!!! You little brat!!!!!!"

  …………

  Outside the Vermilion Bird Gate, looking at the bustling crowd, Su Ning rubbed his face and said to Li Jing with a full of resentment: "Uncle, do you have to be so ruthless? Wouldn't it be enough just to call out 'Little Nephew' for me to wake up? Big Brother! You're still smiling!" With a glance, Su Ning saw Su Dingfang's malicious smile, and suddenly became angry, shaking his tiger body with force, but the King Eight's aura was ineffective against Su Dingfang's true tiger body...

  The officials coming and going found this scene very interesting, so they gathered around to watch. Who could stand with Li Jing like that, and even seemed a bit intimate? Whose child was this? Could it be the 14-year-old Su Ning?

  Li Jing's words dispelled their doubts: "This grand gathering is extremely important! It is the emperor's reward for us meritorious generals! You, as the first to achieve merit, are still half asleep and unaware of what's going on. What kind of dignity is that? When the time comes and the emperor calls your name, you'll be snoring loudly in the hall below. That's a crime of deceiving the ruler! It's punishable by beheading!" Li Jing made a gesture of chopping off his head with one knife, intimidating Su Ning.

  Now everyone knows that the little general wearing a military uniform is actually Su Ning, the three yuan county son who makes the grassland nation tremble with fear. It's unknown what reward the emperor will give him this time, and it's also unknown what those officials who were preparing to jointly impeach Su Ning will do. However, everyone thinks that this grand court meeting will be wonderful and exciting.

  Su Ning gave Li Jing a white eye, didn't say anything, but he understood in his heart that even when the emperor's power was at its strongest, he couldn't just kill someone by saying so. Although emperors always said that the world belonged to them, and that all land under heaven was the king's territory, and all people on this land were the king's subjects; however, everyone knew in reality that the world didn't belong to just one person, the emperor. This matter wasn't something that could be decided by the emperor alone either. If the emperor wanted to do something, he had to go through his ministers' approval. If he wanted to put on an imperial air and act arbitrarily, then he would have to wait for historians to scold him severely in their books, giving him a reputation as a tyrannical and foolish ruler!

  So the emperor is not a word that can determine the world, even if it is the founding monarch, Li Er's majesty, who has made great contributions to the country, was he not also rebuked by Wei Zheng and suffered a bloody head? Wasn't he also refuted to death by a fifth-grade official? Because everyone has a bottom line in their hearts, the emperor cannot casually kill people with status, even if they are ordinary people, of course, eunuchs, slaves, and low-born people in the palace, they are not considered complete people in the law of the Tang Dynasty, can be killed at will...

  "Sanming, thank you for the delicious food you brought yesterday, haha, it was very tasty and I'm very satisfied. " Before he knew it, Li Shijie also arrived beside Suning, smiling and saying to Suning, who smiled back and bowed: "As long as uncle enjoys eating, that's all that matters, I don't have any other strengths, just a love for food."

  Li Shijie laughed and said, "Sanming, your craftsmanship is not ordinary. After eating this, everything else tastes bland. You'd better take responsibility, or if I starve to death, you'll be implicated too!"

  Su Ning was instantly helpless, and Li Shijie was clearly being unreasonable, essentially threatening him to solve his own eating problem!

  But there's no way, who let him be the big boss and himself just a small shrimp? But speaking of which, Li Shimin is only thirty-six years old this year, in his previous life he was still a young man, but at this time he can already call himself an old man, haha, this world is really wonderful! However, there is still a considerable gap between him and Li Jing's fifty-nine years, so the generation cannot be messed up, so he calls Li Jing "Uncle", and can only call Li Shimin "Uncle".

  Although his heart was racing with a million galloping horses, Su Ning could only smile and say: "Uncle can send the family chef to my house, I will personally cultivate them, Uncle won't have to worry about not having good food to eat anymore, how's that?" Li Shijie smiled in satisfaction: "Hehe, the child is teachable, the child is teachable."

  Su Ning despises this scoundrel who eats from the bowl but eyes the pot, but Li Jing is not someone to be trifled with either. He has coughed several times already, can't you understand the meaning behind it? The relationship between him and Li Jing should be closer than that with Li Shimin. How can he favor one over the other? As the Minister of War of the Tang Dynasty, Li Jing's prestige and military achievements are not to be underestimated. Although he is a political failure, in terms of connections, Su Ning is far inferior.

  So Suning had to play the role of a scapegoat: "Hehe, Uncle Li can also send some cooks to my house, and I will cultivate some good cooks for you too, okay?" Li Jing nodded in satisfaction, no longer coughing; just as Suning let out a sigh of relief, Tang Jian's voice rang out: "You ungrateful little brat! You have no conscience! You guys put me in danger to gain merit, and I won't even bother to settle accounts with you. But you actually didn't think about me?!"

  Suning was suddenly depressed, okay, how could he forget this? How could he forget Tang Jian, that old guy? During the few days of mobilizing troops, Suning and Tang Jian discussed diplomatic matters and got along very well. Tang Jian is a hawkish person who advocates for being tough on the outside, otherwise he wouldn't have instigated Li Er to use military force. After hearing Suning's big stick plus carrot foreign policy, he was deeply impressed and secretly regarded Suning as a kindred spirit.

  Li Jing burst out laughing: "Zou Gong, this kid's cooking is incredibly delicious! We can't miss it! Hahaha!" From that day on, Li Jing understood that Su Ning had been trying his best to prevent any discord between him and Tang Zhan, so he also understood Su Ning's intention and became very friendly with Tang Zhan; but Tang Zhan was even more furious: "You little scoundrel! If you don't give me an explanation, I'll never let you off the hook!"

  Su Ning gave Li Jing a white eye, and hastily bowed to Tang Jian, who was full of anger: "Gong Zhong please forgive me, yesterday I just returned to the mansion, and just recognized my mother, my mind is confused, overjoyed, Gong Zhong, you also understand, how about this? You also send some cooks to my house, okay? Also, today I will definitely send some food to Gong Zhong's mansion, okay?"

  Tang Jian finally put away his furious expression, snorted and said: "Consider yourself lucky, you little rascal! Hmph!" After that, he ignored Su Ning and started chatting with Li Jing. Meanwhile, Li Shiming whispered to Su Ning: "You're a lucky person, do you know that?"

  Suning sighed: "Of course, I know that Ju Gong is also making a gesture! Uncle, my nephew still wants to thank you!" Suning didn't know what Li Jing and Li Shiming's real intention was in extorting him, but he hadn't expected Tang Zong to show his support for himself. With this, the attacks from the civil officials on the imperial court would be reduced a bit. Thinking of this, Suning felt that it wasn't a waste to teach such good diplomatic skills to Tang Zong, and the old man still had some conscience.

  Li Shimu was surprised in his heart, but he didn't think of this layer of relationship. This young man who had just entered the imperial court was surprisingly clear-headed, and said: "Good boy, you're clever indeed! I was going to put in a few more good words for you, but it seems that's not necessary now." Su Ning smiled slightly and said softly: "Thank you, uncle, your nephew will remember this in his heart."

  Li Shi Ji nodded in satisfaction, but in his heart he couldn't help but sigh and say, "Li Jing, Li Jing, you are muddled when it comes to things, but you are accurate when it comes to people. It seems that I don't need to worry anymore. As long as this young man is alive, your family will be safe and sound. Indeed, it's time for Zhen Er and this young man to get along well..."

  Just as Li Shimin was thinking about his future strategy, a loud and rough voice rang out: "Cow nose! Is this little kid Su Ning?"