Chapter 317 Death from Illness
Imperial Physician Wang Bing diagnosed Li Linfu and prescribed medicine. Li Linfu asked in a low voice, "Imperial Physician Wang, can I survive this year?"

Wang Bing usually took advantage of Li Linfu, so he comforted him immediately: "Don't worry, Right Prime Minister. You just need to rest for a while, and your body will recover."

Li Linfu said, "The sage ordered me not to leave the palace. If I don't rest in the palace, where else can I go?"

Wang Bing said: "I am afraid that although the Right Prime Minister is in the palace, he is worried about the world. The Right Prime Minister should know that worrying will aggravate the illness."

Li Linfu nodded, had Wang Bing sent away, and then wrote a letter requesting an audience with Li Longji.

In the memorial, Li Linfu spoke sincerely, reviewed the friendship between him and Li Longji as monarch and subject, and finally proposed that his death might be not far away and hoped to meet Li Longji before his death.

When Li Longji saw Li Linfu's memorial, he was also very hesitant. He believed in his heart that Li Linfu would not rebel, but he had his reasons to target Li Linfu.

Li Longji was silent for a while and did not respond directly to Li Linfu, but ordered the lifting of the house arrest on Li Linfu.

After receiving Li Longji's response, Li Linfu tidied his appearance, put on court clothes, and did not choose to ride in a sedan chair. Instead, he rode a tall horse and set off for Xingqing Palace.

However, his demeanor remained unchanged, with the Jinwu Guards leading the way in front and hundreds of infantry and cavalry guarding on both sides, making for a very grand scene.

When he arrived at the gate of Xingqing Palace, Li Linfu dismounted and prepared to enter the palace, but was stopped by the palace guards.

The palace guard said, "The Saint has ordered that the Right Prime Minister is ill and should rest more. He does not need to enter the palace."

Li Linfu's expression changed drastically when he heard that. He took two steps back as his body could no longer support him. Li Xiu quickly stepped forward to support him.

Li Xiu asked, "Grandpa, are we still going to the palace?"

Li Linfu sighed and said quietly, "Help me get on the horse, and let's go back."

Li Xiu did as he was told, helped Li Linfu onto the horse, held the reins, and walked slowly.

When he reached the street below the Qinzhengwu Building, Li Linfu couldn't help but look up, and then he saw Li Longji.

Li Longji stood at the window of the Qinzhengwu Building, holding a red scarf, and waved to Li Linfu.

Li Linfu felt mixed emotions for a moment. He struggled to get off his horse and bowed deeply to Li Longji.

Li Longji looked at Li Linfu from afar and said to Gao Lishi beside him: "Do you know why Lu Xuan, the assistant minister of the Ministry of War, was demoted?"

Gao Lishi smiled and said, "I don't know."

Li Longji said: "It was because I was here to see him off and praised his elegance and gentleness. At that time, the Right Prime Minister had just taken over as Prime Minister."

Gao Lishi's heart trembled.

"I know only this much more than you do. Later, all matters outside the palace were handed over to the Right Prime Minister, and all matters inside the palace were handed over to you." Li Longji added, turned around and left, saying: "Today's government affairs end here, I'm going to the Pear Garden."

"Yes." Gao Lishi quickly followed Li Longji.

Li Linfu looked up and watched Li Longji leave. Past events came to his mind and his eyes became red.

Li Xiu on the side said: "Grandpa, the saint has left."

"Yes!" Li Linfu sighed and collapsed.

Li Xiu acted quickly, hugged Li Linfu, and quickly asked someone to summon the imperial physician.

……

Five days later, Guo Yingyi brought Abusi and the leader of the assassination tribe to Chang'an.

Li Longji did not wait for An Lushan's witnesses, and immediately ordered the execution of Abusi and the leader of the assassination tribe, and exiled their families to Lingnan. When Li Linfu, who was bedridden, heard the news, he asked someone to call Yang Guozhong.

After some hesitation, Yang Guozhong finally went to the Right Prime Minister's Mansion.

inside the house.

Li Tengkong, who had become a Taoist priest, was feeding medicine to Li Linfu. Li Linfu drank half of it and the other half flowed out from the corners of his mouth.

Yang Guozhong looked at the medicine flowing from the corner of Li Linfu's mouth, and recalled the scene when he first met Li Linfu, when he used his hands to catch Li Linfu's spit, and felt a sense of gloating in his heart.

Li Linfu finally finished drinking the medicine, and with great effort, he tilted his head slightly, looked at Yang Guozhong with a vague look, and said, "I will die soon. After I die, you will definitely take my place, and the Tang Dynasty will be handed over to you."

Yang Guozhong was startled and bowed quickly, saying, "How dare I? Right Prime Minister, take a good rest and you will recover soon."

Li Linfu smiled and said, "It seems that you still don't know why you can beat me. Go back."

"Yes." Yang Guozhong retreated with a puzzled look on his face.

After Yang Guozhong walked away, Li Tengkong cried, "It's all my fault. If I hadn't told Yang Guozhong about Wei Hui, Wang Yu might not have been sentenced to death, and my grandfather wouldn't have been implicated."

Li Linfu said: "I don't blame you. Even if you didn't say it, someone would have said it. Karma has its own consequences. Things have come to this point and there is no turning back."

Li Tengkong said: "The saint sentenced Abusi to death, which means he does not want to investigate this matter to the end. Grandpa, just take care of your illness and wait until your body recovers, then..."

"You are too immature." Li Linfu interrupted Li Tengkong, "If the saint really wants to protect me, he should get to the bottom of this matter. If it is not clear, how can I stand in the court in the future?"

Li Tengkong's tears flowed down.

"An Lushan, Yang Guozhong, and even Chen Xilie were all promoted by me. I am reaping the fruits of my own actions..." Li Linfu took a breath and continued, "After I die, my family property will be confiscated and your brothers and sisters will be exiled. Yang Guozhong is vicious and will not easily get away with them. Fortunately, you are a Taoist practitioner and will not be implicated. However, I hope you can do your best to protect your brothers and sisters."

Li Tengkong said: "My daughter will definitely do her best!"

"Very good." Li Linfu showed a relieved smile, raised his hand and pointed at the small box on the table, "There is a memorial inside, which I wrote to the saint. After I die, you ask Li Xiu to present the memorial to the saint. There is also a letter, which I wrote to the prince of Shou. If you give the letter to the prince of Shou, he may save your lives."

"Yes." Li Tengkong burst into tears.

……

In August 750, An Lushan's witnesses arrived in Chang'an.

That night, Li Linfu died of a sudden illness in his mansion.

Three days later, Li Longji asked Chen Xilie to lead the Dali Temple, Jingzhao Prefecture, and the Censorate to try the case of Li Linfu and Abe Si's rebellion. Geshu Han and Li Linfu's son-in-law Yang Qixuan came out to testify.

In September, the trial of the case ended. Li Linfu was stripped of his official position and buried with commoner rites. His property was confiscated, his children were exiled to Hexi, and more than 50 of his relatives were demoted.

However, Ji Wen, one of Li Linfu's confidants, turned against him halfway through the process. Not only was he not demoted, but he was promoted to Chief Censor. Luo Xishi was also safe and sound, and was appointed as the prefect of Shi'an and the governor of Jinglüe.

Chen Xilie was promoted to Duke of Xu for his contribution in trying the case of Li Linfu. Yang Guozhong was appointed as the right prime minister and concurrently the Minister of Culture. An Lushan was concurrently the Herdsmen of Helong.

In October, Li Longji went to Huaqing Palace, and Li Tengkong was exiled to Hexi with his brothers and sisters.

After defeating Li Linfu, Yang Guozhong gained confidence and turned to An Lushan. He advised Li Longji that An Lushan, like Abusi, was planning a rebellion.

Li Longji didn't believe it, but to be on the safe side, he sent the eunuch Fu Lin to investigate.

(End of this chapter)