People in the early Tang Dynasty: I compete with Wu Zhao for the throne

Chapter 1523: The Second Face-to-Face Confrontation between Li Xuan and Empress Wu

In the Qianyuan Hall, the emperor received the imperial edict.

Li Xuan stood among the kings on the left, his solemn gaze shifted from Pei Yan, Li Yuanjia, and Wei Daijia to Li Xian.

Li Xian, wearing a black nine-dragon nine-chapter robe and a twelve-tassel white jade headdress, stood there, reminding people of the late emperor.

Li Xuan bowed his head slightly, but couldn't help but sigh in his heart.

Li Xian is not Li Zhi after all.

Pei Yan stood on the golden steps, bowed to Li Xian, then walked to the golden table beside him, picked up the golden book on it, turned around and walked to the center of the golden steps, looked at the ministers and said: "The Emperor of Heaven and the Earth God, please bless us and grant us the order to Kaili Yuan. The late emperor's will ordered that the crown prince ascend the throne and grant the golden book. All the officials, without any agreement, kneel!"

All the ministers in the palace knelt down at the same time and said in a deep voice: "We congratulate Your Majesty on ascending the throne and receiving the title."

Li Xian walked up the golden steps and came in front of Pei Yan.

Pei Yan solemnly handed the golden book to Li Xian, then stepped back and knelt down at the foot of the golden steps.

Li Xian stopped, and Li Yuanjia stood on the golden steps, bowed to Li Xian, then turned and walked to the golden table, picked up the golden box containing the six seals of the emperor, walked to the third step of the golden steps, looked at the ministers and said loudly: "The will of heaven cannot be delayed. The crown prince ascends the throne and is granted the golden seal. He is the parent of the people and the emperor has returned. Congratulations!"

"We congratulate Your Majesty on ascending the throne and receiving the imperial seal!" The ministers bowed solemnly to the ground again.

Li Xian took another step forward and walked in front of Li Yuanjia.

Li Yuanjia handed the golden box to Li Xian with a solemn expression, then stepped back and knelt in the middle of the golden steps.

Li Xian stopped, holding the golden book in his left hand and the six seals of the emperor in his right hand.

The Minister of Rites Wei Daijia stood on the golden steps, bowed to Li Xian, then turned around and walked to the golden table, picked up the black box containing the gold medal and tiger talisman, walked to the golden steps, and said loudly: "The heart of heaven is kind and gracious, and virtue is respected. The crown prince ascends the throne and is granted the gold medal and tiger talisman. He will pacify the world and be blessed by the four seas. Bow!"

"We congratulate Your Majesty on your ascension to the throne and accept the golden medal and tiger talisman." The ministers kowtowed again.

Li Xian's face was solemn as he walked forward step by step and reached the golden steps. The Minister of Rites Wei Daijia handed him the black box and knelt beside him.

Li Xian took the golden box with his left hand and looked at the golden tiger talisman inside. He couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief.

The late emperor repeatedly warned us before his death to give up political power first and secure military power. In this way, the throne would be safe. Now everything is finally settled.

Li Xian stepped forward and walked in front of the throne.

Looking at the golden dragons engraved on it, Li Xian smiled lightly, turned around, and sat directly on the throne.

With a wave of his hand, he showed his might and looked around like a tiger.

All the ministers in the palace knelt down without hesitation and said, "Your Majesty, I pay my respects to you. May your Majesty live a long life."

"Your Majesty, I pay my respects to you. May your Majesty live forever."

A loud rumbling sound came from outside the hall, spreading endlessly to the horizon.

It seemed that in an instant, all the people in Luoyang City knelt down and congratulated Li Xian on his ascension to the throne.

……

Sitting on the throne, Li Xian looked at the ministers bowing their heads in the hall, then raised his eyes and looked directly outside the Qianyuan Hall.

Countless ministers, ladies of high rank inside and outside the court, retired elders, and foreign envoys all knelt down.

He knelt down before the new emperor of the Tang Dynasty.

From now on, he, Li Xian, is the most supreme being in the world.

Li Xian took a deep breath, looked at the ministers solemnly and said, "My dear ministers, please stand up."

"Thank you, Your Majesty." All the ministers bowed at the same time, and then stood up.

Li Xuan stood in the crowd, his eyes solemn, and he raised his eyebrows slightly as he looked up at the golden steps.

The emperor sat high on the throne, with all the civil and military officials standing solemnly below him.

The three ministries, namely Shangshu, Zhongshu and Menxia, ​​and the prime minister each returned to their respective positions.

The six ministries, nine temples, five bureaus and the Censorate, all the ministers bowed their heads.

The sixteen generals of the guards, the lieutenant generals, and the lieutenant generals stood solemnly and listened respectfully to the emperor's order.

Since Li Zhi's death, the entire Tang Dynasty court has returned to normal.

At least that's how it looks on the surface.

Li Xian looked down at the ministers, then looked at Pei Yan, nodded, and said, "Prime Minister Pei, summon him."

"Yes!" Pei Yan stepped forward and said, "The Emperor of the Tang Dynasty ordered."

"We listen respectfully to your instructions." The ministers bowed again.

Pei Yan said loudly: "The Emperor of the Great Tang ordered: Those who respond to Heaven should be sincere, and those who save the people should be practical.

I have won the foundation of Chengqing by my virtue.

I rely on the favor of heaven and earth, and the generosity of my ancestors.

All of us who are of the same spirit will gather in the Eastern Capital.

Recently, the stars have been a warning, and the rain has been less than usual, all of which are due to poor governance. What crime have the people committed?

It is advisable to promulgate new orders and show benevolence to all.

According to the will of Emperor Gaozong, the reign title can be changed to Sisheng. Now is the first year of Sisheng, the first day of the first lunar month.

Yu Xi!

Misfortune will turn into fortune, and prosperity will continue; reforming the old and abolishing the old will be the right support for good counselors.

I advise you, my subjects, to understand my sincere intentions.

Admire this! "

"We obey your order. May Your Majesty live long and healthy." The ministers kowtowed again.

Li Xian sat on the imperial couch with a smile on his face, and then he said solemnly: "Prime Minister Pei, please continue."

"Yes!" Pei Yan bowed to Li Xian again, then looked at the ministers, picked up another imperial edict, and said loudly: "In the first year of the reign of Emperor Sisheng, on the first day of the first month of the year Guiwei, the Emperor said:

Yu Xi!

Since the Qin and Han Dynasties, the wife of the emperor was called the empress and the mother was called the empress dowager.

The word "Tai" is added to serve as a respectful title.

When a wise king rules the world, he must be filial and respectful to his superiors, be kind and benevolent to his subjects, be diligent and conscientious, and be eager to serve them!
This is to cite the Yi chapter in a special way, follow the old rules, and bow your head twice.

I respectfully present the title of Empress Dowager to Emperor Gaozong.

I humbly hope that you will be in harmony with the virtue of Heaven, and be blessed with righteousness; I hope that you will spread the teachings in the six palaces, and maintain peace and harmony.

Admire this! "

The ministers bowed their heads again and said, "We obey your order. May the Empress Dowager live in peace and happiness."

Refreshing footsteps were heard at the entrance of Qianyang Palace. Empress Wu, wearing a black phoenix robe inside and a white linen mourning dress outside, walked in calmly from outside the palace.

Finally, he stopped at the foot of the golden steps.

Empress Wu nodded slightly: "Your Majesty." "Mother." Li Xian stood up from the throne and bowed to Empress Wu.

At this time, Pei Yan opened the imperial edict again and said loudly: "In the first year of the Sisheng era, on the first day of the first month of the year Guiwei, on the first day of the first lunar month of the year Guichou, the emperor said:

Yu Xi!

I inherit the great will and continue the great foundation laid by the emperors.

When he first ascended the throne, he was filled with deep grief and his mind was in turmoil. The complicated state affairs made it difficult for him to make decisions.

The Empress Dowager is a model mother for the country. She raised me, assisted the previous dynasty, and was familiar with common affairs. I have requested to be heard and reviewed by you. I am honored to have your kindness and consideration so that you can ease your worries and recover soon.

In accordance with the late emperor's will, the Empress Dowager governs the country from behind the curtain on the first and fifteenth day of each month, and all civil and military officials are dismissed from their seats, waiting for the day when I recover as usual.

Admire this. "

"We obey your order. May your Majesty live long and the Empress Dowager be blessed with good health." The ministers kowtowed again.

The hall then became quiet again.

Empress Wu nodded slightly, looked at Li Xian and said, "Thank you, Your Majesty."

"Please, mother!" Li Xian stepped aside slightly.

Empress Wu walked up the golden steps step by step, then stopped beside Li Xian, nodded slightly, and then calmly walked behind the pearl curtain and sat down.

The whole hall was filled with silence.

……

Empress Wu sat behind a pearl curtain, looking at the ministers with a hint of coldness in her eyes.

The courtiers in front of him were the same ones from last year, but the person sitting on the throne was no longer the same person from last year.

Empress Wu's gaze swept across Pei Yan, Liu Rengui, Xue Yuanchao, Wang Dezhen, Li Yiyan, and Liu Jingxian, one by one falling into her sight.

Lu Yuanfang, Dou Lu Qinwang, Ouyang Tong, Wei Daijia, Duan Baoxuan, Huang Rensu and others were all in awe.

Empress Wu then looked at Prince of Han Li Yuanjia, Prince of Huo Li Yuangui and others, and finally her gaze fell on Li Xuan.

Among all the kings in the court and the country, the one who had the greatest influence on the emperor was King Peng.

Over the years, he has served as the prince's guest, and has been representing the entire royal family.

Li Xuan bowed solemnly, and he looked a little relaxed.

Empress Wu couldn't help but nodded in her heart.

The late emperor once said that King Peng knew where the world was in danger, so he had a very high understanding of the overall situation.

Not only will he not be dissatisfied or oppose the fact that he is ruling the country from behind the scenes again, he will even be excited.

Empress Wu took one last glance at Su Liangsi, then looked at the emperor.

Li Xian sat back on the imperial couch, then looked at the Minister of Rites Wei Daijia and said calmly, "Mr. Wei, announce the decree."

Before Li Xian finished speaking, Pei Yan was already looking at him in great surprise.

Because according to today's plan, all imperial edicts should be read by Pei Yan, and there is no such thing as Wei Daijia reading the imperial edict.

"Yes!" Wei Daijia accepted the order solemnly, then took out an imperial edict from his sleeve and said to the ministers: "In the first year of Sisheng, on the first day of the first month of the year Guiwei, on the first day of the first lunar month of the year Guichou, the emperor said:

Yu Xi!

I, with the benevolent decree of the three palaces, have established the Inner Palace to regulate government affairs.

I only think of choosing a virtuous person to be the queen, and I will be blessed by the three queens.

The Crown Princess, Wei, was a model of palace etiquette and a benevolent person. She raised two sons and continued the family line.

She can be made a queen, and be regarded as a role model in the inner chamber. She can assist the monarch in his virtues and bring grace to the world.

Admire this! "

"Your Majesty, I obey your order. May your Majesty live long and the Queen be blessed with good health." Except for a few people, all the officials in the court bowed without any hesitation.

Even those who were hesitant, such as Pei Yan, Guo Daiju and others, all bowed their heads in an instant and accepted the imperial edict.

The crisp footsteps sounded again. It was Wei, who was dressed almost the same as Empress Wu, wearing a phoenix robe, but looked younger.

No, it was Empress Wei who walked in from outside the hall.

Empress Wu sat behind the pearl curtain, completely holding her breath.

She looked fiercely at Wei Shi, at Wei Daijia, and then at Li Xian.

Empress Wu did not expect that after all her calculations, she would still be wrong in the end.

Li Xian decisively appointed Wei as the queen.

Without an imperial edict from the Secretariat and without a seal from the Ministry of the Treasury, Wei was enthroned as the empress.

Watching Wei walk up the golden steps step by step and finally sit down beside the emperor, Empress Wu's eyes were terribly cold.

Wei naturally did not have the right to rule the country from behind the scenes, but as the queen, she had the right to accept the worship and congratulations of all the officials on the first day of the Lunar New Year.

This is in accordance with etiquette.

"Your Majesty!" Su Liangsi stood up from among the ministers and bowed to Li Xian, saying, "I, the Imperial Censor Su Liangsi, impeach the Junior Supervisor of the Ministry of Finance Qi Yu for being careless, negligent in his work, biased, and treacherous. He even privately obstructed the engraving of the Empress's seal. I request that he be punished."

All the ministers in the palace held their breath instantly.

Yes, the Queen has no seal.

When Wei was crowned as queen, she naturally had to have the queen's seal and, like the emperor, be granted the title at the same time.

But today, there is nothing, only an imperial edict from the emperor.

People with sensitive minds have guessed the root cause of the matter in an instant.

The Shaofu and Shaojian would not be brave enough to do such a thing.

Even Pei Yan didn't have the courage.

There is only one person who has the courage to do this, and that is the Queen Mother.

At this moment, the emperor smiled calmly and said, "This is my family affair, so there is no need to bother Qi Shaojian any more."

Among the ministers, there were people who had served in the court in the past, such as Xue Yuanchao, Duan Baoxuan and others, all of whom subconsciously looked up.

It was as if I saw someone speaking calmly on the imperial couch: "This is my family affair, why ask outsiders?"

……

Behind the pearl curtain, Empress Wu's expression was extremely cold.

She looked at Li Xian who was sitting there calmly, as if she saw the young emperor sitting there in the past.

Could it be that she had misjudged her son?

Could it be that her son is a person like the late emperor?

(End of this chapter)