A Good Landlord in the Tang Dynasty: Starting from the Village Chief

Chapter 746 Exchanging Auspicious Symbols to Welcome the Emperor

Pingkangfang,
Nanqu Zhangtai Courtyard.

Liu Qingqing sat in front of the dressing table, not drawing her eyebrows or applying rouge, but instead picking up a brush to paint.

The painting depicts a dashing young man.

Liu Qingqing is skilled in playing the zither, chess, calligraphy, and painting. The figures in her paintings are lifelike, and they are none other than Situ Liyi, whom she met yesterday at the Leyouyuan Cherry Blossom Garden.

After finishing the last stroke,
The figures on the paper seemed to come alive, staring back at her.

Liu Qingqing stared intently, her gaze somewhat unfocused.

The stepmother came in.

His gaze fell on the painting on the table, and he paused for a moment.

"Isn't this Li Pingzhang?"

"Grandma also recognizes Li Situ?" Liu Qingqing was somewhat surprised.

The stepmother looked at the painting and praised it, saying, "There are many pretty girls in Pingkangfang, and more than half of them like Li Situ."

"He was handsome and talented. In just a few years, he went from a layman to a founding hero, rising to the rank of one of the Three Dukes and the Grand Chancellor. You can't even imagine how amazing he was in a story."

Most of the girls in Pingkang Ward came from the brothels. Many of them were originally daughters of noble or official families, but later their families suffered misfortune, and they were implicated and forced into the brothels…

The stepmother was neither surprised nor annoyed by Liu Qingqing's portrait of Li Yi.
What girl doesn't have a child?

If she were twenty years younger, she would dream the same thing.

"Among the concubines in Minister Li's household, several were wives or daughters of disgraced officials who had fallen into the harem or the music and dance halls."
For example, the Ji clan, the Dugu clan, the Pei clan, and so on.
Those few who had accumulated good fortune in their past lives, instead of being forced into the inner palace or the music academy, were able to meet Minister Li again, escape the hellish world, and live a life as sweet as honey…

The stepmother's words were also a reminder to her adopted daughter that it was normal to admire Li Situ, but she also needed to have a clear understanding of the situation. More than half of the girls in Pingkangfang wanted to be with Li Situ, but in reality, that was impossible.

Just think about it.

“My daughter, the second young master of the Prince of Yi’an’s mansion, that Duke of Pingkou County, just sent a servant to make a reservation again, saying that he wants to book a table of fine wine and food to entertain a few friends.”

“I declined because you weren’t feeling well, but they insisted on booking our courtyard, and this time they even gave us two taels of gold as a deposit.”

Liu Qingqing recalled the words Li Situ had instructed her to say when they met yesterday, "Since that's the case, then Grandma should reply that it's possible."
Let them come.

"Alright, good that you understand. They're all VIP guests, we can't afford to offend them. Besides, they're always very generous, always paying generously for tea and wine, and giving out generous tips..."

"Grandma, I'm going to put on makeup," Liu Qingqing interrupted her stepmother, telling her to leave.

"Okay, hurry up and get ready, I'll go prepare." The stepmother tactfully left.

Liu Qingqing stared at the portrait for a while, then carefully put it away and began to put on makeup.

Li Yili visited Zhangtai Temple again today.

He also invited a few friends to come and support Zhangtai Liu.

After returning from hunting in Weibei and changing out of his hunting clothes, Li Yili rushed to Pingkangfang.

He's hosting again today.
Friends who had made prior arrangements began to arrive one after another. Besides Commander Yuan Hongshan and Thousand Oxen Master Changsun Ya, who had come last time,

Also present were Li Yan, Assistant Magistrate of Hu County; Liu Wenzan, Commandant of Chang'an; Wei Yuanzheng, Gatekeeper; Wang Yong'an, Left Imperial Guard; Liu Xiaoben, Warehouse Clerk of Right Valiant Guard; Yuan Lü, General; He Loushanji; Cai Yun, and others.
They were all on this hunting trip to Weibei together.

This group of people were all sons of princes and nobles.
For example, Liu Xiaoben was Yuan Hongshan's cousin and the son of Liu Deyu, the Right General of the Martial Guard.

Wei Yuanzheng and Changsun Ya were also relatives. Wei Yuanzheng, a city gate official, married Wang Wan, the daughter of Changsun Ya's aunt, who was also the niece of Empress Changsun.

Wang Yong'an was the son of Wang Junkuo, Duke of Peng, and the son-in-law of Li Yuan, Prince of Lujiang.

Yuan Lü and Yuan Hongshan were cousins.

Li Yan was Li Yili's cousin.

This group of people often mingled together, hunting, horse racing, playing polo, or, as they are doing now, coming to brothels to drink and listen to music.

Beautiful women and fine wine.

With a beautiful woman playing the zither as company, drinking this wine becomes even more enjoyable.

He was quite drunk.

The group of young masters began to speak more and more recklessly.

As usual, he voiced his grievances about the new policies of the court, criticizing the court for levying taxes on families like his own, which were of noble birth and high rank.

After Liu Qingqing finished her song, she went over and offered a toast.

Li Yili and others raised their glasses and drank heartily.

Liu Qingqing continued playing the piano, listening intently to their conversation.

Li Yili, already seven or eight parts drunk, said to his friend Cai Yun: "When I was an official in the Prince of Qi's palace, I often went hunting with the Prince of Qi."

Once, I got lost with the King of Qi. Suddenly, an old woman with white hair appeared beside me. I asked her about the King of Qi's whereabouts, and she replied, "You are the King! Hahaha!"

"Today, we were hunting on Changshouyuan in Weibei when we got separated from you. As we were looking for our way, a white deer suddenly appeared with a spirit herb in its mouth and led the way for us."

Don't you think that's strange?

Li Yili recounted his two experiences of getting lost while hunting to his friend. Li Yan, the magistrate of Hu County next door, overheard this and turned to his cousin, saying, "Years ago, I found a stone in Taihe Valley, shaped like a tortoise, with a round rim and the character 'Chang' inside. Later, the court minted new coins with the inscription 'Kaiyuan Tongbao'..."

You say this has both constancy and flexibility, does that mean the son of perfect understanding is filial and constant?

"The last time you got lost, the white-haired old woman called you King Qi; now that you're lost again, a white deer is guiding you. This is truly remarkable!" Their words...

This attracted a group of spoiled young masters to gather around.
They were already about 70-80% drunk.

They were also exceptionally bold.
General Liu Wenzan, holding a wine cup, said, "Wei Yuangao's poem says, 'The way of Heaven is constant.' Could this also be a prophecy for Xiao Chang?"

Yuan Hongshan said excitedly, "Brother Liu, you know a lot about prophecies and omens. Can you tell us what these omens mean?"

Liu Wenzan chuckled drunkenly a few times, "I suspect all of this foreshadows what Lord Xiaochang is about to..."

Everyone was staring at him.
Even Liu Qingqing's hands, which were playing the zither, trembled slightly.

"Duke Xiaochang will be very wealthy and powerful and will be enfeoffed as the King of Qi. Brother Yili will inherit the title of King of Qi from Duke Xiaochang in the future."

Li Xiaochang was the Prince of Yi'an, a prince of the second rank, and the Prince of Qi, a prince of the first rank.

How could someone who is not the emperor's son or brother be granted the title of prince? Moreover, Li Xiaochang was not a direct descendant of the imperial clan, but a distant relative of the clan head.

Everyone asked curiously, "How could the Prince of Yi'an be granted the title of Prince of Qi?"

After all, as soon as he ascended the throne, he demoted a large number of members of the royal family to county dukes, leaving only eighteen members of the royal family with the title of county prince.

It would be good enough if he could keep his title of Prince of Yi'an; how could he possibly be promoted to Prince of Qi?

If we were to say that Prince Li Yi of Dai County would be promoted to Prince of Qi in the future, people would think there is still a possibility.

Liu Wenzan turned his head to look at Liu Qingqing, who was playing the piano.
"Miss Qingqing, you must be tired from playing for so long. Why don't you go out and rest for a while?"

Liu Qingqing nodded and got up to leave.

But soon, he quietly turned back and eavesdropped outside.

inside the house,

Liu Wenzan's face was glowing.
Holding his wine glass and reeking of alcohol, he said, "This is a gift of wealth from heaven."

"How did you acquire this wealth and status?" Li Yili asked breathlessly.

Liu Wenzan's gaze swept over the group of纨绔公子 (playboys) present, and he lowered his voice, saying, "The current emperor seized the throne in a palace coup with eight hundred guards, imprisoned the crown prince, and forced the retired emperor to abdicate."
Those confidants who plotted for him are now all high-ranking officials and nobles, such as Li Yi, Changsun Wuji, Fang Xuanling, Du Ruhui, Gao Shilian, and Wei Zheng. Except for Li Yi, who originally held a high official rank, the others were only fifth or sixth-rank officials, but they all rose to prominence overnight, becoming dukes or even prime ministers.

Hou Junji, Yuchi Gong, and others were originally just low-ranking officers of the fifth or sixth grade in the Qin Prince's mansion. Hou Junji was only a viscount, and Yuchi Gong, a surrendered general, didn't even have a title. But after that day, they were all granted the title of Duke and appointed as Grand General and General.

There are many instances in the Qin Prince's mansion where even his chickens and dogs rise to high positions.

Liu Wenzan downed his drink in one gulp, reeking of alcohol, and complained that the new policies implemented by the emperor since his ascension to the throne were chaotic and arbitrary. He criticized the emperor for imposing taxes on nobles and officials, restricting their land holdings, investigating their acreage and tenant farmers, and even levying taxes on the commerce and industry they controlled.
That's taking money from their pockets—no, it's robbing them.

Liu Wenzan also suffered considerable losses and harbored resentment.

Taking advantage of this opportunity, and with himself slightly drunk, he made a bold suggestion.

"We have all suffered from the chaos and misrule of the new emperor."
Many of our fathers and brothers commanded armies in Chang'an, and some even controlled the palace.
Even many of us brothers serve in the Imperial Guard, guarding the palace.

You say, if we unite,

Taking advantage of the night when the guards were on duty, they mustered their troops to launch a major uprising, stormed into the Taiji Palace, and welcomed the retired emperor back to the throne.

Depose the new emperor,

Was the Prince of Yi'an qualified to be promoted to the title of Prince of Qi at that time?

Is General Liu Deyu qualified to be granted the title of Duke and appointed Grand General?

"And what about us? Will we also be granted titles and ranks based on our merit in supporting the emperor?"

"By then, the retired emperor will be restored to the throne."

Will all these chaotic regimes be abolished now?

He looked at Changsun Ya and Wei Yuanzheng, who seemed to be hesitating, and said, "Your father and Changsun Wuji are both the Empress's brothers, but Changsun Wuji was granted the title of Duke and appointed Prime Minister, and now he has been promoted to the rank of Grand General of the Palace Attendants, while your father is only a third-rank General of the Palace Gate."

The rewards he received, including fiefdoms, land, and houses, were less than one-tenth of what Changsun Wuji received.

“Brother Wei, you come from the Wei clan of Jingzhao and married a woman from the Wang clan of Taiyuan. You are also the niece-in-law of the Empress, yet you are only a city gatekeeper now.”

"Were you exempted from the new policies of levying grain from public granaries and assessing land?"

"The current emperor only knows how to wage war and has no ability to govern the country. If we let him continue to mess things up like this, he will become another Emperor Yang of Sui sooner or later!"

"We still have much to suffer, so why don't we raise our troops and rise up to welcome back the Emperor Emeritus!"

The group of spoiled brats were stunned by these astonishing words.

Li Yili swallowed hard.

"Taiji Palace is heavily guarded; I'm afraid this matter will be difficult to accomplish."

Liu Wenzan said, "As long as Prince Yi'an is willing to step forward and take charge of the overall situation, and join forces with General Liu Deyu of the Right Martial Guard, and also invite General Changsun Anye of the Right Palace Guard,..."
Liu Hongji, the Left General of the Valiant Guard, and Changsun Shunde, the Right General of the Valiant Guard, have always been on good terms with Prince Yi'an. They are also meritorious officials of the retired emperor in Taiyuan, so they would certainly be willing to respond.

They command the Imperial Guards, and we are on guard duty; our mission is assured.

He became more and more excited as he spoke, “Three months ago, the King of Qin was able to seize the throne through a palace coup with only eight hundred guards. Now that we have joined forces, we are even stronger.”

Unimaginable wealth is right before my eyes.
Why don't you all take a gamble?

outside the house,

Liu Qingqing, who was secretly eavesdropping, was also shocked to death by the audacity of the group of playboys' plan. She never expected to overhear such a conspiracy.

She thought of Situ's special instructions when she met him yesterday. Could it be that he had already foreseen this?
(End of this chapter)