Li Chengqian of the Tang Dynasty: Please say long live His Majesty

Chapter 107: My Uncle Should Have Edited the Book of the Later Han (Part )
On the ninth day of the sixth lunar month, the interior and exterior of the East Palace were covered with red silk and cloth blankets.

Li Chengqian, dressed in a bright red python robe, walked out of the palace with an anxious look on his face. Li Anyan, Changsun Xiang, Dugu Dabao and others followed closely behind him.

As soon as everyone arrived at the gate of the East Palace, more than a dozen tall horses happened to stop in front of the gate.

Sitting on the front horse was Changsun Wuji in a purple robe.

Li Chengqian hurried forward, pulled the horse, and said gratefully, "Why didn't you tell me in advance that you were returning to Chang'an? This would have made it easier for me to meet you at Chunming Gate."

"Your Majesty also issued the decree at short notice." Zhangsun Wuji turned over and bowed to Li Chengqian, saying, "I pay my respects to the Crown Prince."

"Uncle, there's no need to be so polite. Today is a family matter. Please come in." Li Chengqian quickly made way to let Changsun Wuji enter the East Palace.

Changsun Wuji nodded with satisfaction, then glanced at Li Anyan, Changsun Xiang, Dugu Dabao and others before walking towards the East Palace.

Zhangsun Wuji was the elder brother of the late queen, the crown prince, the uncle of the King of Wei and the King of Jin, and the current Sikong, Duke of Zhao, and Prime Minister.

Sikong was a first-rank official position, far above the second-rank Shangshu Zuo Pushe, Taizi Shao Shi, Taizi Shao Fu and others.

The real number one in the political affairs hall.

Moreover, the emperor trusted him more than Fang Xuanling, Wei Zheng and others.

Li Anyan, Changsun Xiang, and Dugu Dabao bowed and stepped aside obediently.

Even Yu Zhining, Zhang Xuansu, Kong Yingda and others bowed in greeting.

Changsun Wuji paused for a moment, and Li Chengqian then quickly stepped forward.

"Who will go on behalf of the prince to the Zheng family to pick up the bride today?" Changsun Wuji asked as he walked.

"It's Prince Teng and Prince Zhao." Li Chengqian bowed slightly and said, "However, Prince Teng and Prince Zhao are young, so they are accompanied by the Chief Secretary and two cousins."

Changsun Xiang is the nephew of Changsun Wuji, and Dugu Dabao is the great-grandson of Dugu Xin. They are both cousins ​​of Li Chengqian.

Changsun Wuji looked back at Yu Zhining, who bowed solemnly. Changsun Wuji nodded and said, "The Crown Prince's Secretary has handled it properly. Your Majesty is very pleased."

"Yes!" Yu Zhining bowed solemnly.

Everyone knew that Changsun Wuji returned to Chang'an on behalf of the emperor.

The Zezhou plague is now at a critical juncture of control.

No one knows how many people will be implicated in the emperor's every move. The Eastern Palace only wants to marry a crown prince Liangti. The emperor already attaches great importance to the fact that Zhangsun Wuji can come back.

……

Changsun Wuji walked from Chongde Hall into Chongjiao Hall, then into Lizheng Hall and Guangtian Hall, inspecting everywhere and finally nodded with satisfaction.

"These were all arranged by the Crown Princess, right?" Changsun Wuji looked at Su Shu on the side.

Su Shu bowed slightly and said, "This is the responsibility of the niece-in-law."

"His Majesty praised the Crown Princess for being a motherly figure and asked me to bring back a box of pearls to present to Your Highness." Changsun Wuji glanced outside, and a personal guard immediately came in and handed Changsun Wuji an exquisite box that was one foot square. Changsun Wuji then held it in both hands and handed it to Su Shu.

Su Shu lowered her head and whispered, "Thank you, Father, for your grace."

Zhang Sun Wuji stepped aside, bowed slightly to Su Shu and said, "Your Highness, please stand up."

"Thank you, uncle." Su Shu then looked at Changsun Wuji with gratitude.

She knew that regardless of whether the emperor said the phrase "motherly image" or not, since Zhangsun Wuji said it directly in the East Palace today, Su Shu's position would be more stable. Similarly, as long as Li Chengqian did not make any mistakes, his position as the crown prince would also be stable.

"Uncle, please take a seat." Li Chengqian quickly invited Changsun Wuji to sit in the seat of honor.

Today, no matter whether Zhangsun Wuji came on behalf of the emperor or on behalf of Li Chengqian's mother, Empress Zhangsun, his position was the most honorable.

"I wonder who is here to greet you today?" Changsun Wuji asked, looking up.

"It's Consort Shu." Li Chengqian stood aside and said, "Consort Shu is my father's consort and Zheng's aunt. It would be appropriate for her to pay respects on my father's behalf. However, since my uncle is here, I, the nephew, will..."

"No need, no need." Changsun Wuji waved his hand and said, "I will pay my respects on behalf of Your Majesty and the Empress. Concubine Shu can pay her respects on behalf of the Zheng family. That's perfect."

As the crown prince, it was impossible for Li Chengqian to go to the Zheng family in person to pick up the bride, especially since he was only marrying Crown Prince Liangti. He had to take care of the Crown Princess and the Su family.

The etiquette here, the Zongzheng Temple, the Taichang Temple, and the Ministry of Rites will not allow any mistakes.

Of course, Li Chengqian still asked Li Anyan to deliver a letter on his behalf yesterday.

……

"What has the Crown Prince been up to lately?" Changsun Wuji took a sip of tea, glanced at the retreating Crown Princess, and then looked at Li Chengqian. "The 'Kaogong Zhi' (Records of the Imperial Crafts), shipbuilding in Beiyuan, urging the Ministry of Personnel to investigate the administration of officials in Guanzhong, Jiannan, and Longyou, the mobilization of the Tuyuhun cavalry, some cases at the Dali Temple and the Ministry of Justice, and since it's already June, and autumn is about to begin in July, we must urge the localities to hurry up and start the harvest, while also preventing the exploitation of the people..."

Li Chengqian reported everything he had been doing recently to Zhangsun Wuji one by one.

"The prince has grown up." Changsun Wuji looked at Li Chengqian and nodded with satisfaction.

He had known about these things in Luoyang a long time ago. In the eyes of these prime ministers, the prince's attention to the more detailed handling of state affairs was more reassuring than his attempts to win over people's hearts and engage in intrigue.

Because only they know how heavy the government affairs are. Only when the prince can understand these hardships can he understand the difficulty of governing the world.

"Uncle, thank you for your kind words." Li Chengqian bowed quickly.

Changsun Wuji waved his hand and said, "Your Highness, are you aware of the King of Wei's excavation of a Buddhist shrine at the Longmen Grottoes in Luoyang?"

"I understand." Li Chengqian nodded and said, "Chengqian, the Taoist masters of Louguan Dao have also selected a prime location with a good vein. We can build a Taoist temple soon."

Having said that, Li Chengqian's expression suddenly became excited.

"A place with excellent earth veins." Changsun Wuji immediately became interested and asked, "Where is it?"

"Wuluo Temple." Li Chengqian explained briefly, "During the reign of Emperor Daowu of the Northern Wei Dynasty, Jingjue Temple was built northeast of Jinchangfang. Later, Jingjue Temple fell into disrepair, and Emperor Wen of the Sui Dynasty built Wulou Temple on the site. After Yang Guang moved the capital to Luoyang, Wulou Temple also gradually fell into disrepair. Now it is in ruins, perfect for my nephew to use as a Taoist temple."

"Buddhist temple ruins?" Changsun Wuji frowned and said, "Wouldn't Buddhism have any objections to a place like that?"

"The Buddhists built temples there twice, but both were later abandoned, which shows that the place is not suitable for a Buddhist temple." Li Chengqian shook his head and said, "The Buddhists can't suppress it, so it's a good opportunity for the Taoists to suppress it. Jinchangfang is not prosperous, so it is suitable for Taoists to practice. By the way, after it is built, my nephew can make more visits, which will also benefit the people."

The prince built a Taoist temple to pray for Empress Changsun's afterlife. The dignitaries of Chang'an would inevitably visit it several times, and the place would naturally become prosperous.

"If uncle is not in a hurry to return to Luoyang, I will accompany you for a walk in the next two days." Li Chengqian couldn't help but bow slightly.

Seeing Li Chengqian's immense satisfaction with the place, Changsun Wuji couldn't help but become curious. "Okay, I'll accompany Your Highness to take a look tomorrow. Coincidentally, I'll return to Luoyang tomorrow afternoon to report to Your Majesty."

"Sorry to trouble you, uncle." Li Chengqian was sure that Changsun Wuji would be satisfied with that place.

Because it was originally the Ci'en Temple built by Li Zhi to pray for the afterlife of their mother, and later even allowed Xuanzang to live there.

Li Chengqian is now using that place to build a Taoist temple to pray for his mother's afterlife. It must be the most suitable place.

Of course, if someone wants to rebuild a Buddhist temple in the future, the Taoist sect probably won’t agree so easily.

This is a chess piece that Li Chengqian has arranged for the future.

……

"The Crown Prince should know that the King of Wei has started compiling the Book of the Later Han in Luoyang, right?" Changsun Wuji raised his head and looked straight at Li Chengqian.

"Someone from the Prince's Chongwenguan in Ziwei Palace has sent a message." Li Chengqian nodded. Although he was not in Luoyang, there were many departments in the Eastern Palace that had to serve the emperor when he, the prince, was away, such as the scholars in the Prince's Chongwenguan.

"I heard that it was the crown prince who first proposed to compile the Book of the Later Han. Why didn't the crown prince do it and let the King of Wei take the lead?" Changsun Wuji frowned and looked at Li Chengqian.

"My nephew is just unable to take care of it temporarily, but it will be the same if Qingque does it." Li Chengqian smiled faintly.

"Oh!" Zhang Sun Wuji sat up straight, looked at Li Chengqian and asked, "Then what does the Crown Prince think about the King of Wei doing this?"

Li Chengqian's expression grew serious, and he cupped his hands and said, "Uncle, I've considered this both individually and with the ministers of the Eastern Palace. Ultimately, we all agree that compiling a historical work like the 'Book of the Later Han' is not something the Eastern Palace can easily manage. These matters are best led by your uncle, Prime Minister Fang, or Prime Minister Wei, so that they can manage them appropriately."

Changsun Wuji was slightly stunned, and then he immediately understood the beauty of it.

The Book of the Later Han Dynasty deals with nothing more than the struggles between the emperor, aristocratic families, relatives by marriage, and eunuchs.

For Changsun Wuji, it was nothing more than the two words "relative by marriage".

However, this is not completely impossible to adapt.

If Zhangsun Wuji were the editor, he could have tampered with the article "Foreign Relatives".

After all, there are good and bad relatives by marriage. As long as some subdivision is made, Changsun Wuji can classify himself as a relative by marriage who is beneficial to the country, and he can even take the opportunity to praise his sister, Empress Changsun.

What's more, he could also classify his family as a noble family, instead of doing it as absolutely as the "Book of the Later Han" did.

"The Crown Prince is indeed more mature than the King of Wei." Changsun Wuji looked at Li Chengqian and nodded in surprise and admiration.

"Qingque is not bad, but the people around him are a little arrogant." Li Chengqian smiled slightly, he didn't point at anyone.

Changsun Wuji nodded solemnly, his eyes slightly gloomy.

(End of this chapter)