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

Chapter 132 Next Year, Father Will Let Qingque Leave the Capital (First Update)
It was a bitterly cold winter day. Li Chengqian, wearing a black fur cloak, walked quickly to the outside of the Liangyi Palace.

Snowflakes fell from the sky and landed on the cloak.

It won’t go away in a short time.

As Li Chengqian stepped onto the steps of Liangyi Hall, the emperor's angry roar reached his ears.

"Get out! If you don't get out, I'll chop you down with my sword!"

The emperor's rage was almost burning through the entire Nine-Layered Palace.

Li Chengqian was stunned for a moment, then quickly climbed the stairs. Ignoring the eunuchs outside the hall trying to stop him, he rushed directly into the Liangyi Hall, shouting, "Father, calm down! Father, calm down! Father, calm down!"

At this time, Li Chengqian also saw Li Tai kneeling on the ground in horror, and Li Shimin standing in front of him, drawing his sword with one hand.

Li Chengqian instantly slid to his knees, then with a panicked expression, he bowed and pleaded, "Father, Father, no matter what Qingque did wrong, it was unintentional. No matter what, it's not worth it for you to resort to violence!"

Looking at Li Chengqian, who was frightened and pleading for Li Tai sincerely, Li Shimin couldn't help but stop grabbing the sword beside him.

The anger in his heart slowly dissipated. Looking at the panicked Li Tai, the emperor said coldly, "Come here, send the King of Wei to Ziyun Pavilion to rest. Since he doesn't want to go back, then he shouldn't go back."

"Yes!" Zhang Ananda on the side bowed without any hesitation this time. Immediately afterwards, two burly imperial guards in red clothes and golden armor walked out from the corners on both sides of the hall, walked behind Li Tai, grabbed his shoulders directly, and dragged him towards the side hall of the east wing.

Li Tai was stunned and didn't react for a moment.

Ziyun Pavilion is located in the northeastern corner of the entire palace. It is usually deserted and almost no one goes there.

Because that was the place where the emperor punished princes who made mistakes, it was almost equivalent to the cold palace.

"Your Majesty, I have evidence..." As soon as Li Tai opened his mouth, he was covered by the hands and dragged out of the hall.

Li Chengqian suddenly shuddered and said, "Father, Qingque is not feeling well. Ziyun Pavilion is cold and gloomy. Even if Qingque has made a mistake, a light punishment will suffice. There's no need to go to Ziyun Pavilion. It's almost the end of the year. What if Qingque gets sick from the cold?"

Li Shimin looked at Li Chengqian with a pleading look on his face, but what came to his mind was Li Tai's words "The prince sent someone to assassinate your son."

For some unknown reason, the emperor sighed in his heart.

They are brothers, so why is there such a big gap between them?

"I will take care of Qingque's affairs myself. You don't need to worry about it." The emperor's gloomy expression eased slightly, and then he asked, "Why are you here?"

"I heard that Qingque was assassinated, so I came to see if he was hurt." Li Chengqian bowed solemnly and said, "Father, Qingque may have been frightened by the assassin. So no matter what he did or said that he shouldn't have done, please forgive him."

"I understand." The emperor nodded calmly. Looking at the sincere Li Chengqian, he said, "Since you already know about Qingque's assassination, then you should go and investigate this matter in person and get to the bottom of it... Send an order to Chang He and Hou Junji to assist the Crown Prince in investigating the case."

"Yes!" Zhang Ananda stood aside and bowed solemnly.

"Your Majesty, I obey your command." Although Li Chengqian felt it was a little unexpected, he still bowed and accepted the order. However, he raised his head hesitantly and asked, "Father, if my sister-in-law asks about Qingque..."

"Just say he was frightened outside the palace and needs to recuperate in the palace for a while." Li Shimin waved his hand and said, "Okay, go ahead."

"Yes!" Li Chengqian bowed, then said, "Although Qingque made a mistake, Father, please take care of your health."

"Yes!" Li Shimin nodded calmly, then watched Li Chengqian bow and leave. Suddenly, he spoke again: "Chengqian."

"Father!" Li Chengqian turned around and bowed seriously.

"Last year, I said that after the compilation of the Comprehensive Geography was completed, Qingque would be sent to serve in the local area." The emperor raised his head, sighed softly, and said, "Now, the Comprehensive Geography will be finished soon. After my eastern tour next year, I will let him leave."

"Father!" Li Chengqian looked up in surprise and said, "Father, Qingque is still young..."

"It goes without saying that everyone grows up one day."

……

After Li Chengqian had completely left, Li Shimin turned around and said with a cold gaze, "Don't add fuel to the fire of the King of Wei tonight. I want him to calm down."

"Yes!" Zhang Ananda bowed seriously.

……

Walking out of the Liangyi Hall, the palace square in front of me was empty.

Li Chengqian couldn't help but look up.

The snowflakes fall slowly.

On the palace wall in the distance, guards stood in rows, their swords and spears cold, an atmosphere of solemnity and murderous intent.

Li Tai will go to the local area next year.

He left Chang'an and took up a post in a local government.

This trip will take at least a year.

This was almost equivalent to announcing to all officials in the world that King Li Tai of Wei was completely out of the fight for the throne.

Li Chengqian couldn't help but show excitement in his eyes.

In his previous life, Li Tai, who had fought with him to the death, was now completely driven out of the fight for the throne by him in just one year.

Walking into the Liangyi Gate, on the empty palace road, Li Chengqian couldn't help but clench his fists twice.

This time, he won completely.

In his previous life, Li Tai forced him to rebel, but this time, he was easily defeated by him.

He was even caught off guard and won without any preparation.

He still has many other means to deal with Li Tai that he has not yet used.

There was even a hint of unwillingness in his eyes.

In front of him, Zhuming Gate and the wall of Taiji Hall appeared in Li Chengqian's eyes. For some reason, Li Chengqian's heart suddenly calmed down.

Li Tai was eliminated. Why? What happened?
……

Walking beside the Taiji Hall, snowflakes were falling, and Li Chengqian calmed down completely.

At this time, Li Chengqian began to seriously recall what had happened in Liangyi Hall before.

Earlier, Li Chengqian was still in the Zongzheng Temple, reviewing the matter of the kings personally farming last year, when suddenly news came that Li Tai had been assassinated.

Before he changed his clothes and went out of the palace, news came that Li Tai had entered the palace for an audience, and he hurried over to express his condolences.

Why was Li Tai assassinated out of nowhere?

What remains is what just happened. As soon as he arrived at Liangyi Hall, he saw the emperor furious with Li Tai.

Li Tai was clearly assassinated, so why did the emperor act as if Li Tai had done something unforgivable and ridiculous?
The emperor's rage soared to the sky, and he wanted to kill Li Tai outright. Even though Li Chengqian pleaded for mercy, the final result was that Li Tai was almost imprisoned. Of course, it's not really imprisonment, but the Purple Cloud Pavilion is a place where anyone who enters will inevitably suffer a lot.

Li Chengqian took a deep breath. Although he didn't know what had happened, there was no doubt that Li Tai would have to stay there for a while.

But why is this?
Why did Li Tai anger the emperor for no reason?

……

The Tai Chi Gate was just ahead, but Li Chengqian couldn't help but frown.

It all happened so suddenly; it just happened out of the blue.

When Li Tai was finally dragged away, he said, "He has evidence in his hand." What evidence does he have and what can he prove?
Li Chengqian's expression calmed down completely.

The origin of everything today was Li Tai’s sudden assassination.

In Chang'an City, the emperor's legitimate son and the prince of the current dynasty was assassinated?

How can this be?

Suddenly, Li Chengqian raised his eyebrows.

Li Tai was assassinated in Chang'an City more than once.

In his previous life, Li Tai had been assassinated once, and after that, just like now, he rushed directly into the palace to complain to the emperor.

But that time, it was Li Chengqian who sent someone to do it.

Of course, looking back now, although it was his order that time, it was the emperor's men who carried out the assassination.

So in the end the assassination attempt on Li Tai failed, and soon Li Tai found out the truth. Finally, Li Tai ran to the palace to complain, saying that it was Li Chengqian who sent people to assassinate him. Fortunately, the emperor ignored it.

But what is happening now?

If not him, then who would assassinate Li Tai?
Suddenly, Li Chengqian stopped.

If you were to ask who in Chang'an wanted Li Tai to die the most, in the hearts of all the officials in Chang'an, there would be no other person except Li Chengqian.

So when Li Tai was assassinated this time, the biggest suspect was actually Li Chengqian. So when Li Tai said he had evidence just now, did he mean that he had evidence to prove that Li Chengqian assassinated him?
In other words, today, Li Tai rushed into the palace in a hurry after being assassinated, just to accuse the emperor that it was Li Chengqian who sent people to assassinate him.

Li Chengqian's face darkened completely.

Now everything is clear.

Li Tai was assassinated, and then he went to the emperor to complain, saying that Li Chengqian sent people to assassinate him, just like in his previous life.

But this time it was not Li Chengqian who sent people to assassinate him.

The emperor knew this very well.

In the current battle for the throne, Li Chengqian has done an excellent job this year.

Not only has he received a lot of praise from both the government and the public, he has even gradually begun to intervene in the operation of the entire government.

Even if it was unintentional, he gained great real power and became more and more important in the emperor's heart.

On the contrary, Li Tai did almost nothing except editing books, and the gap between the two had already been ruthlessly widened.

In this situation, Li Chengqian, who had such a great advantage, had no need to assassinate Li Tai.

The emperor knew this best.

Especially when Li Chengqian does things now, he not only does not avoid the emperor's people in many things, but many times he even deliberately uses the emperor's people.

This made the emperor feel more at ease and confident about him.

Therefore, when Li Tai went to complain that Li Chengqian had sent someone to assassinate him, the emperor's face turned terrifyingly ashen.

The emperor hated to hear brothers killing each other the most.

Although he was the one who did those things with his own hands, on the contrary, what he hated the most was brothers killing each other.

In particular, he knew clearly that Li Chengqian had not sent anyone to assassinate Li Tai, and he didn't even have the intention to do so.

Instead, Li Tai went straight to make false accusations, which made the emperor even more angry.

That's how it is, but here comes the problem.

Who on earth assassinated Li Tai and gave him such a bad idea? Li Chengqian couldn't help but shake his head.

Li Tai is really stupid.

Doesn't he know that there are countless emperor's spies inside and outside his palace?
Walking out of Chengtian Gate, Li Chengqian's expression became serious.

That assassin, that assassin actually existed.

How could such an assassin suddenly appear?
Who is this assassin?

Could it be that yesterday...

Li Chengqian's pupils widened slightly, and now he finally understood what had happened.

……

The light snow has stopped.

In the official residence of Yongzhou Prefecture, Li Chengqian, dressed in a black robe with golden python threads, sat in the center hall with a solemn expression.

On both sides of the hall, standing at the top left were Yongzhou Chief Clerk Hou Junji, Yongzhou Sima Qu Jing, Yongzhou Judicial Officer Du Ruo and others.

Standing at the top right were General Chang He of the Left Thousand Oxen Guard, General Su Dingfang of the Left Golden Guard, Commander Helan Chushi of the Prince's Thousand Oxen Guard, Hu Yan, Shaoqing of the Dali Temple, Dai Zhide, Director of the Dali Temple, Zhang Wenguan, Secretary of the Dali Temple, and others.

Li Chengqian looked up at everyone and said, "Tell me, what exactly happened with the assassination of the King of Wei? What have you found out?"

"Your Highness," Yongzhou Sima Qujing stepped forward first, bowing solemnly as he spoke. "Your Highness, Yongzhou Prefecture, Chang'an and Wannian counties, and the Jinwu Guards have searched the area surrounding the Prince of Wei's mansion for a whole day, but have found no trace of the assassin."

"What? Are you saying that the King of Wei fabricated the assassin and this assassination case that could cost countless people their lives?" Li Chengqian looked at Qu Jing coldly.

"I dare not." Qu Jing immediately bowed solemnly.

Li Chengqian snorted coldly, then said, "I know you are all skilled in solving cases. There are very few clues that can escape your eyes, which is why you have made some unfavorable assumptions. However, even the King of Wei, no matter how powerful he is, would not joke about assassinations."

"Yes!" Everyone in the hall bowed.

(End of this chapter)