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

Chapter 138: The Crown Prince Offers Sacrifice at the Xian Mausoleum, Chai Lingwu Grits His Teeth on the Street (Part )
In the dream, there is a sparse building, and I am crazy all night.

Zheng Shuang'er fell asleep while hugging Li Chengqian's left arm. Zheng Chu leaned in Li Chengqian's arms, breathing softly.

Look at it from Li Chengqian's perspective.

The mountains are rolling and the branches are full of fruits.

Compared to Zheng Shuang'er, who had just been married for a short time, Zheng Chu, who was 29 years old, was at the peak of her female beauty.

Using a little force with his right hand, Li Chengqian hugged Zheng Chu slightly upwards, his forehead against hers, their eyes meeting.

His hair was wet with sweat and a strange fragrance filled the air.

"What's wrong with you tonight? You're so indulgent." Li Chengqian nudged Zheng Chu's nose with the tip of his nose. Zheng Chu's face immediately turned completely red, and he whispered, "Your Highness!"

Rubbing their noses together, Li Chengqian smiled and whispered, "Go ahead, if you have anything to say, is there a better time than now?"

"Yes!" Zheng Chu lowered his head slightly, then looked up at Li Chengqian and said, "Your Highness, his father and brother wrote to me, saying that they will come to Chang'an after the New Year to move his grave back to Fanyang."

"Are you afraid that they will take you back to Fan Yang as well?" Li Chengqian understood a little.

"I'm afraid they don't care about me. What they care about is Yue'er. After all, Yue'er is the blood of the Lu family." While Zheng Chu was speaking, he tightly grasped Li Chengqian's arm.

The person Zheng Chu cares about most in this world is her daughter.

Without her daughter, she no longer had anything to worry about in this world.

Li Chengqian raised an eyebrow and said, "Don't worry about this. You and Yue'er are both in the Eastern Palace now, so they can't do anything for the time being. As for Lu Hu's father and brother... I have a question for you. How much do you know about Lu Hu and the Gaoli maid?"

"I know nothing about it. He has kept it a secret from me." Zheng Chu shook his head bitterly.

Li Chengqian nodded, then he asked, "What about his father and brother? How much do they know about Lu Hu and the Gaoli maid? Have they communicated with each other?"

Zheng Chu looked up in surprise, then nodded heavily and said, "There are some things he won't tell me, but he will definitely tell his father and brother, or even just them."

"That makes sense." Li Chengqian raised his head and said, "This might be the reason why someone stole your luggage...Okay, don't worry about it anymore. Don't leave the palace these days.

Spread the word that the Eastern Palace is busy at the end of the year. I have to offer sacrifices to the Xianling Mausoleum, attend the New Year's Day ceremony, and offer sacrifices to heaven and earth. If there are any matters, have them consult with the Duke of Fanyang. No matter what the result, you will be notified in the end... Don't worry, they will never dare to come to the Eastern Palace to look for you."

Since being attacked last year, Duke of Fanyang, Lu Chengqing, has rarely participated in any affairs, even avoiding matters within his own clan.

In addition, there was plague and war that year, so he was kept as the Shangshu Zuocheng.

If anything really happened, he would be dismissed immediately as the Shangshu Zuocheng.

Especially regarding Lu Hu’s matter, Lu Chengqing had no time to hide, so it would be strange if he could come up with anything.

"Hmm!" Zheng Chu gently leaned his cheek against Li Chengqian's chest and said softly, "I've caused trouble for His Highness."

Li Chengqian smiled and said, "Then you should serve me better in the future."

"Yeah!" Zheng Chu responded softly, her voice becoming increasingly low and sobbing.

……

In the Chongjiao Hall, Li Chengqian put the memorial on the table aside.

Then he looked at the empty desk and lowered his head in thought.

A familiar sound of footsteps echoed outside the palace, and then Li Anyan's voice rang out from the side: "Your Highness!"

Li Chengqian didn't look up and said calmly, "Today, go to the Ministry of Personnel and quietly check the official files of Lu Hu's father and brother to see if there are any problems."

"Yes!" Li Anyan bowed earnestly, then asked carefully, "Your Highness, what happened again?"

"Maybe we are really wrong. What happened to Lu Hu may not just be known to him alone. His father and brother may also know about it." Li Chengqian raised his head slightly and looked outside the hall.

During the twelfth lunar month, the sun is shining brightly, but the weather is cold.

"Lu Hu's affairs are connected to Fang Xiang and others as well." Li Chengqian pondered carefully, then said, "Qing Que is now imprisoned in Ziyun Pavilion and has no hope of competing for the throne. If I were him, I would definitely go to Fang Xiang at this time."

"Yes!"

"Tomorrow, the New Year gifts sent to Princess Gaoyang's residence should be more generous." Li Chengqian suddenly spoke and looked sideways at Li Anyan.

Li Anyan immediately bowed and said, "Yes!"

Princess Gaoyang's mansion and Fang Xuanling's residence were separated by a wall, and many things could not be hidden from that side.

"On the third day of the first lunar month, have Helan go to the Ministry of Revenue to investigate the recent trade between the Lu clan of Fanyang and the Liaodong caravans." Li Chengqian sighed softly and said, "I really may have overlooked this before."

"Yes!"

"On the fourth day of the first lunar month, have Helan go to Pingkangfang and bring people to check all the brothels in the Jiaofang that Lu Hu often visits."

"Yes!" Li Anyan bowed seriously. Helan Chushi was the commander of the Eastern Palace's Qianniu Guards. With his appearance, the news would basically be delivered to Chang He's desk soon, which means it would soon appear on the emperor's desk.

Li Chengqian sighed softly, looked towards Luoyang, and whispered, "An Yan, do you think Li Yifu and his men can catch this man in Luoyang this time?"

"Imperial Censor Li always has something unexpected." Li Anyan showed admiration on his face. He had not expected that Li Yifu would be so good at this kind of thing.

Li Chengqian nodded calmly. How could "Li Mao" Li Yifu, who was able to become the prime minister amidst so many party struggles, not have any extraordinary qualities?

Even Su Dingfang and Zhang Wenguan were not as good as him in these matters.

"After the first month of the year, I might be very busy. I'd better arrange things in advance so that I don't forget." Li Chengqian said, then stood up and said, "Let's go and see how the New Year's gift prepared for father is going."

"Here!"

……

On the 30th day of the twelfth lunar month, the cold wind blows from the north.

Before offering sacrifices at the mausoleum, Li Chengqian handed the black fox cloak he was wearing aside, straightened his clothes, and held the jade tablet in his hand.

Behind him, Prince of Jing Li Yuanjing, Prince of Han Li Yuanchang, Prince of Xu Li Yuanli, Prince of Han Li Yuanjia, Prince of Peng Li Yuanze, and other princes of Emperor Gaozu, as well as Prince of Wu Li Ke, Prince of Qi Li You, Prince of Shu Li Yin, Prince of Jiang Li Yun, Prince of Yue Li Zhen, Prince of Jin Li Zhi, Prince of Ji Li Shen, and other princes of the prefectures, all dressed in formal attire and solemn expressions, holding their tablets. The Mausoleum Commander, Tong En, who was standing nearby, shouted, "Crown Prince, and the other princes pay homage to Emperor Gaozu Taiwu. Proceed!"

Li Chengqian stepped forward with a solemn expression and entered the temple of Emperor Gaozu.

The portrait of Emperor Gaozu is hung above, and below is the spirit tablet of Emperor Gaozu's mausoleum.

On the walls on both sides are hung portraits of Li Xiaogong, Prince of Hejian, Li Zhan, Prince of Shu, Li Yuanheng, Prince of Dao, Li Yuanfang, Prince of Zhou, Qiu He, Duke of Tan, Pei Ji, Duke of Hedong, Zhang Kai, Duke of Pingyuan, Shen Shu'an, Duke of Wuxing and others.

There is also a spirit tablet placed on the mausoleum.

The tombs of all these people were also buried in Xianling.

"Sacrifice!" Xianling Ling Tongen's voice sounded again.

Li Chengqian stepped forward, inserted the tall incense stick in the incense burner, then knelt down and kowtowed deeply.

The kings behind him also bowed down at the same time.

Outside the temple, countless offerings were thrown into the incense burners in the bronze tripods on both sides, and then turned into curling green smoke, rising straight into the sky.

The descendants of the kings and other families also placed offerings into the bronze tripod, which turned into green smoke and soared into the sky.

After Li Chengqian kowtowed and offered sacrifices, he walked out of the temple. After chatting with the descendants of the various families for a few words, he rode back to Chang'an City.

The descendants of various families then entered the Xianling Mausoleum to offer sacrifices.

……

In Chang'an City, Li Chengqian and Li Zhi rode in the front, followed by Li Yuanjing, King of Han Li Yuanchang and more than a dozen other royal princes.

On both sides of the long streets, countless Chang'an citizens looked around curiously.

One after another, the Jinwu Guards, armed with long spears, kept the people ten feet away from the kings.

When the kings walked in the streets, the people did not have to bow to them.

Of course, the people of Yongzhou Prefecture, Chang'an and Wannian Counties, as well as the Qianniu Guards, who had long been close to the area, had investigated the matter openly and secretly countless times.

When the kings took a step forward, they followed on both sides. Anyone who did anything wrong would be arrested immediately.

This has been the rule for many years, but nothing has ever happened.

In a three-story restaurant facing the street in Pingkangfang, Chai Lingwu stood at the window, watching Li Chengqian riding past on horseback, and couldn't help but grit his teeth slightly.

The prince offered sacrifices at the Xianling Mausoleum and rode past countless people on the streets of Chang'an. His intention was obvious.

After this time, all the rumors in Chang'an City over the past two years about the instability of the Crown Prince's position will completely disappear.

His position as crown prince will be more secure.

Watching Li Chengqian leading the kings on horseback towards the Suzaku Gate, Chai Lingwu sneered lightly.

Even if you regain the emperor's trust, as long as you attack your brother, the emperor will never tolerate you.

Chai Lingwu knew the emperor best. He had broken into the palace through Xuanwu Gate, so what he feared most was that others would imitate him.

If the prince really took action against the King of Wei, even if it was just a rumor, it would be enough for the emperor to re-examine him.

Then he conducted a thorough inspection of the entire East Palace inside and out.

Chai Lingwu just didn't believe that there was nothing wrong with the prince.

Thinking of this, Chai Lingwu looked towards the direction of Xianling with a cold expression.

His father, the General of the Zhenjun Army, Duke of Qiao, Governor of Jingzhou, and son-in-law of Emperor Gaozu, did not even have the opportunity to be buried in the Xianling Mausoleum.

Of course, Chai Lingwu understood that the emperor was planning to move his father's tomb to Zhaoling Mausoleum after a hundred years of his death.

But at that time, the emperor himself no longer had the final say, so who knew who had the final say.

Chai Lingwu even had a feeling that unless the successor emperor was particularly determined, he would never touch his father's tomb.

Because his father and his mother were buried together.

Chai Lingwu couldn't help but smile bitterly. Who would dare to touch the tomb of his mother, Princess Pingyang Zhao?

Therefore, his father will never accept sacrifices from the Tang Dynasty royal family.

"Thump, thump, thump!" A burst of hurried footsteps suddenly sounded downstairs, waking Chai Lingwu up instantly.

"What's the matter?" Chai Lingwu's expression turned cold and he looked out the window.

"Sir, urgent news from Luoyang."

With a "creak", Chai Lingwu was already standing in front of the door. He opened the door and took the secret letter. When Chai Lingwu opened it, his face suddenly changed.

Qi Zhixuan was captured at the White Horse Temple and escorted to Chang'an overnight.

Chai Lingwu suddenly looked up. The "evening night" here refers to last night, which means that they are still on the road.

General Chai Lingwu handed the secret letter to his men and said, "Tell the people in Huashan to send out thirty death warriors to kill Su Dingfang directly... No, no..."

As soon as Chai Lingwu read out Su Dingfang's name, he knew that a direct ambush would not be feasible.

"Send three assassins to block the road at the foot of Mount Hua. If they can assassinate Qi Zhixuan, kill him. If they can't, have them commit suicide in front of him." After a brief pause, Chai Lingwu said with a grim expression, "Also, write a letter to Qi Yu, the governor of Guangzhou, and tell him that his son has been arrested. He should know what to do."

"Yes!" The subordinate immediately bowed, then quickly turned around and left.

"Yongzhou Prefecture, Dali Temple, Jinwu Guard... No, this person will definitely be imprisoned in Qianniu Prison."

Chai Lingwu raised his head and said, "Qianniu Guard Chief Clerk Ge Qing..."

(End of this chapter)