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

Chapter 141 Li Tai: My father has truly given up on me. What should I do? (First update)
The candles in the palace are bright, and the wine is hot and the faces are drunk.

Li Shimin looked at the kneeling Songtsen Gampo in the Wedding Worship Picture with great satisfaction, then looked at Li Chengqian and asked, "Is Songtsen still in Tongtian River now?"

"In 2012, Yuwen Chongsi, the Junior Secretary of the Honglu Temple, reported that Songtsen would set out for Lhasa in April and hold a grand wedding ceremony in Lhasa.

There's news that in the second half of this year, there were drastic changes within Lhasa, with many high-ranking officials either demoted or executed. The official atmosphere in Lhasa has completely changed." Li Chengqian bowed solemnly.

"Keep an eye on the Dangxiang." Li Shimin looked up and said thoughtfully, "If Tubo wants to move south to Tuyuhun, the Dangxiang will be a necessary place to pass through. We can have the Zhifang Division plant a few pawns there."

"Yes!" Li Chengqian bowed seriously, then took a half step back.

The prince has finished his gift.

Li Tai took a half step forward, bowed his head, and said, "Your Majesty, I wish you a happy new year. Like my brother, I have prepared three gifts. The first is the newly edited and completed Book of the Later Han. Please review it, Your Majesty."

Six eunuchs had just carried Li Chengqian's gifts down from the hall when more gifts were brought up.

Eight eunuchs carried four boxes of different sizes to the steps. The two large boxes in front were opened directly, and they were full of the newly revised "Book of the Later Han".

Looking at these books, the emperor raised his hand slightly, and Zhang Ananda immediately stepped forward, took out one and handed it directly to the emperor.

Li Shimin opened it and took a look, flipped through two pages casually, nodded slightly with satisfaction, then he suddenly and quickly turned to the back of the page. After looking at it for a few times, the satisfaction on his face disappeared silently.

Li Chengqian stood to one side without looking up, but he also knew the emperor's anger.

Editing history books has never been an easy task, especially for later generations to edit the history books of their predecessors.

What is most important is how to draw new insights from the history books compiled by our predecessors and how to better govern the world today.

It is not called editing if it is just a random translation.

Although Li Tai gathered a lot of talents to compile the "Book of the Later Han", to be honest, there were no truly top-notch Confucian scholars.

It cannot be said that there are none, most of them are in the "Guo Di Zhi".

That was the original copy ordered by the emperor, led by the imperial concubine Su Xu, compiled by Xiao Deyan, the author, Gu Yin and others, with the Guanglu Temple providing food and the Weiwei Temple providing sleeping tents.

The compilation of "Book of the Later Han" was nothing more than a memorial submitted by Prince Wei, the emperor's approval, and the overall leadership of Prince Wei. It was edited by Prince Wei's recorder Jiang Yaqing, Prince Wei's military officer Xie Yan and others. All supplies were borne by Prince Wei's palace.

There is a big gap here.

A true Confucian is not interested in this, especially since a true Confucian knows the risks involved.

The King of Cao doesn’t matter, and the King of Wei doesn’t matter either, but the Duke of Zhao, Zhangsun Wuji, is not someone to be trifled with, and the Emperor is even more difficult to trifle with.

Since the Zhenguan period, the emperor has been suppressing the aristocratic families in the world. Now there is no need to anger the emperor by compiling a book called "Book of the Later Han" which is only led by the King of Wei.

Good steel should be used on the blade.

They all understood this principle. If the prince took the lead in compiling the "Book of the Later Han", that would be the case.

There is a shortage of editing talent and the editing time is too tight. Apart from some things at the beginning that Su Xu took the time to edit, the rest of the content is simply unreadable.

Li Chengqian lowered his head calmly. Wasn't the purpose of his planning and arrangement at the beginning of the year just for today?

……

Li Shimin sat on the imperial couch, looking at Li Tai, whose face was filled with longing. He reached out to close the book, handed it to Zhang Ananda, and said calmly, "It's well edited. I'll send it to the Hongwenguan in three days. Wuji, you will be responsible for counting and storing it."

"I obey your order." Changsun Wuji immediately bowed.

Li Tai stood there in a daze. Is that it?

Just now, the prince just gave the emperor a pair of "Fu" characters written by his whole family, and the emperor was so happy that he almost cried. He spent half a year compiling the "Book of the Later Han" and the emperor said "very well compiled" in return.

That's it.

As expected, my father really gave up on me.

None of the ministers in the hall spoke, not even Chai Lingwu and Su Xu dared to speak.

The emperor said it very clearly that it would be sent to the Hongwenguan in three days, and then Duke Zhao would carefully put it into storage. In other words, it still had to pass another hurdle with Duke Zhao.

The emperor was not interested in the compilation of the "Book of the Later Han Dynasty". The person who actually reviewed it was Zhao Guogong Zhangsun Wuji.

If Changsun Wuji is dissatisfied, then this book may need to be... revised?

Chai Lingwu suddenly looked at Li Chengqian. The compilation of the Book of the Later Han was the Crown Prince's original idea, but he later gave up. They were compiling it first to prevent him from changing his mind...

"Ahem!" Li Chengqian suddenly coughed, looked at Li Tai and said, "Qingque has worked hard all year. What annual gifts do you have to offer to our father today? I can't wait to see them."

The momentary silence in the hall was broken by Li Chengqian's words. Li Tai suddenly came to his senses and quickly bowed his head and saluted, saying, "Your Majesty, last year, the Tubo envoy came to Beijing to propose marriage. I was there in person. After returning home, I told my uncle Yan Liben about it. My uncle spent six months painting a painting called 'The Procession of Emperor Taizong to Meet the Emperor in a Buddhist Temple.' I have written a poem on it and am presenting it to you today. May your majesty's power reign supreme and your realm be as vast as the heavens."

As he spoke, Li Tai took out a scroll of painting from the box and handed it over.

The emperor sat on the imperial couch, looking at the painting in Li Tai's hand, then looked at Li Chengqian and said, "You brothers have come to the same conclusion. That's great."

Li Chengqian quickly bowed earnestly and said, "I didn't expect Qingque to have thought of this. I originally thought that if the wedding ceremony map could be introduced to the countries in the Western Regions, then if Tubo did anything illegal in the future, it would be condemned by everyone."

"Your son didn't expect this either." Li Tai looked at Li Chengqian with a slightly ugly expression.

The paintings made by Yan Liben are definitely a masterpiece that will be remembered for all time, but after being painted in advance by Li Chengqian, the feeling of the painting "Wedding Blessing Picture" was immediately ruined by nine points.

Yuchi Yiseng was no ordinary person either. His father, Yuchi Bazhina, was famous for his painting skills in the Sui Dynasty and was known as "Big Yuchi".

Yuchi Yiseng was the "Little Yuchi". In his early years, he served as a guard in the palace. Later, he became a Taichang Doctor of the seventh rank.

Of course, Yuchi Yiseng’s reputation has not yet been fully established. Only after he completes "Subduing the Demons" will he truly become a famous master of painting in the Tang Dynasty, on par with Yan Liben.

The emperor glanced at the "Procession of Emperor Taizong to Meet Emperor Taizong of Tang" and nodded calmly, saying, "It's a good painting."

The emperor commented on Yan Liben's "The Procession of Emperor Taizong to Meet Emperor Taizong of Buddhism" and then had it packed up.

Li Tai held a memorial in his hand, then bowed his head and said, "Your Majesty, the Buddhist niches in the north and south caves of the Longmen Temple Grottoes in Luoyang have been completed. I wish you the best of luck and invite you to personally consecrate them and pray for the Queen Mother."

Li Chengqian stood aside and bowed slightly to Li Tai.

Regardless, Li Tai prayed for their mother's afterlife at Longmen Temple in Luoyang. Perhaps he had selfish motives, but Li Chengqian had to accept this favor. Li Shimin sat on the imperial couch, his eyes sweeping over Li Chengqian's slightly sad face, then looking at Li Tai, who, though bowing his head, gritted his teeth, pursed his lips, and clenched his fists in anticipation of his praise.

Li Shimin felt an inexplicable flash of disgust in his heart. That's your mother, Qingque...

……

The emperor smiled slightly, then nodded and said, "Qingque has done well. Come with me to Luoyang in March next year. By the way, Chengqian, how are things going at Taiyi Miaoyan Temple?"

"Master Yin Wencao of Louguan came to the palace a few days ago and said that everything has been settled." Li Chengqian bowed and said, "If Your Majesty is free on the second day of the New Year, you can stop by on your way back. I haven't been there yet, but when the Crown Prince's steward went there, he said it was very solemn and peaceful."

"Very good!" Li Shimin nodded gently and said, "That's it. I'll go take a look on the second day of the new year."

"Yes!" Li Chengqian bowed slightly.

Li Tai, who was standing on the side, twitched his lips slightly. How come he was the one who presented the gift, but in the end it was the prince who was praised?

"Okay." The emperor raised his hand with a smile. Li Chengqian stood up and took a half step back.

A eunuch came up from the side and carried away the various gifts presented by Li Tai.

Even though Li Tai was extremely reluctant at this moment, he could only take a step back.

"Father!" Li Zhi stood up and began to present his gift, which was a handwritten book.

Afterwards, Li Ke, Li You, Li Yin and others also came forward to present New Year gifts.

Li Chengqian stood aside, watching calmly, his eyes briefly sweeping over Li Tai.

Now Li Tai still has a chance to save the situation, and that is the Longmen Grottoes in Luoyang.

But unfortunately, he was too impatient.

In addition, Yan Lide only participated in half of the work before leaving, and the quality of the remaining half immediately declined.

The construction period was too tight, and Li Tai himself did not go there very often.

Li Chengqian's eyes flickered. If Li Tai really wanted to present the Buddha shrine of Longmen Grottoes to the emperor next summer, then the day when the emperor saw the Buddha statue built by Li Tai would be the last day that Li Tai was exiled.

No, now that the Longmen Grottoes have been completed, there is no room for Li Tai to make amends.

Now Li Tai no longer has any chance to become the crown prince.

Even if there are more, they are just a means for the emperor to maintain balance.

What remains is undoubtedly to see how far he will go in the end, and whether he will rebel directly in desperation.

He is the emperor's second legitimate son, and he may be able to imitate what the previous second legitimate son did.

Maybe, you can give him a push.

Li Chengqian lowered his eyes slightly.

……

The night banquet was joyful and time passed quickly.

A cold wind blew from the opposite side, and Li Chengqian gradually calmed down.

Looking up, he found himself standing in the square in front of the Tai Chi Hall.

In the distant sky of Chang'an City, bursts of firecrackers were heard.

The hour of midnight has passed and the New Year has arrived.

It has been the sixteenth year of Zhenguan.

Li Chengqian took a deep breath and then looked in the direction of Liangyi Hall.

Li Chengqian spent the entire night waiting for Su Dingfang and the others to report on Qi Zhixuan's affairs, but after the entire night banquet was over, there was still no trace of the two men.

Even Li Chengqian was a little drunk while waiting.

If not, then not.

It is now the sixteenth year of Zhenguan, and there is only one year left before he was deposed in his previous life.

Now, as long as he is careful and doesn't make any mistakes, he won't be the one to be abandoned.

As for who was abolished.

Li Chengqian sneered in his heart. If Li Tai did nothing and just quietly served as the local governor, then no one could do anything to him. But, was he really content?

Li Chengqian turned around, looked at Su Shu who came to support him, and said softly: "Let's go back to the East Palace."

"Yeah!" Su Shu looked at Li Chengqian, and the two of them supported each other and walked towards Chengtian Gate.

Several eunuchs following behind wanted to step forward to help, but Su Shu waved them all away.

There were only the couple, walking forward calmly.

……

Below Chengtian Gate, the imperial city is deserted.

Li Chengqian and Su Shu were just about to board the sedan chair when a Qianniu guard came galloping over from a distance. He bowed to Li Chengqian and said, "Your Highness, the Crown Prince, His Majesty has ordered that Your Highness proceed to the Qianniu Prison immediately."

It’s here, everything is finally here.

"Where is the King of Wei?" Li Chengqian looked up calmly.

"The King of Wei has gone to identify the person." Qianniu Guard bowed.

Li Chengqian nodded slightly, with a deep sneer in his eyes. He didn't know if Li Tai and Qi Zhixuan had ever thought that one day they would face each other in Qianniu Prison when they were discussing how to frame him.

(End of this chapter)