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

Chapter 200 I Want to See How the King of Wei Will Frame Me (Part )
The sun sets and the palace is silent.

Li Chengqian stood in front of the Chongjiao Hall. The palace gate in front was locked and the guards had even lit torches.

Li Anyan stood behind Li Chengqian and said seriously, "In Jiangnan, the Zhang family does the most overseas trade. They have the largest fleet in the entire Jiangnan region. Although other families also have large and small fleets, they are not as good as them. In fact, every time they go out to sea, they always gather around the Zhang family."

"It turns out that I married a rich man." Li Chengqian couldn't help laughing.

"Your Highness, the King of Wei has no idea how big the Zhang family's trade is, and Duke Xun Guo actually doesn't know either." Li Anyan leaned in and whispered.

Li Chengqian turned around and looked at Li Anyan in confusion.

"Your Highness!" Li Anyan bowed slightly and said, "Your Highness, the Jiangnan families have their own way of survival. They will not reveal their true intentions to Guanzhong."

Li Chengqian suddenly understood and nodded, "Indeed, during the Southern and Northern Dynasties, the Jiangnan families were no less powerful than the northern clans. If the Chen Dynasty had not been destroyed by the Sui Dynasty and the North and South were not in a standoff, the Jiangnan families would never have submitted to the Guanlong clans. So it is normal for them to do something about it."

"But now it's different. The Guanlong clan is the most powerful clan in the world. Duke Xun is the General of the Right Guard, the Imperial Censor, the Minister of the Imperial Household, the Minister of Works, and the Right Guard Commander of the Crown Prince, and has full authority over all matters.

"He has connections with the aristocratic families of Hedong, the powerful clans of Guanlong, and the old clans of Longyou. Under such pressure, the aristocratic families of Jiangnan are at the bottom of the list, and naturally they benefit the least." Li Anyan outlined Zhang Liang's entire network.

Li Chengqian nodded slightly. Zhang Liang's background made it easy for people to think that there was actually an emperor and the crown prince behind him.

Especially his military background, which gives him enough channels to travel around.

Xueyantuo, Tuyuhun, Goguryeo, Eastern and Western Turks.

Especially since he was the Minister of Works, he had enough authority to allow the caravans to pass through various checkpoints.

Li Chengqian knew the power of channels.

In addition, Zhang Liang has an ambiguous connection with the secret guards, so even the major families have to cooperate with him, and some even need to rely on him.

Zhang Liang is the person who is in charge of this huge family's business dealings.

In addition to what the Tang law permitted, they also did many things that the Tang law did not permit.

Especially Goguryeo, Goryeo maids, Silla maids, and Baekje maids, their prices on the market are very high.

"I heard that there is an underground black market in Chang'an City that ordinary people can't find at all. Is there such a place?" Li Chengqian looked at Li Anyan in confusion.

"Of course there is." Li Anyan nodded, but then he shook his head and said with a wry smile, "But Your Highness, I have never been to a place like this."

"The so-called Wei and Du in the south of the city are five feet high in the sky. An Yan, do you know why we only say the south of the city?" Li Chengqian turned around and looked at the sky above Chang'an City in the distance again.

"I know, because the north of the city is where the imperial palace is located, members of the royal family, important officials of the court, brave generals in the army, children of major families in the world and those serving in the court basically live in the north of the city. In the south of the city, the Wei and Du families are in charge." Li Anyan bowed slightly.

"So, whatever Zhang Liang wants to do is definitely related to the Wei and Du families." Li Chengqian waved his hand and said, "Father must know about this. There's no need for me to say anything more. Let's talk about the Zhang family..."

"Zhang family, Zhang Liang!" Li Chengqian suddenly came to his senses and said to Li Anyan, "No wonder the Zhang family was willing to be Qingque's pawn and marry their daughter into the Eastern Palace. It turns out all this was arranged by Zhang Liang."

"Your Highness, Duke Xun probably doesn't know the Zhang family's secret. Otherwise, they would not allow the Zhang family, no, the entire Jiangnan family to secretly intercept such a large part of the financial resources." Li Anyan shook his head slightly.

"Of course." Li Chengqian smiled and said, "Although the Zhang family and Zhang Liang are related by blood for more than ten generations, their closest ties are still to the Jiangnan aristocratic families. So Zhang Liang asked them to marry off their daughter, but in fact, this is more in line with the interests of the Jiangnan aristocratic families."

"Yes!" Li Anyan bowed slightly.

Although it is said that the Shandong aristocratic families, the Wang family, the Cui family, the Lu family, the Zheng family, and the Zhaojun Li family intermarry with each other and do not easily marry outsiders, in fact, this is true everywhere.

The Jiangnan families of Gu, Lu, Zhu, Zhang, Yu, Wei, Kong and He also intermarried among themselves.

The same is true for the aristocratic families in Guanzhong, Wei, Pei, Xue, Liu, Yang and Du.

"So, we must sever the relationship between the Zhang family and Zhang Liang, and stop Qingque from reaching out to the Eastern Palace through the Zhang family." Li Chengqian looked at Li Anyan and asked, "Did you find Qingque's hand in reaching out to the Zhang family?"

"Found it!" Li Anyan nodded, then said, "I have investigated all the servants who have entered the Zhang family over the past three years, as well as any family members with problems. Finally, I found that the fourth brother of Zhang You, a doctor of the Imperial College, a housekeeper, and two servants who entered the Zhang family six months ago are very likely to be the King of Wei's men."

"Qingque!" Li Chengqian sneered and said, "That's all he has. Half a year."

"Your Highness, half a year ago, the King of Wei had not yet thought about what to do!" Li Anyan shook his head slightly.

"That's what you said." Li Chengqian nodded.

Before Li Tai went to Luoyang in April, he probably never thought that he would be dismissed from his post as governor of Yongzhou by the emperor and then exiled.

So even if he wants to do something, it will be after April.

"Now that we've found the person, the only thing left is what Qingque will do." Li Chengqian sighed and said, "What can Qingque do? It's nothing more than framing me. He can use the Zhang family to frame me. That's the only method he has."

"The Eastern Palace is located within the Imperial City, and ordinary people are completely forbidden from entering. Even the officials of the Eastern Palace are constantly monitored by people inside and outside. Therefore, the only thing he can do is to use the Zhang family to send things that frame His Highness without his knowledge." Li Anyan shook his head slightly and said, "The King of Wei's methods are too easy to guess."

"This is his only avenue, so it's easy to guess." Li Chengqian walked out of the Chongjiao Hall. The moonlight had already risen in the east. Li Chengqian said calmly, "Keep an eye on those people and observe their every move. The day after tomorrow, have Zhang You come to the East Palace. Since the Jiangnan family has their own plans, we must make them understand the danger of Qingque."

"Yes!" Li Anyan immediately bowed. Li Chengqian raised his hand: "Also, the Zhang family can send things to the Eastern Palace because it is almost the end of the year and every family has to send gifts to the Eastern Palace.

The same is true for the Zhang family, the Su family, the Zheng family, and the Wei family. Therefore, all New Year gifts sent to the Eastern Palace, especially those sent to the harem, must be kept under close scrutiny.

Come in person, and if you are unsure, send it directly to Jialing Temple."

The Prince's Household Temple is not in the East Palace, but opposite the East Palace.

In fact, more than half of the institutions and official residences of the Eastern Palace are located opposite the Eastern Palace.

Only the Chongwenguan and the Zuoyouchunfang were located within the Eastern Palace.

"Yes!" Li Anyan bowed with a serious expression. He had already made up his mind that all the annual gifts sent to the Eastern Palace, not just those sent to the harem, would have to be inspected.

"Finally, if you find that thing, don't make it public." Li Chengqian suddenly smiled. He looked towards the Ganlu Palace and said softly, "I want to see what Qingque is planning to do."

"Yes!"

……

Early in the morning, in Cheng'en Hall.

Li Chengqian opened his arms and put on the dragon robe with Zhang Xuan's help.

Li Chengqian lowered his eyes. The pink dress covered Zhang Xuan's slender body. Her eyes on her delicate and lovely face were carefully helping Li Chengqian to tidy up his clothes.

Li Chengqian said gently, "My beloved, after the imperial court today, my father-in-law will be here. Let's have lunch together, right in Guangtian Palace!"

"Are you coming over, Daye?" Zhang Xuan looked up in surprise. She hadn't seen her family for a long time.

"Hmm!" Li Chengqian smiled, let go of her hand, and then said, "I have something to discuss with my father-in-law."

"Yes!" Zhang Xuan bowed slightly. She didn't know what Li Chengqian wanted to talk to her father about, nor did she need to know. She only knew that her father came today, which was enough to make her happy.

Zhang Xuan waited patiently the entire morning.

Today is the fifteenth day of the twelfth lunar month, the day of the full moon.

It's the end of the year and there's a lot going on.

It was almost noon when Zhang Youcai came over with Li Chengqian.

Zhang Xuan happily had lunch with her father, and then watched Li Chengqian see Zhang You off.

Zhang You took one last look at Zhang Xuan standing on the steps of Guangtian Hall, and then followed Li Chengqian into Chongjiao Hall.

Li Chengqian waved his hand to let the attendants in the hall leave, and then let Li Anyan push him to the main seat.

Zhang You's expression suddenly grew serious. Standing in the hall, he bowed to Li Chengqian and said, "Your Highness, I wonder what you want from me today?"

Li Chengqian waved his hand gently and said, "Don't worry, father-in-law. It's just a small matter."

Li Anyan stepped forward and handed a secret book to Zhang You.

Zhang You glanced at Li Anyan in surprise, then opened the secret book. The moment he saw the contents clearly, Zhang You's expression changed slightly. He looked up at Li Chengqian, bowed with a heavy expression, and said, "Your Highness, the matter here..."

Li Chengqian waved his hand and said calmly, "The Zhang family and Duke Xun are doing business together. I don't need to care about it. However, it involves Princess Baling's husband, Chai Lingwu. He is now the Sima of the King of Wei, so I have to send someone to investigate."

"Your Highness, Xuanniang's marriage into the Eastern Palace has nothing to do with the prince consort and the King of Wei!" Zhang You bowed solemnly. Although it was Zhang Liang who proposed to marry his daughter into the Eastern Palace, it was actually the final result of weighing the pros and cons with many people.

Li Chengqian turned his head to look at Li Anyan, who immediately stepped forward and handed another secret book to Zhang You.

Zhang You froze in his tracks when he saw what was happening. He immediately turned to look at Li Chengqian and hurriedly bowed, saying, "Your Highness, I don't know anything about this matter!"

"Qingque bribed your fourth brother before Xuanniang married into the Eastern Palace. He also used your household steward to plant someone in your family. What do you think he was planning to do?" Zhang You shuddered at Li Chengqian's calm voice, but he still bowed and said, "Your Highness, I don't know."

"When does the Zhang family plan to send this year's annual gift to the Eastern Palace?"

"Twenty-nine..." Zhang You's face changed in disbelief as he spoke halfway. "Your Highness, they're trying to tamper with the New Year's ceremony? Your Highness, I will return immediately, take care of them, and sever all ties with Duke Xun."

Zhang You's face turned fierce. He had guessed Li Tai's deep calculations, which made him hate him very much.

"It's common for aristocratic families in Jiangnan to engage in business, so there's no need to sever ties. Just find a young man from your family to take over. You're a doctoral student at the Imperial College now, so just focus on the Imperial College." Li Chengqian watched Zhang You nod heavily before continuing, "As for matters at home, just send someone to keep an eye on them. There's no need to do anything else."

"Your Highness?" Zhang You looked up in surprise.

Li Chengqian looked past him, toward the outside of the palace, and whispered, "On the twenty-sixth day of the twelfth lunar month, have someone deliver the gift to the East Palace in advance. Honestly, I really want to see what the King of Wei has in store for me."

(End of this chapter)