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

Chapter 204: The Xuanwu Gate Incident, Seizing the Brother's Concubine (Part )
In Yichun Palace, Su Shu nodded slightly to the maids in the palace. The maids immediately stepped forward and took the exhausted Li Xiang, Li Jue, and Princess Ankang away.

"Go away!" Su Shu waved her hand, and the other maids in the hall immediately bowed and then retreated.

Turning around, Su Shu looked at Li Chengqian, who was leaning on the bed, and asked with blinking eyes, "Your Highness, is there anything on your mind today?"

"Why do you think so, my beloved?" Li Chengqian sat up in surprise.

"Your Highness will only call all his children together to relax when he is worried." Su Shu looked at Li Chengqian with soft but firm eyes.

Li Chengqian patted the bed, Su Shu turned around, and then leaned gently in Li Chengqian's arms.

Reaching out to hug Su Shu, Li Chengqian finally spoke, "It's about Qingque. Qingque used the Zhang family to send a voodoo doll to the East Palace yesterday!"

"What!" Su Shu couldn't help but sit up, her face anxious and angry.

"Don't worry, the things have been destroyed." Li Chengqian used a little force to hug Su Shu in his arms. Su Shu finally reacted, calmed down, and whispered, "Your Highness, did you know this a long time ago?"

"Hmm!" Li Chengqian looked out the window, then said in a deep voice, "When Xuanniang married into the Eastern Palace, I found it very strange. Why would the Zhang family marry their daughter into the Eastern Palace when they were all fine?... Although my leg has shown signs of recovery and can attract people, marrying off a daughter directly still feels a bit too much."

"So Your Highness suspects that there is something wrong with the Zhang family?" Su Shu suddenly realized.

"Yes, I've checked. Duke Xun has a trade network connecting the east, west, south, and north. Aristocratic families from all over the world are involved, and the Zhang family happens to be his export agent in Jiangnan." Li Chengqian sighed and said, "The one who truly wants the Zhang family's daughter to marry into the Eastern Palace is actually Qingque. His goal is to frame the Eastern Palace with witchcraft."

"The one from yesterday?" Su Shu immediately understood.

"Yes." Li Chengqian looked up and said, "The witchcraft in the Eastern Palace was a pawn he planted. However, because the witchcraft in the Eastern Palace was sent by the Zhang family, and the Zhang family married their daughter into the Eastern Palace because of Duke Xun, Qingque used this to threaten and win over Duke Xun to do his bidding."

"Will Duke Xun Guo definitely listen to King Wei? Can he go directly to my father?" Su Shu frowned.

"No, he wouldn't dare." Li Chengqian smiled, then sneered slightly, "Because he himself is not clean. Qingque has caught more than just one weakness of his."

"About the caravan?"

"That's basically it. It seems there are some secrets in it, but I don't know what they are." Li Chengqian shook his head. The things in it were hidden very deeply.

"Ok!"

"In any case, Qingque has already taken control of Duke Xun." After a brief pause, Li Chengqian said, "And he's also set his sights on Duke Chen. Duke Chen wants to be prime minister, but my father is unwilling to give it to him easily. Qingque might promise something. If Duke Chen is tempted by this, I can't do anything about it."

"Does the emperor know this?" Su Shu suddenly asked.

"You know, but I don't think my father has any good solutions." Li Chengqian sighed softly, then continued, "Besides, Fang Er was once a military officer of the King of Wei. If Qingque uses Fang Er as a threat in the witchcraft case, I'm afraid Prime Minister Fang will have to compromise."

"Prime Minister Fang?" Su Shu couldn't help but sit up.

"It's not just Prime Minister Fang, there's also someone you'd never guess is determined to support Qingque."

"Who?" Su Shu couldn't help but grab Li Chengqian's wrist.

"Grand Censor Wei Ting."

"Isn't the Imperial Censor the father-in-law of the King of Qi? Why would he support the King of Wei?"

Li Chengqian looked at Su Shu's surprised expression, hugged her again, and then whispered, "That happened in the past. Qingque got married before my beloved concubine and I, so you don't know about this matter."

"Yeah!" Su Shu nodded slightly. Li Tai and Yan Wan got married before she married into the Eastern Palace, so it was normal for her not to know some things.

……

"When the Emperor was selecting the Princess of Wei, he first chose Wei Ting's daughter. Wei Ting and Qing Que also had a crush on each other. However, for some reason, when the Emperor issued the decree, he suddenly changed it to Yan Wan." Li Chengqian shook his head and said, "The Wei, Qing Que, and Yan families couldn't believe it, but in the end, it was left as it was."

"But the daughter of the Wei family has already become the Princess of Qi?"

"The relationship between the Prince of Qi and his wife isn't very good." Li Chengqian shook his head and said with emotion, "And the Imperial Censor also secretly maintains a relationship with Qingque. Many secrets were told to Qingque by the Imperial Censor."

"Then what is he planning to do? Do the same thing as at Xuanwu Gate and snatch my brother's concubine away?" Su Shu couldn't believe it.

"Prince Wei, Duke Xun, Duke Chen, Prime Minister Fang, the Imperial Censor, and the Eastern Palace's sorcerers—they have more than enough to do something when our father leaves Chang'an." Li Chengqian sighed softly and said, "This is Qingque's plan."

Su Shu calmed down and nodded, saying, "Since Your Highness already knows all this, he must have a way to deal with it."

"My beloved concubine understands me." Li Chengqian smiled and nodded, saying, "All they can do is to surround the Eastern Palace under the pretext of witchcraft while my father is not in Chang'an, and then demand a forced search. But I am the Crown Prince Regent, so how can they get in if I don't let them in?

All that remains is a forced attack, so when the time comes, I will simply bring the Duke of Wei to the Eastern Palace ahead of time. Then, no matter what they plot, they will run into obstacles there. "Li Jing, Li Chengqian's backup is Li Jing.

Li Jing is guarding the Eastern Palace, so even if Hou Junji and Zhang Liang come together, they won't be able to break through.

Su Shu completely relaxed. As long as Li Chengqian had a solution, she was fine. She looked up at Li Chengqian and asked softly, "Then what is your highness worried about?"

Li Chengqian fell silent.

Su Shu's eyes widened. She finally understood that what Li Chengqian was really worried about was not Li Tai at all.

Li Chengqian raised his head and said softly, "Father is well aware of Duke Xun's affairs; Father is also fully aware of Duke Chen's affairs; and Father is also keeping an eye on Qingque. What I don't know now is how much Father knows about the current witchcraft incident."

Su Shu's mind went blank for a moment and she didn't know what to say.

"The Blue Bird incident has never been a threat. Even if Blue Bird falls, there's still Zhinu, and even Prince Wu will gain Father's favor, not to mention Prince Cao. These things are inevitable." Li Chengqian lowered his head and looked at Su Shu. "So I hope to use the Blue Bird incident to see how many methods Father has at his disposal, especially the Hundred Cavalry Division."

Baiqisi, Baiqisi.

Li Chengqian’s real goal is only one, the Hundred Cavalry Division.

The Hundred Cavalry Division is the emperor's most important eyes and ears for monitoring the world, but many of its eyes are absolutely secret.

Not to mention Li Chengqian, even Chang He didn't know how many people there were in the Hundred Cavalry Division.

"Take it slow and see how much Qingque can force out of father's Hundred Cavalry Division." Li Chengqian breathed a sigh of relief.

Su Shu fell silent for a long time before she softly said, "Your Highness, please be careful. Your Highness is watching Your Majesty, and Your Majesty is also watching Your Highness."

"My beloved concubine is right." Li Chengqian nodded, and after a moment's thought, he said, "I have no business interfering with Duke Xun's affairs, but I still hope to persuade Duke Chen. As for Prime Minister Fang, I will also talk to him when I have the chance. As for the Wei family, let Wei Cong, the Minister of the Left, take action."

In the middle of the year, Lu Chengqing was transferred to be the governor of Ruzhou, and Wei Cong, the right chancellor, was promoted to the left chancellor.

Wei Chong and Wei Ting are both descendants of the Wei family. With Wei Chong holding him back, Wei Ting can't mobilize much power from the Jingzhao Wei family.

"Finally, it's Prime Minister Fang." Li Chengqian's expression grew serious. After a moment of thought, he looked at Su Shu and said, "I'll start with Gao Yang in this matter."

"Your Highness, I'm talking about the King of Wei." Su Shu lowered her voice and said, "Your Highness already knows what the King of Wei is going to do. So, doesn't your father also know that your Highness knows what the King of Wei is going to do? So, your Highness should find a time to have a good talk with the King of Wei and persuade him. At least let your father see that your Highness is the crown prince and the eldest brother."

Li Chengqian nodded slowly. Su Shu did mention something he had overlooked.

He has been secretly plotting against Li Tai, but if the emperor saw some of this, he would also be confused.

The emperor hopes to see a prince who is filial and respectful to his elders and who can also pay attention to the world.

If Li Chengqian was also plotting against Li Tai, then the emperor would also be wary of him.

For example, Li Tai in his previous life, after he overthrew Li Chengqian, he did not gain any benefits himself, but Li Zhi benefited from it.

Li Chengqian took a deep breath, hugged Su Shu and said, "My beloved concubine is right. I was negligent. I know what to do...My beloved concubine is truly my good wife."

Su Shu raised her head and smiled sweetly.

……

"Tomorrow, my beloved concubine, find some medicinal herbs and send some to each of my royal brothers and sisters." Li Chengqian paused for a moment, then said, "For example, Qingque. Princess Wei is pregnant now, so give her some medicine to maintain her pregnancy. At the same time, give her a few more instructions, asking them to check the medicine carefully and not let any inappropriate herbs get mixed in."

"Yeah!" Su Shu nodded in agreement.

"Also, send some special medicinal herbs to the King of Wu, the King of Qi, Chengyang and Gaoyang. It's about time they have children." Li Chengqian smiled meaningfully.

"What is Your Highness thinking about?" Su Shu always felt that Li Chengqian was planning something again.

"Nothing, I just want everyone to feel at ease in their own homes." Li Chengqian looked up and said, "After the New Year, I will invite all my brothers and sisters to the East Palace for a small banquet. I will also have a chat with Qingque and see if I can persuade him a little."

"Yeah!" Su Shu nodded vigorously.

Li Chengqian held Su Shu in his arms and couldn't help but look towards the direction of Xuanwu Gate.

Father, do you want to see an heir to the throne who is completely different from you?

(End of this chapter)