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

Chapter 21: Brotherly Love Li Chengqian, Loyal and Honest Li Yifu

The palace is heavily guarded.

Swords and spears are like a forest, shining coldly.

Passing through the imperial gates of Xianchun Gate, Li Chengqian, seated on a sedan chair, turned sideways to look at Su Shu, whose face was slightly pale. He held her small hand and whispered, "Are you okay?"

"I'm fine." Su Shu looked towards the Wanchun Palace across the street, and the Lizheng Gate and Lizheng Palace behind it, and said softly, "I haven't been here for a long time."

Li Chengqian raised his head and looked towards the Lizheng Hall.

When his mother was still alive, Lizheng Hall was her residence - the Queen's bedroom.

When Li Chengqian was young, before he entered the Eastern Palace, he lived in Lizheng Hall for a long time.

Until later he moved to the East Palace.

As for Su Shu, she has come here quite a few times.

Before the queen passed away, Su Shu often accompanied Li Chengqian to pay her respects in Lizheng Hall.

Although it is not necessary to visit the deceased every morning and evening, it is basically done once a day.

Especially when the queen was seriously ill later, she took care of her personally more than once.

But since the Queen's death, the strong barriers between the Imperial Palace and the Eastern Palace were immediately erected in an indestructible manner.

She never came here again.

"Everything is actually fine." Li Chengqian sighed softly and smiled gently. "Zhi Nu and Si Zi have been living here all this time. Father rarely comes here. Instead, it is Concubine Xue who often comes here to take care of Zhi Nu and Si Zi. However, Concubine Xue is not here today."

When many people hear the word "Jieyu", they subconsciously think that Jieyu Xue is the concubine of Li Chengqian's father, Emperor Li Shimin. But this is not the case at all. Jieyu Xue is actually the concubine of Li Chengqian's grandfather, Li Yuan.

Because Concubine Xue had no children, when Emperor Gaozu Li Yuan was still alive, she was often called by the empress to Lizheng Hall to take care of Li Zhi and Princess Jinyang, who had just been born.

"Actually, it's better for the two of them to stay like this. They can hide in the palace and not be exposed to the wind and rain of the outside world." Su Shu looked at Li Chengqian with concern.

Li Chengqian smiled softly and whispered, "Everyone has that day, but...it's fate, and destiny is up to you."

"Yeah!" Su Shu nodded heavily.

……

The palace is simple, grand and steady.

In front of the Lizheng Hall, several people stood solemnly.

The sedan chair landed, and Li Chengqian stood up with the help of Su Shu, and then landed steadily on the ground.

At this time, Li Chengqian looked at the twelve-year-old handsome little Li Zhi standing beside him, who was wearing a purple robe, and the seven-year-old Princess Jinyang who was wearing a golden and pink skirt but pretended to be very serious.

"Greetings, my royal brother and my royal sister-in-law." Li Zhi and Princess Jinyang bowed solemnly to Li Chengqian at the same time.

The two people standing behind Li Zhi and Princess Jinyang also bowed simultaneously: "Your Highness, Xu Shuya, the Doctor of Rites and the Tutor of the Prince of Jin; Your Highness, Li Yifu, the Censor and the Letter of the Prince of Jin, greet His Royal Highness the Crown Prince and His Royal Highness the Crown Princess. May Your Highnesses Live Long and Prosper."

Li Chengqian subconsciously raised his head and his eyes fell on Li Yifu, who was standing in front of him with a respectful look.

Li Yifu, a smiling but dagger hidden in his heart.

Oh, right, Li Chengqian remembered that this treacherous prime minister Li Yifu, who was called "human cat" by later generations and now looked honest and upright, had been a person close to Li Zhi for a long time.

In fact, Li Chengqian did not pay much attention to Li Yifu in his previous life. It was Li Qian who was most impressed by Li Yifu.

After Changsun Wuji was exiled by Li Zhi, the person who truly began to take control of the government was Li Yifu.

Unfortunately, Li Yifu went too far and was eventually dismissed from office and exiled to death by Li Zhi.

Many later generations believed that Li Yifu was able to reach his later position because he defected to Empress Wu and firmly supported her in the matter of deposing Wang and enthroning Wu. But in fact, Li Yifu was Li Zhi's man, and he had been one of Li Zhi's very few confidants very early on.

Li Yifu was able to become the prime minister later because of Li Zhi's promotion.

Even during the turmoil of deposing Wang and enthroning Wu, Li Yifu firmly supported Wu Zetian because he was Li Zhi's confidant.

However, as a result, Li Yifu was later dismissed from his position as prime minister...

"Your Highness," Xu Shuya said at this time, "Your Highness should have been allowed to spend time with the Prince of Jin today, but the Prince of Jin still has unfinished work..."

"That's all right." Li Chengqian waved his hand gently and said, "The Crown Princess and I are here today just to see Zhinu and Sizi. We'll be back soon. Someone, take everything down."

"Here!" The people behind him immediately began to move things from the sedan chair.

Li Chengqian reached out, one hand around Li Zhi's shoulders, the other holding Princess Jinyang's. As they walked in, he said, "Your sister-in-law personally sewed two dresses for me. She also brought a few other sets of clothes. I don't know if they'll fit you two. You two can try them on later. There are also some cakes and some side dishes specially made for lunch..."

……

Li Yifu stood carefully behind Xu Shuya.

He carefully watched the Crown Prince and the Crown Princess hand over the large amount of things they brought with them, one by one, to the Prince of Jin and Princess Jinyang. Afterwards, he asked about their studies with concern and carefully examined their calligraphy.

He even had dinner early in Lizheng Hall before leaving.

Before leaving, the Crown Princess took Princess Jinyang aside and talked to her many intimate words.

In just one afternoon, the warmth of family love filled every corner of Lizheng Hall.

Li Yifu couldn't help but look at Xu Shuya.

The reason why the two of them were here today was because there was a fierce struggle between the Eastern Palace and the Prince of Wei's Mansion. Xu Shuya was worried that the matter would involve the Prince of Jin, so he was forced to stay.

However, it was obvious that the prince had no intention of dragging Prince Jin into this, and they were a little too worried.

……

In front of Lizheng Hall, the setting sun was shrouded in mist.

Li Chengqian held Li Zhi's hand and talked a lot until Su Shu couldn't bear it any longer: "Husband!"

Li Chengqian was stunned for a moment, then he looked at Li Zhi and Princess Jin with a wry smile and said, "I don't know what happened today, I said so much all of a sudden. Alright, Zhinu, Sizi, I should go back now. If you two have any problems, you can come directly to the East Palace to find me!"

"Yes!" Princess Jinyang reluctantly grabbed Li Chengqian's sleeve and whispered, "Brother, please come visit us more often in the future."

"Okay, I will." Li Chengqian nodded with some emotion.

"If they have time, Zhinu and Sizi can also go to the East Palace to see Dalang and Erlang. They haven't seen each other for a long time." Su Shu felt a little sad for a moment.

"Yes!" Li Zhi and Princess Jinyang nodded in unison.

Li Chengqian took a deep breath, looked at the sky, and said, "It's almost time. The palace gates should be locked. We should leave."

"Farewell, my royal brother." Li Zhi bowed to Li Chengqian and Su Shu with red eyes. Princess Jinyang followed suit and bowed, tears on the verge of flowing down.

"Okay, it's nothing." Li Chengqian sat down on the sedan chair and looked at Li Zhi and Princess Jinyang. He said, "Lizheng Hall and the Eastern Palace are not far away. Just tell your father and you can come over whenever you want."

"Yes!" Li Zhi and Princess Jinyang nodded at the same time.

Li Chengqian's eyes fell on Princess Jinyang, and then he said to Li Zhi, "Child slave, take good care of Sizi."

"Yes, my royal brother." Li Zhi bowed seriously.

"Let's go." Li Chengqian waved his hand slightly.

The sedan chair was immediately lifted up, and he and Crown Princess Su Shu were carried out of the palace together.

When Li Chengqian's back disappeared from his sight, Li Zhi turned around and glanced at Princess Jinyang, whose eyes were filled with tears. Then he looked at Xu Shuya and said, "Master Xu, could you please ask our father when we can go visit our brother, sister-in-law, and nephew?"

Xu Shuya immediately bowed and said, "I will write a memorial tomorrow."

……

Only after leaving the Suzaku Gate did Xu Shuya breathe a sigh of relief.

"Master Xu!" Li Yifu bowed slightly to Xu Shuya.

Xu Shuya turned around and looked at Li Yifu in surprise, and asked, "Is there something wrong, Censor?"

"Master Xu, tell me, if His Majesty agrees to the request of His Highness and the Princess to go to the Eastern Palace, is it a good thing or a bad thing?" Li Yifu looked at Xu Shuya closely.

Xu Shuya's eyebrows twitched, then he lowered his eyes and said thoughtfully, "The Crown Prince is filial and respectful, and the King of Jin cannot be worse. According to etiquette, he should return the gift."

"Not going might not be bad, but going isn't necessarily all bad either." Li Yifu considered, choosing his words with equal care. "It's still appropriate to go, but the specifics still require your majesty's consideration."

"That's right." Xu Shuya nodded solemnly, his eyes looking forward.

If he remembered correctly, the King of Wei had not been to Lizheng Hall for several years, while the Crown Prince went there almost once a year.

Perhaps, many times, they have no choice.

……

At the Chongde Gate of the Eastern Palace, the prince slowly entered on his sedan chair.

Li Anyan came forward from behind the door and bowed slightly.

Li Chengqian nodded slightly, raised his eyes and fell on the Chongren Hall on the east side. From inside the tightly closed hall door, there was a faint and miserable wailing sound.

Li Chengqian leaned over and said, "Make preparations. The Prince of Jin will be coming to the Eastern Palace in a few days. Be prepared to entertain him well."

Li Anyan bowed solemnly: "Yes!"

At this moment, the figure of Li Yifu flashed through Li Chengqian's mind.

(End of this chapter)