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

Chapter 232: Brother, Please Explain the Witchcraft Matter to Us (Part )
On the Suzaku Gate, Li Chengqian looked at Li Tai, who was in a panic under the city, closed his eyes slightly, and said silently in his heart: Qingque, let your royal brother teach you what it means to announce an imperial decree.

Li Chengqian suddenly opened his eyes, raised his head and shouted loudly: "Eunuch Dou Zhijie!"

"I'm here!" Dou Zhijie, who was tall and looked like a military general, wearing a crimson official robe with fish scale pattern, strode forward, walked to the side of Li Chengqian, and then bowed solemnly.

"Read the imperial edict!" Li Chengqian said coldly.

"Yes!" Dou Zhijie bowed, then turned sideways to look at Yu Zhining behind him.

Yu Zhining immediately stepped forward and handed the imperial edict in his sleeve to Dou Zhijie. Dou Zhijie took the edict and turned to look at Li Chengqian.

Li Chengqian nodded calmly.

Dou Zhijie immediately took half a step forward and stood between the parapets. His eyes passed indifferently over Li Tai, Hou Junji, Zhang Liang and others under the city, and fell on the thousands of soldiers in the dark shadows farther away. Then he looked up at the Chang'an City farther away.

Holding the imperial edict high in his hand, Dou Zhijie shouted, "The emperor has issued an order!"

On the city wall, Fang Xuanling, Yu Zhining, Li Jing, Chu Suiliang, Ma Zhou and others all knelt down and shouted in unison: "Your Highnesses, we respectfully listen to the Holy Teachings!"

Under the city wall, Li Tai's face was already ugly, and his gaze turned from Dou Zhijie to Li Chengqian.

Li Chengqian, dressed in a black python robe, looked at Li Tai calmly, then knelt on one knee with his sword in hand.

The next moment, all the soldiers on both sides of the city wall knelt on one knee with their spears in hand, listening respectfully to the imperial edict.

Everyone moved at the same time, kneeling on one knee, leaning on their spears, and bowing their heads solemnly.

Under the city wall, everyone watching this scene felt awe-inspiring at the same time.

Their eyes subconsciously fell on Dou Zhijie.

The Junior Eunuch, who was of the fourth rank, wore a scarlet robe and was the emperor's confidant. This was the one who was actually conveying the emperor's orders.

That is the emperor's true edict.

Many people couldn't help but look at Li Tai.

Should they also kneel down to receive the emperor's edict?

Li Tai could feel countless strange gazes falling on him, but he still raised his head, gritted his teeth, and stiffened his neck, refusing to back down.

Hou Junji and Zhang Liang looked at him, not knowing how to start talking for a moment.

At this moment, in the darkness far behind him, someone couldn't help but kneel down, followed by "thumps", and more people knelt down.

Large patches of them, all in a row.

Hou Junji couldn't help but look back and could almost see that almost everyone was kneeling down in the darkness.

He couldn't help but feel a hint of worry in his eyes.

Because their biggest reliance in their actions today is the emperor's edict.

Although the prince and Li Daliang both refuse to acknowledge it, Zhang Liang and Hou Junji are around, and their subordinates basically all acknowledge it.

But now, the prince took out another imperial edict, which was delivered by the eunuch, or the secret edict left by the emperor on the first day of March. If it conflicts with Li Tai's edict, who will they listen to?

But if they don't accept the order, doesn't that mean they are determined to rebel?

Hou Junji suddenly felt a pair of eyes falling on him.

When he looked up, he saw that it was the eunuch Dou Zhijie.

Hou Junji's expression immediately turned serious.

Compared with the Eunuch Dian Gong on their side, Dou Zhijie was the one who was more recognized by all the officials in the court.

His position in the Ministry of Internal Affairs was second only to Zhang Ananda.

He was even the one who sent Princess Wencheng off on her wedding two years ago, and he was also the one who read out the imperial edict.

"Aye!" Hou Zhiyi's voice rang softly beside Hou Junji, whispering, "Your Majesty!"

Hou Junji's ears twitched and his face darkened.

The eunuch Shaojian holding the imperial edict was equivalent to the emperor being present in person when announcing the decree.

At this moment, someone behind him couldn't help but kneel down, perhaps because he heard it or something.

Soon after, more people knelt down, and even Hou Zhiyi knelt down after pulling Hou Junji.

Hou Junji sighed, glanced at Li Tai, then looked at Zhang Liang. They both dismounted and knelt down at the same time.

Li Tai's face became more and more ugly. Seeing Dou Zhijie on the top of the city wall already unfolding the imperial edict, Li Tai lowered his head, gritted his teeth, turned over, got off his horse, and knelt down directly.

The prince had already knelt down, so there was nothing wrong with him kneeling down too.

Dou Zhijie glanced at Li Tai with a mocking look, then, holding the imperial edict in his hand, he said loudly: "In the seventeenth year of Zhenguan, on the day of Bingchen in the third month of the year Guimao, on the first day of the first lunar month of the year Wushen, the Emperor said:

Yu Xi!

To guide the ruler is to be good, to support virtue is to be harmonious, one must wait for the wisdom of the Three Towers, and then increase the weight of the Nine Tripods...

Yu Zhining, the Silver and Green Guanglu Doctor, the Yellow Gate Assistant Minister, and the Duke of Liyang County, possesses a body full of essence, a smooth and profound understanding, and has learned the profound classics...

He could be made a Huangmen Shilang (Officials of the Imperial Court), a Canzhi (Counselor of State Affairs), and assist the Crown Prince in governing the country; he could act at his own discretion and make decisions on all matters in Chang'an. His official titles and honors remained the same.

Admire this! "

"Your Majesty, I obey your order. May you live forever." The entire Suzaku Gate was filled with resounding responses.

After hearing the imperial edict, everyone couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief. Compared with the emperor's edict that Li Tai had previously dictated, which wanted to punish the prince for the "witchcraft" case, the content of this imperial edict was more easily accepted by people.

There was no suffocating feeling like "witchcraft". Yu Zhining was simply the vice-chancellor, doing things at his own discretion and making decisions on all matters in Chang'an, that was all.

Considering Yu Zhining's background as a third-rank Prince's Secretary, his appointment as the Imperial Court Minister was itself a transition. Even at the beginning of the year, people had already prepared for Yu Zhining to become the Prime Minister by the end of the year. Now the emperor's edict was just an advancement of the time.

In particular, the imperial edict was issued on the first day of March, when the emperor was still in Chang'an.

There were too many ways to verify the imperial edicts of that time, and no one could forge them at will.

The prince’s edict is true, but what about the king of Wei’s edict?
Even in Li Tai's camp, many people had doubts in their hearts.

……

On the palace wall, Li Chengqian, dressed in a black python robe, stood up with his sword drawn.

He was the only one standing upright in the entire world.

After reading the imperial edict, Dou Zhijie on the side immediately held the imperial edict in his hands and bowed to Li Chengqian.

Li Chengqian is the crown prince, whose status in the world is second only to that of the emperor.

Especially since the emperor was on an eastern tour and the crown prince was regent, he was the most distinguished person in Chang'an. Li Chengqian glanced at everyone present and said calmly, "Everyone, please stand up!"

"We obey your command!" Everyone bowed in unison, and then stood up one by one.

After the imperial edict was conveyed, the officials and soldiers on the city wall became more and more excited, while the people under the city wall felt a little uneasy.

"Dou Jian!" Li Chengqian spoke calmly.

"I'm here!" Dou Zhijie immediately bowed.

Li Chengqian nodded, his eyes falling on the eunuch Hu Yin, who was dressed in blue at the foot of the city, and asked indifferently, "Is he your man?"

"Your Highness!" Dou Zhijie bowed, glanced at Hu Yin, and said, "The Ministry of Internal Affairs has ten Supervisors of Internal Usage. They are of the sixth rank and below. They are in charge of ceremonial laws, proclamations, imperial decrees, and the names of officials. Although they have the responsibility of conveying imperial edicts, according to the rules of the Inner Court, only the fifth rank of Internal Affairs Secretary has the authority to leave the palace to convey imperial edicts. Only when all the Internal Affairs Secretary are dead will the Supervisors of Internal Usage Secretary take over."

"In other words, he violated the rules of the inner court." Li Chengqian looked up and asked, "How should he be punished?"

"Beat him to death!" Dou Zhijie bowed calmly.

"Very good. Once everything is settled, just beat him to death." Li Chengqian's calm eyes fell on Hu Yin.

Although his voice was not loud, everyone could hear it clearly in the quiet night.

Hu Yin, who lowered his head, couldn't help but tremble.

Dou Zhijie bowed calmly and said, "Yes!"

With a "neigh" from the horse, Hu Yin suddenly jumped onto the warhorse and galloped quickly towards the rear.

The man was leaning over the horse, holding the reins tightly in his hands, his face pale and full of panic.

However, just as he rushed into the darkness, a cold knife light suddenly flew up and swept across his throat.

With a "puff" sound, blood gushed out like a waterfall.

The warhorse ran for a long time before slowly stopping.

Hu Yin had fallen sideways on his horse, his feet stuck in the stirrups and unable to get out, but his body had been dragging on the ground for a long time.

Covered in dust, he looked extremely miserable.

……

"Gee!" A cold shout came from the darkness. The next moment, a middle-aged general wearing black armor and with a cold expression walked out from the shadows.

The sword in his hand was dripping with blood, and more soldiers in black clothes and silver armor followed him out of the darkness in an orderly manner.

"Du Chuke!" Li Chengqian stood on the city wall, looking at Du Chuke who suddenly appeared in Chang'an City. He was surprised, but he couldn't help but nodded slowly.

He always felt that someone was secretly planning everything behind Li Tai, and many of the things that were planned did not seem to be Li Tai's work at all.

For example, witchcraft, collusion between Hou Junji and Zhang Liang, and instigation of every detail, all of this was planned by Du Chuke hiding behind Li Tai.

"Damn it." Li Daliang stood aside and couldn't help but curse.

Du Chuke is Du Ruhui's younger brother and Du Gou and Du He's uncle, but the relationship between them is terribly bad.

Both brothers Du Gou and Du He believed that their father Du Ruhui died of depression and resentment due to his inability to avenge his elder brother.

The death of Du Ruhui's elder brother was caused by Du Yan, the uncle of Du Ruhui and Du Chuke, who framed him in front of Wang Shichong. Even Du Chuke himself was almost starved to death at that time.

But later, Wang Shichong was defeated, Du Yan fell into the hands of Li Shimin and was sentenced to death.

But at this time, it was Du Chuke who begged Du Ruhui again and again, crying and begging, so Du Ruhui was forced to use his military merits to save Du Yan.

However, even so, while serving in the Prince of Qin's Palace, Du Yan still secretly colluded with Li Jiancheng.

He lost his reputation and was ridiculed by the world.

On the contrary, Du Chuke was praised by his contemporaries as a filial and honest official. A few years later, his official career went smoothly. Even though he encountered the incident with Li Tai later, he was transferred from the Sima of King Wei to the Governor of Xiangzhou.

This shows their speculative nature.

Now he is assisting Li Tai and trying to usurp the throne. His true face is finally exposed to the world.

Li Daliang and many people who came out of the Qin Palace at that time felt that Du Ruhui's death was not worth it. However, the emperor valued Du Chuke very much and even made him the chief secretary of Li Tai's King of Wei. This forced many people to swallow their anger.

Now, Du Chuke actually instigated the King of Wei to rebel, and Li Daliang wanted to eat him.

Li Chengqian calmly watched Du Chuke lead his troops to Li Tai. Nearly four thousand soldiers densely filled the long street in front of the Suzaku Gate, and even spread to both sides of the Anshang Gate and Hanguang Gate, ready to attack the city at will.

……

Seeing Du Chuke leading his troops to arrive, Li Tai's heart finally calmed down again.

He raised his head and looked towards the top of the city wall, then spoke calmly, "Brother Royal, Qingque really didn't know that man was actually forging the imperial edict. It was Qingque's fault. Qingque can lead the troops back to the camp, as long as Brother Royal can explain the matter of witchcraft to the world clearly."

Witchcraft, witchcraft.

Li Tai mentioned witchcraft again, which made the people on the city wall, who were originally excited, feel a little depressed.

"Alright!" Li Chengqian stepped forward and said loudly, "Qingque, you, Duke Chen, and Duke Xun, the three of you must enter the palace together. I want you to search the Eastern Palace. As long as you can find that sorcery, I will accept the blame."

Li Chengqian's frankness and directness surprised everyone, especially Li Tai, who was even more stunned.

"Lead the troops!" Du Chuke whispered beside Li Tai.

"I'm going to lead the troops in, and my people will search themselves." Li Tai looked up at Li Chengqian with gritted teeth.

"Qingque, this is the imperial palace. You brought troops into the palace without permission. Are you planning a rebellion?" Li Chengqian said lightly, and everyone's eyes fell on Li Tai again.

"I'm worried about the three of us entering the palace alone." Li Tai gritted his teeth and said forcefully, "Who knows if you'll arrest us directly and prevent us from searching the Eastern Palace?"

"Qingque, it seems that the 4,000 soldiers behind you really gave you great courage, and you even dared to force the palace." Li Chengqian's expression turned cold.

"Brother Emperor, if you can't explain your secret witchcraft activities, don't blame us for forcing our way into the palace and searching inside ourselves." Li Tai raised his head, looking at everyone on the wall, and then gritted his teeth and said, "My lords, this could be the Crown Prince practicing witchcraft. Think carefully. If confirmed, you will be implicated as well."

Unexpectedly, the people on the city wall did not waver as Li Tai had imagined. Instead, the more he spoke, the calmer they became.

Under Li Tai's surprised gaze, Li Chengqian spoke again, saying, "Qingque, I asked you to enter the East Palace to inspect it, but only for the sake of our brotherhood. If you really think that you can do anything with just a few soldiers under your command, then I will tell you right now that the four thousand men you have are truly nothing."

As soon as Li Chengqian finished speaking, with a "whoosh" sound, countless torches suddenly lit up behind the city wall.

Following closely, thousands of elite soldiers holding long spears advanced straight forward from the rear until they reached behind the parapet.

Thousands of soldiers in red and golden armor simultaneously held their spears and aimed them at Li Tai under the city.

Loud and powerful.

(End of this chapter)