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

Chapter 262 Two Fathers-in-Law, Stealing Jiangnan (Part )
In the cold wind, Li Chengqian withdrew his gaze.

Turning around, he looked towards Taiyuan again.

There was his last enemy.

Compared with Li Tai, Li Zhi looks more harmless, but in fact he is more dangerous.

Li Zhi's only problem is that he is still a little immature, his methods are not smooth enough, and his ambitions are too easy for others to see through.

But he is Li Zhi, so his methods will naturally become more sophisticated in the future, and even the emperor will be deceived by him.

Just think about it, he was able to steal someone right under the emperor's nose and remain undetected throughout. This method is extraordinary, and his growth rate is equally astonishing.

Li Chengqian wanted to use some means against him now, but he couldn't.

It was the emperor's decision to send Li Zhi to Bingzhou.

In addition to suppressing the Turks in Daibei, the purpose was also to check and balance Li Chengqian. Therefore, Li Chengqian could not take direct action against Li Zhi now.

He could only gradually use various obscure means to get people around Li Zhi, and at the same time set countless traps in Chang'an.

What remains is Li Zhi's return to Chang'an.

Li Zhi will definitely return to Chang'an, because only by returning to Chang'an will everything he has done in Taiyuan be meaningful.

The emperor would also let Li Zhi return to Chang'an, especially if he really returned seriously ill from the battlefield of Goguryeo, he would definitely summon Li Zhi to his side, which was almost inevitable.

But Li Chengqian just couldn't touch Li Zhi.

Li Chengqian smiled lightly and turned to look at Chang'an City in the distance.

In Chang'an City, thunder exploded and flames shot into the sky.

The eighteenth year of Zhenguan!

Although Li Chengqian is still the crown prince and even oversees state affairs during the emperor's eastern expedition, as soon as the emperor returns to the court, all his power will be taken away immediately.

In this way, no matter how much power Li Chengqian has cultivated in Chang'an City during this period, as long as the East Palace is isolated from the inside and outside, Li Chengqian will not pose any threat to the emperor.

Li Chengqian calmly exhaled a breath of foul air.

He had long seen through the emperor's plans. He had no intention of confronting the emperor head-on. He had his own plans.

Even if the emperor returns to the court to take away his power, it will only be temporary. If the emperor returns to the court seriously ill, the government will inevitably fall into his hands little by little.

What Li Chengqian needs to do now is to do everything fairly and promote everyone so that when the emperor returns to the court, he will not think that he is cultivating personal connections, and these people will not be dismissed or transferred.

Or to be more precise, to do things.

A flash of inspiration suddenly flashed through Li Chengqian's mind.

Get things done through things, not through people.

In this way, whether it is Li Zhi or the emperor, they will surely follow the path he planned in the future.

Li Chengqian smiled, then turned around and headed towards Yixia Palace.

……

In Yixia Palace, Su Yi, dressed in a green robe and skirt, walked quickly to the central hall. Seeing Li Chengqian entering the hall, she quickly bowed and said, "Your Highness!"

Li Chengqian looked at Su Yi, whose delicate features and distinct black and white eyes were as serene and elegant as a daisy. A touch of friendliness appeared on his face. He walked up to her, smiled gently, and said, "Stand up."

"Yes!" Su Yi stood up and signaled the maid to bring the soup. She followed Li Chengqian to the main couch. Seeing Li Chengqian sitting down, she asked curiously, "Why isn't Your Highness with my sister today?"

Su Shu was diagnosed with pregnancy today, and Su Yi stayed with her for a long time before coming back. Unexpectedly, Li Chengqian also left at this time.

"Your elder sister wants to have some personal conversation with Concubine Wei today, so I came to see you." Li Chengqian raised his head, his eyes gently fell on Su Yi's face, and then he said softly: "Yiniang, you are fifteen this year, right?"

"Yes!" Su Yi responded, and then her face suddenly turned red with shame. She had realized something.

A maid placed the chicken soup on the table. Li Chengqian waved his hand gently, and the maid blushed and immediately retreated.

Li Chengqian picked up the chicken soup and drank it all, then stood up, grabbed Su Yi's wrist, and pulled her into the inner hall.

Li Chengqian walked over to the bed and sat down, then raised his head and looked at Su Yi, whose face was flushed. He couldn't help but smile: "Why are you shy? Although I haven't taken your virginity in the past two years, I have done everything I should have done. Now I am just taking the last step."

"Yes!" Su Yi didn't know why, but her face became redder and even hot.

Li Chengqian smiled, stretched out his hand to pull Su Yi in front of him, and with a slight hook of his fingers, the belt around her waist was untied.

"You know what, Niang Yinian?" Li Chengqian placed his hands on Su Yinian's shoulders, then gently rolled down her green gauze skirt, saying softly, "Today is the first day of the first lunar month of the eighteenth year of Zhenguan. Your elder sister got pregnant yesterday, so I also want to give you a child."

"Yes, Your Highness!" Su Yi could feel Li Chengqian's somewhat cold fingers taking off her clothes one by one.

"Call me cousin." Li Chengqian leaned forward and whispered in Su Yi's ear.

Su Yi immediately called out subconsciously, "Cousin."

The next moment, her entire body was completely picked up by Li Chengqian, and then gently placed on the bed.

Li Chengqian leaned close to Su Yi's ear again and whispered softly, "Call me brother-in-law!"

"Brother-in-law!" Su Yi looked at the eyes full of desire so close to her and couldn't help but call out.

Li Chengqian smiled, stretched out his right hand, and the curtain fell beside him.

Outside the curtain, a spark suddenly exploded on the candle flame.

……

Whispering softly, a night of passion.

……

Early in the morning, Li Chengqian slowly opened his eyes.

Outside the window, the morning light has illuminated the eaves of the East Palace.

Li Chengqian took a look, then turned and looked at Su Yi beside him.

Her face is rosy and her hair is long and flowing.

Li Chengqian turned around, stood up, changed his clothes, and walked out of Yixia Palace.

When they arrived outside the palace, Xu An was already standing with his head bowed: "Your Highness!"

Li Chengqian walked down the steps, then looked at the clear Chang'an sky above his head, took a deep breath, and then asked, "What's the matter?"

"Madam Jiang sent someone to deliver a message, asking if I can go to the palace to visit the Crown Princess today?" Xu An bowed seriously.

"What else?" Li Chengqian asked calmly. "Princess Nanchang also sent someone to inquire." Xu An couldn't help but glance sideways behind him. Princess Nanchang was the mother of Su Yi, the Crown Prince's concubine.

"Make arrangements and have my mother-in-law and aunt come over together." After a brief pause, Li Chengqian looked at Xu An: "Didn't my uncle say he would come over?"

Su Yi's father, Su Xu, was not only Su Shu's uncle, but also the director of the Imperial College.

"No!" Xu An bowed slightly.

"Then it's inconvenient for you to come." Li Chengqian nodded and said, "Okay, go and make the arrangements."

"Yes!" Xu An bowed, then turned around and left quickly.

Su Xu and Li Chengqian looked thoughtful, then turned around and re-entered the hall with a light voice.

Soon, Su Yi's soft voice was heard from the palace: "Your Highness!"

……

Princess Nanchang, dressed in a purple skirt, entered the palace with her son Su Yu, looking very happy. Lady Feng of Jiang County, who was sitting in the palace, stood up and saluted, saying, "Princess."

"No need to be so polite, sister-in-law." Princess Nanchang bowed gently to Li Chengqian and Su Shu, "Your Highness."

"Aunt!" Li Chengqian glanced at Su Shu, whose face was covered with sadness, and gently patted the back of her hand.

Although Feng was Su Shu's mother, her identity was only Lady Jiang County, and she was also the wife of Su Xu's younger brother Su Tan.

Princess Nanchang was Su Xu's wife, and even in terms of seniority, Feng was slightly lower than her.

If Feng wanted to surpass Princess Nanchang in this life, there was only one way.

Su Shu became the queen.

Li Chengqian smiled and nodded, "Aunt, please sit down!"

Feng, who was standing aside, couldn't help but have a hint of pride flash in her eyes.

Her daughter was the Crown Princess, while the princess's daughter was only the Crown Prince's concubine. In public, Li Chengqian did not even call Princess Nanchang his mother-in-law.

"Mother-in-law, please take a seat!" Li Chengqian nodded to Feng, then looked at Princess Nanchang and asked, "Aunt, didn't Erlang return to the capital this year?"

"He is a military officer in Bozhou. If Your Majesty holds a grand court on New Year's Day, he can take the opportunity to come back with gifts for congratulations. But this year Your Majesty has even skipped the gifts." Princess Nanchang sighed helplessly. The emperor was on an expedition to the east, so there were no grand courts or gifts for congratulations.

Li Chengqian nodded, turned to look at Feng, and asked, "Mother-in-law, father-in-law has been in Taizhou for nine years now, right?"

"Yes, it's been nine years." Feng couldn't help but frown. After serving as a governor of a state for two terms, it was time to change places.

Li Chengqian nodded and said, "I've read the Ministry of Personnel's evaluations. Although your father-in-law's performance in Taizhou wasn't outstanding, he received above-average evaluations every year. Taizhou is a lower-rank prefecture, and the rank of governor is below the fourth rank. Therefore, he will probably be transferred to a fourth-rank or higher official in the capital, or from the third rank to a provincial governor."

Seeing Feng's bewildered look, Princess Nanchang shook her head, looked at Li Chengqian and asked, "What do you think, Your Highness? Do you want Erlang to return to Chang'an, or stay there?"

Li Chengqian's expression turned serious, and he said, "If possible, I still hope that my father-in-law can be transferred back to Chang'an, but... he is my father-in-law."

Princess Nanchang nodded and said that if it were any other time, Su Tan might be transferred back to Chang'an, but now that Li Chengqian was the regent, if Su Tan was transferred back to Chang'an, his position would not be low, and the emperor would not allow such a thing to happen.

"It's not even just Chang'an, Huazhou, Qizhou, Zhengzhou, but also several important cities in the north are impossible." Li Chengqian couldn't help but sigh helplessly.

Princess Nanchang asked directly: "Your Highness, if you have any ideas, please speak directly."

Li Chengqian looked at Feng and said, "How about the governor of Hangzhou?"

Feng was stunned and asked, "Why not transfer him back to Chang'an and appoint him as the governor of Hangzhou?"

"Hangzhou is an important city in the world. In the whole of Jiangnan, perhaps only the governor of Yuezhou can be compared with it." Princess Nanchang looked at Feng and said, "Sister-in-law, my second brother doesn't have many options in the south. Hangzhou, Yuezhou, and Yangzhou. I'm afraid the prince's real goal is to set his sights on Yangzhou."

The Chief Secretary of the Yangzhou Grand Military Governorate and the Chief Secretary of the four major military governorates in the world.

Princess Nanchang instantly grasped Li Chengqian's true purpose.

Once Su Tan becomes the Grand Marshal and Chief Secretary of Yangzhou, half of the country in the southeast will be under the control of Li Chengqian.

Of course, Li Chengqian’s real purpose was not the present, but to plan for the future, so he wanted Su Tan to be the governor of Hangzhou first, and then find a way to transfer him to Yangzhou.

"Can't he be transferred back?" Feng's expression was a little complicated. Su Tan had been away from home all year round, especially in the past two years, he had never returned to Chang'an.

"Transfer back?" Li Chengqian lowered his head slightly. After a moment's silence, he said thoughtfully, "The only position in the court that my father would agree to transfer back to is probably the Silver and Green Guanglu Doctor, which doesn't hold a real position."

"Your Majesty will definitely agree to this." Princess Nanchang raised her eyebrows and nodded directly. The Yinqing Guanglu Dafu is a casual official without a real job, which means he is idle.

"Is the Du Shuijian not feasible?" Su Shu sat next to Li Chengqian and couldn't help asking.

"It's very difficult!" Li Chengqian shook his head and said, "If my father-in-law is away, then it would be relatively easy to transfer him. But if he wants to be transferred back, everyone in the three provinces, six ministries, nine temples, and five bureaus will be watching closely. Because with my father-in-law's status and qualifications, it's reasonable that he should be at least at the level of a Nine Ministers or a Six Ministers' Vice Minister. But there are too many people involved."

“By then, not to mention the chief and deputy chief officials of each department, I’m afraid even Duke Zhao and Duke Liang will intervene.” Princess Nanchang shook her head helplessly.

Su Shu nodded, then looked at Princess Nanchang and asked, "What about uncle? As the Minister of the Imperial Academy, do you have any chance to advance further?"

"It's very difficult." Princess Nanchang shook her head slightly, her face bitter. "At least it will be difficult for the next one or two years. Everything will have to wait until His Majesty returns to the court. Let's see what His Majesty thinks."

"Your Highness!" Su Shu turned to look at Li Chengqian and said, "What do you think, Your Highness?"

"If the emperor returns victorious from his eastern expedition, he will naturally reward his men according to their merits." Li Chengqian paused briefly and continued, "My uncle will likely retire by then. Prime Minister Yang will be transferred to the position of Shangshu Zuo Pushe, Prime Minister Cen will likely be promoted to Zhongshu Ling, Prime Minister Liu will be promoted to Shizhong, and the Duke of Song...will likely be expelled from the court."

Xiao Yu, the emperor did not like Xiao Yu, but Xiao Yu was capable, qualified, and prestigious, and was useful at critical moments.

But it was only at critical moments. Once the emperor felt that he was no longer needed, he would be immediately expelled from the court.

Seeing the gloomy expressions on everyone's faces, Li Chengqian continued, "Mr. Chu may directly become the Minister of the Central Secretariat and the Vice Minister of State Affairs. This will leave one of the Minister of the Imperial Household and another of the Minister of the Central Secretariat vacant. These positions will be the focus of the struggle between the court and the people for a period of time."

"Does that mean uncle has a chance?" Su Shu looked at Li Chengqian in confusion.

"It's hard to say." Li Chengqian shook his head and said, "The Vice Ministers of the three provinces and six ministries, the Junior Ministers, the Junior Supervisors, all the Secretaries of the Central Secretariat, the Imperial Censors, and the local governors, including my uncle's position as the Director of the Imperial Academy, will all be eyeing those positions. If my uncle wants to seize the opportunity, he'll probably need to do more."

"What's the matter?" Princess Nanchang couldn't help but look at Li Chengqian.

"Book editing!" Li Chengqian lowered his head and pondered, then said, "My uncle is best at book editing. Of course, it would be best if we could get Duke Song to help with this."

"Why?"

"The Emperor won't let Duke Song stay in the court for long. Even if Duke Song is leading the drafting of the book now, once he leaves the court, my uncle will be in charge." Li Chengqian saw Princess Nanchang's surprised expression, then turned to look at Feng and said softly, "If my father-in-law can be appointed Governor of Hangzhou, and use the Zhang family in Jiangnan as a bond to unite with the Jiangnan gentry, then once Duke Song leaves the court..."

"The Jiangnan gentry in the court will turn to support my uncle." Su Shu finally understood Li Chengqian's thoughts.

From Su Tan's transfer to the post of governor of Hangzhou to Su Xu's revision of the book, he challenged the Secretary of the Central Secretariat and the Imperial Household Secretary, unified the power of the Jiangnan gentry, and thus gained a foothold in the court.

Li Chengqian sighed softly and said, "In the court, the higher you go, the more intense the struggles become. Without sufficient support, if you're not careful, you'll be crushed to pieces!"

(End of this chapter)