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

Chapter 29: Gu, the murderer?

At noon, the sun was at 3:00 p.m.

In the Jiade Hall, Li Chengqian was flipping through the books on weapons, architecture, and vehicles and ships sent by the Palace Department.

Many of them are secret books written by Yuwen Kai, Jiang Mo, and even Yan Lide.

Yuwen Kai was the chief architect of the Sui Dynasty and even the Minister of Works, a master of architecture.

Jiang Mo was a great architect of our dynasty and the governor of Minzhou. His son Jiang Xingben was previously the junior craftsman of the Ministry of Works. Now he served as the General of the Left Tunwei Army and the deputy commander-in-chief of the Jiaohe Road Army. He followed Hou Junji to pacify Gaochang.

Yan Lide is Yan Liben's elder brother. He was formerly the chief architect and was now transferred to be the governor of Bozhou. At the same time, he was building the Xiangcheng Palace.

When Yang Guang led an expedition against Goguryeo, Yuwen Kai was in charge of his military equipment, roads, bridges, boats, etc.

Jiang Xingben was Hou Junji's deputy. Hou Junji crossed the vast desert and went on an expedition to Gaochang. Jiang Xingben was in charge of all matters related to chariots, crossbows and stone throwing in the army, which was extremely important.

Yan Lide's ability was even greater than that of his younger brother Yan Liben. He supervised the construction of Xianling and Zhaoling. It was because he was transferred to the post of Governor of Bozhou that Yan Liben was promoted to the position of Junior Architect.

However, what is somewhat strange is that although Yan Lide is Li Tai's father-in-law, he is not willing to get involved in Li Tai's affairs. Instead, Yan Liben is very enthusiastic about these matters.

Li Chengqian looked at the book in his hand and thought to himself that even he trusted Yan Lide too much.

At this moment, a sudden burst of chaotic footsteps sounded outside the hall, directly interrupting Li Chengqian's thoughts.

……

Li Chengqian sighed inwardly, then looked up calmly.

Yu Zhining, Zhang Xuansu, Li Anyan, Changsun Xiang, Linghu Defen, Xiao Jun and others came to the outside of the palace together. Seeing Li Chengqian, they all bowed and said, "Your Highness."

"Come in, what's the matter?" Li Chengqian held the book in his hand and looked at the people who entered the hall and stood on both sides.

"Your Highness!" Helan Chushi stood up with his hands clasped, and said solemnly to Li Chengqian, "Your Highness, I have just received news from the Qianniu Guards that Lu Hu, the former Crown Prince's servant, has died."

Dead, Lu Hu is dead.

Lu Hu, the former Crown Prince's servant who was just sent out of the Eastern Palace yesterday.

Today, he died.

Lu Hu, the former prince's servant who most likely caused the prince to break his leg, is dead.

All the officials in the Eastern Palace looked at Li Chengqian solemnly. They all knew what this meant.

Lu Hu died, and the mastermind who secretly instructed Lu Hu to cause Li Chengqian to break his leg was killed to silence him.

This meant that Lu Hu used his own death to prove to the officials of the Eastern Palace the existence of the mastermind behind the scenes.

Everything is completely different at this moment.

That person is harming the prince and also ruining the future of all of them.

That person, even if he is the prime minister, he is the common enemy of everyone in the East Palace.

The hearts of the people in the Eastern Palace have already come together.

……

Li Chengqian calmly placed the book on the table and said indifferently, "Don't always talk about the former Crown Prince's servant. Lu Qing is now the Minister of the Dali Temple and has nothing to do with the Eastern Palace.

Tell me, what exactly happened? How could he die with the Dali Temple guarding him? How did he die? Who could have killed him under such strict security?

The ministers' eyes fell on Helan Chushi again.

They, even including Li Chengqian, were certain that Lu Hu would not live long, but it was still surprising that he was killed so quickly, just one night later.

And this was even happening with people from the Dali Temple guarding the gate.

The person who had done this had some formidable tactics. "Your Highness, at noon today, Wannian County discovered Lu Hu's body in the Qingming Canal. He drowned there." Helan Chushi looked at Li Chengqian solemnly and said, "Your Highness, at the same time Lu Hu's body was discovered, Wannian County also discovered a copy of 'Li Sao' in his arms... the copy Your Highness gave him yesterday."

"Li Sao? Drowned?" Li Chengqian was stunned. He then looked at Helan Chushi uncertainly. "Wannian County, no, the Qianniu Guards, they won't suspect that I killed Lu Hu, right?"

Qu Yuan drowned himself in the Miluo River.

Li Chengqian gave Lu Hu a copy of "Li Sao" yesterday, and today he was drowned in the water.

The strong sense of fate in this inevitably makes people suspect that this is Li Chengqian's revenge.

This feeling was so strong that even Li Chengqian himself would feel that it was very likely that Lu Hu was killed by someone he sent.

What a good trick, and the "Li Sao" used here was given to Lu Hu by Li Chengqian himself.

Helan Chushi's face instantly turned awkward. This awkwardness was already an answer, but he still quickly bowed and said, "Your Highness, this is clearly someone deliberately framing me. The Li Sao is just a coincidence."

Li Chengqian smiled softly, then shook his head calmly. He looked up at Li Anyan standing beside him and said, "Housekeeper, send all the movements of everyone inside and outside the East Palace last night to the Qianniu Guards. Have them investigate... Remember, don't miss anything."

"Yes!" Li Anyan immediately bowed solemnly.

Li Chengqian looked at the officials in the Eastern Palace and smiled faintly, "Don't worry, my lords. Have you forgotten? I knew something might happen. I've already ordered everyone, both inside and outside, to stay away from the Lu family. So, I've asked the Qianniu Guard to investigate. The more thorough the investigation, the better."

"Your Highness is wise." All the ministers bowed in unison. This matter was not done by them in the first place, so it would be better to be frank about it.

……

In the Jiade Hall, General Chang He of the Left Thousand Oxen Guard respectfully placed a dozen books on Li Chengqian's desk. He then bowed apologetically and said, "Your Highness, this matter is all caused by the gossips of the people below. I don't know who heard Helan say something so he took it seriously. I will punish him severely upon my return."

"General Chang, there's no need to embarrass Helan. This was all my idea." Li Chengqian placed one hand on the book and looked at Chang He with emotion. "Lu Hu broke his leg in the Eastern Palace a few days ago, and now he's dead right after leaving the palace. And then there's the 'Li Sao'. It's inevitable that some people will suspect me of being vindictive and malicious. It's better to make these things clear."

"Your Highness is kind and benevolent." Chang He bowed seriously.

Li Chengqian shook his head and said, "Originally, according to my opinion, Lu Hu should have been kept in the Eastern Palace, given a sinecure as a direct scholar in the Chongwen Academy, and well cared for until he fully recovered. However, I didn't expect that he would be transferred out in the end and then died tragically."

Chang He looked solemn, he understood what Li Chengqian meant.

If Li Chengqian wanted to deal with Lu Hu, they would have kept him in the Eastern Palace, so that they could have dealt with him better and could have found out who was behind the scenes from his mouth. However, in order to directly investigate the person behind Lu Hu, the emperor transferred the person out, but in the end, the person died.

It would not be good for the Eastern Palace if the person died, and Li Chengqian did not take any action. He had a clear conscience and handed over all the records of entry and exit of the Eastern Palace, as well as the rosters and whereabouts of people inside and outside the palace to the Qianniu Guards for investigation. They did not find anything, which also proved that this matter had nothing to do with the prince.

This means that there really is a mastermind behind all this, killing people to silence them.

But this was also a notice to the entire court that there was something fishy about the prince's broken leg.

"But then again," Li Chengqian looked at Chang He in confusion and asked, "Lu Hu's legs were broken, and there were people from the Dali Temple watching at his door. Why did he suddenly die in the Qingming Canal? If I remember correctly, the Lu family should be quite far away from the Qingming Canal, right?"

"This matter is still under investigation by Sun Siqing of the Dali Temple." Chang He bowed solemnly, then said, "Your Highness, the Qianniu Guards will assist in the investigation. I will take my leave now."

"Wait a moment." Li Chengqian stopped Chang He and said, "Lu Hu was once the Prince's servant in the Eastern Palace. If something happens to him, the Eastern Palace will definitely send someone to offer condolences. So, Changsun Shuegeng and Dai Qing, go and offer condolences on my behalf. In the meantime, go and get sixteen bolts of silk from the treasury. This will be considered as a subsidy for the Eastern Palace."

"Yes!" Changsun Xiang and Dai Zhide bowed at the same time.

Li Chengqian nodded, then looked at Chang He and said, "Chang Qing, is this okay?"

"Your Highness is kind and benevolent." Chang He bowed solemnly. He knew very well that after the prince proved his innocence, he immediately used this as an excuse to send people from the Eastern Palace to the Lu Mansion.

Perhaps someone is already using the "Li Sao" to spread the rumor that the prince harmed Lu Hu, and is even planning to do something about it, but when Chang Sun Xiang appears in the Lu family, all the voices will be suppressed.

Although Changsun Xiang, the chief guard of the Crown Prince of the Eastern Palace, was not as prominent as his uncle Changsun Wuji and his cousin Changsun Chong, he was closer to Empress Changsun.

The appearance of Chang Sun Xiang will make all those who have doubts shut up completely.

He is the greatest amulet that Empress Changsun left to Li Chengqian.

(End of this chapter)