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

Chapter 324: A Comprehensive Review of the Eastern Palace’s Powers (Part )
At Chou time, the night is dark.

Inside Yichun Palace, Li Chengqian calmly said, "In this world, the person I trust most is my beloved concubine, so I can only entrust you with everything."

Su Shu lay beside Li Chengqian's neck, raised her head slightly, and asked cunningly, "Then besides me, who else can Your Highness trust?"

Li Chengqian's expression suddenly became serious. He looked at Su Shu and said, "Du He, Li Anyan, and Li Dejian."

"Only three people?" Su Shu was a little surprised.

"Yes, there are only three of them." Li Chengqian nodded, then said solemnly: "These three are the ones who will do whatever I say, even..."

Before Li Chengqian finished speaking, Su Shu already understood.

Even if Li Chengqian asked these three people to follow him to attack the palace, these three people would definitely follow him with knives.

"I trust them, and they trust me too." Li Chengqian sighed softly and said, "It's fine now, but if I really ascend the throne in the future, I will have Li Anyan guarding the imperial guards, Du He sitting in the court, and Li Dejian leading the army on the battlefield. Through these three people, I will control the world."

Su Shu nodded vigorously. She wanted to remember these people whom she could absolutely trust.

"Except my beloved concubine and those three, the others are people who are closely bound to the Eastern Palace, including Yu Shi, Ma Zhou, the Chief Secretary, my cousin, Zhang Daxiang, Dai Zhide, Su Dingfang, Su Liangsi, Hou Zhiyi, and Yang Wulian." Li Chengqian breathed a sigh of relief. If the previous three people were the core of his control, then the remaining people were people whose interests were deeply bound to him.

"Why is there no Aye?" Su Shu was a little puzzled. Her father and the fathers of the concubines in the Eastern Palace were also deeply bound to the Eastern Palace.

"Let me give you an example." Li Chengqian paused, then continued, "Take Zhang Daxiang. He and his brother Zhang Da'an have both served in the Eastern Palace. This means their family is inextricably bound to me. So, apart from that one thing, they are willing to do anything for me."

Su Shu nodded slowly, and looked at Li Chengqian puzzledly: "Your Highness, are you saying that Aye has reservations about you?"

"Yes!" Li Chengqian nodded gently, then pressed Su Shu's shoulders and said, "I know it's hard for my beloved concubine to understand, but my beloved concubine will understand after listening to me."

Su Shu was of course a little resentful that her husband did not trust her father.

"So, Imperial Censor Wei Ting was the father-in-law of the Prince of Qi, and Yan Lide was Qingque's father-in-law." After a brief pause, seeing that Su Shu had thought of something, Li Chengqian nodded and said, "Yes, the Prince of Qi and Qingque rebelled, but Wei Ting and Yan Lide were not much implicated... Even though Wei Ting was dismissed as the Chief Clerk of the Prince of Jin, it was because of Qingque, not the Prince of Qi."

Su Shu finally came to her senses and looked at Li Chengqian and said, "Your Highness means that every one of your Majesty's children and in-laws will keep their distance from the struggle for imperial power."

"That's roughly what happened." Li Chengqian nodded and said, "I suspect that my father once deliberately warned them about something, but it might not be my father. My beloved concubine, don't forget your uncle."

Changsun Wuji.

Su Shu immediately understood that this kind of thing must have happened.

"If that's really the case, then it's actually a good thing." Li Chengqian sighed and said, "Qingque failed in her bid for the throne. Although Li Xin was also demoted to a commoner, he will definitely be released from the palace in the future.

Even if my father won't let me go, I will.

When he is outside the palace, the Yan family will be able to take care of him. This is the advantage of Yan Lidara distancing himself from Qingque."

Su Shu nodded in agreement.

"I even thought about transferring Yan Liben to the Eastern Palace to serve as the Crown Prince's Secretary or Junior Secretary." Li Chengqian shook his head and said with a smile, "But I knew my father wouldn't allow it, so I didn't even mention it."

Su Shu gave Li Chengqian a displeased look.

"These are all advantages." Li Chengqian's smile faded, and he looked at Su Shu and said, "So, my beloved concubine, you must remember that in the future, whether it's Xiang'er, Jue'er, or Yu'er, when you choose a foreign family for them, you must warn them not to get involved in the struggle for the throne."

"Yes!" Su Shu bit her lower lip and nodded vigorously.

Li Chengqian's words were equivalent to telling her directly that in the future, their descendants would also inevitably have to compete for the throne.

So some things must be prepared in advance.

……

"The others, Lai Heng, Xiao Jun, Pei Xuanji, Zhao Hongzhi, Gao Zhenxing, Feng Yandao, Qin Huaidao, Xi Junmai, and other officials of the Eastern Palace, are a level lower in trustworthiness." Li Chengqian raised his head and said, "This is the Eastern Palace, and the same applies to the court."

Su Shu looked at Li Chengqian's profile and listened quietly.

She had a feeling that that day would not be too far away, but it would not be easy to complete this journey.

Sometimes, Li Chengqian might not be able to say a word. At that time, Su Shu would have to decide who to contact and what to do.

"In the court, the person I can trust most is my uncle." Li Chengqian sighed lightly.

Gao Shilian and Wei Zheng were the two prime ministers who were most loyal to him.

Unfortunately, although Wei Zheng is still alive, he cannot move too much and cannot even leave the house.

Gao Shilian is old now, and the reason why he has been in good health in the past two years is the result of Li Chengqian's deliberate care.

"The next person we can trust is Prime Minister Fang." Before Li Chengqian finished speaking, Su Shu was already looking at him in disbelief and surprise.

Li Chengqian smiled, then nodded and said, "After Prime Minister Fang, it will be my uncle's turn, because compared to my uncle, Prime Minister Fang is even less trusted by the emperor."

"That's not what I meant. I don't understand how Your Highness and Prime Minister Fang can trust each other?" Su Shu looked at Li Chengqian in confusion.

"Fang Yiai!" Li Chengqian sighed and said, "When Li Yu accused Prime Minister Fang of treason, the key point in his hand was actually that Fang Yiai knew that Qingque was going to rebel... Tang law, knowing but not acting is also a serious crime, and once Fang Yiai is convicted, the Fang family will be implicated." "Your Highness clearly told Prime Minister Fang that this matter will not be investigated?" Su Shu looked at Li Chengqian in surprise.

"My father has already said that the past will not be pursued. I will naturally obey your order." Li Chengqian smiled, and there was no flaw in his words.

Su Shu didn't care about this. She looked at Li Chengqian and asked in a low voice, "Then why, why doesn't Your Highness trust your uncle so much?"

"My uncle is helping me because I'm the eldest son, and it's because my father and mother asked him to do so." After a brief pause, Li Chengqian narrowed his eyes and said, "Some things, if nothing goes wrong, seem the same to everyone. But if something goes wrong, Prime Minister Fang will stand by me, but my uncle won't, because we still have Zhinu."

Li Zhi was also the nephew of Changsun Wuji.

For Zhangsun Wuji, there was no difference between Li Chengqian being the emperor and Li Zhi being the emperor.

If Li Chengqian could ascend the throne smoothly, Changsun Wuji would be his biggest supporter, but once he had a conflict with the emperor, Fang Xuanling would support him, while Changsun Wuji would support the emperor.

Li Chengqian must be on guard...

……

"As for the other ministers, Yang Xiang, Zhu Xiang, and Xiao Xiang, they're all the same." Li Chengqian shook his head slightly and said, "Among the six ministers, if I were to choose the one I trust the most, I would choose Minister of Revenue Tang Jian, followed by Minister of War Li Ji, Minister of Works Li Daliang, Minister of Rites Li Daozon, and Minister of Justice Liu Dewei last."

Su Shu listened quietly as Li Chengqian told her about the prime ministers of the three provinces, the vice ministers, the ministers and vice ministers of the six ministries, the ministers and junior ministers of the nine temples, as well as other secretaries, secretaries and other officials.

"The vast majority of court officials are loyal to me because my father favors me as the Crown Prince. That's why they obey my orders." Li Chengqian sneered softly and said, "If my father didn't favor me, then even if I were the Crown Prince, they wouldn't pay much attention to me... My beloved, have you forgotten this kind of thing? We've been through it before."

Su Shu immediately recalled the time when Li Chengqian broke his leg. That was the most difficult time for them.

The shadow of Li Chengqian being deposed always looms over her and Li Chengqian's heads.

At that time, few important officials in the court were willing to speak for them.

"The slightly better ones are those who are connected to the Eastern Palace in some way. For example, some have fathers and brothers who work there, some have daughters who married into the Eastern Palace, and some have simply left the Eastern Palace. So as long as the matter isn't too serious, they're all willing to speak up for the Eastern Palace." Li Chengqian said calmly, "Just treat these people normally."

"Yeah!" Su Shu nodded. No matter what, these people were people that Donggong could use.

"That's basically it." Li Chengqian sighed and said, "My father started the rebellion in Jinyang, and later founded the Tang Dynasty. He ascended the throne after the Xuanwu Gate Incident. He had so many talented people around him. I am still far from what he was then."

"Your Highness, the world today is completely different from what it was back then." Su Shu shook her head.

The world was in chaos at the end of the Sui Dynasty, and military force was the greatest asset to pacify the world, but now everything is different.

The thing that most supports Crown Prince Li Chengqian is the title of "Crown Prince".

It is legitimate and a very powerful force.

"I understand." Li Chengqian held Su Shu's hand and whispered, "From now on, my beloved concubine will worry more about the affairs of the royal family. As for me, I will follow my father's orders, attend to the government affairs before the emperor, promote officials in a fair and wise manner, handle all government affairs without any selfish motives, and win the hearts of the people to the greatest extent possible."

With the support of the government and the people, even the emperor would not dare to easily depose him from the position of crown prince.

And now the emperor would not think that way. At most, he would try to find a way to check and balance it.

However, it will not be the kind of checks and balances between Li Tai and Li Zhi. The emperor should use other ways to check and balance Li Chengqian's power.

Li Chengqian believed that his father would be able to come up with a solution.

……

"Not only must we be careful, but we must also be vigilant." Li Chengqian turned sideways, looked Su Shu in the eyes, and said, "Only then can we wait until the day we ascend the throne."

"Be on guard?" Su Shu asked, somewhat puzzled. "Isn't the Prince of Jin going to be transferred out of Bingzhou? Is there any other threat?"

Li Chengqian sighed softly and said, "My beloved, do you know that there are three princes in history who are the most regrettable?"

"Who?"

"Yang Yong, Liu Ju, and Fusu." Li Chengqian's expression dimmed slightly, and he said softly, "They are all the eldest sons."

"Yang Yong was instigated and deposed. Your Highness trusts him, so he wouldn't do that. Liu Ju was deposed because of the witchcraft incident, something the Eastern Palace has already experienced." Su Shu looked at Li Chengqian and said, "Your Highness is worried that someone will follow the example of Hu Hai, Li Si, and Zhao Gao and forge an imperial edict at the last minute to depose and kill the Eastern Palace."

"Your Majesty is in good health now, so there's no need to worry for now. But the trip to Goguryeo might have damaged your foundation. Even if your illness gets better, it's likely to relapse if the weather gets worse." After a brief pause, Li Chengqian looked at Su Shu and said, "If Your Majesty is recuperating in the palace, I'm not worried. I'm worried about your leaving the palace and going somewhere else to recuperate."

When the emperor left the palace, a rift arose between him and the prince.

A gentleman does not stand under a dangerous wall.

The emperor's departure from the palace was equivalent to putting the crown prince Li Chengqian in danger.

"Yang Jian, the First Emperor, it's the same." Li Chengqian hugged Su Shu in his arms, then whispered in her ear, "You and I still have one last hurdle to overcome. Be very careful. Once we pass this hurdle, it will be our world."

"Yeah!" Su Shu nodded vigorously.

(End of this chapter)