Li Chengqian of the Tang Dynasty: Please say long live His Majesty
Chapter 332: The Crown Prince is the Most Powerful Person in the Court
Chapter 332: The Crown Prince is the Most Powerful Person in the Court (Part )
Eastern Palace, outside Cheng'en Hall.
Su Shu, wearing a sable fur coat and gold ornaments on her head, came hurriedly from Yichun Palace.
Looking at the dark palace, she couldn't help but stop and frowned slightly.
The firelight from the Cheng'en Gate shone over, illuminating her profile.
After thinking for a moment, Su Shu looked behind her and said sideways, "Everyone stay!"
The maids and eunuchs behind him bowed quickly and all stopped.
Su Shu then walked up the stairs and into the hall.
With a creaky sound, the palace door was opened and then closed again.
The light that shone in from the opened door was enough for Su Shu to see Li Chengqian sitting in the middle hall with his head lowered and a somewhat gloomy look on his face.
In the darkness, Su Shu calmly walked to Li Chengqian's side and sat down.
After thinking for a moment, Su Shu said, "Your Highness, is this because of Liu Li's dismissal from office today?"
Li Chengqian took a deep breath, raised his head, and shook his head slightly. "Liu Li was dismissed from his position as prime minister because he was too weak. When the emperor fell ill, he lost his composure, leaked the news, and caused unrest. So, he survived, and merely being dismissed was already a great bargain for him. I have other things in mind."
"Well, anything else?" Su Shu looked at Li Chengqian in surprise.
Li Chengqian smiled softly, then said, "What I'm concerned about is the current changes in the court. With just a flick of my father's hand, the Jiangnan faction was completely eliminated from the court. And now Li Yifu has put me and my uncle in opposition."
"Your Highness!" Su Shu's face changed slightly.
"These aren't big things." Li Chengqian shook his head again. He sighed and said, "Over the years, I've finally gained some control over the court, but in a flash, I've lost most of it. And it's all because my father punished Liu Li harshly."
"Jiangnan School, Changsun Situ." Su Shu nodded slowly.
Because of Zhang Xuan and the Zhang family of Jiangnan, the relationship between the Eastern Palace and the Jiangnan families was rapidly getting closer. But now that Liu Li was dismissed, Cen Wenben was dead, and Chu Suiliang was on the opposite side, most of the power in Jiangnan had been disintegrated.
Li Yifu deliberately mentioned Chu Suiliang's name in his impeachment. Although it was intentional, there would definitely be no harmony between Li Yifu and Chu Suiliang in the future.
This was the emperor deliberately provoking confrontation between Li Chengqian and Zhangsun Wuji. Even if there was a hint of it, many people would take action.
Many officials of the Eastern Palace were transferred out of the Eastern Palace.
Also, because of Yuwen Jie's fate, no court official would dare to approach Li Zhi casually in the future.
However, not many of them would approach the East Palace.
Li Chengqian's power was greatly weakened.
"Not only that." Li Chengqian smiled bitterly and said, "Although I am now attending the imperial court, I am in Liangyi Palace every day. Everything is under my father's nose. It will be difficult for me to do anything in the future."
"Your Highness, why should you do anything?" Su Shu grabbed Li Chengqian's wrist and whispered, "Your Highness has been ordered by your father to attend court. You don't have to think about anything. You just need to promote virtuous people according to the rules, and these people will naturally support you. All you need to do is wait patiently."
"My beloved concubine is right." Li Chengqian nodded with a bitter expression. He knew this truth very well, but he just felt a little unwilling in his heart.
This feeling made him uncomfortable.
"If Your Highness wants to do something, then do it." Su Shu looked at Li Chengqian and said softly, "Given the current situation, and based on my understanding of Your Highness, no matter what Your Highness does, it won't be harmful."
"Hahaha..." Li Chengqian couldn't help laughing. After a moment, he shook his head and said helplessly, "My beloved concubine understands me. I really won't do anything that will disrupt the current situation."
Now, although the emperor is indeed restricting his power, he is also comprehensively cultivating his reputation, but the results are slower.
In this situation, he could perform better and gain more recognition from the officials, but he could not do anything to destroy this situation.
Once he starts to disrupt this situation, he will appear to the emperor as someone who disregards the overall situation.
At that time, the emperor would have the idea of deposing the prince again, which would be in the worst possible way for him.
Li Chengqian turned sideways to look at Su Shu and said, "Alright, my beloved concubine, please go back. I will think about this carefully tonight."
Seeing that Li Chengqian had come to his senses, Su Shu looked up and said, "Come here, light the lamp and bring up the dinner."
"Yes!" Countless voices suddenly rang out outside the hall, and soon after, more than a dozen palace maids serving the Crown Princess entered the hall.
The candles were lit and dinner was placed on the table.
Li Chengqian felt a little touched for a moment and looked up at Su Shu.
Su Shu had already picked up the chopsticks at this time!
……
The morning light is dim, and in the blink of an eye, a night has passed.
In Cheng'en Hall, Li Chengqian sat calmly on a short couch with three letters in front of him.
"Your Highness!" Xu An stood at the side and bowed solemnly.
"Four things." Li Chengqian picked up the first letter, handed it to Xu An, and said, "When you go out shopping today, pass this letter on and have someone deliver it to Luoyang and hand it to Xiao Changshi."
"Yes!" Xu An immediately bowed.
The Eastern Palace has a group of secret personnel in Chang'an City. Although they are not under Xu An's control, Xu An knows their contact information.
Li Chengqian picked up the second letter and handed it to Xu An: "Have someone deliver this letter to the Zhang family."
The Zhang family is the maternal family of Crown Prince's wife Zhang Xuan, and this letter was naturally given to Zhang Xuan's father, Zhang You, a doctor of the Imperial College.
Li Chengqian picked up the last letter and said calmly, "This letter was delivered to Wang Renyou, the Chief Clerk of Yongzhou."
"Yes!" Xu An bowed solemnly.
Li Chengqian stood up and said as he walked out, "It's almost the end of the year. Tell the princess to be more attentive when preparing the New Year's gift for Princess Changle. Remember, it's only for Princess Changle."
"Yes!" Although Xu An was a little confused, he still remembered Li Chengqian's words.
Princess Chang'an was Li Chengqian's eldest sister and married Changsun Chong, the eldest son of Changsun Wuji.
The Crown Prince was preparing New Year gifts and ignored Changsun Wuji and Changsun Chong, but paid special attention to Princess Changle.
"Alright, go make the arrangements. I have to go to court soon." Li Chengqian had just reached the palace gate when he suddenly stopped, turned back to look at Xu An, and said, "Have someone keep an eye on us from behind. After what happened yesterday, I'm afraid someone might go crazy and cause trouble for the Eastern Palace. Get rid of them."
"Yes!" Xu An bowed immediately.
Li Chengqian strode towards the Taiji Hall. Today was a regular court session, and it was hard to say whether the emperor would show up, but Li Chengqian had to show up.
Who made him listen to the government affairs in front of the emperor now?
……
In the blink of an eye, several days have passed.
At the Mansion of Duke Song, Minister of the Imperial Household, Princess Xiangcheng's consort Xiao Rui had just returned home when he was invited to the study by the servants.
Looking at his father sitting behind the desk with a serious expression, Xiao Rui immediately bowed and said, "Aye."
Xiao Yu raised his head slightly, then handed over a letter and said calmly, "Come, take a look."
"Here!" Although Xiao Rui was a little confused, he still took the letter. But after taking a look at it, his face changed drastically. He gritted his teeth and looked up and said, "Who is this person talking nonsense, actually asking Aye to resign from his position as prime minister?"
"The letter came from Xiao Jun in Luoyang." Xiao Yu looked at Xiao Rui, shook his head, and said, "But it was the prince's intention."
"What does the prince mean?" Xiao Rui frowned, still dissatisfied in his heart, "Even if it's the prince, he can't let Aye resign for no reason like this... That's not right, Aye, how come the prince's letter came from Luoyang?"
Now the Crown Prince is in the East Palace. If there is something that cannot be said directly, he can also say it through Princess Xiangcheng.
After all, the princess is the prince's eldest sister, and the relationship between the siblings is still good.
"The prince means well." Xiao Yu shook his head, took the letter back, and then placed the letter on the candle to burn it directly, and then used a paperweight to crush the ashes bit by bit.
"Aye!" Xiao Rui asked in confusion, "Why do you say the prince has good intentions?"
"Because even if the prince doesn't say it, it is very likely that your father will be dismissed from his position in the near future." Xiao Yu's light words made Xiao Rui inexplicably feel cold all over.
"Aye, why!" Xiao Rui couldn't help but ask.
Xiao Yu sat down at the table, feeling somewhat weary. He sighed and said, "Cen Wenben died on the way back to Chang'an from Liaodong. Liu Li was deposed from his position as prime minister. Chu Suiliang betrayed Jiangnan and completely threw himself into the arms of the Changsun clan. I am the only one left among the leading figures of the Jiangnan gentry. I have become a thorn in the eyes and flesh of others."
"It's the prince!" Xiao Rui finished speaking, then quickly shook his head and said, "No, it's not the prince. If it was the prince, he wouldn't have written a letter to remind Aye... It's Situ!"
Si Tu, Duke of Zhao, Zhangsun Wuji, the leader of the Guanzhong clan.
"Perhaps." Xiao Yu shook his head calmly and said, "In the current situation, they are not only targeting me, but also all the Jiangnan gentry in the court. They want to force our people to leave Chang'an as much as possible."
"Why, Aye, why?" Xiao Rui couldn't hold back his grief and indignation. He gritted his teeth and said, "We've been quite peaceful these years. We've never formed a clique or plotted anything behind closed doors. Why would they do this?"
"Just because we haven't done anything, the court already has a Minister of the Interior, a Minister of the Imperial Household, a Vice Minister of State Affairs, a Minister of the Secretariat, a Vice Minister of State Affairs, plus another Minister of the Secretariat, Chu Suiliang, who is about to become the Prime Minister... There are only eight Prime Ministers in the court. Who wouldn't be afraid?"
"But..." Xiao Rui frowned, still in disbelief, "But Aye has always ignored quarrels. Liu Xiang was closer to the King of Wei at first, but after the King of Wei was deposed, Liu Xiang also became very cautious. Not to mention Prime Minister Cen, who died of exhaustion for Your Majesty. And Chu Suiliang, he was even closer to the Minister of Justice. How could he be so feared by others!"
Xiao Rui really didn't understand. These people from Jiangnan had been living in fear in the court since the Sui Dynasty. Now that they had finally made some progress, they were suppressed again and again. Why?
"You!" Xiao Yu glanced at his son, shook his head in amusement, and said, "Look at things more deeply. Who do you think is the most powerful force in the court today?"
"Who else could it be? Of course it's Duke Zhao!" Xiao Rui didn't understand why his father asked this.
"No, it's not Zhangsun Wuji, it's the Crown Prince." A hint of bitterness flashed across Xiao Yu's lips, and then he said softly, "Yu Zhining is the Crown Prince's man, and Duke Shen is the Queen's uncle. If something happens, he will more likely stand on the Crown Prince's side than on Your Majesty's side."
"Duke Zhao?"
"Changsun Wuji will side with Your Majesty." Xiao Yu shook his head and said, "Changsun Wuji and Yang Shidao will both side with Your Majesty. So, the prime ministers will be two against two. The remaining ones are Fang Xuanling, this old man, Cen Wenben, and Liu Li... Assuming Fang Xuanling will side with Your Majesty, then this old man, Cen Wenben, and Liu Li may be able to support the Crown Prince."
"Just because of a possibility?" Xiao Rui's face looked very ugly.
"Isn't one possibility enough?" Xiao Yu didn't answer directly. He said calmly, "Cen Wenben suddenly passed away, Liu Li made a slip of the tongue, and the court has already begun to crack down on the Jiangnan faction. Chu Suiliang was the smartest and saved himself. So, the only ones left are me and the others."
"Li Yifu!" Xiao Rui suddenly shuddered. That day in the court, Li Yifu's words about holding all the remaining followers accountable were not empty talk.
"Tell those who need to be transferred to find a new place." Xiao Yu sneered and said, "Make room for them so they don't get kicked out."
"Aye!" Xiao Rui suddenly looked at Xiao Yu in a daze and asked, "Aye, who on earth needs so many positions? Even Situ doesn't need so many positions!"
"Your Majesty needs it." Xiao Yu looked at his son, gently closed his eyes, then looked up and said, "Goguryeo and Mobei have won two major battles. The court wants to reward meritorious officials, and a large number of positions are needed. Where do you think these positions will come from to satisfy this expeditionary army composed mainly of people from Guanzhong?"
"We!" Xiao Rui said these two words lightly, his dull eyes instantly cleared up, and then his face became extremely embarrassed.
"Go ahead. Those who want to go can go, and those who don't want to go, don't worry." Xiao Yu waved his hand and said with a smile, "I, your father, have also requested to retire. I want to rest for a while and spend some time with my sister. It's time to enjoy my old age."
"Yes!" Xiao Rui did not stop him this time.
After Xiao Rui left, Xiao Yu looked at the table and whispered, "Prince, you really imitate His Majesty!"
……
Xiao Yu quickly wrote the retirement memorial, but as he looked at the words on it, his expression became a little complicated for a moment.
At this moment, a burst of hurried footsteps sounded outside the hall.
Immediately, Xiao Rui, with a pale face, rushed into the study room regardless of everything, and then bowed to Xiao Yu: "Aye, Aye, Prime Minister Liu... Prime Minister Liu hanged himself to death!"
"What!" Xiao Yu couldn't help but stand up, stretched out his right hand, and subconsciously wanted to grab something.
"Aye! Aye!" Xiao Rui hurried over and held Xiao Yu's arm.
Xiao Yu shook his head slightly and sighed, "It turns out that Your Majesty has never thought of forgiving him!"
Xiao Rui suddenly looked up, and then his whole body felt as if it had fallen into an ice cellar.
It was extremely cold.
In the 646th year of the Zhenguan reign (), Xiao Yu falsely accused Fang Xuanling of forming a clique to rebel, which led to his rebuke by Emperor Taizong, further frustrating him. He then requested to become a monk, but this failed to happen. Emperor Taizong, therefore, stripped him of his title and demoted him to the post of Governor of Shangzhou. He was soon recalled and his title was restored.
After the death of his sister Empress Xiao, Xiao Yu was deeply traumatized and fell ill and died in the 648nd year of Zhenguan ().
(End of this chapter)
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