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

Chapter 359 Guanyin Bi, Brother Did His Best (Part )
"The Lu family of Fanyang has a son, Lu Zhaolin, who is one year older than Si Zinian. He is a young man of intelligence, erudition, and literary talent, and he has a strong character."

After a brief pause, Li Chengqian said, "He was born in the northern ancestral branch of the Fanyang Lu family. His father, Lu Renqi, was the magistrate of Linying County. His grandfather, Lu Ziyuan, was a county magistrate in the Sui Dynasty. His great-grandfather, Lu Dan, was the Grand Chancellor of Youzhou in the Northern Qi Dynasty."

Lu Zhaolin's father and grandfather did not hold high official positions, but that does not mean they were incompetent. In fact, it was simply the Sui and Tang dynasties that suppressed the Lu family of Fanyang.

"Family inheritance is fine, but this family is still a little poor." Li Zhi sat opposite Li Chengqian and frowned slightly. He did not expect Li Chengqian to propose such a candidate.

"Lu Zhaolin was the sixteenth-generation grandson of Lu Zhi and the ninth-generation grandson of Lu Yan. He received elementary education and classics and history from Cao Xian and Wang Yifang. He was erudite and talented in writing, and was known as a child prodigy."

Li Chengqian turned to look at the emperor and said seriously, "The reason I'm attracted to him is because he has a strong character and a thoughtful mind. His family background may be a little poor, but he has a promising future. He's an excellent choice for a son-in-law."

"Cao Xian, the Imperial Doctor and Academician of the Hongwen Academy, passed away last year due to illness, right?" The emperor looked at Changsun Wuji.

Changsun Wuji stood up and said, "Your Majesty, yes."

"Wang Yifang, this name sounds familiar!" Li Shimin raised his hand slightly.

"Your Majesty, Wang Yifang passed the imperial examination for the Ming Dynasty, later served as a military officer for the Prince of Jin, and later became a scholar at the Hongwen Academy. However, due to his friendship with Zhang Liang, he was demoted to the position of Magistrate of Ji'an County." Fang Xuanling stood up and bowed. "During his tenure at Ji'an, he selected students, presented scriptures, performed the ceremony of offering sacrifices to the Buddha, sang and played instruments, and everyone was pleased and obedient. He was a good official in the area."

The emperor subconsciously looked at Li Zhi.

Li Zhi bowed in surprise and said, "I also felt that the name sounded familiar, but I didn't expect that he was really a soldier in the palace.

However, when General Wang was employed at the Prince of Jin's Palace, I was still young, and he was quickly transferred. I'm not very familiar with his affairs, but the Chief Secretary should know more."

Li Zhi smiled bitterly with some embarrassment. Although Wang Yifang had worked in the Prince of Jin's Mansion, he was actually just a figurehead.

How old was Li Zhi at that time?

"I see." The emperor nodded calmly.

Li Chengqian stood opposite and didn't say much.

Not to mention that Wang Yifang had been transferred out of the Prince of Jin's Mansion a long time ago, even if he was still there, Li Chengqian would not believe that Li Zhigang had contacted Wang Yifang.

Wang Yifang was eventually demoted because of Zhang Liang's affair, which shows that he had a close relationship with Zhang Liang.

How could Li Zhi dare to contact such a person casually?

Not to mention the matter of Li Yifu is still to come.

Li Zhi was even more afraid to act rashly.

"Wang Qing is currently serving in Ji'an, which means Lu Zhaolin is also in Ji'an." Li Shimin suddenly realized and looked at Li Chengqian and said, "No wonder the Crown Prince said he has a strong character."

Li Chengqian bowed seriously.

The emperor raised his head, looked at Fang Xuanling, and asked, "Mr. Fang, what do you say?"

Fang Xuanling's wife was from the Fanyang Lu family, a legitimate descendant of the Fanyang Lu family. In addition to Fang Xuanling's current status, she may not be able to control the affairs of the Fanyang Lu family's hometown, but in Chang'an, Mrs. Fang Xuanling can still have a say in many matters of the Lu family.

"Your Majesty, Lu Zhaolin is indeed a rare talent with a first-class temperament, but his family background is still not worthy of the princess." Fang Xuanling bowed seriously and rejected the marriage.

"I heard of Lu Zhaolin's fame because of the imperial examinations that year. There was a talented man named Luo Binwang. Although he was unfamiliar with the examinations and didn't pass, he was incredibly talented and admired by everyone." Li Chengqian looked at the emperor and sighed, "Unfortunately, I was busy at the time. When I returned to look for him later, Luo Binwang had already gone on a tour south."

"Anyone who can make the prince care about him must be an outstanding talent. I would like to meet him when I have time." The emperor nodded with some interest.

Li Zhi's expression tightened slightly.

He was well aware of Luo Binwang's talent and vision, and sometimes even he felt inferior to him.

Last year, the prince presided over the imperial examination, so it was normal for him to take a fancy to Luo Binwang.

The only lucky thing was that the person fell into Li Zhi's hands first.

But the prince is still watching...

"Luo Binwang was less than twenty years old, yet he possessed a remarkable talent for writing. He was known as a child prodigy from a young age. It's a shame I never got to meet him." After a brief pause, Li Chengqian smiled and bowed, "Later, I made extensive inquiries and learned that while there are countless geniuses in the world, only one, Lu Zhaolin, can be compared to Luo Binwang."

"It is also the responsibility of the Eastern Palace to find talents. When the person arrives in Chang'an, the prince will bring him to meet me." The emperor looked serious.

"Yes!" Li Chengqian bowed seriously, but the emperor's words also showed that he rejected Lu Zhaolin as a candidate for the son-in-law.

The emperor turned and looked at Li Zhi: "Child slave!"

"Your son is here!" Li Zhi immediately bowed.

"Your Royal Brother said so, which means he has really considered it seriously. What about you? Do you have any suitable candidates?"

Li Zhi hesitated slightly, but still bowed and said, "Your son does have a candidate here. He is a descendant of the western branch of the Jingzhao Wei family, named Wei Hongmin."

"Wei Hongmin!" The emperor turned sideways and looked at Concubine Wei.

Concubine Wei shook her head slightly. She was from the Yungong branch of the Jingzhao Wei family, and had the same background as Wei Ting, the chief secretary of Prince Jin.

However, Wei Hongmin was born into the western branch of the Jingzhao Wei family, so the blood relationship between the two sides was distant.

The Jingzhao Wei family had nine rooms in total, including the East Family Room, the West Family Room, the Prince Consort Room, the Xiaoyaogong Room, the Yungong Room, the Xiaoxiaoyaogong Room, etc.

Each family had one or two provincial governors in the court, and even the Yun family where Concubine Wei was from had more.

So although Wei Hongmin's name sounded familiar to Concubine Wei, she actually didn't know much about it.

"Wei Hongmin is the grandson of Wei Shi, the former governor of Bianzhou in the Sui Dynasty, and the son of Wei Deqian, the governor of Langzhou." As soon as Li Zhi said this, the emperor immediately came to his senses.

Speaking of his son, he naturally didn't know, but the life experience of Wei Deqian, the governor of Langzhou, instantly appeared in the emperor's mind.

Li Zhi breathed a sigh of relief and glanced across, only to find that Li Chengqian was lowering his head, with a smile on his face.

Li Zhi was stunned, and then he saw Changsun Wuji below out of the corner of his eye.

Changsun Wuji was stunned and wanted to say something, but in the end he shook his head and sat down.

At this moment, the emperor's voice rang out from above: "Since he is Wei Qing's son, he must be in Chang'an. I will take a good look at him first."

"Yes!" Li Zhi bowed seriously.

"Alright, come, everyone, raise your glasses." The emperor raised his glass again, and the princes, princesses, the prince consorts, and Zhangsun Wuji all raised their glasses to join him. For a moment, the wine glasses flowed back and forth, and the feast was in full swing.

……

Before we knew it, it was already the 21st year of Zhenguan.

The time has passed.

All the ministers dispersed.

After leaving Chengtian Gate, Li Zhi looked at Zhangsun Wuji, who was about to get on the carriage, and hurried forward to greet him. "Uncle, was there anything wrong with what Zhinu just said?"

Zhangsun Wuji glanced at Li Zhi, sighed softly, and said, "Your Highness, the question His Majesty asked today was merely a question. In fact, His Majesty already had a plan for Princess Jinyang's marriage. Lu Zhaolin, whom the Crown Prince mentioned today, comes from a noble Shandong family and is simply not a good candidate for a consort. So the Crown Prince took this opportunity to recommend someone."

Li Zhi was a little stunned.

"But I really didn't expect that Your Highness actually took it seriously and recommended it." Changsun Wuji smiled bitterly and shook his head.

Li Zhi turned around, then bowed earnestly and said, "Uncle, Sizi and Zhinu grew up together. Sizi is getting married, so Zhinu naturally needs to test her well."

"I see." Changsun Wuji smiled and nodded, saying, "Before His Majesty chooses a candidate, he will probably ask for the opinions of Your Highness and the Crown Prince. Your Highness will then make his decision."

Li Zhi nodded. The emperor would choose a son-in-law for Princess Jinyang. In the end, there would definitely be only a few candidates. At that time, he and the prince would know it as well.

If it doesn't work...

"Alright, Your Highness!" Zhangsun Wuji looked at Li Zhi and said with concern, "It's getting late. Your Highness should go back and rest. There's still a grand court tomorrow."

Li Zhi suddenly came to his senses and bowed to Changsun Wuji, saying, "It's my nephew's fault for delaying my uncle."

"Your Highness, please!" Changsun Wuji smiled, then lowered the curtain, and the carriage slowly headed towards the Suzaku Gate.

Just as the carriage passed by Li Zhi, Changsun Wuji's face suddenly turned cold.

He had taught Li Zhi that the Tang Dynasty ruled the world from Guanzhong, but he had not taught him to use it in this regard.

The emperor chose a son-in-law for Princess Jinyang, who was either a noble from Guanlong or a family of meritorious officials.

It is true that Li Chengqian had selfish motives in recommending Lu Zhaolin, but he knew that the emperor would never really choose Lu Zhaolin as his son-in-law.

It is inevitable that there is an intention to win over the Lu family of Fanyang, but from another perspective it is also reminding the emperor that the son-in-law chosen by the emperor must not be much worse than Lu Zhaolin in all aspects.

Li Zhi recommended Wei Hongmin, who was in Chang'an. Perhaps he was outstanding, but Changsun Wuji had never heard of him. This shows that even if this person was outstanding, his excellence was limited.

Although Wei Hongmin was born in the western branch of the Jingzhao Wei family, and was not from the same family as Concubine Wei and Wei Ting, the Yungong branch, it further demonstrated Li Zhi's intentions.

He selected all the younger generations of the Jingzhao Wei family.

He also deliberately avoided suspicion.

His ultimate goal was still to win over the Jingzhao Wei family.

It's all clearly visible.

Perhaps Wei Hongmin was a good young man, but he was still not qualified to marry Princess Jinyang.

The only thing that qualifies is Li Zhi's own ambition.

He tried to actively pull the power of the Jingzhao Wei family into Jingzhou.

Prevent the emperor and the prince from reaching out.

This King of Jin!
Changsun Wuji sighed softly.

Guanyinbi, brother has done his best.

……

In Wanchun Palace.

The emperor lay on the bed and fell into a deep sleep.

The clothes on his back were lifted up, and Wu Meiniang carefully wiped the emperor's wound with a wet towel soaked in sake.

The wound had split open at some point, and pus was oozing out.

Wu Meiniang's expression was terrifyingly heavy.

The emperor's injuries began to worsen again.

It’s only been a few days!
After helping the emperor wipe himself thoroughly, Wu Meiniang changed the medicine and sat at the end of the bed.

Staring blankly.

What should she do when the emperor is like this!
At this moment, a pair of bright eyes with a hint of surprise appeared in Wu Meiniang's heart.

Concubine Wei.

The imperial concubine accompanied the emperor to the New Year's Eve banquet today, and it was she who sent the emperor back to Wanchun Palace.

The imperial concubine did not say anything to Wu Meiniang. After settling the emperor down, she turned around and left.

But when she left, the imperial concubine looked at Wu Meiniang deeply.

There was surprise and curiosity in his eyes.

It was as if she saw the secret hidden by Wu Meiniang and the Emperor at a glance.

It was even as if she had seen through the affairs between Wu Meiniang and Xu Hui at a glance.

She also seemed to see through Wu Meiniang's future.

(End of this chapter)