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

Chapter 395: Exile of Li Zhi, Reversal of Past and Present Life (Part )
On March 16, the emperor left Beijing and went to Cuiwei Palace to recuperate.

The prince oversees the country.

The crown prince resided in Liangyi Palace to supervise the country.

All matters in the world, except for the preparations for the eastern expedition to Goguryeo, were to be submitted to the Crown Prince for execution and did not need to be reported to Cuiwei Palace.

On March 17th, the King of Jin left the capital and was exiled to Qianzhou.

……

To the west of Chang'an City, outside the Golden Gate.

Li Chengqian was waiting by the road, leading a horse.

A group of soldiers escorted Li Zhi out of Chang'an City on foot.

Seeing the Jinwu Guards, the soldiers tactfully asked them to bring Li Zhi to Li Chengqian.

He was wearing a coarse linen robe and had his hair tied with a black belt.

Although his body was still straight, his eyes were full of confusion.

Arriving in front of Li Chengqian, Li Zhi subconsciously saluted and said, "Royal brother."

"Stand up." Li Chengqian looked at Li Zhi and said, "The emperor has gone to Cuiwei Palace, so I am here to see you off today."

The corners of Li Zhi's mouth twitched slightly. The emperor didn't want to see him for the last time at all.

"I've personally prepared clothes, shoes, and some money for your journey, and I've also instructed the officials along the way to treat you well." Li Chengqian's expression suddenly grew serious. He looked at Li Zhi and said, "Zhi Nu, remember this: don't talk to anyone casually along the way, and don't accept any letters. This also applies to when you arrive in Qianzhou."

"Yes!" Li Zhi immediately focused his attention and bowed to Li Chengqian, saying, "Thank you, my royal brother, for the reminder."

Li Zhi knew that Li Chengqian's target had always been the emperor, not him, so he had no intention of killing him.

But just because he didn't, doesn't mean others didn't.

The imperial censors in the court, those treacherous villains, and even those restless people in the mountains and countryside.

Either they wanted to use me to attack, or they wanted my head, or they even rebelled in my name, especially at the end.

Therefore, not communicating with anyone is the best way for yourself.

"Stay away from people, in a dark room." Li Chengqian paused for a moment and said softly, "Pencils are fine, but paper and ink are too expensive. I'm afraid the local officials won't provide them for you. So, I'll have someone prepare a carving knife for you and send some wood chips regularly. You've read so many books, so carve them one by one yourself."

In today's Tang Dynasty, paper is a rare commodity.

Although it is not very expensive, it is very rare.

Even the place might not be enough for their own needs, let alone to provide for an exiled figure like Li Zhi.

As for books, they are things that bring disaster.

It’s best not to keep it.

"Yes, thank you, my emperor." Li Zhi bowed again.

"My sister-in-law will stay in the Forbidden Garden for a few years. Once you've settled down in Qianzhou, I'll send her over." After a brief pause, Li Chengqian said, "As for Li Zhong, when he's older, I'll have him brought back to Chang'an for the imperial examination. If he passes, he'll spend his life studying in the Secretariat."

"Thank you, my royal brother." Li Zhi completely relaxed.

"There's one more thing." Li Chengqian handed the reins to Li Zhi and said, "Prince Luo Bin is very likely the son of Prince Chao Ci. The court is currently investigating."

"What?" Li Zhi was stunned. In an instant, all the details of his interactions with Luo Binwang appeared in his mind.

Suddenly, some details that he had overlooked quickly emerged.

"Royal brother." Li Zhi looked at Li Chengqian with an ugly expression. He wanted to say something but couldn't utter a word.

"Don't worry, he will die." Li Chengqian patted Li Zhi's shoulder and whispered, "Bow toward Cuiwei Palace as a farewell to your father."

"Yes!" Li Zhi lowered his head heavily, then looked towards the direction of Cuiwei Palace and knelt down. After kowtowed nine times, Li Zhi stood up.

After taking a deep look at Cuiwei Palace, Li Zhi turned around and kowtowed three times to Li Chengqian, saying, "Thank you, my royal brother!"

"Get up and go." Li Chengqian waved his hand and turned sideways with some reluctance.

Li Zhi sighed lightly, then jumped on his horse and rode away into the distance.

Li Chengqian then turned around and looked at Li Zhi's receding back. A past scene suddenly emerged from his mind.

In his previous life, he was deposed and exiled, and Li Tai was also exiled.

Li Zhi did nothing, but in the end he got the advantage, became the crown prince, inherited the throne, and finally became Emperor Gaozong.

Even if there was no Wu Meiniang, or if Wu Meiniang and Li Zhi died of illness at the same time, Li Zhi would definitely be a wise emperor who was praised endlessly in history books.

But unfortunately, Wu Meiniang destroyed half of his reputation and half of his achievements.

Now, Li Zhi is gone.

Once he leaves, there's no way he'll come back.

Li Chengqian had the urge to kill him several times.

Perhaps he was wary of the emperor and Zhangsun Wuji's attitudes, or perhaps he suddenly softened his heart. At least in the end, although Li Zhi was exiled, he eventually left Chang'an City alive.

Li Chengqian hoped that he could reach Qianzhou in one breath and never look back.

If he turned back, both the emperor and Zhangsun Wuji would kill him.

Even they only had a little tolerance left for him.

……

Li Chengqian sighed lightly. In his previous life, when he left Beijing, Li Zhi came to see him off and gave him clothes, money and food, but Li Chengqian refused them.

As for the horse, he had a disability in his left leg in his previous life, and the horse was given by the emperor, otherwise he would not have been able to reach Qianzhou.

Then, in this life, Li Zhi accepted his clothes, money, food and horses, but the journey was still full of risks.

First and foremost, the horses.

The mountain road is dangerous and difficult for people to walk on, let alone horses.

At the very least, he had to change horses when he arrived in Chengdu, but why would Li Zhi change horses? No one would do that for him.

The journey from Chengdu to Qianzhou will be very difficult for him.

When he arrives in Qianzhou, he will only have one breath left.

Then faced with miasma.

No one will deliberately target him, but no one will be kind enough to help him.

In his previous life, Li Chengqian struggled for a year and died of illness halfway.

Where is Li Zhi in this life?
Li Chengqian turned abruptly. Li Zhi was gone, taking with him the glory he could have created.

Leaving behind this magnificent and huge city of Chang'an.

Li Chengqian raised his head. He could clearly hear countless noisy and bustling sounds coming from the magnificent city of Chang'an, at least hundreds of thousands of people.

Chang'an City, the imperial capital of the world, the whole world.

He will replace Li Zhi and rule the world after the emperor.

No, this world should belong to him.

Li Zhi ascended the throne. Although he was the crown prince, his foundation was unstable and he could not suppress the important officials in the world, especially his uncle, Zhangsun Wuji.

In order to help Li Zhi consolidate his throne, Changsun Wuji purged a large group of royal family members. Then, Li Zhi purged Changsun Wuji in turn.

Changsun Wuji is not Sima Yi, nor is he Yang Jian. Why do you want to kill him?

Li Chengqian shook his head slightly. Although there would be some turbulence in the early days after he ascended the throne, or people would spy on him, he was confident enough to suppress these things.

Li Zhi wasted ten years in his previous life.

Ten years later, Goguryeo finally caught its breath.

Although they tried their best to destroy the Western Turks, Goguryeo and Baekje, Tubo and Silla grew stronger.

Now, Li Chengqian has saved the past ten years.

He would destroy the Western Turks, Goguryeo, Baekje, Silla and Tubo as quickly as possible.

He single-handedly created a country that surpassed his father, surpassed Li Zhi in his previous life, and even created an eternally powerful country.

……

The carriage was pulled over.

Li Chengqian got into the carriage.

The carriage slowly headed towards Chang'an City. Li Chengqian gently lifted the curtain and looked towards the Cuiwei Palace in Zhongnan Mountain in the south.

The emperor recuperated in Cuiwei Palace. Apart from preparing for the war against Goguryeo, all other affairs of the world were left to Li Chengqian to handle.

This is completely different from before.

Although Li Chengqian had previously served as regent and handled state affairs, he often had to consider the attitudes of the officials in the court and the emperor above, and he acted with trepidation.

Don't dare to have too many opinions of your own.

But now, the emperor himself loosened that grip and gave him the power to handle state affairs and even the power of life and death.

Although the emperor was still watching him, Zhangsun Wuji was still watching him, and all the officials in the court and the provincial governors were still watching him, he now had much more freedom.

The emperor was watching him, wondering what he could do under the circumstances.

Li Chengqian calmed down.

The affairs of state can be considered slowly, but this May marks the 30th anniversary of the founding of the Tang Dynasty, and all royal families, provincial governors, and kings of foreign vassal states will come to Chang'an.

There are also the battles in Kucha, Xuanzang's Da Ci'en Temple...

"Bang, bang, bang!" The car door was knocked gently, and then a secret note was handed over.

After reading it, Li Chengqian couldn't help but frown and knocked on the car door gently.

The carriage immediately slowed down.

Li Chengqian lifted the curtain of the carriage and whispered a few instructions. At the same time, his eyes couldn't help but look to the south.

West Market, one of the most prosperous places in Chang'an City.

To the east of Xishi is Guangdefang, and the northwest corner of Guangdefang is adjacent to Xishi.

There is a courtyard inside, but not many people go in and out all year round.

But today.

With a "creak", the small door to the backyard was opened, and Li Chengqian, wearing a black robe with gold threads, walked in from the back door.

Two Qianniu guards in black short robes were waiting at the back door. They bowed to Li Chengqian and said, "Your Highness!"

"Yeah!" Li Chengqian nodded and walked towards the courtyard.

At the same time, more than a dozen East Gate guards followed suit and walked into the gate, holding Thousand Ox Swords in their hands and looking around vigilantly.

There was another "creak" sound, and the door of the study in the backyard was pushed open. Zhuom Lari, who was wearing a light crimson rippled robe for men, walked into the room eagerly. He saw Li Chengqian sitting behind the desk, looking at the text on it.

Zhuomulaji hurried forward and bowed to Li Chengqian: "Your Highness, I, your humble servant, pay my respects to you."

Li Chengqian looked up at Zhuomulari and said softly, "It's rare that you still remember who you are. The last time you entered the palace was half a year ago, right?"

Although Zhuomulari was outside the palace, she was actually Li Chengqian's concubine.

The Tang Dynasty's help in restoring their country was conditional, that is, Zhuomulari and his siblings could give birth to a son with Tang Dynasty blood, and use this son to restore the country.

Therefore, Zhuomulari had to go to the palace every once in a while, but she was never able to get pregnant.

"Yes!" Zhuomulari walked carefully to Li Chengqian's side, extended his hand to hold out the teacup, and whispered, "Why are you here, Your Highness?"

"I didn't expect to come here today." Li Chengqian shook his head and said, "I was originally leaving the capital for Jinwang today. When I came back, someone told me that you have been trying to acquire military equipment such as crossbows..."

"Your Highness!" Zhuomulari's expression changed slightly.

"Songtsen should arrive in Chang'an in two months." Li Chengqian raised his hand slightly and said, "Are you planning to assassinate him then?"

"Your Highness!" Zhuomulari knelt down and kowtowed heavily to the ground.

"Don't even think about it." Li Chengqian waved his hand and said, "That day is the 30th anniversary of the founding of the Tang Dynasty. My father and I will not allow any foreign leader to die in the Tang Dynasty on that day. If you really plan to take action then, I will thoroughly eliminate you beforehand."

"Yes!" Zhuomulari sighed helplessly.

"Get up." Li Chengqian glanced at Zhuomulari and beckoned. Zhuomulari immediately came to Li Chengqian's side. Li Chengqian turned sideways and reached out to touch her delicate cheek. He shook his head slightly and said, "Although my words were a bit harsh, the truth is there. And the most important thing is that Songtsen will not come to Chang'an."

"What?" Zhuomulari looked up in disbelief.

"Songtsen was a man like him. Even when he was getting married, he was accompanied by tens of thousands of cavalrymen. How could he come to Chang'an with only three hundred men?" Li Chengqian released his hand and whispered, "Even if he came with three hundred men, do you think you could kill Songtsen without my help, under the heavy protection of the Jinwu Guard?"

Zhuomulaji lowered her head and said helplessly, "I was wrong."

"It's good that you know you're wrong." Li Chengqian patted his left knee and said, "It's good that you know you're wrong. If you're wrong, you must accept the punishment. Come here and lie down!"

"Here!" Zhuomulari's cheeks flushed, and then he lowered himself to the ground.

"Snapped!"

(End of this chapter)