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

Chapter 405: The Crown Prince Ascends the Throne (Part )

"Your Majesty!" Zhangsun Wuji immediately knelt down and looked at the emperor in disbelief. "Your Majesty, why is it so?"

Why is the emperor suddenly abdicating?

The emperor's words really shocked Changsun Wuji.

Li Shimin raised his head slightly and looked at Zhang Ananda. Zhang Ananda helped the emperor up and sat him on the bed.

"I've thought about letting go of everything and leaving all government affairs to you, the Crown Prince, but that's not going to work." The emperor shook his head and said, "Master Sun examined me a few days ago and found that my condition has not improved, but has even worsened. If this continues, I'm afraid I won't live more than three months."

"Your Majesty!" Changsun Wuji was really shocked.

How is this possible when the emperor only has three months left to live?

Three months, three months later, will he have to face the death of the emperor?
Changsun Wuji looked at the emperor, his mouth wide open in shock, and even his eyes were filled with tears.

"I'm fine." Li Shimin looked at Zhangsun Wuji with amusement, then looked to the side and said, "Master, talk to Duke Zhao."

Sun Simiao stepped out from behind the curtains, bowed to Changsun Wuji, and said seriously, "Your Majesty's problem is that he constantly has thoughts in his mind, even in the dead of night. This is the most troublesome thing."

Changsun Wuji's face was full of confusion.

Sun Simiao shook his head and continued, "Your Majesty's illness is caused by intense emotions that impact the meridians in the brain, causing damage to the meridians. This in itself requires a long-term recuperation process.

As long as Your Majesty can let go of all thoughts and calm down, you will be able to recover little by little, but Your Majesty always can't let go."

"Your Majesty, what is it that you can't let go of?" Changsun Wuji looked at the emperor in confusion. All government affairs had been handed over to the prince, so what else could he be worried about?

Li Shimin raised his head, looked at Sun Simiao, and said, "Master, please step out for a moment."

"Yes!" Sun Simiao bowed, then turned and left the Lizheng Hall.

At the same time, everyone in the hall retreated.

Including Zhang Ananda.

……

"It's the Crown Prince that I'm worried about." Li Shimin looked at Zhangsun Wuji and said, "You know what happened that day. Before I fell unconscious, I issued an order to arrest the Crown Prince, but..."

The emperor's decree failed to take down the prince.

Sun Wukai had already drawn his sword, but the prince easily resolved it.

The emperor's decree could no longer take down the prince.

But the emperor's decree was issued.

Changsun Wuji later learned about this matter when he was adjusting the palace guards.

But things have happened.

"Your Majesty, the Crown Prince doesn't care." Changsun Wuji looked at Li Shimin and said, "The Eastern Palace hasn't made any unusual moves recently. The most important thing is that Your Majesty is safe."

The emperor is fine, the prince is fine, and everyone tacitly pretends that the whole thing never happened.

"He doesn't care, but I do!" Li Shimin smiled bitterly and said, "I don't really care too much. If Master Sun hadn't mentioned it, I would have almost forgotten about it. But I still care."

There is always a string tense in the deepest part of his heart.

I can't let go.

If you can't let go, you won't get better. There are only three months left.

"Then Your Majesty will go to Cuiwei Palace to recuperate?" Zhangsun Wuji looked at the emperor and said seriously, "I will mobilize a large army to escort you."

Under the protection of the army, the emperor should be able to rest assured.

"Wuji." Li Shimin shook his head and said, "This is not something that can be controlled by human consciousness. This is human instinct."

Even though he was in the army, he was worried that Li Chengqian would lead the army to attack him directly.

Even though he knew that Li Chengqian did not have a large army.

He still worried about what might happen.

"If Your Majesty feels that the Crown Prince is an eyesore in Chang'an, then let him go to Luoyang. Anyway, we have to prepare for the sacrifice at Mount Song at the end of the year." Changsun Wuji changed his reason.

"I don't want to make the same mistake as the First Emperor." The emperor's tone became firm.

"Your Majesty, the Fengshan ceremony will be held at the end of the year, and all foreign envoys are now in Chang'an. If Your Majesty abdicates like this, it will cause unrest in the world." Changsun Wuji felt more and more uneasy.

"Then let them go back first. I'll notify them in October and ask them to come back." Li Shimin's expression remained firm. He sighed softly and looked at Zhangsun Wuji and said, "If I don't do this, I will only have three months to live. What difference does it make? It's better to help the prince ascend the throne now. I can give him a chance, and at the same time I can rest assured and recuperate."

"Your Majesty, Master Sun's words may not be correct." Zhangsun Wuji still found it difficult to accept this sudden and drastic change. He gritted his teeth and said, "I can find a famous doctor in the world."

"Won't my illness be known to the world?" The emperor smiled bitterly.

"Your Majesty!" Changsun Wuji didn't know what to say for a moment, and he even cried a little.

Li Shimin sighed softly, looked up at the entire Lizheng Hall, and said, "Actually, I didn't think too much about it. It's just that when I was sleeping last night, Guanyinbi suddenly appeared in my dream, hoping that I could take good care of my three sons... Wuji, I don't want to see things get out of control."

"Your Majesty!" Changsun Wuji lowered his head solemnly.

He knew that what happened that night was still on the emperor's mind, after all, there was also the matter of Emperor Gaozu.

"Don't worry, I won't make a decision now. Everything will have to wait until the first court session in June. If I have thought it through, I will issue an edict. If I haven't thought it through and I regret it, I won't issue an edict. That's all." The emperor suddenly smiled, as if what he said just now was a joke.

"Yes!" Changsun Wuji lowered his head helplessly.

……

The night enveloped the entire Lizheng Hall, and candles were burning dimly.

The emperor was lying on the bed, with Zhang Ananda kneeling on one side.

"Your Majesty, I've checked and rechecked, and there haven't been any unusual movements among the staff of the Eastern Palace. Everything is as normal." Zhang Ananda bowed his head. "Where's Li Anyan?" Li Shimin looked up.

"I'm resting at home, just writing and painting every day. I don't have any contact with the Crown Prince." After a brief pause, Zhang Ananda said, "The Crown Prince now goes to Liangyi Hall at the beginning of the Chen hour every day and returns to the East Palace at noon, or even early in the Xu hour. He rarely sees outsiders."

"What about Li Dejian, Zheng Rentai, Xi Junmai, Su Dingfang, Wang Renyou and others?" The emperor listed several names in succession.

"All the generals have not made any unusual moves." After a brief pause, Zhang Ananda said, "If Your Majesty is worried about something, you can simply dismiss them."

"I don't know." Li Shimin looked up, sighed softly, and said, "I don't know why, but I always feel like I'm losing something bit by bit, which makes me very panic. This panic will prevent my condition from getting better. Three months, I don't want to die in three months."

"His Majesty!"

"Send the order to the Crown Prince." Li Shimin turned to look at Zhang Ananda and said, "Transfer Chai Zhewei to the position of General of the Imperial Guard."

"Yes!" Zhang Ananda kowtowed heavily.

……

In the Liangyi Hall, candles were burning.

Li Chengqian sat under the steps, carefully handling the memorial.

The three provinces, six ministries, nine temples, five administrative offices, and the three hundred provincial governors in the world, all the memorials that should be submitted to the emperor are now in his hands.

Every day, no matter how many memorials there were, Li Chengqian would ensure that they were thoroughly processed and then returned them to the three provinces and six ministries. Only then would he stand up to pay his respects to the emperor and finally return to the Eastern Palace.

Make sure that not a single memorial is delivered to the emperor.

Don't disturb him at all.

A light sound of footsteps could be heard from the side. Zhang Ananda walked in from the side hall, then walked to Li Chengqian's side and bowed earnestly, saying, "Your Highness!"

Li Chengqian looked up in confusion, and Zhang Ananda quickly said, "Your Highness, His Majesty has ordered that General Chai Zhewei of the Right Garrison Guard be transferred to serve as the Imperial Guard General."

"Who?" Li Chengqian shook his head and regained his composure.

"General Chai Zhewei of the Right Garrison." Zhang Ananda stared at Li Chengqian carefully.

"Cousin, the emperor wants to transfer him back to serve as the general of the imperial guard?" Li Chengqian seemed a little slow to react. Suddenly, he slapped his forehead and said, "Yes, cousin, he has been in the border area for many years. It's time to transfer him back. I will have someone draft an edict now."

As he spoke, Li Chengqian gently looked at the golden box on the imperial desk above the steps.

Then he looked at Zhang Ananda and said, "Zhang Jian, wait a moment."

"No need. This old servant is here to deliver the imperial edict." Zhang Anan glanced at the dozen or so memorials on the table in front of Li Chengqian and said, "Your Highness, there is no need to work so hard."

"It is my duty to share my father's worries." Li Chengqian shook his head.

"Okay." Zhang Ananda bowed seriously and said, "I'll take my leave."

Watching Zhang Ananda leave, Li Chengqian's expression calmed down and his eyes became extremely clear.

When he finished dealing with all the government affairs and returned to the East Palace, a secret letter appeared in Li Chengqian's hands.

Your Majesty and Duke Zhao had a secret conversation for half an hour, and no one knew what they were talking about.

……

The first day of June, at the Duke of Wei’s Mansion.

In the dim night, the sound of "bang bang bang" knocking on the door directly woke up the entire Weiguo Mansion.

Li Jing was lying on the bed, complaining a little: "There is no need for anyone to call Erlang during the court today."

Li Jing's second son, Li Dejiang, had just been transferred back to the court to serve as the Right Guard General.

"Alright, don't say anything!" Lady Zhang Chuchen of the Duke of Wei opened her eyes with some resentment, then said, "Who knows what's going on in Chang'an?"

"Aye, Aye!" Li Dejiang's voice suddenly rang out from outside the door, and at the same time, he shouted, "His Majesty has ordered Aye to come to court."

Li Jing was stunned, and he and his wife Zhang Chuchen looked at each other, their expressions becoming serious.

A moment later, Li Jing was already standing in the courtyard. After receiving the imperial edict, he listened to his son's wife Li Dejiang explain everything.

"You said that the prince processes all memorials every day and sends them back to the three provinces and six ministries on the same day?" Li Jing's expression changed slightly.

"Yes, what's wrong?" Li Dejiang looked at Li Jing and said, "Everyone in the court is praising the prince for his wisdom."

"The Crown Prince is wise." Li Jing smiled wryly and shook his head, saying, "He and Your Majesty are practically cut from the same cloth."

……

Outside Chengtian Gate, Li Chengqian looked at Gao Shilian, Xiao Yu, Li Jing, Wei Zheng and others who suddenly appeared with a look of surprise on his face.

There were also incomprehensible whispers in the court.

At this moment, Zhang Ananda suddenly appeared outside Chengtian Gate and announced loudly: "Your Majesty, please attend the morning court. All officials are here to see you."

At this moment, all the prime ministers except Zhangsun Wuji were stunned.

The emperor is in poor health and cannot attend court at all!

Yesterday you said that there would be no court today, and you could send the court officials back by saying "I am not feeling well". Why did you change your mind today?

Although they were confused, the ministers still led all the officials into the Taiji Hall.

At this time, the emperor was already sitting on the imperial couch, and there was not even a hint of anything unusual.

"Your Majesty, we are here to pay our respects. May Your Majesty live forever." Li Chengqian and all the ministers knelt down.

"Stand up." Li Shimin raised his head slightly, then looked at the ministers and said directly: "My lords, I am ready to abdicate as the Supreme Emperor and ascend the throne as the Emperor with the Crown Prince."

(End of this chapter)