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

Chapter 419: Cleansing the Aristocratic Clan, Royal Scandal, and the Cruel Official Qiu Shenji (Part )
The morning light is colorful and the breeze is gentle.

The turbid atmosphere in the inner hall was swept away.

Li Chengqian turned sideways to look at Wang Youlan who was sleeping under the sheets, and couldn't help but smile softly.

I don’t know if it was because of what he said last night that she was a little obsessed with him last night.

Li Chengqian reached out and gently stroked her cheek.

This poor girl, she is much more comfortable as a concubine than as a queen.

Li Chengqian restrained his expression a little. Wang Renyou was much smarter than her daughter.

Both the Songzhou and Lanzhou directions have begun preparations for war, but in fact, not many troops have been mobilized to the front line.

At this moment, Li Chengqian didn't want Songtsan to discover his true plan.

As for the soldiers, it is easy to deal with them. Once the war breaks out, the cavalry can reach the front of the army in the shortest time possible, but all kinds of food and weapons must be transported in advance.

Li Chengqian did send some food, fodder and military equipment to Songzhou through the Taiyuan Wang family, but until now, the effect has not been seen.

In addition to hiding his true purpose, he also had another idea in mind when doing this.

That is to hope that the Taiyuan Wang family can also contribute some efforts in this regard.

After all, he ascended the throne this year and exempted all the people in the world from land tax and rent tax, which greatly reduced the income of the court.

Of course, if a war breaks out, it may be possible to squeeze out resources at the beginning, but once the consumption is too great, it will inevitably affect the future.

At this time, if the Wang family of Taiyuan could take the initiative to offer some money and grain, then Li Chengqian would also make up for it in other ways.

Official positions are part of it.

The special favor towards Wang Youlan is another part.

Wang Renyou understood Li Chengqian's hint and had even started to do it, so he asked Wang Youlan to deliberately mention it in front of him.

Li Chengqian received this signal and also conveyed the message that in the future, Li Chengqian would give great preferential treatment to the Wang family in terms of entering officialdom.

Of course, there are some other calculations involved.

The Guanzhong clans have occupied too many positions in the court in recent years. From the perspective of stabilizing Li Tang's overall situation of "controlling the world with Guanzhong", there is no problem. However, in recent years, they have become a little slack, and all kinds of people, good and bad, have been stuffed into the court.

When Li Chengqian was the crown prince, he could still tolerate it, especially in the past few years when the emperor went on an eastern expedition and needed the services of all parties, so he didn't care much.

But now, Li Chengqian has ascended the throne. He needs his Tang Dynasty, like a rising sun, to have the power to lift it up, not the burden to pull it down.

At this time, it is necessary to introduce the Hedong faction, let them collide with each other, and clean up some residues.

Li Chengqian lay on the bed and sighed softly.

In his previous life, when Li Zhi was the emperor, he discovered these things, which was also the reason why he turned against Zhangsun Wuji.

Li Chengqian really didn't know whether Changsun Wuji would become an obstacle if he wanted to carry out self-cleansing of the Guanzhong clans.

If that was the case, then he would inevitably have to take action against Changsun Wuji.

A burst of hurried footsteps suddenly sounded outside the palace, and Xu An shouted hurriedly outside the palace: "Your Majesty, something has happened. Princess Changguang is dying."

Li Chengqian suddenly stood up and saw Wang Youlan was about to wake up in a daze. He patted her shoulder gently and said, "It's okay, go back to sleep."

"Oh!" Wang Youlan lay down again and fell asleep again in a daze.

Li Chengqian carefully stood up, changed his clothes, and went outside the hall. He asked directly, "What happened?"

"News just came from the princess's mansion that the princess suddenly fainted, and then she summoned the imperial physician. When the imperial physician arrived, he said that the princess was dying and would die at a moment's notice." Xu An bowed with a heavy expression.

Princess Changguang is not only Li Chengqian's aunt, but also the mother of Zhao Jie, the governor of Yangzhou. Zhao Jie is Li Chengqian's absolute confidant. Zhao Jie is still in Yangzhou. Li Chengqian cannot help but care about Princess Changguang's affairs.

Moreover, Princess Changguang is the wife of Yang Shidao, the former prime minister and current Minister of Works.

No matter what the identity is, Li Chengqian couldn't help but feel anxious.

Li Chengqian walked quickly to the gate of Cheng'en, and suddenly slowed down his pace. He looked up and said, "Prepare the horses. I will go to the princess's mansion now!"

"Now?" Xu An was stunned, then said with a slightly grim expression: "Your Majesty, the morning court will begin soon."

"Tell all the ministers that today's morning court session will be postponed. It's not a grand court session." After Li Chengqian finished speaking, he quickly walked out of the East Palace, regardless of whether others were ready or not.

……

The morning bells rang on Chang'an Avenue.

Many people had just come out of the gate and walked onto the street when they saw the emperor, dressed in a black robe with a gold dragon pattern, riding a horse and galloping towards Shengyefang.

Everyone stared in disbelief.

Although there were countless Jinwu Qianniu following closely behind, the emperor was running alone in the front.

This has never happened before.

What's going on here.

Is there something wrong with the emperor?
If the emperor had something to do, he should have gone to Mount Zhongnan in the south. Why did he go to the east?
It was not until Li Chengqian entered Princess Changguang's mansion that the people and officials in Chang'an City learned that Princess Changguang had suddenly died.

For a time, there was a lot of discussion in Chang'an City.

Li Chengqian didn't have time to care about what the people in Chang'an City were talking about. After entering Princess Changguang's mansion, he went straight to the backyard.

Yang Shidao had already received the news and came out with his son Yang Yuzhi. Upon seeing Li Chengqian, the two of them and a group of servants and maids immediately bowed and said, "Your Majesty!"

"No need to be so polite." Li Chengqian waved his hand and walked quickly towards the room, asking, "How is my aunt?"

Yang Shidao hesitated for a moment, but still followed him into the room and whispered, "The imperial physician said it will only take half an hour." Li Chengqian paused slightly, his face darkening, and then he walked slowly into the inner room.

On the bed in the inner room, Princess Changguang, who was over forty years old, was lying on the bed with her eyes closed, her face pale and her breathing weak.

The imperial physician Li Qin was still using needles on Princess Changguang's face.

Hearing the maid next to him call out "Greetings, Your Majesty", Li Qin turned slightly and looked at Li Chengqian.

Li Chengqian waved his hand and said, "No need to be so polite. What happened to my aunt? Is there any hope?"

Li Qin nodded, then said, "The princess has suddenly fallen ill, and is very ill. As for whether she can be saved..."

Li Qin subconsciously looked at Yang Shidao.

"Just say it." Li Chengqian frowned somewhat unhappily.

Yang Shidao nodded to Li Qin.

Li Qin breathed a sigh of relief and said directly, "Your Majesty, there is a way, but it requires some risk. We need to insert a needle into the Baihui point on the princess's head..."

"Baihui Point?" Li Chengqian now finally understood why others hesitated.

Baihui point is a vital point in the human body. Once a needle is inserted into the Baihui point, it may be fatal.

So the Yang family naturally didn't want to take risks.

But without taking risks, one cannot survive.

The situation is at a standstill here.

Li Chengqian took a deep breath, then suddenly turned around and looked at Yang Shidao, Yang Yuzhi and the others, and asked, "Why did my aunt come here so suddenly?"

Yang Shidao shook his head sadly and said, "I don't know. I've been busy with the Ministry of Works these days. I came home late last night and slept in the study. I was still asleep today when I heard shouting outside. By the time I got here, the princess had already fainted."

Li Chengqian nodded slightly to Yang Shidao, then glanced at Yang Yuzhi.

Yang Yuzhi, a man of dignified appearance, had an inexplicably evasive look in his eyes at this moment. He quickly bowed and said, "Your Majesty, when my mother was leaving home, she was caught in a sudden cold wind and got into danger."

Li Chengqian looked at Yang Yuzhi deeply, then turned to look at Li Qin and said, "My dear, let's do it."

"Yes!" Li Qin breathed a long sigh of relief, took out a seven-inch long silver needle, and then gently roasted it over the flame. After a while, he wiped it lightly with silk, then came behind Princess Changguang and instantly treated Princess Changguang's Baihui acupoint with a needle.

The speed was so fast that the silver needle had already penetrated before anyone could react.

"Huh!" Princess Changguang, who was lying on the bed, suddenly let out a sigh, and then her whole body relaxed.

"Mother!" Yang Yu instinctively rushed over, but Li Chengqian moved aside to block him and said, "Aunt is breathing normally now. Everyone, leave now. Leave Li Qing to recover."

"Yes!" Yang Shidao bowed and then stared at his son intently.

Yang Yuzhi finally came to his senses and bowed to Li Chengqian, saying, "I accept your command."

……

Outside the backyard gate, Li Chengqian glanced at Yang Yuzhi, who had been driven far away, and then looked at Yang Shidao and said, "Prime Minister Yang, although my aunt's condition has improved, she still needs care in the future. I noticed today that my cousin has a bit of an impatient temper, so let it go. Prime Minister Yang will be busy for a few days. I will issue an order to transfer Zhao Jie back now."

Yang Shidao nodded solemnly and said, "Thank you, Your Majesty, for your concern."

"That's not necessary." Li Chengqian smiled slightly and said, "Aunt's good health is the best way to repay me. After all, my father is still ill."

Yang Shidao's expression changed slightly. He bowed seriously and said, "I accept your order."

As the former prime minister, Yang Shidao knew something about the emperor's current health.

Princess Changguang is, after all, the sister of the retired emperor. If something happens to Princess Changguang and affects the emperor...

Yang Shidao knew how terrible the situation would be.

"Okay, I should go now." Li Chengqian nodded and said, "The morning court in the palace is still waiting."

Yang Shidao then remembered that there was still a morning court session today, but the emperor had not even bothered to attend the court session and had come directly to his home. For a moment, he could not help but bow in gratitude and said, "Thank you, Your Majesty!"

"No need to be like this, we are all family." Li Chengqian waved his hand and said, "Jun Gong, please pay attention to your family."

Yang Shidao looked up in confusion, but Li Chengqian had already strode away.

……

Outside the princess's mansion, the Jinwu stood solemnly, with long spears like a forest.

Li Chengqian walked out calmly, and at this moment, a yellow-covered carriage slowly stopped in front of him.

Then, a beautiful woman in her thirties wearing a green skirt came down. It was Li Chengqian's sixth aunt, Princess Yongjia.

Seeing Li Chengqian, Princess Yongjia's eyes couldn't help but shrink slightly, but she still forced a smile, stepped forward and bowed to Li Chengqian, saying: "Your Majesty, I greet you."

"Aunt, there's no need to be so polite!" Li Chengqian looked at Princess Yongjia in confusion and asked, "Why are you here, Aunt?"

"I heard that my sister was ill, so I came to visit her." Princess Yongjia said, and quickly lowered her head.

"Aunt Changguang has woken up. You can go in now." Li Chengqian made way a little.

"Thank you, Your Majesty!" Princess Yongjia bowed quickly and walked past Li Chengqian quickly.

Looking at Princess Yongjia's back, Li Chengqian frowned tightly. Shouldn't she respectfully see him, the emperor, off first?
How could a princess make such a mistake in etiquette?

Li Chengqian gently closed his eyes, then opened them and said in a cold voice, "Come here, tell the Right Thousand Oxen Guard General Qiu Shenji to come to the palace to see you."

(End of this chapter)