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

Chapter 461: The True Silent Means of Moistening Things (Part )

The night is hazy and the palace lanterns are bright.

In the Lizheng Hall, Li Chengqian took out a roll of white paper from his sleeve and handed it to Su Shu, who was wearing a green gauze and red skirt opposite him.

Su Shu unfolded the white paper. Looking at the snow-white paper, she looked at Li Chengqian in surprise and asked, "Your Majesty, where did this paper come from?"

"I had Yang Wulian and Yan Xuansui make it together." After a brief pause, Li Chengqian said, "It took about half a year. I started working on it after I ascended the throne. I originally wanted to use it during my father's Fengshan ceremony at the end of last year, but unfortunately, the finished product was not up to standard by then."

Although the Tang Dynasty was established for only 30 years and paper was invented for hundreds of years, the quality of the paper was still not up to standard.

Even now, more than half of the official documents in the world are recorded and transferred on bamboo slips.

"I'm afraid this paper must have consumed a lot of money?" Su Shu looked up at Li Chengqian.

"It's not small." Li Chengqian smiled lightly and nodded, but a hint of caution flashed in his eyes.

The reason why he didn't take out this paper last year was because the cost of this paper was terribly high at that time.

Even now, the cost of this paper is still not low.

Of course, it’s not low, but it’s much cheaper.

However, Li Chengqian had no intention of taking advantage of his advantage.

Many common people and wealthy families in the world make a living by making paper.

If all these papers were released into the world, I wonder how many people would lose their fortunes.

This matter may even lead to endless disputes and even death.

Therefore, Li Chengqian's plan was to take it slow and gradually reduce the price of papermaking for the people. When the time was right, he would make the secret recipe of papermaking public.

In this way, everyone in the world can use cheap paper.

But this time may be very long.

Because paper involves knowledge.

That is what the aristocratic families of the world are truly blocking.

If we act rashly, there will probably be chaos in the world.

……

Recovering his composure, Li Chengqian looked at Su Shu and said, "I plan to use these papers for the imperial examination in a few days, and then for Xiang'er's crown prince ceremony."

Su Shu nodded subconsciously, then came to her senses and asked, "Your Majesty, why don't you use such fine paper directly for Xiang'er's crown prince ceremony?"

"You're still shortsighted, aren't you?" Li Chengqian nudged Su Shu's nose, earning a snort from her. He then spoke, "This paper will be used for this imperial examination. Later, it will be used to issue imperial edicts. It won't be used for anything else in the meantime. This way, both the Jinshi candidates and Xiang'er will have a connection."

The mysterious destiny connects us.

From the moment Li Chengqian told Su Shu this, Su Shu would find a way to spread the word and let the scholars know about it.

They will believe it.

They will feel like they have some kind of connection with Li Xiang in their hearts.

Li Chengqian smiled and continued, "Furthermore, after selecting the top scholar, I will have him personally write the imperial edict to confer the title. Afterwards, I will transfer him to the Prince's Chongwen Academy as a proofreader, completely stamping him with Xiang'er's stamp. This will also be considered as laying the initial foundation for Xiang'er."

Su Shu looked at Li Chengqian, biting her lip lightly and said, "Your Majesty, thank you for your hard work."

"Xiang'er is your and my son, what are you talking about?" Li Chengqian smiled and shook his head.

At this moment, Xu An appeared at the door of the inner hall.

Li Chengqian waved in surprise and asked, "What's the matter?"

"Your Majesty!" Xu An stepped forward and bowed to Li Chengqian, saying, "Your Majesty, the Holy Saint will summon Master Xuanzang and Master Naluo Ersabomei to an audience tomorrow."

"That Naluoer Suobaomei who was spreading the word in Chang'an that his alchemy had miraculous effects?" Li Chengqian frowned. He didn't care about Xuanzang, but that Naluoer Suobaomei was a nuisance.

"Yes!" Xu An bowed and said, "In the two years since he came to Chang'an, he has also helped people refine some elixirs, and I heard that the effects are quite good."

Li Chengqian frowned and asked, "Why did your father want to see him again?"

"After Duke Zhao met the saint today, the saint decided to summon Master Xuanzang and Master Nalosavamei." Xu An bowed.

Li Chengqian raised his head. Isn’t today’s matter about Lu Dongzan?

Does the Emperor feel that something is wrong?
Li Chengqian pondered for a moment before speaking, "They are going to see the Emperor. Send someone to warn Luo Er Suo Bo Mei not to speak nonsense."

"Yes!" Xu An bowed.

"If he wants to make an elixir, I won't pay him a single copper coin." Li Chengqian raised his hand and said, "At the same time, have the Imperial Pharmacy monitor him from the beginning. All medications must be used according to palace regulations. Also, keep an eye on him at all times."

"Yes!" Xu An bowed, and when he saw that Li Chengqian had no other instructions, he turned around and walked out.

Su Shu looked at Li Chengqian with some concern and asked, "Your Majesty, is there any problem with this pill?"

"Who knows what's going on with the Tianzhu elixir?" Li Chengqian shook his head and said, "Anyway, we've got people watching it from beginning to end, so he won't have the opportunity to do anything wrong. Besides, when the emperor sees this, he'll understand my stance and won't do anything more."

"The Emperor might just be curious to take a look." Su Shu gently held Li Chengqian's hand. "Hmm!" Li Chengqian relaxed, then said, "Let's talk about the children. Xiang'er will be crowned Crown Prince, Ju'er will be Prince of Yong, Yu'er will be Prince of Dai, and Yongkang will be a princess. As for the people from the Su family, my uncle's family, and the Gao family, arrange for more of them to stay with us."

Behind Su Shu is the Su family, and behind Changsun Wuji are the Changsun family and the Gao family. With several relatives around them, their position is stable.

"Let's add the Dou family." Su Shu thought for a moment and said, "The relationship between the Dou family and the royal family cannot be alienated."

"Hmm!" Li Chengqian smiled softly and said, "The Queen is indeed thoughtful."

"I also have a lot of contact with several princesses." Su Shu smiled and waved her hand. Several princesses of the royal family married into the Dou family.

The Dou family's status in Chang'an City is actually higher than that of the Wei and Du families, but their influence on the lower classes is very low.

"The Queen should be the mother of the country." Li Chengqian stretched out his hand to pull Su Shu up, looked at her and said, "My beloved concubine, please summon the Grand Princesses, the Princesses, and the Princesses to meet more often in the future.

In addition, my beloved concubine also needs to worry about the marriages of the children of the various mansions. If necessary, the Empress can also grant marriages."

It is an honor for the Queen to grant a marriage.

Similarly, it can also invisibly bring each family closer to the royal family.

"I understand." Su Shu nodded vigorously.

"Okay!" Li Chengqian stood up, picked up Su Shu, and walked towards the bed, saying softly: "It's a good opportunity for you and me to have another son, so that the world will be more stable."

"The last one!"

"Ah!"

……

The night was deep, and the west hall of Lizheng Palace was in full swing.

Su Yi was lying on the bed, and in a daze, she felt a figure appear behind her.

"It's me!" Li Chengqian gently hugged Su Yi from behind.

"Your Majesty!" Su Yi murmured in response, his eyes blurred.

The East Hall and the West Hall were not too far apart, so even though some sounds were very subtle, Su Yi could still hear them clearly.

"Call me brother!" Li Chengqian whispered in Su Yi's ear.

"Brother!" Su Yi finally couldn't help but turn around...

After a long time, Li Chengqian's fingers gently traced the sweat on Su Yi's back, and then he whispered, "Are you tired?"

"No!" Su Yi leaned gently in Li Chengqian's arms.

Li Chengqian smiled and said, "On the first day of March, I will confer the title of Crown Prince, and the other sons will also be crowned kings. When you have a son in the future, how about you confer the title of King of Liao?"

Su Yi subconsciously looked up, thought for a moment and asked, "Is it because Aye is in Liaodong?"

"You're too slow to react." Li Chengqian gently pinched the tip of Su Yi's nose, then said softly, "The Tang Dynasty wants to destroy Goguryeo, and Liaodong is its foundation. So, I'm afraid my father-in-law will have to stay in Liaodong for a few more years."

"That means I won't be able to see my father for several years, right?" Su Yi couldn't help but feel a little anxious.

"What nonsense are you imagining?" Li Chengqian patted her on the back gently, then said, "In the next two years, the Tang Dynasty will have a major war with Goguryeo. Although I won't be leading the army in person, I will still go to Hebei to take a look. You can come with me then."

"Your Majesty is going to Hebei?" Su Yi looked up in confusion.

"Yes!" Li Chengqian nodded solemnly and said, "Once we arrive in Hebei, I will transfer my father-in-law and the generals back to Hebei. Then, my beloved concubine and aunt will be able to meet my father-in-law. If my aunt is willing, she can also go to Liaodong. Of course, you can't do that."

"After the war, will Aye have time to return to Chang'an?" Su Yi asked subconsciously.

"Of course." Li Chengqian nodded and said, "After this battle severely damages Goguryeo, the situation will ease. Then we can ask my father-in-law to come back at the end of each year. At that time, we should also discuss the complete extermination of Goguryeo."

"To destroy Goguryeo, will Your Majesty lead the army in person?" Su Yi couldn't help but climb up on Li Chengqian.

"No." Li Chengqian shook his head directly and said, "I am not my father. I don't have the hobby of charging traps. I would rather see the crossbows of the Tang Dynasty kill more enemies on the battlefield."

"Ok!"

……

It was mid-February, not long after the imperial examination, and the results had not yet come out.

This period was when the scholars taking the imperial examinations were most unrestrained.

Similarly, the story of the snow paper used in the imperial examinations also spread throughout Chang'an in a short time.

I don’t know how many people are watching the court’s every move.

On this day, in the west city of Chang'an, a delegation, escorted by 500 Qianniu Guards, quietly entered the city from the northwesternmost Kaiyuan Gate, and then quietly turned to the Xiuzhenfang in the northwest corner.

The Tibetan envoy Thonmi Sambhota and all the gold, silver and jewelry he brought with him were sent to a remote house.

As for the Tibetan cavalry he brought with him.

All of them were detained in Lanzhou.

(End of this chapter)