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

Chapter 500: Etiquette and System (Part )
In the Secretariat, Shangguan Yi walked in from outside the hall.

Xu Jingzong, who was sitting in the hall, glanced at him and his eyes fell on the notebook he held under his left arm.

Today, when the retired emperor and the emperor were alone together, they talked about many things.

Afterwards, the retired emperor asked the emperor to prepare everything for the mausoleum.

Everyone knows that what the Emperor and the Retired Emperor said today is the last and most crucial secret of the entire Tang Dynasty.

Shangguan Yi was the only one in the world who heard these secrets.

Xu Jingzong felt a little regretful for a moment.

It would be great if he was the one on duty today.

He would be able to know the final and most core secrets of the Tang Dynasty that the retired emperor and the emperor had told him.

But unfortunately...

Xu Jingzong nodded calmly to Shangguan Yi, then watched him enter the inner hall, where he began to clean up and lock up the room.

The living and sleeping records recorded by the Recorder will become the basis for future generations to compile the history of the Tang Dynasty. Once these things are locked, unless someone compiles the history, even if Xu Jingzong is also a Recorder, he will not be able to peek into the living and sleeping records that are not recorded by him.

This is the rule.

Xu Jingzong raised his head and looked outside the hall.

The sun sets in the west.

The evening drums sounded.

Xu Jingzong stood up and walked out of the hall.

It’s worth it.

As Xu Jingzong walked out of the official residence, he saw the Attendant Li Yifu coming out of the official residence from the Minister of the Central Secretariat. His eyes flashed, and he stepped forward and bowed, saying, "Mr. Li."

"Mr. Xu!" Li Yifu bowed seriously to Xu Jingzong in return.

Xu Jingzong smiled softly, then said, "It's rare for a minister to appear in the Secretariat, isn't it?"

"The wording of the imperial edict was inappropriate, so I came to return it." Li Yifu looked past Xu Jingzong and towards the official residence behind him, and asked, "Shangguan Xueshi just returned."

"Yes!" Xu Jingzong nodded and said, "We, the attendants, may only follow His Majesty and take notes on things on weekdays, but we have a lot to do.

For example, after returning home, you must lock up your writings and not let others see them, let alone modify them.

"Modification?" Li Yifu suddenly looked up.

"Anyone who modifies the residence without permission will be beheaded." Xu Jingzong glanced at Li Yifu and said, "Even if it's just spying on the residence, it's a serious crime."

Li Yifu looked at Xu Jingzong, and he suddenly laughed, then said, "No one would be so stupid, right?"

"Of course not." Xu Jingzong pointed outside and said, "Li Sheren, let's go back together."

"Okay!" Li Yifu nodded with a smile, then walked outside with Xu Jingzong.

After leaving the Secretariat, the Taiji Gate is in front of you. The surroundings are empty and there are almost no officials walking around.

Xu Jingzong glanced in the direction of the Wude Hall and said, "Your Majesty is wise and sage. After the Supreme Emperor's incident, Your Majesty will have full control over the empire. At that time, you and I may be even more respected by Your Majesty."

Li Yifu raised his lips slightly, and then said: "What the scholar said is correct. After all, you and I are both people around His Majesty."

"Yes!" Xu Jingzong nodded with a smile, then walked towards Taiji Gate with Li Yifu.

After the two men disappeared, Changsun Wuji calmly came out from the Menxia Province on the east side.

Looking at the backs of Xu Jingzong and Li Yifu leaving together, his eyes narrowed slightly.

He didn't hear what the two of them were talking about in private, but he didn't think it was anything good.

Changsun Wuji never liked Li Yifu.

It’s not a good thing for them to stay around the emperor!
But it just so happened that Li Yifu was the prince's attendant when the emperor was in the Eastern Palace, and also the Prince of Jin.

Changsun Wuji turned and looked in the direction of the Wude Hall, sighed lightly, and went back to the Government Affairs Hall.

……

The slanting moon is like a hook.

The hall was pitch black.

A rush of footsteps sounded outside the hall.

Li Chengqian, who was sitting in the dark, raised his head slightly, and then the door was opened.

The lanterns illuminate the coming people.

Queen Su Shu in a dark green skirt.

Su Shu waved her hand behind her, and immediately a palace maid came in to light the candles.

Then, someone placed food and drinks on the table.

Only then did Su Shu wave her hand behind her.

With a creak, the palace door closed, and they were the only two people in the palace.

"Why did Your Majesty come to Chongjiao Hall?" Su Shu picked up the wine pot and poured a glass of wine for Li Chengqian.

"After court today, I went to ask to see my father, but he didn't see me." Li Chengqian sighed with some heartache.

"I heard that the Emperor Retired was in Taiji Hall today, ordering Your Majesty to prepare for the mausoleum. Later, Your Majesty requested an audience with the Emperor Retired, but the Emperor refused to see him. So I went there just now, but was blocked outside the hall by Zhang Ananda and Sun Wukai. The Emperor Retired refused to see anyone." Su Shu looked at Li Chengqian and said, "Your Majesty, I think the Emperor Retired wants to go through the final stage alone."

Li Chengqian's lips trembled slightly, then he picked up the wine glass and drank the wine in it.

Su Shu picked up the wine glass again and poured another one for Li Chengqian.

Li Chengqian didn't say anything more and drank it all again.

Su Shu didn't pour him another glass, but poured herself a glass, and then the two of them drank and ate together as usual.

Until the whole pot of wine was finished.

Li Chengqian stood up, took Su Shu's hand, and walked into the inner hall. The inner hall was dark.

Li Chengqian walked to the bed and lay down. Su Shu also lay down and leaned in Li Chengqian's arms.

In the darkness, Li Chengqian said faintly, "Queen, do you remember? When I broke my leg, I spent more than half a year here."

"I remember." Su Shu nodded and said, "After that, only I and a few masters from the Eastern Palace have been with His Majesty."

"Many years have passed in the blink of an eye." Li Chengqian sighed softly and said, "Speaking of which, even if we put aside the year of my ascension to the throne, I have been governing the country for several years before that."

"Ever since the Emperor Retired began preparing for the Eastern Expedition to Goguryeo, Your Majesty has taken charge of government affairs."

"But even today, I still feel that I don't truly control the world because my father is here." After a brief pause, Li Chengqian said, "Before, I occasionally felt a little uncomfortable, but today, as my father is leaving, I suddenly feel a little scared."

"What is your Majesty afraid of?" Su Shu looked up subconsciously.

"The world is too vast, the Tang Dynasty is too big. I don't know where the Tang Dynasty will go once my father is gone." Li Chengqian's breathing began to tremble slightly. He said softly, "There is darkness before me, and beyond the darkness, countless enemies are trying to pounce on me and tear me apart."

"Why is this so?"

"You don't understand." Li Chengqian sighed softly and said, "When the emperor was here, some people were already alienated. Once the emperor is gone, people's hearts will be alienated even faster. Some people will begin to stir up trouble. These people are not only enemies, but also the people around you and me. Their mentality will also change, and I will have to face all of this."

"Your Majesty can use people including Duke Zhao, my father, and, yes, Liangsi." Su Shu looked at Li Chengqian seriously.

There are people in their Su family who hold high and low official positions, but the only one that Li Chengqian really values ​​is Su Liangsi.

Although Su Liangsi is only a sixth-rank Imperial Censor now, everyone knows that he has a bright future.

"Yes!" Li Chengqian nodded, hugged Su Shu and said, "I understand, but Liangsi still needs training. After the emperor's matter is resolved, I will let him serve as the Imperial Secretary for a few years, and then transfer him to Luozhou to serve as the Sima. With a few years of good experience, he may become the Imperial Censor or the Minister of Justice in the future."

Luozhou Sima was a fourth-rank official. The next level up was Luozhou Changshi, a third-rank official.

"That's not what I meant." Su Shu turned slightly sideways.

"I understand. I have countless talented people around me. As long as I put these people in the right places, the world can be governed in the best way, and my world will be stable." Li Chengqian nodded slightly.

"Hmm!" Su Shu relaxed, then leaned against Li Chengqian and said, "Your Majesty, now and in the future, will have more children. Placing them in the local areas will also help stabilize the country."

"Hmm!" Li Chengqian smiled and said, "I was just a little confused for a moment. Queen, don't think too much about it. Go to sleep."

"Yes!" Su Shu responded, and then listened carefully to Li Chengqian's voice.

When Li Chengqian's snoring began to rise, Su Shu leaned in Li Chengqian's arms and gently closed her eyes.

At this time, Li Chengqian suddenly opened his eyes.

He glanced at Su Shu lightly. He knew that Su Shu didn't have so many messy thoughts. She just came to that point in her conversation.

Li Chengqian was still snoring, but his eyes couldn't help but look into the darkness above.

Although Su Shu's words just now were somewhat irrelevant, they also gave him guidance in the darkness.

After Li Shimin's death, Li Chengqian's eyes were filled with darkness and chaos, but the same was true for others.

It's just that they will be more greedy and grab everything they can see in front of them, but that's all.

They have no clear vision of the long-term future.

No one has any clear view.

After Li Shimin's death, the whole world will lack a helmsman standing at the front, and the person who will succeed him is Li Chengqian.

If Li Chengqian did not stand up, then countless people would definitely compete for this position, and then the world would be out of control.

Li Zhi was like this in his previous life.

In the end, he killed Zhangsun Wuji and dealt a heavy blow to the entire Guanzhong faction.

But Li Chengqian was different from Li Zhi. He could also say a few words about productivity and production relations.

Not to mention the future wars with Goguryeo, Western Turks and Tubo.

These will be the foundation for his future direction of guiding the world.

Yes.

In the future, the chaotic future in everyone's eyes will be guided by Li Chengqian.

In the future, these people will look at him with awe, submission, or even vigilance and hostility.

Wear the crown and bear its weight.

Li Chengqian's expression became increasingly calm.

He needs to start working from tomorrow. It is almost late May and the autumn harvest will begin soon.

He needs to concentrate on this matter.

Do not!
Li Chengqian suddenly looked up.

wrong.

wrong.

This shouldn't be his first priority.

present.

The word "ritual" suddenly broke into Li Chengqian's mind.

His expression gradually became serious.

He was wrong. Now he should not do practical things, but engage in theoretical thinking.

Etiquette is the real foundation of the emperor's rule over the world.

……

"My Lords, I intend to give the title of Grand Emperor to you. Do you have any good suggestions?"

(End of this chapter)