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

Chapter 518: After Concubine Xu goes to Ganye Temple, let her be called Mingkong! (Part )

In the Liangyi Hall, Li Chengqian, dressed in white linen mourning clothes, sat on the imperial couch with a frown on his face.

Looking at Zhangsun Wuji, Li Chengqian couldn't help but ask, "Uncle, why is it that Concubine Yang can't leave the palace and become a nun?"

"Your Majesty!" Zhangsun Wuji bowed solemnly and said, "After all, Concubine Yang is the daughter of Emperor Yang Guang of the Sui Dynasty."

"Yang Guang has been dead for many years." Li Chengqian looked at Zhangsun Wuji and shook his head. "Even if there were some people, under the supervision of my uncle and me, could they really collude with the King of Wu and induce him to rebel?"

"Of course not." Changsun Wuji's eyes flashed, and then he saluted and said, "Your Majesty, it's unlikely that the King of Wu will succeed in his rebellion. However, there are still some people left in the former Sui Dynasty. It's inevitable that someone will try to frame them for rebellion and gain promotion."

Li Chengqian's expression became serious, and the figure of Li Yifu couldn't help but flash through his mind.

Zhang Sun Wuji continued, "Your Majesty, even if the King of Wu's conspiracy can be fully investigated, it will inevitably affect Your Majesty's time in dealing with the major events of the world."

Li Chengqian's face darkened.

Changsun Wuji breathed a sigh of relief and said, "Besides, the most worrying thing is that this matter cannot be thoroughly investigated. The King of Wu is one person, but there is also the King of Shu, and their descendants, several descendants of the previous emperor. What if this also implicates other kings? What should we do?"

Li Chengqian closed his eyes and sighed deeply.

"So, Your Majesty, it's best for Concubine Yang to remain in the palace. This will benefit the King of Wu, the King of Shu, the other princes of the imperial clan, and Your Majesty as well." Changsun Wuji bowed his head solemnly to the ground, then raised his head slightly and said, "This will also benefit the late emperor."

Li Chengqian paused slightly, then slowly nodded and said, "Uncle, what you said makes sense."

"Thank you, Your Majesty!" Zhangsun Wuji bowed and said, "Your Majesty has just ascended the throne, and stability is the top priority."

"Hmm!" Li Chengqian leaned back slightly and said, "There's nothing else to it. It's just that I've already told King Wu about asking Concubine Yang to leave the palace, and now I have to explain it to him again."

"Your Majesty, I will go." Zhang Sun Wuji bowed and said seriously, "I will explain everything to the King of Wu."

Li Chengqian waved his hand and said with a smile, "How can I let my uncle go? I'll have to think of a solution for this matter. The King of Wu is quite reasonable."

"Yes!" Changsun Wuji bowed and said, "Then I will take my leave."

"Yeah!" Li Chengqian nodded calmly.

……

Sitting on the imperial couch, watching Zhangsun Wuji leave, Li Chengqian looked to the side and said, "Let's revise the edict."

Li Yifu stepped out from behind the curtain at the side and bowed to receive the order.

Li Chengqian stood up, walked down the steps, and then walked into the east side hall of the Liangyi Palace.

Xu An followed in and bowed, saying, "Your Majesty!"

Li Chengqian nodded and said, "Is this matter not yet fully prepared, uncle?"

"Ah?" Xu An looked confused, not knowing what Li Chengqian was talking about.

Li Chengqian smiled and looked outside the hall.

Of course, Changsun Wuji was not fully prepared. The prophecy that "the Tang Dynasty will last for three generations, and a female ruler, King Wu, will replace the Tang Dynasty and establish herself as an independent ruler" was obviously related to the Yang family of Hongnong. However, it was still the mourning period for the late emperor, and Changsun Wuji had no time to make any plans.

Li Chengqian asked Concubine Yang to leave the palace. Once someone took the opportunity to attack Li Ke and it was finally discovered, it would not be easy for Changsun Wuji to use Li Ke to target the Hongnong Yang family.

Moreover, what Changsun Wuji said was right. The late emperor had been in mourning for a short time. If a big commotion was caused because of Li Ke's matter, it would be really bad.

Li Ke, from the Hongnong Yang family.

Li Chengqian was somewhat suspicious that Changsun Wuji had actually seen Li Chengqian's plan to start planning.

After all, Li Ke's princess consort was from the Hongnong Yang clan. Add to that Concubine Yang, Empress Xiao, and people like Yang Zhengdao and Yang Shidao, and the matter could easily be linked to the Hongnong Yang clan.

However, if Li Chengqian acted rashly, not only would he fail to achieve his goal, but he would also easily alert the enemy.

Li Chengqian smiled lightly. He did have his own methods and plans regarding the Hongnong Yang family and Li Ke, but he was not as shallow as Changsun Wuji thought.

If he was really that shallow, Changsun Wuji and Li Ke would not have received the news.

……

The east side hall of Qianqiu Hall.

Li Chengqian stood at the door of the palace and glanced at the inner hall.

In the inner hall, the kings have already retreated.

Only eunuchs and guards stood on both sides.

Xu Hui, dressed in white linen mourning clothes, knelt on the ground and burst into tears.

Before I knew it, half a day had passed.

Only then did Xu Hui suppress her sad expression and subconsciously glanced towards the east wing hall.

She immediately saw Li Chengqian standing at the door of the palace staring at her, and then she turned her head quickly like a frightened rabbit, and then burst into tears facing the coffin of the late emperor.

After fifteen calls, Xu An walked out of the side hall, came to Xu Hui's side, bowed and said, "Talented lady, the time has come."

The corners of Xu Hui's mouth twitched slightly. She kowtowed deeply in front of the late emperor's coffin before standing up.

Turning around, Xu Hui bowed deeply to Li Chengqian, then retreated from the hall.

Seeing this scene, Li Chengqian's lips curled up slightly and he smiled lightly.

Xu An quickly returned and, facing Li Chengqian, whose expression had grown indifferent, he bowed and said, "Your Majesty!"

"She has taken the medicine, right?" Li Chengqian raised his head slightly.

"I've already eaten." Xu An bowed and said, "Don't worry, Your Majesty, nothing will happen."

"Yes!" Li Chengqian nodded and asked, "How's the investigation going on?" "Xu Concubine Xu's father, the former Xinzhou Governor Xu Xiaode, was demoted for illegal activities after Xu Concubine Xu was deposed." After a brief pause, Xu An said, "But I've found another thing."

"Say!"

"Xu Fei has a younger sister who is only eleven years old and has not yet been engaged." Xu An bowed carefully.

"I have a younger sister." Li Chengqian nodded and said, "Okay, go ahead and do it."

"Yes!" Xu An bowed and completely relaxed.

"By the way, after my father is buried, remember to send Concubine Xu to Ganye Temple." Li Chengqian said as he walked towards the hall.

Xu An was stunned, and hurried forward, asking in a low voice: "Your Majesty, can't you stay in the palace for a while?"

Li Chengqian turned around and glanced at Xu An indifferently. Just one glance made Xu An's scalp tingle.

Li Chengqian turned around and continued forward until he reached the coffin of the ancestral tablet.

Li Chengqian picked up three tall incense sticks, lit them, and placed them in the incense burner. He then said calmly, "If I remember correctly, newcomers to Ganye Temple should be ranked according to the Ming generation."

"Yes!" Xu An didn't know why the emperor asked this.

"After Concubine Xu goes to Ganye Temple, let her be called Mingkong!" Li Chengqian clasped his hands together and bowed deeply to the tablet.

"I understand." Xu An's expression finally became serious. He knew that the emperor had other plans for Concubine Xu.

"Send someone carefully to keep an eye on her from a distance and see if anyone will go looking for her." After Li Chengqian finished speaking, he raised his eyes and looked at the spirit tablet.

In her previous life, Wu Meiniang went to Ganye Temple and was called Mingkong. Later, after she ascended the throne, she created her own character and changed her name to Zhao, Wu Zhao.

The sun and moon are bright in the sky,

Instead, it came true as the prophecy said.

Li Chengqian's arrangement of Xu Hui was not only to destroy Wu Meiniang's foundation, but also to see if there was anyone watching Ganye Temple.

Does this person have spies in the palace?

"Yes!" Xu An bowed solemnly.

Li Chengqian came back to his senses and said, "Go and call Prince Wu in. I need to explain his affairs to him clearly."

"Here!"

……

Li Ke walked up the steps of Qianqiu Palace with his head down. He couldn't help but look back at Xu Hui whose figure disappeared in the distance.

He looked thoughtful, then walked into the Qianqiu Palace.

Li Ke took a look at the emperor standing in front of the coffin of the late emperor, and his eyes fell on the coffin.

I felt relieved.

This time, the incident where Xu Hui tried to commit suicide by banging her head against the coffin did not happen.

After coming in, Li Ke was really shocked when he saw the bloodstains on the corner of the coffin.

"Sanlang." Li Chengqian turned and looked at Li Ke.

"Your Majesty!" Li Ke bowed solemnly to Li Chengqian.

Li Chengqian sighed softly and said, "Sanlang, I'm afraid I'll have to break my promise to you."

"Your Majesty?" Li Ke looked up, and suddenly, he felt as if his heart was being tightly grasped by someone.

"Yes, just as you thought, there was a setback in the concubine's departure from the palace." Li Chengqian shook his head helplessly.

Li Ke's body trembled slightly. He forced himself to calm down, then bowed and said, "May I ask your Majesty, who is it?"

"It's my uncle!" Li Chengqian said directly. He didn't hide anything. "My uncle said he was worried that once the Concubine Dowager left the palace, someone would try to frame you. Even if we could find out, it would consume the energy of the court and me. If we can't find out, I'm afraid the consequences will be even more serious."

"My humble servant." Li Ke closed his eyes slightly, took a deep breath, and then bowed and said, "Duke Zhao is right."

Li Chengqian came over, patted Li Ke on the shoulder, and said, "That's indeed the case. I can't refute it, so it has to be this way. However, I have also thought of a workaround."

"Huh?" Li Ke suddenly looked up and looked at Li Chengqian in surprise.

Li Chengqian smiled and said, "When you return, build a small temple in your mansion."

"Your Majesty!" Li Ke looked at Li Chengqian in disbelief.

Li Chengqian waved his hand and said, "The imperial decree states that Concubine Yang has voluntarily stayed in the palace. After the emperor's burial, I will allow Concubine Yang to temporarily leave the palace with you. She will stay in the palace for fifteen days to fulfill your filial duties. After that, you should go back to your place of origin.

After that, Concubine Yang entered the palace. However, after the curfew every night, she could leave the palace and return to the palace to rest for the night, but she had to return to the palace before curfew the next day.

"That is to say, mother goes to the palace every day and returns home at night." Li Ke murmured as he looked at Li Chengqian.

"Banzhengfang is not far from Fanglin Gate. The Concubine Dowager can leave the palace through Fanglin Gate. This way, no one will notice her after curfew." After a brief pause, Li Chengqian said coldly, "If someone still notices her even after this, then she is suspected of spying on the palace."

Changsun Wuji, Li Ke understood that the emperor was actually guarding against Changsun Wuji.

"Your Majesty!" Li Ke couldn't help but kneel down in front of Li Chengqian, tears welling up in his eyes.

Li Chengqian glanced at Li Ke gently, helped him up, and said, "Of course, no one here will say anything about this matter. You should also warn your family not to spread the news. Otherwise, if someone comes to make trouble here again, I won't be able to recover."

"I understand!" Li Ke nodded with a sob. At this moment, he clearly felt the emperor's kindness and deep love for his brother and father, and tears flowed uncontrollably.

(End of this chapter)