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

Chapter 525: How Many Secrets Did the Late Emperor Leave Behind Before His Death? (Part )
Outside Ganlu Gate, the atmosphere had gradually become gloomy.

Especially Prince Cao Li Ming. When he was young, he didn't understand many things, acted recklessly, and was not close to the prince.

Today, the backlash of all this is finally coming.

Although they had previously comforted themselves that the emperor would not do anything to them, they could not help but tremble with fear when they saw the fate of the Queen Mother Wu.

Concubine Yang of Wu State was the daughter of Emperor Yang Guang of Sui Dynasty. Naturally, her status was awkward and she was involved with too many restless forces outside the palace.

Similarly, Cao Wang Li Ming's mother, Yang, was not much better.

Yang was once the queen of Li Yuanji, the King of Chao.

In recent years, the rebel faction of Prince Yin has done many things, and there are also many remnants of the assassin king Li Yuanji.

Yang's departure from the palace probably left a lot of aftermath.

"The Queen Mother of Cao State, Yang, was ordained as a nun at the Miguang Temple in Zhengfang to pray for the late emperor's afterlife!" When Zhang Ananda said this, everyone was stunned.

Aren’t we all going to Ganye Temple?

Ganye Temple is located in Jinchangfang in the southeast of the city. How did it become Miguang Temple in Banzhengfang?

Where is the Mi Guang Temple in Banzhengfang?

However, Li Ming and Yang Shi didn't think too much about it. They quickly kowtowed and thanked him: "Thank you, Your Majesty, for your grace."

For people like them who have children and mothers, as long as they can leave the palace, even going to Ganye Temple is better than staying in the palace.

If he stayed in the palace, he would die silently at any time.

As long as he left the palace, even if it was to go to Ganye Temple, it would be better than staying in the palace.

Not to mention Banzhengfang. You should know that the palace of Prince Cao Li Ming is in Banzhengfang, which is only a step away and no different from being at home.

This is second only to leaving the palace and going to the fiefdom.

After Li Ming and Yang figured it out, they felt extremely grateful.

Li Yuanjing, who was standing on the side, couldn't help but frown.

Back then, he witnessed with his own eyes how Concubine Yang was forcibly taken into the palace by the late emperor.

Prince Yin and the remnants of King Chao Ci have caused quite a bit of trouble in recent years.

According to him, the emperor should imprison her in the palace just like he imprisoned Concubine Yang.

But today, why did the emperor suddenly issue an order for Concubine Cao to leave the palace?

Although she still stayed in Chang'an, she eventually left the palace. Could it be that the emperor was plotting something?

……

No matter what, the departure of Cao's Concubine Yang from the palace gradually relaxed the originally tense atmosphere among the Ganlu clan.

Especially when all the other concubines in the palace who had children left the palace, everyone felt a little relieved.

There were only two exceptions in the late emperor's harem. One was the Queen Mother Yang of Wu, who was obviously going to stay in the palace and be semi-imprisoned. The other was the Queen Mother Yang of Cao, who went to the Miguang Temple in Banzhengfang to become a nun. Compared with going to the Ganye Temple or being imprisoned in the palace, it was not known how much better it was.

However, after the whereabouts of all the concubines with children in the palace were announced, the atmosphere in Ganlu Sect became solemn again.

"The Imperial Concubine Zheng has no children and became a nun at Ganye Temple." Zhang Ananda looked at Concubine Zheng calmly.

With these words, all the remaining concubines under Ganlu's sect felt a sinking feeling in their hearts.

Wu Meiniang on the side couldn't help but tremble slightly.

If there are no children, even the previous virtuous concubine will be sent to Ganye Temple to become a nun.

Compared to the trembling crowd, Concubine Zheng kowtowed calmly and said, "Your Majesty, thank you for your grace."

"Grand Concubine Wu!" Zhang Ananda turned and looked at Wu Meiniang.

Wu Meiniang immediately kowtowed and said, "Yes!"

"Grand Consort Wu, who resides in the Taiqing Palace, will remain in the palace to assist the Empress in caring for the princes and princesses in the harem." Zhang Ananda's words caused Wu Meiniang to burst into tears of joy. She then kowtowed deeply and said, "Your Majesty, I thank you for your great grace."

Li Yuanjing, who was standing on the side, immediately looked over.

His brows couldn't help but furrow slightly.

Assist the queen in taking care of the princes and princesses?
Is this imitating Concubine Xue?

But that's not true. Concubine Xue stayed in the palace because the queen passed away, and Prince Jin, Princess Jinyang, and Princess Xincheng were still young.

But the Queen is still here, not to mention that she also has Concubine Su...

Li Yuanjing suddenly realized that Concubine Su was pregnant, so the queen needed someone to help her take care of the children.

After all, she didn't trust the concubines in the harem, but the older Concubine Wu didn't have many conflicts of interest.

But is it really that simple?

Li Yuanjing pondered for a moment. You know, although Concubine Xue stayed in the palace on the pretext of taking care of Prince Jin and Princess Jinyang, it still caused some bad rumors.

There is some bad relationship between Emperor Taizong and Concubine Xue.

After all, Concubine Xue is young enough and has no children.

But later, Concubine Xue was involved in the case of Prince Jin's rebellion, and then she disappeared little by little.

It seems that he is dead now.

But now, is there something going on between the emperor and Concubine Wu?

Li Yuanjing felt amused and shook his head. Although Concubine Wu was charming, the emperor would not do that as long as the empress was around.

Moreover, the emperor still has few concubines in the palace, so he is not a lustful person.

Did he keep Concubine Wu in the palace because she was the one who had been by the late emperor's side during his last few years?
Is it because Concubine Wu knows too many secrets about the late emperor, so the emperor must keep her by his side to feel at ease?

Li Yuanjing's expression calmed down. If this was really the reason, it would make sense.

However, if we start from this aspect, it will be difficult to handle this matter.

However, if they start from the rumor aspect and let the Queen expel Concubine Wu from the palace, this will allow Li Yuanjing to know more secrets about the late emperor before his death.

Li Yuanjing's eyes flashed slightly.

Before the late emperor died, he became mentally ill after taking the medicine presented by Narosavana.

He didn't even remember what year it was.

He even called for the King of Wei and the King of Jin to come to his side.

After that, the emperor placed the late emperor under house arrest in the Wude Hall.

However, all the important officials in the court knew about these things, and no one blamed the emperor.

But, is this matter really that simple? Aren’t there other areas that can be used?
Li Yuanjing's gaze fell on Li Ke.

The cause of the late emperor's death is unknown. Could this be the reason for the King of Wu to rebel in the future?
Li Yuanjing looked at Wu Meiniang again, thinking in his heart.

No matter what, Concubine Wu had to leave the palace.

This will make it easier to proceed with the next operation.

……

Among Ganlu's disciples, Zhang Ananda is still calling for help.

The beauty Yang, the beauty Wei, the talented lady Cui, the talented lady Xiao, and many more Baolin, imperial concubines, and court ladies were all ordered to leave the palace and become nuns in Ganye Temple because they had no children.

Just when everyone thought that the imperial edict was about to end.

Zhang Ananda finally spoke: "The deposed concubine Xu, childless, became a nun at Ganye Temple."

Everyone couldn't help but look up slightly, looking stunned.

Deposed Concubine Xu, Xu Hui?
Almost everyone had forgotten about her, but unexpectedly, she showed up again at this time.

But most people don't care.

She was just a deposed concubine, and she had only left the palace to become a nun. It was completely insignificant.

Even Li Yuanjing didn't care much.

He knew that Xu Hui spent half an hour every night offering sacrifices to the late emperor.

Even the kings knew it.

The emperor only gave her a chance to pay homage to the late emperor in order to prevent anyone from hanging themselves during the late emperor's mourning period.

At the same time, it also allows the kings to relax for half an hour.

So, he didn't care.

However, at this time, Wu Meiniang was staring at Zhang Ananda.

His brows furrowed.

Xu Hui?

How did she show up?

Shouldn't she be dead?

Why was she able to leave the palace and become a nun at Ganye Temple?
It was obvious that Xu Hui had left the palace to become a nun and was living a life of worshipping Buddhas and green lamps in Ganye Temple. She could no longer pose a threat to Wu Meiniang, but Wu Meiniang still felt uneasy.

Although it was her who framed Xu Hui and so many years had passed, what else could have happened? However, Wu Meiniang felt a threat from somewhere.

This feeling made Wu Meiniang very uncomfortable.

……

After the imperial edict was read, everyone stood up.

Li Yuanjing thought about it and walked towards Li Ke and Li Yin.

"Uncle Wang!" Li Ke bowed calmly, but Li Yin's expression was still ugly.

Li Yuanjing smiled softly, then said soothingly, "Don't worry about your mother's matter. Uncle Wang will talk to His Majesty and see if there is any room for recovery."

Li Ke was stunned.

Li Yin, who was standing by, reacted immediately and bowed in surprise, saying, "Thank you, Uncle Wang."

Li Yuanjing nodded calmly. He was about to speak when Zhang Ananda, a disciple of Ganlu Sect, said, "Your Majesty has ordered that all concubines return to their respective places in three days. Within three days, all concubines may leave the palace to reunite with their families. The dowager concubines will be given an additional ten days."

Li Yuanjing was stunned and turned to look at Zhang Ananda.

The emperor's oral order was that after three days, all the concubines would go to their respective destinations. At that time, those who should go to Ganye Temple would go to Ganye Temple, and those who should go to Mixing Temple would go to Mixing Temple. The concubines dowagers of various countries could add ten days to reunite with their families.

For example, King Jiang Li Yun could take the Queen Mother Jiang to her fiefdom, but he could not send her to her fiefdom.

Because he was still the governor of Anzhou.

The death of the previous emperor, coupled with the journey back and forth, has delayed too many government affairs. Especially now is the critical time of autumn harvest, he needs to hurry back to Anzhou to handle government affairs.

Therefore, he could either leave the concubine in Chang'an and wait until after the New Year to ask the emperor for extra leave to send the concubine back to her fiefdom, or send his family to send the concubine back to her fiefdom.

In any case, he could spend ten days with the concubine in Chang'an.

In the case of Li Ke and Li Yin, the Queen Mother of Wu could first go to the Prince of Wu's Mansion in Chang'an, stay with them for ten days, and then return to the palace to become a nun.

Of course, if they live nearby, they can also send the concubine to the fiefdom within ten days, and then go to the fiefdom.

But unfortunately, for these people, ten days was not enough time for them to send their mother back to her fiefdom and arrange for her to become a monk.

But ten days of reunion is still satisfying enough.

Especially Li Ke.

Li Ke smiled softly, then bowed to Li Yuanjing and said, "Uncle Wang, I won't bother you with anything. Please help my mother pack her things first, and then we can go home."

"Okay!" Li Yuanjing turned around and forced a smile, but the corners of his mouth were still twitching.

……

Taimiao, located in the southeast corner of the imperial city.

In the inner hall, white candles flickered.

Li Chengqian, wearing a black dragon robe and a white sash tied around his arm, knelt on a cushion with a dense array of tablets in front of him.

Emperor Xianzu Li Xi, Emperor Yizu Li Tianxi, Emperor Taizu Li Hu, Emperor Shizu Li Bing, Emperor Gaozu Li Yuan, and Emperor Taizong Li Shimin.

The fragrance is lingering.

Pieces of paper money were put into the brazier and then burned fiercely.

A light sound of footsteps sounded behind Li Chengqian. Li Chengqian didn't turn around and said directly: "Speak!"

"Yes." Zhang Ananda bowed and said, "Your Majesty, everything has been arranged. The King of Wu did not inform the King of Shu in advance, and the King of Jing seems to be trying to sow resentment between the Kings of Wu and Shu. And Concubine Wu is somewhat dissatisfied with Your Majesty's decision to let Concubine Xu become a nun at Ganye Temple. On the contrary, Prince Cao is extremely grateful to Your Majesty for allowing the Concubine Cao to leave the palace."

"Yeah!" Li Chengqian nodded calmly.

Even though he didn't see with his own eyes what happened in Ganlu's sect today, he could guess about 80% of it.

"King Jing!"

(End of this chapter)