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

Chapter 527: The Last Will and Testament, the True Xuanwu Gate Curse (Part )
In the Imperial Ancestral Temple, Li Chengqian wrote his will: "I have been entrusted by the late emperor to inherit the throne. I have always feared that I am not worthy enough to carry on the great legacy of our ancestors.

The soldiers are at rest and the people are at peace. How can we be worthy of this when the country is at peace?

However, due to the great changes in the heavens, there was a serious problem, so he left his last will hidden in the Taimiao.

Future generations should also follow suit to be prepared for any eventuality.

Crown Prince Xiang is kind-hearted by nature, intelligent and wise, and is worthy of being entrusted with the task of inheriting the throne.

But if something happens, he can ascend the throne in front of the coffin.

The Empress, with her high status, is at my side, and her kindness, benevolence, and obedience are known throughout the world. She can be honored as the Empress Dowager.

If the emperor is under the age of seventeen, the empress can rule the country from behind the curtain.

Mourning clothes are replaced by days and months, and the system of mountain and tomb mourning should be frugal.

Oh, play.

In matters of life and death, only saints can achieve their ultimate goal.

Moreover, it is the mandate of heaven that will not fall on the Tang Dynasty.

Admire this. "

Li Chengqian put down his pen and watched the words on the will gradually dry and solidify, a clear trace of bitterness appeared on his face.

It had only been a year since he ascended the throne, and the previous emperor had just passed away due to illness.

I will write my own will myself.

It's really ironic.

Li Chengqian restrained his smile and looked at Li Fengci with a serious expression: "Prince of Bohai, you'd better confirm that the wills left by grandfather and father are correct."

"Yes!" Li Fengci bowed and said, "This matter has been witnessed by the ministers of the Zongzheng Temple of all generations. Although there is an imperial edict, it is also recorded in the secret archives of the Zongzheng Temple. Your Majesty can go and see it at any time."

Go to Zongzheng Temple to look at the ancestral instructions that allowed you to leave your will.

Li Chengqian shook his head and decided to forget it.

"Your Majesty!" Li Baiyao bowed and said, "Emperor Gaozu and the previous emperor simply made these preparations in order to avoid the current emperor's sudden death for various reasons without leaving any will, which would lead to a vacant throne, strife, and ultimately bloodshed, or even chaos throughout the country..."

Li Chengqian waved his hand and said, "I understand in my heart. In fact, after listening to your reasons, even if it were me, I would leave a will in advance."

The emperor died suddenly.

Either sudden cardiac death or death from falling off a horse.

Or maybe he was assassinated...

All of this is possible.

It’s just that when these things were not in front of Li Chengqian, he didn’t care. But when everything was in front of him, he had to be prepared for those things that had a one percent probability of happening.

Otherwise, he wouldn't be able to sleep well at night.

I’m afraid that once I fall asleep, I’ll never wake up again.

Li Chengqian suddenly looked up at Li Baiyao and asked, "Mr. Li, I'd like to know how many people know about this?"

"As far as I know, it should be only the two of us who know, but..." After a brief pause, Li Baiyao said, "Perhaps the late emperor left a message in some secret place, or told the imperial concubine, or Zhang Jian..."

"Alright." Li Chengqian rolled his eyes at Li Baiyao and said, "Mr. Li, if you do this, you could easily die as the Minister of Zongzheng Temple."

Li Baiyao's expression changed slightly, and he said with a folded hand, "I am guilty."

"I don't consider you guilty." Li Chengqian waved his hand and said, "Since Dou Qing has told you this matter, and you have learned from his experience, yet you are still willing to tell me, I can feel your loyalty. Therefore, you will always be innocent in my eyes."

"Thank you, Your Majesty!" Li Baiyao bowed his head and his eyes were silently moistened. He knew best the difficulties involved.

……

Li Chengqian lowered his head, looked at the edict he had written himself, and couldn't help but sigh.

He has only been on the throne for a year, but he has already written the will. This means that no matter who knows the existence of this will, as long as they can get it and kill Li Chengqian, they can rely on this will to support the prince to ascend the throne.

Such a possibility would also make Li Chengqian feel uneasy.

In addition to adding guards to the Taimiao, he would also secretly keep an eye on the prince.

Even be wary of the prince.

Just like what his father did to him.

Suddenly, he became particularly fond of Li Tai.

It was not because he really wanted to pass the throne to Li Tai, but because he had already left the country to Li Chengqian, so he could only leave his love for his son to Li Tai.

Li Chengqian's hands couldn't help but tremble slightly.

If it were him, it would be the same.

With this will, he would take Li Jue with him more often, even if it was subconsciously.

So, Father...

Li Chengqian gently closed his eyes. While feeling extremely uncomfortable, he couldn't help but think, Grandfather, did he do this on purpose?
No.

I'm afraid not.

Because of the will, he left it in the early years of the Wude period.

At that time, the world was in turmoil. Even though Li Yuan was the emperor, he still encountered many assassination attempts.

So, he left this will just in case.

Later, this will was seen by his father, so after his grandfather passed away, his father began to write a will.

Then, his father's attitude towards him changed.

This is how everything happened afterwards.

Now, Li Chengqian also read the will. Although he knew in his heart that this was necessary, he felt uncomfortable all over.

As someone who had experienced it once, he could already foresee what the consequences would be if he really did what his father did.

This thing, this thing, no, this thing, is the real Xuanwu Gate curse.

The Xuanwu Gate curse attached to the ancestral precepts of the Tang Dynasty.

……

Li Chengqian clenched his fists tightly. He was the only one who could bear the burden of this Xuanwu Gate curse. He didn't dare tell anyone except the two people who needed to know.

Li Chengqian was sure that his father had not told Zhang Ananda or Concubine Wei about this matter.

Only the successive Taimiao Zheng and Zongzheng Temple Qing knew about it.

The Taimiao Zheng refers to the two brothers Li Boyi and Li Fengci.

As for the Minister of the Imperial Clan, there were the old Minister of the Imperial Clan, Li Shenfu, Prince of Xiangyi, Li Xiaogong, Prince of Hejian, and then there was Dou Dan, Duke of Shen.

Only the great-uncle Li Shenfu lived a better life. Others, such as Li Xiaogong, indulged themselves in pleasure during the Zhenguan period to avoid the emperor's suspicion, but still died suddenly in the end; Dou Dan claimed to be ill for many years, but still held the position of Minister of the Temple of Imperial Clan Affairs.

Anyone who knows about this will be cursed.

This was true for Li Fengci and Li Baiyao as well.

Li Chengqian couldn't help but think of Changsun Chong.

If he let Changsun Chong be the Minister of Zongzheng Temple, he would definitely know about this matter, and the curse would eventually fall on him and even spread to Changsun Wuji.

Li Chengqian closed his eyes gently.

His uncle doesn't know about this now.

Once he knows about this in the future, his fate will be unpredictable, just like in his previous life.

Li Chengqian understands himself.

He knew that once Changsun Chong was made the Minister of the Imperial Clan Affairs Bureau, Li Chengqian would definitely take action against Changsun Wuji regardless of whether Changsun Chong told Changsun Wuji or not.

Therefore, the matter of letting Changsun Chong serve as the Minister of Zongzheng Temple had to be postponed, at least until Changsun Wuji was about to retire.

Or when Li Chengqian has complete control of the situation.

Li Chengqian smiled helplessly. He didn't dare to tell Zhang Sun Wuji, Zhang Ananda, and the Queen either.

At most, there are only a few clues left in the study room of Ganlu Palace.

Li Chengqian smiled bitterly. These were also the things that had been removed from the study in Ganlu Palace.

"This matter only needs to be known between you and me. Don't tell anyone else." Li Chengqian said, and handed the completed imperial edict to Li Fengci: "Hide this edict behind the tablet of Emperor Taizu."

"Yes!" Li Fengci bowed, and then very skillfully placed the edict behind the tablet of Emperor Taizu Li Hu.

Li Chengqian felt helpless when he saw this scene.

It turned out that his father and grandfather all did the same thing.

……

The gate of the Taimiao suddenly opened.

Li Chengqian walked out of the hall calmly, with Li Fengci and Li Baiyao standing respectfully behind him.

Li Yifu, Shangguan Yi, Dou Dexuan, Zhang Ananda, Xu An, and countless guards.

Everyone bowed and said, "Your Majesty!"

Li Chengqian nodded calmly. After the late emperor was buried yesterday, Li Chengqian ordered all officials in the court to take a three-day leave.

Except for some people who had to follow the emperor, everyone else went home to rest.

Li Chengqian looked up and said, "Issue an order to grant amnesty to the entire nation!"

Everyone was stunned, then immediately bowed and said, "We accept your command, Your Majesty is benevolent."

"I am grateful for the guidance and guidance given by my father over the years. However, I have acted capriciously over the years, causing harm to my father. I feel guilty and amnesty for the whole nation, praying for his well-being." After a brief pause, Li Chengqian looked at Shangguan Yi and said, "Shangguan, my dear minister, please draft the imperial edict."

"Yes!" Shangguan Yi bowed cautiously.

Li Chengqian continued, "In addition, officials in Chang'an above the ninth rank will each be given three pieces of silk, officials above the seventh rank will each be given five pieces, officials above the fifth rank will each be given ten pieces, and officials above the third rank will each be given thirty pieces. Common people will also be exempted from land rent for one year for the first two years of Yongwei."

"Your Majesty is benevolent." All the ministers bowed in surprise.

Li Chengqian nodded, then strode towards the inner palace.

The Tang Dynasty divided the rent and labor service and exempted the land rent, but this was only a partial exemption of taxes and was not a significant amount.

……

Arriving at Chengtian Gate, Li Chengqian stopped, then looked at Li Yifu and said, "Mr. Li, go to the Ministry of Justice and the Dali Temple and have them send a letter to all prefectures, counties and cities. Although this is a general amnesty and all prisoners are released, if they commit crimes again, they will be punished more severely."

Some people have committed crimes such as murder, rape, and looting. If a general amnesty is granted to release them, it would inevitably be unfair to their families, so a layer of shackles is added to their minds to prevent them from committing crimes again.

"Your Majesty's benevolence is meant to improve people, not to exonerate them. Those who fail to appreciate your kindness will naturally be punished more severely." Li Chengqian raised his head slightly and said, "Let the prefectures and counties inform the prisoners in person. As for the families of the victims, there's no need to mention it."

"Yes!" Li Yifu immediately bowed.

Li Chengqian sighed lightly, flicked his sleeves, and strode into the palace.

When a general amnesty is granted, the real beneficiaries are actually the people at the bottom of society.

In places where Li Chengqian couldn't see, they were the people who were most severely treated by local families and clans.

Sometimes, you have to take risks.

The purpose of granting amnesty to the entire nation is to provide the lower-class people with an extra chance to survive.

Compared to this, allowing the real criminals to escape punishment is a negligible price to pay.

Li Chengqian was willing to bear this price.

Of course, if they are really the kind of criminals who are habitually committing crimes, then they will inevitably commit the same crime again next time.

At that time, the punishment will be either exile or death penalty.

Benevolence should naturally be used on real people.

When he arrived at Taiji Gate, Li Chengqian saw many of the previous emperor's concubines being taken out of the palace by their families, and they were surprised before their reunion.

He smiled with some relief.

This emperor at least thought he was qualified.

Slowly, Li Chengqian's face turned cold.

Black hands but kind heart.

This is the essence that an emperor should possess!
(End of this chapter)