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

Chapter 528: Neither I nor the Tang Dynasty has any intention of destroying Goguryeo, you must believe me (Part )

Outside the window, the sky was dark.

Inside the palace, the beauty was sleeping soundly.

Li Chengqian was lying on the bed, with Su Yi beside him, who was smiling sweetly and sleeping soundly under a black silk quilt.

Since she got pregnant, she has been sleeping more and more every day.

Li Chengqian raised his eyes and looked outside the hall.

Although it was dark, the autumn wind could be clearly heard.

Li Chengqian looked down at Su Yi and reached out to gently stroke her lower abdomen.

Although the late emperor had been buried, Li Chengqian still had to be careful about his sexual intercourse in the following year.

It’s okay to sleep together, but it’s best not to have sex.

It would be great if I could be caught and impeached by some stubborn censor.

Therefore, he has been spending most of the time with Su Yi in the past year.

Because she is pregnant.

Moreover, the pregnancy was discovered just when the late emperor's body was moved to Taiji Hall, so everyone in the court was more tolerant.

When Li Chengqian is with her, no one will say anything more.

Even the censor would be more tolerant.

Looking at Su Yi's face that was extremely similar to her elder sister's, Li Chengqian sighed softly in his heart.

Su Shu was the queen and the eldest son Li Xiang was the crown prince.

If nothing unexpected happens in the future, Li Xiang will inherit Li Chengqian's throne.

As for Su Yi, when she first entered the palace, she had to help her elder sister take care of the children. It took several years before she had her own child.

In the future, when Li Chengqian dies, Su Yi may be forced to move out of the palace where she has lived all her life.

Just like the concubines in the late emperor's harem today.

It's pitiful.

Even a little sad.

"Your Majesty!" Su Yi murmured, then gently opened her eyes in a daze.

Li Chengqian smiled slightly, looked into Su Yi's charming eyes, and his expression softened: "My beloved, why don't you sleep a little longer?"

"I've been feeling very sleepy these days and have been sleeping a lot, but now I'm not sleepy anymore." Su Yi blinked and asked, "Your Majesty, are you feeling better recently?"

Li Chengqian gently hugged Su Yi and sighed softly.

After the death of the previous emperor, many things came to light, and Li Chengqian was the one who suffered the most.

But he is the emperor, he must sit in the court and command everything.

He can cry out of filial piety, but he cannot cry out of weakness.

Su Shu knew Li Chengqian best. She knew that Li Chengqian would mediate the situation himself, and only Su Yi would ask about it in front of him.

Then let Li Chengqian reveal a little of the discomfort in his heart.

"I'm fine." Li Chengqian breathed a sigh of relief, then said, "When the end of the year comes, I'll have my father-in-law return from Liaodong and rest in Chang'an for a few months. If you calculate, your due date should be in March next year, so wait until he sees his grandson before leaving."

"Father, can you come back by the end of the year?" Su Yi couldn't help but look at Li Chengqian in surprise. She turned over slightly and lay on Li Chengqian's chest.

Su Xu is now the governor of Shenzhou and the acting deputy protector of Liaodong. He has not returned to Chang'an for four years.

Two years earlier, the situation in Liaodong was initially settled, and he needed to guard it all year round. Later, when Li Chengqian ascended the throne, he had to stay in Liaodong and keep an eye on the generals from all directions and Goguryeo.

Now that the late emperor has passed away, he is even more unable to move.

Especially after Xue Wanche escorted the Goguryeo envoy back.

Xue Wanche was the consort of Princess Danyang, the fifteenth daughter of Emperor Gaozu.

Su Xu was the son-in-law of Princess Nanchang, the fifth daughter of Emperor Gaozu.

After Xue Wanche married Princess Danyang, he went to Liaodong. Although he came back once, he had no children.

Therefore, Su Xu gave him the opportunity to come back this time.

"Yes!" Li Chengqian nodded and said, "The court has some plans in Goguryeo. I plan to send a prime minister to take a look. At the same time, I will ask my father-in-law to come back and rest for a while, accompany my aunt, and let my beloved concubine fulfill her filial duties."

"Thank you, Your Majesty!" Su Yi smiled, a very sweet smile.

Li Chengqian pinched her nose and whispered, "Call me brother!"

"Brother!"

"..."

"what!"

……

Early in the morning, after breakfast, Li Chengqian stood in the Lizheng Hall with his arms outstretched, allowing Su Shu and Su Yi to help him adjust his dragon robe.

After everything was sorted out, Su Shucai said, "Your Majesty, yesterday, the late emperor's concubines were sent to various temples. They will be ordained as nuns today. The palace should send someone to check on them."

"The palace, Miguang Temple, and the princes and princesses' residences are under the watchful eyes of the princes and princesses. My beloved concubine can arrange for someone to take a look. However, as for Ganye Temple, let Concubine Zheng go there on behalf of the Empress and me." After a brief pause, Li Chengqian said, "The Empress Dowager is sincerely willing to become a nun and pray for my father. The palace should still be considerate."

The Imperial Concubine Zheng was actually the cousin of Li Chengqian's concubine Zheng Shuang'er.

Originally, after the death of the late emperor, Zheng Shuang'er had requested that Concubine Zheng be allowed to stay in the palace, and Li Chengqian agreed. However, after talking to Concubine Zheng, Concubine Zheng voluntarily went to Ganye Temple to become a nun.

Sincerely pray for the late emperor.

This is much better than other concubines who were afraid to go to Ganye Temple.

"I understand." Su Shu nodded seriously.

"Also, tell the abbot of Ganye Temple that Concubine Zheng can move freely inside and outside Ganye Temple, and all food must be of the best quality." Li Chengqian sighed and said, "Of course, we can't be too harsh on other concubines. Tell them that as long as they are fifty years old, they can also move freely inside and outside the temple." Fifty, fifty is already old and ugly.

Li Chengqian said, "We must give them some hope. Otherwise, they will be filled with resentment and it will be difficult for them to pray for our father."

"Your Majesty is benevolent, wise, and intelligent," Su Shu said with a slight smile, "I wonder how many people will regret this now."

Concubine Zheng was the Imperial Concubine Dowager. She was treated so well in Ganye Temple that I am afraid many people would envy her.

However, there is nothing good about this.

Concubine Zheng was praying sincerely for the late emperor. Given her personality, even if she was allowed to come and go freely, she probably wouldn't take it seriously. Instead, she would continue to chant scriptures and pray for blessings in Ganye Temple as usual and would not care about anything else.

Only such a person could be the concubine of the previous emperor whom Li Chengqian would regard as his own.

Even if she has no children, she is still a member of the royal family.

"If there's nothing going on during the day, give her a few small gifts. If there's a sutra chanting event in the palace, invite the imperial concubine into the palace." After a brief pause, Li Chengqian said, "Let everyone in the world know that those who sincerely do good will be rewarded by the heavenly family."

"I understand." Su Shu nodded slightly.

"The Queen will take care of the arrangements regarding the harem." Li Chengqian looked at Su Shu and said with emotion, "The Queen understands me best."

"Yes!" Su Shu raised her head, gave Li Chengqian a displeased look, and said, "I will handle it according to your majesty's wishes."

Li Chengqian smiled, then strode out of the hall.

……

In the Liangyi Hall, all the ministers stood in silence.

Li Chengqian, dressed in a black robe with a golden dragon pattern, entered from the side hall with a solemn expression, then walked up to the steps and sat down on the imperial couch.

All the civil and military officials in the hall held their tablets and bowed, saying, "Your Majesty, may Your Majesty live a long and healthy life."

"Stand up." Li Chengqian raised his head calmly and looked to both sides.

Fang Xuanling, Zhangsun Wuji, Li Ji, Tang Jian, Yu Zhining, as well as the six ministers, Cheng Zhijie, Yuchi Jingde, Li Ke, Li Yuanjing, Li Daozon and others stood on both sides.

Li Chengqian raised his head slightly and said, "The envoy from Goguryeo has arrived in the Tang Dynasty. Summon him to an audience."

"Yes!" Zhang Ananda bowed, then took two steps forward to the edge of the Danbi, raised his head and shouted, "Summon the envoys of Goguryeo to see you."

A moment later, the envoy from Goguryeo, wearing a crimson robe, a three-beam crown on his head and a solemn expression, walked into the hall.

Arriving at the center of the hall, the Goguryeo envoy knelt solemnly and kowtowed to Li Chengqian, saying, "Foreign minister, the Goguryeo envoy Yizhi Hongyi, pays homage to His Majesty the Emperor of the Great Tang. May Your Majesty live a long and healthy life!"

Li Chengqian raised his hand calmly and said, "Stand up."

"Thank you, Your Majesty!" Yizhi Hongyi kowtowed, then stood up and said, "Your Majesty, I, a foreign minister, have come as an envoy to the upper kingdom by order of our king. Firstly, we are here to offer sacrifices to His Majesty the Heavenly Khan, and secondly, to address the war between our two countries. Our two countries have been at war for many years, and both have suffered heavy losses. Therefore, we implore Your Majesty to withdraw our troops and rest. Goguryeo is deeply grateful and is willing to offer a hundred beauties and countless gold and silver in exchange for eternal peace."

Li Chengqian looked at Yizhi Hongyi, just looking at him without saying a word.

The entire hall fell into an unusual silence for a moment.

Yi Zhihongyi stood there. It was fine at first, but after a while, his breathing became heavy for some unknown reason, and even sweat began to appear on his forehead.

Until the end, he could no longer bear it and bowed, saying, "Your Majesty!"

Li Chengqian looked at Yizhi Hongyi and said slowly, "I'm afraid you are not here on the orders of the Treasure King, but on the orders of Quan Gaisuwen."

"Your Majesty!" Yizhi Hongyi's heart suddenly tightened.

Li Chengqian's eyes grew slightly colder as he continued, "The reason the Tang Dynasty sent troops to Goguryeo was because Quan Gaisuwen had first murdered the previous Goguryeo king and then placed the newly enthroned King Baozang under house arrest. Later, he cut off tribute payments from Silla and Baekje to the Tang Dynasty. Therefore, the Tang Dynasty had no choice but to send troops. Am I wrong?"

Yizhi Hongyi's mouth twitched slightly, but he still reluctantly bowed and said, "Your Majesty, my king has just ascended the throne and is not familiar with state affairs, so I handed the government affairs over to Da Dui Lu. When my king is familiar with state affairs, Da Dui Lu will naturally hand the government affairs back to my king.

As for the past events, they were not pursued when the late emperor was still alive.

Finally, Goguryeo was willing to pay compensation for cutting off Silla and Baekje's tribute payments to the Tang Dynasty.

"Hahaha..." Li Chengqian suddenly couldn't help laughing. After a long while, he looked at Yizhi Hongyi and said, "I'm afraid what I'm waiting for is not Quan Gaisuwen handing over the power to Gao Baozang, but the news that he usurped the throne and killed the king."

"Your Majesty!" Yizhi Hongyi could not help but kneel down and kowtowed, saying, "Your Majesty, it will not be like this. Da Dui Lu has no ambition to be disloyal."

"The Tang Dynasty's war against Goguryeo has always had only one reason: Goguryeo was a Tang vassal state." Li Chengqian leaned forward and said coldly, "Goguryeo's previous kings have always respected the Tang Dynasty and never neglected it. The Tang Dynasty has also always taken good care of Goguryeo. So, if you want the Tang Dynasty to withdraw its troops, Quan Gaisuwen will hand over the government to King Baozang. Beyond that, the Tang Dynasty has no other requests."

Yizhi Hongyi looked up in astonishment.

Li Chengqian sneered softly, "Why, the Treasure King has been on the throne for almost eight years now, isn't he? He's almost forty, and he still hasn't learned how to govern. Or is it that Quan Gaisuwen doesn't give him any government duties at all, or is he just waiting to kill the king and usurp the throne in the future?"

"Your Majesty, Da Duilu never had such intention!" Yizhi Hongyi kowtowed vigorously.

Li Chengqian raised his head and said calmly, "You can go back and tell Quan Gaisuwen and all the subjects of Goguryeo that the Tang Dynasty has never intended to destroy Goguryeo. As long as Quan Gaisuwen returns power to Gao Baozang, the Tang Dynasty will immediately withdraw its troops, and then we can divide the country by the river."

Did the Tang Dynasty never intend to destroy Goguryeo?
Yizhi Hongyi looked up in surprise.

Li Chengqian continued, "As for Quan Gaisuwen, you can tell him that as long as he returns power to Gao Baozang, if he feels that he can no longer stay in Goguryeo, then he can come to the Tang Dynasty.

I can at least give him the position of Minister of the Ministry of Rites, or even the position of Governor of a state. I think his ability is still acceptable."

"Your Majesty!" Yizhi Hongyi didn't react for a moment. Let Quan Gaisuwen come to the Tang Dynasty to be an official?

"But!" Li Chengqian stared at Eulji Hongyi and said coldly, "But if Quan Gaesomun still refuses to change his ways and still wants to hold on to the Goguryeo regime, or even covet the throne, then I will have no choice but to send troops across the Taedong River. I will be killed and my clan will be wiped out, and in the end, I will be ridiculed by the world. Do you understand?"

Yizhi Hongyi's face turned ugly, his heart beat rapidly, and his breathing became heavy.

Li Chengqian suddenly smiled and said, "Don't worry, I'm only targeting the Quan Gaisuwen clan. Once the Quan Gaisuwen clan is exterminated, the government will return to Gao Baozang. Goguryeo still needs wise ministers to assist in its governance."

Yizhi Hongyi looked up in disbelief.

Li Chengqian's expression suddenly calmed down. He looked at Yizhi Hongyi and said, "You may return now. Tell my words to the people of Goguryeo. As long as the Goguryeo regime is restored to the Gao family, the Tang Dynasty will immediately withdraw its troops and negotiate peace."

"Yes!" Yizhi Hongyi hesitated for a moment, then finally kowtowed and said, "I will take my leave. May Your Majesty live forever."

……

Watching Yi Zhihongyi leave the hall.

Li Chengqian smiled gently.

The ministers in the hall couldn't help laughing as well.

(End of this chapter)