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

Chapter 542: Aristocratic Family Greed, Imperial Examination Begins, Storm Strikes (Part )

A team of Qianniu Guards were galloping on the central road of Chang'an City.

The people of Chang'an watched their emperor rush all the way from the palace to the Duke of Shen's mansion with astonishment on their faces.

Li Chengqian didn't care and rushed directly to the backyard of the Duke's Mansion.

When they arrived at the backyard, Li Chengqian was about to enter the house when Gao Shilian's weak voice came out.

"...His Majesty is old and has his own opinions on everything. Sometimes, you shouldn't confront His Majesty, Wuji. His Majesty is the emperor after all. Otherwise, you will be the one who suffers in the end." Gao Shilian's voice was full of worry.

"Uncle, Wuji understands." Changsun Wuji grabbed Gao Shilian's hand and said, "Your Majesty and your nephew can talk about anything. Uncle, don't worry."

Standing outside the door, Li Chengqian sighed softly.

The past when Gao Shilian firmly defended him in his most difficult times flashed through his mind.

But now, it was just a winter cold, and Gao Shilian was already exhausted in just one night.

Or to be more precise, Reina is seventy-five years old and has reached the end of his life.

His life span had come to a natural end.

If it weren't for the ginseng, Gao Shilian might not have been able to hold on until Li Chengqian arrived.

"Cough cough..." Gao Shilian's cough was heard, and Li Chengqian walked in with heavy steps.

Gao Shilian, who was in the inner room, saw Li Chengqian at a glance. He forced himself to stand up and said, "Your Majesty!"

Changsun Wuji turned around and saw Li Chengqian quickly walk to the bed and kneel down. He grabbed Gao Shilian's hand and said with trembling lips, "Uncle."

"Your Majesty!" Gao Shilian smiled softly, then relaxed and lay down. He looked at Li Chengqian and said, "I thought I would not be able to see Your Majesty before I die."

"Uncle!" Li Chengqian looked at Gao Shilian, who looked open-minded, and felt more and more uncomfortable.

"Seeing Your Majesty, my life is complete." Gao Shilian's lips had turned completely white when he finished speaking, but he continued to look at Li Chengqian. After panting for a long time, he slowly said, "Although my several unfilial sons are not talented people, fortunately, none of them are rebellious. I don't need to worry about my afterlife."

"Uncle." Li Chengqian's lips trembled slightly. At this moment, he didn't want to tell any lies.

Gao Shilian smiled comfortingly and said, "I can see that Your Majesty employs people based on practical work at the local level. If the local level doesn't do well, Your Majesty won't use them often even if you employ them. This is how it really is."

Li Chengqian nodded slightly. Gao Zhenxing had been his Prince's attendant many years ago. Now, more than ten years had passed, and he was just Li Xiang's Prince's attendant.

Li Xiang has not yet moved into the Eastern Palace, and the officials in the Eastern Palace are just honorary positions.

The reason is that Gao Zhenxing has no local practical experience.

"So, Your Majesty, just take care of them." Gao Shilian panted, then said calmly: "If you need to employ people, use the people of Bohai Gao family. Gao Jifu and Gao Kan are both talented. Your Majesty, use them well. In this way, the Bohai Gao family will be preserved, and my few unfilial sons will be safe."

"Yes!" Li Chengqian nodded vigorously, tears streaming down his face. "I will give my cousin and the others a chance. Even if things get tough, I will protect them."

Gao Shilian smiled with satisfaction. His breathing became extremely light and slow at this moment.
He looked upwards and murmured, "This old minister...this old minister would have no regrets even if he were to see the Queen now."

Li Chengqian and Zhangsun Wuji were both stunned, and then they couldn't help but burst into tears.

Gao Shilian turned his gaze slightly to Li Chengqian: "Your Majesty... you and Guanyinbi really look alike..."

Gao Shilian stared straight at Li Chengqian, and at this moment, his hands fell down completely powerlessly.

"Uncle!"

"uncle!"

Changsun Wuji and Li Chengqian felt a pain in their hearts at the same time. They both kowtowed to the ground and burst into tears.

The entire Shen Guogong Mansion was suddenly filled with mournful cries.

A moment later, Changsun Wuji and Li Chengqian were helped out of the backyard.

Li Chengqian was fine, but Changsun Wuji was so weak that he couldn't stand up.

To him, Gao Shilian is the last elder in this world.

Now, he is gone too.

It was not until he reached the front yard that Changsun Wuji came to his senses.

"Your Majesty, please return to the palace. I am here to watch over you. Nothing will happen." Changsun Wuji bowed and said, "Chang'an City is under scrutiny by all the officials. Your Majesty needs to return to the palace to calm the people."

Li Chengqian glanced at the backyard. Indeed, he could not help much here, and it would be distracting.

"Okay, I'll leave this to my uncle. I'll come back tomorrow." After a brief pause, Li Chengqian said, "But before returning to the palace, I have to go to the residences of Duke Zheng and Duke Song. Their health isn't very good either."

"Yes!" Changsun Wuji bowed, then watched Li Chengqian stride out of the yard.

Looking at Li Chengqian's departing back, Changsun Wuji couldn't help but sigh.

Wei Zheng, Xiao Yu.

Either he is sick or he is really old.

Who knows when someone will not be able to bear it and pass away.

Of their generation, there are fewer and fewer elderly people who have lived through the Sui, Wude, and Zhenguan periods.

And there will be even less in the future.

……

The residence of Wei Zheng, Duke of Zheng.

Li Chengqian dismounted from his horse and strode towards the courtyard.

At this time, Wei Shuyu hurried out from the mansion and hurriedly bowed to Li Chengqian and asked, "Why is your majesty here?"

Li Chengqian suddenly stopped and looked at Wei Shuyu in surprise: "You don't know?"

"Know what?" Wei Shuyu was bewildered. Li Chengqian stopped completely and looked straight at Wei Shuyu.

Wei Shuyu was frightened by Li Chengqian's gaze: "Your Majesty, what's wrong?"

"It's okay!" Li Chengqian quickly shook his head and said, "Since you know nothing, then there's no need to know anything. From now on, seal off the backyard and don't let any news from outside get to the backyard."

Xu An on the side immediately bowed and began to look for someone to make arrangements.

"Your Majesty, has anything happened?" Wei Shuyu couldn't help but ask.

"Duke Shen just passed away." Li Chengqian looked at the extremely shocked Wei Shuyu and shook his head gently. "I was worried that my father-in-law would be upset, so I hurried to check on him. But he doesn't know anything now. It's better if he doesn't know anything at all, so as not to be sad and exhausted."

"I understand." Wei Shuyu quickly bowed, Li Chengqian's handling was the most appropriate.

"Also, I will send someone to bring more ginseng. Don't be frugal in the mansion; use what you need." Li Chengqian turned and walked out, saying, "The Duke of Song's mansion probably doesn't know anything either. I need to make some arrangements."

"Yes!" Wei Shuyu bowed and said, "Farewell, Your Majesty!"

Li Chengqian strode out of the courtyard.

The snowstorm in Chang'an City had originally subsided a bit, but at this moment, it showed signs of getting even stronger.

……

The snowstorm blew from the end of the year to the beginning of the year.

In the blink of an eye, it has been two years since Yongwei.

Gao Shilian, Duke of Shen, died of illness at the age of seventy-five. He was posthumously awarded the titles of Si Tu and Governor of Bingzhou, and given the posthumous title of Wenxian. He was buried in Zhaoling Mausoleum, and his spirit tablet was enshrined in the Taimiao.

His eldest son, Princess Dongyang's husband Gao Luxing, inherited the title of Duke of Shen and observed mourning for three years.

The entire palace was filled with silence and solemnity.

The emperor has been looking depressed ever since Gao Shilian passed away.

Even during the New Year's Day court, his expression was not much better.

All the officials in the court saw it and were worried.

Even though the previous emperor had passed away, the emperor had already firmly grasped the world, but when Duke Shen Gao Shilian passed away, the emperor seemed to be heartbroken.

Fortunately, after the 15th and 16th of the first lunar month, the emperor's condition finally improved.

Liangyi Hall, where the court is held regularly.

Li Chengqian, dressed in a black dragon robe with gold threads, sat on the imperial couch. He looked at Zhangsun Wuji and said, "Uncle, remember to remind me that next year, Gao Zhenxing will be reinstated as the Crown Prince's attendant and the Inspector General of Xianyang County."

"I obey your order." Changsun Wuji stood up and bowed seriously.

When Gao Shilian was dying, he said that he did not have high expectations for his children and grandchildren.

But he could say this, but Li Chengqian could not take it lightly.

He not only wants to use the Gao family, but also wants to use them in his own way to truly cultivate talents.

Talents trained in this way will be qualified no matter what position they are placed in the court in the future.

Compared to those children of aristocratic families who only know how to jump out to grab positions but can't do anything and can be impeached and dismissed at any time.

People like this are the core of this dynasty.

"Gao Luxing, Gao Zhixing, Gao Chunxing, Gao Shenxing, and Gao Shenxing have all entered mourning." Li Chengqian looked at Master Yang and said, "The Ministry of Personnel must select all of them before March, submit them to the Council of State for review, and finally send them to me."

"I obey your order." Yang Shidao stood up and bowed solemnly.

Li Chengqian nodded and continued, "It's already the sixteenth day of the first lunar month. The imperial examination will begin on the eighth day of the following lunar month. How is the Ministry of Personnel preparing?"

"Everything is ready. All that is left is for Your Majesty to designate the examiner." Yang Shidao bowed seriously.

Li Chengqian glanced at the ministers in the hall, thought for a moment, and then said, "Duke Ju, you will be the chief examiner this time. I am not interested in setting questions right now. This time, the imperial examination will focus on the theme of filial piety. You will come up with the detailed questions."

"I obey your order." Zhongshu Ling Tang Jian stood up and bowed to receive the order.

Li Chengqian breathed a sigh of relief and said, "A lot has happened in the Tang Dynasty, both inside and outside, but everything must eventually pass. Only by maintaining a filial heart and practicing filial behavior can we live up to the late emperor and the other senior officials like Duke Shen."

"Your Majesty, we will follow your instructions." All the ministers bowed in unison.

Li Chengqian finally looked at Yang Shidao and said, "Duke Ande, this imperial examination must be properly arranged. The number of candidates does not need to be too large, and the selection process will proceed normally. Afterwards, the examination papers of the top ten will be sent to me."

"I obey your command." Yang Shidao bowed solemnly.

Although Tang Jian was the chief examiner, the person who was actually responsible for everything inside and outside the department was the Ministry of Personnel, especially Yang Shidao.

……

Li Chengqian stood in front of the Taiji Hall's railing, his gaze gazing across Chang'an City. He spoke calmly, "Uncle, do you think the Hongnong Yang Clan will let go of this opportunity?"

Zhang Sun Wuji walked out from behind Li Chengqian. He shook his head slightly and said, "The aristocratic families are greedy. They won't let go of something like this that will affect the next few decades."

"Yang Qing is a good official, but the Hongnong Yang family is holding him back." Li Chengqian looked up and said, "Keep a closer eye on them and see where they'll start. I'll also learn from them the cheating methods used in the Tang Dynasty's imperial examinations."

"I obey your command." Changsun Wuji bowed and said, "I will take my leave."

Watching Changsun Wuji's receding figure, Li Chengqian sighed softly, "This snowy winter is finally over. How many trees were cut down at the foot of the mountain last year to survive the winter?"

"The Sino-Agricultural Temple saw that there were almost 5,000 of them. Common people and officials saw almost the same number." Li Anyan stood out from behind a column on one side.

"Have the Sino-Agricultural Ministry send people to find a place to plant tens of thousands of saplings. Remember not to plant trees that have just been felled. Look for empty areas in the mountains." Li Chengqian raised his head and said softly, "Have the Sino-Agricultural Ministry search more. In March, I will bring more people to plant in the mountains."

"I obey your order!" Li Anyan bowed seriously with a solemn expression.

Li Chengqian looked ahead and said softly, "The imperial examination is about to begin, and the storm is coming soon."

(End of this chapter)