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

Chapter 571: At least people (First update)
In the side room, Princess Gaoyang, dressed in a dark yellow skirt, stood at the door with some fear.

After glancing at the emperor who was standing in the room with his back to him, Gao Yang gritted his teeth and walked into the room.

"Royal brother!" Princess Gaoyang bowed to Li Chengqian.

With a "pa" sound, a slap was instantly thrown on Princess Gaoyang's stunned face.

The voice was clear and loud, and everyone in the Fang family could hear it clearly.

"Royal brother." Princess Gaoyang looked up at Li Chengqian in surprise.

Li Chengqian turned around and stared at Gao Yang coldly: "Kneel down!"

Princess Gaoyang's mouth twitched, and the next moment, she knelt down uncontrollably.

Li Chengqian grabbed Gao Yang's neck, leaned forward, and leaned close to her ear. He suppressed his anger and gritted his teeth, "Can't you bear it for even a moment?"

Gao Yang suddenly looked up and looked at Li Chengqian in disbelief and astonishment.

Her lips trembled slightly.

Only then did she understand what had happened.

Princess Gaoyang was not a good girl, but she was not that bad at the moment. Therefore, she had no idea of ​​Fang Xuanling's true condition, which was why she was delayed at the princess's mansion.

But now that she knew Fang Xuanling was dying, she suddenly lost her previous arrogance and became a little frightened.

"Go and fulfill your filial duties." Li Chengqian let go of Princess Gaoyang, took a deep breath, and said, "Don't bring shame to the royal family."

"Yes!" Princess Gaoyang nodded obediently.

The only one she can rely on in the future is the emperor.

……

Li Chengqian rode his horse slowly on the long street.

The Jinwu guards stood solemnly on both sides.

Changsun Wuji followed behind him with a complicated expression.

He arrived at Fang Xuanling's residence later, and even he did not expect that Fang Xuanling suddenly took his last breath.

Thinking about the open and secret struggles between the two over the years, Changsun Wuji couldn't help but sigh.

In his early years, Fang Xuanling was the Minister of the Left, and he was the Minister of Works and the Minister of Civil Affairs, which made him very jealous.

Later, he became Sikong and Shangshu Zuo Pushe, while Fang Xuanling became Situ.

Everything is turned upside down again.

It’s just a pity that Fang Xuanling is old and has been enjoying his retirement in recent years, and rarely cares about other things.

Who would have thought that while raising this person, he would die.

"Your Majesty!" Changsun Wuji urged his horse slightly, came to Li Chengqian's side, and looked at him with some concern.

Li Chengqian waved his hand and said, "That's all right, uncle. Send an order to the Taichang Temple, Guanglu Temple, and the Ministry of Rites to hold a grand funeral for Prime Minister Fang.

In addition, let the King of Jing and the King of Han return to the capital."

"Yes!" Changsun Wuji bowed seriously.

The daughter of King Jing Li Yuanjing married Fang Xuanling's third son Fang Yize, and became Fang Xuanling's official relative.

King Han Li Yuanjia married Fang Xuanling's eldest daughter and was Fang Xuanling's son-in-law.

"Seven days later, I will come to offer sacrifices in person!" Li Chengqian said.

In an instant, a cry of grief came from the Liangguo Mansion behind him.

Duke of Liang, Minister of the Interior, Fang Xuanling.

Died of illness!
Changsun Wuji raised his head and looked at Li Chengqian.

Li Chengqian's expression calmed down: "Uncle, please choose someone else for the Cizhou Governor. Fang Yizhi needs to observe mourning."

After saying this, Li Chengqian urged his horse lightly and headed quickly towards the palace.

Changsun Wuji stopped where he was.

Looking at Li Chengqian walking away, he couldn't help but sigh.

Changsun Wuji could feel the grief in Li Chengqian's heart, but as an emperor, many things required him to suppress his emotions.

However, with Fang Xuanling's death, another old minister of the Zhenguan period was gone.

……

Si Tu, Duke of Liang Fang Xuanling died of illness.

The emperor suspended court for three days.

He was posthumously awarded the title of Taiwei and given the posthumous name "Wen Zhao" and buried in Zhaoling Mausoleum.

He was honored in the temple of Emperor Taizong.

Zhangsun Wuji read the imperial edict on the side.

Li Chengqian, dressed in a black robe with gold threads, stood in front of Fang Xuanling's coffin, his mouth opening and closing slightly, but no one could hear a word.

Li Chengqian closed his eyes gently.

Many things from the past flashed through his mind.

Hatred, surrender, calculation, appeasement, and sidelining.

One by one, these things have gradually become a thing of the past in the past few years.

Fang Xuanling was a pitiful man.

Li Chengqian sighed inwardly.

His biggest mistake was that he shouldn't have let Fang Yiai marry Gao Yang.

Of course, this can be considered the fault of his father, Emperor Li Shimin.

If Li Shimin had not failed to see Gao Yang's true nature and married him to Fang Yiai, things would not have turned out this way.

Fang Xuanling still saw some things very clearly.

Fang Yizheng is a low-key and humble person who does things in a capable and methodical manner.

As long as you can get enough experience, it will not be difficult to become a prime minister in the future.

Instead it was Fang Yiai.

He was rude and uneducated, and relied on force, which often led to chaos.

Plus he married Princess Gaoyang.

Of course, there was not much love left between Fang Yiai and Princess Gaoyang.

Although they have children, their relationship is weak and may even cause big problems in the future.

Fang Xuanling saw it very clearly, so he asked Li Chengqian to transfer Fang Yiai to a far place so that if anything happened in Gaoyang in the future, Fang Yiai would not be implicated.

But is this really the case?
In the previous life, the case of Fang Yiai's rebellion might have involved some who were wrongly accused, but it was difficult to find any fundamental fault with Fang Yiai. Later, Li Zhi rehabilitated Li Daozong, Zhishisili, and Li Yin, but not Fang Yiai, Princess Gaoyang, Li Yuanjing, and Li Ke.

Li Ke might have been wronged, but Fang Yiai, Princess Gaoyang and Li Yuanjing were definitely not wronged.

Moreover, there is a group of people behind them.

They are not just a few people. It is a joke that only a few people want to rebel.

At least, there should be 800 people.

Li Chengqian sighed in his heart. He would do as Fang Xuanling instructed. As for whether he could stop it in the end, that was not within his consideration.

Over the years, Li Chengqian's heart has gradually grown cold.

At this moment, Fang Yiai, Princess Gaoyang, was kneeling not far behind Li Chengqian.

Even Li Yuanjing had cried for a while before.

They would never have imagined that Li Chengqian had already started to plot against them.

Yang Sina stood on one side, his eyes falling from Li Chengqian to Li Yuanjing, his eyes narrowed slightly.

Compared to others, in Yang Sina's eyes, Li Yuanjing is the person he should contact.

……

There was still some time before the funeral, and Li Chengqian was invited into the back hall.

Zhang Ananda walked in from outside the hall, bowed to Li Chengqian and said, "Your Majesty, Princess Gaoyang requests an audience?"

Li Chengqian put down the teacup beside him wearily, frowning and saying, "What is she doing here? This is her last chance to show her filial piety. Why is she here with me instead of outside?"

"His Majesty!"

"Forget it, let her in." Li Chengqian raised his hand slightly, then leaned back and closed his eyes slightly.

After three days of suspension of court, a lot of state affairs had accumulated and he finally managed to deal with them.

Light footsteps were heard from outside the hall, and Li Chengqian opened his eyes solemnly.

Gao Yang stood timidly in the hall, glanced at Li Chengqian, and then knelt down in the hall: "Your Majesty!"

Li Chengqian raised his eyes and said impatiently, "What are you doing? At your age, you should know what you should and shouldn't do."

Princess Gaoyang is 26 years old this year and is already the mother of several children.

"Your Majesty, I am young and reckless. Please forgive me!" Gao Yang kowtowed solemnly.

"Just say it." Li Chengqian looked indifferent.

Princess Gaoyang stood up again and looked at Li Chengqian with a pitiful face: "I have come to see Your Majesty today to ask Your Majesty to pass the title of Duke to your husband. This way, my husband and I can live a stable life without any more estrangement."

Li Chengqian was stunned and looked at Gao Yang and said, "What did you say? Say it again."

Princess Gaoyang kowtowed and said, "Your Majesty, please pass the title of Duke to your husband. I will stay at home, support your husband and raise your children, and live in harmony with your husband."

Li Chengqian blinked and looked at Gao Yang. Then he said with a bit of annoyance and laughter: "Gao Yang, do you know what you are talking about?"

"I understand." Princess Gaoyang looked up at Li Chengqian and said, "Your Majesty, you have never been particularly fond of your husband, and he will have no role in future promotions at court. For my own sake and the future of my children, I must do this. I beg your Majesty for your permission."

Li Chengqian looked at Gao Yang, but his eyes became colder.

Princess Gaoyang was threatening him.

What will happen to Gao Yang if he doesn't give Fang Yiai the title of Duke?

She is not a virtuous woman and acts recklessly.

In the end, it was the royal family's reputation that was ruined.

"Gao Yang, you understand me. If I am really forced into a corner, even I don't know what I will do." Li Chengqian lowered his head and looked at his hands. There seemed to be a flash of blood in the center of his palms.

"I understand." Princess Gaoyang kowtowed and said seriously, "This is my only request. I hope my royal brother will agree to it."

Li Chengqian looked at Princess Gaoyang deeply, then raised his head and looked outside the hall, and shouted directly: "Fang Er, come in."

Princess Gaoyang's expression changed slightly.

Under Li Chengqian's gaze, Fang Yiai walked in from outside the hall with an embarrassed look on his face.

"Your Majesty!" Fang Yiai stood beside Princess Gaoyang, hesitated for a moment, but still knelt down.

Li Chengqian's indifferent eyes fell on Fang Yiai, and he asked calmly, "Fang Er, you should know the rules of the court. I want to ask you, do you want this Duke?"

Fang Yiai immediately kowtowed and said, "Your Majesty, I dare not argue with my brother."

Today, the only thing left in the Fang Mansion is the title of Duke of Liang left by Fang Xuanling.

Because Fang Xuanling was a founding duke, his title could be passed down, but Fang Xuanling's title would only be passed down to his eldest son Fang Yizhizi.

"You're quite reasonable. Even if I confer the title of Duke upon you today, you'll be impeached to death by the entire court tomorrow." Li Chengqian turned to look at Princess Gaoyang, who looked unwilling, and sneered, "And you? You think you can hide in plain sight and no one can see. Who is Fang Er? No one in the court knows you better than you, and they won't let you go."

Etiquette, court rules, and people's hearts.

People in the government and the country are treacherous.

Fang Yiai does not follow the rules, and I don't know how many people will want to take advantage of this opportunity to meet their needs, establish their authority, or become famous.

Even if it's just pure jealousy, others will easily let him go.

If anyone could really do whatever they wanted, Li Chengqian would have sent troops to surround the Hongnong Yang family, completely strangled Yang Gongren's lineage, and then swallowed up their land, distributing half to the people and half to the interest groups that followed him.

But you can't do that.

Once he sets this precedent, all the noble families in the world will be worried, fearing that something like this will happen to them tomorrow.

This is what Yang Guang did at the end of the Sui Dynasty, and the final result was that Yang Guang died and his country was destroyed.

If Fang Yiai really doesn't follow the rules, he won't be able to keep the title of Duke even if he gets it.

Similarly, people in the court will not let Gao Yang go.

"Gao Yang, I tell you, if you are caught and impeached with solid evidence, I will not protect you. At that time, your princess title will be revoked in the blink of an eye." Li Chengqian stared at Gao Yang coldly. Seeing her shrinking her head in fear, Li Chengqian looked at Fang Yiai.

"As for you, your father's title will only be given to your elder brother. If you want something, you can fight for it yourself, on the battlefield." Li Chengqian leaned back slightly and said, "In two years, Goguryeo will go to war. Then I will transfer you to the front line. You will make military achievements. Then I will make you a Duke for your contribution to the destruction of the country. I think there will be less discussion."

For the merit of destroying a country, there will be more than just one or two people who will be granted the title of Duke.

Fang Yiai would not stand out among them.

Fang Yiai's eyes lit up, and he kowtowed solemnly, "Thank you, Your Majesty!"

Princess Gaoyang looked at Fang Yiai in surprise.

She never knew that he had the idea of ​​going into battle to kill the enemy.

"Okay, you can leave now." Li Chengqian waved his hand gently.

"Yes!" Princess Gaoyang and Fang Yiai stood up and retreated out of the hall.

Looking at the backs of the two people, Li Chengqian's eyes were extremely cold.

(End of this chapter)