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

Chapter 587 The noose is tightening little by little (Part )
Standing at the foot of the Danbi, Changsun Wuji couldn't help but look up at Li Chengqian, then bowed and said, "Your Majesty, how is Changsun Cao, the governor of Qizhou?"

Changsun Cao is the cousin of Changsun Wuji and also an old man in the Qin Palace. He is very capable.

"He is a good candidate, but I also have another candidate here. Uncle, please take a look at him." Li Chengqian looked at Changsun Wuji deeply, then handed him a short note. Zhang Ananda immediately took it and handed it to Changsun Wuji.

Changsun Wuji took it and opened the note, on which was written a name.

Chu Suiliang.

"Your Majesty!" Changsun Wuji couldn't help but look up and looked at Li Chengqian in disbelief.

Li Chengqian shook his head slightly and said, "Although my uncle is capable, to be honest, if he goes to Shanzhou, there will inevitably be a fierce struggle with the Yang family. Right now, what I need most is stability, not fierce fighting. Therefore, with Chu Qing's prestige, transferring him to Shanzhou will be enough to suppress any unrest in the Hongnong Yang family."

Chu Suiliang was once the prime minister, but was dismissed from his position because he bullied his subordinates.

Now that the emperor has transferred him to Shanzhou, it can be seen at a glance that the emperor is considering appointing him as prime minister again.

With the prime minister suppressing Hongnong, it would be strange if the Hongnong Yang family dared to make any move.

Moreover, with Chu Suiliang's ability, he was able to suppress all unusual movements of the Hongnong Yang family.

"Your Majesty is wise." What else could Changsun Wuji say? Although Changsun Cao was his cousin, Chu Suiliang was also his confidant!

As long as Chu Suiliang returns to Chang'an, he can become prime minister again, which will be the greatest help to Changsun Wuji.

A light bulb went off in his head, and Changsun Wuji immediately understood.

If Chu Suiliang wanted to return to Chang'an to serve as prime minister, he had to completely resolve the issue of the Hongnong Yang family.

The most thorough solution.

"Alright, let's settle this." Li Chengqian looked up and said, "Gather all the ministers and hold a court meeting!"

"Yes!" Changsun Wuji bowed solemnly.

……

Li Chengqian sat on the imperial couch.

Zhangsun Wuji, Tang Jian, Ma Zhou, Yu Zhining, Lai Ji, Zhang Xuansu, Sun Fujia, Zhang Xingcheng, Liu Dewei and Yin Jun and other ten people were stationed on both sides of the hall.

Officials from the Ministry of Justice, the Supreme Court, and the Censorate moved memorials one by one to the low table in the center of the hall.

There are hundreds of files densely packed together.

Li Chengqian looked at the files, sighed, and said, "My lords, I have been on the throne for two years now, and I thought the world was stable. However, I never imagined that people's hearts would be so lax. In just two years, hundreds of local military officers and county magistrates have committed illegal acts."

"Your Majesty!" All the ministers bowed with solemn expressions.

"There are quite a few of them, actually young people, many of whom are second-generation descendants of noble fathers." Li Chengqian frowned and looked at the ministers. "There are even some who, after being caught by the Ministry of Justice, the Ministry of Personnel, the Censorate, and the Supreme Court, still boasted that they were not afraid of punishment at all because of their meritorious service and titles."

The ministers had solemn expressions on their faces, and they couldn't help but take a look at the files.

At this moment, a name jumped into their minds.

Lu Wencao.

Lu Wencao was Fang Xuanling's nephew, and his father was also a veteran in the Qin Palace. However, he dared to tamper with the Luozhou warehouse. His audacity was astonishing.

When Xiao Jun pleaded for Lu Wencao, he mentioned the Eight Discussions. Now that the emperor brought it up, it was obviously because of this matter.

Changsun Wuji was the person who knew Li Chengqian best. He had a vague feeling that the emperor was targeting the Hongnong Yang family by doing this.

But he couldn't understand what was going on for a moment.

However, since the emperor returned to Beijing, he has taken more targeted measures against the Hongnong Yang family.

"My Lords," Li Chengqian said, his expression growing stern. "I clearly remember that during the Wude era, the laws were strict and offenses were rare. Then, in the early Zhenguan era, the late emperor, in an effort to be more lenient with the people, reformed the Wude Code into the Zhenguan Code, treating the people with greater leniency. Now, without my father's prestige and his restraining power, this leniency has gradually become permissive."

"We are guilty!" All the ministers bowed their hands.

"It's none of your business. With my father's passing, the people's hearts are divided. I know this clearly." Li Chengqian waved his hand and said, "Since I lack my father's prestige, I will use the law to demand and restrain all officials. Therefore, I have decided to revise the Zhenguan Law and amend any inappropriate clauses. Uncle, you will take overall responsibility."

"I obey your order." Changsun Wuji bowed without hesitation.

Before the Luoyang incident, Changsun Wuji might have hesitated, but now, the unscrupulous behavior of the Hongnong Yang family has made him reflect.

Is the law really too lax?

"Although the laws are being revised, they should still generally be lenient and benevolent towards the people. This is the foundation of the prosperous Zhenguan era, and I have no intention of changing it." Li Chengqian turned sideways to look at Zhangsun Wuji and said, "My main focus is on those officials. I will use punishment to strengthen their control."

After a brief pause, Li Chengqian said, "I don't want the punishment of exile that ended with stealing countless grain from the treasury."

"Yes!" All the ministers bowed.

The emperor revised the Zhenguan Code not for the people but for the officials.

The emperor wants to rectify the administration of officials.

What else can I say? I just agree with it.

……

Li Chengqian's expression softened, and he looked at Changsun Wuji and said, "Uncle, it's up to you to decide who needs to be transferred, and you can decide the extent of the transfer yourself."

"I obey the order!" Changsun Wuji blinked. Now he was finally completely sure that the emperor was targeting the Yang family of Hongnong.

However, this is not aimed at the current Hongnong Yang family, but at the future Hongnong Yang family. The Hongnong Yang family is unlikely to be the emperor's opponent. Once they fall, how to deal with them will be a problem.

After all, they all have official positions and titles, and their descendants also have official positions and titles.

Some people may be beheaded directly, but some people may survive.

The emperor's move now is to completely eliminate all possible survivors of the Hongnong Yang family in the future.

You really offended the wrong person.

Can you easily offend this ruthless person who has already started planning to wipe you out two years in advance?
Li Chengqian glanced at Changsun Wuji sideways, with a slight smile in his eyes.

What he did was not just for the Hongnong Yang family!

"Okay, let's talk about something lighter." Li Chengqian raised his head, looked outside the hall and said, "It's almost the end of the year. After the new year, we will have to prepare for the imperial examinations in the third year of Yongwei. Today, while all the ministers are here, let's decide on the candidates for the chief examiner for next year's examination."

"Yes!" The ministers bowed and stood up.

Li Chengqian's eyes fell on Zhangsun Wuji, and he shook his head and said, "Uncle, please deal with the legal matters. This is the serious business!"

"I obey your order." Changsun Wuji bowed and accepted the order.

Li Chengqian looked at Tang Jian again and shook his head, saying, "Mr. Tang has already served as the chief examiner for one term. I think we should change someone this time."

"Yes!" Tang Jian bowed easily.

Li Chengqian looked at Yu Zhining and asked with concern, "How is Master Yu's health recently?"

Yu Zhining stood up, bowed with a wry smile, and said, "Your Majesty, ever since I caught the cold last time, I've been coughing all the time. I'm afraid I won't be able to hold on any longer."

Li Chengqian nodded, his eyes swept over Lai Ji and Ma Zhou, and finally looked at Zhang Xuansu, saying: "Mr. Zhang, you are the Grand Secretary of the Hongwen Academy, so you will be the chief examiner of this imperial examination."

"I obey your order." Zhang Xuansu stood up solemnly and bowed.

Li Chengqian smiled with satisfaction and said, "Mr. Zhang, please take care of your health. You will have a long time to prepare for the imperial examination."

"Thank you for your concern, Your Majesty." Zhang Xuansu bowed and returned to the train.

Li Chengqian looked at his ministers and said, "It's almost the end of the year. Everyone, please finish your official duties and make good preparations for the New Year."

"We obey your command." The ministers bowed again.

Changsun Wuji lowered his head and couldn't help but look at Zhang Xuansu.

Now, he always suspects that the emperor's various plans all have ulterior motives.

Now that Zhang Xuansu is the chief examiner for next year's imperial examination, he thinks this should be the case.

But he didn't know where the emperor's plan was.

……

The morning light shines on the window lattice, gentle and not dazzling.

Li Chengqian lay on the bed, his eyes gently looking at Xu Yi who was wearing a red gauze beside him.

Li Chengqian stretched out his hand and gently stroked her cheek.

Suddenly, Xu Yi started to dry heave while sleeping: "Ugh... Ugh..."

In the midst of the discomfort, Xu Yi opened her eyes with some difficulty. Looking at Li Chengqian lying beside her, Xu Yi breathed a sigh of relief, touched her chest, and then leaned into Li Chengqian's arms, whispering, "Your Majesty, I had a nightmare."

Li Chengqian hugged Xu Yi with amusement and whispered, "You're not having a nightmare, you're pregnant!"

"Ah!" Xu Yi looked up in surprise.

Li Chengqian held Xu Yi in his arms and whispered in her ear, "Sleep a little longer. We'll go see the Queen later and ask the imperial physician to check your pulse."

"Am I really pregnant?" Xu Yi was surprised and happy for a moment.

……

"Yes." Zhang Baozang stood up and bowed to Li Chengqian, Su Shu, and Xu Yi, saying, "Congratulations, Your Majesty, congratulations, Queen, Concubine Xu is pregnant."

"Thank you, Imperial Physician." Su Shu looked at Li Chengqian with satisfaction and said, "Your Majesty, Concubine Xu is pregnant. Please arrange for her family to take care of her."

"Xu Fei's family members are all in Jiangnan, and it is difficult for them to come here for the time being. I think it would be better to let Xu Hui enter the palace, live in Shanshui Pavilion, and take care of Xu Fei." Li Chengqian looked up at Su Shu.

Su Shu didn't hesitate and nodded directly: "Okay!"

Wu Meiniang, who was standing on the other side, looked up in surprise.

Xu Hui, you are entering the palace now.

Wu Meiniang was in a daze the whole morning and almost made mistakes several times.

The queen thought she was not feeling well, so she let her go back and rest.

However, Wu Meiniang finally appeared outside Ganlu Palace.

In the hall, Zhang Ananda's voice rang out: "Your Majesty, Concubine Wu requests an audience."

"Let her in."

(End of this chapter)