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

Chapter 73: Third Brother, You Forgot to Toast to the Crown Prince (Part )

fire.

Fire, fire everywhere.

There is fire in front of me and behind me.

The scorching flames rushed directly towards Xie Jiqing, and the tung oil spilled on his head made Xie Jiqing turn into a fireball in an instant.

In the flames, Xie Jiqing screamed and ran towards the outside of the lamp stand. Suddenly, a rope was stretched straight on the ground. With a "snap", Xie Jiqing fell flat on his face.

Above his head, countless lanterns fell down completely in an instant, all hitting Xie Jiqing.

boom!
In the endless flames, the burning arm that tried to struggle to stand up fell down completely.

……

New Year’s Eve, firecrackers and lanterns.

An entire lamp stand, like a hill full of countless lanterns, completely burned in front of the eyes of countless passers-by, and the flames shot straight into the sky.

Wu Hou, who wanted to come over to put out the fire from a distance, was blocked by the crowded people on the street.

On New Year’s Eve, the streets were crowded with people.

However, strangely, no one listened to the miserable wails coming from the fire. They were just concerned about whether the lamp stand would hurt them if it fell and burned, and then stood by and watched curiously.

Hou Junji stood at the back of the crowd, watching everything with indifference. In the noisy crowd, he was the only one who could vaguely hear the faint wailing, but he just listened calmly and had no intention of moving until the sound completely disappeared.

A burst of hurried footsteps sounded behind Hou Junji, and then Helan Chushi's voice rang out: "Father-in-law!"

Hou Junji didn't turn around and asked directly, "Did he catch the person?"

"We caught him. We caught him half a street away!" Helan Chu said, looking a little hesitant.

"Are you asking me why I didn't order the fire to be put out and rescue the people?" Hou Junji turned slightly sideways.

"Thank you, Doctor, it is still of some use." Helan Chushi bowed with some regret.

"What good would it do to have him come to the palace, before His Majesty, and testify that the King of Wei had once attempted to murder the Crown Prince through him?"

Hou Junji finally turned around and looked at Helan Chushi. He shook his head in disappointment and said, "Helan, you really don't understand His Majesty. He absolutely doesn't want to hear a single word of this kind of thing. Anyone who might say this will die."

"Ah!" Helan Chushi's pupils instantly dilated, and he said in surprise, "What about the prince?"

"The Crown Prince is intelligent. He understands this principle better than you do. He only touched upon Lu Hu's matter briefly. He discovered Xie Jiqing's matter very early on but kept it secret because he knew that if these matters were fully exposed, it would easily arouse His Majesty's disgust."

"Yes!" Helan Chushi finally nodded seriously.

Hou Junji turned around, looked at the fire in front of him, and said softly, "Fang Yiai still has some tricks up his sleeve. He tricked people in, burned them to death, and even completely burned all traces of his crimes... He really has some of his father's style."

"Father-in-law, what should we do next?" Helan Chushi looked at Hou Junji cautiously.

No matter how powerful Fang Yiai was, he could still be easily caught.

"It's time to go to the city gate." Hou Junji turned and looked in the direction of Chunming Gate, and said softly, "Su Dingfang should be back."

……

At the gate of Chunmingmen, a black-covered carriage stopped at the door.

Hou Junji lifted the curtain slightly and took a look. A man in gray clothes, whose hands and feet were tied up with cow ropes and whose mouth was blocked, was stuffed deep inside the car, whimpering.

"Is it him?" Hou Junji turned sideways and looked at Su Dingfang.

"It's him." Su Dingfang nodded and said, "He's still carrying two silver ingots, exactly the same as the ones I found at Zhou Cang's place before."

"Very good." Hou Junji lowered the carriage curtain, then looked at Su Dingfang and asked, "Where are Supervisory Censor Li Yifu and Dali Temple Secretary Zhang Wenguan?"

"When Li Yifu returned to Chang'an, he said that he had finished visiting friends in Luoyang and then went home." Su Dingfang looked a little strange.

"What a smart man!" Hou Junji sighed, then looked at Helan Chushi and said, "Helan, learn a thing or two. You should do what you should do, and others will see it. But when it's time to stop, do it decisively."

"Yes!" Helan Chushi nodded seriously. Li Yifu was indeed a very special person.

"As for Dali Temple Secretary Zhang Wenguan, after seeing Li Yifu leave, he said he would also go back and report to Temple Minister Sun on the third day of the new year." Su Dingfang said with some emotion, "Young people nowadays are more capable than the other."

Helan Chushi nodded. In the East Palace, there was also Dai Zhide who was highly regarded by the princes.

Hou Junji turned to look at Helan Chushi and said, "Helan, go back home. You don't need to be involved in today's events anymore."

"Yes!" Helan Chushi finally understood. If he continued to participate in the remaining matters, it would only bring him harm but no benefit.

Hou Junji looked at Su Dingfang and asked, "Are you going to the palace?"

Su Dingfang bowed slightly and said seriously, "Zhou Cang is the commander of the Jinwu Guard after all. No matter who used him and then killed him, I need to give an explanation to the brothers of the Jinwu Guard."

"Okay!" Hou Junji nodded seriously, then looked towards the direction of the palace and said solemnly, "Let's go into the palace."

"Yes!" Su Dingfang bowed solemnly.

……

In the Taiji Hall, drums and music were playing lightly.

The dance turns her sleeves, and the hall is full of beauties.

The princes and princesses in the hall, as well as Zhangsun Wuji, Fang Xuanling and others, could not help but look upwards while listening to the music and appreciating the dance.

The King of Wei sat there with a stiff expression, while the Crown Prince was calm and composed. Thinking of the previous scene, everyone looked at each other with a smile.

The Prince of Wei wanted to enshrine a golden Buddha in the Longmen Grottoes of Longmen Temple in Luoyang to pray for the afterlife of Empress Changsun, and he also hoped that the Eastern Palace and the Prince of Wei's Palace would jointly provide funding.

It would have been fine if the King of Wei had not pulled the Eastern Palace, but as soon as he did, the Crown Prince immediately used the means he had prepared long ago.

A few days ago, the Crown Prince had already begun discussing with the Louguan Taoist priests about building a Taoist temple in Chang'an to enshrine the Great Emperor of the Eastern Pole Qinghua, Taiyi Jiuku Tianzun, and pray for the afterlife of Empress Changsun.

With this comparison, the situation immediately became delicate.

Behind Longmen Temple is Luoyang White Horse Temple, the ancestral home of Buddhism.

As for Louguan Dao, before Emperor Gaozu attacked Luoyang, Louguan Dao had already been fully supporting the army with food and fodder.

After the founding of the Tang Dynasty, Laozi was recognized as the ancestor and Taoism was established as the state religion, and Louguan Taoism now holds the leading position in Taoism.

Anyone who thought of this couldn't help but look serious.

White Horse Temple, Louguandao.

Everyone who thought of this couldn't help but shake their heads. No matter what happened before, the King of Wei's move tonight was equivalent to pulling Buddhism behind him, and at the same time pushing Taoism behind the prince.

The Buddhist and Taoist sects were forced to take sides and were forced to be involved in this struggle for the throne.

The most depressed person now should be King Wei, because he was the one who instigated all this, but unfortunately, the crown prince was more prepared.

The emperor calmly agreed to the King of Wei's plan to build a Buddhist shrine at the Longmen Grottoes, and also agreed to the Crown Prince's plan to build a Taoist temple in Chang'an.

Although impartial, everyone actually knew that the prince had gained the most advantage this time.

Taoism is the state religion after all.

The Zongzheng Temple clearly stated that Taoism is superior to Buddhism.

……

Before we knew it, the singing and dancing faded away and the banquet continued.

Prince Li Yuanjing of Jing stood up and led other princes and princesses to toast the emperor, present gifts, and celebrate New Year's Eve.

After another round of singing and dancing, Gao Shilian, Zhangsun Wuji, Yang Shidao and other relatives of the emperor also toasted and presented gifts to the emperor to celebrate New Year's Eve and New Year.

At this time, the order of toasts at the New Year's Eve banquet gradually dissipated.

"Okay, be more casual." The emperor sat on the imperial couch and waved his hand slightly. All the princes, princesses, and ministers in the hall relaxed.

The drum music is faint and the light dance begins again.

Li Chengqian leaned back slightly and breathed a sigh of relief.

Etiquette regulations, even at a night banquet, have a complete set of orders.

Only at this moment can everyone relax a little.

He subconsciously looked up and looked at Li Tai opposite him.

At this time, Li Tai raised his wine bottle and said to Li Chengqian with a smile: "Brother Emperor, today is a rare festival. Let's have a few more drinks. This foolish brother toasts you."

"Okay, come on Qingque, let's drink together!" Li Chengqian raised the wine bottle, and then he and Li Tai drank it all in one gulp.

In an instant, a hint of sneer flashed in Li Chengqian's eyes.

Li Tai put down the wine bottle and let the maid behind him pour the wine. He turned sideways to look at Li Zhi and said, "Zhi Nu, you rarely see the emperor brother, why don't you quickly offer him a glass of wine."

Li Zhi looked up in confusion, but still subconsciously raised the wine bottle.

"Zhi Nu, you are still young, just take a sip, there is no need to do this." Li Chengqian gently raised the wine jar, then nodded gently to Li Zhi, and then drank the wine in the jar slowly, making it look like he had only taken a sip.

Putting down the wine bottle, Li Chengqian smiled with satisfaction when he saw that Li Zhi had really only taken a sip.

The emperor was sitting on the imperial couch. Seeing this scene, he nodded slightly, but then his face became a little gloomy.

Then Li Tai looked down and said, "Third brother, Qingque toasts you a glass."

Li Ke looked up in surprise, stood up, bowed slightly to Li Tai, then raised the wine bottle and drank it all.

Just as he was about to sit down, Li Tai said, "Third brother, you forgot to toast the crown prince."

Li Ke was slightly stunned, then turned sideways to look at Li Chengqian. The maid on the side had already come forward and filled Li Ke's glass with wine.

Li Ke didn't know what to say for a moment. He had already realized that Li Tai wanted to force the prince to drink.

Li Tai, Li Zhi, if he opens another one here, the other kings will have to follow suit.

At this time, Li Chengqian smiled and raised his glass, saying, "Come on, Sanlang, just have a drink."

"Thank you, my royal brother." Li Ke then drank the wine in the glass.

Li Chengqian also drank the wine in the cup slowly.

Li Tai's gaze was already on Prince of Qi Li You behind Li Ke. He didn't realize at all that at this time, the emperor's face had become completely gloomy.

"Five..." Li Tai was about to speak when a vomiting sound came from the other side: "Ugh... Ugh... Ugh!"

Li Tai subconsciously looked over and saw the Crown Princess Su Shu sitting opposite him, unable to hold back her dry heaves.

(End of this chapter)