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

Chapter 736 Father, I have brought back the daughter you sent away back then (First Update)
In the fifteenth year of Yongwei, in the late spring of the third month.

Chang'an, outside the Golden Light Gate.

The yellow canopy hangs down, and the willow branches sway.

The officials bowed, and the princes stood in awe.

Wearing a pale yellow dragon robe and a black hat, Li Chengqian stood under the yellow canopy, looking somewhat nervously towards the distant horizon in the west.

The four kings, Li Xiang, Li Jue, Li Yu, and Li Miao, stood on either side of Huang Gai behind him.

Prince Ji (Li Shen), Prince Zhao (Li Fu), Prince Shu (Li Yuanchang), Prince Jiangxia (Li Daozong), and others stood to the right of the assembled officials.
Chancellors Changsun Wuji, Li Ji, and Zhao Yuankai stood to the left of the assembled officials, while all civil and military officials of the ninth rank and above in Chang'an stood in two rows on the left and right sides.

Flags fluttered on the city wall not far away.

The Imperial Guards on both sides, dressed in magnificent red robes and golden armor, stood solemnly.

Everyone is here, waiting for Princess Wencheng to return to Tang.

Today marks the day Princess Wencheng returns to Chang'an.

……

Li Chengqian stood at the very front, his expression anxious and his body trembling slightly.

Wencheng, she's finally coming back.

Li Chengqian couldn't help but lower his head slightly, his heart filled with relief, anticipation, and also some fear.

He was afraid that this last stretch of the road would also go wrong.

Even though he already knew that Princess Wencheng was very close to Chang'an, he still felt uneasy...

Suddenly, a black line appeared at the end of the line of sight.

Following closely behind, escorted by countless Imperial Guards and Golden Guards, a yellow-canopied carriage appeared ahead, like a wave, quickly heading towards Chunming Gate.

Li Chengqian couldn't help but hold his breath for a moment.

Li Chengqian only relaxed and breathed a sigh of relief when the yellow-canopied carriage stopped in front of him.

Just then, Princess Wencheng, wearing a light yellow crane-feather dress and a red cloak, with an expectant look on her face, stepped out of the carriage.

Upon seeing this scene, a tear welled up in Li Chengqian's eyes.

He couldn't help but lower his head, choking back tears silently.

At this moment, Princess Wencheng had already stepped down from the carriage. She quickly walked a few steps to Li Chengqian, then bowed her head and gave a deep curtsy, saying, "Your Majesty, I, your subject Wencheng, pay my respects. May Your Majesty live ten thousand years!"

"Alright, rise." Li Chengqian stepped forward to help Princess Wencheng up. Looking at her, who looked somewhat weathered compared to before, Li Chengqian couldn't help but shed tears: "Royal sister, you've finally returned."

"Your Majesty!" Princess Wencheng was suddenly overcome with emotion, tears welling up in her eyes. She then forced herself to hold them back and bowed her head, saying, "Thank you for your concern, Your Majesty."

The events of that year inevitably resurfaced in Princess Wencheng's heart.

Back then, when Tibet sent people to bring Princess Wencheng back to Tibet, the emperor was unwilling. He did not want to see her return to Tibet, all alone and helpless, and inevitably become a tool for Tibet to threaten the Tang Dynasty, making her life difficult.

Princess Wencheng experienced all of this firsthand.

After she insisted on returning to Tibet, the emperor's original vision gradually came true through her.

In the end, it was the emperor who sent people to destroy Tibet and bring her back to Chang'an; otherwise, she might have really died alone and miserable in Tibet.

"Alright, you're back, everything's fine now."

Li Chengqian didn't care about what happened back then, but in reality, those things were all done with his tacit approval.

If he resolutely refuses to let Wencheng return to Tibet, then she will not be able to leave.

However, due to the circumstances at the time, he needed to focus more on the countries of Andong, and in the end, he had no choice but to acquiesce to Princess Wencheng's return to Tibet.

Of course, at that time, Li Chengqian was confident enough to pressure the Tibetans into not going too far towards Princess Wencheng.

Even before this, he had forced the Tibetans to drive Mangsong Mangtsen's grandmother, Mangfei Chijiang, to commit suicide.

Of course, Mangsong Mangtsen's mother was Mengjiechiga, and Mengjiechiga was also the one who actually held power in Tibet later on.

But it was precisely because of the sacrifice of Consort Mang in Chijiang that Princess Wencheng enjoyed a period of comfort during the first few years after returning to Tibet.

Princess Wencheng's life only began to become difficult after the Tang Dynasty destroyed Goguryeo, Silla, and Baekje.

But now she's back.

Li Chengqian turned slightly to the side and beckoned his four sons, Li Xiang, Li Jue, Li Yu, and Li Miao, over. He then solemnly said to them, "Greetings, Imperial Aunt."

"Greetings, Your Highness!" Li Xiang, Li Jue, Li Yu, and Li Miao all cupped their hands and bowed respectfully.

"Greetings, Your Highnesses." Princess Wencheng gratefully curtsied in return.

Her gaze swept past the four people and landed on Li Shen, Li Fu, Li Yuanchang, Changsun Wuji, Li Ji and others behind them, especially on Li Daozong. Tears welled up in her eyes.

At this moment, the people behind them all cupped their hands and said, "Your subjects greet Princess Wencheng."

A thunderous sound resounded throughout Chunming Gate, and Princess Wencheng instinctively looked at the emperor beside her in utter surprise.

Li Chengqian waved his hand towards the distance, and only then did everyone stand up.

"Your Majesty!" Princess Wencheng became somewhat nervous.

Li Chengqian ignored him and instead waved to the side.

The imperial carriage was immediately carried over and placed next to Princess Wencheng.

"Let's go, come back to the palace with me." Li Chengqian looked at Princess Wencheng with a serious expression.

"Your Majesty! Shall we ride in the imperial carriage?" Princess Wencheng couldn't help but become a little anxious.

Li Chengqian waved his hand and said seriously, "You have rendered great service to the court, so it is normal for you to receive this treatment. What, do I not even have the right to treat loyal ministers well?"

"Your Majesty!" Princess Wencheng's voice lowered as she looked at Li Chengqian with some emotion, and then tears welled up in her eyes again uncontrollably.

"Let's go." Li Chengqian sat down first on the imperial carriage, and then pulled the somewhat reluctant Princess Wencheng to sit down with him.

……

On the imperial carriage, Princess Wencheng and Li Chengqian sat side by side as they headed toward Chunming Gate.

All the officials on both sides of the imperial carriage gathered and rode back to the palace with the emperor. At this moment, Princess Wencheng gradually came to her senses. She bowed deeply to Li Chengqian and said gratefully, "Your Majesty, thank you for your kindness."

“This is what I should do.” Li Chengqian shook his head slightly and said, “To be honest, it is I and the Tang Dynasty who have wronged you.”

Princess Wencheng forced a smile and said, "It was all my own choice... By the way, I was a bit willful about the matter of Luoxie this time. I should have returned to Chang'an last year, but I delayed for half a year. Please forgive me, Your Majesty."

Last August, Lhasa was conquered, but Princess Wencheng did not immediately return to Chang'an.

At that time, Lhasa had just been captured by the Tang Dynasty, and there were still countless battles to be fought, both internally and externally.

Not to mention the southwest city, which has been completely burned down by a huge fire. Winter is coming soon, and the lives of the people of Luoxie are about to become very difficult.

Princess Wencheng forced them to stay, and it was only through her intervention that Su Dingfang and his generals treated the people of Lhasa a little better.

Otherwise, they would just watch these people starve to death.

Throughout the winter, under Princess Wencheng's intervention, she even personally left the Potala Palace to take care of the people.

The Tibetan people thus survived the winter with as few deaths as possible.

Li Chengqian looked at Princess Wencheng gently, shook his head at her and said, "It's alright, it's not a big deal. Keeping the people at peace is also what I want."

Besides, it was already late autumn then, and the mountain paths would become difficult to traverse once winter arrived. However, it would be better to return to Chang'an this spring.

"Thank you for your leniency, Your Majesty." Princess Wencheng bowed her head, somewhat moved.

"Alright, let's not talk about that anymore." Li Chengqian waved his hand and changed the subject, asking, "What's the current situation in Tibet?"

"Fortunately, the Duke of Dai is stationed in Lhasa, and the Duke of Wuyi County is leading his army to conquer all directions. All the cities of Tibet have now been brought under the control of the Tang Dynasty." Princess Wencheng raised her head slightly and said, "As His Majesty has decided, they will set off to return to Chang'an this autumn to present the captives to the Imperial Ancestral Temple."

When news of the fall of Lhasa reached Chang'an last year, Li Chengqian immediately and decisively declared the establishment of the Protectorate General of Fanzhou, appointing Liang Jianfang as the Protector General of Fanzhou, Governor of Fanzhou, and Grand Commander of the Lhasa Road Army, and Su Dingfang as the Deputy Protector General of Fanzhou, Deputy Grand Commander of the Lhasa Road Army, and Governor of Xichang Prefecture.

Yes, Liang Jianfang was moved to Fanzhou, while Su Dingfang was reassigned to Xichangzhou.

Of course, that was later.

They are still in Lhasa fighting against all who disobey.

Once Tibet has stabilized somewhat, they will return to the capital and present the captives to the Imperial Ancestral Temple.

Li Chengqian nodded and said, "They've had a tough time."

"Your Majesty, I would like to know..." Princess Wencheng's words were cut short by a thunderous voice from ahead: "Greetings, Your Majesty! Greetings, Grand Princess Wencheng!"

Princess Wencheng looked up and was astonished to see countless people from Chang'an standing on both sides of the long street, bowing in unison to the emperor and her.

"Your Majesty!" Princess Wencheng looked at Li Chengqian in surprise, then lowered her head with some emotion. She had not expected that the emperor would arrange so many people to welcome her.

Li Chengqian smiled at Princess Wencheng, then stood up in full view of the crowd and loudly proclaimed to the surrounding people: "The Tubo have won a great victory! Today, Princess Wencheng has returned to the court. By my decree, the people of Guanzhong are hereby exempted from one year's rent and taxes. At the same time, a general amnesty is hereby granted!"

Dozens of warhorses, prepared in advance, galloped off on both sides, directly conveying the emperor's edict: "His Majesty decrees: exempt the people of Guanzhong from one year's rent and taxes, and grant a general amnesty... a general amnesty... a general amnesty..."

This sentence, accompanied by countless voices, echoed continuously throughout the entire city of Chang'an.

The people quickly realized what was happening and knelt down on both sides of the street, shouting in unison with gratitude, "Long live His Majesty the Emperor! Long live Princess Wencheng! Long live the Emperor!"

A deafening roar echoed all around.

Finally, it soared into the sky.

Princess Wencheng trembled involuntarily, and then she looked at Li Chengqian with disbelief.

In front of the people of Chang'an and all the civil and military officials, the emperor directly announced in her name that the people would be exempt from taxes and that a general amnesty would be granted. The people would immediately be extremely grateful to her.

In this way, Princess Wencheng had firmly established herself in Chang'an, and she had a very firm foothold.

Her life will be much, much better from now on.

Princess Wencheng once held power in Lhasa, and she understood the implications all too well.

"Your Majesty!" Princess Wencheng could no longer hold back and bowed her head to Li Chengqian, bursting into tears.

Seeing her weeping and her choked voice, Li Chengqian couldn't help but shed tears himself, but he quickly composed himself and said as calmly as possible, "There's no need for that. It's all what I, as her elder brother, should do."

"Thank you, Your Majesty." Princess Wencheng then calmed down slightly, turned around, and looked at the people in all directions.

Li Chengqian calmed his mind and turned to the side, saying, "Let's set off for the Imperial Ancestral Temple to offer sacrifices to the late emperor."

Princess Wencheng turned around and looked at Li Chengqian in surprise.

The emperor remained calm.

……

The Imperial Ancestral Temple was solemn and dignified.

Li Chengqian knelt in the center of the main hall.

Princess Wencheng and Crown Prince Li Xiang knelt on either side of Li Chengqian.

After that, all the kings, ministers, civil and military officials knelt on either side.

The memorial tablets of Emperor Taizong, Emperor Gaozu, and many other ancestors of the Tang Dynasty were placed in front of Li Chengqian.

Li Chengqian held a stick of incense, bowed slightly, and kowtowed three times before rising slightly and looking at the memorial tablet of the late Emperor Taizong placed in the center.

In an instant, Li Chengqian's breathing became heavy.

Looking at the late emperor's memorial tablet, it was as if the scene of the day he passed away was once again appearing before Li Chengqian's eyes.

He bowed slightly and said softly, "Father, the daughter you were forced to send away back then, I have brought back to you today."

Upon hearing this, Princess Wencheng immediately knelt down on the prayer mat and began to weep silently.

In an instant, she tried her best to control herself, but for some reason she just couldn't, and tears poured out of her eyes like a torrent.

At the same time, Prince Li Daozong of Jiangxia was also weeping silently.

Countless officials were overcome with emotion and burst into tears.

Oh, Tang Dynasty!

(End of this chapter)