Tang Dynasty: A Guide to Avoiding Pitfalls for Li Er at the Start

Chapter 319 Jingzhen Temple

When Wen He stood up, she saw that Li Yuan had already ascended the dragon throne in the Taiji Hall.

He glanced over there discreetly.

More than half a year later, this retired emperor has returned to this position. One wonders what he feels inside.

The dragon throne was covered with thick, bright yellow brocade, which made Li Yuan's face appear even paler.

His hand holding the wine cup trembled slightly. His gaze swept over the assembled officials in the hall, finally settling on Li Shimin, his expression carrying a complex and unreadable emotion.

Wen He couldn't fathom Li Yuan's thoughts, but she could clearly see the smile on Li Shimin's face.

It was a calm and open joy, as if the burden on my shoulders had lightened a bit.

"The seasons change, and another year has passed."

Li Shimin spoke first, his voice booming like a bell, instantly drowning out the soft murmurs in the hall.

Just like at banquets in later generations, the first person to speak is always the one in charge, even if Li Yuan sits on the throne, with Li Shimin and Empress Zhangsun standing next to him.

But it is the person who raises their glass that truly reveals who the protagonist of the day is.

"My lords have worked hard and made great contributions."

Li Shimin raised his wine cup and glanced around the hall.

The people in the hall noticed his gaze, and their expressions varied.

Those veteran officials who followed Li Yuan lived in constant anxiety.

Pei Ji and Pei Ju were dismissed from their posts, and even Zheng Yuanzhu's family property wasn't confiscated.

Those who replaced these people were all from the Qin King's faction.

Or perhaps someone close to His Majesty.

"Without your diligent and conscientious work, there would be no prosperity of the Tang Dynasty today. This first cup of wine is my and the Emperor Emeritus's way of expressing our gratitude to you all."

This scene is just like the group's chairman and the former chairman raising their glasses together at the annual meeting, and who dares to sit still?
The ministers raised their cups in unison, their movements perfectly synchronized, without the slightest error.

"Your Majesty and the Emperor Emeritus offer their congratulations!"

The thunderous roar crashed against the palace beams, creating a buzzing sound.

Wen He held a cup of honey water and, along with the others, raised her cup in the direction of Li Shimin.

Suddenly, he noticed two pairs of eyes fixed on him.

It was none other than Li Shimin and his son Li Yuan.

One of them had a smile in their eyes, while the other seemed to have a hint of reproach in theirs.

I haven't seen Li Yuan during this time, nor have I offended him.

"This is the second glass of wine."

After the ministers put down their wine cups, Li Shimin's gaze swept over the senior ministers at the head of the table, finally settling on Li Jing. His smile deepened. "In the previous battle at Huizhou, the Turks suffered a great defeat, and Jieli barely escaped with his life. I ask you, my ministers, who deserves the greatest credit for this battle?"

"I am the Duke of Dai!"

Changsun Wuji was the first to step forward, his voice crisp and clear, carrying an unquestionable certainty.

Immediately afterwards, Fang Xuanling, Du Ruhui, Yuwen Shiji, Xiao Yu and others stood up and echoed, "The Duke of Dai deserves the greatest credit!"

"The Duke of Dai deserves the greatest credit!" the assembled officials in the hall shouted in unison.

Everyone understands that Li Shimin is vindicating Li Jing, firmly attributing this tremendous military achievement to him.

Li Jing quickly stood up and bowed deeply to Li Shimin: "Your Majesty is wise, the soldiers are brave and dedicated, and the magistrate of Gaoyang County has made powerful crossbows and researched gunpowder. There would have been no great victory in the Battle of Huizhou."

Wen He paused for a moment when her name was mentioned.

He never expected Li Jing to mention him at this moment, especially in front of the retired emperor and all the officials.

His lips unconsciously curled up, revealing a hint of youthful smugness.

This scene was witnessed by Li Shimin, who couldn't help but chuckle and raised his wine cup to Li Jing, saying, "Pharmacist, you are too modest. Please drink this cup."

"Your Majesty, thank you for your grace."

Li Jing picked up his wine cup, tilted his head back, and drank it all in one gulp. The wine dripped down his beard, but it did not diminish his heroic spirit in the slightest.

"Good!" Qin Qiong slammed his hand on the table in the military section, his deep voice echoing throughout the hall.

"Bravo!" Yuchi Gong, Cheng Zhijie, and the others followed closely behind, their boisterous cheers rising and falling.

Previously, when Li Jing returned to the capital in triumph, Li Shimin did not hold a celebration banquet, which led to much speculation in the court.

Some people secretly thought that His Majesty might be blaming Li Jing for letting Jieli escape, and even Li Jing himself was probably feeling uneasy.

But today, as I drink this cup of wine to the last drop, all my doubts will vanish.

Li Shimin personally poured the third cup of wine, the amber liquid swirling gently in the cup.

The hall fell silent instantly, so quiet you could hear a pin drop, and everyone's eyes were filled with fervor and anticipation.

The first toast is to the assembled officials, a gesture of gratitude for their hard work throughout the year.

The second cup was offered to Li Jing to commend his military achievements in the Battle of Huizhou.

The third cup is to be offered to a key minister who will be able to stabilize the court in the future; it is just unknown to whom this honor will fall.

The ministers' gazes unconsciously shifted between Fang Xuanling and Du Ruhui.

Fang Xuanling was appointed as the Grand Secretary.

Du Ruhui is about to take up the post of Right Vice Minister of the Ministry of Personnel.

This combination of "Fang and Du" (referring to their strategic thinking and decisive action) is undoubtedly the most brilliant literary star in the court. It is only reasonable for Your Majesty to choose one of them.

In the crowd, Changsun Wuji's fingertips quietly tightened around the jade belt.

He knew the possibility was extremely slim, but he couldn't help but wonder to himself: 'Could His Majesty have offered this cup of wine to me?'

After all, in Wen He's earth-shattering "prophecy," he was the future trusted minister entrusted with the care of the young emperor.

This secret expectation made his Adam's apple bob involuntarily.

"I……"

Li Shimin spoke, his voice not loud, yet it seemed to possess immense power, instantly captivating everyone's attention.

Fang Xuanling subconsciously straightened his back, smoothing out the folds of his brocade robe.

Du Ruhui also composed himself, his gaze calm and deep.

The eunuchs standing under the eaves held their breath.

Everyone's eyes were fixed on the wine cup in Li Shimin's hand, as if it contained not wine, but a weight that could shake the course of the court.

"Respect Zhenguan!"

The three words were spoken with resounding force, and the hall fell silent for a moment, followed by a low gasp.

Wen He paused slightly in her grip on the honey water cup.

Has Li Er fooled everyone?

His Majesty can sometimes really be like a child.

Wen He chuckled, but when he looked up, he noticed that Li Shimin's gaze had just swept over him.

He couldn't help but be surprised.

Suddenly, he remembered that when Li Shimin said those words, his gaze seemed to sweep over him almost imperceptibly, and even the wine cup in his hand tilted very slightly in his direction.

Is it an illusion?

"Respect Zhenguan!"

The courtiers quickly raised their cups in agreement, though their voices inevitably carried a hint of surprise.

I thought His Majesty was going to clear the name of a certain "Grand Secretary," but I never expected it to be such a "feint."

But upon closer examination, these three words seem to weigh a ton.

Zhenguan was not only the reign title, but also the spirit and character of that dynasty. To pay homage to Zhenguan was to pay homage to the long-lasting glory of this prosperous era. However, some people still sensed something was amiss.

Just now, when His Majesty raised his cup, his gaze clearly fell on a certain corner of the hall.

Changsun Wuji turned around almost subconsciously, following the line of sight of Li Shimin that he remembered.

The candlelight in the corner of the hall wasn't bright, but it was enough for him to see the figure clearly.

Wen He was staring down at the winter melon on the table, her brows furrowed, as if she was wondering why this winter melon was so unappealing.

"Is this melon unripe?"

Wen He picked up half a piece of cold melon and put it back on the plate with a hint of disgust.

The cold melon of this era had just been introduced from the Western Regions. Although it was considered a delicacy, it was hardly a delicacy.

The melon rind was thick and yellowish-green, and biting into it had a raw, hard texture. The juice was so bland it seemed watered down, but the seeds were large and plentiful, making my gums tingle.

Compared to the sweet and juicy varieties of later generations, it's like a furry child who hasn't fully grown up.

“This is ripe; the Imperial Household Department wouldn’t dare to serve unripe melons at His Majesty’s banquet.”

Seeing the look of disgust on his face, Duan Zhixuan, who was sitting next to him, couldn't help but laugh. He reached out and picked up a piece of melon, took a big bite, and smacked his lips, saying, "It's not as sweet as our local melons and fruits, but this was sent from Gaochang Kingdom in the Western Regions all the way here. I just wanted it to be fresh."

Upon hearing this, Wen He smiled sheepishly and stopped worrying about the taste of the melon, casually pushing the cold melon in the dish further away.

Just then, a loud announcement came from outside the hall: "Happy New Year of the Great Tang! Foreign envoys request an audience with His Majesty the Emperor of the Great Tang to offer their congratulations!"

As soon as the sound fell, the music in the hall abruptly stopped, and even the ministers who had been whispering fell silent.

Everyone knew that the highlight of the palace banquet was about to begin.

A prosperous dynasty is incomplete without the sight of "all nations coming to pay tribute".

However, the "Wanbang" at this moment is ultimately somewhat exaggerated.

Before long, the Vice Minister of the Court of State Ceremonial led foreign envoys in one after another. There were no more than seven or eight people in total, far from being a group of "all nations".

After all, the Tang Dynasty had not yet ushered in the era of the mighty Khan who commanded respect across the world. Even at its peak, including the tribes of the Western Regions and the surrounding small states, the number of states that could be gathered together would only be a little over a hundred.

For today's occasion, the envoys all changed into the round-necked robes of the Tang Dynasty.

The envoys from Goguryeo, Baekje, and Silla were tall and wore wide robes that fit them well.

The Japanese delegation members, however, were short in stature, with wide robes that almost dragged on the ground and loose collars bunched around their necks, making them look rather comical.

"bye!"

Gao Yue's voice rang out in the hall, clear and melodious like a bell.

The Vice Minister of the Court of State Ceremonial took the lead in bowing, and the envoys behind him followed suit.

A few days ago, the Court of State Ceremonial specially sent someone to teach them the etiquette of the Tang Dynasty.

Goguryeo, Baekje, and Silla had been immersed in the culture of the Central Plains for many years, and their rituals were quite elaborate.

The Japanese envoy was no stranger to the matter, after all, Soga no Umako, the father of Soga no Emishi, was a proponent of Han Chinese culture, and even the title of the Japanese emperor was proposed by him and decided by Princess Nukatabe.

At this moment, bowing down, he did look quite respectable.

"Give me a seat."

Li Shimin sat upright on the throne, his voice steady, exuding the air of a great monarch.

After the envoys were seated in order, the eunuchs stepped forward with trays and began to bestow gifts.

Wen He glanced at the items on the tray, and her brows immediately furrowed again.
Before each envoy was placed a fist-sized piece of gold, the auspicious cloud pattern engraved on it gleaming brightly under the lamplight.

'Those people in the Ministry of Rites are such spendthrifts!'

He secretly grumbled to himself.

Such a large piece of gold, enough for an ordinary person to live on for a lifetime, was just casually given away to foreigners?

Li Shimin was feeling pleased by the envoys' flattery when he caught a glimpse of Wen He's sullen expression. He couldn't help but shake his head inwardly: 'This brat, he clearly understands the ways of diplomacy, yet his mind is as narrow as a pinhole. These things demonstrate the magnanimity of the Tang Dynasty, and besides, it's not like we can't get them back.'

In his view, what gleamed in the eyes of the envoys was envy for the wealth of the Tang Dynasty.

But Wenhe could see clearly that when those envoys lowered their eyes to stare at the horse hoof gold, what surged in their eyes was not envy, but clearly greed.

Especially the Soga no Emishi of Japan, even with his head bowed very low and a perfectly humble smile on his lips.

Wen He, who had been secretly watching him, still caught the subtle tremor in his knuckles as he rubbed the gold nugget.

That wasn't reverence; it was an irrepressible possessiveness.

Don't assume that Japan has no ambitions now.

If they had truly remained peaceful, the Battle of Baekgang would never have occurred decades later.

It should be noted that at that time, the Tang Dynasty had already destroyed the Turks, defeated Goguryeo, and made all the countries in the Western Regions submit, making it a true celestial empire.

If Japan dared to provoke such a behemoth, how much more so would the still fledgling Tang Dynasty?

Wen He calmly withdrew her gaze, picked up the honey water on the table, and took a sip.

He knew that now was not the time to act out.

"The drums and music begin!"

A moment later, with Li Shimin's loud laughter, the musicians outside the hall resumed playing their instruments, and the Hu Xuan dancers twirled into the hall to the rhythm, marking the true beginning of the palace banquet's climax.

"I heard there will be a Hu woman performing today, we're in for a treat."

Duan Zhixuan leaned closer, raised an eyebrow at Wen He, and spoke in a flippant tone.

But as soon as he finished speaking, he seemed to remember something, gave Wen He a meaningful look, and asked in a low voice, "By the way, I heard that His Majesty recently rewarded you with a few palace maids?"

"Cough cough."

Wen He almost choked on the honey water, and quickly waved her hand, replying seriously, "Women's allure is too strong for me; I'm still young and can't handle it."

Duan Zhixuan was somewhat surprised. He had thought that the young man would be like the sons of noble families, half-hearted about matters of the heart, but he did not expect him to speak so frankly.

Just as he was about to make a few more jokes, a eunuch walked lightly to the two of them and bowed to Wen He, saying, "Your Excellency of Gaoyang County, the Emperor Emeritus invites you."

Wen He and Duan Zhixuan were both taken aback.

Why would the Emperor Emeritus suddenly want to see him out of the blue?
Wen He's heart skipped a beat, and she subconsciously looked towards the head of the hall.

Li Yuan, seated on the dragon throne, turned slightly to the side, his gaze sweeping over the crowd and landing on him.

Perhaps sensing his probing gaze, Li Yuan suddenly straightened his face, furrowed his brows, and glared at him, looking just like an old man whose afternoon nap had been disturbed.

This scene happened to be witnessed by Li Shimin and Empress Zhangsun.

"Wen Jiaying!" Li Shimin suddenly spoke, his voice not loud but carrying an undeniable authority.

"The Emperor Emeritus has summoned you, what are you still dawdling about for!"

He deliberately chose to speak during a break in the singing and dancing, and his voice immediately silenced the noise in the hall.

The music stopped, the dancer's spin froze in mid-air, and even the ministers holding wine cups involuntarily turned their heads, their gazes all fixed on Wen He, filled with a mixture of curiosity and doubt.

The atmosphere suddenly became somewhat subtle.

Everyone knows that Wen He is a favorite of Li Shimin, but apart from a few people like Li Daozong, almost no one in the court knows that he is also involved with the retired emperor.

"cough."

Li Yuan coughed lightly, breaking the eerie silence. His tone was calm, yet carried an undeniable composure: "I want to have a word with that brat. You may drink as you please, there's no need to be reserved."

Li Shimin picked up his wine cup at the opportune moment and smiled at the assembled officials, saying, "The Emperor Emeritus has not seen the young man for a long time and would like to have a few words with Jia Ying. Please continue."

"Hurry up and come here!" Li Shimin shouted at Wen He.

Helpless, Wen He could only grit her teeth and walk in that direction under everyone's gaze.

He was also feeling frustrated.

I intended to stay until the banquet ended and then leave.

Unexpectedly, Li Yuan suddenly summoned him.

I wonder what this old man is up to?
(End of this chapter)