Tang Dynasty Little Godfather

Chapter 161 Only Children Make Choices
Zichen Palace.

At his first meeting of the year with the three prime ministers, Li Longji made a startling suggestion.

The imperial court opening a separate opera academy is not a problem in itself, but the key issue is that Wang Xilai will serve as its dean.

All three prime ministers were completely dumbfounded.

This emperor must have gone mad from celebrating the New Year.

Or perhaps Wang Xi drugged him with some kind of sleeping potion.

Listen to this yourself, is this even reasonable?

Li Longji seemed to have anticipated their expressions, but inwardly he was quite pleased. He asked, "Why are the three gentlemen silent?"

Even the usually low-key Yuan Qianyao couldn't help but exclaim, "Your Majesty, this... how can this be allowed?"

"Why not?"

Li Longji suddenly lost his temper, as if he had been waiting for him to say this: "The envoys from various countries all requested to learn that kind of opera, which was also the intention of the court, to use opera to promote the culture of our Great Tang Dynasty."

However, when I ordered the Ministry of Rites or the Imperial Academy to send officials to study at the nameless academy, not a single one was willing to go, saying that it was a second-rate field of study.

Since it's considered second-rate, what's wrong with appointing Wang Xiaoque as dean? You can't say that just because you look down on a field, you forbid anyone who wants to learn it. Who's being too domineering here?

Yuan Qianyao was startled.

Why did it suddenly flare up?

But he couldn't care less about that. "This is utterly reckless," Yuan Qianyao retorted directly. "Your Majesty, governing a country cannot be done on a whim."

"I did not act impulsively, but rather after careful consideration."

Li Longji said, "If we're talking about other fields of study, I certainly wouldn't let Que'er serve as the dean. But when it comes to the study of opera, who in the court is more skilled than Que'er?"

Besides, the Imperial Academy doesn't value the academic study of opera. Since that's the case, why not have the Ministry of Rites open a separate academy specifically for teaching opera?

Yuan Qianyao added, "But if we do this, won't those foreign envoys have other ideas?"

Li Longji said, "I will have Prince Sipu ask them. If they are unwilling, then let it go. After all, they begged me to learn this opera, not that I forced them to learn it."

Seeing Li Longji's explosive reaction, Yuan Qianyao felt a little intimidated. The other two prime ministers remained silent, making him feel helpless. Knowing Zhang Jiazhen's relationship with the Wang family, he looked at Zhang Shuo.

Zhang, who had been silent all along, suddenly said, "Speaking of Wang Xiaoque, I have something else to report."

Li Longji asked, "What is it?"

Zhang said, "Before the New Year, the Tibetan envoy approached the Turkic envoy several times, hoping to form a marriage alliance with him."

Li Longji frowned and suddenly asked, "How did you know that, my lord?"

Zhang hesitated for a moment, then truthfully replied, "It was the Turkic envoy who told me."

Li Longji frowned and asked, "Are they threatening me?"

Zhang Shuo remained silent for a moment, then said, "Perhaps that is the intention, but the Turks have always been resentful about this matter, because Your Majesty has bestowed marriages upon the Turgesh, Mohe, and Khitan, but has not bestowed one upon them. They are even willing to offer ten thousand fine horses, just to ask Your Majesty to grant them a marriage."

Li Longji said, "The Turks have come to me time and again to request a marriage, firstly for their own face, and secondly to gain my approval so that they can rightfully rule over the other northern tribes."

Most of the marriage alliances during the Tang Dynasty were bestowed by the emperor from a position of power, and the brides were usually not his own princesses, but rather randomly chosen members of the imperial family.

In fact, everyone knew this. Some foreign leaders even told the Tang Dynasty directly, "I know she's not a real princess, but it doesn't matter. As long as you can grant her a marriage."

This is because it serves as a form of identification, representing your closeness or distance from the empire. If you do not have a marriage alliance with the Tang Dynasty, you will not be able to gain the respect of the surrounding tribes, and they may even look down on you. This is especially important for the Later Turks at that time.

Because the Turkic Khan had only recently ascended to the throne and had seized it by force, he urgently needed the Tang Dynasty to provide him with proof of his identity.

I have asked for it four or five times in the past two years.

However, Li Longji refused for three reasons. First, the women of the imperial clan were unwilling to marry him and had always complained about it. Last time, when Princess Jincheng went to Tibet, she caused a scene, so naturally, he had to take care of her as well.

Secondly, the Tang army's previous campaign against the Turks ended in defeat, and a rather humiliating one at that. If a marriage alliance were to be granted to the Turks now, would later generations consider it a humiliating act of appeasement?

This is the most important reason. Li Longji cared about it very much, so he stubbornly refused to budge. Not to mention Zhang Shuo and Zhang Jiazhen, even the Turks knew this. Therefore, after defeating the Tang army, they immediately sought peace and recognized Li Longji as their father.

I'll acknowledge you as my father first, and then you can bestow a marriage upon me; that way, I won't lose face.

But Li Longji was still not very willing.

This leads to the third reason: Li Longji was also planning to expand the territory and did not want to arrange marriages or political alliances, unlike in the early Han Dynasty when there was an urgent political need.

Li Longji then asked Zhang Shuo, "And how did you reply to them, sir?"

Zhang said, "I declined their offer because the princess is too young."

The Turks all knew what Li Longji was thinking, so how could he not know? In any case, they just made up all sorts of excuses.

But Zhang suddenly changed the subject, saying, "However, after I declined, they proposed another marriage, which puts me in a difficult position."

Li Longji looked at Zhang Shuo with a puzzled expression.

Zhang explained, "It turns out that the young Turkic prince who came with the Turkic envoy this time is their Khan's daughter, named Ashina Mi."

Li Longji laughed and said, "Actually, I already saw it at the charity banquet."

He paused, then said, "You just said this matter is related to Que'er?"

Zhang nodded.

Li Longji asked, "Could it be that the little Turkic princess has taken a fancy to my sparrow?"

Zhang said sheepishly, "That's right."

Yuan Qianyao and Zhang Jiazhen were both surprised.

Li Longji laughed smugly, "Look at that, the Turks really have good taste!"

Yuan Qianyao then realized why Zhang had remained silent earlier; it turned out there was another story behind it.

Compared to this matter, the director of the opera house is really not worth mentioning.

You'll have to coax her a little!

Zhang asked, "What is Your Majesty's intention?"

Li Longji countered with, "What do you think?"

Zhang Jiazhen immediately replied, "I think it is feasible. If we do not agree to this, I am afraid that we will really anger the Turks and they will join forces with Tibet. That would be a loss. In dealing with foreign affairs, we must divide and rule. Besides, our country has not yet completed its military and financial reforms."

Zhang nodded.

He thought so too.

If you don't want to grant us a marriage now, then we can talk about it later. Now that I'm marrying my daughter off, and she's not even marrying your prince, if you still don't agree, then that really won't do.

If the Turks and Tibet really join forces, that would indeed be a troublesome situation.

Li Longji suddenly remembered that there was another woman named Hongxiu over there, and he wondered if Wang Xi would agree. So he said, "I should ask the Duke of Qi first."

After leaving the hall, Yuan Qianyao said, "Although this marriage is very important to our Great Tang, we can't let Wang Xiaoque serve as the dean!"

Zhang Jiazhen said, "I don't think it's a big deal. What His Majesty said earlier is also true. Anyway, everyone thinks that it's a second-rate field of study, so what does it matter who is the dean?"

Yuan Qianyao said, "That's true, but the question is, what rank is this dean? If he's of high rank, then when Dr. Jiang and the others meet Wang Xi, shouldn't they bow and address him as 'Dean Wang' or 'Dr. Wang'?"

Zhang Jiazhen stroked his beard, finding it difficult to refute. This was indeed a problem.

Zhang said, "It will take at least half a year before those foreign envoys arrive, so let's not rush into discussing it. We can talk about it after the marriage is settled."

If we cause trouble with Wang Xi now and ruin the marriage, it would be a case of losing more than we gain.

Yuan Qianyao knew the gravity of the situation and sighed, "Even so, we still need to explain it clearly to others to avoid misunderstandings."

Zhang nodded.

Actually, it was easy for Li Longji to talk to Wang Shouyi, but the key was Wang Xi. Because he liked her, he cared about her feelings. So Li Longji didn't go to Wang Shouyi first, but sent someone to bring Wang Xi over instead.

Wang Xi felt that the emperor had been seeing him more frequently lately.

Won't this get boring?

We need to keep our distance!

"Uncle, you're on vacation so soon."

Wang Xi was still wondering if Li Longji wanted to talk to him about musical instruments, but the messenger hadn't told him to bring any instruments, which made him very curious.

Li Longji was taken aback for a moment before saying, "I called you here today not for that musical instrument, but for another matter."

Wang Xi asked, "What is it?"

Li Longji said somewhat awkwardly, "It's a joyous occasion."

"happy event?"

"Ah."

Li Longji nodded and asked, "Have you seen that Turkic prince?"

Wang Xi nodded and said, "I have seen him. That Turkic prince is just like a woman."

Li Longji chuckled and said, "Que'er has a good eye. Actually, she is not a Turkic prince, but a Turkic princess."

Wang Xi responded with an "Oh," and then said, "That's not surprising then. But what does this have to do with my nephew?"

Li Longji said, "That's right. That little princess has a very discerning eye. She took a liking to you at first sight, and now she has taken the initiative to propose marriage to her uncle."

Wang Xi opened his eyes wide and asked, "Uncle wants his nephew to marry into the Turkic family?"

This favored minister's path seems to have gone astray; how did he end up in the Turkic Khaganate?

That's absolutely infuriating.

Li Longji hurriedly said, "How could your uncle bear to let you marry into the family? It's the other party who wants to marry into the family."

"That really scared my nephew to death."

Wang Xi patted his chest, completely flustered.

Li Longji laughed heartily and asked again, "So you agree?"

"Nephew."

Wang Xi thought for a moment and said, "That depends on what my uncle thinks. If it will help my uncle and the Tang Dynasty, then I will naturally agree."

If he doesn't care about his uncle either, then I, as his nephew, should think about it.

These words warmed Li Longji's heart, and he immediately returned the favor, saying, "Of course it will be helpful to my uncle, but my uncle will still prioritize your opinion."

"As long as it helps my uncle, I'm fine with it."

Wang Xi chuckled and said, "Actually, that little princess is quite pretty, but as you know, Uncle, I really like my teacher. I can't let him become my concubine."

Li Longji quickly replied, "Don't worry, your uncle will personally issue an edict to grant you another marriage."

The reason he was embarrassed just now was because of Hongxiu. Just two days ago, she had told him that he should marry Hongxiu and coax him into becoming the dean. But in the blink of an eye, she wanted Wang Xi to marry a Turkic princess.

He was embarrassed.

Fortunately, Wang Xi was young and didn't understand, so he didn't care.

Wang Xi exclaimed in surprise, "That works too?"

Li Longji said, "I am the emperor, and what I say goes. You are here to marry a Turkic princess for the Tang Dynasty, so what's wrong with granting another marriage?"

"That's true. Li Zhi could marry a stepmother, and you can marry a daughter-in-law. So what if I marry two wives?" Wang Xi rolled his eyes a few times and suddenly said, "I'm willing to marry that princess, but I'm still young and studying. How about I get to know the princess first?"

"Find a place?"

Li Longji was stunned.

Wang Xi nodded, "We'll get engaged first, but not married yet. There still need to be some formalities. In the meantime, I'll spend some time with the princess and develop a childhood sweetheart relationship. We'll get married when I'm a bit older."

"this."

Li Longji was somewhat perplexed. What did he mean by cultivating a childhood sweetheart relationship? Who told him that it could be arranged like this?

After seeing this, Wang Xi said, "Don't worry, I won't make things difficult for you, Uncle. I'll go and talk to them myself."

Li Longji exclaimed in surprise, "Go and tell them yourself!"

Wang Xi nodded and said, "Uncle, don't underestimate your nephew. When it comes to women, I've really inherited your skills. I know how to make women happy."

Li Longji glared at him and said, "Stop talking nonsense."

After a moment's thought, he nodded and said, "Alright, you go and tell them yourself. If it's possible, your uncle will arrange it for you."

"Thank you, Uncle."

"Wait a minute."

Li Longji said, "However, in principle, your uncle should ask your aunt and your father first, but your uncle thinks that this is not a big problem."

There's no need for him to say it; Zhang Jiazhen is now with the Wang family.

This was truly unexpected for Wang Shouyi. "That Turkic princess has taken a fancy to my Que'er?"

Zhang Jiazhen nodded.

What's going on lately? Why is my little sparrow so popular? Wang Shouyi himself didn't understand, and said with a puzzled look, "I only have this one son, and I'm still counting on him to take care of me in my old age."

Zhang Jiazhen said, "Don't worry, it's the other party who will marry into the family."

"this."

Wang Shouyi still had some doubts and asked, "What does Minister Zhang think?"

Zhang Jiazhen said, "I think this is a good thing. At present, His Majesty's main focus is on the Western Regions and Tibet. In this way, he will naturally not break with the Turks. With this marriage, it is also a guarantee for the Empress."

Wang Shouyi was very tempted when it came to his younger sister.

If it were a marriage where the woman marries into the family, Wang Shouyi would not agree to it. However, if it were a marriage where the woman marries into the family, the first thing to consider would be the interests of his own family.

In fact, Wang Xi's marriage was destined to be a political preparation.

Logically speaking, it was highly likely to be the princess, but unexpectedly, the Turkic princess beat him to it.

(End of this chapter)