My father, Li Shimin, requests Your Majesty to become the Retired Emperor.

King Yamabe's eyes were filled with resentment: "Yeon Gaesomun and Buyeo Yong told that bastard Tamura the exact location of our armory."

So, that bastard Tamura sent Inugami Oda-kuchi and the Blue Rascal with that giant crocodile to attack us, killing many of our brothers.

I can't stay here any longer.

We have prepared several large ships, and loaded all our weapons and chariots onto them, intending to return to Chang'an with you, surrender to the Tang Dynasty, obey your command, and swear allegiance to the Tang Dynasty to the death.

Upon hearing this, Li Chenggan felt extremely guilty: "That time, you had already surrounded Yeon Gaesomun and Buyeo Long, but I ordered you to let them go."

Otherwise, they wouldn't have been able to leave, and you wouldn't have suffered those calamities.

King Yamabe waved his hand: "Your Highness, this has nothing to do with you. If anyone is to blame, it's me for being too careless."

"How many of our brothers were killed or injured?"

There are several hundred people.

We humbly request Your Highness to accept our surrender.

At this point, King Yamabe and his thousands of men knelt on the ship and shouted, "Please, Crown Prince of Tang, allow us to surrender!"

This was something Li Chenggan hadn't anticipated.

Songtsen Gampo, standing nearby, advised, "Your Highness, what are you still hesitating about?"

Since Brother Yamabe has come to join us with such sincerity, you should accept him.

To everyone's surprise, Li Chenggan shook his head and said to Songtsen Gampo, "It's not that I don't want to accept him, nor that the Great King of Shanbei's sincerity is insufficient, but rather that I have my own difficulties."

"Oh, what's troubling you?"

"Firstly, to subdue the eldest brother king of the mountain, I must obtain the Emperor's permission; otherwise, the officials of the court will impeach me for expanding my power outside."

Secondly, we have come to the Wa Kingdom to mediate relations between the Wa Kingdom, Goguryeo, Baekje, and Silla.

If I accept the surrender of King Yamashiro,

"Then King Shuming will definitely have objections, and the previously reached agreements may be nullified, possibly even sparking a conflict."

After listening to Li Chengqian's words, Songtsen Gampo felt that Li Chengqian was now considering the issue very comprehensively.

"However, Brother Yamabe is in dire straits and has come sincerely seeking refuge. It would be inappropriate to turn him away."

"You're right," Li Chenggan pondered for a moment, "How about this, aren't there often pirates around Silla?"

Let King Yamabe lead his troops to Silla to wipe out the pirates.

They could be stationed on the border of Silla, and the Queen of Silla could provide them with some food and winter supplies.

They didn't say they surrendered to the Tang Dynasty, but allowed King Sanbee to maintain his independent status. It was neither a surrender to our Tang Dynasty nor a surrender to Silla.

As long as he can maintain peace in that sea area, he has made a great contribution.

In this way, they could also obtain some supplies from the pirates.

It can be maintained.

Let's wait until the situation changes in the future.

Upon hearing this, Songtsen Gampo felt that Li Chenggan's arrangement was quite appropriate, allowing for both offensive and defensive maneuvers, and providing flexibility in both.

then,

Li Chengan then explained his thoughts to his elder brother, Wang, on the mountain.

King Yamabe cried and said, "Your Highness, do you think my sincerity in surrendering to the Tang Dynasty is not enough?"

Do you still think my background is bad?

Li Chengan waved his hand: "No, no, no, you're mistaken. I know you've come sincerely to submit to our Great Tang."

I am also very happy about this.

but,

This can't be rushed. Let's take it slow. There will be other opportunities in the future.

"I'm writing you a letter here. Take it with you. You can contact Gao Biaoren and first set up camp in the waters surrounding Silla."

Seeing that Li Chenggan had already made his decision, the eldest brother of the mountain, Wang, had no choice but to comply.

Li Chengan helped him up.

King Yamashiro took the letter with both hands and put it in his bosom: "Your Highness, before we part, there are a few things I must remind you of."

"Okay, go ahead and say what you have to say."

"My situation before was somewhat similar to yours now."

You are now the crown prince, and back then I was also listed as the heir to the throne.

To be honest, my thinking at the time was very simple. I felt that as the son of Prince Shotoku and with the imperial edict from Empress Suiko, my throne was definitely secure.

however,

Unexpectedly,

Prince Tamura was ambitious and scheming.

He secretly won over the Soga clan, and the Soga family supported him, while I gradually became isolated and helpless.

finally,

With that scoundrel Tamura seizing the throne, it's impossible for me to remain an ordinary prince.

He was wary of me at every turn, wanting to get rid of me as soon as possible to prevent future troubles.

Speaking of,

It's all my fault. I was inexperienced and too naive back then.

I've heard that your brother Li Tai also covets the position of Crown Prince.

and,

Many ministers in the Tang Dynasty supported him, including the Grand Secretary Fang Xuanling.

This is no small matter.

If things go wrong, not only will you not be able to inherit the throne, but you might not even be able to save your life. You must be very careful.

Li Chengan's expression turned serious, and he sighed, "You're right, my brother is indeed no pushover."

Not only did many ministers in the court support him, but even his father, the emperor, favored him greatly and once planned to have him move into the Wude Hall.

Yamabe no Ooshiro was also taken aback: "The Martial Virtue Hall? Wasn't it said that Li Yuanji lived there back then?"

"yes.

Where he lives is not important; the key is that once he moves into the Wude Hall, which is too close to the East Palace, he will develop covetous thoughts.

but,

Due to Wei Zheng's opposition, the emperor abandoned the idea.

The Emperor, perhaps as compensation to Li Tai, allowed him to establish a literary academy in his own residence, permitting him to recruit talent according to his own preferences and assist him in compiling the "Kuodi Zhi" (Records of the Land).

"Ah, your father actually allowed Li Tai to do this. This is a very dangerous thing."

That means the talents recruited by Li Tai's literary academy weren't truly exceptional.

It is very likely that they are some unscrupulous people who are only thinking about their own official positions.

They're stirring up trouble for Li Tai, trying to sow discord between you brothers.

Li Chengan lowered his head and remained silent, because he did not have a high opinion of the people in the literary academy.

"Your Highness, in short, I have said everything I needed to say."

Take good care of yourself.

I have a pair of white carrier pigeons here. You can take them back to Chang'an. If you need anything, just write to me.

No matter where I am, these carrier pigeons can always find me.

No matter what, I would go through fire and water without hesitation.

Li Chengan instructed Qin Ying to accept the pair of carrier pigeons.

The pair of homing pigeons were small, pure white, with red eyes, and looked particularly spirited.

"Take good care of yourselves. If you encounter any difficulties after arriving in Silla, you can tell me, and I will do my best to help you solve them."

"Then thank you very much, Your Highness."

"This time, I've sent Gao Biaoren to Silla to assist them in training their navy. In your spare time..."

They can also exchange ideas and conduct joint training to prepare for unforeseen circumstances.

The eldest brother of the mountain was not stupid. He naturally understood Li Chengqian's implication, which was equivalent to placing his troops under Gao Biaoren's command.

Gao Biaoren was one of Li Chengqian's confidants.

but,

This kind of thing is quite sensitive.

Li Chengqian simply didn't say it outright.

Brother Yamabe knew perfectly well what was going on, because he had also heard about it.

Li Chenggan ordered Ashina She'er to lead 1 cavalrymen to garrison on the border of Gaochang, intimidating the Western Regions states.

Because of this incident, Li Chenggan almost lost his head, and the lawsuit is still ongoing.

Therefore,

Li Chenggan needs to be more cautious.

King Yamabe retains an independent designation and is not affiliated with either the Tang Dynasty or Silla.

This way, a lot of trouble can be avoided, and even if the ministers in the Chang'an court want to impeach Li Chengqian, they won't be able to find a reason.

then,

The eldest brother of the mountain, Wang Yangfan, was chasing after Queen Seondeok and Gao Biaoren's ship.

Soon, they caught up with Queen Silla and Go Pyo-in.

Queen Seondeok and Go Pyo-in were startled, thinking that King Sumyeong had sent pursuers again.

After Brother Wang from the mountain explained his purpose and handed over Li Chengqian's letter,

Queen Seondeok and Go Pyo-in then understood what was going on.

Queen Seondeok readily agreed.

The fifth day of the twelfth lunar month, in the evening.

Chang'an City.

At Su Dan's residence.

The moon, shaped like a sickle, hangs in the sky.

Moonlight bathed the earth, and Chang'an City was serene.

recent,

Su Wan was extremely busy and overwhelmed.

On one hand, she had to handle the administrative affairs of the Shangfu Bureau and run the Su Family Supermarket;

On the other hand, she also had to prepare for the civil service and military examinations.

Empress Zhangsun had just recovered from her illness, and sometimes she would ask Su Wan to come over and chat or play chess with her.

Su Wan was truly overwhelmed with work.

At this moment, Su Wan is reading "Rules for Women" in her room.

This book was written by Empress Zhangsun, and it sets out the code of conduct for women.

Su Wan greatly admired Empress Zhangsun.

In Su Wan's mind, Empress Zhangsun could be considered the most outstanding empress in history.

but,

As she read, her mind wandered, because she began to miss Li Chenggan.

She wondered if Li Chenggan hadn't received her letter yet.

Why hasn't Li Chenggan returned yet?

If calculated by time

Gao Biaoren should have arrived in the Wa (Japanese) country by now.

The civil service exam will be held on the morning of the eighth day of the twelfth lunar month. All the princes and princesses are eligible to participate, and it is said that Li Tai has already registered.

This guy is aiming for the top score; he's determined to win.

If Li Chengan doesn't return to participate in the civil service examination, he will inevitably be overshadowed by Li Tai.

Li Tai himself had established a literary academy in his residence to compile the "Kuodi Zhi" (Records of the Land), which gave him great influence in the court and made him a force to be reckoned with, rivaling even the Crown Prince.

Because Fang Xuanling supported Li Tai, many ministers in the court had already sided with Li Tai.

For example, Fang Yi'ai, Chai Lingwu, Wei Ting (a Gentleman Attendant at the Palace Gate), and Du Chuke (Minister of Works).

The museum also houses a large and powerful team of scholars, including Xiao Deyan, Gu Yin, Jiang Yaqing, and Xie Yan, who participated in compiling the "Kuodi Zhi" (Records of the Land).

This caused Su Wan great concern.

She felt that it was extremely inappropriate for the Crown Prince to leave Chang'an at this critical juncture.

Su Wan knew in her heart that this exam, which seemed insignificant on the surface, was actually quite important.

This is crucial for the crown prince to consolidate his position.

It is said that

Back then, Cao Cao built the Bronze Sparrow Terrace and planned to have his sons write a poem about it.

At that time, Cao Cao was torn between his sons Cao Pi, Cao Zhi, and Cao Zhang, finding it difficult to make a decision on who should be his heir.

Cao Cao asked Cao Zhang, "What are your ambitions?"

Cao Zhang said, "A true man should be like Wei Qing and Huo Qubing, braving thorns and brambles, galloping across the battlefield and returning wrapped in a horse's hide, becoming an outstanding general."

Cao Cao laughed and said, "Yellow-bearded boy, you have lofty ambitions! Very well, I will definitely grant you your wish."

In fact, Cao Cao had already excluded him from the list in the first place.

That leaves Cao Pi and Cao Zhi, both of whom were very talented.

Cao Zhi became famous throughout the world with his poem "Ode to the Goddess of the Luo River".

Cao Pi was the originator of seven-character poems.

Cao Pi's "Yan Ge Xing" is widely recognized as the earliest complete seven-character poem by a literati, and it holds a lofty position in literary history.

Both of them are quite good writers.

Cao Cao planned to hold an examination in front of the Bronze Sparrow Terrace.

Cao Pi was quite shrewd; before the exam, he had already secretly prepared.

He then visited Sima Yi to ask for advice on how to deal with the situation.

Sima Yi smiled and said to Cao Pi, "This matter is not difficult to resolve. You can write two articles for future reference."

That was truly a wake-up call.

Cao Pi stayed up all night, writing two articles, and then asked Sima Yi to help him refine and polish them.

the next day,

The exam has officially begun.

Cao Pi, observing his father's words and expressions, realized that his father intended to become emperor.

Therefore, Cao Pi took out the article that praised and flattered Cao Cao, which contained strong words of encouragement for him to take the throne.

As expected, Cao Cao took a liking to Cao Pi's article.

Since then

This essentially established Cao Pi's position as the successor.

Actually, this isn't hard to understand, because the environment at the time was very harsh, with both internal and external troubles. Sun Quan occupied Jiangdong, while Liu Bei dominated Xichuan.

Cao Cao needed someone who understood politics and political maneuvering, not a reckless brute like Cao Zhang who only knew how to charge into battle.

Cao Pi was not a poet like Cao Zhi, who only knew how to write and compose poems.

Cao Zhi was no match for Cao Pi in this respect.

Although his "Ode to the Bronze Sparrow Terrace" was beautifully written and magnificent, it also won Cao Cao's praise.

However, in Cao Cao's view, Cao Zhi was politically ignorant, a bookworm, and not an ideal successor.

No matter how eloquent the language, it's useless.

Su Wan realized that Li Tai was capable of compiling the "Kuodi Zhi" (Records of the Land), indicating that he possessed considerable literary talent.

Li Tai's calligraphy is also very beautiful, which is recognized throughout Chang'an.

Li Tai's father-in-law, Yan Liben, is very remarkable.

His painting and calligraphy skills were first-rate, and he gave Li Tai a lot of guidance, which is why Li Tai made rapid progress.

Therefore, Su Wan was very worried because this exam was related to Li Chengqian's future and fate.

But where is Li Chenggan at this moment?

Just at this time,

Su Wan heard a creak, and the door opened.

A person walked in from outside the door.

Su Wan looked up and saw a stunningly beautiful woman before her.

Su Wan thought she was seeing things.

She rubbed her eyes and carefully examined the woman in front of her. If it wasn't Xu Hui, then who was she?

Xu Hui has become even thinner than before.

Su Wan quickly stepped forward and took Xu Hui's arm: "Xu Jieyu, am I dreaming?"

When did you return to Chang'an?

Xu Hui smiled and said, "This is real, how could it be a dream?"

I rushed back as soon as I received your letter.

You look so radiant, your complexion is getting better and better, so glowing! Is it the glow of love?

"What's so moisturizing about it?" Su Wan said reproachfully. "Lately, I'm so annoyed."

Xu Hui sat down in the chair at the table.

Su Wan poured Xu Hui a cup of green tea: "Tell me quickly, what's going on over there lately?"

"After I left Chang'an and returned to my hometown, I stayed at home all day, planting flowers and growing grass. I didn't go anywhere and just read books behind closed doors. My life was quite peaceful."

To be honest, the Emperor summoned me back, but I didn't return.

I only came back this time because I received your letter.

Upon hearing this, Su Wan's face lit up with a bright smile: "Xu Jieyu, you're being very kind to me by saying that."

"I may ignore what others say, but you are the Crown Princess. How dare I disobey you?"

"You've got some nerve, daring to defy an imperial decree!"

Xu Hui smiled and said, "The Emperor didn't have anything to ask me for, so why would I come back?"

Last time,

He broke my heart. He even suspected me of using witchcraft to curse Li Xiao.

Su Wan pouted: "Don't you understand what the Emperor means? He asked you to come back because he misses you."

"If you don't come back, and you two live apart, when will you be able to conceive a dragon child?"

Xu Hui sighed: "What dragon son or not, that's what I used to think, but now I've come to terms with it, let everything take its course."

Su Wan glanced at Xu Hui, who looked a little haggard, and said, "You can't say that. As far as I know, Empress Zhangsun is preparing for pregnancy and is planning to have another child for the Emperor."

Upon hearing this, Xu Hui smiled and said, "Really? Empress Zhangsun is really energetic."

How are things going between you and Li Chenggan lately?

"There's been absolutely no progress."

"No way, the ospreys cry 'Guan Guan' on the river islet; a fair maiden is sought by a gentleman, but unsuccessful, he tosses and turns in his sleep. In this cold weather, you two are sleeping on the same kang (heated brick bed), it'll be warmer if you squeeze together. Have you already gotten on the kang?"

Su Wan blushed upon hearing this: "No, he hasn't been in Chang'an recently; he's been in Nanbojin."

"What is Your Highness going there for?"

Su Wan then recounted the recent events that had occurred in Chang'an and Naniwa.

Xu Hui sighed upon hearing this: "I never imagined that so many things would happen during the time I was away from Chang'an."

I asked you to take over the Imperial Clothing Bureau, thinking it would be a leisurely job, but I never expected that losing the Imperial Seal and tributes would almost ruin you.

I'm so sorry.

"We're like family, why bother with all this polite talk?"

"Look, I'm standing right in front of you now, aren't I?"

Although Su Wan spoke of it casually,

but,

Xu Hui could also sense the bitterness and hardship involved, but Su Wan was unwilling to say it out loud.

Xu Hui, with her elegant demeanor, asked, "In your letter you said that the court is going to hold some kind of civil examination and asked me to come back to participate. Is this matter that important?"

Besides, I am a woman; is this identity appropriate?

"Of course it's important. Why wouldn't it be appropriate?"

If it's not suitable, I won't talk to you anymore.

This time, His Majesty held two examinations nationwide to select talented individuals: one for civil service and one for military service.

The purpose of the civil service examination was to select civil officials, reserve talent for the court, and have them used by the court in the future, and even compile various laws and regulations.

Weren't Fang Xuanling and Changsun Wuji compiling the "Zhenguan Code"?

The imperial court plans to select one general and two vanguards through a military examination.

It seems that this battle will continue in the future. Take Yanqi for example, for instance.

They have repeatedly violated the borders of the Tang Dynasty. This time, they attacked Dunhuang, damaging and stealing many of our cultural relics, and even massacring the entire city.

Do you think the Emperor can swallow this insult?

To the east of our Great Tang Dynasty, kingdoms like Goguryeo, Baekje, and Wa (Japan) were also eyeing us covetously.

The imperial court should prepare in advance.

Xu Hui nodded gently: "Wan'er, what you said makes sense."

Your suggestion is excellent.

I am just an ordinary concubine, a common Jieyu, not even a Guifei. My status is lowly. Is it necessary for me to take the civil service exam?

Su Wan stood up, crossed her arms, and paced back and forth in the hall: "Xu Jieyu, I think it's absolutely necessary."

During this time,

Even though you're not in the palace, there's a whisper in the harem saying that you're qualified to enter.

It's because of your beauty and your skill in seducing men.

That's why she captivated the emperor.

Every night, he would come to your Chongsheng Palace to spend the night, leaving the other concubines to the side.

The other concubines were all resentful and dissatisfied.

Upon hearing this, Xu Hui's cheeks flushed red with anger: "Oh, is that so?"

"Yes, actually, they don't understand that the reason His Majesty favors you is because of your outstanding talent, not for any other reason."

Xu Hui felt a surge of anger rush from her feet to her head: "Those concubines really know how to gossip!"

It's unbelievable that someone would say something like that.

They'll definitely say behind my back that I'm a reincarnation of a fox spirit, or a woman like Su Daji, Bao Si, or Zhao Feiyan.

Su Wan rested her chin on her right hand: "Therefore, I think this is a great opportunity. You should take this chance to show them what you've got."

Women can take exams, write excellent articles, and even become officials to serve the court.

I want to change that feudalistic, patriarchal mindset and make them understand that women can hold up half the sky too.

Even more than half the sky.

Xu Hui found Su Wan's words quite novel.

Because she had never heard of any talk of changing the idea of ​​male superiority over females.

Xu Hui's beautiful eyes were fixed on the flickering flame of the lamp: "Wan'er, do you think we women can really hold up half the sky?"

"Yes, I believe in gender equality and there should be no such thing as male superiority or female inferiority."

For example,

The Crown Prince once said that monogamy should be implemented.

Why should men with power and status be able to have so many women?

This is clearly unreasonable.

"But hasn't it always been this way since ancient times?"

It's probably unlikely that we can change this situation on our own.

Even if we can't change it, we must fight against fate.

We must strive to change the social status of women.

We women also need to wake up and participate in various affairs in the future.

The idea that a woman's virtue lies in her lack of talent is outdated.

"Although I think it's unlikely, I'm willing to give it my all for your vision."

"That's great!" Su Wan was also very happy to see that Xu Hui had agreed to participate in the written exam.

"So, what's the current situation in the harem?"

at this time,

Su Wan took out a Go board and placed it on the table.

She first took out a black chess piece, placed it on the table, and slowly said, "This black chess piece is like Consort Yan."

She's becoming increasingly unrestrained these days.

She relied on the emperor's favor.

She recently lost her son and has become somewhat mentally unstable.

She went to the Lizheng Hall and argued with Empress Zhangsun, which angered Empress Zhangsun so much that she vomited blood and fainted.

Xu Hui was taken aback: "Oh, is that so?"

Consort Yan has become incredibly audacious, reaching such a point that it's utterly lawless.

"Not only that, she also has a complicated relationship with that old hag, the Blue Rakshasa."

do you know?

That time, after the imperial seal was stolen, it was eventually found in Consort Yan's room.

You said,

If she didn't have a close relationship with the Blue Brahma, then how could the imperial seal be in her palace?

According to the laws of the imperial court, Consort Yan's disturbance at the Lizheng Palace and her harboring of important stolen goods were enough to warrant the death penalty.

That was because the Emperor was lenient and doted on her, and also because he remembered that she had just lost her beloved son, so he didn't hold it against her.

but,

Thus,

Instead of restraining herself, she became even more audacious and reckless.

She actually conspired with Li Tai to frequently slander the Crown Prince in front of the Emperor, saying things that were completely unfounded.

Upon hearing this, Xu Hui frowned: "I never expected that Consort Yan would join forces with Li Tai. What exactly does Li Tai want to do?"

During that period,

When I lived in the south of the city,

Li Tai came to visit me and wanted to give me many precious gifts, but I refused them all.

Because I know that there's no such thing as a free lunch, and that nothing comes for free. Once you take something from someone, you have to do what they say and help them.

"As far as I know, Li Tai gave Consort Yan a pair of jade bracelets, priceless treasures. What exactly they agreed to is still unknown. In any case..."

She's now tied to Li Tai in a war chariot.

"In that case, the situation is extremely unfavorable for Li Chenggan."

"It's more than just disadvantageous."

And Consort Yang, you know her, right?

"Of course I know her. Isn't she Emperor Yang of Sui's daughter?"

"Yes, Consort Yang came from a noble family; she was originally a princess of the Sui Dynasty."

Her relationship with the emperor was so close that they were practically inseparable.

Originally,

Li Yuan and Yang Guang were cousins.

Consort Yang had two sons, Li Ke and Li Yin.

This time,

Li Ke will likely participate in the martial arts exam as well.

Li Ke was wise and brave.

The Emperor once said that he resembled himself, which could be considered the highest praise for Li Ke.

"What, is Consort Yang related to Li Tai as well?" Xu Hui couldn't help but ask.

"Yes, it seems that Consort Yang and Consort Yan have reached some kind of agreement."

Consort Yang naturally joined Li Tai's camp.

However, Consort Yang was not as blatant as Consort Yan.

Xu Hui frowned slightly, feeling quite emotional: "Consort Yan alone is difficult enough to deal with, but I didn't expect there to be another Consort Yang."

Her ideas are different from others.

then,

That time, when Chang'an was besieged

She once wrote a letter to Li Ke, which I happened to find.

When I opened it, I found that she had written to Li Ke...

That seemed to imply a desire to perish together with the emperor.

To be frank, Consort Yang probably still harbored resentment towards the Emperor.

Because, in her view, the Sui Dynasty was overthrown by Li Yuan and his son Li Shimin.

Li Yuan and his son Li Shimin became traitors and rebels of the Sui Dynasty.

"That's hilarious!"

The Sui Dynasty was clearly destroyed by Emperor Yang of Sui himself, yet people are blaming Li Yuan and his son Li Shimin for it. Isn't that utterly ridiculous?

Why don't they reflect on themselves?

Anyone with eyes can see that the Sui Dynasty perished after only two generations because Emperor Yang of Sui was too prone to causing trouble.

Originally, Emperor Yang of Sui inherited a strong hand: a large population, a powerful army, and a wealthy nation.

As long as we don't mess things up, it shouldn't be a problem if it lasts for 800 years like the Zhou Dynasty or 400 years like the Han Dynasty.

However, Emperor Yang of Sui was ambitious and eager for glory; he compared himself to Qin Shi Huang and Emperor Wu of Han.

He built the Great Wall, constructed imperial highways, renovated Luoyang, and constructed the Xianren Palace and Jiangdu Palace. He also oversaw the excavation of the Grand Canal and indulged in endless imperial tours.

With enemies on all sides, endless wars year after year, I don't know how to deal with this mess anymore.

Ultimately, the Wagang Uprising broke out, and the Longxi nobles, represented by Yang Xuangan, betrayed the Sui Dynasty.

As a result, the Sui Dynasty collapsed in an instant.

Logically, under such circumstances, Emperor Yang of Sui should have started to reorganize the internal affairs, but he did not do so.

In his view, those were not big problems.

Even so, she never wavered in her determination to seek revenge.

Emperor Yang of Sui ignored this and brazenly launched a war against Goguryeo.

He didn't understand the art of war, yet he liked to personally lead troops into battle and give reckless commands.

The Sui army suffered defeat after defeat, with countless casualties.

His generals betrayed him one after another, and in the end,

Yuwen Huaji killed Emperor Yang of Sui in Jiangdu.

The Sui Dynasty was essentially destroyed.

Ultimately, the Sui Dynasty fell because of Emperor Yang of Sui himself, and had nothing to do with anyone else.

"You're right."

but,

Consort Yang did not think that way.

Her logic was that Li Yuan was originally the Duke of Tang of the Sui Dynasty.

Then you should pledge allegiance to the Sui Dynasty.

but,

Li Yuan, however, raised an army in Jinyang and seized Chang'an.

That means the Sui Dynasty was overthrown by the Tang Dynasty.

"Yes, that's definitely what Consort Yang thought."

By the light of the lamp, Xu Hui saw that Su Wan was indeed as beautiful as a fairy. To describe her as a beauty that could topple kingdoms or a beauty that could rival the heavens would not be enough.

Xu Hui's eyes flickered: "From what I know, Consort Yang is very scheming and ruthless."

She was the kind of person who would rather die than live in dishonor than suffer injustice when it came to revenge.

That time, Chang'an was already surrounded and it seemed that Chang'an was about to be captured by the allied forces of Li Yuanli and Zhang Zhongjian. She actually wrote a letter to Li Ke, asking him not to come back to rescue Chang'an. This is not something an ordinary woman could do.

So yeah,

She is even more difficult to deal with than Consort Yan.

After listening to Xu Hui's introduction,

Li Suwan felt that she had gained a new understanding of Consort Yang.

As Xu Hui said, Consort Yang was a wiser woman, and she was also deeply favored by Li Shimin.

Consort Yang also had two sons, both of whom were outstanding.

Li Ke, in particular, was a man of both literary and military talent.

In addition, Consort Yang had a powerful background.

Although the Sui Dynasty perished

However, the remnants of the Yang family's power still exist and should not be underestimated.

Su Wan continued, "Do you know about Princess Yang, the wife of the Prince of Chao?"

"Of course I know, wasn't she originally Li Yuanji's concubine?"

"Yes, because she is very beautiful and very seductive."

After Li Yuanji died, the emperor moved her to the harem.

Not only that, the emperor and she had a son named Li Ming.

Not long ago, Li Ming fell seriously ill, and the imperial physicians of the Imperial Hospital were helpless, which greatly angered Li Shimin.

Therefore, all the imperial physicians in the Imperial Medical Academy should be executed.

At that time, Sun Simiao was in Zhongnan Mountain, so Li Shimin sent the chief eunuch Wang De to invite him.

Unexpectedly, Sun Simiao was eccentric and unwilling to help.

At last,

The Crown Prince himself went to Zhongnan Mountain to invite Sun Simiao.

Sun Simiao only came to save Li Ming's life because of the Crown Prince.

"Is that so? In that case, the Crown Prince has shown great kindness to Lady Yang."

If it weren't for the Crown Prince's intervention,

"Wouldn't Li Ming have died young like Li Xiao?" Xu Hui asked, her eyes wide.

"That's exactly right."

However, unexpectedly,

Lady Yang accepted bribes from Li Tai and also succumbed to his influence.

Upon hearing this, Xu Hui could no longer sit still.

She looked at the chessboard and saw that there were already three black pieces, representing Consort Yan, Consort Yang, and Consort Chao, and there were no white pieces yet.

"So, what is Empress Zhangsun's attitude?"

"Empress Zhangsun naturally supports the Crown Prince. Empress Zhangsun made it clear that there is an order of seniority, and the Crown Prince's merits outweigh his faults, so he has not made any major mistakes."

"The Crown Prince is the foundation of the nation and should not be touched lightly." Su Wan fiddled with her hair.

"Empress Zhangsun was truly wise."

So, what were the attitudes of Consort Wei and Consort Yin?

"It is not known at the moment."

Xu Hui frowned as she looked at the black pieces on the chessboard.

"To be honest, although Consort Wei and Consort Yin rarely show their faces, I always felt that they were very profound. Often, those who are so calm and collected are the most terrifying."

Su Wan nodded: "You're right."

Xu Hui picked up her teacup, covered her face with her sleeve, took a small sip, and began to speak eloquently: "During this time, I've read quite a few books back in my hometown..."

Objectively speaking, I think Li Chengqian was the most outstanding crown prince in history.

"Are you telling the truth?" Su Wan hadn't expected Xu Hui to praise Li Chenggan so highly.

Her eyes lit up as she asked curiously.

What I said is, of course, true.

Fusu was too weak and benevolent. Because he opposed Qin Shi Huang's burning of books and burying of scholars alive, Qin Shi Huang, in a fit of anger, exiled him to Meng Tian's army.

After the coup at Dune, Zhao Gao sent a forged imperial edict ordering him to commit suicide. Logically, with an army of 30 under his command, he had every opportunity to turn the tide.

Unfortunately,

He couldn't even distinguish the authenticity of the imperial edict, so he committed suicide.

Su Wan listened quietly.

"Crown Prince Liu Rong is a man who doesn't know the times."

His mother, Consort Li, was too naive. After Consort Li lost power, Liu Rong was also deposed and demoted to Prince of Linjiang.

In situations like this, he should keep a low profile and behave himself.

However, he showed no restraint and continued to undertake large-scale construction, even encroaching on the land of the ancestral temple.

He didn't understand his father, and Emperor Jing of Han was preparing to find fault with him to clear the way for the new crown prince, Liu Che.

Emperor Jing of Han dispatched the notorious ruthless official Zhi Du to investigate the case.

Liu Rong was driven to suicide in prison;

This shows that Liu Rong accomplished nothing and died a pathetic death.

"The fundamental reason why Liu Rong was deposed was that his mother, Consort Li, offended Princess Guantao," Su Wan added.

"Relatively speaking, Crown Prince Liu Ju was quite wise."

He saw through Jiang Chong's true colors and decisively killed him.

but,

His actions also angered Emperor Wu of Han.

Jiang Chong was a favorite of Emperor Wu of Han, who relied heavily on him.

Liu Ju was not good at handling his relationship with Emperor Wu of Han, and Emperor Wu of Han became very suspicious in his later years.

Even Liu Ju found it difficult to see Emperor Wu of Han, as there was a lack of communication between father and son.

Emperor Wu of Han, under the false accusations of Huangmen Shilang Su Wen, Xiaohuangmen Chang Rong, Wang Bi and others, believed that the crown prince was plotting a rebellion and sent the imperial army to suppress it.

This is the infamous witchcraft scare in history.

Liu Ju did not intend to rebel, so he did not have military power.

He organized some of his household servants to fight against the imperial army, but how could they possibly be a match for the regular imperial army?

Ultimately, Liu Ju was defeated and committed suicide, so it can be said that Liu Ju died under mysterious circumstances.

Although Emperor Wu of Han later realized that the crown prince had not truly plotted a rebellion, it was too late.

Su Wan felt deeply saddened when Xu Hui spoke of Emperor Wu of Han and his son Liu Ju.

Originally, the closest relationship in the world is that between father and son. Unexpectedly, Emperor Wu of Han and his son Liu Ju turned against each other in the end. Isn't that tragic?

"Crown Prince Yang Yong is also a brainless person."

His mother, Empress Dugu Jialuo, was no ordinary woman; she was extremely powerful, and even Emperor Wen of Sui was wary of her.

Empress Dugu hated nothing more than princes taking concubines and opposed extravagance and waste. However, Crown Prince Yang Yong did not take Empress Dugu's words to heart.

First of all,

He indulged in extravagant spending in the Eastern Palace, decorating it lavishly and taking in numerous concubines. Day and night, he drank and reveled without end.

What's most infuriating is that he neglected Crown Princess Yuan, favored Yun Zhaoxun, and had three sons with her: Prince Changning Yang Yan, Prince Pingyuan Yang Yu, and Prince Ancheng Yang Jun.

The Crown Princess was so angry she died.

"Ah, Yang Yong is going too far." Su Wan thought to herself that she was also the Crown Princess. If Li Chengqian were to treat her coldly like Yang Yong did in the future, wouldn't she be worse off than dead?

"Dugu Jialuo was furious because of this."

However, Yang Yong continued to do as he pleased, showing no restraint.

He enjoys overstepping his bounds.

At that time, Emperor Wen of Sui was still alive and was still the emperor.

Once, on the winter solstice,

All the civil and military officials went to the Eastern Palace to pay their respects to Yang Yong.

Yang Yong surprisingly accepted the congratulations from the civil and military officials without refusing, but left Emperor Wen of Sui out in the cold.

How could Emperor Wen of Sui feel about this?

Who is the emperor?

Although Yang Jian and Yang Yong were father and son,

but,

That won't work either.

Yang Yong acted too flamboyantly and lacked political acumen.

Yang Guang secretly cultivated relationships with many ministers in the court, such as the brothers Yang Su and Yang Yue, and Zhang Heng.

It should be noted that Yang Su's words carried considerable weight with Emperor Wen of Sui.

Those people spoke well of Yang Guang and badly of Yang Yong in front of Emperor Wen of Sui every day. Over time,

Emperor Wen of Sui listened to this.

Logically, as a mother, Dugu Jialuo should have supported Crown Prince Yang Yong.

However, Yang Yongqi had lost the Crown Princess and had a fondness for luxury.

Therefore, Dugu Jialuo also spoke ill of Yang Yong in front of Emperor Wen of Sui.

finally,

Emperor Wen of Sui was determined to depose Yang Yong and instead make Yang Guang the crown prince.

Upon hearing this, Su Wan's eyes blazed with resentment: "Yang Yong's killing of Crown Princess Yuan is truly hateful!"

In Su Wan's view, this matter was of paramount importance and could not be tolerated.

"Li Jiancheng's merits and demerits are too numerous to describe in a few words."

then,

When the uprising began in Jinyang, Li Jiancheng and Li Shimin each led a force to charge into battle, and they were ruthless in capturing passes and strongholds.

Of course, his military achievements were not as great as Li Shimin's.

That was because Li Yuan was biased; he didn't let Li Jiancheng go to the battlefield to risk his life, but instead had him help him handle government affairs.

In fact, if Li Jiancheng had worked diligently, he would have had a very good chance of becoming emperor.

then,

He was surrounded by a group of civil and military officials, such as Wei Zheng, Xue Wanche, Luo Yi, Pei Ju, Li Gang, and Zheng Shanguo, who all loyally assisted him.

However, he couldn't accept honest advice, even if it was hard to hear; he simply didn't take it to heart.

Because Li Shimin was often away on campaigns and had little contact with the harem, Li Jiancheng, who remained in Chang'an, had frequent contact with the harem and thus developed lewd thoughts.

Even more bizarrely, he had ambiguous and unclear relationships with Li Yuan's concubines, Consort Zhang and Consort Yin.

If this gets out, it's a capital offense!

But he did it anyway.

He repeatedly conspired with Li Yuanji to frame Li Shimin.

Ultimately, Li Shimin was driven to a dead end and launched the Xuanwu Gate Incident, killing Li Jiancheng and Li Yuanji.

The aforementioned crown princes—Fusu, Liu Rong, Liu Ju, Yang Yong, and Li Jiancheng—had many problems, so their only fate was death.

Li Chengqian didn't have those problems; therefore, in my opinion, Li Chengqian was the most perfect crown prince in history.

After hearing Xu Hui's words, Su Wan smiled, because she also believed that Li Chengqian was the most outstanding crown prince.

She asked with a smile, "Weren't there any outstanding crown princes in history?"

Xu Hui lowered his head and pondered for a moment, then said, "If we must find a crown prince to compare with Li Chengqian, then I'm afraid it would only be Yang Zhao, the crown prince of Emperor Yang of Sui."

Yang Zhao was also a very wise crown prince, skilled in both literature and martial arts, and quite resourceful.

At that time, Emperor Yang of Sui was in Luoyang, and Yang Zhao was handling government affairs in Daxing City, which was not inappropriate.

However, Yang Zhao also had a flaw.

"What's wrong?"

"It's just that he's too fat."

On one occasion,

He came to Luoyang from Daxing City and asked Emperor Yang of Sui to stay in Luoyang for a while longer.

Emperor Yang of Sui disagreed, so he knelt on the ground and kowtowed.

Who knew he would accidentally kill himself?

"Really? I've rarely heard of such a thing."

"Do you think he died unjustly? He died even more unjustly than King Wu of Qin. At least King Wu of Qin lifted the Dragon-patterned Red Tripod."

In my opinion, it is also wrong for a person to only care about the country but not about health preservation.

Remember that there are no young or old on the road to the underworld. Don't think that just because you're young you'll be safe; that's not necessarily true.

Because the crown prince represents not only his own interests but also those of the entire royal family, he must also understand the importance of health preservation.

Throughout history, many accomplished monarchs, such as King Zhaoxiang of Qin and Emperor Wu of Han, lived long lives.

After listening to what Xu Hui said, Su Wan was deeply moved.

of course,

In Su Wan's mind, she also felt that Li Chengqian was the most outstanding crown prince in the world.

If Li Chengan had one flaw, it was that he had a leg ailment.

Fortunately, he met Sun Simiao, who cured his leg ailment.

Those ministers in the court with ulterior motives could no longer bring up this matter, saying things like the Crown Prince no longer looked like a Crown Prince when he wore the dragon robe.

Today, Li Chenggan is tall, handsome, elegant, and dashing. Even his cough is loud, and his walk is so powerful it makes the ground shake. He is even more impressive than Li Shimin was in his youth.

at this time,

Xu Hui took out a white chess piece and placed it on the chessboard.

Su Wan looked at her and asked, "What do you mean by this?"

Xu Hui smiled gently: "Guess!"

It was around midnight.

Chong Sheng Palace.

The palace was still the same palace, unchanged from before, because someone was cleaning it, and the rooms were spotless and tidy.

He Lian then increased the size of the charcoal fire, and the temperature gradually rose.

Xu Hui took a hot bath with the help of her maid He Lian.

At this moment, she was wearing a layer of white gauze, sitting in front of the dressing table, gently combing her hair.

Xu Hui was lost in thought. Undeniably, Li Shimin was the man she loved most in her life.

She hadn't seen Li Shimin for a while and missed him dearly.

Last time,

Li Shimin secretly sent a young eunuch to deliver an imperial decree summoning her back.

then,

She wanted to come back.

Because he couldn't suppress his longing for Li Shimin every day.

but,

When she thought about the intrigues and power struggles in the imperial harem,

She hesitated again.

She didn't want to compete for fame or fortune; she just wanted to live a simple life.

She understood that Li Shimin's status was special; he was the emperor, and it was impossible for her to possess him exclusively.

She wouldn't be as naive as Consort Li, wanting Emperor Jing of Han to favor her alone.

All she wanted was to spend her free time reading, writing, gardening, and occasionally having Li Shimin come to visit and chat with her—that was all.

As for whether she will have a prince in the future, she no longer cares.

Because she also knew that such things cannot be forced; what is destined to be yours will be yours, and what is not, you cannot force.

Xu Hui looked at herself in the bronze mirror. Her skin was as smooth as cream, her teeth were white and her lips were red. Her face was flushed from the hot bath she had just taken.

To be honest, she is quite confident in her beauty.

During this time, lovesickness caused her to lose even more weight; no wonder people say that lovesickness ages a person quickly.

She wondered to herself, "It's been so long since I've seen Li Shimin. What would his reaction be if he saw me?"

Will he become as suspicious of himself as before?

They might even think they've been practicing witchcraft.

at this time

She heard footsteps outside the door, and then a tall figure flashed in.

Xu Hui turned her head to look, and saw that the person who came was none other than Li Shimin.

She noticed that Li Shimin had also lost some weight recently.

However, he was in high spirits, radiant, and his eyes were bright and piercing.

Xu Hui quickly stood up, stepped forward, and knelt on the ground. Overwhelmed with emotion, her voice trembled slightly: "Your Majesty... Your Majesty, I pay my respects!"

Li Shimin laughed heartily, reached out his hands to help her up, and looked her over from left to right.

By the light of the lamp, Li Shimin noticed that Xu Hui's full head of black hair cascaded down her shoulders like a waterfall, smooth and silky.

With fair and delicate skin, a tall and slender figure, she looked like a fairy from the moon palace.

Beneath the sheer fabric, the body revealed an S-shape, its curves shapely and alluring, appearing and disappearing in a tantalizing glimpse.

Xu Hui's chest was full and white, as if it were about to burst out of her bra, with a deep cleavage winding down, its depths unfathomable.

"Gulp!"

Li Shimin swallowed hard: "Yes, my beloved concubine, you're finally back."

"Tonight, I will not leave; I will rest here."

Xu Hui noticed that Li Shimin was still staring straight at her as before.

However, Li Shimin still fascinated her at this time.

Xu Hui blushed: "Your Majesty, what are you looking at? It's not like we haven't seen this before!"

We've just met, what are you talking about?

However, to Xu Hui's surprise, Li Shimin seemed rather impatient this time, suddenly picking her up and showering her with kisses on the neck: "My beloved concubine, I've missed you so much. Come on, let's go for a little fun!"

"Your Majesty, be gentle, you haven't taken a bath yet!"

"Why take a shower? You can shower after you're done!"