The rebellious grandson of Emperor Zhenguan of the Tang Dynasty: Please, Your Majesty, be called Cro

Chapter 169 The ancestral tablets of the nine clans are trembling!

"Hahaha, the imperial grandson is late! I've been waiting quite a while!"

When Yan Xiangshi, the Vice Minister of the Ministry of Rites, learned that Li Xiang had come to report for duty today, he personally led several officials from the Ministry of Rites to greet him outside the main gate.

A few days ago, at the farewell ceremony for the King of Wei at Baqiao, Prime Minister Yan obtained firsthand historical materials from Li Xiang, one of the parties involved. He was extremely excited and that very night, he boasted about it to his elder brother Yan Shigu and his close friend Chu Suiliang, feeling quite triumphant.

At this moment, he was exceptionally warm towards Li Xiang.

After exchanging pleasantries, Yan Xiangshi led Li Xiang into the Ministry of Rites.

"Lord Yan, why is our Ministry of Rites so deserted?"

"I remember there was a physician in the Ministry of Rites named Wei Wanshi, with whom I had a close relationship. I wonder where he is now?"

Li Xiang looked around and casually asked.

"Oh, His Majesty has been investigating the corruption of officials in the court these past few days. Many of the officials under the Ministry of Rites must be working at the Court of Judicial Review."

"That Physician Wei is unfortunately among them. He has been dismissed from his post and sent to the Court of Judicial Review for investigation."

Yan Xiangshi smiled indifferently.

The Yan family rarely dealt with worldly affairs, and they were only temporarily brought to the Ministry of Rites as a temporary measure. The number of officials in the Ministry of Rites, whether many or few, was none of his concern.

Anyway, he doesn't get involved in anything.

Upon hearing this, Li Xiang understood. It seemed that Li Er's purge of the aristocratic families using the black book was not yet over.

Even the Wei clan of Jingzhao, who were most loyal to Prince Wei, were affected by the demotion of Prince Wei, Li Tai. It was said that Wei Ting, the former chief strategist of Prince Wei's mansion, had been dismissed and was awaiting punishment, but unexpectedly, his son, Wei Wanshi, was not spared this time either.

"The Wei family—alas, what a pity." Yan Xiangshi shook his head, his voice filled with sighs.

The Wei family of Jingzhao was originally a prominent family, but Wei Ting was insatiable and wanted to rise even higher. During the Wude era, he served Crown Prince Li Jiancheng and fought against Li Shimin and the generals of the Tiance Mansion.

The intention was to use the merit of following the dragon to elevate the Wei family to a higher level.

However, the Xuanwu Gate Incident occurred, and Li Shimin used 800 soldiers and his sharp arrows to teach Wei Ting a lesson: when it comes to betting, it's useless to look at who is the crown prince; you have to look at who has the strength!

Then Wei Ting learned his lesson and sought refuge with Li Tai, the Prince of Wei.

With both Wei Ting and his son punished, the Wei family now has no one left in the court to lend them any influence.

Xiang Shi just wants to say, why bother? History is full of cautionary tales. How many people have spent their lives striving and resorting to any means necessary, only to end up desolate and miserable?

To ensure the continuation of a family tradition, knowledge and family values ​​are the pillars. Relying on power and influence is merely putting the cart before the horse and seeking only temporary pleasure.

Unfortunately, many aristocratic families are unaware of this principle. Even the many great families that once relied on their clan traditions and reputation to become the Five Surnames and Seven Noble Families are now only interested in power and profit, and they will likely follow in the footsteps of the Wei family sooner or later.

Li Xiang didn't think as much as Yan Xiangshi did. He had only heard that Wei Wanshi was his superior, the Assistant Minister of Rites, and wanted to give him a warning first, so that Wei, who came from a prestigious family, wouldn't come and interfere with his work.

Since he has already been dealt with by Li Er, there's nothing he can do but let it go—it's not that he intends to seek revenge.

Before long, Yan Xiangshi led Li Xiang into the inner hall's duty room. Only a few minor officials and clerks were present in this duty room. Upon seeing Yan Xiangshi arrive, they quickly stood up and bowed.

Yan Xiangshi raised his hand in a gesture of respect, indicating that everyone should dispense with formalities. He then turned and pushed Li Xiang, who was standing beside him, forward half a step. He introduced Li Xiang to the officials in a gentle voice: "Gentlemen, this is Li Xiang, the grandson of the current emperor. He will serve as an assistant minister in the Ministry of Rites. Whenever the grandson of the emperor has any orders, you must obey them wholeheartedly and not shirk your duties or be negligent."

Upon hearing this, several officials bowed in unison and said, "We greet the Imperial Grandson."

After the formalities were completed, Yan Xiangshi turned to Li Xiang and slowly explained, "Your Highness, there is no need to be so formal. Your position as a junior official is quite leisurely, and there are no heavy official duties that accumulate year after year."

"These clerks were originally assigned to Wei Langzhong. You can ask them about specific matters. They will handle the daily chores and miscellaneous tasks, so you don't need to do it yourself. You can also instruct them to do any trivial matters. They can answer all your questions about the rules and regulations."

He paused, a smile appearing on his face, and continued, "My office is in the west wing. I always keep chess sets on hand when I have nothing to do. If the prince has any free time, feel free to come and play a few games with me to relieve your boredom."

At this point, Yan Xiangshi took a half step closer and whispered, "Mundane affairs are fine, but if the imperial grandson does something like the poem he gave at Ba Bridge that day, or happens to come up with any fine lines, you must inform this old man first."

"Of course, thank you for your trouble, Lord Yan." Looking at Yan Xiangshi's eager expression, Li Xiang chuckled inwardly. What kind of leader teaches their subordinates to slack off and encourages them to neglect their duties?

However, it seems that a large portion of the bureaucrats in the Tang Dynasty did not do their jobs properly. Tasks were delegated to clerks, while high-ranking officials from aristocratic families were busy with romance, socializing with powerful figures – this was the norm in the Tang Dynasty.

Having received Li Xiang's promise, Yan Xiangshi left happily. Li Xiang asked the officials, "I wish to write a memorial to the throne. Do you know how to submit it and what the regulations are?"

The officials looked at each other for a moment, then one of them stepped forward and said, "Your Highness—what does Your Highness wish to submit a memorial about?"

"I am a lowly person."

"A petty person can write on behalf of another."

So they don't even have to write memorials by hand? The scions of aristocratic families are truly corrupt.

Seeing that the clerk had already sat down at the table and prepared writing materials, Li Xiang simply sat down as well and said, "In that case, I will speak, and you will write."

"Li Xiang, Assistant Minister of the Ministry of Rites, submits a memorial to Your Majesty."

"Previously, a fire broke out in Longqingfang, which spread and destroyed a large number of houses, with most of the buildings collapsing. The neighborhood was originally inhabited by many ordinary people who either rented houses to make a living or stored goods for profit, relying on their meager income to support their families."

"After the fire, the houses were charred and the walls were crumbling. Broken bricks and broken walls were everywhere, and abandoned houses and empty rooms were everywhere. No one repaired or cleaned them for years. Longqingfang became more and more dilapidated, and the people had no food or clothing."

"In the capital, the most important place in the country, a neighborhood in the city is prone to disasters, leaving its people destitute and without anyone to provide relief, causing hardship for the common people and desolation in the city."

"It is clear from this that His Majesty is truly a foolish ruler! The four words 'the prosperous Zhenguan era' are nothing but a joke! How can he have the audacity to sit high in the palace, shamelessly considering himself a wise ruler—"

"Hmm? What's wrong?"

Before he could finish reading, Li Xiang heard a clang. The clerk who had been writing the memorial was suddenly jolted, his brush falling straight off the desk and hitting the floor with a soft thud. He froze on the spot, trembling, his face turning deathly pale.

"Your Majesty—Your Highness, this, this memorial—this humble man, this humble man truly dares not write it!"

The clerk practically scrambled off his seat, trembling with fear.

The other officials around him also stood frozen, all dumbfounded, their eyes wide open, their faces filled with disbelief and horror: they had previously heard that this man was a rebellious person, but they thought it was just a rumor.

The memorial had barely begun when the incompetent ruler took the initiative—

Such words are unbearable to hear! The official immediately felt the ancestral tablets of his nine generations of relatives tremble!

It was trembling so badly I could barely control it!

"In that case, I'll write it myself." Li Xiang didn't want to make things difficult for the officials. After thinking for a moment, he simply got up and wanted to continue writing the memorial.

Upon seeing this, the clerk broke out in a cold sweat again: His Majesty might not blame the grandson for such treasonous words in his memorial. But the first few words of the memorial were written by him personally.

What if His Majesty is furious and beheads him?

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