coobybook Chapter 31: Who will be chosen as the crown prince within one day?
Chapter 31: Who will be chosen as the crown prince within one day?
Princess Jinyang, also known as Xiao Siza, was the apple of Emperor Taizong's eye. She grew up under his watchful eye, and the father and daughter had an extremely close relationship, always spending time together.
Emperor Taizong of Tang, as everyone knows, was a calligraphy enthusiast, and his calligraphy was superb.
The little princess watched her father wield his brush every day and became fascinated with calligraphy herself, especially his father's signature flying white style.
It's a pity that the little princess died young, passing away at the age of twelve.
Emperor Taizong was heartbroken. He couldn't eat for more than 30 days and cried every day, losing a lot of weight from the crying.
The ministers tried to persuade him, and he knew that crying like this was useless, but he just couldn't help it, and he himself couldn't understand why he was like this.
The gossip continues in the laundry department.
Granny Ling: Hey, have you heard? It turns out that the rumor about Princess Jinyang never growing up was actually a scheme devised by the Emperor and the Emperor Emeritus to cover it up!
Xiao Yi came again to bring clothes to change: You know, the truth is that Xiao Si Zi really has left them.
Granny Qing said: No matter how healthy that little darling was, she couldn't escape the fate of never waking up. She stayed in the dream forever and will never come back. It's so sad.
Xiao Yi: So what is the background of the young master I am serving now?
Granny Ling: I heard it was brought back by Lord Li.
Xiao Yi: Which Lord Li? The tenderloin pouch my master mentioned?!
……
The retired emperor and the emperor have spoiled Princess Jinyang rotten; they've practically gone mad with love for her.
For the sake of the little princess, Emperor Taizong of Tang even issued a special edict, using her own New Year's money, which was the income from her fiefdom, to build a Buddhist shrine next to her tomb, saying it was to pray for her well-being.
But to be honest, this Buddhist temple is just a formality, nothing more.
Speaking of princesses in the early Tang Dynasty, they could only truly enjoy the benefits of their fiefdoms after they got married.
But look at Princess Jinyang, she has been granted a real title at such a young age. This treatment is simply outrageous!
Bai Juyi's statement, "In recent times, there have been those who were granted bathing privileges before reaching marriageable age," refers to Princess Jinyang, a princess who received special honors at a young age due to her favor with the emperor.
And then there's Hegan Chengji, who, in order to atone for his sins, revealed Li Chengqian's coup plot.
As for Brother Zhinu, he always stayed by Father's side. He didn't have his own residence or staff; only Xiao Sizi accompanied him.
My uncle, Changsun Wuji, came to visit today...
Zhinu: Hey, Sier, Uncle Changsun Wuji actually came to visit our palace today, and he brought a whole bunch of delicious food! It's such a surprise! Why is he suddenly so concerned about us?
While stuffing delicious food into her mouth, Si Zi said, "Brother Zhi Nu, what do you think of our uncle Changsun Wuji?"
Zhi Nu: Our uncle is a loyal minister and general of our country. He must be unhappy to see Li Tai using such ruthless methods to fight for the throne. He did this perhaps to prevent Father from being deceived by Li Tai's superficial actions, or perhaps for the sake of our Li Tang dynasty.
Sizi: However, this all depends on two conditions: first, Changsun Wuji must genuinely care for the country; second, Li Tai must truly be a terrible person. What do you think, Zhinu?
Zhinu: Both of these conditions are too subjective, it's hard to say for sure.
Si Zi blinked and said: Actually, Uncle Changsun Wuji is also taking a risk. He is making a political investment.
Oh?
You see, in all these years of political struggles, he has kept himself completely hidden; no one can tell who he actually supports.
Zhi Nu: I think Uncle doesn't not want to get involved, but he just doesn't have the opportunity. The relationship between our mother, Empress Zhangsun, and Uncle forces him to be extremely careful in everything he does. Although Uncle is a relative of the empress, he doesn't crave power at all.
The three-headed rhinoceros was strangely clever: it was precisely because his uncle was too conservative that the best opportunity to support the crown prince was missed. Li Chengqian's Eastern Palace faction and Li Tai's faction vying for the throne had long been formed, and it would be difficult for his uncle to intervene at this point!
Zhi Nu: If Uncle had helped Li Chengqian earlier, there might have been a chance of winning, but the key is that Changsun Wuji didn't help, and as a result, the Crown Prince was eliminated by himself.
Sizi: Yes, brother, if Hugo were to help Li Tai at this time, it would just be a minor favor, and the merit of supporting him would not be his responsibility at all.
Zhinu: Today's court session was quite lively, but sadly, our father cried again.
Oh?
Zhinu: Brother Li Tai actually swore to Father that on the day he passes away, he will personally kill his own son and hand over the throne to me.
The little rhinoceros opened its mouth wide.
Zhinu: His words and unwavering loyalty filled my heart and mine with mixed feelings, a mixture of heartache and gratitude.
The ministers in the court exchanged glances as if watching a grand drama, thinking to themselves, "This is quite a show; apart from Li Shimin, we all have to hold back our laughter."
Emperor Taizong's judgment completely failed him when faced with his most favored son. Why was he unwilling to confront the cruelty of political struggle, preferring instead to cling to the beautiful illusions of his own perceived abilities?
Li Chengqian, that kid, was really anxious. He wanted to tell everyone: As for Li Tai being a loyal and righteous person? Haha, all I can say is that he can handle everything perfectly well for us brothers and sisters!!
Anyone with eyes can see that all these years of fighting have been a show put on by Li Tai for his father.
Chu Suiliang was cunning and clever. Instead of pointing it out directly, he subtly reminded him that the King of Wei was willing to give up his own son and the empire to relinquish the throne, which didn't make sense.
Originally, Li Chengqian was the undisputed crown prince, but Emperor Taizong favored Li Tai, and that's how tragedy struck.
Although Chu Suiliang and Changsun Wuji didn't have much of a relationship, they were quite in sync on this matter, neither of them wanting Li Tai to take the throne.
Let's talk about Li Tai. He was doing very well in officialdom, but he went to scare the inexperienced Li Zhi, saying that he would kill Li Zhi once he found out about his affair with Li Yuanchang.
As it turned out, things went awry. Li Zhi wasn't frightened at all; Emperor Taizong figured it out in less than five minutes.
Hey, Chu Suiliang and Wei Zheng, they always told Emperor Taizong not to spoil Li Tai so much.
Now that the Crown Prince has fallen, even though their audience was for the good of the Li Tang family, if Li Tai really becomes emperor, he will definitely settle accounts with them, and they won't get any good popcorn!
Emperor Taizong then pressed his brother, Zhinu, for an explanation, asking why he was suddenly unhappy.
As a result, Brother Zhinu told him everything at once.
Chu Suiliang's loyal advice kept buzzing in Emperor Taizong's ears like a mosquito, impossible to shake off.
Emperor Taizong had barely been gone for five minutes when he went to see Li Chengqian again. Having been reduced to commoner status by his own brother, Li Chengqian naturally didn't hold back in his words.
Li Chengqian said, "Father, I was born to be the Crown Prince, what more could I ask for?! But that Prince Wei is cunning and treacherous, setting trap after trap, forcing me to discuss with my ministers how to save my life. I was indeed foolish and fell into the trap of this treacherous villain. But, Father, if you really make Li Tai the Crown Prince, then you will also fall into his trap."
Emperor Taizong was having a splitting headache; he had to decide who to make crown prince within a single day.
These two are definitely not going to work.
What about the Ninth Prince, Li Zhi? I hadn't considered him at all before!
Is Zhinu capable of shouldering this responsibility?