My father, Li Shimin, please call me Crown Prince

Chapter 425: Take orders from heaven and live forever

On the seventh day of the tenth month of the twentieth year of Zhenguan.

East Palace.

Li Chengqian, returning here again, couldn't help but feel a little sentimental.

When he left, it was the first day of the seventh month of the seventeenth year of Zhenguan. Li Chengqian set off for Goryeo.

At that time, I was in a rather disheveled state, almost in a situation of fleeing.

Fearing being trapped in Chang'an, they fled the city overnight and forcibly opened the city gates despite the curfew.

Then he fabricated a dream warning to deceive Li Shimin.

Li Shimin even staged a grand sacrificial ceremony, which almost led to a fight and him having to flee.

After more than three years, Li Chengqian finally returned to the Eastern Palace.

"Your Highness."

Crown Princess Su Yu'er couldn't hide her joy, after all, she had been living in the Eastern Palace ever since she married the Crown Prince.

Even after fleeing Luoyang and returning to Chang'an, he still stayed at the Daming Palace.

Nothing is as comfortable as the Eastern Palace.

The greater significance lies in the fact that the crown prince won.

From now on, you will no longer have to worry or be afraid.

"Father."

Little Li Jue is already eight years old, and his innocent face now shows a hint of seriousness.

As a precocious child, he has come to understand some of the ways of the world and is no longer the mischievous boy he once was.

"Go and tidy up first, I still have some things to take care of."

Li Chengqian gave a brief explanation.

Su Yu'er left with Xiao Li Jue.

Xiao Li was a little unhappy, and a muttered voice came from afar: "Can't you let me play for two days?"

Clearly, as members of the royal family, they had a heavy workload.

Watching Xiao Lijue's departing figure, Li Chengqian's eyes flickered.

Legally speaking, Li Xiang was his eldest son and had already been appointed as the eldest grandson of the emperor by Li Shimin.

However, in terms of background, he was undoubtedly inferior to Li Jue.

To be precise, Li Jue was the legitimate heir, and he also had Su Yu'er, his future biological empress.

As members of the imperial family, the Su family would certainly receive Li Chengqian's support in the future.

The Su family has no plans right now, but what about later?

A person's ambition always grows step by step.

A hungry person just wants to eat a full meal, while a full person wants to eat meat.

This cannot be avoided.

"Fortunately, I'm still young."

Li Chengqian felt somewhat fortunate. His physical condition determined everything. Li Xiang was his son, but he was more than ten years younger than him.

Perhaps, Li Jue will also be outlived by him.

Therefore, the fourth emperor of the Tang Dynasty was unlikely to be one of Li Xiang and Li Jue, but rather to be chosen from the grandchildren of Li Chengqian.

But this brings us back to square one: the conflict between the emperor and the crown prince.

After ascending to the throne, Li Chengqian also needed to maintain a balance, just like Li Shimin, or rather, Li Yuan in the past.

It's just a pity for Li Xiang; he'll probably be the crown prince for life.

No bathing today.

After all, a major battle had just taken place last night.

The grand court assembly for tomorrow has been scheduled.

The walls of the East Palace and Taiji Palace were urgently demolished.

Although Li Chengqian had run out of Thunderbolts, the Imperial Gunpowder Bureau still had a considerable number of substandard products.

It was certainly capable of destroying the courtyard wall; after a few explosions, the walls on both sides collapsed with a roar.

Tai Chi Hall.

What was that sound?

Li Shimin's eyes showed a hint of surprise.

He is currently under house arrest, and many messages are no longer being reported to him.

Zhang Anan was naturally unaware of the truth, but it was his duty to answer His Majesty's questions.

"I will go and inquire about it."

Zhang Anan went out to find Li Anyan to find out what was going on.

The two were quite familiar with each other; Li Anyan was the commander of the imperial guards, and they worked together.

It still is.

Li Anyan's attitude was correct. Whether it was the current emperor or the future emperor emeritus, they were both the crown prince's biological fathers, and he could not offend them at will.

The matter of blowing up the courtyard wall was hardly a secret, so naturally, Zhang Anan told him the truth.

Upon returning, Zhang Anan reported: "Your Majesty, the Crown Prince has ordered the use of the Thunderbolt Fire from the Gunpowder Bureau to blow up the walls of Taiji Palace and the East Palace."

After listening, Li Shimin seemed to understand.

“The Crown Prince did the right thing; perhaps there shouldn’t have been this courtyard wall in the first place.”

Li Shimin recalled how he had neglected the Crown Prince over the years, visiting the Eastern Palace only a few times a year. Wasn't the palace wall a major obstacle in this?

This inadvertently created a distance between father and son.

Now that it's been exploded, it's become transparent.

Zhang Anan didn't say much, but anyone with eyes could see that the Crown Prince wanted to better control the Taiji Palace.

But saying such things is taboo.

After thinking for a moment, Zhang A said, "The Crown Prince still cares about His Majesty."

Li Shimin nodded slightly.

In truth, Li Chengqian did not go as far as Li Yuan did back then. Li Yuan was strictly guarded and even placed under house arrest.

However, apart from replacing his personal guards, the Crown Prince made no other moves towards him.

Whether Li Shimin tentatively left the Taiji Palace or went to the Three Pools to have fun with his concubines, the Crown Prince did not stop him at all, and he could move freely throughout the entire Taiji Palace.

Including diet and other aspects, everything is in accordance with the previous standards, without any reduction.

The guards arranged by the Crown Prince were also very respectful and did not overstep their bounds in the slightest.

In a daze, Li Shimin realized that his life seemed unchanged, just like before.

The eunuchs and palace maids who served him were still the same ones.

In fact, the Crown Prince's approach was much better than what he did back then.

At least it didn't make him feel uncomfortable in the slightest.

"Your Majesty, the Crown Prince's eunuch Wen Zhong requests an audience."

The young eunuch outside the door came to report.

Li Shimin nodded: "Summon."

Having received permission, Wenzhong entered and kowtowed, saying, "Greetings, Your Majesty."

"Rise." Wen Zhong respectfully rose, bowed, and said, "Tomorrow, a grand court will be held. I humbly request Your Majesty to appoint the Crown Prince."

Li Shimin had no objection to this; it was simply a matter of appointing the Grand Marshal of all the armies and putting the Crown Prince in charge of all the armies.

He then instructed Zhang Anan to draft the imperial edict, which was then stamped with the seal of the Imperial Seal of the State.

Wenzhong, who respectfully accepted the imperial edict, did not leave.

"Anything else?"

Li Shimin frowned slightly and asked.

Fine beads of sweat appeared on Wen Zhong's forehead, his hands trembled slightly, and he bowed even lower, his voice even softer: "Your Majesty, I... I dare to say one more thing. Tomorrow's grand court assembly is a grand ceremony to establish the country and ensure its stability, and it is related to the peace of the world. At that time, there will certainly be many occasions where the Imperial Seal will be needed."

"Your Highness is thinking that His Majesty has been working hard on state affairs lately, and his health is of utmost importance. It is also a troublesome matter to keep such an important object as the Imperial Seal safe day and night."

"As the heir apparent, Your Highness the Crown Prince now assumes the responsibility of overseeing the country and should share His Majesty's burdens."

"If Your Majesty trusts us, it would be better to temporarily entrust the Imperial Seal to the Eastern Palace for safekeeping. Whenever the seal is needed before or after the Grand Court Assembly, His Highness the Crown Prince will personally present it to Your Majesty for inspection before use."

"In this way, Your Majesty will have fewer worries and can rest and recuperate in peace, and everything will be more convenient."

"Your Highness the Crown Prince has no intention of overstepping his bounds. It is only because he is concerned about His Majesty's health and fears that the court proceedings may be delayed due to their complexity, that he has asked me to... to humbly inquire about His Majesty's opinion."

After saying this, Wenzhong almost buried his head in his chest, not daring to breathe, waiting for Li Shimin's decision.

Li Shimin remained silent for a long time, and the air in the hall seemed to freeze.

He sat blankly at his desk, his fingers unconsciously stroking the bronze paperweight on it. His gaze fell into the empty space, as if piercing through the beams and pillars in front of him, seeing the young man who started the uprising in Taiyuan decades ago, seeing the bloodshed in front of Xuanwu Gate, and seeing the storms in the court over the years.

After a long while, he slowly exhaled, his voice tinged with weariness yet exceptionally clear: "I am truly getting old."

These words, spoken casually, made Wenzhong's heart skip a beat, and he lowered his head even further.

"When Yu'er first married into the Eastern Palace, she was still timid, but now she can manage the inner palace for the Crown Prince. A'jue is also eight years old. In a few years, he will be of age to come of age."

Li Shimin seemed to be talking to himself, or perhaps to Wenzhong: "I have guarded this empire for twenty years, and it is time for the Crown Prince to shoulder more responsibilities."

He looked up at Wenzhong, his eyes showing no anger, but rather a hint of relief: "You're right. I have indeed been feeling unwell lately, and I have been having trouble sleeping at night. Having the imperial seal by my side has really become a worry for me. I'm afraid it will get damaged, and I'm also afraid that I won't be able to find a proper person to serve me when I need it."

As he spoke, he waved his hand at Zhang Anan: "Go and fetch that seal."

Zhang Anan bowed slightly, then nodded in agreement and turned to walk into the inner hall.

Li Shimin's gaze returned to Wenzhong, his tone softening slightly: "The Crown Prince is thoughtful. He knows what I value most. This imperial seal is not just a stone; it represents the weight of the empire. If he wants it, let him take it. Just tell the Crown Prince..."

He paused, then emphasized, "When you hold it, remember the land beneath your feet, remember the eyes of the officials, and remember the stomachs of the common people."

Wen Zhong was startled and quickly kowtowed: "Your subject has remembered! I will certainly convey it to His Highness the Crown Prince in detail!"

Zhang Anan brought out a brocade box, inside which was the Imperial Seal of the State, engraved with the words "By the Mandate of Heaven, May Your Reign Be Long and Prosperous."

The jade is warm and smooth, yet it exudes a heavy chill.

Li Shimin looked at the brocade box, then at Wenzhong: "Take it. Tell the Crown Prince that I am not feeling well and will not be attending the grand court assembly tomorrow."

Wenzhong accepted the brocade box with both hands; it was icy cold to the touch, yet felt as heavy as a thousand pounds.

As he kowtowed again, his voice trembled with emotion: "Your Majesty, I thank you for your great kindness! Your Highness the Crown Prince will certainly live up to Your Majesty's expectations!"

Li Shimin waved his hand and said nothing more. He simply lowered his eyes again, looking at the memorials on the table. His figure appeared somewhat desolate in the candlelight.

Wen Zhong held the brocade box and retreated step by step until he walked out of the Taiji Hall, only to find that the back of his official robes was soaked with cold sweat.

The palace doors slowly closed behind him, as if separating two eras.

East Palace.

Li Chengqian looked at the Imperial Seal of the State presented by Wenzhong with both hands, and a few traces of fervor flashed in his eyes.

Whether in the future or in this world, no one can resist the temptation of "being ordained by Heaven and enjoying longevity".

The moment his fingertips touched the jade seal, Li Chengqian felt a chill creep up his fingertips, as if he were grasping a piece of warm jade soaking in a cold pool.

What is cold is the inherent nature of jade, but what is warm is the immense power emanating from those eight seal characters.

He held the jade seal up to his eyes, and the light shone through the window lattice onto the jade surface, revealing fine patterns.

The eight characters “受命于天，既寿永昌” were written by Qin Chancellor Li Si. The brushstrokes are sharp and chiseled, and one can almost see the ambition of the First Emperor to unify the six kingdoms and establish his rule over the world.

There was a tiny crack at the corner. He gently ran his fingertips over it. It was caused by Empress Dowager Xiaoyuan throwing the imperial seal when Wang Mang usurped the Han throne. The crack seemed to hold the bloody storms of the transition between the two Han dynasties.

"It really is a good product."

Li Chengqian chuckled softly, his voice carrying an undisguised sigh.

This jade seal has been passed down for thousands of years, from the Qin to the Han, from the Wei to the Jin. Countless emperors fought tooth and nail for it, and countless dynasties rose and fell because of it.

Now it rests peacefully in my palm, its jade texture warm and smooth as if it had been warmed by the body heat of countless emperors, yet it still carries an undeniable majesty.

He turned the jade seal over, and the inscription on the bottom was clearly visible. Once this seal was applied, it became an imperial edict, the law of the land, and a command that all people under heaven had to submit to.

The smell of gunpowder from yesterday's Xuanwu Gate still seems to linger in my nostrils, but now it has been replaced by the faint scent of pine soot ink on the jade seal.

That was the smell that accompanied it for countless years, along with imperial edicts and decrees.

“By the mandate of Heaven…” Li Chengqian traced those four characters with his fingertips.

A meaningful smile appeared on his lips as he gently placed the imperial seal on the table.

The collision of jade and wood produced a dull, soft sound, yet it seemed to resonate like a pulse striking the very heart of the Tang Dynasty.

"Wen Zhong."

"The minister is here."

"Bring the brocade box and keep it safe."

Li Chengqian's gaze shifted from the imperial seal, the fiery intensity in his eyes transforming into an unfathomable calm.

"A decree has been issued to the Ministry of Works that three layers of red felt must be laid in front of the palace for the grand court assembly tomorrow."

He wanted the whole world to see clearly that this imperial seal was now being held by a different hand.

These hands not only receive the mandate of heaven, but also hold the hearts of the people.

"Yes, Your Highness."

Li Chengqian was not in a hurry to ascend the throne; Li Shimin had been the crown prince for three months back then.

Although they won at Xuanwu Gate, they were not yet completely secure on the throne.

Right now, we have to wait for 100,000 Liaodong soldiers to arrive, then reform and upgrade the army, and finally promulgate the new policies.

Only after he has firmly established himself as the Grand Marshal of all the armies in the land will he consider ascending the throne.

However, this also requires Li Shimin's close cooperation.

Li Chengqian paused as he pushed the imperial seal into the brocade box. He looked through the window paper toward the direction of Taiji Palace and suddenly spoke, his voice a few decibels deeper than when he had given instructions to the Ministry of Works earlier: "Wenzhong, you have served me for many years. You should know what you can do and what you cannot say."

Wen Zhong's heart skipped a beat, and he bowed and replied, "Your subject understands."

Li Chengqian tapped the edge of the brocade box lightly with his fingertips: "At Taiji Palace, the daily meals are sent according to the old standard. If the chefs in the Imperial Kitchen dare to cut corners, you know what to do."

"And those eunuchs and palace maids who serve me—if any of them dare to be disrespectful in their speech or gossip in private, without even reporting to me, have them beaten to death on the spot."

He paused, then changed the subject: "But remember, don't add any rules that shouldn't be there. If His Majesty wants to go to the Three Ponds to admire the fish, let him go. If he wants to summon any concubine to accompany him, send someone to serve him. If anyone wants to see him, it's up to Father Emperor to decide. Things that were allowed before, are still allowed now."

Wen Zhong was somewhat confused. He glanced up furtively, then hurriedly lowered his head again: "Your Highness, this... to be both lenient and disciplined, I'm afraid..."

"What's there to be afraid of?" Li Chengqian sneered. "To be lenient is to maintain appearances, but to control people's hearts is to govern. Do you think that your father, sitting on the dragon throne all these years, really can't understand the thoughts of those below him?"

“What he wants now is not real power, but the honor of being an emperor. If you let him eat well and sleep well, and no one dares to show him any disrespect, he will not feel wronged.”

At this point, his tone suddenly became more serious: "But you must keep a close eye on things! Everyone who enters and leaves Taiji Palace, even the lowliest official delivering firewood, must be recorded in the register. I need to know exactly who spoke to Father Emperor, what documents Father Emperor read, and which palace he stayed in at night, before 9 PM every night."

Wen Zhong was startled and finally understood: "Your Majesty, I understand! We must make Your Majesty feel at ease, but we must also ensure that Your Majesty cannot be separated from the watchful eyes of the Crown Prince."

“That makes sense.” Li Chengqian nodded. “He is my father, not a prisoner. But I am now in charge of this country. Not letting him suffer is fulfilling my filial duty, and not letting him harbor any improper thoughts is protecting the country. You must find the right balance between these two.”

Wen Zhong kowtowed deeply: "Your Highness, I will obey your orders."

Li Chengqian waved his hand, watched Wen Zhong's retreating figure, and then his gaze returned to the brocade box.

The jade-like light shining through the gap in the box lid was just like the shadow of the courtyard wall of Taiji Palace that had just been demolished. It was visible and tangible, but it could no longer separate anything.

(End of this chapter)