A Good Landlord in the Tang Dynasty: Starting from the Village Chief

Chapter 690 The Retired Emperor
"Your Majesty's feelings at this moment are something this old minister can understand."

"However, given the current situation, Your Majesty must still look forward."

Pei Ji took a breath, "Lu Jie's death was the Crown Prince's way of making an example of someone, and on the surface, the monkey being warned was the old minister."

But, to speak frankly and without offense, isn't this also the Crown Prince's faction showing its claws to the Emperor?

"Your Majesty should not have appointed the King of Qin as commander-in-chief and allowed him to wage war in the east and west. This has made the King of Qin more and more powerful and gathered a large number of strategists and fierce generals under his command."

Later, it became even more inappropriate to establish the Shaanxi East Circuit Grand Secretariat and the Heavenly Strategy General's Office.

With his unparalleled achievements and immense power, the King of Qin naturally harbored ambitions beyond his station.

At this point, the only option was to go with the flow and make the King of Qin the Crown Prince. However, the Emperor hesitated and wavered, which led to the disaster on the fourth day of the sixth month.

Otherwise, if the crown prince had been deposed and the King of Qin installed, the King of Qin would not have taken such a risk.

Li Yuan lamented, "Things have already come to this, what's the use of saying anything now?"

“Yes, things have come to this. Why should Your Majesty retain this empty title of supreme ruler? Why not pass the throne to the Crown Prince as soon as possible?” Pei Ji said.

"Now I'm just a figurehead, I can't even leave this Ganlu Palace, and even my two consorts, Yin and Zhang, have been taken away and we haven't heard from them since."

"What? He's only been the Crown Prince for a few days, and he won't even grant me this empty title? So eager to become Emperor?"

Pei Ji wiped away his tears.
His visit to the Crown Prince and the Emperor at Taiji Palace today was also for his own protection.

The death of his in-law Lu Jie also panicked Pei Ji, who did not expect the crown prince to be so decisive and ruthless.

He's now afraid that if they follow Lu Jie's lead, the investigation will eventually reach him.

At that time, just like when he killed Lu Jie, the Crown Prince would execute him in the marketplace without any trial by the Three Judicial Offices. What could Pei Ji do then?

Who can protect him?
I can only protect myself and atone for my sins with good deeds.

He finally managed to see the Crown Prince at the Eastern Palace.

When he urged the emperor to abdicate, and even said he would go to the Taiji Palace to persuade the emperor to pass on the throne, the crown prince, who had previously looked at him with disdain, finally gave him a proper look and even offered him tea.

"The Crown Prince is decisive, but not heartless. If His Majesty does not wish to abdicate now, he will certainly not force him too much. However, most of his subordinates are from humble backgrounds, commoners, or former rebel kings and generals. They are all eager to enthrone the Crown Prince as emperor."
There is no greater merit than supporting the establishment of a new regime.
Everyone is waiting for the Crown Prince to ascend the throne and bestow titles upon his officials. If the Crown Prince delays his ascension, these people will naturally become anxious.

Li Yuan immediately thought of the fourth day of the sixth month.

Hou Junji broke into the Ganlu Palace's sleeping quarters and killed three eunuchs and palace servants right in front of him, their blood splattering on his face.
There was also the fierce appearance of Yuchi Gong, fully armored and wielding a spear, when he came to him to request a personal edict from the King of Qin to control all the armies, both inside and outside the capital.

The emperor's face turned deathly pale.

"Hmph, does Erlang dare to bring those arrogant and fierce soldiers to the Ganlu Hall of Taiji Palace again and kill me with a single sword?"

"Haha, it's good that you killed me with one sword, so that I won't be trapped in this cage."

Pei Ji quickly tried to persuade him, explaining that he had come with a mission to atone for his sins, not to provoke the emperor.

"Your Majesty, this is not the time to act out of spite. Keeping this empty title is of no use. Pass the throne to the Crown Prince and let everything settle down."
At that time, the relationship between His Majesty and his son will be able to ease and return to what it was before.

Li Yuan pondered for a long time.
"I don't really care about an empty title."
I am actually quite satisfied that Erlang was able to protect Jiancheng and Yuanji.

but,

After all,

Erlang wants the throne.

They should come to see me in person and ask me for it directly.”

"Some things should be said face to face."

Li Yuan was initially quite pleased to see his old friend Pei Ji, and even wanted to catch up, chat, drink some wine, and play the pipa.

But at this moment, I only feel mentally and physically exhausted.
He waved his hand weakly, "I am tired, you may take your leave!"

"My minister retire."

Pei Ji withdrew.
Outside the hall, Zhang Anan stood guard.

Pei Ji nodded and left the palace, heading straight for the East Palace.

After listening to Pei Ji's report, Li Shimin pondered for a long time, "Is Your Majesty truly willing to abdicate?"

"Yes, His Majesty has summoned Your Highness to the Taiji Palace for a detailed discussion."

Li Shimin stood up, put his hands behind his back, and paced around in circles.
"Is there any precedent for the transmission of the throne?"

Pei Ji was prepared and said, "Your Majesty can first issue an edict announcing your abdication, following the example of Emperor Gaozu of Han, who was called the Retired Emperor, and then Your Highness can ascend the throne as the new ruler."
"In that case, everything will be settled!"

Li Shimin looked at Pei Ji, who was dressed in white robes, and said, "Lord Pei is a meritorious official from Taiyuan. Since the founding of the country, he has been in charge of all affairs of state. He has both merit and hard work."
If I ascend the throne smoothly, Lord Pei will be ranked first in merit.

Having received Li Shimin's promise, Pei Ji blushed deeply, finally feeling a huge weight lifted from his heart.

He had originally intended to take the opportunity to mention Lu Jie's matter and defend himself, but in the end he didn't say it.

Pei Ji walked out of the East Palace.

He was escorted back to the Pei residence by a carriage from the Eastern Palace, and the Crown Prince also rewarded Pei Ji with two jars of imperial wine and one hundred bolts of silk.

This amount of money is nothing to the Pei family; it's practically a drop in the ocean.
But this was a gift from the Crown Prince, so it has a different meaning.

After the morning court session the next day
The Crown Prince summoned several of his trusted confidants for a meeting.

Left Minister Xiao Yu was extremely dissatisfied that he was not summoned and complained in public that the Crown Prince should not have done so.

Li Yi ignored Xiao the Big Talker.

They walked and talked with Du Ruhui.

Today's meeting,

Not many people,
These were the six people who plotted the Xuanwu Plan that day.
Of the six, three are now prime ministers, two are ministers, and one is the left vice minister.

They were all dressed in purple robes.

"His Majesty is willing to abdicate," Li Shimin announced happily to everyone.

Today we're here to discuss how to pass on the throne.

Changsun Wuji was the most enthusiastic upon hearing this, saying, "Your Majesty has finally come to a realization! That's wonderful! The sooner the better, the better!"

"There's no time like the present; let's do it in the next few days."

Li Shimin smiled and looked at Li Yi, Fang Xuanling, and the others. "Now that things are more stable both domestically and internationally, and the court and the country are at peace, as long as Your Majesty is willing to abdicate, the time is ripe." Li Yi also supported ascending the throne as soon as possible.

Historically, Li Shimin staged the Xuanwu Gate Incident, murdering his brothers, imprisoning his father, and ruthlessly eliminating all ten of his nephews.

Three days after the coup, he appointed the crown prince, and two months later he ascended the throne as emperor.

The mutiny happened three years earlier and went much more smoothly, without any bloodshed. Jiancheng, Yuanji, and their sons were all spared.

Both the capital city and the local areas were relatively stable.

Given the current situation, Li Shimin certainly doesn't need to wait any longer and can ascend the throne ahead of schedule.

"Pick an auspicious day."

Li Yi said, "How about July 4th?"

The fourth day of the seventh lunar month marks exactly one month since the Xuanwu Gate Incident.

"Isn't this a bit too hasty?"

It's already the end of June, only four days away from the fourth day of the Lunar New Year.

Fang Xuanling stroked his beard and smiled, saying, "I think there is still plenty of time in four days, and it is also an auspicious day."

He ascended the throne and became emperor half a month after the palace coup.

Good.

Four days is enough time to prepare everything.

Changsun Wuji was even more eager for the Crown Prince to ascend the throne the next day.

Even Wei Zheng agreed to the enthronement on July 4th, feeling that it was better to do it sooner rather than later.

Li Shimin also hoped to ascend the throne as soon as possible.

"I can ascend the throne on July 4th, but I have one condition." Li Shimin looked at his trusted advisors and said, "The enthronement ceremony will still be held in the Xiande Hall of the Eastern Palace, not in the Taiji Palace."

Furthermore, after I ascended the throne, I continued to reside in the Eastern Palace to govern and administer the government, and did not enter the Taiji Palace.

After His Majesty abdicates, he will continue to reside in the Taiji Palace, and will not be disturbed.

Changsun Wuji said, "How can this be allowed?"

Your Highness now resides in the Eastern Palace because Your Highness is the Crown Prince.

But once he ascends the throne, he becomes the Son of Heaven. How can he still reside in the Eastern Palace and have all the officials come to the Eastern Palace for court assemblies?

After ascending the throne, one should reside in the imperial palace.

After Your Majesty abdicates, you should move out of Taiji Palace. I think we could ask the retired emperor to move to Hongyi Palace.

Furthermore, the deposed Crown Prince Jiancheng and the criminal commoner Yuanji should also be imprisoned in the imperial city and moved out of the palace.

Li Shimin shook his head.
"There's no need to discuss this further; my mind is made up."

"Xuanling, Keming, you two begin arranging the enthronement ceremony. Wuyi, you come with me to the Taiji Palace to meet the Emperor!"

It's been almost a month since I seized the throne.
But Li Shimin had never been to Taiji Palace.
The father and son had not seen each other since their meeting at the Linhu Palace that day.

Li Shimin was both very busy, managing countless affairs of state, and ashamed to see his father.

But today,
The emperor had already conveyed to Pei Ji his willingness to pass on the throne, but wanted to meet with him first to discuss it in person.

He has to go.
But she was still a little uneasy, so she had no choice but to bring Li Yi along.

Li Yi rode in the Crown Prince's carriage to Taiji Palace, traveling together with the Crown Prince.

"Wu Yi, do you think His Majesty is truly willing to abdicate?"

Li Yi thought to himself, how could the emperor truly want to abdicate? Wasn't he forced to step down by a coup? What choice did he have?

now,

His willingness to step down was a last resort.

"Your Highness, His Majesty's willingness to abdicate is a cause for celebration throughout the land."

along the way,

Li Shimin looked restless.

It can be seen that,
Although he acted decisively, he was still carrying a burden.

In the Ganlu Hall,

When the two arrived,
Li Yuan was holding a pipa and singing to himself.

Upon seeing the two, the emperor did not stop until the mournful Liangzhou tune was finished, at which point he put down his pipa.

"Erlang has arrived, please sit down."

"Wu Yi also sat down."

The two had just sat down when
Li Yuan then stared at his son and asked, "Second Prince, where did Consort Yin and Consort Zhang go?"

Li Shimin remained silent.

"Alive or dead?" Li Yuan asked, his tone becoming more serious.

Li Yi spoke up, "Your Majesty, the eunuchs questioned the two consorts earlier to investigate some matters. Knowing they were guilty of serious crimes, the two consorts, fearing punishment, took advantage of a moment when no one was looking and hanged themselves."

"The Crown Prince was afraid of upsetting His Majesty, so he has not submitted a memorial."

Upon hearing that the two favored concubines were indeed gone...

Li Yuan sat there silently, his face grim.

After a long time,
Li Yuan sighed deeply.
"I can abdicate in your favor, anytime, but can you promise me that you won't kill Jiancheng and Yuanji, and even more so, you won't kill their sons?"
Jiancheng and Yuanji are your brothers, born of the same mother. Spare their lives!

"Demote them to the rank of princes and enfeoff them in the remote and uncivilized regions of Lingnan or the south, forbidding them from ever returning to the capital."

Li Shimin looked at his father, who had aged considerably.
"Your Majesty, I promise not to kill Jiancheng, Yuanji, or their children."

Li Shimin only promised not to kill them, but refused to grant them official titles and fiefdoms later.

(End of this chapter)