Tang Dynasty: A Guide to Avoiding Pitfalls for Li Er at the Start

Chapter 50 Strongly Opposes Arranged Marriage
"Then should we still talk about Li Shiji?"

Wen He felt a sense of urgency that she couldn't talk about Wu Zetian for too long.

He felt that Li Shimin's gaze towards him was strange for a moment.

"No need. Lord Mao is not a fool. He endorsed that rebellious son for the sake of loyalty to the emperor. The empress's usurpation was certainly his fault, but it was not his intention. I suppose he had already passed away when Wu usurped the throne?"

Li Shimin always felt a sense of sorrow whenever the topic of birth, aging, sickness, and death came up.

Holding supreme power yet unable to transcend life and death—this is perhaps the regret of every wise and virtuous ruler.

"Your Highness's guess is quite accurate. However, after Li Shiji's death, his grandson Li Jingye inherited the title of Duke of England. When Wu Zetian deposed Emperor Zhongzong Li Xian and took over the throne, he raised an army to rescue the emperor."

"Unfortunately, he failed in the end, but one of his subordinates, Luo Binwang, wrote a famous work called 'A Proclamation on Behalf of Xu Jingye Against Wu Zetian,' which even Wu Zetian admired very much."

Wen He clicked his tongue a few times, and Li Shimin turned around and gave him a meaningful look.

"Are you sure they're here to rescue the emperor?"

How could Li Shimin, who had once successfully rebelled, possibly believe this?

Didn't they also claim to be rescuing the emperor back then?

"At least that's what they say on the surface; anyway, they failed." Wen He shrugged. At least in later generations, many people thought Li Jingye was a loyal minister.

As for why he raised an army, that's not important.

Li Shimin chuckled lightly, not bothering to dwell on it; what he had just been thinking was merely conjecture.

However, he was interested in something else.

"The 'Proclamation on Behalf of Xu Jingye Against Wu Zetian' written by Luo Binwang that you mentioned, could Wu Zhao be the name that Wu Zetian gave herself?"

"Yes, at the time, some people opposed a woman becoming emperor, so her supporters presented her with this character, which means 'the sun and moon soaring in the sky'."

Li Shimin listened calmly, his fingers tapping lightly on the table a few times.

Not long after Wen He finished speaking, he suddenly laughed.

"What a remarkable Wu Zetian."

"Your Highness, perhaps we should return to the topic of Li Shiji."

We had just changed the subject, but unexpectedly the topic has returned to Wu Zetian.

Li Shimin glanced at him sideways.

"I ask you, how long did the Wu family rule as emperor?"

"It took fifteen years until the first year of Shenlong. Wu Zetian was seriously ill, and Prime Minister Zhang Jianzhi and others launched the Shenlong Revolution to restore Emperor Zhongzong of Tang. Only then was she forced to abdicate."

"Ha, Wu Zetian? There are so many names in the Wu family."

He wasn't angry; it was more like he was joking.

"What are your political achievements?"

Seeing his curiosity, Wen He knew he was trying to outdo others.

I want to see how that usurped empress compares to him, the Heavenly Khan.

Wen He stroked her chin, thought carefully for a while, and then spoke.

"It's neither good nor bad. At least she created the palace examination, the military examination, the self-recommendation system, and the examination officials system through the imperial examination system, which suppressed the powerful clans and gentry. She also did a decent job in terms of people's livelihood."

"However, in order to consolidate her power, she killed many generals, so she lost more wars than she won. As a result, Tibet rose to power, causing the Tang Dynasty to lose millions of square kilometers of territory in the Western Regions."

"After the rise of the Later Turkic Khaganate, it occupied most of the northern desert region. These were all territories that you conquered later, and were not subdued until the reign of Emperor Xuanzong of Tang, Li Longji."

"Also, the Tang Dynasty lost control of the Andong Protectorate after her, but that has nothing to do with you. After all, Goguryeo was conquered by your son, so you were at most weakened."

When Li Shimin heard about the Andong Protectorate, he showed a surprised expression.

But he quickly calmed down, believing it to be the territory he would conquer later.

I never expected it to be Goguryeo.

Moreover, judging from Wen He's words, his campaign against Goguryeo did not seem to go smoothly; it only weakened Goguryeo.

It was only after that rebellious son ascended the throne that Goguryeo was destroyed.

But that woman threw all of that away!
"Snapped!"

Li Shimin waved his hand, and the table next to him was overturned to the ground.

"boom!"

A loud banging came from not far away, and a group of soldiers in black armor burst through the door.

"Get out!"

Li Shimin suddenly shouted.

The soldiers who had just entered, unaware of the situation, quickly bowed and slowly retreated.

They glanced at the half-broken gate and looked at each other in bewilderment.

Two quick-witted people temporarily propped the door up and then hurriedly went out.

Seeing this, Wen He quickly came to his side, patted Li Shimin on the back, and helped him catch his breath.

"Your Highness, please don't be angry. None of this has happened yet."

"How about we talk about Li Shiji? He first defeated the Turks, then the Xueyantuo, and then together with Xue Rengui, he conquered Pyongyang of Goguryeo and returned in great victory."

Wen He winked at him. Li Shimin turned around, glared at him, and gave a soft snort.

He doesn't care what Li Shiji did afterward.

What angered him was that the Tang Dynasty had only lasted for four generations and had almost been destroyed by a woman.

That is to say, Li Zhi was not born yet.

Otherwise, he would definitely make that unfilial son know what a strict father is!
Li Shimin exhaled several breaths before gradually calming down.

He shouted outside, "Someone come here!"

A black-armored guard lifted the nearly broken door and walked in.

"Your humble servant is here."

"Bring a pot of tea and honey water."

"promise."

After everyone left, he sat down on the ground and pulled Wen He to sit down next to him.

After the eunuch delivered the tea and honey water and left, he gulped down the tea, which was full of Sichuan peppercorns, and exclaimed heartily, "So refreshing!"

Wen He, standing to the side, felt her scalp tingle.

The ancients were truly amazing.

"Even if there is no rebellious son in the future, I will never allow the interference of the empress dowager in politics to happen again. One Empress Lü of the Former Han Dynasty is enough to be recorded in history!"

He slammed the teacup down, and looking at the shattered pieces, Wen He couldn't help but gasp.

That bowl, if taken to future generations, could easily fetch a few million.

What a pity.

Wen He felt a pang of regret, but didn't forget to praise Li Shimin: "Your Highness is right."

"Since that's the case, then I'll leave Wu Shi to you. Whether she lives or dies in the future depends entirely on what you do."

"Your Highness is right...what?"

Wen He was still thinking about the bowl and didn't realize what Li Shimin was saying.

When he heard it clearly, he was stunned.

"You must give Wu Meiniang to me, Your Highness. She is only three years old. The laws and morals of my time do not allow me to do anything wrong."

Li Shimin had already risen and was walking towards the head seat when he heard what he said. He stopped, turned around, glanced at him, and smiled, "Aren't you only ten years old too?"

"Although Sister Wu is nice, Wu Shiyue is a Duke, and he wouldn't even look at me."

Wen He was complaining that Li Shimin was being too demanding.

How could Wu Shiyue possibly look up to someone as lowly as him?

If Li Shimin were to grant a marriage, it would be too extravagant. At this time, in order to stabilize the situation, he certainly wouldn't do that.

However, Wen He didn't notice that he had revealed a crucial piece of information.

"So she's the daughter of the Duke of Ying." Li Shimin gripped his long sleeves tightly, then snorted, "Who said I wanted her to be your wife? I just wanted her to be Lizhi's playmate, so you can raise her properly."

"As for your future wife, I will make my own arrangements."

Wen He stared wide-eyed in disbelief.

"What? Your Highness, I advocate free love and strongly oppose arranged marriages."

"Is that so?" Li Shimin suddenly laughed, in a strange way that made Wen He's scalp tingle.

"Poisoned wine and white silk..."

"Your Highness, I have thought it through. In this era, I am an orphan, and naturally I will obey Your Highness's orders. I believe Your Highness will find me a virtuous wife, and my marriage is entirely up to Your Highness."

People under the eaves have to bow their heads.

Besides, the person in front of her is Li Erfeng.

Wen He felt that bowing her head wasn't shameful.

I hope Li Er won't find me an ugly woman in the future.

Wen He sighed helplessly.

Li Shimin would not kill him; he was just trying to scare him.

And this method is indeed effective.

The brat actually agreed.

However, his future marriage is indeed a problem.

Lizhi had already tacitly agreed to be given to Fuji's eldest son, and his aunt was a few years older than him.

This is truly putting me in a difficult position.

Thank you to readers Shendai Ling, An Ding Android, Bu Xiang Sa Shou No Mi (ps: Memories of Youth), Qing Meng Yu, Zai Jia Dao Shi, and qiantong for your monthly tickets.
——

A side note:
I know some people will question whether the female lead is Wu Zetian.
No.

As for who the female lead is?
Guess



(End of this chapter)