Sheng Tang: What is Liu Jianjun going to do today?

Chapter 185 Judging Auspicious Omens: The Opera Troupe in the Imperial Court

"Everyone is safe."

Empress Wu's voice came through the crown, interrupting Li Xian's thoughts.

"Thank you, Your Majesty!"

Everyone rose, and according to the ceremony, Emperor Li Dan led the imperial family and officials to present a congratulatory memorial to "His Majesty the Divine Emperor," praising Empress Wu's merits in assisting the government and her virtue matching that of heaven and earth.

Li Dan's voice was calm and even, as if he were reciting scriptures that had nothing to do with him.

Next comes today's main event—reporting auspicious omens.

The Master of Ceremonies announced loudly, "Announce that the Governor of Luozhou presents the map of the Luo River!"

An official stepped forward and respectfully presented a carefully mounted scroll of silk. The eunuch took it, unfolded it carefully, and presented it to the assembled officials.

The patterns of the Hetu and Luoshu are drawn on the silk in a simple and ancient style.

"The Luo River produced the map, which Fuxi received and used to draw the trigrams. Sages followed it to understand the Way. Now, His Majesty the Divine Emperor is in court, and his virtue benefits all things. Therefore, the Luo River has once again produced the divine map. This is the clear will of Heaven, demonstrating His Majesty's virtue of receiving the Mandate of Heaven!" The Governor of Luozhou's voice was loud and clear, echoing in the hall.

A chorus of agreement immediately arose from among the officials.

Empress Wu nodded slightly, her gaze falling on Li Dan below the imperial steps: "What does the Emperor think?"

Li Dan rose and bowed, saying, "Your Majesty's virtuous rule has moved Heaven, which is why this auspicious sign has occurred. Your son respectfully congratulates Your Majesty and the entire world."

His tone remained flat, revealing neither joy nor anger.

Empress Wu remained noncommittal, then turned her gaze to the ranks of the imperial clan: "Prince Pei."

Li Xian's heart tightened.

He took a deep breath, stepped forward, and bowed: "Your subject is here."

"You have always been a studious person, well-versed in classics and history. What are your thoughts on this auspicious omen?"

Empress Wu's voice was devoid of emotion, but everyone in the hall focused their attention on Li Xian. Many members of the imperial clan held their breath, fearing that Li Xian might say something inappropriate.

Recalling the strategy he had discussed with Liu Jianjun the previous night, Li Xian did not rush to show off, but replied cautiously: "Your Majesty, the emergence of the map from the Luo River is indeed an auspicious omen throughout the ages, symbolizing the sage's mandate and the orthodoxy of Heaven."

"Your subject is of limited knowledge and dares not offer any interpretation. I only feel that the appearance of this auspicious omen during the time when Your Majesty was assisting in the government must be Heaven's recognition of Your Majesty's hard work in raising the people."

This statement is neither particularly good nor bad.

No one present showed any unusual behavior.

But before Empress Wu could speak, Wu Chengsi, who was standing to the side, could not hold back and stepped forward to say loudly, "What His Highness Prince Pei said is very true, but I believe that the meaning of this auspicious omen is not limited to this!"

"Although His Majesty the Divine Emperor is nominally the regent, since the passing of the late emperor, he has worked tirelessly day and night to quell rebellions, reform the administration, and restore peace to the world. His achievements far surpass those of the wise empresses of the past. The appearance of the Luo River Divine Map at this moment is a testament to the world that His Majesty the Divine Emperor is the true Son of Heaven, ordained by Heaven!"

Upon hearing this, Li Xian was stunned.

The current Li Xian is no longer the ignorant man he once was. He knows that what Wu Chengsi says and does is not just his own opinion, but inevitably represents the will of a certain force.

He subconsciously looked at Li Dan, only to find that Li Dan's expression was calm, as if he had long been used to all of this.

He then looked at the officials in the court...

But at this moment, someone stepped forward, knelt down, and shouted: "Please, Your Majesty, in accordance with the will of Heaven and the people, ascend the throne and become emperor to secure the nation!"

"Your Majesty is the chosen one, the true dragon, and is destined to inherit the throne!"

He looked last at the Li Tang imperial family, only to find that there were hardly any left.

Just as the voices of the civil and military officials were growing louder, Li Xian saw Empress Wu gently raise her hand.

With just a simple movement, the noise in the hall instantly subsided, and everyone's eyes were focused on the bright yellow figure.

"Chengsi," Empress Wu's voice was not loud, but it clearly reached everyone's ears, carrying an unquestionable authority, "You have overstepped your bounds."

"Silence." Empress Wu interrupted him, her tone turning cold. "Today's gathering is to express our gratitude to Heaven, to present auspicious omens, and to observe Heaven's will. When did I allow you to speak so presumptuously about the foundations of the state and to make such a racket?"

Her gaze swept over the kneeling crowd below, her voice calm and still: "The Luo River produces a map, and Mount Song reveals inscriptions. This is Heaven's mercy, showing me the way to cultivate virtue, govern diligently, and love the people. Instead of delving into the true meaning of Heaven's will, you use this to make presumptuous and unreasonable assumptions. What are your intentions? Do you intend to misinterpret these auspicious omens as a stepping stone for your advancement?"

This rebuke, though seemingly harsh, actually lightly characterized his "reckless criticism of the nation's foundation" as "ignoring the will of Heaven" and "climbing the social ladder by currying favor."

Wu Chengsi immediately touched his head to the ground, feigning fear: "Your Majesty, I dare not! I... I was merely overwhelmed by the clear will of Heaven, and thus I spoke out of turn. Please forgive me!"

"Humph."

Empress Wu gave a soft snort, no longer looking at him, and turned her gaze back to the scroll of the Luo River Divine Painting.

"The will of Heaven is far-reaching, how can mortals easily fathom it? Auspicious omens are meant to be understood as warnings and encouragements, not as pretexts for impetuous people. Let's leave it at that. If anyone dares to speak of ascending the throne again and disturb this peaceful place, they will not be spared!"

Li Xian was slightly taken aback, not expecting Empress Wu to say such a thing.

Her righteous and stern rebuke instantly extinguished the newly ignited flames of urging him to ascend the throne, and the atmosphere in the hall became solemn.

Li Xian noticed that many ministers, especially the centrists and former officials of the Tang dynasty, secretly breathed a sigh of relief, probably thinking that His Majesty the Emperor was indeed wise and righteous, and not swayed by flattery.

Li Xian instantly recalled Liu Jianjun's words: "Just watch, there will definitely be people who want your mother to ascend the throne, and your mother will definitely pretend to reprimand you. This is just your mother's way of retreating to advance. Xianzi, just treat it as watching a play. When your mother points to you, just flatter her a few times and be obsequious."

Li Xian remained impassive and quietly watched the scene unfold.

"All right."

Empress Wu's tone softened, as if the unpleasantness from before had never occurred.

"Alright," Empress Wu's tone returned to calm, as if the reprimand from before was merely brushing away a speck of dust from her sleeve. "Auspicious omens are related to the interaction between Heaven and Man, and must be observed and treated with utmost care. Coincidentally, the new Chancellor of the Imperial Academy is assuming office today, so I will take this opportunity to perform the 'Judging Auspicious Omens' ceremony to show my solemnity. I hereby announce the new Chancellor of the Imperial Academy, Kan Yuanyi."

"Summon Kan Yuanyi, the Chancellor of the Imperial Academy, to an audience!"

The eunuch's long, drawn-out greeting rang out.

Li Xian's heart stirred. Kan Yuanyi was not as famous as the scions of noble families like Wei Sili, but he was known for his expertise in divination and auspicious omens. He had searched for classical evidence for Empress Wu's regency many times and was a well-known "pro-Wu" scholar.

His judgment on this auspicious omen is self-evident.

A middle-aged official, dressed in brand-new court robes, with a lean face and shrewd and eager eyes, strode in and knelt respectfully: "Your subject, Kan Yuanyi, pays his respects to Your Majesty the Divine Emperor. May Your Majesty live ten thousand years, ten thousand years, ten thousand years!"

"Flat body."

Empress Wu's voice remained calm, "Minister Kan, I know you are well-versed in the study of the interaction between Heaven and Man. Now there are three auspicious omens here, attracting the attention of the world. I hereby order you to publicly judge these three cases of auspicious omens in this hall, so as to reveal the secrets of Heaven and calm the people's hearts."

"Your subject will obey Your Majesty's command! I will do my utmost to elucidate the subtle and profound, so as to reveal the will of Heaven!" Kan Yuanyi's voice was loud and clear, brimming with confidence.

He rose, his gaze sweeping intently over the three auspicious omens displayed by the eunuchs. After a moment's hesitation, he turned to the assembled officials and spoke in a loud voice that echoed throughout the spacious hall:
"Your Majesty, colleagues! The simultaneous appearance of these three auspicious omens today is truly an unprecedented event since the beginning of time. Its significance transcends the past and present, and directly addresses the present moment! Please allow me to analyze them one by one!"

He first pointed to the emergence of the map from the Luo River: "The Book of Changes says: 'The Yellow River produced a map, the Luo River produced a book, and the sages followed them.' This is irrefutable proof of the emperor's mandate! However, Fuxi drew the trigrams based on the Yellow River map, and Yu the Great controlled the floods based on the Luo River book. Those who should have been the founders and the rulers of the laws were the founders and the lawmakers!"

"The reappearance of the Luo River Divine Map, rather than the Hetu Map, is one of the profound meanings of Heaven's will. It signifies that this is not merely a time to maintain the status quo, but a time for reform and innovation, a time to usher in a new era! This is Heaven bestowing upon Your Majesty the authority to legislate and create!"

This was indeed a performance.

Kan Yuanyi's words directly linked the discovery of the Luo River map to the legitimacy of Empress Wu's ascension to the throne. Li Xian even found it somewhat absurd; just a moment ago, Empress Wu was reprimanding Wu Chengsi, but now she was bringing up someone else to dredge up "old news" under the guise of auspicious omens.

At this moment, Kan Yuanyi continued, "As for the discovery of the text on Mount Song, it is truly earth-shattering!"

The Tao Te Ching says, "The spirit of the valley never dies; it is called the mysterious female. The gate of the mysterious female is called the root of heaven and earth." Lao Tzu has clearly stated that the origin that gives birth to and nurtures all things in heaven and earth is the "mysterious female," which is motherhood!
The Book of Documents also states, "The king is father to Heaven and mother to Earth." Therefore, Earth, as the source of all things, is precisely the image of a mother!
"Therefore, the inscription on Mount Song not only aligns with Your Majesty's sagacity, but also points directly to the rightful position of the Earthly Branch, and that Your Majesty's role as the mother of the nation is in accordance with the Way of Heaven! It also clearly indicates that Your Majesty should inherit this mandate of Heaven and establish an imperial dynasty, so that the nation's prosperity can last forever! This is not something a subject can presume to discuss; it is truly a decree from Heaven. Your Majesty's ascension to the throne is inevitable!"

Li Xian thought to himself that he should treat this as a play, and in an instant he understood why Empress Wu had reprimanded Wu Chengsi earlier.

Compared to Wu Chengsi, Kan Yuanyi is far more eloquent.

His words, rich in classical allusions, far surpassed the empty rhetoric and appeals of Wu Chengsi.

Kan Yuanyi continued, "In ancient times, Yu cast nine tripods to establish his rule in the Central Plains, symbolizing the mandate of heaven. The Zhou dynasty, inheriting the mandate of heaven, also regarded tripods as important vessels..."

The general meaning of the words was still "to follow the will of Heaven." Citing classical texts and progressing step by step, the three auspicious omens were perfectly woven into a complete theory to demonstrate the legitimacy, sanctity, and inevitability of Empress Wu's ascension to the throne.

As expected, after Kan Yuanyi finished speaking, he turned to face Empress Wu, bowed deeply, and said with utmost piety and excitement, "Your Majesty! The Luo River Map has been bestowed with power, the Song River has been declared auspicious, and the Zhou Tripod has been erected to signify destiny! These three auspicious omens have appeared one after another, demonstrating the clear interaction between Heaven and Man. If Your Majesty were to remain humble, would you not be going against Heaven and failing to live up to the Emperor's favor? Your subject Kan Yuanyi, with tears in his eyes, humbly begs Your Majesty to heed the will of Heaven, follow the will of the people, respond to the auspicious signs, and ascend the throne as soon as possible to secure the peace and stability of the nation!"

"Good! Good! Good!" Empress Wu said three times, her voice filled with satisfaction. "Minister Kan is indeed learned and insightful, his explanations are profound and to my liking!"

Seeing Empress Wu's smug expression, Li Xian thought that Liu Jianjun would definitely say, "Keep pretending!" But at this moment, he just lowered his head and pretended not to know anything.

His lowered eyelids fell on Li Dan in front of him, who was like a puppet that could not move and did not utter a word.

Compared to him, I seem to be much luckier.

"By my decree! Since Heaven has bestowed upon me the Divine Map of the Luo River, I shall perform a grand ceremony to repay Heaven's favor! On an auspicious day, I shall set up an altar on the banks of the Luo River to offer sacrifices to Heaven and hold a grand ceremony to receive the map! I will personally go to the Luo River to receive the Heavenly Map and establish order in the world!"

"Your Majesty is wise! Long live the Emperor! Long live the Emperor! Long live the Emperor!"

……

After Li Xian returned to the post station and recounted his audience with Empress Wu that day, he noticed Liu Jianjun with a furrowed brow.

He paced back and forth for a while before saying, "To be honest, I don't think this is a good thing, even from the perspective of our goal to push your mother to the throne as soon as possible."

Li Xian was puzzled.

Liu Jianjun then explained, "Have you thought about what you should do after Empress Wu ascends the throne?"

Li Xian was taken aback, then honestly shook his head: "I didn't think about it. Wasn't it all arranged by you?"

Liu Jianjun's expression froze, as if he had something he needed to say.

But in the end, he could only sigh and say, "You have to fight for power! If your mother really ascends the throne, what do you think she'll do?"

"To be an emperor?"

"..." Liu Jianjun was speechless: "Being an empress is fine, but she still has to establish an heir! If you don't rush to become the crown prince now and fight for your legal rights, are you going to follow your mother's example and have auspicious omens flying all over the sky when we actually do 'that'?"

Li Xian suddenly realized, and said with a look of surprise, "You mean... I should clear my name of the crime of treason? But, Brother Xian is already one of us, and Brother Dan... I am confident that I can persuade him. If the two of them insist on refusing the position of heir apparent, then I don't need to fight for it, right?"

Liu Jianjun suddenly gave Li Xian a meaningful look and said, "Who said it was competing with Xianzi Danzi?"

Li Xian was stunned.

But then, a chill ran down my spine.

He recalled how eager Wu Chengsi was for Empress Wu to ascend the throne in the palace earlier that day.

Could this be...?
Liu Jianjun waved his hand and continued, "So, my original plan was to let you shine today and support your mother's performance, but in the end, your mother only had you express your opinion at the beginning and then didn't need you anymore. What does that mean?"

This time, before Li Xian could answer, Liu Jianjun said, "This shows that your mother has enough control over the court. She has even lost the merit that would have added to your glory. Without this merit, we will have more trouble competing for the position of crown prince."

"Forget it, what's done is done, there's no point in talking about it now. The Luo River map is in three days, let's discuss how to salvage this situation... Can we leave the post station now?"

Li Xian nodded.

"Then let's go. It's so crowded here that even sleeping is a struggle. When we came to Luoyang last time, didn't your mother bestow a house upon you? Let's move there!"

Liu Jianjun's words reminded Li Xian.

When he last came to Luoyang, his mother did indeed bestow upon him a former residence of a member of the imperial family in Shangshanfang by the Luo River as the Prince of Pei's residence. However, due to his hurried visit and sensitive status, he had been staying at the official post station and had only hung up a plaque in the house, without actually moving in.

“Alright,” Li Xian nodded. “The house is just sitting empty anyway, it’s more convenient than the post station.”

The two immediately instructed their attendants to pack their belongings and left the somewhat noisy Longmen Post Station, heading towards Shangshanfang, located southeast of the Luoyang Palace and adjacent to the Luo River.

Shangshanfang truly lived up to its reputation as a gathering place for princes, nobles, and high-ranking officials. Its walls were towering, its streets were wide and clean, and its environment was serene.

The Prince Pei's Mansion in Luoyang occupies the best location in the neighborhood, almost monopolizing a corner. The vermilion gate is tall and majestic, with two ancient stone lions standing in front of it, showing the mansion's grandeur. However, the mansion is deserted and lacks human presence.

The officials and servants of the Prince's Palace who had received the news were already waiting outside the gate.

Upon seeing Li Xian's carriage, a middle-aged man in a blue official robe hurriedly stepped forward and bowed, saying, "This humble servant, Wang Deshun, the Sima of the Prince of Pei's residence, respectfully welcomes Your Highness back to the residence!"

Li Xian had never met this man before, but he knew that this man was the actual manager of this empty-headed prince's mansion. He nodded slightly and said, "You've worked hard, Commander Wang. This is Chief Secretary Liu."

Liu Jianjun casually cupped his hands in greeting, but his gaze had already swept past everyone else, surveying the mansion.

Seeing that Liu Jianjun wasn't in the mood for pleasantries, Li Xian waved his hand and said, "Alright, Liu Changshi and I can tour the mansion on our own. Wang Sima, you can go ahead and attend to your business."

Wang Deshun immediately bowed and withdrew, his attitude amiable, showing nothing particularly unusual.

After entering the mansion gate and passing the huge screen wall, the view suddenly opened up before you.

The first thing that catches the eye is the magnificent front hall, which was used to handle the affairs of the royal palace and receive important guests, but it is currently mostly empty. The courtyard in front of the hall is paved with bluestone slabs and surrounded by corridors on both sides, with a strict layout.

Passing through the front hall, you enter the core area of ​​the Prince's Mansion.

Along the central axis are the magnificent main hall for council meetings, the more exquisitely decorated inner hall, and the sleeping quarters where Li Xian would live in the future. Each courtyard is a world of its own, connected by a corridor. The courtyards are decorated with ancient trees, rockeries and stone carvings. Although they are somewhat desolate due to lack of careful maintenance, their former exquisiteness and luxury can still be seen.

"Tsk, Xianzi, your house is pretty good!" Liu Jianjun said as he walked around, clicking his tongue. "The size, the location, it's... well, it's definitely a top-tier luxury house. It's just a bit deserted, lacking a bit of life."

Li Xian smiled and shook his head.

He sighed, “The Empress Dowager bestowed such a residence upon me as a sign of grace, but is it not also a form of surveillance and confinement? Only within these high walls can I truly be isolated from the outside world.”

Since being demoted to Bazhou, he has become less demanding in terms of living environment, but he has to admit that this mansion far exceeded his previous expectations, and was even more spacious and magnificent than his old residence in Chang'an.

"Tsk tsk, that shows some depth of thought." Liu Jianjun casually remarked, having already hopped to the center of the courtyard.

This place is a separate garden, with a pond formed by drawing water from it, and pavilions and waterside terraces built on it. However, the pond water is now a bit murky, and the flowers and trees are somewhat messy. It is obvious that no one has lived here for a long time, and the servants of the mansion have neglected to take care of it.

Li Xian caught up with him and shook his head: "What kind of depth is this? This mansion is not like the residence in Chang'an. Apart from the few attendants we brought, we know nothing about the other servants and officials, who are the Empress Dowager's people, or who are spies planted by others. The same goes for Shangshanfang. It looks elegant and noble, but in reality, it is one of the places with the most eyes and ears in Luoyang."

"It's fine as a temporary place to stay, but it can't be used as a place to rest."

Liu Jianjun turned his head with a smile: "But, can't we also use our eyes and ears?"

……

(End of this chapter)