My house's electrical wiring dates back to the Tang Dynasty.

Changsun Wuji thought to himself.

As Empress Zhangsun's brother, Zhangsun Wuji and Li Shimin were best friends; they were so close they could share a pair of pants.

Recently, he has been alienated by His Majesty, and Changsun Wuji is feeling very bad.

As a member of the imperial family, even warriors like Cheng Yaojin and Qin Shubao were closer to him than he was.

Meanwhile, in the Taiji Palace, at the Ganlu Hall.

After reviewing the memorials, Li Shimin picked up the "Old Book of Tang" from the cabinet among the "Zhenguan Zhengyao" and "Zizhi Tongjian" and began to read it.

According to Li Mingbo, these three books are tantamount to revealing heavenly secrets and must not be seen by a second person.

Li Shimin was a smart man.

These historical records written by later generations certainly contain some events that did not happen before.

Thinking of this, Li Shimin slowly opened the book and began to read.

The Old Book of Tang was officially compiled during the Later Jin Dynasty of the Five Dynasties period. It is the earliest historical record to systematically document the history of the Tang Dynasty.

The book is divided into three parts: annals, treatises, and biographies, totaling two hundred volumes.

Li Shimin opened the thick book.

Touching the white paper, as white as jade and as smooth as cream, and then looking at the Xuan paper on my desk, I suddenly lost my sense of pleasure.

The first chapter of this annals is written by Emperor Gaozu of Tang, Li Yuan.

Before looking at my father's records, let's see how future generations will record my deeds.

Li Shimin skipped directly to the first section of the Annals of Emperor Gaozu and proceeded to the second section, "The Annals of Emperor Taizong."

"Emperor Taizong, the Great Sage and Filial Emperor, whose personal name was Shimin, was the second son of Emperor Gaozu. His mother was Empress Taimu Shunsheng, née Dou. He was born on the day of Wuwu in the twelfth month of the eighteenth year of the Kaihuang era of the Sui Dynasty, at a separate residence in Wugong. At that time, two dragons played outside the gate of the residence and left after three days. When Emperor Gaozu arrived in Qizhou, Emperor Taizong was four years old. ... Emperor Taizong was intelligent and insightful from a young age, with profound understanding and decisiveness in the face of adversity. He was not bound by trivial matters, and no one at the time could fathom his abilities."

The story of "two dragons playing outside the gate of the hall" and "they leaving after three days" is just a pretext to flatter Li Shimin.

Like other emperors, Li Shimin's birth as the Son of Heaven required celestial anomalies to be befit his status as the Son of Heaven.

Next, the timeline of Li Shimin's military career was presented.

Li Shimin looked at it carefully.

The climax has arrived.

"In the ninth year, Crown Prince Jiancheng and Prince Qi Yuanji plotted to assassinate Emperor Taizong. On the fourth day of the sixth month, Emperor Taizong, along with Changsun Wuji, Yuchi Jingde, Fang Xuanling, Du Ruhui, Yuwen Shiji, Gao Shilian, Hou Junji, Cheng Zhijie, Qin Shubao, Duan Zhixuan, Qutu Tong, Zhang Shigui, and others, executed them at Xuanwu Gate." This refers to the events at Xuanwu Gate.

"On the first day of the first month of the sixth year, the day of Yimao, there was a solar eclipse. ... On the day of Jihai in the sixth month, King Yuanheng of Feng died. On the day of Xinhai, King Xiao of Jiang died." They all match up.

Li Shimin saw that the recorded information was accurate and correct, and his fingers trembled slightly.

Nothing major happened for the next few months.

"Seven years..." Li Shimin quickly saw the next year.

"On the day of Yiyou, Xueyantuo sent an envoy to pay tribute." On the fifth day of the third month, Xueyantuo dispatched a special envoy to offer tribute.

When Li Shimin saw the Xueyantuo people coming to pay tribute, he nodded smugly.

But as he continued reading, he frowned.

"On the day of Gengyin, Wei Zheng, the Secretary-General and Acting Attendant-in-Ordinary, was appointed Attendant-in-Ordinary." When I saw that Wei Zheng, the Secretary-General and Acting Attendant-in-Ordinary, had been appointed Attendant-in-Ordinary on the tenth day of the third month, my good mood was completely swept away.

"In August, thirty prefectures in Shandong and Henan suffered severe flooding, and envoys were dispatched to provide relief and compensation." Li Shimin saw that in August, it was reported that thirty prefectures in Shandong and Henan had been hit by floods, and envoys were sent to provide relief and compensation.

This was a serious matter, so Li Shimin immediately stopped reading, closed his book, and began to think of a solution.

He took out his memorial to record this matter and placed it in a prominent position, and then summoned people from the Ministry of Works and the Ministry of Revenue to come and devise a countermeasure the next day.

Li Shimin put down his brush and continued reading.

"Huh?" Li Shimin exclaimed in surprise when he saw the title "Annals of Empress Wu Zetian, Volume Six" in the table of contents.

The annals are all about emperors, so why is a woman being recorded here as well?

Could there be a mistake?

Who is Empress Wu? Could she be Guanyinbi?

"Empress Wu Zetian, whose personal name was Zhao, was a native of Wenshui, Bingzhou. Her father, Shihao, was a captain in the Yingyang Army at the end of the Sui Dynasty. When Emperor Gaozu marched through Fen and Jin, he would often rest at her home. When the righteous banner first rose, she followed him to pacify the capital. During the Zhenguan era, she was successively promoted to Minister of Works and Governor of Jingzhou, and was enfeoffed as Duke of Ying."

……

Li Shimin's fingers tightened more and more, his knuckles turning white from clenching his fist.

His breathing grew heavier and heavier; Li Shimin was like a mad bull.

The sound of billiards came from Ganlu Hall.

"You unfilial son! You unfilial son!" Li Shimin drew his sword and brandished it.

Li Shimin, like a teenager addicted to the internet, frantically smashed and destroyed furniture.

Li Shimin remained somewhat rational and did not cut the power lines.

"To think that my Great Tang Dynasty was passed down to him, only to have the throne usurped by a woman, this useless and rebellious son!" Li Shimin gasped for breath.

What angered Li Shimin the most was that Wu Zetian was originally his concubine, but this rebellious son later married her and made her empress, and later even became emperor.

Seeing how many members of the imperial clan Wu Zetian killed in order to seize power, Li Shimin wished he could strangle Prince Li Zhi right then and there.

You are the Duke of Hao Ying, right?

A murderous intent surged into Li Shimin's heart.

Meanwhile, on the Xuanwu Gate tower.

Cheng Yaojin was walking on the wide city wall.

He held a black, powerful flashlight in his hand and kept shining it downwards, but he saw nothing.

"Not a single thief has come over so I can take a look," Cheng Yaojin thought to himself.

This was just issued by Li Shimin to the general on night duty. It can only be used on the city wall while on duty and cannot be taken away.

However, Cheng Yaojin already had one at home.

The residence of Changsun Wuji, Duke of Zhao, in Chongrenfang.

"Father, today at the Vermilion Bird Gate, Li Mingbo and His Majesty rode in the imperial carriage from the Duke of Yi's residence. When they arrived at the Vermilion Bird Gate, His Majesty kicked him off the carriage." Changsun Chong, the eldest son of Changsun Wuji, who was sixteen or seventeen years old, entered the study and bowed to Changsun Wuji.

Changsun Wuji was writing calligraphy when he heard his son say that Li Mingbo had been kicked off the carriage by His Majesty. His brush stopped in mid-air, and he straightened up.

Let the ink from the tip of the brush drip onto the rice paper.

"You mean he was kicked down by His Majesty?" Changsun Wuji looked at his son.

"That's right." Changsun Chong nodded.

Upon hearing this, Changsun Wuji fell into deep thought.

Based on his understanding of Li Shimin, this kick was not a simple kick away; it represented His Majesty's fondness for a particular person.

Just like how His Majesty often kicks Cheng Yaojin, that simpleton, it represents his love for him.

Recently, Changsun Wuji has been observing which new ministers have appeared around His Majesty.

There was no one else besides Li Mingbo.

My family checked, and it seems that this Li Mingbo appeared out of nowhere. He's not from the area, and we've never heard of him before.

The mansion was located in Yongchangfang, the northernmost part of Wannian County, just one street away from the East Palace.