Duke of Zhenguan

The banquet lasted until midnight, and Li Shimin, who was drunk, was helped to the Lizheng Hall by palace maids.

Empress Changsun, who had been waiting in the main hall, heard the commotion and quickly came out to greet them, muttering a complaint in a low voice:

"Erlang, why are you drinking so much again!"

Li Shimin, whose tongue was already tied in knots, waved his hand:

"I didn't drink much..."

After saying that, he added:

"Guanyinbi, you really didn't drink much!"

"Yes, Erlang, you haven't had too much to drink, you haven't had too much to drink..."

Li Shimin always acted this way when he was drunk, and Empress Zhangsun was used to it. She smiled and agreed while helping Li Shimin into the palace, quietly instructing the maids beside her:

"Go and fetch some hot water, and have someone prepare hot tea and bring it over!"

Li Shimin wasn't completely drunk yet. After being helped to sit down by Empress Zhangsun, he suddenly remembered the wine and whispered to Empress Zhangsun:

"Bring Zhang Anan here!"

Empress Zhangsun waved her hand, and a moment later, Zhang Anan, dressed in a crimson official robe, strode into the hall and bowed to Li Shimin.

"This servant greets Your Majesty!"

"Yesterday, Duke Xue...sent some wine to the palace. This wine is not only different from any wine ever produced in the Tang Dynasty, but also different from any wine from the Western Regions. Have someone investigate!"

Although Li Shimin spoke somewhat haltingly, his meaning was clearly expressed.

Zhang Anan bowed in response, then turned and strode away.

After Zhang Anan left, Empress Zhangsun quietly asked Li Shimin:

"Second Brother, is there something wrong with the wine that Duke Xue sent?"

"Guanyinbi, don't worry, the wine is very good! Tomorrow, Guanyinbi, remember to have someone send some things to the Duke Xue's residence!"

Oh, and remember to send some of the wine to Taiji Palace!

"Your Majesty, I understand!" Empress Zhangsun nodded.

The next morning, Empress Dowager Changsun first arranged for some brocades of various colors, which were tributes from various places, to be sent to the residence of Duke Changsun Shunde of Xue State. She then personally led people to deliver wine to Taiji Palace.

Meanwhile, Li Cang, the Duke of Leping County, who was over fifty years old, had arrived outside the Taiji Palace to request an audience.

Li Yuan, who had gotten up early, was having breakfast when he heard a palace servant report that Li Cang had been brought to the Taiji Hall.

Although Li Cang was over fifty years old, he was very agile and quickly walked up to Li Yuan, bowing deeply in respect.

"Your Majesty, I have come to pay my respects!"

"Get up and have some food with me!" Li Yuan was very satisfied with Li Cang's attitude and waved his hand with a smile.

"Thank you, Your Majesty!"

Li Cang obediently sat down below Li Yuan and began to eat the millet porridge that the palace maid had brought him.

After the meal, the palace maids served hot tea.

After taking a sip of hot tea, Li Yuan smiled and asked:

"Speak, what brings you to me?"

"Your Majesty, help!"

Li Cang knelt down directly in front of Li Yuan with a thud.

According to seniority, Li Cang was Li Yuan's cousin, but the relationship was quite distant. He was also uneducated and did not make any significant contributions after Li Yuan raised his army. He only obtained the title of Duke of Leping County because of the generous rewards bestowed upon him when Li Yuan ascended the throne.

Although he was illiterate, Li Cang was quite clever. He tried his best to please Li Yuan and lived a good life. Last year, he even got an official position in the Court of Imperial Sacrifices.

However, this period of prosperity was short-lived. After Li Shimin ascended the throne, he gradually replaced the officials of the Wude era. Those who were capable were fine, but those like Li Cang, who obtained their positions through flattery, were dismissed from their posts almost immediately.

After being dismissed from his official post, Li Cang retained his noble title, but dared not come to Li Yuan to complain.

At this grand court assembly, Li Shimin changed the era name and lavishly rewarded his subordinates.

According to the usual practice during the Wude era, even if members of the imperial family like Li Cang were not promoted in rank, their fiefdoms should have been increased.

However, the fiefdoms of Li Cang and other members of the imperial clan were not increased; Li Cang's original fiefdom of only two hundred households was reduced by one hundred households.

A few days before New Year's Day, Zhou Si, whom he had secretly recruited, had just said that he would give him a recipe for brewing an unparalleled wine. However, he was immediately arrested by the magistrate of Chang'an County and imprisoned. He was then falsely accused of committing suicide out of fear of punishment and was killed.

After drinking the exquisite wine that Zhou Si had mentioned at the imperial banquet last night, Li Cang finally couldn't sit still any longer.

Li Shimin had only been on the throne for a month when a member of the imperial clan, who also held the title of county duke, was stripped of all his titles and banished back to Longxi because his son raped and murdered a peasant girl. His son was also exiled to Yazhou.

All the officials in Chang'an knew that the magistrate of Chang'an County was a man of Changsun Wuji, the Minister of Rites.

Changsun Wuji was also a confidant of Li Shimin.

Now, the man he recruited has been imprisoned and killed by the magistrate of Chang'an County because of a brewing recipe. Who knows if he will be next?

Looking at Li Cang kneeling before him, Li Yuan rubbed his temples in exasperation.

"Get up, tell me what happened!"

"Your Majesty, I have failed to discipline my servants properly. A few days ago, one of the stewards in my household was blinded by greed. He heard from a rogue in the West Market that he had a recipe for brewing fine wine, so he decided to buy it."

Before he could even buy it, the scoundrel was arrested and imprisoned by the magistrate of Chang'an County, and committed suicide that very night out of fear of punishment!

I only learned last night that the wine that Duke Xue presented to Your Majesty was brewed using the recipe that that rogue had mentioned!

"Your Majesty, I truly did not know that this prescription came from the Duke of Xue's residence..." Li Cang rose and cried.

Li Yuan's face immediately darkened. Li Cang's behavior was not due to a brewing recipe, but rather to Li Shimin's attitude towards the imperial family.

Unlike Li Yuan, who lavishly bestowed titles and rewards upon members of the imperial clan, Li Shimin only showed preferential treatment to a few truly talented individuals, such as Li Xiaogong and Li Daozong, while being somewhat harsh on other members of the imperial clan.

He had only abdicated for less than six months when Li Shimin began to reduce the titles and ranks that Li Shimin had bestowed upon him over the years.

Li Cang was the seventh member of the imperial clan to come before him and plead his case, fearing that his title would be stripped.

Just then, a palace attendant entered the hall and respectfully reported:

"Your Majesty, Empress Zhangsun requests an audience!"

Upon hearing that Empress Zhangsun was requesting an audience, Li Yuan's gloomy expression vanished, and he smiled as he said:

"Let her in quickly!"

A moment later, Empress Zhangsun, dressed in a simple long dress, entered with two palace maids and bowed to Li Yuan.

"Greetings, Father Emperor!"

"No need for formalities, please sit down!" Li Yuan waved his hand with a smile.

After Empress Zhangsun sat down, Li Cang bowed to her.

"Greetings, Your Majesty the Empress!"

"Lord Li, you may dispense with the formalities!" Empress Dowager Changsun waved her hand.

"Why did Guanyinbi come so early today?" Li Yuan asked with a smile.

"The Duke of Xue sent some fine wine to the palace a couple of days ago. Erlang drank some yesterday and said it was good wine. He asked me to send two jars to Father Emperor!" Changsun Wugou said, bowing.

Li Yuan nodded, pointed to Li Cang standing beside him, and whispered to Empress Zhangsun:

"Guanyinbi, Li Cang just told me that he offended Duke Xue because of a winemaking recipe."

"Speaking of which, isn't Duke Xue your cousin, Guanyinbi? Send someone to tell Duke Xue that, for my sake, he shouldn't make things difficult for Li Cang!"

"Father, please don't be angry. I'll send someone to summon Duke Xue to the palace to apologize to you!" Empress Zhangsun hurriedly stood up and replied.

"I'm not angry with you, sit down!"

Li Yuan waved his hand and sighed softly:

"Guanyinbi, please tell the Emperor that these members of the imperial clan risked their lives to follow me in starting this rebellion. Even if they didn't achieve great merit, they certainly endured hardship and should not be treated poorly!"

"Your subject obeys the decree!" Empress Zhangsun bowed and replied.

Half an hour later, Li Cang returned home and summoned the steward, coldly instructing him:

"Find two reliable people to investigate who originally had the recipe that Thursday mentioned!"