roccoschili Chapter 95 I've never seen such a request before.
Chapter 95 I've never seen such a request before.
Chapter 95 I've never seen such a request before.
July 29th, Taiji Hall.
Li Shimin stared at Li Tai, the Minister of the Court of State Ceremonies: "Does the Minister of the Court of State Ceremonies know what he is saying? I have never seen such a request before!"
Li Tai smiled confidently: "Let alone Your Majesty, even I was astonished when I first heard of this."
"Even if the Duke of Zan reported it seriously, I still cannot believe it."
"But it's undeniable that Yi Shitong was waiting outside Shuntianmen."
In just a few words, Li Tai highlighted Dou Fengjie's contributions.
A wise superior will never shamelessly steal credit from his subordinates, since the superior already has a share in the credit.
Upon entering the Taiji Hall, Yi Shitong immediately shouted "Long live the Emperor!": "Your subject Yi Shitong has brought a hundred fine horses to celebrate the birthday of the Heavenly Khan!"
Although the timing was a bit awkward, neither a holiday nor a festival, Li Shimin understood Yi's intentions.
In the past two years, Li Shimin has spent less time riding horses, but his love for horses has not changed.
"I have heard that Yi Shitong has requested titles for his two nephews?"
Li Shimin asked in surprise.
"My nephews Jielixin and Bazhuo are growing up and are already capable of handling things on their own. I am thinking of asking the Heavenly Khan to bestow upon them the title of Junior Khan so that the Xueyantuo can inherit the throne in an orderly manner in the future."
After being guided by Dou Fengjie, Yi Shitong spoke logically and eloquently, with every word and sentence being impeccable.
Of course, whether they will follow the order is not something that Yi Shitong needs to consider.
"Yi Shi's intentions in establishing this regime are truly commendable; how could I possibly refuse?"
"Yishijielixin was appointed as Dadumohedu Yehu, and Yishibazhuo was appointed as Siyehu Khan, ordering them to guard the north and south of Xueyantuo respectively, each guarding their own territory and preventing them from attacking each other."
"General Liang Fangshi, the Left Commander of the Army, went to Xueyantuo to convey this imperial edict on my behalf."
Li Shimin had planned this all along.
Although the Yehu is slightly lower in rank than the Little Khan, he still has the right to inherit the throne, so it is quite appropriate to bestow it upon his illegitimate son.
In response to Yi Shitong's overtures, Li Shimin reciprocated by allowing Yi Shitong's two sons to study at the Imperial Academy.
They weren't to serve as hostages or guards, but as students studying abroad, and could also simultaneously become citizens of the Tang Dynasty.
This favor delighted Yi Shitong.
The Xueyantuo are powerful now, but who knows if they are just overheating?
If things fall back to what they were before, or even worse, then keeping the two sons in Chang'an is the best way out!
Things on the grasslands are unpredictable; today I'll fight you, tomorrow you'll fight me.
After Yi Shitong withdrew, Zhang Xingcheng, the Imperial Censor of the Palace, raised his tablet and said: "Your Majesty, I, Zhang Xingcheng, impeach Dou Fengjie, the Acting Director of the Bureau of Foreign Affairs, for accepting bribes from the Xueyantuo."
Dou Fengjie, the last member of the Honglu Temple's entourage, stepped forward and replied confidently, "The Honglu Temple has always had the custom of exchanging gifts with foreign envoys, a fact that Your Majesty and the gentlemen are aware of."
"It is true that Yi lost his command and presented me with a yellow stone as a token of gratitude for my assistance in facilitating his leadership. However, I do not consider an unpolished stone to be a valuable item."
11
"If the Palace Attendant Censor wants to impeach me, he should impeach His Majesty for taking away the fine horse that was lost to the emperor."
Imperial Censor Zhang Wencong stepped forward, holding his imperial tablet, and said, "I, Zhang Wencong, have a small reputation in calligraphy and seal carving. Let me speak a fair word."
"A rough stone, if left uncarved, is nothing more than a stubborn rock; it can't really be considered a bribe."
Zhang Xingcheng choked on his breath, thinking that Zhang Wencong and Dou Fengjie were related by blood, but how many people in the court were not related by blood?
"Hehe, I have given him permission to accept it. Imperial Censor, you should turn your blade around."
Li Tai's voice was soft, yet it carried a firm tone.
Whether the Court of State Ceremonial has problems or needs to be dealt with is my business. The Censorate is overstepping its bounds.
"Since the King of Yue was appointed Minister of Ceremonies, his temper has certainly grown!"
Crown Prince Li Chengqian let out a strange laugh.
"His temper is even worse than His Highness's. I heard that little musician was whipped again?"
Li Tai responded neither humbly nor arrogantly.
The word "whipping" elicited faint laughter.
Dou Fengjie glanced at Zhang Xingcheng thoughtfully.
So, this impeachment was actually a ploy by Xiang Zhuang to target Liu Bang?
Tsk, after taking on a real post, Li Tai has become corrupted by the officials of the Court of State Ceremonial, and he can now use puns without hesitation.
Li Chengqian's face darkened: "You're spying on the Crown Prince's Palace?"
Li Tai retorted without backing down, "Your Highness's particular hobby is common knowledge; do I need to go and find out?"
Kuku's laughter echoed in the Taiji Hall, gradually growing louder and louder.
There was no way to investigate the breach of etiquette in front of the palace, because the law does not punish the masses, and nearly half of the regular officials had lost control.
Li Chengqian's face was as black as coal, his hand on the hilt of his jade sword, looking as if he wanted to suddenly lash out and strike his younger brother.
Li Tai said, "Don't be afraid, don't be afraid! My belly is a bit big, the jade sword can't go in. Oh dear!"
Li Shimin roared, "Enough! Isn't this humiliating enough? Zhang Anan, lead the Left Thousand Bull Guards to the Eastern Palace, kill the musician, and kill the sorcerer!"
Li Chengqian looked at Li Shimin with a dazed expression, never expecting him to react this way.
"Your Majesty, spare their lives! Your subject, Li Chengqian, wishes to resign from his position as Crown Prince and return to Longyou as a commoner!"
Li Chengqian handed over the jade sword and the jade fish-shaped tally he carried, his eyes filled with tears.
"go!"
Li Shimin, enraged, threw down the inkstone.
The Right Thousand Bull Guards blocked Li Chengqian's way, while the Left Thousand Bull Guards followed Zhang Anan out of the hall and headed straight for the East Palace.
"Your Majesty, while Your Highness's actions may have been inappropriate, there was no need for such a drastic reaction—"
Zhang Xuansu, the Left Vice-Minister of the Crown Prince, stepped forward and raised his tablet.
Li Cheng removed his travel-themed hat and threw it at Zhang Xuansu's face.
Zhang Xuansu was dumbfounded, not understanding why Li Chengqian reacted this way.
Li Chengqian pointed at the officials of the Eastern Palace in turn, his laughter chilling: "You traitors of the Eastern Palace, are you satisfied now? Throw me off the throne and welcome your holy emperor to the throne!"
Zhang Xuansu, Yu Zhining, Kong Yingda, and others remained silent.
They deserve much credit for Li Chengqian's extreme actions that have led him to this point.
Li Tai opened his mouth, not knowing what to say, but saw Dou Fengjie shake his head slightly at him.
The war has begun, and Li Tai is not a main character, so he should step aside.
Besides, even if Li Chengqian falls, Li Tai won't get the chair.
Seeing Li Chengqian's frenzied state, Li Shimin suddenly felt a pang of regret.
However, Zhang Anan had already returned with the Left Thousand Bull Guards to report back, and the two lives were nothing to Zhang Anan.
Poor Qin Ying, the abbot of Xihua Temple, suffered this undeserved calamity and died alongside Chengxin in the Yellow Springs.
They weren't a couple destined for the same fate, yet they stood hand in hand on the Terrace of Longing for Home, a truly poignant sight.
"The Crown Prince's behavior is improper; he is hereby confined to the Eastern Palace for three months."
At this point, Li Shimin could only try to save face.
Li Chengqian laughed maniacally, his hair disheveled, as he walked out of the Taiji Hall. He made a six with his left hand and a seven with his right, drew circles with his left foot, and kicked with his right foot in a marching motion.
Even with Dou Fengjie's keen eyesight, he couldn't tell whether the illness was genuine or something he had practiced.
It does not matter.
The important thing is that the court officials have already exclaimed that the foundation of the country is unstable.
Whether he is sick or not is not important, as the Crown Prince's physician, Song Xia, is a renowned doctor.
Song Xia has recovered, and everything is fine;
If Song Xia can't cure the disease, just replace him with another prince and everything will be fine.
Sometimes, rules are very important;
Sometimes, rules aren't that important.
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