Although the Taiji Palace was attacked by rebels twice in a row and was severely damaged, before winter, a large number of skilled craftsmen were assembled to repair it under the joint efforts of the General Supervisor, the Shaofu Supervisor and the Ministry of Works. Although it was not as grand and exquisite as before, However, many collapsed buildings have been rebuilt and restored to 70% to 80% of their heyday.
On New Year's Eve, the entire Tai Chi Palace was hung with red lanterns, candles were lit in each palace, and the whole palace was filled with light and beauty.
Li Chengqian sat in the imperial study, drank tea, and took a breath. If there is anyone who is the busiest person in the world on New Year's Eve, I'm afraid no one can be better than the emperor. There are various sacrifices to ancestors and heaven, The rituals of worshiping the gods came one after another, and the emperor personally presided over every step. Li Chengqian also suffered from leg disease, and his body was not very strong. After this busy day, he almost lost half his life...
After finally sitting in the imperial study for a sip of tea and a break, he also had to prepare for the evening watch. Just as he was wondering if he could be lazy, he saw Li Junxian striding in. When he got close, he leaned down and whispered that Li Demao was going to Li Demao today. Please report the New Year's gift to Ji Mansion carefully.
Li Chengqian put down his tea cup and said with a solemn expression, "Do you know what else this person said besides coming to the door to give gifts?"
Li Junxian said: "He also begged the British public relations officer to place his children in the left and right Jinwu Guards, but the British public officials refused on the spot, and Li Demao walked away. After that, the British public officials sent him the original number of New Year's gifts He returned it and went around the city of Chang'an, which made everyone aware of the commotion. The Prince of Xiangyi County was furious and cursed the British Duke in the hall for a long time."
Li Chengqian asked curiously: "You can find out so clearly?"
Is the energy of "Hundred Knights" already so great? Even the British government and the Xiangyi County Prince's Palace are well aware of what just happened...
Li Junxian shook his head and said: "It's not because the minister has any ability, but because these two mansions have never banned publicity about this matter, and everyone in the two mansions is talking about it."
Li Chengqian fell into deep thought.
On New Year's Eve, it is extremely unusual for someone to send gifts and ask for help. What's more, the identities of both parties are sensitive. Logically speaking, no matter whether it succeeds or not, both parties should try their best to hide it from the outside world, so why not hide it at all?
Thinking about it more carefully, Li Demao chose today to give gifts. He couldn't hide it even if he wanted to, and it was bound to be spread all over the place...
What are these two families doing?
If you really have a selfless heart, no matter what others think,
Or did Li Ji deliberately publicize this matter to express his attitude of firmly standing in his own camp as the emperor?
Li Chengqian is not a quick-witted person, and his political talent is only ordinary. He couldn't figure out what happened for a while. He wanted to ask Fang Jun to give him some advice, but these days, he and Fang Jun had two disputes over the power of Jinwu's guards and Princess Changle. The matter was a bit tense, so it was a bit embarrassing to send someone to look for her suddenly. If someone else was to be found, it would be inconvenient for others to enter the palace on New Year's Eve.
I can only give up for now.
"Pay attention to the follow-up news of this matter, and step aside for now."
"Here."
As soon as Li Junxian left, Queen Su walked in accompanied by the palace maids and asked with a smile: "On New Year's Eve, when the whole family is happy, does your Majesty still have government affairs to deal with?"
Li Chengqian did not elaborate, but waved his hand: "It's just some secular affairs, the queen doesn't need to pay attention to it."
Queen Su sat next to Li Chengqian and asked: "I have to stay up late tonight. I have already prepared a midnight meal. After midnight, I will have dinner with the prince, concubines and princesses. Does your majesty have anything else?"
Order?"
Li Chengqian looked a little tired and said: "You can take charge of these matters, I won't ask anything about it."
As he said that, he remembered something again: "How has Changle been in a good mood these past two days?"
Since that day when the queen was asked to go to Shujing Hall, Princess Changle has never come to Wude Hall to say hello. She is obviously angry. Li Chengqian also has nothing to do with his biological sister who is soft on the outside but strong on the inside.
Fang Jun was dissatisfied with the order to abort Changle's unborn child, but as an emperor, he couldn't bow down first, right?
Queen Su glanced at Li Chengqian, hesitated, and said: "It looks fine, but how can there be no resentment for something like that? Let me tell you, while you are keeping watch tonight, your Majesty might as well lead the guards to patrol the palace.
When I was at Shujing Hall, I just happened to go in to offer condolences and untie this knot in my heart. As long as my brother and sister talk about the conflict, it won't be a big deal. Changle has always been a broad-minded person."
Li Chengqian clicked his tongue, picked up the tea cup and took a sip of tea, pondering unsteadily, obviously unable to lose face.
The Queen then said: "In the final analysis, Your Majesty is also at fault in this matter. Changle married Changsun Chong when he was just a teenager. He suffered many grievances. The most important thing is that he has never been able to give birth to a son and a half. Now, although he is pregnant with Lin this year,
Naturally, the child is regarded as a treasure. His Majesty ordered the child to be aborted. How can Changle not be angry?"
Li Chengqian said angrily: "Am I not going to let her have children? She can have children with anyone, but it cannot be Fang Jun! Where do we put the dignity of the court and the face of the clan?"
"Yes, yes, what your majesty said is right, but now that the matter has come to this, your majesty can't still think about aborting the fetus, right?"
"I was so angry that I was so impulsive that I no longer had such intention."
"That's right. After all, they are still brothers and sisters. King Jin made such a big mistake, and His Majesty just banned him. Compared with it, Changle's behavior is nothing."
The Queen knew Li Chengqian's character and might be harsher towards his brothers, but she only loved and protected the sisters. Even if she made mistakes, she would not bear to punish them harshly. Otherwise, when Chai Zhewei was rebellious, she would not be able to let Princess Baling plead for mercy and forget about it.
The result gave Chai Zhewei the opportunity to rebel again...
Li Chengqian didn't say anything. He knew that with Chang Le's temper, even if he died, he would not bow his head in front of him and admit his mistakes. But brothers and sisters can't live without contact, right? In the end, he, the elder brother, has to bow his head first.
After thinking for a while, he said: "If the queen has nothing to do, why not accompany me for a walk in the palace?"
The queen suppressed her laughter, nodded and said, "Then I will accompany your majesty for a walk."
…
Tonight, New Year's Eve, although the palace is not allowed to display red or colorful decorations because Emperor Taizong's period of filial piety has not passed, the lights are brightly lit everywhere. It is the time to strictly guard against fire and candles. The emperor and the empress patrolled the palace, warning all palaces to pay attention to fire and candles, and then
I also took the opportunity to visit various places and express my condolences to some elderly maids and concubines.
Chamberlains, maids, and guards gathered around, and dozens of people came out from Wude Hall, along Daji Hall, Lizheng Hall, and Wanchun Hall to Liangyi Hall, and then passed Liangyi Gate to the south to inspect Taiji Hall.
One week, go west from Yanming Gate on the right, pass by Sha Renyuan and Zhongshu Province, then go north and enter from Suzhang Gate, bypass Baifu Hall and Anren Hall, and you will see a row of corridors in front of you, and behind the corridor
, which is the Shujing Palace where Princess Changle lives.
After walking around half a circle around the Tai Chi Palace for six or seven miles, Li Chengqian, who had bad legs and feet, panted slightly and felt a little short of breath.
The queen held Li Chengqian's arm and asked with concern: "Does your majesty need a rest?"
Li Chengqian felt that his dignity as a man was being questioned, so he waved his hand and said: "No need, let's go to Changle's place to rest and have a cup of tea by the way."
The free chamberlain should go to Shujing Palace to pass the news first. When Li Chengqian arrived outside the palace with the support of the queen, Princess Changle and Princess Jinyang stood at the door, bowing and saluting: "My sister has met your majesty, the queen."
The anger in Li Chengqian's heart had long since dissipated, and he hurriedly said: "My brother and sister, why should we be so polite? Si Zi is also here."
The two sisters were lying flat on each other. Princess Jinyang stepped forward and supported Li Chengqian's other arm. Together with the queen, she helped him walk in and said with a smile: "I felt bored in the palace, so I came over to chat with my sister."
Li Chengqian clicked his tongue, feeling that it was not good for Jinyang and Changle to be too close, because it would greatly increase the chance of contact with Fang Jun...
In fact, he also understands that young men like Fang Jun, who have reached high positions at a young age and have made outstanding achievements, are the most able to attract the favor of women. It is no wonder that Changle and Jinyang have secretly expressed their love for him, but Changle is just that, Quan
He should be compensated for his marriage to eldest son Chong, but if Jinyang follows suit, that will definitely not work!
But tonight is New Year's Eve, a time for family reunion, so he didn't say much, just smiled and entered Shujing Hall with the help of the two...
The hall is as warm as spring. There are several tables placed on the floor by the window. The tables are filled with all kinds of fruits, pears, dates, snacks and delicacies. Although the decoration is simple, it still has a festive atmosphere.
When everyone was seated, Princess Jinyang snatched the tea-making messenger and served the emperor and queen to drink tea.
Li Chengqian took a sip of tea, pondered for a moment, and then asked sadly: "I did something wrong for you the past few days. Sister, please don't bear any grudge against me. Brother, I promise you that this will never happen again in the future."
thing."
It is extremely rare in ancient times for an emperor to personally apologize and admit his mistake.
Princess Changle smiled brightly and said softly: "My brother is the king of a country, and his thoughts involve many things. Not only can my sister not take care of my brother's worries, but she can also make things difficult for him. This is my sister's fault. How dare I bear grudges against my brother? No matter when,
My sister's respect and love for her brother have never weakened even a little bit."
Li Chengqian was touched and said with emotion: "My sister is so considerate, I feel ashamed for my brother... When I was a child, during the Chinese New Year, we stayed together with my father and mother, laughing and celebrating. To this day, not only my father, but also my mother and I stay together.
We are separated by Yin and Yang, and all the brothers and sisters are also scattered. Not to mention those married sisters, the third child is now far away in Silla, separated by thousands of mountains and rivers, and cannot be seen even if he wants to. Pheasant Nu has made a big mistake.
Being imprisoned...it's all because of my brother's lack of talents and inability to maintain brotherhood and brotherhood, which led to the current situation. Every time I think about it, I feel ashamed of my father."
Speaking of this, Li Chengqian choked up and shed tears.
Perhaps my father was right at the beginning. He lacked the imperial spirit to kill decisively. Instead, he paid more attention to brotherhood and family ties, and it was inevitable to act before and after.
However, we can't let him give up his position as Crown Prince willingly, right?
If that were the case, he, his wife, and sons would probably have been persecuted to death today...
What happened can't be undone, and to this day, I can't say anything.