Chapter Five Hundred and Thirteen The Battle of the Crown Prince
White hair grows in the Cangjiang River thousands of miles away. How many people sit under the lights at dusk?
——"Yin Yu and Du Yun" Wang Shouren [Ming Dynasty]
…
Fang Shuliu wiped the sweat from his forehead and said secretly: "This witch is so powerful with her magical skills. She can perform them inadvertently and seamlessly, making it hard for people to guard against.
Fortunately, Bai Fu took action and called himself, I'm afraid I won't be able to protect him in the evening."
After calming down for a while, Fang Shuliu said to Bai Fu, "Brother Bai, can you hear something fishy?"
Bai Fu nodded and said: "If what I have predicted is correct, the assassination is a risky move. The purpose is to help someone win the title of escort."
"That's right!" Fang Shuliu said: "According to the descriptions of the eunuchs and maids at the scene that day, the incident happened so suddenly that Princess Qingluan and the imperial guards had no time to react. It was Concubine Zhang Shu who stepped forward and blocked Suzong's sword!
Shortly thereafter, Concubine Zhang Shu was granted the title of Queen by the Jin Dynasty. According to common practice, it only took half a year for Zhang to be promoted from Liangdi to Concubine Shu, so she really should not be granted another title."
As the saying goes, there is no greater merit than protecting a chariot. Therefore, Concubine Shu was promoted to the queen, and none of the senior ministers in the court objected.
Concubine Zhang Shu is the biggest beneficiary of the whole thing! It seems that she is inextricably related to the Caiyi Club, and maybe she is a member of the Caiyi Club herself!"
Bai Fu said: "Not only that, when I captured An Lushan's personal eunuch Li Zhu'er, he revealed that there was a high-level spy lurking next to Your Majesty, who was personally commanded by An Lushan. But who was this person? Li Zhu'er also
unknown.
Therefore, Mr. Li Mi decisively retreated to avoid death. Now it seems that the spy should be Empress Zhang.
I need to inform Mr. Li Mi of this matter as soon as possible.
In addition, the big proprietor of Caiyi Club is Yang Guozhong’s third concubine, Yin Fenglan, I wonder how she got involved with An Lushan?”
At this point, Bai Fu informed Fang Shuliu about Li Zhuer's capture and the conversation between Yin Fenglan and Yong Wang Li Lin.
It was because of Yin Fenglan's affair with An Lushan that she abandoned Yang Yichan and his daughter. This episode was too shameful, so Yang Yichan never told Bai Fu about it.
Bai Fu also had no way of knowing the entanglements between them.
Bai Fu was still a little confused and asked: "After An Lushan died, according to Li Zhuer's statement, An Qingxu didn't know about the existence of this spy.
If Empress Zhang didn't tell anyone, no one would know that she was a lurking person, so why did she reveal her identity and contact Caiyi Club?
Even if she is not given the title of empress, by virtue of her status as concubine Shu, she is inferior to one person and superior to ten thousand people, so why take such desperate risks?"
Fang Shuliu said: "The answer is actually not difficult to guess, the purpose is to be the crown prince.
After Concubine Zhang Shu escorted her, Chu King Li Chu was not crowned prince, but should be crowned king! The strange thing is that Chu King Li Chu accomplished extraordinary military feats in regaining the two capitals, but was not appointed crown prince. This is the strange thing.
On the other hand, after Concubine Zhang Shu became the queen, there was a great possibility that her son, Prince Xing Li Ji, would be established as the crown prince.
Mother is as valuable as her son, and once Li Ji becomes the crown prince, Empress Zhang will live a lifetime of prosperity and wealth without any worries."
"Not good!" Bai Fu's eyes flashed coldly.
"How?" Fang Shuliu asked hurriedly.
Bai Fu said: "Since Empress Zhang is An Lushan's secret spy and has inextricable connections with Caiyi Society, her methods must be vicious.
Empress Zhang will definitely use the same methods to deal with Li Chu, King of Jianning.
Once King Xing Li Yi is established as the crown prince, Queen Zhang will wait for an opportunity to murder his majesty and support Li Yi to the throne. She will even imitate Wu Zhao, listen to politics behind the curtain, and change dynasties!
No, I must tell the Taifu and Mr. Li Mi about this and ask them to come forward to deal with it."
"Don't you have a grudge against Li Chu? Why do you want to help him?" Fang Shuliu stared closely at Bai Fu's clear eyes.
"Li Chu and I only have a personal grudge. It involves the family, the country, and the world, and it is a matter of great righteousness. Bai Fu is unworthy, how can he abolish public service for personal reasons?" Bai Fu was at ease and calm.
"Good!" Fang Shuliu praised: "You are worthy of being the disciple of Master Qingxuan and Taifu Xu!"
…
The demon girl had already subdued her. Zuo Zhen, the governor of Huangzhou, beheaded the demon girl and hung it on the Huangzhou city tower to show the public.
In order to prevent the remaining poison from causing harm to the world, Zuo Zhen, the governor of Huangzhou, killed all the dozens of handsome young men in bright clothes and angry horses with faces as pink as Fu who followed the witch.
During the search of Sui Luan's car, the bribes collected by the demon girl were as high as hundreds of thousands of dollars.
Zuo Zhen, the governor of Huangzhou, was furious, so he reported the situation of the demon girl openly asking for bribes, performing witchcraft, and causing harm to the people in the name of sacrifice. He also implored His Majesty to issue an edict to allow the state government to use the stolen money on Huangzhou's behalf.
Poor people pay taxes.
At the same time, he petitioned to send the imperial eunuch Hai Gonggong, who had come all the way west, back to the capital.
Seeing Huangzhou's prefect Zuo Zhen's decisive and resolute killing spree, Eunuch Hai was so frightened that he peed his pants. He dared not show off his majesty as an imperial envoy, so he left Huangzhou with his tail between his legs and fled back to the capital.
The execution of witches by Zuo Zhen, the governor of Huangzhou, shocked both the government and the public.
Zuo Zhen's accusations of witch-hunting were all verified by the prefects, governors and other officials of the prefectures and counties along the road, and the evidence was conclusive.
After Li Heng read the memorial, he became furious and scolded Wang Yu, the assistant minister of Zhongshu, and ordered him to go home and think about his mistakes. At the same time, he issued an edict and encouraged the prefect Zuo Zhen, agreeing to use the stolen money to pay taxes on behalf of the poor people in Huangzhou.
After the matter of slaying the witches was completed, Bai Fu, Fang Shuliu and Su Yubao declined the repeated attempts by the prefect Zuo Zhen to stay and set off for Chang'an.
…
After receiving Bai Fu's secret letter from Fei Ge, Taifu Xu pondered for a long time.
Regarding Queen Zhang, the information provided to him by Tangmen and the Sichuan Gang was roughly the same as that of Bai Fu. However, Bai Fu's information this time was more accurate, which further verified his judgment on Queen Zhang and more reasonably explained the recent behavior in the court.
Everything that happened in the hall.
Taifu Xu didn't want to get involved in the dispute over the crown prince, but since Empress Zhang was An Lushan's secret spy lurking around His Majesty, and was inextricably linked to the Caiyi Society, he couldn't just sit back and ignore it.
Taifu Xu was a keen observer and could see at a glance the mistakes made by King Cheng and Li Chu in their fight for the throne.
As the eldest son of Su Zong, Li Chu also made great military achievements in regaining the two capitals. If he does not fight against the world, he will do his duty as the eldest son of the emperor, assist Su Zong with peace of mind, and carry out errands according to Su Zong's orders. There is no need to fight for the position of prince.
It's his turn too.
But Li Chu was still too young and not experienced enough. At the critical moment, he was so eager to compete for the throne that he did not hesitate to use all the power of the Dugu family to influence Suzong's decision-making. This was exactly a taboo of His Majesty.
You know, before Suzong ascended the throne, he had been a prince for decades. Suzong knew better than anyone who was more suitable to be the crown prince, the three-year-old Xing Wang Li Ji or the 33-year-old Cheng Wang Li Chu.
Thinking of this, Taifu Xu gave up the idea of contacting the aristocratic families still in Chang'an. With a thought in his mind, he studied his ink and picked up his pen, and wrote a secret letter to Li Kui.
Li Kui was the great-great-grandson of Li Xuandao, a bachelor of Emperor Taizong's Tiance Mansion. He was born in the Li family's gu Zangfang in Longxi. He had been a member of a prominent family for generations and had always been on good terms with Taifu Xu.
What's more important is that Li Kui's current official position is to be a doctor in the imperial examination, who knows how to make imperial edicts.
Kaogong Langzhong is a ministerial officer of the Ministry of Civil Affairs of Shangshu Province. He is responsible for the assessment of civil and military officials in the capital and other places from the fifth grade.
Zhizhigao is the title of an envoy, responsible for drafting the emperor's edicts, even drafting edicts on military affairs or state secrets.
These two official positions are not high-ranking, but they are the closest advisers and courtiers to the emperor. At critical moments, they have the finishing touch.
…
On this day, Empress Zhang once again cried with Su Zong over the matter of establishing a heir to the throne of Prince Li Yi.
Suzong was in a dilemma. On the palm of his hand was his eldest son Li Chu, who had made great achievements, and on the back of his hand was the queen Lingwu who shared weal and woe and slept with him.
After appeasing Queen Zhang, Suzong received a secret report from Li Mi.
Suzong was overjoyed. He had been waiting for this memorial from Li Mi.
He had asked Li Mi a year ago about the establishment of a crown prince. However, Li Mi always believed that it was a family matter of the emperor and refused to give a clear answer.
After reading the secret memorial, Suzong already had an idea in mind.
Suzong put his hands behind his back, abandoned the palace maids and eunuchs, and walked alone by the Taiye Pool. Only Li Kui wrote and served beside him.
Su Zong was fond of Li Kui and often praised Li Kui's family background, character, and articles as the best at that time, so he was called "Three Wonders" at that time.
Tired from walking, Suzong sat under the wicker chair under the flower stand, drinking tea and chatting with Li Kui.
Suzong seemed to be casual. He took a sip of tea and asked: "Since I have become a king and have achieved meritorious service, I want to establish myself as the crown prince. What do you think?"
("Among the princes, King Cheng Li Chu is older, already thirty-three years old, and has made great achievements in conquering the rebels. I want to make him the crown prince. What do you think?")
Li Kui knelt down, kowtowed and said in congratulations: "This is a blessing for the country, and I cannot thank you enough for the great celebration."
Suzong Longyan was overjoyed, laughed out loud, and said with great joy: "My decision has been made."
On May 19, Suzong held a canonization ceremony in the Hanyuan Hall and officially canonized King Li Chu as the crown prince.
At this point, after several years of disputes over the establishment of the crown prince, the dust has finally settled.