When the setting sun has sunk into the mountains and darkness envelopes the entire city of Chang'an. When the lanterns are first lit, the entire city of Chang'an begins to boil. Because today is the Lantern Festival. Both ordinary people and nobles will gather in groups on this day. Like-minded friends are invited to go on a lantern tour. Tonight, Chang'an City is also the busiest time of the year.
Lord Du and his family were all ready to go into the palace with Lord Du to attend this grand day. But Meng Xinghe and his wives didn't need to prepare anything at all. They just got on their carriage and headed towards the Daming Palace.
"Ms. sir, why are you so depressed all the time? How about later, you take our sisters to the Chang'an market to buy a lantern." The speaker was Mengdie. She still remembered this time last year, in Jiangdu. The scene when shopping with Meng Xinghe. Then he said: "Sister Xiao Sizi, please tell me we won't enter the palace later, okay?"
Xiao Sizi is now also a member of the Meng family. Although she has not yet become a wife, she should be inseparable. She was not allowed to enter the palace. When Mengdie mentioned it, she nodded quickly and said: "Then We won’t go.”
"Since you don't want to go, then we won't go either." Xue Shiyu echoed from the side. In fact, she didn't want to go to the palace. It would be great to just play outside without being so restrained. When we got to the palace, Mrs. Li and Wang Madam, this nobleman, that nobleman, they are not used to that. They simply started a collective strike on the way to Daming Palace.
Meng Xinghe pretended to have a gloomy look on his face, but in fact he was already happy. He had just come out of Mr. Du's house. On the way to Daming Palace, he was thinking about what kind of lies he could tell to get his wives away. Kai. Unexpectedly, these women raised their flags first and did not want to follow them into the palace. Isn't this exactly what Master Meng wants?
"Hmm. Okay." Meng Xinghe said calmly: "I asked Xue Rengui to dream of you. I don't want that bastard to have ideas about my wife."
The ladies looked at each other with blank eyes. The carriage stopped here.
"Why don't you leave?" After watching everyone get out of the car, there was still the Turkic princess in the car. Meng Xinghe stared at her curiously and said, "Have you forgotten what I told you? .”
"I don't know." Linlang replied stiffly: "No one can order me. I like to help you. That's my business. If you don't like it, you can't control it. Now I'm going to the Daming Palace. Do you want to stop me too? .This is not the way to treat guests."
Meng Xinghe couldn't bear it and said, "Okay. I guess I made a mistake."
The carriage set off again and drove towards Daming Palace.
The ladies who got off the carriage in the middle saw that the carriage was far away, so Mengdie took the lead, with Xue Shiyu as the strategist and Xiao Sizi as the soldiers. They leaned together and whispered, as if they were discussing something important.
After a long time, the group of whispering women finally finished communicating. Xue Rengui next to him was only responsible for protecting their safety. As for what they had to say, he did not deliberately listen. It was just that at this time, as a military advisor and Xue Rengui's sister, Xue Shiyu stood up.
"Xiao Xue."
She always calls her brother's name.
Xue Rengui waited quietly for his sister's instructions. He remained motionless, like a statue.
"You go and protect your brother-in-law. Your sister Mengdie is here. You don't have to look at us."
Xue Shiyu's words are still effective. There is no reason for Xue Rengui to disobey. It's just that he was entrusted by Meng Xinghe, so he couldn't be dismissed with just one word.
Xue Shiyu seemed to see through that this younger brother was already shaken. He immediately sounded a stern tone and said, "I forgot that when my mother passed away, who should I listen to in the future?"
"I haven't forgotten. My mother said that no matter how old I am, I must listen to my sister." After saying this, Xue Rengui turned around and left. He is loyal, filial, and righteous. He always puts filial piety first. As for Brother Meng. I believe he will understand. Otherwise, Xue Rengui would not be worthy of him and follow him wholeheartedly.
Xue Shiyu smiled happily and said, "Then listen to your sister and go back to protect your brother-in-law. His situation is more dangerous than the rest of us."
Meng Xinghe has always said nothing to his wives. But he knows that the people next to him have actually discovered his abnormality a long time ago. Moreover, they also guessed that something will happen tonight. They said they were going to the street. Playing is a lie. Staying in the Meng Mansion and never taking a step out is the truth.
How could a moment of joy compare to a lifetime of staying together? As Meng Xinghe's wife, how could they ignore the importance and not know when to let their husband-in-law not worry about them.
Meng Xinghe didn't know that he had a wife who cared about him. He and Princess Jindao drove to the outside of Daming Palace. After inspection and release, they both entered the palace.
The Daming Palace is next to the most prosperous street in Chang'an. Li Shimin chose this place for Lantern Festival and other festivals. The purpose is to have fun with the people, and all the people in the world will see the Holy Face here.
This is destined to be an unprecedented grand event.
According to the bustling scene in the Daming Palace now, Meng Xinghe should be one of the late arrivals. The most senior of the imperial court's household secretary and general, his position should be not far from Li Shimin. So Meng Xinghe split the bottom Many officials came to the area next to the dragon chariot. He glanced briefly. All the ministers who were supposed to come came, but four more people did not come.
These four people are Li Jing, Qin Shubao, the old prince Li Daozong, and the prince Li Chengqian.
Logically speaking, for such a grand event, as a prince of a country, he should come to the Daming Palace early. But today Li Chengqian seems to be a little ignorant of etiquette. Even Li Shimin has arrived. He has not yet appeared. However, Li Zhi appeared obediently before Li Shimin. Next to him, he was dressed in the clothes of a prince. He looked a little more unruly and unrestrained.
"Your Majesty, Meng Xinghe, pays homage to the Holy One." When he came here, of course he had to say hello to Li Shimin. Meng Xinghe was about to salute, but Li Shimin graciously said that there was no need to be more polite, so he asked Minister Meng to sit on his right side. Enjoy the Chang'an Lantern Festival.
Along with the mysterious Wei Ming who stayed beside Li Shimin all year round, he stood on the tall palace wall of the Daming Palace and announced to the people of the world an imperial edict of amnesty and exemption of taxes for the prefectures and counties affected by the floods in Jiangnan last year. Those below were crowded. The crowd immediately erupted into an overwhelming sound.
"Long live my emperor. Long live. Long live."
The reading of the imperial edict is just a climax before the lantern festival begins. The next step is the real start of the lantern festival.
Sure enough, after Wei Ming read out the imperial edict, he became the spokesperson on behalf of Li Shimin in public. He took on the task of hosting the lantern festival.
But just when the people were excited, the gates of the Daming Palace came out. As the eunuch guarding the gate revealed the old prince Li Daozong and the prince Li Chengqian were present. On the high platform above the city wall, Wei Ming, who was about to announce the start of the lantern festival, had to Stopped the sound.
Because he saw Prince Li Chengqian entering the Daming Palace with a knife.
"My son, I will meet my father." Li Chengqian knelt on the ground. Behind him were the old prince, Li Daozong, Hou Wenhai, the Minister of Rites, and more than half of them were already generals in the army.
"No ceremony. Peace." Li Shimin didn't even see his son entering the Daming Palace with a knife.
Li Chengqian actually didn't listen to Li Shimin's words. He kept kneeling on the ground: "I still have something to say. But please give me a favor after I finish speaking."
All the officials turned their attention to the prince with the knife. Everyone knew that breaking into the Daming Palace with a knife should be regarded as a crime of treason. They were now waiting to see how the Holy Emperor would deal with it. So they were like chickens and ducks waiting to be slaughtered. He craned his neck and looked at the Holy Master on the dragon throne and the Crown Prince kneeling on the ground.
"To make a long story short, don't delay my joy with all the people." Li Shimin actually forgave Li Chengqian again. Perhaps in the eyes of other officials, they couldn't understand why the emperor was so calm today. But Meng Xinghe, who was sitting next to Li Shimin, could see it clearly. .Li Shimin’s hands were shaking.
Yes. He was trembling. Or maybe he was angry. His son drew a sword against him. How is this different from the previous Yang Guang's dealing with Emperor Wen of the Sui Dynasty?
Li Chengqian knelt on the ground devoutly, just like a filial son kneeling in front of his elderly father. He desperately needed to get everything he deserved.
"Father, you are old. Let me take your place. I have already chosen a palace for my father to renovate in Furong Garden. I know that my father is obsessed with refining elixirs recently. Hundreds of scholars from all over the world have been searching for it, and they gathered together with my father in the Furong Garden."
"Wow." Li Chengqian said this, and the officials were in an uproar.
This is obviously a coup. Li Chengqian is forcing the palace. It seems that he can't wait to take the next step as the prince.
All the officials couldn't help but secretly watch how Li Shimin handled this matter.
There was no expression on Li Shimin's old face. He was still the majestic king in the past. When Li Chengqian finished saying what he wanted to say, he sat on the dragon chair. He didn't even look at him again and said: "It's done." He had Waited for a few seconds for Li Chengqian to answer.
"Father, please abdicate." Li Chengqian finally said these words. He actually felt uncomfortable with these words. He had been waiting for today. But today came. He was a little scared, but he still had the courage to say it.
Li Shimin suddenly became angry. There happened to be a golden cup placed on the incense table on the right. When he was about to pick up the cup and drink, he unexpectedly knocked the cup over. This shows that the anger in Li Shimin's heart has been suppressed at this moment. He didn't break out, so even his hands were shaking with anger.
"That's it. Get out of the Daming Palace." Finally, Li Shimin showed his power as a king: "The Yulin Army, take the prince out of the Daming Palace. Don't affect the enjoyment of me, the ministers, and the people."
When the words fell, Li Shimin had already glanced at Wei Ming, who was standing on the high platform, asking him to continue. Don't let such a small thing disturb the grand event.
However, it seems that Li Shimin's words have no effect now. None of the Yulin troops in the Daming Palace listened to his orders. He had forgotten that he had handed over the power of mobilizing the imperial army to the prince Li Chengqian.
There was a "bang." Li Shimin finally couldn't bear the anger in his heart. The golden cup in his hand smashed to the ground and broke into pieces.
"Father, please abdicate."
Seeing this, Li Chengqian stood up from the ground. "I promise that as long as my father agrees to abdicate, I will never kill anyone." Li Chengqian stated his conditions in a kingly manner, but he was already happy in his heart. Could it be successful just like this? He couldn't believe that his cunning father could be captured so easily. But Li Chengqian didn't have to worry about anything, because the people outside the Daming Palace were all his people. Whoever dared to lead troops in? Before entering the palace, he would definitely be executed. Could such a thorough plan still not be successful?
Li Chengqian, who felt that he was about to touch the throne, smiled slightly. He knelt down to Li Shimin who was sitting on the dragon throne directly in front of him and said: "On behalf of the people of the world, I sincerely ask my father to abdicate for the sake of all the people of the world." Bar."
For a time, the sound of the crown prince's forced labor was heard in the Daming Palace. Even on the lively street outside the palace, people heard the usual sound of forced labor inside the Daming Palace.