Chapter 592 The battle to abolish the establishment
After thinking for a long time, Changsun Wuji finally made a decision.
In his opinion, the stability of the court is in the current interests of the country and more in line with the interests of the Changsun family.
Li Chengqian's position as crown prince cannot be deposed easily.
However, Changsun Wuji could still vaguely sense the thorn in His Majesty Li Er's heart.
If it is not removed, even if Li Er does not immediately depose Li Chengqian, the distance between the prince and the throne will become farther and farther.
It also has an unpredictable impact on the future of the Changsun family.
However, Changsun Wuji did not think that it would be beneficial to his eldest son's family if Li Tai was made the crown prince instead.
After all, most of the people behind Li Tai who supported him were from the Jiangnan gentry, so it was obviously difficult for his eldest son, Sun Wuji, to get involved.
Now His Majesty Li Er made no secret and directly stated that he wanted to change the crown prince, but Changsun Wuji saw His Majesty Li Er's inner struggle.
His Majesty Li Er personally planned the Xuanwu Gate Incident, killing his brother and his brother to force his father to abdicate, which had already broken the tradition of the eldest son ascending the throne in previous dynasties and led to chaos and ethical disorder.
If we depose the crown prince and install the king of Wei now, wouldn't it further encourage this trend and lead to a bad start for future generations?
From now on, everyone in the Li family knows that the position of crown prince cannot be inherited by the eldest son. Everyone has to fight for it, which will shake the country's foundation and never have peace!
Therefore, in Changsun Wuji's view, His Majesty Li Er's visit must be a test.
The most important thing is that His Majesty Li Er wants to change the prince. With the emperor's character, there is no need to ask for other people's opinions.
Thinking of this, Changsun Wuji said: "Your Majesty, I cannot guarantee whether the prince is involved in this rebellion, nor can I guarantee whether the prince knows about Hou Junji's rebellion."
"But even if there was something wrong with the prince, he was not personally involved after all. Therefore, the ministers believe that the prince has not reached the stage of deposing."
"This conspiracy, regardless of whether the prince is involved or not, whether the prince knows it or not, still needs to be investigated by the three divisions. Only when the evidence is conclusive can we talk about deposing the prince. Therefore, I think it is not appropriate to depose the prince, otherwise it will easily cause trouble in the court.
Fight."
Although Changsun Wuji is usually very selfish, his words were based on the overall situation and seemed fair and rigorous.
His Majesty Li Er put down his teacup and raised his eyes to look at Changsun Wuji, as if he wanted to read some clues from the face of this comrade and old friend.
Sharp eyes scanned Changsun Wuji like lasers, making his heart beat wildly.
Changsun Wuji couldn't help but think.
Did you say the wrong thing?
Just when Changsun Wuji was suspicious, His Majesty Li Er waved, and Wang Huangui, who was waiting at the door, immediately walked in and respectfully placed a booklet on the table in front of Changsun Wuji.
Changsun Wuji was a little surprised and couldn't figure out what His Majesty Li Er meant.
"Look, His Highness the Crown Prince, my good son, who you have always supported, has done some good things!"
His Majesty Li Er said angrily, but then he sighed decadently.
As a father, how can the words "hate iron but not steel" be able to express the complicated emotions in his heart towards his useless son?
Changsun Wuji thought to himself, is there really evidence of Li Chengqian's rebellion?
When he opened the booklet and took a look, Changsun Wuji's face turned pale with fright!
It turns out that the memorial contains the confessions of Li Yuanchang's staff, which details how Li Yuanchang and Hou Junji discussed the rebellion, and how he asked Hou Junji to advise the prince to rebel... These things were all confessed in detail.
Although the confession did not indicate that Li Chengqian participated in the rebellion, it is certain that Li Chengqian must have known about Hou Junji's intention to rebel.
But Li Chengqian did not report to His Majesty Li Er, which indirectly proves that Li Chengqian acquiesced to Hou Junji's behavior.
"Isn't it possible?" Changsun Wuji was completely dumbfounded!
Your Majesty Li Er, please don't think that you knew about the treason in advance, which would cause serious trouble.
This sudden change made Changsun Wuji speechless. A heavy cold sweat dripped down his forehead. The more he thought about it, the more panicked he became. He said in a panic: "Your Majesty, could someone deliberately frame the prince?"
"The prince is the crown prince of the country. As long as he doesn't make any big mistakes, he is the emperor of the empire. How could he do something worse than a beast?"
"If the Crown Prince really knew that Hou Jun was gathering to rebel, why did the Crown Prince make no movement at all? It would be too hasty to conclude that the Crown Prince knew about the rebellion based only on the confession of an aide. Why don't we ask the Crown Prince to come and confront him?"
Changsun Wuji begged for mercy for the prince, but secretly complained in his heart that the prince was too troublesome.
If you want to cause trouble under the nose of His Majesty Li Er, you don't know how to wipe your butt clean.
Others may not believe the authenticity of this confession, but Changsun Wuji just took one look and was convinced!
Although the prince has always been weak and has no independent opinions in doing things, he is a person who values love and justice.
Even if Hou Junji brought up the rebellion in person, Li Chengqian would not say it out loud, but would defend him at every turn.
This is also the reason why Changsun Wuji has always supported Li Chengqian.
Hou Junji was a military man who supported Li Chengqian, and the two had a mutually prosperous relationship. It was natural that Li Chengqian did not report Hou Junji.
Although he knew that more than 90% of the confession was true, Changsun Wuji could not say this.
Originally, His Majesty Li Er wanted to make Li Tai the Crown Prince instead. If Li Chengqian really caused this incident, it would obviously be a foregone conclusion that the Crown Prince would be dethroned.
Of course, Changsun Wuji was still lucky, that is, he was convinced that His Majesty Li Er did not really want to depose Li Chengqian as the crown prince.
The emperor just asked him about Yi Chu's opinion. He was obviously thinking about the relationship between father and son, and did not want future generations to do whatever it takes to get the throne.
However, fortunately, Li Chengqian did not make any changes during Hou Junji's rebellion, so at least now there is room for change.
His Majesty Li Er sighed softly, looking at Zhangsun Wuji who looked panicked but covered in cold sweat, and sighed: "You and I have always had a close relationship with each other. Since the beginning of the troubled times, we have gone through many twists and turns to make this country prosperous. I will not
Your loyalty will be doubted."
"It's just that I can't understand what the prince is thinking. As long as he stays well, I can ascend the throne in a hundred years. Is he so impatient to wait? Is the throne really as beautiful as imagined?
?”
The eldest grandson Wuji was so ashamed that he kowtowed to the ground and said: "Your Majesty's trust in Wuji is deeply felt by Wuji. Even if he is shattered to pieces, it is difficult to repay it!"
"However, if the prince really knows that Hou Jun is plotting rebellion and refuses to report it, it will show his benevolence and he is obviously a conservative king..."
"What's more, Maid Guanyin has always wanted the prince to be a benevolent emperor."
What kind of crime is it to know that someone is treasonous but refuse to report it?
In any dynasty, it would be equivalent to a heinous crime of treason, which would punish the nine clans.
Of course, Changsun Wuji knew that the emperor would not be so heartless and would not be able to kill his nine clans.
But now listening to the emperor's words, he is obviously very confused about whether to hold the prince jointly and severally responsible!
Changsun Wuji was a smart man, so he did not defend Li Chengqian, but said that Li Chengqian did not report Hou Junji because of friendship and an act of kindness.
Of course, it was impossible for him to deliberately mention his sister Changsun Wujia without making a last-ditch effort.
His Majesty Li Er's love for his sister is unparalleled. Even Princess Yang, who is the most favored by the emperor in the eyes of the world, is slightly inferior!
Now that Li Chengqian's kindness is said to be what his sister Zhangsun Wugou hopes for, he is naturally using it to gain strength.
As expected, His Majesty Li Er fell silent after hearing this.
Li Chengqian has been smart, agile and gentle as jade since he was a child, so he was trained by Li Erda at a young age.
But he never thought that since he broke his leg, his son would become more and more cowardly, which is why His Majesty Li Er couldn't stand it.
Now that he can't even stop his subordinates from treason, His Majesty Li Er is naturally even more disappointed.
But if Li Chengqian's position as prince is abolished, what will he do in the future?
Throughout the dynasties, no one could have a good death for the former prince.
Once Li Chengqian is deposed, the only thing that will greet him is death...
Family ties are insignificant in front of the throne, and His Majesty Li Er naturally understands this deeply.
Now it was difficult to decide how to choose, which made him extremely confused.
Rubbing his aching temples, His Majesty Li Er waved his hands and said: "I will consider this matter carefully. Please step aside. Today's discussion can only be kept between the ears of you and me. If a third person knows about it,
"Don't blame me for not remembering the friendship of the past."
"No!" Changsun Wuji responded and slowly stepped back.
What needs to be said has been said. What His Majesty Li Er wants to decide is his own business.
Changsun Wuji was extremely kind and righteous towards his nephew.
****
In the next few days, His Majesty Li Er will stay at the Lishan Palace.
Since Princess Changle was not allowed to move lightly due to her injury, Yang Fan was of course accompanying her on Lishan Mountain.
Of course, Princess Gaoyang was also brought back.
On this day, Yang Fan was called over again by His Majesty Li Er.
In the palace, the monarch and his ministers sat opposite each other, with a carved huanghuali wood coffee table in the middle, which looked simple and heavy.
Princess Gaoyang on the side waved her little hand and ordered the palace maid to withdraw.
Wang Huangui also consciously bowed and resigned.
Princess Gaoyang rolled up her sleeves, brewed a pot of fragrant tea with her bare hands, and placed it on the tea table.
He fetched two more teacups and poured half a cup of tea for each of them. The tea was filled with hot air and the fragrance of tea was fragrant.
After doing this, Princess Gao Yang sat aside obediently, holding her chin with her little hand, and her big black eyes glanced at Yang Fan's face from time to time.
His Majesty Li Er signaled Yang Fan to help himself, and he also took a cup of tea and tasted it lightly.
Yang Fan is not polite, Li Er is playing Shen Shen again, who is afraid of whom?
So he picked up the tea cup and took a sip.
For a while, my mouth was full of tasting the distant fragrance of tea, and the first taste was the special Longjing tea.
The fried tea that I made not only changed the Tang Dynasty's habit of drinking oil soup, but also made a lot of money, and it can be said to be popular all over the world.
Nowadays, the annual income from tea is an astronomical figure.
Princess Gao Yang kept glancing at Yang Fan, her eyes becoming blurred and her heart throbbing more and more.
It stands to reason that Yang Fan's appearance is quite different from the current aesthetics. After all, whitewashed jade belts are the mainstream.
But Yang Fan didn't like to apply rouge and gouache. Compared with those young men with jade faces and red lips and heavy makeup, he was certainly different.
But now Yang Fan is sitting in front of the emperor, with a leisurely expression and casual behavior, competing with his father with his silence, which naturally makes Princess Gaoyang worship her even more.
Recall that Yang Fan hid her a few days ago, but he turned around and joined the rebels, and then asked someone to escort them back to Chang'an.
And he led dozens of people to rescue his father from the rebels. His heroic spirit looked down on the world and regarded death as if he were home. Looking at the world, how many men can compare with it?
What Sister Changle said is indeed true. The most important thing about a man is not his appearance, but whether he has a beautiful chest and a beautiful belly.
Only that kind of man can show his unflinching temperament at critical moments.
No wonder Sister Changle died for this man without hesitation.
I had a good impression of her because I married Yang Fan, and now that Yang Fan risked her life to save her, my love is even deeper.
Seeing his daughter's silly look, His Majesty Li Er couldn't hold back any longer.
It's not because he is not good at cultivating qi, but because the look in the girl's eyes makes His Majesty Li Er feel embarrassed!
As a high-ranking princess, do you need to be such a nymphomaniac?
He glared at Princess Gaoyang angrily, wanting to say that you are a princess!
Even if you are already married to this boy, you are still getting married. How can you still be eaten up by this boy with this obsessed look on his face?
"Shu'er, please accompany your sister Changle first. My father has some important matters to discuss with this boy."
This girl is so embarrassing, so she ran away quickly, out of sight and out of mind.
"oh!"
Princess Gao Yang stood up reluctantly, and then smiled brightly at Yang Fan: "Husband, I'm going to accompany Sister Changle first. You can come with me later. Sister Changle has been thinking of you!"
His Majesty Li Er's face turned even darker.
It's not enough for one daughter to be a nymphomaniac. Both of them are like this. I really can't stand it anymore. I waved my hand and said: "Stop blabbering here, go and accompany your sister quickly!"
"Oh!" Princess Gaoyang reluctantly left.
There was another silence in the palace.
This time it was not that Li Er had any intention of playing confrontation, but that for a moment, he didn't know where to start.
After a while, His Majesty Li Er asked: "I heard that Hou Jun went to see the prince before he conspired to rebel. Do you think the prince was involved in this rebellion?"
Yang Fan quickly said: "Your Majesty, I will never speculate. Everything is based on evidence. Whether the prince is involved in this rebellion or not is decided by three departments. I don't dare to lie in vain."
Although Li Er seems to be understatement, who knows what he is thinking in his heart?
Once you say something bad, you will no longer be a human being inside and out.
Since this rebellion incident will be tried by the three departments, why should I have to intervene.
The higher you are in a high position, the more you need to keep a low profile and bide your time. Only by standing in a neutral position can you remain invincible.
In any case, he has more than a thousand years of experience than people of this era. He is most sensitive to this seemingly random crisis that actually conceals murderous intent, and he immediately picked it out.
His Majesty Li Er narrowed his eyes slightly and glanced at Yang Fan with a somewhat surprised look on his face.
This guy is as smart as a ghost.
His words were originally just a casual question looking for something to say, but Yang Fan felt like he was facing a formidable enemy.
Soon, Li Er also realized that his words might have caused a dilemma for Yang Fan.
But this is not a teenage boy. He is simply an old man in the officialdom, and he is simply too cunning.
Li Er was both pleased and unhappy. He snorted coldly and asked, "What do you think of the prince?"
Yang Fan was dumbfounded and didn't know how to answer for a while.
That's the prince, what can he think?
Even if there is, I can’t tell you!
You two are father and son, who knows if you have any dirty thoughts.
Do you really think I'm stupid?
"The prince is talented, gentle and elegant, and his reputation for virtue is spread throughout the world..."
It is about the crown prince, and it also involves a fight for the throne. This is a quagmire that no one can avoid. Is it possible that Yang Fan will stupidly jump into it?
But the emperor had to answer what he said, so he made some flattery in a very formulaic way.
He had long expected that Yang Fan was a thief. His Majesty Li Er did not blame him, but pointed at Yang Fan's nose and laughed and cursed: "You kid...how can I say you are good? You must have some talent, but at such a young age
He is very depressed, and instead of learning the spirit of young people who are determined to make progress, he wants to learn from those old fritters who have been immersed in officialdom for many years and only know how to protect themselves."
"Although seeking no merit but no fault in the officialdom is a wise way to protect yourself, in my opinion, these are all corrupt and conservative Shen Ke, and are not advisable at all. If you are like this, then your achievements may be nothing more than this.
"
Seeing His Majesty Li Er looking like he hated iron, Yang Fan sneered.
The clumsy method of provoking generals is too disrespectful.
In the past, when I was in sales, I was so embarrassed that my face dropped to the ground, even if I was afraid of a little provocation from you.
"What your Majesty said is that I don't have any lofty ambitions. I just want to serve the country and abide by the law, make a small contribution to this country and your Majesty, and live in peace and stability until old age.
"If I can make some more money with luck during this period, then I will really be lucky and have nothing to ask for in this life."
Yang Fan looked sincere and seemed to really long for such a future.
His Majesty Li Er was very angry. This boy was simply incompetent!
If that's the case, let's change the approach.
"Now that the prince is implicated by Hou Junji, you have never thought of saying a word or defending him. After all, he is Changle's eldest brother!"
Hearing this, Yang Fan fell silent.
Regarding Li Chengqian's senses, Yang Fan could not say that he was good or bad.
For a long time, Yang Fan did not want to get involved in the fight for the crown prince, so he kept a good distance from each prince.
In his opinion, it doesn't matter whether Li Chengqian participated or not.
The important thing is how Li Chengqian himself gains the trust of His Majesty Li Er, otherwise Yang Fan's talk will be useless.