Li Zhi, Emperor Gaozong of the Tang Dynasty, had a romantic life and made a lot of demands for women. However, he did not have many children. There were only eight sons and four daughters born in the world. Among them, Princess An Ding had the most tragic fate. She was killed just one month after she was born.
Empress Wu strangled her alive to frame Empress Wang. The eldest son Li Zhong was deposed from the position of crown prince in the sixth year of Yonghui and was sentenced to death just a few months ago. Not counting the unborn Princess Taiping, he now only has seven sons and two sons.
Most of the daughters were born to Empress Wu - the fifth son Li Hong, who was fourteen years old, the sixth son Li Xian, who was twelve years old, the seventh son Li Xian, who was ten years old, and the eighth son Li Xulun, who was only three years old. The smartest among them was
Li Xian - Li Xian, courtesy name Mingyun, was the sixth son of Emperor Gaozong. He was smart at a young age, capable of writing at the age of five and poetry at the age of seven. He had a photographic memory and was always praised by officials. His talent was outstanding, but his personality was too strong.
, the amount is slightly small, and whenever there is any injustice, it must be called out.
Although Li Xian is a young and talented person, Li Xian has never liked Li Xian, his brother, whether in the past life or in this life. Every time the two brothers meet, they always cause some unpleasantness. Generally speaking, they are provocative.
The person who started the conflict was the domineering Li Xian, but in the end, it was the weak Li Xian who often suffered the loss. If Li Xian had reprimanded him like this in the past, Li Xian would not be outdone and would have to retort and ridicule him.
After the quarrel, Li Xian, who was not good at eloquence, mostly ended up crying. However, Li Xian was in a state of confusion today, and he really had no intention of quarreling with Li Xian, nor did he want to cause any trouble at this time, so he nodded lightly and said nothing.
Then he walked to Li Hong's soft couch and stood with his hands down, as if he had never heard Li Xian's accusation.
"Humph, Shenzi has caught the cold. This is laziness. Since you know your body is weak, why don't you practice? You mediocre person!"
Seeing that Li Xian remained silent, Li Xian suddenly felt a sense of loss as if he had punched an empty space. His expression darkened involuntarily. He glared at Li Xian and scolded him reluctantly.
Boring! Today's Li Xian is no longer the original Li Xian. With the memory of three generations, how can he be angered by the tricks of children like Li Xian? He doesn't even bother to look at Li Xian and doesn't move.
He stood there calmly.
"Sixth brother, how can you say this? Seventh brother is sick. As brothers, we should be more considerate."
Li Xian didn't speak, but Li Hong, who was leaning on the soft couch, couldn't stand it. Li Hong had always been weak and often bedridden. The most unpleasant thing to hear was the word "frail". At this moment, Li Xian said this
The statement made it clear that he wanted to sweep them in. No matter how gentle Li Hong was, he couldn't bear it any longer. He frowned and said unhappily.
"Brother, the prince, is right. It's just that the seventh brother has always been lazy. I, as the elder brother, should give me some advice. Otherwise, it will not be appropriate for the dignity of our heavenly family." When Li Hong spoke, Li Xian said
Only then did he realize that his previous words were quite inappropriate. However, Li Xian was strong-willed by nature and did not intend to apologize for this. Besides, Li Xian did not like Li Hong very much, the sickly brother of the prince, and was unwilling to do so.
He lowered his head and replied in an extremely forceful manner.
"Cough, cough, cough..."
Li Hong was not good at arguing with others. Hearing Li Xian's words become increasingly muddled, he felt even more unhappy. His anger surged upwards, his face turned red, and he started coughing and wheezing involuntarily.
Fight, fight, fight! What is there to fight about? Alas, what can you two do with each other? If you fight back and forth, your mother will kill you with a glass of poisonous wine. In the end, it will be in vain.
That boy, Li Dan, has taken advantage of him! Li Xian is unwilling to get involved in the dispute between the two brothers. Besides, so far, he has not yet figured out how to take his next step, so how can he have the heart to pay attention to such quarrels?
However, when I thought about the tragic death of my two brothers who were almost exactly the same in the future, I suddenly felt unbearable. I shook my head with a wry smile, stood up and said: "Brother Prince, Brother Six is also doing it for the benefit of my younger brother.
I should correct it if I have it, and encourage me if I don’t."
"If there is something, correct it, if not, encourage it? Well, that's right. Zeng Zi said: I examine myself three times every day. This is exactly what I mean. My seventh brother has made progress in his recent studies. Good, very good." Li Hong has always been eager to learn, so this
Hearing Li Xian's extraordinary words, he was stunned at first, and then he clapped his hands and shouted, completely forgetting that the previous dispute with Li Xian, "If there is something, correct it, if there is nothing, add encouragement" is from Zhu Xi's "Collected Notes" of the Song Dynasty.
Not to mention Zhu Xi, even Zhu Xi's grandfather's grandfather had not yet been born. It is really refreshing to have Li Xian, a figure who had done average work in the past, speak out.
Damn it, I let it slip! Upon hearing that Li Hong praised this statement so much, Li Xian was stunned for a moment, and then suddenly realized that he had plagiarized future generations. He couldn't help but feel ashamed, and quickly thanked him: "Brother Prince
This is too much praise, I am ashamed, ashamed."
Li Xian obviously didn't expect that his brother, who had always been mediocre, could actually say such philosophical words. He raised his eyebrows and opened his mouth, as if he was about to say something sarcastic, but when the words came to his lips, he realized that he had no way to argue.
He stood up and had to stop talking, waved his sleeves, looked sullen, and ignored the two brothers Li Hong who were happily chatting with each other.
"Change it, change it, encourage it, encourage it..." Li Xian calmed down, but Li Xulun, who was held by the wet nurse, became excited, waving his hands and feet wildly and shouting, with a proud look.
This little appearance immediately made the brothers burst out laughing, and the originally tense and dull atmosphere in the hall dissipated.
"Wait..." The laughter of the princes was really loud. Li Zhi, who was milling around in the back hall, was immediately alarmed. When he looked back, he saw that the princes were laughing so happily. He was filled with doubts and opened his mouth to say something.
He asked what was going on, but before he could finish his words, he saw a palace maid rushing out from the back hall, shouting over and over again: "It's born, it's born. Congratulations to your majesty on the birth of a princess. Mother and daughter are safe."
."
"Ah..." Li Zhi suddenly turned around and looked at the panting little palace maid with surprise and joy. His mouth opened wide. After being stunned for a long time, he suddenly laughed and said: "Okay,
Peace is good. Since mother and daughter are safe, I will designate the little princess as Princess Taiping. I want to grant amnesty to the world. Come and draw up a decree. Hurry, draw up a decree!"
"Congratulations, father."
"Congratulations, Father."
When the three princes heard that they had a younger sister, they all became energetic. Seeing how happy their father was, they did not dare to neglect, and they all came forward and congratulated her in unison.
Drafting a decree? Why are you so anxious to grant amnesty to the world? Oh, yes, that’s it! Although Li Xian also followed several brothers to rush up to congratulate him, his heart was more twisted than the two brothers. After thinking for a while, he already
He guessed the motive of his father's move - it was all for one person, and that person was none other than Shangguan Yi, the minister of Zhongshu.
Shangguan Yi, a native of Shaanxi County, was born in Jiangdu. His father, Shangguan Hong, once served as the deputy supervisor of Jiangdu Palace. He later died in the Yuwen Wenji Rebellion. Shangguan Yi was young and was exempted from hiding. As he grew older, he traveled around the world to interpret the classics.
He was proficient in "Three Treatises", dabbled in classics and history, and was good at literary works. In the first year of Zhenguan (627 AD) of Emperor Taizong of the Tang Dynasty, Shangguan Yi was valued by Yang Rengong, then the governor of Yangzhou, and recommended him to attend the scientific research in Chang'an, the capital.
Kao. Shangguan Yi used the two policies of "strategy for seeking talents" and "policy for punishing harshly and leniently" to become a Jinshi. He was awarded the title of "direct bachelor of Hongwen Hall" and "Secretary Lang" of Leiqian. After Gaozong came to the throne, in the first year of Xianqing (AD 65)
In the sixth year of the reign of Emperor Xianqing (660 AD), he was appointed as Prince Zhongsheren. In the fourth year of Xianqing reign (660 AD), he was appointed as the minister of the Imperial Secretariat. In the first year of Longshuo (661 AD), he was appointed as the minister of Zhongshu.
In the second year of Shuo (AD 662), he was appointed as the Minister of Huangmen and the third rank (prime minister) of Tongzhongshu.
Shangguan Yi had outstanding talents, a strong personality and dared to give advice. In August of the first year of Linde's reign, while Empress Wu was pregnant and resting in the palace, Shangguan Yi secretly wrote to Emperor Gaozong Li Zhi, saying that Empress Wu's autocratic power was not good for the country and should be abolished.
Emperor Gaozong believed this and secretly ordered Shangguan Yi to plan a move to dethrone the empress. However, the matter was not kept secret and he was informed by the eunuchs in the palace. When Empress Wu found out about it, she became furious, bypassed Gaozong, and cleverly captured Shangguan Yi and his family under the pretext of false pretenses.
He has been brought to justice and the third trial has passed. After spring, the whole family will be executed.
Although Emperor Gaozong Li Zhi was cowardly by nature, he was not an unreasonable person. Li Zhi did not agree with the execution of Shangguan Yi's entire family. He was just afraid of guilt and did not dare to publicly exonerate Shangguan Yi. The reason why he was so anxious
Taking advantage of the occasion when Empress Wu gave birth to a daughter, she issued an edict to grant amnesty to the whole country, intending to take this opportunity to find a way out for Shangguan Yi's family.
Due to their age, Li Xian and Shangguan Yi did not have much interaction at this time. They only met a few times at the end of each year when Gaozong held a banquet with ministers. However, they were familiar with Shangguan Yi's poems.
After reading it, I also admired his character quite a lot, and felt a lot of pity for his unjust death. In his previous life, the first vindication case issued by Li Xian after he ascended the throne for the second time was to rehabilitate Shangguan Yi.
The verdict was overturned and he was granted the title of Zhongshu Ling. The "past" is still vivid in his mind. Now that he has such an opportunity to personally rescue Shangguan Yi, Li Xian does not want to miss it.
What should I do? Should I do it or not? Li Xian really wanted to save Shangguan Yi's life from the bottom of his heart, but he was worried that this would arouse the endless anger of Empress Wu. What if he failed to save Shangguan Yi and ended up losing his own life?
But it’s not worth it. After all, Li Xian had learned a lot about Empress Wu’s power in his previous life. Even if he had a career like Li Sheng’s in later generations, Li Xian had no confidence that he could compete with the ruthless Empress Wu.
Arm wrestling, at least under the current circumstances, Li Xian really does not have such ability.
A real man should do something and not do something. Since God has given him a chance to start over, if he doesn't give it a try, he will be living up to his rebirth! Just when the chamberlain supervisor was planning to recruit someone, Li Xian had various thoughts in his heart.
These thoughts fought fiercely, and in the end, Li Sheng's way of thinking gained the upper hand. Li Xian decided to take a gamble and see if he could change his extremely miserable fate in the future!
"Reporting to my father, I think that the general amnesty is a kind act of my father's compassion for his subjects. My father is kind and I dare not fall behind. Now there are many prisoners in the imperial prison. I would like to ask for orders to carry forward my father's kindness.
I am benevolent, and I sincerely ask my father for permission." Seeing that the eunuch had drafted the edict and used the jade seal, Li Xian could no longer remain silent, so he stepped out from the side and asked for orders loudly.
"this……"
Emperor Gaozong Li Zhi originally wanted to take the opportunity to release Shangguan Yi. Otherwise, he would not have ordered a move in such a hurry. However, after the edict was drafted, Li Zhi became a little worried about gain and loss, and hesitated to do anything.
Decide whether the edict should be promulgated immediately. Besides, according to the system of the Tang Dynasty, if the edict is not signed by the province, it will not have legal effect. It happens that the current minister is Xu Jingzong, a die-hard rear party member.
Zhi didn't have the slightest confidence that Xu Jingzong would sign the edict. He was feeling worried when he suddenly saw Li Xian coming out to give advice. He couldn't help but be stunned. He didn't know what to say for a while.
"Seventh brother, stop messing around!"
Li Zhi remained silent, but Li Xian stood up from the side, pointed at Li Xian unceremoniously, and scolded Li Xian.
"Seventh brother, my father has his own opinions, and you can't talk nonsense about important matters in the court."
Li Hong obviously did not agree with Li Xian's proposal. He rarely held the same position as Li Xian, but left some room for Li Xian in his words.
"Father, my son is willing to go, please allow me to go."
No matter what the two brothers said, Li Xian was unmoved and continued to speak further while holding his neck.
"Well……"
Li Zhi has never been a person with strong opinions. Seeing that his three sons did not agree with each other, he couldn't help but lose his opinion. He looked at this and that, his mouth opened quite a bit, but he didn't take any risks for a long time.