bookrandom Chapter 791: Old man! How dare you harm the country?
Chapter 791: Old man! How dare you harm the country?
The morning mist in Chang'an had not yet dissipated when the bronze doors of the Taiji Hall slowly opened. A frosty wind blew dead leaves across the steps of the imperial palace. Over three hundred officials trod on dew-soaked blue bricks, the clatter of their boots against the stone slabs echoing throughout the empty hall.
Li Zhi ascended the throne wearing a black dragon robe, his face hidden in the shadows beneath the crown. The fatigue from reviewing memorials last night had not yet faded away. The war reports of the Western Expedition and the memorials on the flood in the south of the Yangtze River piled on his desk were like heavy stones pressing on his heart.
He raised his hand to rub his aching temple, and his eyes swept over the civil and military officials in the palace, and a feeling of powerlessness surged in his heart.
"If you have something to say, report it early--" The voice of the bad guy cut through the silence.
Li Jingxuan could no longer contain himself, and the crane patch on his official robe trembled slightly with his hurried steps.
He strode out of the formation, his jade tablet making a crisp sound: "Your Majesty! This old minister has been worried day and night about Your Majesty's concubine, and has been unable to sleep or eat!"
He raised his head, his eyes bloodshot, his voice filled with anxiety and earnestness, "Your Majesty has no children now. When the late emperor was alive, he often taught us that 'we cannot stick to rigid rules when doing things, we must be flexible and adaptable.'
The current situation in the world is complicated. If the Tang Dynasty loses its foundation, the people will be uneasy and the country will be in turmoil! This old minister implores Your Majesty to make a decision as soon as possible for the sake of the country and the people!
The hall was immediately in an uproar. Civil and military officials looked at each other in bewilderment, and whispers surged like a tide.
Some officials frowned slightly, looking thoughtful, while others whispered to each other, discussing the pros and cons of the matter in low voices.
Li Zhi frowned tightly, and a look of embarrassment appeared on his face.
He leaned forward slightly and said in a deep voice, "My dear ministers, the national law is established. Since our Tang Dynasty practices monogamy, I, as the Son of Heaven, should set an example and abide by the law."
"If the emperor knowingly breaks the law, where is the law of the court? How can the people of the world be convinced? There is no need to mention this matter again!"
His voice was firm.
Li Jingxuan did not back down.
He kowtowed heavily, his forehead hitting the bricks with a dull thud. "Your Majesty! I'm not disregarding the laws of the land. I'm truly concerned about the future of the Tang Dynasty!"
"Throughout history, those who have accomplished great things have not been obsessed with trivial matters. Only by reforming laws and systems can we adapt to the times."
"If we blindly stick to the old ways, we might miss out on important national issues!"
His voice echoed in the hall, with a determination to fight to the death.
At this moment, Li Yifu walked out of the train at a leisurely pace.
He wore his usual fawning smile, but a cunning glint shone in his eyes. "Your Majesty, please understand! Laws are designed to govern the country. If there are any unreasonable aspects, they should naturally be changed."
"Your Majesty is one with the state, shouldering the heavy responsibility of carrying on the royal bloodline and continuing the Tang dynasty."
"As your subjects, we are deeply concerned to see that Your Majesty has no heir."
He changed the subject and turned to look at Zhang San, who was huddled in the middle of the group. "Minister Zhang, you are an expert in law. In your opinion, can we be more flexible with the monogamy law?"
"If a wife has no children, can she marry a concubine to continue the royal bloodline?"
Zhang San felt a chill running up from the soles of his feet to the top of his head. His legs trembled slightly and beads of sweat appeared on his forehead.
Normally, he was unknown in the court and just wanted to live a peaceful life, but at this moment he was pushed to the forefront by Li Yifu.
He glanced at his colleagues who were watching him with eager eyes, then looked at Li Zhi who was sitting on the dragon throne with an unfathomable expression, and felt extremely flustered.
"This... Your Majesty," he began with difficulty, his voice trembling, "In my humble opinion, there is a precedent in ancient times. If the wife is childless, in order to continue the family line, according to etiquette... according to etiquette, it is allowed to take a concubine."
As soon as these words were spoken, the court was in an uproar.
Officials stepped forward one after another, echoing loudly: "Your Majesty, Minister Zhang is absolutely right!"
"For the sake of the long-lasting prosperity of the Tang Dynasty, Your Majesty, please reconsider!"
Li Zhi raised his hand and rubbed his temple, his voice exhausted: "Enough! This matter is of great importance, please allow me to discuss it later!"
Li Jingxuan kowtowed again, his tone as firm as iron: "Your Majesty, this opportunity cannot be missed! The matter of taking a concubine cannot be delayed! Moreover, I have found an excellent candidate for Your Majesty."
As soon as these words were spoken, the originally noisy court suddenly became quiet, and everyone's eyes were focused on Li Jingxuan.
Li Jingxuan was deeply loved by all officials. He was a man of integrity, compassionate to his colleagues, and fair and honest.
Since taking charge of the Ministry of Personnel, he has always acted fairly and has never made a mistake.
Therefore, he holds great weight in the hearts of all officials.
As soon as Li Jingxuan spoke, he was surrounded by praises.
"Minister Li is still reliable!"
"Yes! Minister Li has urged Your Majesty to ensure that the Tang Dynasty has a successor. This is truly remarkable!"
"Yes, we have made so many suggestions, but we are still not as direct as Minister Li. Minister Li is still reliable!"
……
Lai Ji watched Li Jingxuan nodding continuously. In his eyes, the only people he could rely on in the court were Li Jingxuan and him.
He bowed to Li Jingxuan.
A hint of curiosity flashed in Lai Ji's eyes. He stepped forward and bowed respectfully, "Minister Li, I wonder which family's lady you recommend?"
Li Jingxuan took a deep breath, feeling uneasy, but still said with a brave face: "The one I recommend is Wu Meiniang, the envoy from Xijing!"
In an instant, the entire Taiji Hall fell into deathly silence, and the air seemed to have frozen.
The wind outside the hall suddenly grew stronger, and light and shadows flickered across the terrified faces of the crowd. A moment later, angry voices surged in like a surging tide.
"Old man, what are you thinking?"
Lai Ji's face flushed with anger. He strode forward, his finger almost poking Li Jingxuan's face. His voice trembled with anger, "Wu is of humble origins. She was once a concubine of Emperor Taizong. With such status, how could she become your majesty's concubine?"
"You are trying to make Your Majesty appear disloyal and unjust, and destroy the moral principles of the Tang Dynasty!"
"Exactly! This woman is scheming and ambitious. If she were allowed into the palace, she would definitely disrupt the harem and bring disaster to the government!"
Other ministers also echoed the sentiment, and voices of condemnation rose one after another.
Some people waved their tablets in anger, some shook their heads and sighed in grief, and the entire court was in chaos.
Li Yifu watched coldly from the side, but was quickly calculating in his mind.
He narrowed his eyes. He understood the entanglement between Wu Caijing and His Majesty, and he also understood the huge interests hidden behind this matter.
If I could take advantage of this opportunity, I might be able to gain greater power for myself.
Li Zhi sat on the dragon throne with his expression as usual.
That intelligent, courageous and charming woman was once the deepest attachment in his heart.
The opposition from his ministers was like a mountain, weighing him down and making it hard for him to breathe.
Making Wu Meiniang his consort would surely cause a huge uproar and might even shake the foundation of his rule.
"Shut up!"
He stood up suddenly, a hint of irritation in his voice.
"Today's court meeting ends here. We will discuss this matter later!"
After saying this, he turned around and walked quickly towards the back hall, leaving all the civil and military officials in the court looking at each other in bewilderment.
After the court session, officials walked out of the Taiji Hall in twos and threes. Li Jingxuan stood on the steps, gazing at the gray sky, feeling a mixture of emotions.
He knew that he had pushed both himself and Wu Meiniang to the forefront, but for Pei Xingjian, he had no choice.
Lai Ji was still angry. In discussions with his colleagues, he constantly denounced Li Jingxuan's "absurd behavior" and vowed to prevent Wu Meiniang from entering the palace.
At the same time, in every corner of Chang'an City, discussions about Wu Meiniang spread like wildfire.
In the streets and alleys, people gathered around the fire, talking about this legendary woman who was in charge of the five major roads in the Western Regions, and wondering whether she would really enter the palace.