Chapter 319 Forced Seizure
After the Nanzhao, Tubo, and Xianbei kingdoms were destroyed one after another, some of the surrounding small countries took the initiative to submit and become vassals; others resisted stubbornly, but could not even last three months.
In just six months, these countries were either defeated or surrendered, and all were incorporated into the territory of the Great Qi.
This made the territory of the Great Qi Dynasty extend from the Tianshan Mountains in the west to Silla in the east, from the Yenisei River in the north to Qiongya in the south, making it unprecedentedly vast and creating a grand achievement that was unparalleled in history.
The war ended and peace reigned throughout the land.
With smooth trade routes and intensive farming, the national treasury became increasingly full, and the people lived in peace and contentment, gradually entering a state of prosperity.
Throughout the government and the public, a peaceful and harmonious scene prevailed.
Even His Majesty, who has always valued diligence, has finally found leisure and has gradually become accustomed to pleasure.
In spring, she would hold a series of banquets in the palace, enjoying the spring scenery, listening to elegant music, drinking and laughing with her close ministers and attendants, having a wonderful time.
In summer, people would move to the Mountain Resort to enjoy boating on the lake and admire the lotus flowers.
Occasionally, when the mood strikes, he might play chess with Pei Huaijin on the boat, or listen to Wang Yanzhi play a tune on the flute, quietly enjoying this rare moment of leisure.
In autumn, she would lead a group of military generals to climb to a high place and enjoy the view of the forests ablaze with color.
In winter, he would often summon his ministers and the women of the harem to appreciate plum blossoms, enjoy tea, or compose poems.
She used to be indifferent to these literary pursuits, but now, when she hears her ministers reciting poems and watching her attendants wielding their brushes, she occasionally picks up her pen herself and writes a few powerful poems, which draw cheers from the audience.
Besides sightseeing, she also enjoys horseback riding, hunting, and traveling around.
On one occasion, while hunting in the Zhongnan Mountains, she even encountered Cui Jiawulang, who had been practicing Taoism in the Zhongnan Mountains for many years.
On a whim, he had him bound and taken back to the palace.
Years ago, after the Cui family's rebellion failed, the entire clan was executed.
Only Cui Wulang and his second uncle, who had practiced Taoism in their early years, were fortunate enough to escape this calamity.
Unexpectedly, after many years, he still couldn't escape her "clutches".
The ministers were deeply worried and repeatedly submitted memorials to advise him.
Cui Wulang is a monk, yet His Majesty has forcibly taken him into the harem. What kind of behavior is this?
If this gets out, it might cause public discussion and damage the emperor's reputation.
Moreover, he is a member of the Cui family, a remnant of the traitors. If he were to re-enter the palace, what if he were to disrupt the court again? That would be unacceptable.
But Li Yuanzhao shut them up with just one sentence.
"I vividly remember that it was the late Emperor himself who bestowed this marriage upon me and Cui Wulang. Since it was the late Emperor's dying wish, how could I dare to disobey?"
The ministers were instantly speechless.
After all, most of the veteran officials knew that it was indeed the late emperor who, at the New Year's Eve banquet before the current emperor ascended the throne, personally bestowed the marriage contract between the then-princess and Cui Wulang in front of all the civil and military officials.
Later, when the Cui family encountered trouble, the marriage fell through.
Now that Your Majesty is bringing up the old matter again, acting on the grounds of following the late Emperor's will, no one can find fault with it.
From then on, Cui Wulang remained in the palace.
But he was originally a person outside the secular world, devoted to the Tao, so how could he be willing to be trapped in this deep palace prison?
I heard that this man was incredibly audacious; during His Majesty's favor, he actually drew his sword and attempted to assassinate His Majesty.
Fortunately, His Majesty reacted quickly and dodged it.
When the assassination attempt failed, the man attempted to commit suicide by sword, but His Majesty swiftly stopped him.
Such a heinous act would have resulted in the death of anyone else.
But His Majesty not only did not blame him in the slightest, but instead became even more concerned about him.
Fearing he wouldn't be comfortable living in the palace, they specially built him a quiet and elegant Taoist temple in a secluded spot within the palace, allowing him to wear Taoist robes and not be bound by palace etiquette.
Even Prince Jing'an personally entered the palace to persuade his cousin on behalf of the Emperor.
Cui Wulang made a fuss several times, either by going on a hunger strike or by sitting in silence, but to no avail.
Gradually, he resigned himself to his fate and obediently became a court attendant in the palace.
However, gossip among the common people is always more rampant than the scandals in the imperial harem.
In the teahouses and taverns on every street corner, stories of His Majesty and Minister Cui were being told everywhere.
Somehow, the story gradually changed its meaning.
Rumors are circulating that His Majesty's concern for Minister Cui is not out of consideration for the late Emperor's will, but rather because he sees him as a substitute for someone else.
This "other person" was none other than His Majesty's mentor, the current Prime Minister Liu Jinzhang.
The rumors were quite detailed, saying that His Majesty had harbored feelings for Prime Minister Liu since his early years, but the two were separated by the title of teacher and student, which was ultimately against moral norms and difficult to express.
Liu Xiang loved his plain-colored Taoist robe the most. Except when he went to court and wore his official robes, he wore the Taoist robe all the time.
So when His Majesty later encountered Cui Wulang, who had once been a Taoist priest, he had a sudden idea and forcibly abducted him back to the palace.
There were many such rumors. After people's lives improved, they liked to gossip about the emperor.
There were rumors that the emperor favored Wang Shiqing because of a guard who died young.
The Tibetan prince wanted to commit suicide because he had an ambiguous relationship with the future Tibetan king before his marriage. Therefore, after His Majesty pacified Tibet, he chose to follow the king in death.
Even more outrageous claims include that Her Majesty was not the daughter of the two previous emperors, but rather the daughter of a deity who was specially born into the royal family to save the Great Qi from its dire straits.
These words about Vice Minister Cui spread far and wide, but instead of reaching the Emperor's ears, they reached Liu Jinzhang's ears.
After hearing this, he fell seriously ill.
Liu Jinzhang's health has been poor for years.
This illness has now lingered for more than half a year.
It wasn't until spring that things finally started to look up.
After recovering from his illness, he personally went to the palace to see Li Yuanzhao and asked to resign from his position as prime minister.
Seeing his insistence, Li Yuanzhao did not try to persuade him to stay any longer and allowed him to retire and return to his hometown.
Later, Liu Jinzhang also went to become a monk and cultivate Taoism.
Once this story spread, the originally absurd rumor suddenly seemed to have a serendipitous quality, making it all the more convincing.
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