Chapter 39 Li Heng: My good son is my mouthpiece!
After Li Shimin finished speaking, everyone in the palace, from Li Longji to the eunuchs and palace maids who served him, were all stunned and could not recover for a long time.
Filial piety is the foundation of governing a family and a country.
During this period, all matters related to marriage were decided by parents and elders. Complaints against elders were not allowed, let alone such rude and direct confrontation.
Li Longji still couldn't believe his ears at this time. He stared at Li Shimin and said:
"You unfilial grandson! What did you just say? Say it again if you dare."
Just say it!
Li Shimin was not afraid of him, so he repeated it on the spot, and then said:
"I only said a few words, and you called me unfilial. Then, your actions have put the entire Tang Dynasty in danger. Isn't this a great act of unfilial piety to Grandpa Taizu?"
Ahhhhhhhh, I finally got to hear it! Erfeng, curse as hard as you can! Don't be polite to him!
【Er Feng has a mouth and can talk, so please talk more! 】
Li Longji covered his chest with his hands, looking as if he was about to die of anger, and was unable to speak for a long time.
Li Shimin then continued to criticize:
"You have brought disaster upon the entire Tang Dynasty, leaving the people living in misery and widespread resentment. Yet, you show no remorse, seek no remedy, and instead only seek to wrest power from my father?
Only a naive and innocent like Prince Yong would be treated as a pawn by you. Do you think I am as stupid as him?
Would I fall into the trap that your pig-headed mind has devised?
Speaking of pigs, at least after raising them for half a year, you can still slaughter them and eat their meat. Every part has a use, and nothing is wasted. But what can you do?
If Taizu knew that his descendants were ruining the foundation he founded, he would probably rather give birth to a pig than you!
"You, you, you, King Yan, do you know what you are talking about?
It’s a rebellion, it’s really a rebellion!”
Li Longji was so angry that his chest heaved and his old, cloudy eyes almost popped out.
A small, inconspicuous eunuch standing next to him with his head down, acting as Li Heng's spy, was so shocked that his jaw almost dropped.
Then he almost laughed out loud, and pinched his thigh to hold it back.
Isn't that too bold of a statement by the Prince of Yan? If he reports this to His Majesty later, who knows what expression the Emperor will have?
"I never lied, this is all true. What do you think the writers will write about you in the future?
I guess in the future I won’t need to criticize the harsh policies of the Qin Emperor and Han Emperor when I write poems or articles. I just need to criticize you!
The fact that you still come to see me today shows that you truly have no regrets about your mistakes! Let me ask you again, do you truly not feel ashamed of your great-grandfather, Emperor Taizong?
A hundred years from now, will you have the nerve to go down and see him? "
Li Longji was scolded so much that he was gasping for breath and couldn't speak for a long time.
He was old and his speech was slow. He wanted to curse back, but Li Shimin interrupted him and he couldn't get a word in.
Hearing this, he was so angry that he picked up the cup and threw it over. Seeing that Li Shimin's grandson dared to dodge, Li Longji glared at him with hatred:
"Why shouldn't I dare to see Taizu?
When I was in power, apart from the rebellion of traitors like An Lushan, I also worked hard to govern the country, so that the people could live in peace and prosperity and all nations would come to pay tribute!
During the Kaiyuan and Tianbao years, the people were prosperous and even happier than during the Zhenguan period! The current situation is all due to An Lushan's misfortune, what does it have to do with me?
Not to mention you asking, even if Taizu asked me in person, I would dare to answer with a clear conscience!
As for you, who are you to question me? Get out of here!"
[Oh my, Grandpa Taizu refused to admit his guilt in person. You're still so confident, aren't you? Sun Zai, I'll see if you get slapped in the face later.]
Waiting to be exposed! 】
[How shameless! Erfeng, hurry up and give him a good beating!]
When Li Shimin heard what Li Longji said, he took a deep breath, calmed down his anger, and sneered:
"Okay, then you better remember what you said today!"
Li Shimin turned around and left, but suddenly stopped before leaving the palace.
Li Longji thought he had finally figured it out and was about to kneel down to apologize, but he heard Li Shimin turn around and say sarcastically:
"How shameless! I wonder if you'll still be as arrogant and unrepentant as you are in your nightmares every night."
When he heard the words "dreaming at midnight", Li Longji suddenly remembered that he had nightmares every night before, in which he dreamed of Yang Yuhuan, Concubine Wu Huifei and others. He suddenly stood up in shock.
At that time, he was in a trance and was so scared that he trembled when he saw people during the day, but he only dared to tell others that he had caught a cold and it took him a long time to recover.
Why did the Prince of Yan suddenly mention the midnight dream? Could it be related to him? Could it be that he had cast a spell on himself?
"King Yan, come back here and stop!"
Li Longji roared behind him, but Li Shimin was too lazy to pay attention to him and left.
Soon, the shocked spy told Li Heng the story in vivid detail.
Li Heng also opened his mouth wide after hearing this. He was so shocked that he couldn't recover for a long time and repeatedly confirmed:
"Is this really my son? Did he really say that to Father?"
After receiving a positive answer, Li Heng was stunned for a long time.
Oh my god! How could his family have a son who dares to confront his grandfather, the emperor, like this?
Even he, the emperor, didn't dare to speak to his father like that!
My son is so brave, it’s so satisfying to hear that!
Li Heng originally thought that since his father was already the emperor emeritus, it would be fine for him to be a good eldest son.
However, his good father first summoned the King of Yan, then strolled around the Xingqing Palace, met with the people on the city wall, and was surrounded and cheered by the people.
Li Heng was very dissatisfied with this.
In the past, when my father was on the throne, he received the people in this Xingqing Palace, which was not a big deal. But there is no two suns in the sky, and there is no two rulers in the country. You, the retired emperor, are doing this in front of me, the emperor. What are you trying to do?
In this case, Li Heng quickly forcibly moved Li Longji to Taiji Palace on the pretext of an assassination attempt by an assassin in the palace.
Li Shimin heard that Li Longji's relocation process was very rough, and when Cheng Fuguo forced the emperor to move, the emperor almost fell off his horse. It was called relocation, but in fact it was tantamount to house arrest.
All of Li Longji's attendants were dismissed, and he was surrounded by Li Heng's men. Even Chen Xuanli was ordered to retire, and Gao Lishi was exiled.
Loyal ministers may be demoted due to political struggles, but they can be reinstated later. But why should Li Longji, his grandson, live in the Taiji Palace where he and Empress Zhangsun lived?
It makes me angry when I think about it!
[It's okay, it's okay. When you, Erfeng, take over, lock him up in a small dark room and beat him up every day!
Speaking of which, Erfeng, where's that nightmare modeler you paid for? You can't just collect the salary and do nothing!
[Here I come, boss! I really stay up late to work overtime every night. Look at my dark circles!
Li Longji was really scared to death every night, but who knew that he would still be so shameless when he woke up during the day?
Okay, then I'll think of another trick and give him an enhanced version of "Infinite Horror Hell"!
[In my opinion, this guy deserves a beating! He's enjoying himself too much! Er Feng, hurry up and fight!]
"Don't worry, that day will come soon. Li Longji and Li Heng, these two grandsons, owe me a lesson!"
While Li Shimin was still thinking about how to deal with these two people, Li Heng had already called Li Shimin to listen to his lecture.
"Sanlang, the Emperor is your grandfather after all, how could you two, grandfather and grandson, cause such a commotion?
How can you, as a grandson, talk back to me so casually? This is extremely disrespectful and unfilial!"
Li Heng scolded Li Shimin severely.
Because he had just placed his father under house arrest, he was afraid that people would say that he was an unfilial son, so he diverted the conflict and began to criticize Li Shimin, hoping to make himself appear to be a very filial emperor.
Li Shimin lowered his head, as if he would never dare to do it again. But in fact, he was listening with both ears.
After Li Heng finished speaking, Li Shimin humbly said that he knew he was wrong, but added:
"But what I said is the truth. Doesn't Father think so?"
Li Heng: ………
This kid, what nonsense is he talking about!
Li Heng usually cursed in his heart, but he dared not say it out loud for others to hear. Of course, he hurriedly denied it:
"Sanlang, you are really becoming more and more unruly. What nonsense are you talking about?
Ahem, when did I say that?"
"Father, you really don't think so? Look into my eyes and say it!"
[Hahaha, you bastard, look me in the eyes if you dare!]
Li Heng met Li Shimin's seemingly sincere eyes and almost couldn't continue acting. He quickly looked away and whispered:
"Sanlang, you're too honest and straightforward. You dare to say anything to my face? Don't do that next time!
Don't look at me, hurry up and take your seat. This has been a mess for almost a year, and finally our family is reunited. Let's have a happy feast together, and you are not allowed to talk nonsense! "
Today happened to be Li Heng's birthday party, and the whole family finally got together. After all the younger generations praised Li Heng and presented him with gifts to celebrate his birthday, Li Heng's face was flushed and he was very proud.
He held Crown Prince Li Yu with his left hand, and patted Li Shimin on the shoulder with his right hand, praising him:
"Yu'er is virtuous and filial, and Sanlang is a talented assistant general. I believe that in the future, our Tang Dynasty will be prosperous again!"
Everyone around agreed, and Li Heng was very happy. He asked everyone to pick up their pens and write poems. When they were in a good mood, he immediately called Wu Daozi to paint "The Banquet of the Royal Family Father and Son" for the three of them.
It's just right, so that future generations can see that the Li family is actually very kind-hearted, filial, and friendly.
[Hahaha, I remembered that Yan Liben painted Taizong with a beer belly?
Could ancient imperial court painters draw realistic sketches? Is there any profound meaning behind painting the emperor so ugly?
Yes, yes. At least the portrait of Zhu Yuanzhang with the shoe-horn face really left a deep impression on me. I can't forget it after seeing it once!
[This is so funny, but if ancient painters could paint realistic portraits, like depicting Emperor Taizong of Tang and Qin Shi Huang in their youth, wouldn't I be able to learn history better? Woohoo!]
"So what did they draw me like?"
Listening to the discussions in the sky, Li Shimin was worried and kept looking at Wu Daozi's paper.
"Sanlang, sit still and don't move! I'll make you look ugly!"
At this time, the eldest brother Li Yu was holding Li Shimin down, not letting him get up, still acting like a good brother.
His younger brother had once again made great contributions in suppressing the rebellion this time, and people around him would sometimes tell him that his younger brother's contribution was so great that it surpassed that of the crown prince.
Although Li Yu did feel a little sour and jealous in his heart, he was also really happy that Luoyang could be pacified.
Li Shimin looked at Li Yu's clear eyes and couldn't help but sigh in his heart, and recalled the scene when Li Yuan wrote a poem for him at the banquet.
[You mean the one about the gentle breeze blowing through the world? A gentle breeze blows through my son. Hahaha, that doggerel is pretty cute!]
Although Li Yuan's poem was not very good, it was a rare moment of tenderness between father and son, just like the banquet at this moment.
"This is probably the last time that the three of us, father, son, and brother, will be so happy together."
The banquet was filled with joy and happiness. Everyone had a smile on their face, except Li Shimin, who felt a little heavy in his heart.
In the past, he had a deep friendship with Li Yuan and his son, and he also had a good relationship with his elder brother Li Jiancheng during his youth.
However, the blood ties between family members and fathers and sons do not allow for any mercy in the face of the world and the throne, and in the end, only blood is left in the history books.
Before anyone noticed the changes in the situation, Li Shimin and his wife had already begun to deploy his own personnel and confidants inside and outside the palace.
Suddenly one day, Princess Hezheng came to the door with a group of women from noble families.
Before, Princess Hezheng had more dealings with Li Shimin's princesses, so Li Shimin was not very familiar with this sister. He just heard from Guanyin Bi that she was somewhat similar to his elder sister Princess Pingyang Zhao.
"Sister, why did you bring so many women from aristocratic families here?"
Princess Hezheng sighed after sitting down:
"I heard that my third brother had rescued many women from aristocratic families who were abducted by the rebels in Luoyang City, and told them to come to the Prince of Yan's Mansion if they had any difficulties in the future.
I'm going to be frank today, did Third Brother really mean his promise or was it just talk? "
"A real man naturally keeps his promises, and of course it's not just words.
Is this why my sister came here today? For these women?"
Li Shimin now understood that these noble ladies must have been abducted by the rebels and now that they had finally returned, their lives were probably not easy. So he said:
"I think that if your husband's family is bothered by this matter, the rift will be difficult to mend, so it would be better for you to divorce them and then find a suitable family to marry again.
If she is unmarried, I can ask my princess to help find a good family so that my father can help arrange a marriage for her in the future."
Li Shimin didn't care much about these things. After all, these poor women fell into the hands of the enemy because the men of the Tang Dynasty were incompetent and failed to protect their wives and daughters. How could he blame them?
However, upon hearing this, all the women covered their faces and cried. Princess Hezheng's eyes were red, and she sighed and said:
"If it's really as simple as Third Brother thinks, that would be great!
I've also thought about this, like Third Brother, but... Third Brother, do you know that after discussing with my brother, the Emperor intends to marry off the unchaste daughter of the imperial family to the Uighurs as a form of alliance?"
[What the hell is this!]
The Huihe people just had a disagreement with the Tang Dynasty, and you want them to marry into the Tang Dynasty to appease their anger? Just think about it, you know they will have a miserable life, and they might even suffer domestic violence!
[Also, the Huihe tribe has the custom of having the son inherit the father's throne and burying living people with the father!]
[I remember that Princess Ningguo was married to the Uighurs by Emperor Suzong of Tang, Li Heng. Then her husband died the following year and she was asked to be buried alive with him, but she refused.
In the end, he had to scratch his face and disfigure himself before he could return to the Tang Dynasty. How tragic!
[And this can still be recovered, other marriages have been even more miserable! There was a princess who married four khans in a row and eventually died of old age in the frontier.
This is not the Tang Dynasty during the reign of Emperor Taizong. When Princess Wencheng's husband died, she refused to be buried with him, and Tubo could not do anything to her.
And back then, she was given the title of a fake princess. This time, she's marrying a real princess, a real daughter! Would it still be the same in the history books if that were made public?]
Li Shimin was furious when he heard this.
"I absolutely do not agree with this, but sister, don't be too anxious. Perhaps in a few months, the emperor will change his mind."
[Haha, how can you say you changed your mind? It's obvious that Er Feng will ascend the throne within a few months!
Why bother marrying off a princess when we can just wipe out the Huihe? Let their Khan come over and make our Tang princess a slave!
Princess He Zheng was powerless to change the emperor's decision, but she couldn't bear to see the other women suffer:
“Okay, let’s not talk about Madam Li for now, let’s talk about the daughter of Wang from Taiyuan and the daughter of Cui from Qinghe.
Some of them have been married before, and now their families either want them to become nuns to protect the family's reputation; or they plan to hastily marry them off to ordinary people."
These clans are all top families among the Five Surnames and Seven Noble Families of the Tang Dynasty, yet they want their daughters to marry commoners with no status or position.
Princess Hezheng was very angry when she heard this.
But this is the family affair of the other clan, and she cannot interfere.
[So, let them separate from the family and cut off all ties!
Their family dislikes them anyway, right? Why not just break off all ties, move out, and become the owner of a Mixue Ice City branch?
How freeing! 】
[Daughters of wealthy families are all literate, so it would be a waste of their talents to do ordinary labor.
Moreover, in the eyes of aristocratic families, merchant women have a low status. Wouldn't it seem that what their family did was right if they said this?
How about this? Let's just build a library in Chang'an! Build the largest library in ancient times, break the record, and have these women manage it. That would sound really good!]
Li Shimin was a little surprised when he heard the people in Tianmu talking and asking what a library was.
Thousands of years later, libraries can be built everywhere, allowing ordinary people to borrow books for free?
No wonder these people know so much about history!
This library gave him a glimpse of the prosperity that would come a thousand years from now, which was truly hard for him to imagine!
Princess Hezheng saw that Li Shimin was in a daze for a long time and could not help but urge him anxiously. Li Shimin came back to his senses and immediately said to the women of the noble families hiding behind the screen:
"At this point, I think the ladies don't need to avoid me anymore.
Let me ask you, are you willing to follow your family's arrangements?"
After Li Shimin asked this question, the dozen or so women were silent for a while.
Then, one of them took the lead and walked out from behind the screen, kneeling before Li Shimin, bowing his head and bowing in a resounding and powerful voice:
"Your Highness, Prince Yan, I don't want to!"
The speaker was Wang from Taiyuan, the niece of Wang Yunxiu, the wife of Prime Minister Yuan Zai.
At this moment, her eyes were filled with pain and unwillingness, and she gritted her teeth and wanted to fight for herself.
She was abducted by the rebel general Ashina Chengqing and fell into the hands of the bandits. After being toyed with, she was forced to marry a low-ranking soldier of the bandit army.
After going through such hellish days, she finally sees the light of day again, but what awaits her is the criticism from her brothers and sisters.
Her parents wept and sighed, saying that the family had decided to let her become a nun and remain chaste for the rest of her life to preserve the family's reputation and avoid bringing burden to her family.
But why? !
She hadn't started the war, nor had she been forced into the hands of the enemy because she had lost the battle. She was just a weak woman, powerless to resist the bullying of those people, so why did everyone blame her for not protecting her body?
On what basis could those people condemn her so hypocritically? Could they condemn her to a life of seclusion and devotion?
She is unwilling to accept it!
"Okay! Then let me ask you again, if I can help you, are you willing to sever all ties with your husband's family and clan?"
The Wang family girl gritted her teeth and still loudly replied, "Yes." Princess He Zheng was startled and said,
"Third brother, what are you going to do?
Their lives are already difficult, if they lose contact with their family, how will they make a living in the future? "
Li Shimin smiled slightly:
"That's what I'm saying. I plan to build a library in Chang'an and have the women help manage the collection of tens of thousands of volumes.
In this way, even if you don’t marry in the future and don’t rely on your husband’s family or your parents’ family, you can still make a living.”
"Library? What's a library?" Everyone was puzzled. They all looked at King Yan.
Li Shimin explained:
"The library houses tens of thousands of books. Anyone who comes to the library, whether from aristocratic families, humble backgrounds, or even ordinary people, can borrow and copy books for free by showing their household registration.
Sister, I was just thinking of doing this and I just happened to be short of manpower."
The women were all surprised when they heard this, and Princess He Zheng was even more shocked.
If this library can really be built, it will benefit all the poor students in the world!
More importantly, if this library is successfully built, it will surely gain the gratitude of readers all over the world.
Needless to say, the reputation of these women who participated in the establishment of the museum will also be praised in the future.
If someone mentions them again, their merits outweigh their flaws and I dare not say anything more.
Ms. Wang would never have thought that this library would become one of the most important projects in the Tang Dynasty in the future, and it was precisely because of her unwillingness today that she achieved her lifelong success.
At this moment, she just wanted to fight against her destiny:
"I am willing to remove the name of Wang family!
Thank you, His Royal Highness Prince Yan!"
All the women agreed, they really had no choice.
No one actually knew how the library would be built or operated, but the King of Yan smiled mysteriously and said that he would take care of it. Princess He Zheng then led everyone away, all confused.
"Well, since King Yan said so, then I will wait and see what my brother's library looks like."
Li Shimin sent everyone away and returned to the house, but he couldn't help sighing with worry.
If this library really wants to store tens of thousands of books, copying them alone will be a time-consuming and labor-intensive project that will not be completed in at least ten or eight years.
The most important thing is, where to find so many books?
Nowadays, many books are hidden within aristocratic families. Aristocratic families control cultural and knowledge resources and will not lend them out easily.
Thinking of this, Li Shimin had a headache:
“Are you really that reliable?
Just the collection of tens of thousands of volumes would bankrupt me!"
Not to mention Prince Yan's Mansion, I'm afraid even the money he needs to support his wife will have to be lost!
[No, no, the library won’t stop you from hiding your private money, hahaha!
In your time, books were more precious and knowledge was harder to obtain, but here, all kinds of ancient classics and materials are free!
This kind of ancient book is different from novels and doesn’t even have copyright! 】
[This isn't easy! Give me an internet cable and a printer!]
Ten thousand books is nothing! Erfeng, hurry up and start hiring! We can get a million books in three days! We can get it for you in minutes!
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