Establish a prince
When Chen Yun arrived at the Hanlin Academy, he saw nine-year-old Li Ziyin and eight-year-old Li Shengxi fighting and being pulled apart by two palace maids.
"Ziyin! Shengxi! No!" Chen Yin slowly approached. The two children, upon seeing Chen Yin arrive, bowed and said, "Your sons pay their respects to your mother."
Chen Yun raised his hand to signal the maids to withdraw, his gaze fixed on the two children. Li Ziyin's sleeves were stained with ink, and a stubborn twitch lingered at the corners of her mouth. Li Shengxi's hair was half loose, and tears had left light streaks on her cheeks. The book on the desk was torn in two, and the ink on the floor was mixed with footprints, clearly having been stepped on during the struggle.
"Do you know why the threshold of the Hanlin Academy is two inches higher than elsewhere?" Chen Yan picked up the torn pages of the book, his voice unrecognizable as either joy or anger. "That's so that everyone entering and leaving will remember to be respectful. But you, you're trampling on the dignity of the royal family."
Li Ziyin stiffened his neck and said, "Mother, he was the one who said it first! He said that last night, Father was in Concubine Wei's palace, and he praised his riding and shooting skills as better than mine, and that the order of seniority was a lie, and that as long as he could please Father, he could become the Crown Prince!"
Chen Yun frowned, realizing that it was time to consider the matter of the Crown Prince.
Li Shengxi's face flushed with anxiety: "I didn't say that! You were the one who snatched the book that the Master gave me, said that the eldest son should study statecraft, and threw my bow into the lotus pond!"
While the two were still arguing, Chen Yun suddenly pulled two jade pendants from her sleeve. One was engraved with the word "Cheng Qian" and a winding dragon pattern; the other was engraved with the word "Yi Kun" and a dancing phoenix feather. She placed the jade pendants on the table, and the crisp sound of the jade clashing instantly silenced the two children.
"Last winter solstice, you all went with me to the Taimiao to worship our ancestors. Do you remember the founding painting enshrined there?" Chen Yun traced the patterns on the jade pendant with his fingertips. "When your Retired Emperor was on the campaign, he was accompanied by three people: your father, your third aunt, Princess Li Shao of Pinran, and your uncle, Crown Prince Li Jiancheng of Yin. When the enemy attacked, your uncle blocked arrows for him, your father cut off his food supplies, and your third aunt sacrificed herself to save your Retired Emperor from the siege. If they had fought like you did, how could the Qiankun Kingdom exist today?"
Li Ziyin curled his fingers together, his gaze fixed on the dragon-patterned jade pendant. "But Master said that a country's long-lived ruler is a blessing to the nation. As the eldest son, I should..."
"Should be what?" Chen Yun interrupted, picking up the torn half of the book. "If it doesn't say the eldest son, it must be a boat. When you were eight years old, in the refugee shelter, you said you wanted to ensure that every citizen in the world had a cotton-padded jacket. Now, for the sake of a futile throne, where have you forgotten those words?"
Li Shengxi suddenly sobbed: "I'm not trying to argue... It's just that I heard the eunuch say last night that the Wei family is going to send their daughter to the palace. If she gives birth to a younger brother, we will both..."
"You're useless!" Chen Yun's voice suddenly became stern, then slowed down. "First, the Crown Prince can only be chosen from among my own children. Then, your father, despite being ostracized by the entire palace, still ascended the throne. He didn't rely on his status as eldest son or a one-in-a-million chance, but on the sword in his hand and the soldier in his heart."
"I know my mistake."
"I punish you two by making you copy the Tao Te Ching ten times. You can eat only after you finish copying. Come, take the two princes back to the East Palace, supervise them to copy the punishment, and leave some food for them." Chen Yan left after he finished speaking.
The moment he turned around, Chen Yan made up his mind to prepare for the appointment of a crown prince.
The next day, Chen Yun came to the reception hall of Kunning Palace, and saw the four concubines and Concubine Yang Ya were also there.
"I have approved Wei Ni'er's entry into the palace. Also, Concubine Yan, there are still some descendants of the Yan family. During the massacre, your brother was impersonated by a servant and was sent away. He has been arranged to meet her in the back garden. Go and meet her!"
Yan Ruoxi was so excited that her eyes gradually became blurred.
At this moment, Wei Ningshuang suddenly began to dry heave. Chen Yun quickly instructed Nanny Ming to arrange for a physician. Wei Ningshuang smiled and said, "There is no need to trouble your Majesty and Nanny with your kindness. To be honest, I have been pregnant with Your Majesty's dragon seed for several months. That's why I'm having this reaction."
"Give each of you ten taels of tonic and send them to Concubine Wei's residence."
But as soon as he finished speaking, Wei Ningshuang knelt down.
"What's the matter, Concubine Wei?"
"Please, Queen, investigate this matter. My father has been taken away and executed. Please save him!"
After Wei Ningshuang finished speaking, Yin Banluo knelt down and said, "Duke Ni slandered my father for excavating the Li family's ancestral tomb, but my father has been in Leping Town. How can he do that? Please, Queen Mother, investigate!"
Zhen Yin said, "Investigate? We have witnesses and evidence, how else can we prove it?"
Wei Ningshuang looked at Zhen Yin with sharp eyes: "Evidence can also be fabricated by cunning people."
Zhen Yin responded calmly: "Then you come and prove where the evidence is false?"
Chen Yun was also in a dilemma. It was obvious that he was being framed, but it was heard that the court also had opinions on this. "No need to be polite, please stand up! We will definitely investigate. But if we don't deal with it quickly, how can we appease the court's criticism?"
Yin Banluo thought for a moment, then said decisively, "Empress, if I or any of the other concubines gave birth to a royal heir, how could he accept such an indifferent royal family? You are the Empress and the legitimate heir of the Yuantian Sect. You should be able to silence all the civil and military officials."
"Shut up! I'm not a god or Buddha! I'm the queen of a country! I can't take care of everything, and I can't be threatened by anyone!"
Yin Banluo didn't continue speaking, but his mouth was mumbling silently.
Wei Ningshuang stood up and said, "Empress, I have something to report."
"Please go ahead."
"The daughter born to Concubine Zhen Shu has been designated by His Majesty as a maid in the Ye Ting Palace and is not allowed to see her. However, today I saw her secretly meeting her daughter. I hope that the Queen will truly handle this impartially and allow the two to fully carry out the Emperor's wishes."
Zhen Yin clenched her fists, her eyes glaring. "You're talking about evidence. If it's just empty words, then I can also say that I saw you and a guard in a disheveled state in the dense forest of the garden."
Wei Ningshuang walked up to Zhen Yin and slapped her.
"Tranquility. Could it be that the bad habits you picked up as the Crown Princess have left you without shame?"
Zhen Yin stood up and said, "Noble Concubine Wei, you must act with a clear conscience. This is Qiankun Country, not Yanyou. The Empress will not believe slanderous words without any basis."
"You two are forcing me like this, don't you take me seriously?" Thinking of this, Chen Yun pointed at them and said, "Either shut up, or you two will be confined to the bedroom for a month and not allowed to go out. Why is there so much strife in the harem? You are the fourth wife, the one who helps manage the harem. And now you are all speaking without restraint."
Wei Ningshuang and Zhen Yin had no choice but to shut up.
Chen Yun said: "Although there is evidence to prove the father of Concubine Wei and Concubine Yin De, the evidence is questionable. For the time being, I can guarantee that you will not be killed, but if the evidence is sufficient, you are not allowed to plead for mercy."
After Yin Banluo and Wei Ningshuang expressed their gratitude, Chen Yun waved his hand and said, "You've worked hard on the journey. Please leave! Madam, the Emperor should have finished his morning exercises and should go and pay his respects. Also, please invite His Majesty over."
After sorting out my mood, I came to Da'an Palace.
Inside the Da'an Palace, the eaves shone brightly and energetically under the sunlight, and the dark blue curtains and the wrinkles on Li Lieo's face made him look more sophisticated.
"Is Father okay?"
Chen Yun was smiling, but Li Lie'ao just looked at Chen Yun, but with a look of concern on his face, he replied perfunctorily: "Not bad."
"With the concubine and the prime minister by your side, you shouldn't feel lonely, right?"
While the Prime Minister was still delighted and Nanny Ming beside him was still looking forward to something, Li Lieao did not give a good look, but he did not show his dissatisfaction and responded: "I just want to be alone and quiet. So many people come all day long, and I can't refuse them. It's more tiring than handling state affairs."
Chen Yun frowned slightly, feeling like he was being told something but couldn't explain it to himself. "As the Emperor Emeritus, if you don't want to see me, you don't have to. Why would you want to put yourself in such a difficult position?"
"That's easy for you to say."
"The best way to relax you is to change your environment. Let's start with clothes. I just happened to prepare a new robe for your father. I want you to try it on and see if it suits you."
Li Lieao took over and put on the outer robe, but he found it difficult to put on.
Chen Yun immediately took over and helped Li Lie'ao put it on. Li Lie'ao was dumbfounded, feeling that it didn't fit him well, but he couldn't let the other party down, so he could only say, "It seems a little tighter than before."
Chen Yun smiled and said, "It's appropriate once you get used to it."
At this time, Changsun Chanhai arrived. After hearing the eunuch's message, Li Lieo began to cry out in disgust, but still let him in.
"Greetings to the Supreme Emperor, and to the Empress Dowager. I have come to see Your Majesty."
Li Lie'ao asked accusingly, "Do you visit me more often than you visit the Queen?"
Chen Yun interjected, "Have you forgotten your identity?"
This left Changsun Chanhai speechless.
Li Lie'ao said, "I told you, don't come to see me anymore! You said you came to see me every time for no reason, but what? I'm saying it again, don't come to see this poor old man like me anymore! You've given me so many things, but I don't need them! You said you were visiting me, but you're really here to spy on me, aren't you? I lost my father when I was young, and I didn't suffer this!"
Li Lie'ao finally stopped complaining, and the entire place fell silent. Chen Yun finally realized that Li Lie'ao still harbored resentment towards him and Li Lin. Although he had come to remind the retired emperor to stop interfering in state affairs, such a scolding made him realize how frustrated the current retired emperor, who had been on the throne for only eight years, felt.
Changsun Chanhai had no choice but to apologize and leave. The prime minister beside him also had to leave.
At this time, Li Lin also arrived, "Father, everyone outside heard your voice. What made you so angry?"
"It's okay. It has nothing to do with you. But it's you, Queen... Your brother Changsun Feng has a completely different personality from you. He's very clear-headed, but you, are you very thoughtful?"
Chen Yun smiled and said, "As the queen, I have to take this into consideration in order to fulfill my duties."
Li Lin stepped forward and said, "Father, Yun'er has done a great job. I am satisfied. However, the harem is too crowded. On the one hand, I have to consider the Empress's care, and on the other hand, I have to dismiss some of the harem maids and the Empress's concubines."
Li Lie'ao was about to speak when Li Xin and Li Ziyin came running over. Li Lie'ao's anger instantly turned into a smile. Hearing the three words "imperial grandfather", his whole body straightened up and hugged the emperor's grandchildren in his arms.
"Oh, Xin'er outside is becoming more and more beautiful as she grows older. She is indeed a natural beauty. Ziyin is also getting stronger and stronger! Has she listened to the words of the emperor and the queen?"
"have!"
Li Lin saw that Li Lieo was very happy, so he waved his hand and asked the extra people to leave.
Only when only the two children, the retired emperor, and the empress were left did everyone sit down properly, but there was silence for a moment. Finally, Li Lie'ao broke the awkward silence.
"The annual Lantern Festival is about to begin. There will be many beautiful lights and moving music. The interesting thing is, if you want to play, some people will give you face, while others won't."
Li Lin stood up and walked over to Li Lie'ao, personally poured him some wine, and even asked knowingly, "Did someone around you offend you?"
"Your cuts are just a temporary fix. Will there be any staff left after the layoffs?"
Li Lin turned around and took a few steps back, then said, "They must be dismissed. The Empress also agrees with this." Li Lie'ao was about to get angry when Li Lin turned around and said, "But the Emperor and the maids who are actually the Empress' concubines will not be touched."
Li Lieo smiled. He didn't expect that Li Lin cared so much about him, and he was quite relieved.
Li Lie'ao then continued, "You are also the emperor. Although you cannot drink alcohol, you still have to drink in grand occasions. So you should practice your alcohol tolerance. I have now retired as the emperor, so you don't need to discuss anything with me except for family matters."
"We still need to discuss this," Li Lie'ao said, his expression changing as he looked at Li Lin. "Father, you have appointed many kings for the sake of the world. However, there have been countless virtual kings on the throne, which has wasted a huge amount of money on the national treasury. What do you think if we cancel the future rewards?"
With the foreshadowing just now, Li Lie'ao no longer cared and said with a smile: "I thought of this plan! This is indeed what I have been worried about. If you can handle it, I will refuse even if you come to me in person."
"However, these people were all awarded by you, the Emperor, back then. Recently, we have sworn an alliance with another country by slaying a white horse, and have donated a large amount of financial resources to negotiate a peace agreement with the foreign vassal states to protect the people. These kings will not understand. Since they don't understand, then we don't need them to understand. Only the people need to understand."
"Then, regardless of whether it's true or not, you must let the people feel and see that you are doing this for them. People want wealth and honor, just as birds want food; otherwise, conquering the world is not truly owning it. You are worried about unfavorable public opinion, so why not take the initiative to leverage public opinion?"
"You might as well tell me what your father means."
"If the world could know that your majesty's concern is about the country's lack of strength, that would be great. The emperor would rather cut back on his own food, clothing, housing, and transportation than exploit the people. So you must announce this widely. At the same time, you must appoint a crown prince."
"What does this have to do with establishing a crown prince?"
"What the people want is peace of mind. If the crown prince's education is for the benefit of the people, then they will think that the future emperor will also be for the benefit of the people. Only by ensuring that they live and work in peace and contentment and move forward boldly can we accelerate the advancement of national strength."
Li Xin shouted, "Father, Xin'er wants to be the crown prince!"
Li Lie'ao smiled and teased Li Xin's face, saying, "Silly child. Throughout history, only men have been crowned crown princes, never women. The officials would not agree to this either."
"If I become the Crown Prince, then Ziyin and Fourth Brother won't fight to the death like Uncle and Father did. Otherwise, Xin'er will be very afraid of brothers killing each other."
Li Lin and Li Lieo felt uncomfortable after hearing Li Xin's words. After all, Li Lin obtained the throne by killing his brother, which was not fair.
Li Ziyin, standing by, patted his chest and said, "Sister, I'm afraid too. I'm afraid of brothers killing each other. I'm afraid of being made crown prince and then demoted."
Chen Ying pulled the two children to his side and said, "What happened to our generation has nothing to do with yours. It will never happen again."
However, Chen Yan felt very uneasy.
Late at night...
Li Lin and Chen Yun had been sleeping in Lizheng Hall, and they were also worried about the issue of appointing a crown prince.
Chen Ying was looking at a book in front of the candlestick, and Li Lin behind him came closer and hugged Chen Ying.
"Aren't you going to bed yet?"
"I'm still worried about what my father said about the crown prince today. Second brother, it's time to appoint a crown prince."
Li Lin sighed and said, "I haven't decided yet whether to appoint the eldest son or the most capable one."
"They are still young, how can we know if they are virtuous or not? Xin'er is very attentive, and any problem she can see is a problem. Father's opinion is also good advice."
"I have thought about it, but since I'm still young and my mind is unstable, I'll put it off for now. I'll read more and learn more about the world. What do you think?"
Chen Yun gently pushed Li Lin away. "Throughout history, the eldest son has always been the first son to succeed. Now that the world is at peace, although my skills have become widespread, as Master said, within the Qiankun Kingdom, even under such conditions of peace, we have not yet achieved the level of collective poverty alleviation. Therefore, it is best to improve the people's living standards as quickly as possible, allowing the people to pool their wisdom and accelerate the development of technology. Among the royal family, the eldest son has outstanding achievements and is suitable."
Li Lin was silent for a moment, and Chen Yin continued:
"I will teach Ziyin and Xiner the ways of governance and a series of exams.
"I can agree to make Ziyin the crown prince. However, there is still a question concerning the crown prince and the late Lan Xixi."
Chen Yan turned around and said seriously, "This matter concerns Louhuang Kingdom. Second brother, perhaps we won't be able to attend the Lantern Festival. It's time to go to Louhuang Kingdom and meet the emperor there."
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
