Chapter 102 The Birth of a Prodigy, Undercurrents Rage
Wu Zetian's pregnancy proceeded smoothly under extremely tight protection. The Eastern Palace's rear garden seemed to have been designated as a separate restricted area; all those entering and leaving had to undergo repeated checks, and food and medicine had to pass through multiple checkpoints. Even her daily walks were cleared and inspected by guards in advance. Li Chengqian would visit her almost every day, consult with the imperial physicians, and speak with her. His attitude was gentle, but his gaze often passed over her, landing on her increasingly prominent belly, with a deep focus that mixed with expectation and a certain resolute determination.
Wu Zetian could sense the heavy weight behind this unusual attention. This child was not only his comfort to her (perhaps to some extent, but not entirely), but also a crucial link in his future blueprint. She stroked the life within her womb, her heart filled with complex and indescribable emotions. There was the indelible longing and pain for Li Xiang, the natural maternal love for this new life, and a hidden anxiety about her own and the child's fate in the Eastern Palace and even in the future court. But she deeply concealed all her emotions, presenting the image of a calm, obedient concubine who met the Crown Prince's expectations, and who longed for an heir.
In the late autumn of a certain year during the Zhenguan era, the Eastern Palace once again welcomed the loud cry of a newborn. Wu Zetian successfully gave birth to a healthy baby boy, weighing six pounds and seven ounces, with a loud cry and strong limbs.
The news sent shockwaves through the entire Eastern Palace and even the imperial court. This was not only because the Crown Prince had another son, but also because the child's mother was Wu Zetian—a concubine who held a special place in the Crown Prince's heart and had already borne him a son (though he died young). More importantly, the child appeared remarkably healthy, a stark contrast to the previously sickly princes from noble families.
Hearing the baby's cry outside the delivery room, Li Chengqian's tense expression, which had been taut for months, finally relaxed, and his eyes revealed undisguised joy and excitement. He personally chose the name for his child—Li Hong. "Hong" means great and extensive, implying to promote and glorify. Its meaning is self-evident.
The celebrations for the baby's third-day celebration and full-month celebration were exceptionally grand. Emperor Li Shimin personally bestowed generous rewards and granted his grandson the name "Xian," implying prominence and distinction. This imperial attitude undoubtedly added significant weight to the newborn's status.
Inside and outside the Eastern Palace, a long-lost, genuine joy filled the air due to Li Hong's birth. The mothers of the several frail princes and the powerful families behind them, watching the Crown Prince's undisguised favoritism towards Li Hong (though he didn't neglect the sickly prince, the level of attention and resources he provided were obvious), felt a complex mix of emotions. There was disappointment and jealousy, but also a vague sense of "I knew it." The Crown Prince's intentions were gradually becoming clear.
The children born to concubines from lesser-known aristocratic families were more like embellishments, adding to the overall beauty of the family. Although they were also favored, their importance was far less than that of Li Hong.
Li Hong's arrival seemed to inject a powerful boost into the Eastern Palace, and also eased the heavy burden on Li Chengqian's mind regarding the successor. He then devoted more energy to the arrangements for the previous dynasty and further actions against the aristocratic families.
Riding the wave of Li Hong's birth and the emperor's delight, Li Chengqian launched a series of seemingly beneficial policies that were actually aimed at the privileges of aristocratic families. For example, he further tightened the local "recommendation" system, increased the number and weight of candidates selected through the imperial examinations, and began to introduce candidates from humble backgrounds or sons of small and medium-sized landowners who had undergone rigorous examinations, especially for some important positions that were originally controlled by aristocratic families. Another example is that, under the guise of "providing disaster relief and resettling displaced people," he attempted to implement small-scale "land restriction" and "recruiting people to reclaim wasteland" pilot programs in some areas where aristocratic families were deeply entrenched but land consolidation was rampant. Although the resistance was enormous and the scale was limited, the policy signals released were enough to make the astute aristocratic families uneasy.
Meanwhile, Li Chengqian began to more subtly exploit the conflicts between powerful families. The power vacuum and vested interests left by the severely weakened Longxi Li clan sparked undercurrents among other top clans (such as the Taiyuan Wang clan, the Xingyang Zheng clan, and the Boling Cui clan), all vying for a share and even taking the opportunity to attack their rivals. Li Chengqian secretly offered incentives to relatively "compliant" families or those willing to provide limited policy cooperation (such as a branch of the Zhao County Li clan that had intermarried with the Crown Prince and maintained a low profile, and some pragmatic officials from the Fanyang Lu clan)—either by showing favoritism in personnel appointments or by granting leniency in the implementation of certain controversial policies. As for the families that were most vocal and most resistant to the Crown Prince's new policies, he exerted continuous pressure through methods such as impeachment by censors, investigations of old cases, and even creating minor troubles in commercial or local affairs.
He wanted to make it clear to the powerful families that cooperation might preserve some of their interests and dignity, while confrontation would come at a high cost and could allow other covetous "allies" to take advantage of the situation.
This combination of tactics—"pulling in one group, striking in another, and dividing another"—was employed with increasing skill by Li Chengqian. The winds of change in the court were imperceptible; the voices of officials from humble backgrounds and small landowning families were gradually growing stronger. While powerful clans remained formidable, their arrogance—their ability to control everything and even constrain imperial power—had been significantly curbed. Many policies were implemented with far less resistance than before.
However, beneath the calm surface, the undercurrents never cease to surge.
The millennia-old heritage of these aristocratic families cannot be easily shaken by a few political blows and economic weakening. They are like ancient trees deeply rooted in the earth; even if some branches are cut off, as long as the roots remain, they can lie dormant, wait, and even nurture a more covert counterattack.
Rumors about the Crown Prince began to circulate again in certain circles in Chang'an. This time, they weren't about romantic scandals, but rather politically damaging content: such as "The Crown Prince's eagerness to reduce the power of powerful families may not be a blessing for the country," "The new policies of the Eastern Palace, seemingly beneficial to the people, are actually competing with them for profit (implying that touching the interests of powerful families is tantamount to competing with the 'people' for profit)," and "The Crown Prince is young (referring to Li Hong), and the maternal relatives (implying Wu Zetian and her potentially expanding family power) may become too powerful," and so on. These rumors were often disguised as expressions of concern for the country and its people, spreading through poetry gatherings, literary societies, and even private conversations among some officials. Their origins were difficult to trace, yet they subtly influenced public opinion in parts of the court and among the people.
Moreover, the Eastern Palace was not a monolithic entity. The families of the mothers of the weak princes, though outwardly obedient, harbored resentment and bitterness. How many of the noble families who were "winned over" were truly loyal, or merely acting as expedients? Behind the newly arrived concubines in the Eastern Palace lay various interests and demands.
Li Chengqian was fully aware of this. He strengthened intelligence surveillance and made background checks and behavioral monitoring of personnel within the Eastern Palace more stringent. At the same time, he was also looking for and cultivating a new generation of people who were truly loyal to him, rather than their families—not just scholars from humble backgrounds, but also some talented young men from aristocratic families who were dissatisfied with the corrupt status quo of their families and were willing to pledge allegiance to the imperial power.
This was a long and complex game, requiring immense patience, precise judgment, and ruthless tactics. Li Hong's healthy growth gave Li Chengqian more confidence and time. He spent more and more time with the child, personally teaching him to read and write, and reciting classics and history, even when he was just a babbling infant. He poured not only paternal love into this child, but also a firm expectation for the future and a certain... ritualistic sense of inheritance.
Wu Zetian devoted all her energy to raising Li Hong, becoming increasingly discreet and cautious in her actions. She was acutely aware of the expectations this child carried and understood the open and hidden attacks she, as his birth mother, faced. She managed the Eastern Palace's harem with meticulous care, maintaining a gentle and impartial attitude towards the Crown Prince's other concubines and offspring, leaving no room for criticism. Only in the quiet of the night, alone with the sleeping Li Hong, would her eyes reveal a hidden sharpness and deep contemplation.
The birth of a son brought hope and stability, but it was also like casting a dazzling pearl into a calm lake, attracting the attention of various forces and stirring up deeper undercurrents. Li Chengqian nurtured his young son, who represented the future, with one hand, while wielding an invisible blade aimed at the aristocratic families with the other.
He knew that the real test might have just begun. The powerful families wouldn't accept their decline; they were waiting for their chance. And he had to solidify his own power base and weaken the powerful families to the point where they posed no further threat to the imperial authority, before they found a new breakthrough or his father's attitude changed.
Autumn faded into winter, and Chang'an was blanketed in another heavy snowfall. The red walls and yellow tiles of the Eastern Palace were covered in a thick layer of silver, concealing countless traces of power struggles. Li Hong thrived in the warm palace, while Li Chengqian's plans for the court grew ever more profound. Beneath this pristine white curtain, the retaliation of the powerful clans and the encroachment of imperial power were brewing for an even more dramatic and dramatic clash.
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