Chapter 2 The Phoenix's Reign in the Deep Palace, the Raising of the Qilin
In the Chang'an palace during the Yonghui era, the imperial court and the inner palace seemed like two parallel yet closely interconnected worlds. In the imperial court, Emperor Yonghui, Li Chengqian, and his brother, Prince Jin, Li Zhi, worked together to firmly control the government. Through swift and meticulous planning, they continuously weakened powerful families and promoted those from humble backgrounds. The power of the empire was concentrated in the hands of the imperial family and a newly emerging bureaucratic group dependent on imperial authority, more so than ever before. Government orders flowed smoothly with few obstacles; an efficient but somewhat rigid order pervaded the Three Departments, Six Ministries, and all levels of government offices.
The inner palace, under the rule of Empress Wu Zetian, presented a different picture—peaceful and orderly, yet harboring formidable power and far-reaching schemes.
Wu Zetian was no longer the cautious and scheming concubine she once was in the Eastern Palace. Having become Empress, especially after experiencing the breathtaking power struggles of the late Zhenguan era, she had completely transformed into a mature, confident, and highly skilled ruler of the harem. She possessed the dignified elegance and masterful application of etiquette expected of aristocratic women of her time, but also incorporated a forward-thinking approach to life and a pragmatic spirit she had absorbed from Wang Zhenren.
She managed the harem with a balance of kindness and strictness, and with clear and organized procedures. On the one hand, she strictly adhered to court regulations, rewarding and punishing fairly, treating all concubines equally, and never showing favoritism based on birth or personal affection. This quickly established her authority and prevented chaos caused by competition for favor. She incorporated all harem affairs—from expenditures and personnel allocation to the education of princes and princesses and the arrangement of festivals and ceremonies—into a clear set of management procedures, achieving far greater efficiency than before.
On the other hand, she deeply understood the principle that "too much clarity breeds no fish." For the concubines' minor, harmless desires and inclinations, as long as they didn't overstep boundaries, she often turned a blind eye, even occasionally offering them humane care and convenience. She was a good listener, able to understand the concubines' difficulties and thoughts, and provide timely comfort or guidance. This balanced approach of firmness and gentleness, adhering to principles while being compassionate, ensured that the harem, despite the emperor's strict political climate, maintained its vitality and relative harmony. The concubines held her in awe mixed with a degree of trust.
However, Wu Zetian's greatest concern was not merely managing this vast harem. Her gaze had already turned to the more distant future—her children and the empire they would inherit and lead.
She had a deep affection for Emperor Li Chengqian and bore him several princes and princesses, especially Crown Prince Li Hong, whose position was secure. However, unlike many women in the harem who only knew how to consolidate favor or spoil their children, Wu Zetian did not. The concepts she learned from Wang Zhenren—that "knowledge is power" and "vision determines one's pattern"—deeply influenced her approach to educating her children.
She personally selected tutors for her children (especially Crown Prince Li Hong and several older princes), requiring not only solid scholarship but also upright character and open-mindedness. She even secretly sought out learned individuals with expertise in practical fields such as mathematics, law, and geography. She encouraged her children to read extensively, not just the classics, but also to collect records of folk tales, local chronicles, craftsmanship, and even foreign customs for them to read, thus broadening their horizons.
She often summoned the children to her side and, using simple and easy-to-understand language, combined with examples of palace management or stories of past court affairs, taught them how to observe people, analyze situations, weigh pros and cons, and make decisions. She emphasized "pragmatism" and "responsibility," telling the crown prince and princes that, as members of the imperial family, while enjoying honor, they also bore the heavy responsibility of governing the country. They needed to have genuine talent and learning, understand the people's sentiments, and know how to use people and manage affairs.
"Your father and uncle are currently undertaking a difficult but necessary task in the previous dynasty—weakening those powerful clans that have held sway for hundreds of years, ensuring that imperial power truly belongs to the Son of Heaven, allowing talented but impoverished individuals to rise to prominence, and ensuring that government decrees reach all corners of the land." Wu Zetian once told the children sitting around her, "This requires courage, skill, and patience. In the future, you may face different situations, but the principles remain the same—you must discern what is beneficial to the empire in the long run and what is detrimental to the stability of imperial power, and then use appropriate methods to promote and resolve these issues."
She placed particular emphasis on cultivating sibling bonds and a sense of cooperation among her children. She often arranged for the princes to study, play, and complete small tasks together, encouraging them to discuss and help each other, clearly telling them that brotherly unity is invincible. She used the example of Li Chengqian and Li Zhi (omitting their past conflicts) to illustrate the preciousness of brotherly harmony and concerted governance for the stability of the nation. Under her subtle influence, Crown Prince Li Hong developed a harmonious relationship with his brothers, and the older princes generally accepted the concepts of "brotherly love and respect" and "protecting the crown prince," focusing their energy on improving their own abilities and learning the art of governance rather than vying for the sole throne.
Wu Zetian was also keenly aware of the connection between the inner palace and the outer court. Through trusted female officials and eunuchs with connections outside the palace, she cautiously monitored court movements, the reactions of powerful families, and the rise of officials from humble backgrounds. She did not directly interfere in politics, but in private conversations with the emperor, she would subtly express her observations and thoughts using phrases like "heard" or "felt," ideas that often offered Li Chengqian insights due to their unique perspective and pragmatism. She also used her influence over the families of the concubines in the inner palace to indirectly appease or subtly pressure certain forces in the outer court, thus aligning with the emperor's overall strategy.
Time slipped by quietly amidst the tranquility of the inner palace and the changes of the previous dynasty. Emperor Yonghui, Li Chengqian, with the assistance of Prince Jin, Li Zhi, governed with increasing shrewdness, deepening his suppression of the powerful clans. Various new policies were steadily implemented, national strength continued to grow, and the central authority reached its zenith. Meanwhile, the powerful clans, under continuous economic, political, and cultural pressure, had long lost their former glory. Some transformed themselves into dependent entities, while others completely declined, no longer able to form an organized political force, much less interfere in the internal affairs of the imperial family.
Thanks to this unprecedentedly stable imperial environment and Wu Zetian's successful education and guidance, Li Chengqian's princes grew into a generation completely different from their fathers.
They did not experience the brutal struggle for succession that their fathers faced (the case of Li Tai is a distant lesson, deliberately downplayed), nor did they have powerful maternal relatives or aristocratic families backing them up in the fight for the throne. They grew up in an atmosphere created by their mother that valued knowledge, ability, and sibling affection, tacitly accepting their elder brother Li Hong's position as crown prince and regarding it as the natural order of the state.
Crown Prince Li Hong, under the careful guidance of his parents and uncles, and through his own efforts, has become a learned man, kind yet decisive, with considerable insight into court affairs. He also enjoys harmonious relationships with his brothers and is deeply loved by the people. The other princes, on the other hand, are skilled in law, economics, or military affairs, each with their own expertise. Yet, they are all content with their lot, focusing on shining in their respective fields, and regarding assisting the Crown Prince and protecting the royal family as their lifelong honor and responsibility.
As Emperor Yonghui, Li Chengqian, entered his later years and began to gradually entrust some government affairs to the Crown Prince, the court and the public were delighted to find that this heir apparent displayed a maturity and ability beyond his years. The princes were also able to perform their duties and assist him wholeheartedly, and the court presented an unprecedented harmonious atmosphere of brothers working together and the emperor and his ministers getting along well.
The lingering shadow of bloodshed that once loomed over the Li Tang imperial family—from the Xuanwu Gate Incident to the Li Tai Rebellion—seemed to have truly been dispelled in this generation. The tragedy of fratricide and bloodshed did not repeat itself. Instead, Wu Zetian, with her wisdom and profound maternal love, carefully nurtured a generation of exceptional talents, combining these with the realities of the time. These exceptional talents would take up the reins of the empire in a healthier and more stable manner, continuing the unfinished work of their fathers and propelling the new Tang Dynasty—a dynasty characterized by highly centralized imperial power, leadership by elites from humble backgrounds, and internal unity and stability—to an even more glorious future.
Deep within the palace, Wu Zetian gazed at her children, who were growing increasingly mature and spirited. Her eyes held both satisfaction and a deep-seated pride and expectation—the pride of a mother and empress. She knew she might not be able to depart mysteriously like Wang Zhenren, or leave behind any earth-shattering achievements, but in her own unique way, she had laid a solid and warm foundation for her husband, her children, and the empire she deeply loved and was an integral part of.
Deep within the palace, the phoenix's presence is felt silently. A unicorn is born, poised to take flight and sing. The story of the Li Tang imperial family, forged in blood and fire, has finally turned a new page, brimming with hope and vitality.
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