bestfiction Chapter 39: The Crown Princess is Pregnant and Yeon Gaesomun is Plotting a Coup
Chapter 39: The Crown Princess is Pregnant and Yeon Gaesomun is Plotting a Coup
In the morning of December in the ninth year of Zhenguan, Li Chengqian returned to the Prince's Mansion early after presiding over the morning court. As soon as he entered the study, Qu Jingwen came in with a cup of tea. She smiled.
"My husband has been very busy these past few days. How come you came back so early today?"
"I am on strike today. I have been busy with government affairs and military academy these days. I am too tired and need to rest. Since the old man let me supervise the country, he has been a hands-off manager whenever I am in Chang'an, except when I am away on a campaign.
Recently, he has thrown everything to me, and he and A Niang are enjoying themselves in the harem every day. I am only 17 years old, and I am asked to shoulder the weight of a country. Is this fair? Jiao Nu, don’t you think the old man is a bit too much? "Li Chengqian complained, covering his head.
"My husband is capable and talented, so naturally he has to take on more responsibilities. Having said that, if my husband doesn't go to handle state affairs today, aren't you afraid of criticism from the ministers and scolding from His Majesty?" Qu Jingwen smiled with her hands covering her mouth.
"Tsk, I'm the Crown Prince who regent. If anyone dares to say anything, I'll ask the Imperial Guards to put him in jail and spank him. As for the old man, I'm so tired, how can he scold me? The emperor is not busy, but the crown prince is extremely busy. The old man should reflect on whether he is a little ungentlemanly." Li Chengqian said disdainfully.
"Rebellious son, how dare you talk about your king and father behind their backs. Your butt is itching again, right?" Li Shimin's angry voice suddenly came from outside the door.
"Fuck, why is the old man here? It's over, given the old man's temper, it would be strange if he doesn't beat me." Li Chengqian stood up in horror when he heard the words, quickly ran to the window, opened the window, jumped onto the window, and turned around and said.
"Dear slave, cover for me. I'm leaving first." Li Chengqian was about to jump out of the window when he heard the sweet laughter of Qu Jingwen and Li Ling'er behind him. Li Chengqian turned around in confusion and only saw Li Ling'er, not Li Shimin. Li Chengqian jumped back into the house and asked in confusion.
"Why? The old man didn't come?"
"I am here, Prince, why don't you come over to be punished?" Li Ling'er said, imitating Li Shimin's voice. Then she and Qu Jingwen burst into laughter.
"Ling'er, you pretended to be a saint and deceived the crown prince. This is a serious crime. If I don't punish you, what's the use of family rules? And you, my little slave, dared to laugh at me. Hey, I'll punish you according to family rules." Li Chengqian rushed forward and hit the two girls on their buttocks. The two girls covered their buttocks and jumped away, blushing and pouting.
At this time, the servant came to report that Fang Xuanling, the Minister of the Left, wanted to see him on government business. The two girls left the study room when they saw that Li Chengqian had something to do. Before Li Linger walked out of the study room, she turned back and said meaningfully.
"My dear husband, if you have time, please go visit the Madam more often. She has not been feeling well these past two days."
"Yu Niang? Unwell? Go see the imperial physician. I haven't seen her feel unwell recently." Li Chengqian wondered. After discussing government affairs with Fang Xuanling, Li Chengqian had lunch with the girls. Li Chengqian saw Su Wan'er looking at the food, frowning and not eating, and asked in confusion.
"My dear, have you no appetite? Or is the food not to your taste? What do you want to eat? I will ask someone to cook it for you."
Su Wan'er's skin was as white as jade, her posture was charming, and her appearance was beautiful, especially under the bright moonlight, she looked like frost and snow. Therefore, Li Chengqian gave Su Wan'er the same nickname as Yang Yuhuan, one of the four beauties, "Yuniang".
"Hey, how can I eat something so greasy? The meals recently are too greasy, I can't eat them. My husband is busy all day and I'm almost out of food." Su Wan'er, who is gentle and tolerant, rarely loses her temper.
"Then hire another chef to cook specifically for Yu Niang." Li Chengqian said nonchalantly.
"No need for that. Although Yu Niang is the Crown Princess, my mother often summons Yu Niang to the palace and teaches her to be thrifty. How can Yu Niang be extravagant just for her own pleasure? It would be enough if my husband could often have dinner with us." Su Wan'er said with a smile.
"Then you'll feel hungry when you look at my husband's handsome face." Li Chengqian said with a smile.
At this time, the servant brought a pot of stewed pork elbow. When Su Wan'er saw this dish, she vomited. Li Chengqian's smiling face turned black immediately, and he jumped up as if his tail was stepped on.
"What do you mean, ah, you vomited when you saw my face? Do I look so unpalatable?"
"Hey, my husband, are you a blockhead? The lady can't wait to stick to you every day, so why would she vomit when she sees you? Women will vomit when they see something greasy, don't you understand why? Why don't you call the imperial physician quickly?" Li Linger rubbed Su Waner's back gently, saying dissatisfiedly.
Hearing this, Li Chengqian seemed to suddenly understand something, and shouted in surprise, "Quickly summon the imperial physician, and ask Dr. Sun Simiao to come." Soon, Sun Simiao hurried to the prince's residence. Sun Simiao stroked his beard and examined Su Wan'er's pulse for a while, and said happily.
"Congratulations, Your Highness. Congratulations, Your Highness. The Crown Princess is pregnant."
"Really? You're not lying to me?" Li Chengqian asked in surprise.
"I have been practicing medicine for most of my life, and I can still make a mistake in diagnosing a happy pulse." Sun Simiao said dissatisfiedly.
"Okay, reward, a big reward. Give 1000 strings of cash to Dr. Sun and let him take it away." Li Chengqian said happily. Su Wan'er shed tears of joy after hearing this. The other girls were happy but also secretly competing with each other.
After Sun Simiao prescribed a prescription for maintaining the pregnancy, he happily left with 1000 strings of cash.
Li Shimin and Zhangsun Wugou were overjoyed when they heard that Su Wan'er was pregnant, and they hurried to the prince's residence to visit her. Li Shimin rewarded her with many precious medicinal herbs, and Zhangsun Wugou arranged for several experienced palace maids to take care of Su Wan'er. When the people of the Tang Dynasty heard that the crown princess was pregnant, they all wished her a safe birth of her eldest son.
After Su Wan'er became pregnant, Li Chengqian often left early and asked for leave, saying that he was taking maternity leave. The ministers did not blame him. Every time they saw Li Chengqian hurried off work, they would smile and ask the prince to slow down and take good care of the princess. Li Shimin also began to handle more state affairs, so that Li Chengqian could spend more time with Su Wan'er.
One day, Li Chengqian was strolling with Su Wan'er in the Prince's Mansion Garden. A servant came to report that Zhuge Fu wanted to see him. Li Chengqian ordered Zhuge Fu to wait in the study, then said a few words to Su Wan'er and walked to the study. As soon as he entered the study, Zhuge Fu stood up, bowed and clasped his fists.
"I am the tenth place winner of the military examination in Beijing, and I am a top seventh rank official. I am here to pay my respects to the Crown Prince, Commandant Zhuge Fu. I congratulate the Crown Princess on being pregnant with a dragon seed, and I wish the Crown Prince many more children."
"Haha, thank you so much. Brother Zhici, please don't blame me for not letting the Ministry of War arrange a position for you." Li Chengqian smiled and walked forward to help Zhuge Fu up.
"I dare not." Zhuge Fu said with a smile.
"I want to recruit you into the Prince's Palace as the Prince's Chief Clerk, the head of the Prince's Palace staff, with the rank of fifth rank. What do you think, brother?" Li Chengqian asked with a smile.
Zhuge Fu was shocked when he heard this. The Prince's Chief Clerk was the head of the Prince's staff, which was essentially the same as the current Chief of Staff. He was a fifth-rank official, and he had just been granted the title by imperial decree (in the Tang Dynasty, officials above the third rank were granted by "ceremonial appointment"; officials above the fifth rank were granted by "system appointment", and officials below the sixth rank were granted by "imperial appointment"). He was promoted to the seventh rank, and was promoted to the rank of Guo Xiaowei.
This time, he jumped five levels and became the same level as the guerrilla general of Xue Li, the new champion of the martial arts examination. Not to mention, he became a minister of the prince's palace from then on.
"Your Highness, why do you value me so much?" Zhuge Fu asked doubtfully.
"Zhuge Fu, courtesy name Zhici, was born in Chengdu Prefecture in the first year of Wude, and was a descendant of Zhuge Wuhou. He was smart and clever since childhood, and had extraordinary wit. He aspired to become a champion marquis since childhood, and was willing to hold a three-foot sword and achieve unprecedented achievements. However, he was weak since childhood and could not practice martial arts.
I have read your examination papers and the records of your actual combat deductions in the provincial and imperial examinations, which are very exciting. Although you are not good at leading troops, your strategy is superior to others. Moreover, Duke Weiguo and Duke Yiguo have recommended you to me many times. I have many brave generals and strong soldiers under my command, but I lack a strategist like you who can plan and give advice. If I can get your help, it will be like Emperor Gaozu of Han getting Liuhou and Emperor Zhaolie of Shu Han getting Wuhou. "Li Chengqian said with a smile.
Zhuge Fu was very excited when he heard Li Chengqian compare him to Zhang Zifang, who founded the Han Dynasty 400 years ago, and his ancestor Zhuge Wuhou, who made great contributions to the division of the three kingdoms and became famous for his Eight Diagrams. He immediately knelt down and bowed excitedly.
"My knowledge is limited, and I dare not compare myself with Liu Hou and my ancestors. Your Highness, do not consider my young age and lack of knowledge to be a burden to me. I am willing to serve Your Highness with all my heart and soul until my death."
"Haha, Brother Zhici, please stand up quickly. Since you are willing to assist me, then the title of His Highness is too inappropriate. If you don't mind, you can call me Lord like everyone else under my command. How about that?" Li Chengqian laughed and helped Zhuge Fu up. Zhuge Fu didn't dare to despise him, so he bowed and clasped his fists.
"I am Zhuge Fu, the Chief Clerk of the Crown Prince. I am honored to meet you, my Lord."
"Well, Zhici. I just have something I want to hear your opinion on. Jinyiwei commander-in-chief Wu Qianyuan recently sent a piece of information back from Goguryeo via carrier pigeon. Take a look and tell me what you think." Li Chengqian smiled and took out a secret letter from the desk drawer and handed it to Zhuge Fu.
"Jinyiwei Commander Wu Qianyuan? The executor of the 'Secret Assassination' plan?" Zhuge Fu asked in surprise.
Since Wu Qianyuan completed the "Secret Assassination" plan and returned to Chang'an, his reputation has risen rapidly and there are many rumors. However, this mysterious Jinyiwei commander is elusive and basically no one has seen his true face, not even his family. Many people are doubting whether this person really exists, and unexpectedly he was sent to Goguryeo to carry out the mission.
"Just after the troubles with the Eastern Turks, they are now starting to trouble Goguryeo. The countries surrounding the Tang Dynasty should really be blessed to have our prince. However, as soon as I entered the prince's mansion, the lord asked me about important matters. I should be alert and live up to the lord's expectations." Zhuge Fu then took the secret report with both hands and read it carefully. The secret letter read.
"I am Wu Qianyuan, the commander of the Jinyiwei, and I wish you the best of health. In the seventh year of Zhenguan, I was ordered to carry out the "destroy the sticks" plan and hide in Pyongyang, the capital of Goguryeo. Since I started hiding, I have spent a lot of money to make friends with Goguryeo clan members and ministers. In particular, Yeon Gaesomun, who was mentioned by the lord, I am now his guest of honor and he has regarded me as his confidant.
Following the master's plan, his subordinates repeatedly plotted to sow discord between Yeon Gaesomun and King Yeongryu. Under his subordinates' repeated instigation, in the ninth year of the Zhenguan reign, Yeon Gaesomun used his position as Daedeol (equivalent to prime minister) to bribe palace maids and put a slow-acting poison in King Yeongryu's food.
At the end of November in the ninth year of Zhenguan, King Yeongryu Go Geonmu was becoming increasingly weak, and he and his ministers planned to eliminate some powerful generals in Goguryeo, and first to kill Yeon Gaesomun, who was the most threatening to his throne. After Yeon Gaesomun learned of King Yeongryu's plan, he planned to eliminate King Yeongryu in advance.
"Goguryeo is about to stage a coup. My lord is planning the 'destroy the sticks' plan and inciting Yeon Gaesomun to kill the king. Do you want to use Yeon Gaesomun's killing of the king as an excuse to plot against Goguryeo?" Zhuge Fu asked.
"Well, it's easier to be with smart people. Yeon Gaesomun is ferocious and brutal by nature. He claimed that he emerged from the water and used this to deceive the people. It can be seen that he has great ambitions. I just went with the flow." Li Chengqian said with a smile.
In fact, Li Chengqian didn't say one more thing. That is, in history, in the 16th year of Zhenguan, the ministers of Goguryeo discussed with Gao Jianwu to get rid of Yeon Gaesomun. After knowing this, Yeon Gaesomun gathered the troops of various departments and pretended to have a military parade. He also set up a sumptuous banquet in the south of the city and invited the ministers to review it. After the ministers arrived, Yeon Gaesomun killed them all, and there were more than 100 dead. Yeon Gaesomun then burned the warehouse, and then rode into the palace to kill Gao Jianwu, dismembered his body, and threw it into the ditch. Gao Zang, the son of Gao Dayang, the younger brother of Gao Jianwu, was appointed king instead. He was called the Treasure King in history, and Yeon Gaesomun served as Molizhi and was in charge of state affairs. Li Chengqian just brought this matter forward.
"Hehe, my lord has been planning this for a long time. King Yeongryu has always wanted to submit his allegiance but has never made up his mind. Goguryeo suddenly submitted its allegiance the year before last. I guess my lord used the Imperial Uniform Guard to bribe Goguryeo ministers and persuaded King Yeongryu to submit the allegiance. Yeon Gaesomun has been used as a knife by my lord and he doesn't even know it. With the Goguryeo coup, my lord can take this opportunity to take Goguryeo into his possession." Zhuge Fu laughed.
"Well, Goguryeo is arrogant and disrespectful to our Celestial Empire. I have wanted to fight them for a long time. Before, they were hindered by the Eastern Turks. Once the Eastern Turks were destroyed, I began to prepare to destroy them.
When two countries go to war, they must have a legitimate reason. No reason? It doesn't matter. This prince will create a reason for him. Yeon Gaesomun killed the king and usurped the throne. As Goguryeo is a vassal state of our Celestial Empire, our Tang Dynasty cannot sit idly by. We should raise troops, punish the criminals, eliminate the rebels, and comfort the spirit of King Rongliu in heaven. How about this reason? "Li Chengqian said with a sly smile.
"Hehe, my lord, just to avenge the monarch of a vassal state may not be enough. The ministers of the Tang Dynasty and the surrounding countries may not be satisfied, and our sense of justice is not enough in public opinion.
If one of King Yeongryu's biological sons, a prince of Goguryeo, had traveled thousands of miles to Chang'an to ask the Tang Dynasty to send troops to help him restore his throne, this reason would be much more just.
As for the prince's cry to give Goguryeo to the Tang Dynasty after his restoration, we can only refuse his request. I think the Jinyiwei under the lord's command should have plenty of means to make the prince "willingly" hand over Goguryeo. "Zhuge Fu said with a sinister smile.
"Well, Zhici. You are insidious, but I like you. Prince Rongliu has five sons in total, who do you think is suitable?" Li Chengqian asked with a smile.
"Just target whoever is not smart enough. Stupid people are easier to control." Zhuge Fu said with a smile.
When Li Chengqian heard this, the arrogant faces of the fourth princes of Goguryeo appeared in his mind. Then the two of them laughed sinisterly.