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Chapter 248
Chapter 248
Chapter 248
As Zhangsun Wu Fei wisely stated, the departed were already gone, and the living had to carry on with their lives.
After a few more days, Li Er resumed his court duties, and the once quiet halls of the Tang court came alive again.
Li Er began to govern once more, and his first task was to address the issue of Li Chengqian and Hou Junji’s rebellion. In modern terms, this case was straightforward, and the evidence was indisputable. It didn’t require much effort to reach a verdict.
Hou Junji was charged with conspiracy and executed with his entire family. Li Chengqian was stripped of his title as Crown Prince, posthumously honored as the Prince of Hengshan, and given the posthumous title “Min.”
Concerning Li Chengqian’s punishment, the court officers had no objections. After all, a son killing his father was deeply painful. Ultimately, this was a family matter for Li Er to handle.
Anyone who dared to challenge Li Er during these times and upset him would surely face severe consequences. Even Wei Zheng, known for his honest advice, maintained a cautious and reserved demeanor, refraining from making any comments. For those who had played a part in defending the palace during the recent crisis, Li Er generously rewarded them.
Su Li was promoted to the position of Imperial Protector, ranking among the top three officers of the court. No one in the court dared to oppose these rewards. However, the generous rewards presented to Su Li posed a dilemma for the officers in the Ministry of Rites.
Su Li had already received high honors and a unique five-item set of imperial recognition, including official titles, noble ranks, and the emperor’s trust. At this point, he had achieved unprecedented heights, and no one in the Tang court could surpass him in recognition and favor.
Zhangsun Wuji, the foremost contributor from the Imperial Smoke Pavilion, held the position of Imperial Secretary with a third-rank officer title, which was already the pinnacle of the Tang Dynasty’s bureaucratic hierarchy in specific roles.
It was widely known that Su Li had no desire to hold an official position within the government, and Li Er had granted him the freedom to abstain from official duties. Even Li Er and his courtiers were cautious about Su Li taking on official responsibilities.
Su Li’s record as an official was marked by two significant events: the campaigns in the northwest and the suppression of the aristocracy. Both events had resulted in extensive bloodshed.
In the eyes of many, Su Li’s style of governance was exceedingly strict. He was like a double-edged sword, a formidable weapon when used correctly but capable of harming oneself if wielded carelessly.
After much consideration, the court settled on a compromise. They couldn’t grant specific official positions, so they focused on elevating Su Li’s rank within the hierarchy.
Was he the Wang of a different surname from the first rank?
Well, that was simple. He would recommend him for the first rank!
Wasn’t it just an honorary title?
The emperor had already granted him the Five Powers of a Prime Minister. Why would he care about this?
So, in the history of the Xia Dynasty, the youngest Three Dukes were born.
A few days later, in the Imperial Palace, within the Hall of Martial Virtue. Li Tai looked at the recently compiled “Comprehensive Gazetteer” in his hands with a content expression. Initially, he had been concerned when Li Chengqian gained the support of the Five Surnames and Seven Marquis, rapidly increasing his influence. During that period, he visited Su Li’s residence daily, trying to build a rapport with Su Li while wearing a flattering smile.
He even didn’t hesitate to spend time with Su Che every day, which caused him considerable anxiety. Unexpectedly, events took an abrupt turn. His dear older brother seemed to have gone mad, contemplating rebellion out of nowhere!
If he wanted to rebel, fine, but why did he immediately consider killing Su Li? After learning the details of that night, Li Tai was drenched in cold sweat. Outsiders might say that Li Er displayed immense courage, leading the palace guards to victory against Hou Junji with only half the troops. But Li Tai knew deep down that this matter was far more complex than it appeared!
That night, Li Chengqian had nearly four thousand men at his disposal. The strongest among them, thirteen hundred soldiers, were all deployed to encircle and eliminate Su Li. If not for this, all four thousand would have stormed the palace. Among those thirteen hundred, fearless zealots were willing to die for the cause. Even if they resorted to suicide tactics, their sheer numbers could have overwhelmed the guards protecting Li Er!
Upon learning this, Li Tai couldn’t help but shudder with fear. If Li Chengqian had succeeded that day, he, the King of Wei, would have met his demise!
Li Tai naturally felt somewhat grateful to Su Li. However, he had stopped visiting the princess’s residence recently. Compared to Li Chengqian, Li Tai understood his father, the Emperor, too well. In short, Li Er said one thing but had a different agenda in his heart.
That night, Su Li had delayed the rebel forces, allowing Li Er to handle the situation easily. Li Er had no choice but to reward him. However, Li Chengqian ultimately died because of Su Li’s injury, so how could Li Er have no lingering resentment in his heart? Now, getting close to Su Li would be a display of ignorance.
Moreover, with Li Chengqian gone, the position of the Crown Prince that Li Tai had coveted for so long was now vacant. After careful consideration, no one else except himself could compete for this heir position. Regarding birth order, he was the legitimate second son, and with Li Chengqian gone, he was the eldest. From the perspective of Li Er’s favoritism, no other prince was more beloved than him.
In Li Tai’s eyes, the position of Crown Prince was practically within his grasp. He only needed to consider when it would finally be in his hands. Therefore, Li Tai had been residing in the palace during this recent period. He occasionally acted as a dutiful son, visiting Li Er and his wife to make his presence known.
Today, the “Comprehensive Gazetteer” he had overseen the compilation had finally been completed. Li Tai was overjoyed. He knew that his biological father had high hopes for this book. Presenting it now, if Li Er was pleased, he might just grant him the title of Crown Prince.
With these thoughts in mind, Li Tai picked up the thick pile of manuscripts and headed towards the Ganlu Hall, where Li Er was located. Since the last incident, Li Er no longer liked working in Wu Ying Hall. After all, many people had recently died there, and anyone would find it ominous.
As he entered the Ganlu Hall, Li Tai said cheerfully, “Father, the ‘Comprehensive Gazetteer’ has been completed, and I’ve brought it for you to review.”
Li Er raised his head and watched as the broad and stout Li Tai walked in, a smile appearing on his face. The loss caused by one son’s death was irreparable, but the affection of another son could mitigate it.
“Well, then I shall take a good look,” Li Er said, smiling, setting aside the memorial in his hand. Taking the book handed to him by Li Tai, Li Er lowered his head and carefully began to read. After a long while, he raised his head, nodded at Li Tai, and praised him, “Well done!”
Upon hearing this, Li Tai immediately felt elated.