Chapter 26: Settlement of King Wei
Chapter 26: Settlement of King Wei
The less a person has, the more he wants.
Li Chengqian was the crown prince and he had everything he needed: fine clothes, delicious food, wealth and glory.
But there was one thing missing.
The prince is majestic!
Majesty means the right to speak.
The right to speak represents majesty, and majesty is the best embodiment of the right to speak.
If you don't have the right to speak, you have no authority, and if you have no authority, no one will listen to you.
The two complement each other.
Before, Li Chengqian’s image in the court was like a transparent person. He appeared respectful on the surface, but no one took his words to heart.
The emperor scolded his ministers at will, and when his ministers could not get used to it and failed to persuade him, they filed a complaint.
He was the emperor's punching bag and a tool for his subjects to improve their performance and reputation.
Where is there any dignity that a prince should have?
And now.
Li Chengqian wants to get back everything he lost.
He did not want to prove how powerful he, the crown prince, could be. He just wanted to re-establish what should have belonged to him among the court officials.
Of course, this move would inevitably arouse Li Er's great vigilance and make him feel that his imperial dignity was offended.
Since ancient times, the relationship between the emperor and the prince has been very delicate.
Because the power that the crown prince can actually exercise is too great.
It was so powerful that even the emperor had to be wary of the prince and had to suppress or even deprive him of his power.
The emperor wanted the prince to have the qualities of a ruler and be a qualified heir to the throne, but he also wanted the prince to be obedient, study hard, and not become powerful enough to threaten his position.
It can be said that the emperor's attitude towards the prince was very contradictory.
This stems from the fact that power cannot be violated or challenged.
But if Li Chengqian wanted to establish his authority, he would inevitably challenge Li Er's imperial authority.
The struggle for power has always been like this.
If a new leader who is parachuted in wants to have the right to speak, he must first establish his leadership authority.
This will naturally lead to power conflicts with other leaders.
Li Shimin was the emperor of the Tang Dynasty and the number one figure in the Tang Empire.
Li Chengqian was the Crown Prince of the Tang Dynasty and the second most important figure in the Tang Empire.
In terms of status, both of them had unparalleled power and status in the Tang Empire.
But the power of the Tang Empire lies entirely in the hands of Li Er alone.
Li Chengqian, the second-in-command of the Tang Empire, had power that was sometimes useless even in the Eastern Palace.
Li Chengqian, who should have had enormous power, was sidelined by the powerful Li Er.
At this moment, Li Chengqian seemed unable to tolerate this any longer.
Li Chengqian didn't want to compare how the previous crown prince managed to survive under the majesty of the emperor.
He just wanted to be an unprecedented and unparalleled crown prince of the Tang Empire.
A crown prince who is upright and honest, who can stand on the stage without having to live under the emperor's protection or guard against the open and covert attacks of other princes.
I, Li Chengqian, am the Crown Prince of the Tang Empire.
Supreme and honorable status.
Now the showdown begins.
I want to take back my power.
Li Er, are you ready for the storm?
After the Tibetan delegation completed the second round of formalities, they should have thought that the negotiations on the marriage could continue.
The ministers thought so too.
Li Er said coldly: "Prince, are you satisfied now?"
"The Tibetan envoy does understand the general situation."
Tubo understands the general situation, who doesn’t?
Li Daozon was a little embarrassed. The prince's words were too sharp.
We are all relatives, there is no need to hold on to them.
After Li Chengqian secretly dissed Li Daozong, he continued: "I still have something to ask the Tibetan envoy."
"Prince!"
Li Er grabbed the handrail with both hands and leaned forward. It was obvious that he was getting angry beyond endurance. He paused and said, "Don't be so presumptuous."
"This is a grand court meeting."
"You are not allowed to make comments in formal occasions."
"You said the King of Wei is not qualified, but you, the Crown Prince, are qualified to speak in the Taiji Hall?"
"I have been tolerant and have given you enough face. Don't be ungrateful." Li Er's words made the ministers' hearts beat fast.
This is already a very serious accusation and questioning.
Obviously, although His Majesty did not say anything before, it does not mean that he turned a blind eye to the Crown Prince. The Crown Prince's actions caused him great dissatisfaction.
But some people frowned.
I feel like this is very wrong.
Li Chengqian's face darkened and he felt very uncomfortable.
He said that Li Pangpang was not qualified, and then Li Er returned it to him intact.
Are you venting your anger on Fatty Li?
Li Pangpang was so happy.
No matter how arrogant you are, my father still loves me.
See? Father is venting his anger on me.
Envy, right?
Damn you cripple, you're in trouble.
"His Majesty!"
Li Chengqian asked in a cold voice, "You said I am not qualified?"
"What qualifications do you have? I asked you to come and study, not to talk nonsense." Li Er said in a deep voice.
"Why am I not qualified?"
Li Chengqian did not back down, "I am the crown prince, and I have undisputed qualifications in dealing with state affairs."
"His Majesty!"
at this time.
Wei Zheng raised his tablet and stood up. When Li Er saw Wei Zheng, he felt even more upset.
Li Chengqian also looked at Wei Zheng.
Wei Zheng said, "Your Majesty, it is unreasonable to blame the prince."
"Besides, the Crown Prince is the heir to the throne, so he is qualified to participate in the discussion of state affairs."
"Your Majesty's accusation that the Crown Prince was presumptuous and that he was bossy is extremely incorrect."
"The doctor of the Ministry of Rites offended the crown prince, and the Ministry of Rites failed in its duties, which is also an offense to the crown prince."
"According to etiquette, this is a crime of great disrespect."
"If the Crown Prince doesn't tell us, and we don't tell you, and your Majesty doesn't tell us, then what authority does the Crown Prince have? What does the Tang Dynasty need the Crown Prince for?"
"Does that mean that everyone no longer needs to respect and fear the Crown Prince?"
“It doesn’t make sense.”
"It's to shake up the country."
Li Er pointed at Wei Zheng, too angry to speak, "You..."
Li Chengqian was very pleased to hear this. He was worthy of being the Prince's Grand Tutor and the number one troll in the Tang Dynasty.
He glanced at Li Er out of the corner of his eye without leaving a trace.
scold me?
Scolding me for no reason.
Someone will stand up.
The crime of blasphemy?
When Li Daozon heard this, his face turned as black as the bottom of a pot.
As the King of Jiangxia, the Minister of Rites, and a member of the royal family of Li Tang, he was not worried that the crime of disrespect would bring him death, but he did not want to be saddled with such a crime and suffer an unprovoked disaster.
Wei Zheng was not ready to let Li Er off so easily, and continued to say: "Your Majesty, just talk about the matter."
"Why do you insist on bringing the King of Wei along when you say the Crown Prince is not qualified?"
"Your Majesty, everyone knows that you favor the King of Wei, but you shouldn't be so foolish. Where does your move put the Crown Prince?"
"Can the Crown Prince and the King of Wei be compared with each other?"
"Is it the Crown Prince who is more respected, or is the King of Wei as respected as the Crown Prince?"
"Your Majesty, do you want to support the King of Wei and enhance his prestige by suppressing the prestige of the Crown Prince?"
If Wei Zheng doesn't fire, it's fine, but once he fires, it's a reckoning.
When the King of Wei moved into the Wude Hall, there were many criticisms from the ministers, but Li Er refuted them forcefully and suppressed them in a domineering manner, so the ministers did not dare to advise him.
Now Li Er took the initiative to bring the opportunity to him.
How could Wei Zheng not settle accounts with you?
Then he is not Wei Zheng.
(End of this chapter)