vrcanaries Chapter 688: Afterglow of Zhenguan
Chapter 688: Afterglow of Zhenguan
In the city of Chang'an, the majestic palace of Taiji Hall is still solemn and majestic. In previous years, before dawn, His Majesty would sit on the dragon throne with vigor and listen to the officials' reports on many important matters such as people's livelihood, military affairs, and government affairs.
But recently, His Majesty's appearances have become increasingly rare. Even when he attends court meetings, he looks tired. He often just nods slightly at the disputes and discussions of government affairs in the court, and rarely expresses substantive opinions.
The officials in the court were all veterans who had been working in the officialdom for many years. They were all sharp-minded. How could they not notice the abnormality?
This strange feeling is just like when His Majesty asked the Crown Prince to be Regent last year. The center of power seems to be quietly shifting.
And now, the situation is even worse. Wang Wen is everywhere in the implementation of all government orders and the decision of all affairs, as if the entire court is under his control, as if he is regent.
Everyone knows that Wang Wen has no blood relationship with His Majesty. He is just a new force that has suddenly emerged. This is really incredible.
So, under this seemingly calm court, undercurrents surged and all kinds of speculations grew like weeds.
Those officials who like to make unfounded speculations on weekdays always whisper and talk to each other when they get together privately.
Many people secretly speculated that Wang Wen was most likely the illegitimate son left behind by His Majesty in his early years.
This was not a groundless guess, but because everyone had an indescribable feeling that the temperament exuded by Wang Wen was exactly the same as that of His Majesty when he was young.
His calm and dignified style of conduct, his composure in the face of complex situations, and his demeanor in every gesture all make people involuntarily think of His Majesty's heroic demeanor when he was able to maneuver and create the prosperous Tang Dynasty.
It's not that they look very similar, but it's this unique temperament that makes everyone believe that there may be some kind of secret connection between them.
When this rumor first appeared, some people tried to refute it, thinking it was too absurd.
But as Wang Wen's power grew, those voices of rebuttal gradually became weaker and eventually disappeared.
After all, currying favor with the powerful is an inevitable weakness in human nature, let alone for officials in the world of fame and fortune in the Tang Dynasty officialdom.
In their eyes, power means everything, and whoever holds power is the one they need to please and follow.
For a time, Wang Wen became the most popular figure in the entire court, and was in the limelight.
No matter whether they were high-ranking ministers of the six ministries or minor officials who had just entered the officialdom, they all tried their best to establish a relationship with Wang Wen.
They flattered and fawned over Wang Wen just to leave a good impression in front of him, hoping to be successful in the future under his protection.
Even the European envoys who came across the ocean and the messengers who traveled here from faraway Arabia, Li Chengqian confidently entrusted the important task of receiving them to Wang Wen.
You know, receiving foreign envoys is a major event that concerns the national prestige and diplomatic relations of the Tang Dynasty. This is enough to show Wang Wen's position in Li Chengqian's heart and the great power he holds in his hands.
The title of the Second Emperor, which once belonged only to Master Qi, who was second only to the emperor and even had the potential to compete with the emperor, was now unsurprisingly given to Wang Wen. This made Wang Wen's power reach its peak and he became a person that everyone looked up to.
Inside the Crown Prince's Eastern Palace, the silence was somewhat depressing.
Li Jingyou, dressed in a plain robe, sat upright in his study with a stern expression, listening quietly to his trusted subordinates carefully reporting on the recent shocking events in the court.
There was no expression on his face, but his slightly clenched fists revealed his inner anger.
Li Jingyou knew very well that his father's current actions were undoubtedly announcing to him that he had been completely abandoned.
Recalling the first time he met Wang Wen, that inexplicable strange feeling has always lingered in his heart. Now he finally understands why he has that feeling.
When the emperor arranged for him to join the envoy team, it seemed that he trusted and valued him, but in fact he was paving the way for Wang Wen to rise to the top and was gradually squeezing him out of the core of power.
It turned out that in his father's heart, he had already made up his mind to hand over the Tang Dynasty to an outsider who had no blood relationship with him. From the beginning to the end, in his father's eyes, he, the prince, was just an insignificant existence and he had never really considered letting him shoulder the responsibility of governing the world.
Thinking of this, Li Jingyou felt an endless sadness in his heart.
He slowly raised his hand and waved it gently, signaling his men to retreat.
At this moment, his heart was dead silent, and he knew that his situation was hopeless.
As long as his father is still alive, he will never have a chance to turn things around because of his father's prestige.
Unfortunately, my father really underestimated him and completely misjudged him.
Li Jingyou, as the grandson of Li Shimin, had been placed with high hopes by Li Shimin since he was young. He had the grand ambition of creating a prosperous era in his heart. How could he easily admit defeat?
He slowly turned his head and looked at the quaint box on the desk.
The lid of the box was open, and it was empty. The prince's seal that once symbolized his status as a prince, and the military token that could mobilize the elite Xuanjia Army of the Tang Dynasty, had long since disappeared.
At the beginning of winter in the seventeenth year of Qianwu, a strong atmosphere of sadness permeated the city of Chang'an.
Zhang Liang, the veteran who had made great military achievements for the Tang Dynasty, passed away quietly on a cold and windy night.
Zhang Liang's life is full of legends.
In his early years, he followed Your Majesty in campaigns across the country, experienced countless life-and-death tests, and made great contributions to the establishment and unification of the Tang Dynasty.
His departure plunged the entire Tang Dynasty into grief.
It seems that fate does not think this sadness is heavy enough.
On the second day, another piece of bad news came. Duke Ying Li Ji and Duke Lu Cheng Yaojin also died one after another.
These two veteran generals were both key ministers in the founding of the Tang Dynasty. They accompanied Li Shimin in starting his army from Taiyuan, overcoming all obstacles along the way and establishing this vast empire.
Over the long years, they have weathered many storms, shared the same destiny with the Tang Dynasty, and made immortal contributions to its stability.
Last night, because of Zhang Liang's departure, the two slept on the same bed and comforted each other.
No one expected that this night of gathering would become the final farewell of their lives.
The next morning, when Ma Zhou went to visit them, he found that both of them had fallen asleep with smiles on their faces, leaving forever the Tang Dynasty for which they had fought all their lives.
Since then, none of the twenty-four heroes in the Lingyan Pavilion are still alive.
Each of these heroes has a legendary experience and outstanding achievements. They are the backbone of the Tang Dynasty and the right-hand man of Li Shimin in creating a prosperous era.
Their portraits are hung high in the Lingyan Pavilion, to be worshipped by future generations.
Now, their departure is not just the passing of lives, but more like the end of an era, plunging the entire Tang Dynasty into deep nostalgia.
The funeral that day was solemn and dignified, and countless people spontaneously took to the streets to see these former heroes off.
Li Jingyou was wearing a linen robe and a mourning hat, crying heart-wrenchingly.
These old men are all grandfathers who watched him grow up and have doted on him since he was a child.
As he grew up, they gave him care and guidance, taught him how to behave in society and how to become a qualified emperor.
Now that they have left one after another, no one can understand the grief in Li Jingyou's heart. He is more heartbroken than anyone else.
Li Chengqian stood quietly by the side, his face haggard and his eyes empty.
He could no longer shed a tear; all his sorrow had dried up in his heart.
He just held Li Jingyi's hand silently without saying a word. He didn't know when it started, but Li Jingyou never spoke to him again. The relationship between father and son seemed to be blocked by an invisible chasm that could no longer be crossed.
The New Year's Day of the 17th year of Qianwu should have been a day for family reunion and a festive atmosphere.
The city of Chang'an was decorated with lights and the streets and alleys were filled with a festive atmosphere.
People wore new clothes, visited relatives and friends, and laughter and joy echoed throughout the city.
But amidst this lively and peaceful scene, there was a strange sense of desolation in the palace.
Li Chengqian got up early. He looked at the bustling street scene outside the window, but there was no joy in his heart.
The warm scenes of family reunions on New Year's Day in the past involuntarily emerged in his mind.
In the past, every New Year's Day, they would hold a family dinner in Jinshen Hall, and the whole family would sit together and share the joy of family.
He and Su Zhi would cook together and carefully prepare a table full of sumptuous dishes, while the children would chase each other and play outside, making the entire palace full of life and energy.
But now, everything has changed.
He thought of Li Jingyou, but now he was like a stranger to him.
He knew that the conflict between father and son had become increasingly serious and difficult to reconcile.
How he wished that on this special day, he could sit down with his son and have a good talk to resolve the differences between them.
He sent someone to invite Li Jingyou to have dinner together, hoping that this opportunity would ease the relationship between father and son.
But what he brought back was the news that Li Jingyou refused to come.
Li Chengqian felt a sharp pain in his heart and sat silently at the table.
That day, Li Jingyi followed Su Tan and gave the dumplings he made himself to Li Chengqian.
The moment Li Chengqian saw Li Jingyi, warmth surged in his heart.
He had a reunion dinner with Su Tan's family.
However, the meal was not a happy one. Everyone had something on their mind and the atmosphere at the table seemed a little depressing.
Li Chengqian looked at the Jinshen Hall in front of him. Every blade of grass, every brick and tile here carried countless memories for him.
The laughter and joy of the past have now turned into endless silence.
Lingxier, without you, this year really has no festive atmosphere.
Li Jingyi also knew about the conflict between her father and brother. She had tried to comfort them many times with earnest words, hoping to resolve the rift between them.
Every time she ran between the two of them with great anticipation, but no matter how hard she tried, although their attitude towards her was still gentle, they both firmly asked her not to interfere in the matter.
She looked at her father's increasingly haggard face and thought of her brother's stubborn eyes, and felt very sad.
She didn't understand why the once close family had come to this point.