Great Tang princess

Chapter 323 Announcement of Will
Li Yuechen and his brothers and sisters all put on white mourning clothes, and began to make arrangements for the funeral.

Early in the morning, all the officials had already put on filial piety, covered their faces and wept into the palace to attend the funeral.

Normally, the emperor's coffin will be parked in the palace for seven to 49 days before being buried.

It stands to reason that in order to prevent the corpse from emitting a smell, the coffin will be closed the next day, and then the coffin will be sealed in the bronze coffin.

However, it is winter and the temperature is relatively low, so the coffin has not been completely closed yet, and Li Zhi's upper body is still exposed to the air.

When all the officials entered the hall to worship, they were surprised to see that only the prince and princess presided over the funeral here.

In this case, at least someone must stand up and ask the ministers what is going on.

Seeing everyone around him looking at him, Zhongshuling Pei Yan sighed, took two steps forward, and asked cautiously: "His Royal Highness, Your Royal Highness, I don't know why Tianhou didn't show up?"

The other ministers also looked puzzled and expressed doubts.

But more, I still guess in my heart what the reason is.

The first thing they thought of was what happened in the palace in the middle of the night last night, for example, could it be that the prince and princess united to put the queen under house arrest?

After all, after Qianniuwei's reform, the royal bodyguards have become the princess's people. It is really possible for her to put the Queen under house arrest.

"Tianhou stayed awake last night, cried all night, and just fell asleep." Li Xian explained, and then did not continue to say more, preparing to start the memorial ceremony.

Li Dan and the two sisters did not focus on this, but concentrated on helping with Li Yuechen.

Their attention was basically on Li Zhi's remains, and they didn't care about what happened here.

The seven days before the emperor's death were the period of national mourning, and no state affairs were discussed except for military emergencies.All entertainment is also prohibited, especially for members of the royal family.

After worshiping and crying, all the officials went back first, leaving only Li Yuechen and others.

When it was about to eat at noon, Wu Zetian, who had slept for a while, came over. Her eyes were also a little red and swollen, and her face looked haggard.

On weekdays, she always has a good face, and she looks ten years younger than her actual age. Now, without makeup and pure makeup, although she should be well-nourished, she still looks younger than her peers, but her temperament is much older.

Seeing her like this, Li Yuechen couldn't help feeling distressed, and quickly helped her to sit down: "Why don't you rest a little longer, Aunt?"

"Now that your grandpa's funeral has not been completed, how can you sleep comfortably..." She shook her head lightly, "How is it here?"

"The ministers have come to worship in the morning, let them go back first." Li Yuechen replied while pouring tea for her, "Grandfather has been busy all his life, let him be quiet now."

"Um……"

Wu Zetian didn't talk much about this issue, but nodded in a depressed mood.

Li Yuechen held her hand lightly: "Grandfather left, and the child was also sad, but Auntie is getting old, so don't indulge in it all the time, think of more happy things to change your mood."

Perhaps it was the hot temperature in her daughter's hands that awakened her thoughts, she nodded slightly: "Yes, your grandpa left with a smile, so don't be too sad..."

"Then... Aniang, let me tell you about Grandpa when he was young."

"Didn't you talk a lot?" Wu Zetian asked back.

In fact, she knew in her heart that this was her daughter trying to divert her attention so that she would not be too sad.

"My child wants to know what Grandpa looks like in Aniang's eyes." Li Yuechen replied, "Besides, men are always careless. Maybe there are many details that my child has never heard of."

Li Xian also came over: "Yes, please tell me, Aunt."

Although the fourth brother and the two older sisters did not speak, they also looked over with curiosity.

Seeing the expectant look of the children, Wu Zetian held the teacup and nodded: "Alright, let's talk about it..."

As she spoke, she slowly recounted while recalling.

The stories she told were naturally told from her perspective, and at the same time, she also occasionally told some things about Taizong. In fact, most of them were things that Li Yuechen had never seen in the history of the country.

I don't know if it was the reason why she became a queen. When Li Yuechen read the history of the country when she was a child, she found that all the records about her Taizong era had been deleted.

But listening to her narration here today, it seems that I can get a glimpse of some things in the Taizong era.

From her point of view, Dad was brought up by the late Emperor himself since he was a child. Even when he became a prince, he was reluctant to let him live in the East Palace, but kept him with him all the time.

It wasn't until the ministers persuaded him that he was allowed to live in the East Palace every now and then, and he was still with him most of the time.

Listening to his mother's narration, Li Yuechen also discovered the unknown side of his father.

At least from the story told from the mother's point of view, the father seems to have a bit of Oedipus complex, and perhaps it is because of this that he likes his mother who is four years older than him.

And listening to the story, Li Yuechen also had a general understanding of his mother's personality when she was young.

Later generations described her in TV dramas and some Internet posts as an ambitious strategist who used all means to achieve her goals, even killing her own flesh and blood, etc...

But from her memories, Li Yuechen thinks that at least she should not be like this when she was young.

Dad will like her, maybe because she is different from most tough women, she is more obedient and quiet and graceful, so Dad likes her.

And to put it bluntly, such a character is easier to use.

Although the two have been showing affection since Li Yuechen was born, but when he first became the queen, the old man should have used her thoughts in it.

And she, more often than not, is playing the role of a white glove.

……

Maybe it's also because I'm getting older, so I can't stop talking about it.

In a blink of an eye, the afternoon passed like this.

Looking at the orange-red Huoshaoyun in the sky, Wu Zetian stopped telling the story.

Although he was drinking tea non-stop, he still couldn't help feeling a little uncomfortable in his throat after talking intermittently all afternoon.

But after thinking about it carefully, after telling the story all afternoon, it seems that the mood has indeed improved a lot, and the sadness of the husband's death seems to have been diluted a lot with the company of the children.

Through these memories, I don't feel sad when I think about it now, but there is a touch of warmth.

Perhaps thinking of something about the two of them, Wu Zetian, who was about to be 60 years old, lowered his head and smiled slightly, like a girl in love.

Then she sighed softly: "Chen'er, tonight..."

"Ma'am, please rest well, leave the night watch to us." Li Yuechen interrupted her, "Ma'am, you still need to rest well!"

Hearing her daughter's arrangement, Wu Zetian nodded and smiled: "Okay, then listen to Chen'er."

The others didn't have any opinions. Now that my mother is getting older, she really shouldn't stay up late anymore.

In the next few days, several people from Li Yuechen took turns to watch the night.

After the first seven days, political affairs began to continue to operate.

On the eighth day, the officials wore filial clothing to go to court, and Li Xian and Li Yuechen also wore filial clothing and stood at the front of the officials to participate in today's court meeting.

At the court meeting, the posthumous title of the emperor was determined: Tianhuang Dadi.

Wu Zetian behind the bead curtain didn't seem to want to say any more nonsense, so he waved his hand lightly.

Zhang Chengxin next to him saluted respectfully, then took two steps forward, took out an imperial edict and raised it over his head, and said loudly: "Emperor's will!"

After all the ministers saluted, he opened it slowly and began to chant aloud: "I heard that Huangji, the great prince in the world, and the great treasure in the realm of artifacts, are naturally praised by the heavens and the earth. If the number is counted, the Phoenix mansion is not easy. Come on, Longtu is hard to resist..."

In the court hall, the officials listened extremely quietly.

Shangguan Wan'er in the passage was also concentrating on taking notes, but at the same time, she would turn her head from time to time to look at Li Yuechen who was standing beside Li Xian.

"I have a humble body, I have inherited Hongxu, my body is like a sky, I have revived Yongqing Temple, Gu Teng Mingming, and carried Di Yilun. Jia and wise scholars and officials have worked hard to govern. Xu has thought of the fear of Jiao Bing and admired him. The crowing of the cock..." The sound of Zhang Chengxin's chanting resounded throughout the hall, like a bell in the morning and a drum in the evening, every word and every sentence was extremely clear.

The edict was not too long, and it was read to the end very quickly, and it was also the issue of funeral arrangements that the ministers were most concerned about.

In the anticipation mood of the officials, Zhang Chengxin's voice continued to ring out in the hall: "The world is the greatest, and the clan society is the most important. The deed and inheritance should not be left for a while. The crown prince can be the emperor in front of the hub, and his obedience The weight should be according to the Han system. It is appropriate to change the day and the moon. The garden system should be frugal. If there are unresolved military and state affairs, both the Queen of Heaven and Princess Taiping of the Zhenguo will be used to advance and stop!"

As soon as this sentence came out, many ministers felt cold.

It's fine if there are no Ministers Gu Ming, but now it is specified that the future emperor should listen to the Queen of Heaven and the princess, so what about these courtiers?
Of course, there is another way to interpret the content of this edict, which is to let the Queen of Heaven and Princess Taiping fight each other, so that the future emperor can maintain a balance in it.

This is the first thought that came to most officials after hearing the content of the edict, because this is in line with the way of checks and balances in the emperor's mind.

But in any case, this edict is tantamount to dispersing power to Tianhou and Princess Taiping. If ministers like them want to develop, they have only two choices.

Either hug the queen's thigh, or hug the princess' thigh.

Theoretically speaking, it is better to hug the princess' thighs, because after all, the princess is still young, less than 20 years old now.

Not to mention his own strong fighting power, he also has a terrifying Qianniuwei army under him, which is an army that can capture Lun Qinling alive without bloodshed!Although there are only more than two thousand people, the actual combat power may not be less than one hundred thousand troops!
But having said that, Tianhou also has her own advantages, that is identity!

In feudal society, the status of women was indeed not high, but the status of mothers was very high!
After all, it is impossible for Princess Taiping to conflict with the Queen of Heaven on the bright side, especially in this era when filial piety is equal to character.

No matter what they think in their hearts, the court will still go on.

Wu Zetian behind the bead curtain took the lead and stood up, took the ministers together to salute the will, and then said: "We will naturally obey the emperor's will! The prince will go to the coffin to ascend the throne!"

It was said in the edict that the crown prince ascended the throne, so at this time Li Xian only needs to kowtow in front of the coffin, he will be the emperor, and he can sit on the dragon chair and preside over the court meeting.

As for the enthronement ceremony and the change of the year name, etc., it will all be after the 49-day funeral.

Arriving at the Renshou Hall, the royal family members in the capital and nobles such as Gonghou Bo are already waiting here. Under the witness of them and all the ministers, the crown prince will become the new emperor.

After everyone stood still, seeing Li Xian not moving, Li Yuechen slightly turned his head and reminded: "Brother, go!"

"Am...do I really want to be emperor?" Li Xian didn't know why, he hesitated at this moment, he replied in a low voice that only two people could hear, "Obviously you are more suitable than me..."

"It's already time to wait, what kind of nonsense are you talking about?" At the same time as Li Yuechen reminded, he lightly bumped him with his elbow, "Go!"

Hearing his sister's urging, Li Xian looked at the crowded royal family and the ministers behind him, hesitantly raised his legs and walked to the coffin, knelt down three times and bowed nine times to salute.

After the salute was completed, Wu Zetian got up and came to him, saying with a serious face: "From today on, you are the emperor! Remember the words of the late emperor, the world is the greatest, and the clan is the most important!"

"Kids should remember it!"

At this point, the ceremony is done.

Although it was winter, the corpse that had been left for seven days still had a faint smell, and the coffin had to be sealed as soon as possible.

Amidst the crying voices of the royal family members and ministers, Li Yuechen and Li Xian personally closed the coffin lid slowly.

When it was about to close, Wu Zetian suddenly reached out and pushed the coffin lid.

"Aniang?" Li Yuechen raised his head.

"Let me take another look..." Wu Zetian replied softly.

Li Yuechen nodded, stood beside her, and took a last look at her father together.

Wu Zetian slowly raised her hand, and lightly stroked his already icy cheek.The eye sockets couldn't help getting wet again, but a smile appeared on the corner of his mouth, and he nodded slowly.

Then she took a step back and nodded to indicate that it was ready to close.

Li Yuechen reached out and slowly closed the lid of the coffin. Seeing that Li Zhi's face was gradually blocked by the coffin, she opened her mouth, but said without making any sound: Goodbye, daddy!I will miss you!
After the coffin was closed, the royal family members who had been prepared by the side came out, lifted the coffin with a log together with her, and slowly put it into the bronze coffin next to it!

Then the bronze coffin was sealed so that the smell would not come out.

Seeing that the coffin was sealed, Li Xian took a deep breath, turned his head and announced to a kind of ministers: "Today is over, my palace..."

Before he finished speaking, he was bumped by the elbow of the sister next to him, and he turned his head to look with some doubts.

Li Yuechen reminded in a low voice: "Zhen!"

"what!"

Only then did Li Xian realize that he was already the emperor, and continued: "I still want to see the late emperor more, so you should go back first."

　Thank you [Tongzimian] for tipping 500 starting coins!
　　Thank you [Clear Water Boiled Bread] for the 100 starting coins!
　　
　
(End of this chapter)