People in the early Tang Dynasty: I compete with Wu Zhao for the throne

Chapter 1429: King Teng’s visit, Minister of Rites

The tall black horse crossed the gate of Kaihuafang, and the familiar and restrained noise once again caught Li Xuan's eyes.

Kaihuafang is where the royal family gathers.

Although it is the end of November, half of the clan kings are already concentrated in Chang'an, and the other half are in Luoyang.

The kings loved prosperity. Every time they came to the capital, even if it was only for three or five days, they would buy a lot and fill the streets with noise.

But this is Kaihuafang after all, and the clan has strict rules, so no matter how noisy it is, it is restrained.

In Prince Peng's palace, Li Xuan got off his horse and looked at Li Bi standing at the door. Li Xuan handed the horse rope to the servant and asked, "What happened?"

"Nothing happened. It was Prince Teng who came to visit." Li Bi followed Li Xuan and walked into the palace, saying, "After hearing that the prince had returned to the capital, Prince Teng immediately came to the palace to visit. The Queen Mother and the Chief Secretary are receiving him."

Li Xuan stopped, frowned, and asked in a low voice: "Prince Teng, what is he doing here?"

"I'm not sure. I rambled a lot but didn't get to the point. I think I'm waiting for the prince to come back." Li Bi looked cautious and said, "Your Majesty, be careful."

"Here!" Li Xuan bowed and easily walked over to Li Yuanying and sat down. At the same time, he glanced at Li Zhaode who was standing on the left, and Li Zhaode stepped back knowingly.

……

"Yes!" Li Xuan nodded slightly and said: "The emperor is on an eastward tour, and the prince supervises the country. As a minister, the first thing he should do when he returns to the capital is to pay homage to His Highness the prince."

The relationship between Li Xuan and the kings of the clan has always been dull. Although the royal family has made progress and retreat together in many matters from many standpoints, there are conflicts when it comes to mutual interests.

"Uncle Wang, thank you." Li Xuan bowed slightly, then looked at Li Yuanying and said, "My nephew is a guest of the crown prince, and everything should be done within the scope of his duties."

Stepping into the hall, Li Xuan's expression softened.

Li Yuanying, the king of Teng, was a burly elder in his fifties. Although he had white hair on his temples, he was not old-looking. He was full of energy and looked quite noble.

Li Yuanying then nodded gently and said: "It should be like this. In the second year of Yonglong, there was a flood in the world. It is rare for His Highness to manage it properly... I heard that the Prime Minister Zuo and the Du Shui Supervisor also made great contributions in it, as did the Twenty-Seventh Lang. Lots of compliments. ”

"The king's nephew is too modest." Li Yuanying laughed and narrowed his eyes unnaturally.

However, all kinds of decency are still there. Li Xuan is getting married, his eldest son is one year old, the heir, and the kings of the clan have all gathered to celebrate. It cannot be said that the relationship between them is not that bad.

There are very few others.

"Okay, okay, just come back." Ouyang was slightly excited, but then suppressed it and waved to Li Xuan: "Quick, I've met your Uncle Teng."

Li Xuan immediately turned around, looked at Teng Wang Li Yuanying and said, "My nephew has met Uncle Wang."

As soon as Li Xuan sat down, Li Yuanying said, "I heard that Twenty-seventh Lang just visited His Highness the Crown Prince?"

Who would have thought that he and Li Zhi were born in the same year.

Li Yuanying raised his eyebrows. Why did he think there was something in Li Xuan's words? But seeing Li Xuan's meek look, Li Yuanying felt that maybe he was overthinking it.

He first looked at his mother and concubine Ouyang who was sitting in the hall, and said solemnly, "Mom, my son is back."

Among the elders, Li Xuan has the best relationship with Prince Han's Mansion; among those of the same generation, Li Jing, Prince Zheng, Crown Prince Huo, and Li Xu, Prince of Jiangdu County, have the best relationship.

……

"My thousand-mile horse has returned home." Li Yuanying raised his hand with a smile, then waved cordially and said, "Come, sit next to Uncle Wang."

"Yes!" Li Xuan nodded slightly, then walked towards the main hall with a solemn expression.

Ouyang watched calmly from the side. The uncle and nephew looked like a pair of big and small foxes.

At this time, Li Yuanying suddenly turned to look at Ouyang and said, "Sister-in-law Wang, Twenty-seventh son is now the pillar of my Tang Dynasty. I am afraid that Songshan's enshrinement will be further ahead this time."

Ouyang was slightly startled, and subconsciously said: "The clan has its own rules, how can we say anything more advanced?"

Li Xuan is the heir king, and among the kings, he should be ranked after King Zheng and Li Jing.

Li Jing is older and has been the heir for many years. Li Xuan cannot get past him no matter what.

Not to mention, there were other clan princes before Li Jing, and it was impossible for Li Xuan to get past them.

Li Yuanying smiled, looked at Li Xuan and said, "Prince's assistant priest, Prince Zhan Shi should be placed closer to the front."

Li Xuan nodded lightly and said: "Apart from the kings and ministers, there are only the Minister of Rites, the Minister of Taichang Temple, the Minister of Zongzheng Temple and the Prince Zhan Shi standing at the four corners of the altar..."

Li Xuan stopped talking and Li Yuanying smiled.

At this moment, Mr. Ouyang suddenly said: "If you have anything to discuss with your uncle and nephew, I will go to the dining room to order some food and drinks. My twenty-second brother will stay in the house to have dinner today."

"Your Majesty, Mrs. Wang." Li Yuanying stood up, smiling, but there was something unnatural in his eyes.

Li Xuan also stood up and bowed slightly to Ouyang family. Today's meal was supposed to be prepared by Ouyang family for Li Xuan's return. Unexpectedly, Teng Wang Li Yuanying came suddenly, and he had ulterior motives for coming today. .

……

The hall suddenly became quiet. Li Xuan looked up at Li Yuanying and said, "Uncle Wang, please sit down."

Li Yuanying nodded slightly, sat down again, and then looked at Li Xuan seriously: "Twenty-seventh Lang, how do you do?"

Li Xuan sat down, looked straight at Li Yuanying and asked: "Uncle Wang, please tell your nephew the truth, who gave Uncle Wang advice on this matter?"

Li Yuanying was stunned for a moment, unable to react, and looked at Li Xuan: "What does Wang Nephew mean by this?"

Li Xuan looked straight at Li Yuanying: "Uncle Wang, we and the royal family are already very close to the Zen position. Why do we have to move forward again? Uncle Wang should understand that your majesty cannot let any royal family member do this. Share the glory, even the prince and the king. "Not to mention, there is luck.

"Uncle Wang couldn't understand a word of what Twenty-seventh Lang said." Li Yuanying turned his head sideways.

"Uncle Wang, don't you understand? He is the Minister of Rites." Li Xuan snorted lightly, revealing the true intentions of Prince Teng Li Yuanying.

Nowadays, in the imperial court, the important positions related to Feng Chan include the Minister of Rites, Minister of Taichang Temple, Minister of Zongzheng Temple and Prince Zhan Shi. Only the Minister of Rites is vacant.

After Wu Chengsi died of illness, the position of Minister of Rites in the court became vacant.

Although there were many discussions in the court, without the emperor's nod, the position of the Minister of Rites could not be decided in any case.

But this also gives many people hope.

No matter what happens when the emperor is granted the title of Zen, the position of the host, the Minister of Rites, must also be determined.

Although it is said that the Minister of Taichang Temple, the Minister of Zongzheng Temple, and even the Prince Zhan Shi can take the lead at a certain time, this will ultimately be lacking in etiquette.

Therefore, the competition for the position of the Minister of Rites becomes more serious the closer it is to the time of being enshrined.

Li Yuanying sighed softly, looked at Li Xuan, and said: "Twenty-seventh Lang should understand that the ministers of Zongzheng Temple, Taichang Temple, and the Minister of Rites were all held by the royal family in the early years. Later, they were the ministers of Taichang Temple and Zongzheng Temple. Qing, gradually lost to foreign surnames. Fortunately, the Minister of Rites has always been led by the Longxi Wang brother. But after his death, the Minister of Rites has no chance of my royal family. Now that the opportunity has finally come, I don’t count on myself as an uncle. The eleventh brother, the thirteenth Brother Wang, they are all suitable candidates!”

King Li Yuanjia of Han, King Li Yuangui of Huo.

Li Yuanying moved these two people out directly, but he had to admit that these two people were indeed qualified.

King Han is the head of the clan, and King Huo has guarded Dingzhou for many years.

The two are capable and prestigious. If the opinions of the emperor and courtiers are not considered, they are definitely qualified for these two positions.

Li Xuan raised her head slightly and looked at Li Yuanying, her gaze as straight as a sword. Li Yuanying's heart trembled when she looked at him: "What's the matter, Twenty-seventh Lang?"

"Uncle Wang." Li Xuan spoke softly, looked at Li Yuanying and said, "Uncle Han and Uncle Huo probably don't know about this, right?"

Li Yuanying was startled for a moment, then the corner of his mouth twitched slightly, his body couldn't help but lean back, and at the same time he said sarcastically: "The two king brothers, they... they..."

"Uncle Wang, why are you talking nonsense?" Li Xuan directly interrupted Li Yuanying, then shook his head calmly and said: "If Uncle Han and Uncle Huo knew about this matter, they would never agree to become the Minister of Rites.

And they also know that they should not be involved in this kind of matter, nor should you, Uncle Prince Teng, be involved, let alone the Minister of Rites. Even if Uncle Han is the minister of the Zongzheng Temple, he is more suitable than the Minister of Rites. "

Li Yuanying stretched out his hand and wanted to say something, but had to swallow his words under Li Xuan's calm gaze.

"I don't know who my nephew is, but he said such nonsense to Uncle Wang, but His Majesty has his own considerations for everything involved, so why should you bother me to comment?" Li Xuan turned around, no longer looking at Li Yuanying, and just said softly: "If Uncle Wang is so determined, he can finish the Fengchan ceremony peacefully and then return to Langzhong."

"Twenty-Seventh Brother." Li Yuanying's voice suddenly turned cold.

Li Xuan still didn't look at him, but said calmly: "I heard that Uncle Wang's butterfly paintings are good. I might as well make a few more to present to His Majesty, so that His Majesty can see the landscape of Langzhong. The world is quiet, and Uncle Wang is also a quiet person."

Li Yuanying clenched his fists tightly. Looking at Li Xuan who was facing him sideways, Li Yuanying gritted his teeth tightly for a moment.

Immediately, Li Yuanying took a deep breath and said, "Thank you, Mr. Twenty-seven, for your advice. I understand."

Li Xuan smiled, turned around and said: "Uncle Han and Uncle Huo should have arrived in Luoyang. If the twenty-second uncle has any ideas in his mind, he can mention it to Uncle Han and Uncle Huo when he arrives in Luoyang. If the two elders have decided on anything, my nephew I will naturally obey, but if there are outsiders..."

Li Yuanying leaned back subconsciously, because he had already seen Li Xuan's hand pressing on the hilt of the sword at his waist, and his murderous aura was clearly visible.

"In this case, I won't leave any meal for Uncle Wang today. Uncle Wang, please!" Li Xuan stood up and extended her hand to see off the guests.

"Okay!" Li Yuanying nodded with a forced smile, stood up and said, "Uncle Wang will go to see the two elder brothers first, and then come and discuss with Twenty-seventh Lang."

"No!" Li Xuan turned around and no longer looked at Li Yuanying.

Li Yuanying gritted his teeth for a moment, turned around and left quickly.

……

The central hall became deserted for a while, and slight footsteps sounded from the side.

Li Zhaode walked to Li Xuan, cupped his hands and said, "Your Majesty!"

"Go to General Zhao Zhonglang of Zuojinwu Guard and ask him to send someone to assist in the investigation."

Li Xuan turned to look at Li Zhaode with cold eyes: "Go and find out who is instigating Prince Teng behind his back. The prince dares to seek the position of minister. He is really crazy."

"Here!" Li Zhaode immediately handed over his hand, then quickly turned around and left. The meaning of Li Xuan's words was very clear. The matter was reported to the secret guard for investigation.

Turning around, Li Xuan headed towards the side hall.

There was already a table full of dishes on the table. Ouyang was sitting at the head table. When he saw Li Xuan, he said calmly: "Is he leaving?"

"Yes!" Li Xuan bowed slightly and stood with her hands tied.

"Sit down." Mrs. Ouyang raised his head slightly, then looked forward and whispered: "Prince Teng was also a young talent back then, but unfortunately, he was later implicated and his ambitions could not be used."

"Who is involved?" Li Xuan asked curiously.

"His uncle, Liu Shi of the Liu family in Hedong."

Ouyang turned to look at Li Xuan and said seriously: "You have to be careful, although the Liu family is in decline, there are still a few old guys here.

For example, Shi Liufan, the old man who served as Minister You Cheng and Governor of Yangzhou, is still alive. "

　Liu Shi, Empress Wang’s uncle
　　
　
(End of this chapter)