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

Chapter 1758: Zongzheng Test, the Approval of Taizong's Lineage
"Your Majesty!" Princess Dongyang stood at the foot of the golden steps and bowed deeply to Li Xuan.

"Please stand up, sister." Li Xuan raised her hand gently, as if she didn't notice the cautious looks of the ministers and the prime minister in the palace, and said to Princess Dongyang with emotion: "Sister, how many years have we not seen each other?"

"It's been six years." Princess Dongyang bowed and said, "Thank you, Your Majesty, for taking care of me during these years in Wuzhou."

Princess Dongyang said this and there was silence inside and outside the palace.

Dongyang, Wuzhou.

That’s right, Princess Dongyang’s fief was in Wuzhou.

Ever since Gao Xuan was exiled and died, Princess Dongyang went to her fiefdom.

The court's management of the princesses was much more lax, so Princess Dongyang didn't care much in Dongyang.

However, most people forget that Dongyang is in Wuzhou, and Wuzhou is the base of King Peng.

Among the Left and Right Guards, the Jinwu Guard, and the Qianniu Guard, there are countless civil and military officials who came from Wuzhou.

Tang Jianri, who was sitting at the back, looked even paler.

He had originally hoped that Princess Dongyang would be able to embarrass Li Xuan, but now it seems that this is simply impossible.

……

Li Xuan nodded and sighed softly, "I have no say in Gao Xuan's affairs, but Gao Jin can inherit the title of Duke of Shen."

Gao Jin was standing at the back. When he heard what Li Xuan said, he knelt down with a plop and kowtowed without saying a word.

Princess Dongyang nodded calmly and bowed, "Thank you, Your Majesty."

"Thank you, Your Majesty!" Gao Jin followed suit and kowtowed, saying loudly, "Thank you, Your Majesty, for your grace."

Li Xuan glanced at Gao Jin, then looked at Princess Dongyang and said, "Sister Wang, the way I employ people here is different from Emperor Gaozong. Although Gao Jin is a Duke, he still needs to pass the Imperial Examination in September to be appointed. He will be granted an official position based on his performance. I want to inherit and develop the prosperity of Emperor Gaozong and Emperor Zhongzong. I hope Sister Wang will allow me."

“If the prosperous eras of Zhenguan and Yonghui can become the prosperous era of Kaiyuan in your majesty’s time, the world will be at peace, our ancestors will be at peace, and Emperor Gaozong and Emperor Zhongzong would be extremely happy if they knew about it in the underworld.” Princess Dongyang bowed solemnly.

"Thank you, Sister Wang." Li Xuan took a deep breath and a look of great satisfaction appeared on her face.

Princess Dongyang's words gave Li Xuan the last thing he had been lacking in recent times... the recognition of Emperor Taizong's lineage.

Even though there were two princesses, Princess Yi Yang and Princess Xuan Cheng, they had no status in the court. Instead, Princess Dongyang, who had the support of Bohai Gao family and was the biological daughter of Emperor Taizong, had stronger legitimacy. However, she unexpectedly recognized Li Xuan.

Recognized Li Xuan's throne.

Now the only one who can abolish Prince Peng’s legitimacy is Princess Taiping... Tang Jianri lowered his head with a solemn expression.

"I hope to see Prince Wei, Prince Xiang, and Princess Anle." Princess Dongyang raised her head and looked at Li Xuan seriously.

"Xu Lu." Li Xuan immediately turned aside and said, "Take the Imperial Sister Dongyang with you personally."

Li Xuan raised his head, looked at the two princesses Xuancheng and Yiyang, and said, "My two nephews Xuancheng and Yiyang, you should go with us."

"Thank you, Your Majesty." Princesses Xuancheng and Yiyang bowed with surprise on their faces.

Naturally, they had no good feelings towards Empress Wu, but they had a good impression of her sons.

Li Hong rescued them from the Ye Ting, and Li Xian, Li Xian and Li Dan all took care of them in places where no one else could see.

Outsiders don't know about this, but they know it in their hearts.

These two unfavored daughters didn't care at all about the throne passed down by Li Zhi.

They are the granddaughters of the Xiao family and are princesses, which is enough for them to live a good life. All that remains is to hope that Li Chongjun and Li Chengqi can grow up safely.

Now being able to visit Li Chongjun, Li Chengqi, and Princess Anle is enough to make them happy.

Li Xuan waved his hand slightly, and several people bowed to Li Xuan, then left with Xu Lu.

Li Xuan looked up at the many royal family members, and then said solemnly: "I have already discussed the Zongzheng test I mentioned earlier with Uncle Han, Uncle Huo, and Uncle Lu. In order to allow the royal family members to have more talents to serve the court, the Zongzheng test will be held in September every year. Those who pass the Zongzheng test can be appointed as officials by the Ministry of Personnel. Those who fail the test will not be allowed to serve as officials."

The royal family members could not help but clamor slightly, but more people who had been informed in advance had already stood up and bowed, saying, "Your Majesty, I obey your command."

It was not until everyone stood up that Li Xuan smiled with satisfaction.

……

Tang Jianri's gaze swept across the faces of the ministers, and he could see that more officials had expressions of great satisfaction in their eyes.

There are only so many official positions in the world. If members of the royal family take more, the rest of the people in the world will take fewer.

Now that Li Xuan is the emperor, he is strictly examining the appointment of officials to royal family members. I am afraid that once this news comes out, all the literati families in the world will praise him for his wisdom.

With just one method, Li Xuan has made the literati families in the world more and more submissive to him.

His world will become more stable.

For members of the royal family, it is just an additional examination.

If you can pass, you will not only be able to be appointed as an official, but also be remembered by Li Xuan.

Not only will the future be better, but the official position granted in this way will not be like the Beijia in Emperor Gaozong's reign, which was just a nominal position used to fool people.

As for those children who have not been granted official titles, it is not that they cannot be raised at home. It is just a matter of changing from letting them go as they please to the current elite training.

There is actually not much difference for the royal family.

It was only because the emperor was wary of them in the past that he restricted their future. Now that Li Xuan has relaxed the restrictions, the royal family can get more high positions.

What a good method, it not only won over the royal family, but also won over the officials.

At this moment, Tang Jianri saw Li Xuan waving to Li Xiang and Li Jue, and the two immediately walked towards Li Xuan.

……

"Greetings, Your Majesty." Li Xiang and Li Jue bowed solemnly to Li Xuan. Li Xuan nodded slightly and said, "Are you used to everything in Chang'an?"

"Chang'an is very good." Li Xiang and Li Jue bowed to Li Xuan at the same time.

Li Xuan smiled and said, "I am not the kind of person who is used to deceiving others. Your identities in Chang'an are really embarrassing, so, apart from the palace in Chang'an, I plan to send you two out. Now it depends on whether you two intend to take up real positions or nominal positions."

"A real job." Li Xiang and Li Jue bowed at the same time without hesitation.

Li Xuan nodded and said, "Li Xiang was previously the deputy governor of Huaizhou, and Li Jue was the deputy governor of Ezhou. They are both officials, so they don't need to take the Zongzheng test. But you were both nominal positions before. I and the Ministry of Personnel thought about it and decided to transfer Li Xiang to the post of recorder and assistant general of the Yizhou Grand Military Governor's Office, and transfer Li Jue to the post of recorder and assistant general of the Bingzhou Grand Military Governor's Office. They are both real positions and important tasks."

"Thank you, Your Majesty." Li Xiang and Li Jue looked at each other with surprise on their faces.

Although they were both local officials before, to be honest, they had been imprisoned for many years, whether it was Emperor Gaozong or Emperor Zhongzong, not to mention Empress Wu.

Therefore, they were secretly happy about the misfortune of Li Zhi's family.

As descendants of Emperor Taizong, they both had the opportunity to inherit the throne, and more than one person had even told them so.

But from the local areas all the way to Chang'an, all the military generals and local governors that he saw and met were almost all people who had deep connections with the current court.

Everyone looked at them with caution, and no one supported them.

Even the Su family is the same.

Not to mention, there are conflicts of etiquette and law between the two brothers. If they want to fight for the throne, they need to deal with each other first.

Although Li Xiang inherited the title, he was originally a bastard's son. Although Li Jue did not inherit the title, he was the legitimate son.

If they want to go further, their own brothers will be their first obstacle.

In addition to what they saw along the way about Li Xuan's control over the world, for a moment, the two brothers temporarily gave up the idea of ​​fighting for the throne.

Li Xuan glanced at the two of them and continued gently, "When you two arrive at the place, you should talk less and watch more, and focus on supervision. If the county magistrates make mistakes, report to the governor. If the governors make mistakes, report to the Censorate and me. It is taboo for royal family officials to be in the same league with the common people."

"Your Majesty's instructions will be followed faithfully." Li Xiang and Li Jue immediately bowed their heads and saluted, looking at each other with solemn expressions in their eyes.

……

"Crown Prince." Li Xuan raised his glass with Li Zhizhao, then looked at the ministers on the left and said, "My Lords, please!"

"Yes!" All the ministers raised their glasses and drank it all together with Li Xuan.

The next moment, dozens of dancers poured into the hall again, spinning lightly and dancing gracefully.

Tang Jianri couldn't help but drink a few more glasses, but the wine was filled with endless sorrow.

Before I knew it, time had passed like flowing water.

"Ding ding ding!" A crisp sound of bells came from above, and Tang Jianri subconsciously looked up.

Then, a group of strong eunuchs were seen carrying exquisite red wooden boxes to the center of the Liangyi Hall and putting them down carefully.

Immediately, a loud crashing sound came from the wooden box.

Two words suddenly flashed in Tang Jianri's mind: give money.

The emperor holds a banquet on New Year’s Eve and gives out money as gifts.

"My Lords." Li Xuan's eyes gently passed over Tang Jianri's face, and then he looked at the ministers and said with satisfaction: "My Lords, and all the Lords, you have worked hard for a year, and I have nothing to repay you. I personally participated in making a Ruyi Money and gave it to you as a token of my appreciation."

"Thank you, Your Majesty. Long live Your Majesty." All the ministers bowed in unison, looking excited.

They raised their heads and saw a palace eunuch carrying a box and walking up to them. The eunuch grabbed a handful of exquisitely made money and dropped it on the table.

In front of each person, there are exactly nine gold coins, with the words "Kaiyuan Tongbao" written on the front and the words "Ruyi" engraved on the back.

This is a little different from previous years.

In the past, the Ruyi coins had the word "Ruyi" written on the front and dragon and phoenix patterns engraved on the back. However, today's Ruyi coins have the word "Kaiyuan Tongbao" written on the front, but the dragon and phoenix patterns engraved on the back are extremely small, making the added word "Ruyi" more conspicuous.

The perceptive court officials immediately thought of what Li Xuan had just said. He personally participated in the production of Ruyi coins, so this year's Ruyi coins should perhaps be called Kaiyuan Ruyi coins.

Now it is almost the second year of Kaiyuan.

Everything is different now.

Turning around, most of the court officials and princes and princesses put these thoughts behind them, and weighed the Kaiyuan Ruyi coins, which were more exquisite and heavier than ever before, and people smiled with satisfaction.

Ruyi money has never been circulated in the market, but it is more valuable than the Kaiyuan Tongbao coins that are circulated in the market.

Because it was bestowed by the emperor himself.

If you get just one, you will immediately be blessed by the emperor.

How precious this is.

I don’t know how many people want to buy one but can’t.

Even Tang Jianri picked it up very seriously and held it tightly.

……

A sound of "Oh" suddenly came from above. The ministers looked up subconsciously and saw that Zhaoyuan Zhao suddenly covered her mouth, her face a little pale.

Liu Qiongyu, who was sitting next to her, was stunned. Wasn't she the one who was pregnant?
At this moment, Ouyang's extremely happy voice came from above: "Come here, call the imperial physician, quickly!"

The ministers were stunned for a moment, then immediately stood up and bowed, saying, "We congratulate Your Majesty. Congratulations to Your Majesty. Your Majesty has many descendants, and the Tang Dynasty will last forever."

"Come here, give me another portion of Ruyi money." Li Xuan then waved his hand, and more Ruyi money was brought in.

This time, more people held on tightly, especially those families who had difficulty in passing on the inheritance.

(End of this chapter)