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

Chapter 1764 I heard that you have a niece, who is only thirteen years old

In the Daming Palace, six eunuchs, each holding a lacquer box, walked towards the Penglai Palace.

Li Xuan walked forward calmly and went straight into the Penglai Palace.

Under the moonlight, a long shadow was cast.

In the Penglai Palace, the laughter and chatter suddenly stopped, and then everyone said in unison, "Your Majesty, may your Majesty live a long and healthy life."

In the bright lights, Li Xuan stood in front of the inner hall door and raised his hand and said, "Aunts, please stand up. Queen Zheng, please stand up. Prince Xiang and Prince Wei, please stand up."

"Thank you, Your Majesty." The Grand Princess Huainan, the Grand Princess Qianjin, the Grand Princess Changle, Li Chongjun, Li Chengqi, Zheng, and the palace maid who was holding Princess Anle's hand, stood up.

"Someone come here." Li Xuan waved his hand, and then six eunuchs placed each lacquer box on the table in front of everyone.

Li Xuan said, "These are some of the money left after the palace spent all the money. Aunts, Prince Wei, Prince Xiang, and Queen Zheng, if you find a younger generation you like, you can give them to them."

"Thank you very much, Your Majesty." The Grand Princess of Huainan nodded slightly, and everyone followed suit.

The Grand Princess of Huainan asked, "Your Majesty, are you here to send the betrothal gifts to the Wang family today?"

"Yes!" Li Xuan nodded, then walked to one side and sat down, then looked at the Grand Princess Huainan and said, "When delivering the betrothal gifts today, aunt, what do you think of the Wang family's character?"

"It's okay." Princess Huainan couldn't help but frowned.

"Aunt, please take a seat." Li Xuan waved her hand slightly and looked at everyone and said, "Everyone, take a seat."

The Grand Princess of Huainan then sat down and said after a moment's hesitation, "The daughter of the Wang family is gentle and generous, virtuous and polite. Her father, Wang Lun, is calm and taciturn, and is not a meddlesome person. It's just that the other members of the Wang family seem to be not very nice."

"After all, they have been exiled and suppressed for many years. Now they are back in the court with some anger." Li Xuan's eyes became serious, and then he said: "It seems that we need to send these people away."

Hearing what Li Xuan said, Princess Huainan hesitated for a moment and asked, "Your Majesty, are you worried that they will be too aggressive and cause trouble?"

Li Xuan nodded and sighed, "As the saying goes, overcorrection is the best way to correct a wrong. Overcorrection is necessary. Since the Wu family was pacified the year before last, my nephew has not used many people from the Wang family, but they have worked very hard to eliminate the remnants of the Wu family in various places, even too hard. This is not a bad thing now, but my nephew is worried that if the Wang family is used on a large scale, something bad may happen."

"You want to restrain them, but you can't think of a good way?" The Grand Princess Huainan immediately understood the meaning of Li Xuan's words.

"Yes!" Li Xuan frowned and said, "If we continue to control Wang's servants, but Wang's daughters marry into the palace, if we place them in a remote place, it will inevitably cause dissatisfaction, so my nephew wants to find someone to check and balance them, but among the current aristocratic families, it seems that no one can check and balance Wang's people."

The Guanzhong families, Wei, Pei, Xue, Liu, Yang and Du, actually all had inferior family backgrounds. Li Xuan didn't even want to use the Wei and Yang families.

As for the Shandong aristocratic families, Wang, Lu, Cui, and Zheng, the last three have been suppressed repeatedly, while the Wang family is the most powerful among the aristocratic families and seems to be unstoppable.

"So my nephew wants to ask my aunt for some advice to see which family can more effectively check and balance the Wang family without forcing the Wang family too much?" Li Xuan couldn't help but look at the Grand Princess Huainan.

"That's easy!" The eldest princess at the back said with a smile, "Just send Xiao's daughter to the palace. They made such a fuss in the palace back then. Now we just need to send Xiao's daughter to the palace, and then we will know the emperor's warning."

"Don't give me such stupid ideas." Princess Changle patted her sister and said, "If you are doing that, you might as well just find a girl from the Wu family. You really think the palace is not chaotic enough."

"Then what do you think, Nineteenth Sister?" The eldest princess turned around and looked at her sister with some dissatisfaction.

Princess Changle hesitated for a moment and said, "Instead of that, why not find someone from the Dou family or the Dugu family? After the emperor ascended the throne, he has not yet conferred titles on Empress Taimu and Empress Yuanzhen. If we propose a marriage at that time, we can use the people from the Dou family and the Dugu family to put pressure on the Wang family..."

"It's useless." Princess Huainan shook her head and said, "Although these two families still have power in the court, they are far inferior to the Wang family who have returned to the court. They can't suppress them. In my opinion, why don't the emperor find someone from the Changsun family?"

"The Changsun family?" Princess Qianjin and Princess Changle couldn't help but take a deep breath, then they both shook their heads and said, "This is inappropriate."

"There's nothing wrong with it." The Grand Princess of Huainan sighed and said, "Over the years, there aren't many people left in the Changsun family. Of the direct lineage, only Changsun Chong's grandson, Changsun Yuanyi, is still alive. There aren't many people who can do anything. And for so many years, they have only recognized Emperor Taizong..."

Li Xuan nodded slightly. Because of Li Zhi, the Changsun family did not have much good feelings towards Li Chongjun and Li Chengqi. Only Emperor Taizong was worthy of their respect.

But even Emperor Taizong found it difficult to change their difficult fate.

As for Li Xiang and Li Jue, although they are both descendants of Empress Changsun, they are actually very unfamiliar with each other.

Changsun Yuanyi is even three generations away from them.

But if Li Xuan incorporates the Changsun family's bloodline into the royal family, then the only loyal person in the Changsun family will only be Li Xuan, especially once they have a child.

It just so happens that because of Changsun Wuji's relationship, once the people of Changsun's family stand up, even the Wang family will be a little afraid.

In this way, using people from the Changsun family to supervise the Wang family can actually control them, which is a good thing.

Li Xuan heaved a sigh of relief, nodded to the Grand Princess of Huainan, and said with a smile: "Thank you very much, aunt. The wedding will be held on the sixth day. Given the relationship between the Changsun family and the Wang family, they will inevitably show up. I will trouble you to communicate with them then."

"Don't worry, Your Majesty. I know what to do." The Grand Princess Huainan nodded with a smile.

Li Xuan relaxed and said, "I have troubled you for the past two years with Bingzhou's affairs. Once this year's affairs are completely settled, I will transfer you back to Chang'an to take up your post."

The husband of the Grand Princess of Huainan was Feng Yandao, the son of the former prime minister Feng Deyi.

In his early years, Feng Yandao served as the chief officer of the Yangzhou Grand Marshal's Office. Later, when Pei Xingjian was transferred to Yangzhou, Feng Yandao became the governor of Huaizhou.

However, after Empress Wu came to power, she demoted Feng Yandao to the position of Court Counselor and appointed him as the Governor of Guizhou.

After Li Xuan pacified Luoyang, he transferred Feng Yandao to be the chief officer of Bingzhou Grand Military Governor's Office.

"Return to the capital." When Princess Huainan heard the words "return to the capital", her eyes lit up and her expression was full of surprise.

Since Feng Yandao was appointed as the governor of Ruzhou in the 16th year of Zhenguan, he began his long career of serving as an official outside the capital.

Bianzhou, Ningzhou, Qizhou, Qizhou, Jinzhou, Qianzhou, Guangzhou, Cangzhou, Yingzhou, Qingzhou, Yangzhou, Huaizhou, Bingzhou, now he is already seventy years old, and still serves as the chief of Bingzhou Grand Military Governor's Office. Now, with Li Xuan's words, he finally sees hope of returning to the court. "When the time comes, grant him the title of Prince's Guardian. If you have time, your uncle will visit the East Palace more often." Li Xuan sighed and said, "What my nephew is most worried about is the prince's affairs. Although he is still young now, he will grow up one day. How to shape him into a qualified prince is what my nephew is most worried about. After all, there are too many precedents."

"Yes!" Princess Huainan nodded seriously.

Whether it was the Xuanwu Gate Incident, or the later rebellion by Li Chengqian, or even the later Wu clan rebellion, there were problems in inheritance. The most important thing is how to prevent this from happening again.

Li Xuan smiled bitterly, stood up and said, "Then I will not disturb the aunts and Queen Zheng, the Prince of Wei and the Prince Xiang. I will trouble you for the matter of the sixth day."

Several princesses, Zheng, and Li Chengqi all stood up and saluted: "Farewell, Your Majesty."

Only Princess Anle and Li Chongjun were confused.

……

Under the cover of night, the imperial carriage slowly moved towards the Daming Palace.

Li Xuan sat on the imperial carriage, looking at Chang'an City in the distance, and couldn't help but sigh. As the emperor, it was not convenient for him to go to Chang'an City during the day.

Yes, during the day, it was inconvenient for Li Xuan to move, and it would be too easy to disturb the people, but at night, especially after curfew, it was much more convenient.

Unfortunately, the curfew has been lifted during the New Year period, making it inconvenient for Li Xuan to travel.

Li Xuan took a deep breath and his expression calmed down, but the sneer on the corner of his mouth could not be wiped away.

It is true that the Wang family is a sharp weapon in his hand, but when the world is at peace, this sharp weapon may very likely turn around and kill its master.

If Li Xuan was ruthless enough, then after squeezing out the value of Wangjia Store, he could break this sharp weapon with his own hands.

But Li Xuan did not have such an idea. The reason why he wanted to put a sheath on the Wang family's weapon was to prevent the Wang family from completely eradicating their opponents when they were doing things.

Although these people's hatred is directed at Li Xuan, the first person they want to deal with is the Wang family.

The Wang family, a family that will never become powerful, will be the strongest protective wall in front of Li Xuan.

This is the lesson Li Xuan learned from Li Zhi and Empress Wu.

It was precisely because they were too ruthless in their actions that, although the world was firmly in their hands, the entire Tang Dynasty became increasingly weak.

Li Xuan shook his head, thinking too far ahead. The Wang family was not his enemy, but a long-term weapon he hoped to use.

Only when this sharp weapon is used properly can it kill people.

That's right, killing people.

……

On the sixth day of the first lunar month, the emperor married Wang's daughter as Zhaoyi.

The wedding procession from the palace went out from the Suzaku Gate and went to the Wang family residence.

Along the way, large amounts of Kaiyuan Ruyi money were distributed to ordinary people.

Looking at the most exquisite Ruyi money since the founding of the Tang Dynasty, which had been touted for several days, the people who got it couldn't help but cheer and shout "Long live the emperor".

The whole city of Chang'an was filled with jubilation.

In the side courtyard of the Wang family residence, Changsun Yuanyi sat in a corner very low-key, watching the noisy crowd in the distance in silence.

The Changsun clan and the Wang family were closely connected, and of course they even suffered the same misfortune. However, compared to the Wang family, the Changsun clan had been rehabilitated during the Shangyuan period. Afterwards, they were closely watched by Empress Wu, so it was difficult for them to even protect themselves, let alone help the Wang family.

Later, Queen Wang was rehabilitated, and many members of the Wang family were reused by the new emperor. However, their relationship with the Changsun clan was not that close. After all, to be honest, the two families were not closely related by blood.

Li Zhi, who was truly able to connect the two families, was hated by both families.

The reason why Changsun Yuanyi appeared here today was more because of Wang Fangyi.

At that time, Changsun Wuji was falsely accused of treason, and his nephew Zhao Chiman was implicated. After Zhao Chiman was killed, his body was left exposed in the wilderness. In the end, Wang Fangyi, despite Empress Wu's hatred, personally showed up to collect Zhao Chiman's remains.

It was also because of this that Wang Fangyi was deeply hated by Empress Wu, but the people of the Changsun family had to accept the favor in this matter.

Changsun Yuanyi had just talked with Wang Fangyi the day before. Wang Fangyi wanted to recommend him to a central government position, but Changsun Wuji refused. He didn't want to be involved in power struggles anymore.

Thinking of the past, Wang Fangyi stopped trying to persuade him.

Changsun Yuanyi sat in a corner and waited for the banquet to start. After the banquet, he visited two or three old friends and then prepared to leave Chang'an.

Suddenly, there was a noise coming from the door.

Changsun Yuanyi looked up subconsciously, and saw the guests being asked to leave one by one. After that, the Grand Princess Huainan and the Grand Princess Changle walked in.

Changsun Yuanyi stood up subconsciously and bowed.

The Grand Princess of Huainan walked over to Changsun Yuanyi and sat down, then asked, "I heard that you have a niece who is only thirteen years old?"

Changsun Yuanyi was stunned!

(End of this chapter)