The Flourishing Tang Dynasty: Beginning with Marrying Yang Yuhuan

Chapter 138 The Temptation Behind Peace

If it were the old Wu Huifei, she would probably have taken advantage of Li Longji's comfort and cried even harder.

However, at that time she was the apple of everyone's eye, and Li Longji was in the mood to deal with her no matter how she made trouble.

But things are different now. Concubine Mei is favored now, and she has taken away half of Li Longji's patience. The more she makes trouble now, the more annoyed Li Longji will become.

Concubine Wu Huifei had stayed with Wu Zetian and had been involved in palace fighting for many years, so she knew the reason behind this very well. So after listening to Li Longji's words, she nodded obediently.

Then she turned around, looked at Li Longji, and choked up, saying, "I lost my composure. Sanlang has been busy all night, and he should rest early to take care of his body. Heng'er is already in this state. If Sanlang falls ill again due to overwork, I really don't know what to do."

Li Longji really didn't sleep a wink for the whole day.

In the first half of the day, he was busy having fun with Jiang Caiping and other concubines, and in the second half of the night he was fighting with his sons.

He was indeed a little sleepy.

But seeing that Wu Huifei was so sensible, the past affection came to his mind. He sat down next to Wu Huifei, took Wu Huifei's hand, and said, "I have been busy recently and haven't come to see you for a while. I hope you don't blame me in your heart."

Wu Huifei knew what "trivial matters" Li Longji was busy with, and said in a slightly jealous tone: "How could I blame Sanlang. I have two wishes in my life. One is that the Tang Dynasty will prosper, and the other is that Sanlang and the children will be safe and happy. Now that Sanlang is ruling, the Tang Dynasty is unprecedentedly prosperous. I pray every day, hoping that Sanlang and the children will be safe and happy."

The slightly jealous tone expresses her care and love for Li Longji. If she doesn't blame him, it shows that she is knowledgeable and sensible.

Li Longji really liked this and said softly, "I have so many concubines in my harem, but only with you do I feel like a husband and a grandfather."

What Li Longji meant was that he only felt at home with Wu Huifei, and that Wu Huifei took on his emotional needs. At the same time, he was also hinting to Wu Huifei that she was the empress.

Concubine Wu Hui was quite moved and said, "To hear Sanlang's words, I have no regrets in my life."

Li Longji took advantage of the situation and said, "Tomorrow I will issue an edict to abolish Li Ying's position as crown prince, and then the position of the Crown Prince will be vacant. I originally wanted to let Ying'er succeed to the throne, but Ying'er is ill. If he were to become the crown prince, I'm afraid people in the world would be uneasy. Therefore, I think it would be better to let Qi'er succeed to the throne. What do you think?"

"Absolutely not." Concubine Wu Hui hurriedly stood up and knelt, saying: "Whether in terms of seniority or virtue and talent, Qi'er is not the best choice. The crown prince is the heir to the throne, and is related to the future of the Tang Dynasty. Qi'er cannot bear such a heavy responsibility. I ask Sanlang to think twice!"

"What are you doing?" Li Longji helped Concubine Wu Hui up. "I am discussing this with you. If you disagree, I will listen to you."

Concubine Wu Huifei said: "Thank you for your kindness, Sanlang."

Li Longji smiled slightly and said, "Who do you think is suitable to be the crown prince?"

Concubine Wu Huifei said: "This is a major national event. I dare not speak rashly. Moreover, I don't know which of the princes is the most talented. I would like to ask Sanlang to make the final decision on this matter."

"Well, I won't ask you anymore." Li Longji was quite satisfied with Wu Huifei's answer, and a doting expression towards Wu Huifei appeared on his face.

Concubine Wu Huifei also had a smile on her face, as if she was thanking Li Longji for his love and loyalty to her.

The two seemed to be in harmony.

But in fact, if Concubine Wu Hui had said anything wrong just now, not only would she lose her power over the harem, but even her position as Concubine Hui might be lost.

The attitude that Concubine Wu Huifei should have is not to fight for power and not to interfere in state affairs.

When Li Heng heard this, he knew it was time for him to wake up, and he had to say something to Li Longji.

Then, he quietly opened his eyes.

Li Heng opened his eyes and looked at where he was, then slowly turned his head to look at Li Longji and Consort Wu Huifei. Then he looked panicked, struggling to stand up, and said, "Your Highness, I have lost my composure, Father..."

Li Longji interrupted Li Heng and said, "Just rest and don't get up."

Concubine Wu Hui helped Li Heng lie down again and said, "Listen to your father."

"Yes." Li Heng lay down and said, "Thank you, father." Li Longji said, "Doctor Wang has examined you and said that you will be fine after a few days of recuperation."

Li Heng said, "I am sorry to have caused my father and mother to worry. I am an unfilial son."

Li Longji said: "It's not your fault, it's all... Forget it, let's not talk about it."

Li Longji originally wanted to say that it was your second brother who caused all the trouble, but Li Heng had just fainted because of this matter. If he mentioned it again, it would seem too inhumane.

Concubine Wu Hui changed the subject at the right time and said, "Before Concubine Yuan passed away, she wanted to see your child once more. Unfortunately, it did not happen as she passed away suddenly. Next time you return to the capital, remember to bring your child to pay tribute to Concubine Yuan."

"Yes." Li Heng responded.

Concubine Wu Huifei asked, "Princess Shou has given birth to a daughter. Is she healthy?"

"Not good." Li Heng sighed, "She has not recovered from the rheumatoid arthritis she had before, and the birth of her daughter was not smooth. Mrs. Zhang... Zhang Lingzhi checked her pulse and said that she might need to rest for two years before her body can recover."

When Li Longji, who was standing by, heard this, he thought of Yang Yuhuan’s face covered with rheumatoid arthritis.

Concubine Wu Hui sighed: "Good things take time, God will bless you."

Li Heng had already woken up, and Li Longji had almost known everything he wanted to know, so he asked Li Heng to rest in Nanxun Palace and come back at dawn, while he went to find Jiang Caiping.

……

……

……

At this moment, Jiang Caiping was sitting at the table with a worried look on her face.

She already knew that Li Ying had used her handwritten letter to start a mutiny.

According to her original plan, as soon as Li Ying and others entered the palace, she would ask her father to arrest Li Ying and others, and then falsely accuse Li Ying of treason.

But unexpectedly, Li Ying really launched a coup, and the matter of her handwriting was also made public.

Jiang Caiping felt that this time her troubles were going to be quite big.

Although she had anticipated that Li Longji would not pursue the matter of her false accusation against Li Ying, this was based on the premise that Li Ying had not really staged a coup. Li Longji needed her false accusation to make his plans successful, so naturally he would not pursue the matter of her handwriting.

But now that Li Ying had really staged a coup, Li Longji no longer needed her false accusations.

So, she had to find a way to explain this matter clearly.

She felt that she had at least three points to explain to Li Longji.

The first point is whether she collaborated with Li Ying from inside and outside to give Li Ying an excuse to lead his troops into the palace and help Li Ying rebel.

She didn't do this, and her father wanted to arrest Li Ying as soon as possible, so she can explain it.

Then the second point is, why did she summon Li Ying into the palace to catch the thief? What was her intention?

She had no idea what to do and could only deny it, saying that she was only concerned about the safety of the palace.

But this leads to the third point: the safety of the palace, the Southern and Northern Yamen guards, why should Li Ying's Eastern Palace guards be summoned?

The three points combined and nested in each other form a dead knot.

(End of this chapter)