The Flourishing Tang Dynasty: Beginning with Marrying Yang Yuhuan

Chapter 277 Marriage
"No need." Li Longji rejected Li Heng's resignation and thought: "If you are worried that you are not able to do it, you can split Qixi into two towns again, so that you can have more people to work for you."

Li Longji knew that Li Heng asked to resign from the post of Jiedushi of Qixi in order to weaken himself so as to put his mind at ease. He also felt that Li Heng now had too much power.

But in order to fight against Tubo, he had to give Li Heng enough trust.

The direct reason why Shibao City was recaptured by Tubo was the chain reaction caused by the defeat in Jiannan, but tracing back to the source, it was closely related to Li Longji's withdrawal of Li Heng at that time.

If Li Longji had not withdrawn Li Heng at that time, and allowed Li Heng to continue to advance into Dafeichuan and Mohuanchuan, capture Qinghai Lake and the Nine Bends of the Yellow River, and consume the Tubo's manpower, then Tubo would not have been able to capture Shibao City.

Li Longji knew this very well. He didn't want to make the same mistake again. Moreover, Wang Zhongsi had gone against him now, so he had to hold Li Heng's sword firmly.

As the saying goes, use people without suspicion and don't use people with suspicion.

Li Heng was very excited and bowed, saying, "Father, you have shown me such love. I will do my best and sacrifice my life for you. If I cannot retake Shibao City, I will take the blame."

"Well, you are worthy of being my son." Li Longji was waiting for Li Heng to say this. He smiled and looked at Wei Zhaoxun, saying, "Wei Qing's third daughter has reached the age of marriage. Wu Huifei was very impressed with her and said that she was 'gentle and kind, always abiding by the law, playing the zither at home, having heard the teachings of the master and the etiquette of the palace'. Wu Huifei hoped that I would make the decision and marry her to Shiba Lang, and Wei Qing also agreed to this, so I am here today to grant a marriage between Shiba Lang and Wei Sanniang."

As soon as Li Longji said this, all the civil and military officials present turned their eyes to Li Heng, with surprise in their eyes.

Li Heng now concurrently serves as the military governor of four towns and commands an army of over 200,000 men. He is the true King of the Northwest, and his power is equal to that of Li Linfu. The only thing he lacks is a weak connection with the powerful families in Guanzhong.

Now Li Longji took the initiative to make up for this shortcoming for him. In this way, Li Heng had powerful troops outside, Concubine Wu Huifei in the palace, and Wei family in Guanzhong. He truly became second to none.

Many court ministers felt that as long as Li Heng defeated Tubo this time, even if he was ill, the position of crown prince would surely belong to him.

But Li Heng knew in his heart that the more power Li Longji gave him, the more it would prove impossible for him to become the crown prince, because Li Longji's personality would not tolerate a powerful crown prince by his side.

He was just a pawn of Li Longji.

Moreover, Li Heng was unwilling to have too much connection with the powerful families in Guanzhong, because he did not want to rule the world together with the Guanlong nobles.

But he couldn't refuse now.

It took the An-Shi Rebellion and the Huang Chao Uprising for the Guanlong nobles to decline. Now the power of the Guanlong nobles cannot be underestimated. If he refuses this political marriage, it will not only make Li Longji suspicious, but also push the Guanlong nobles to the opposite side of him.

Politics is sometimes like this, either you are one of us or the enemy, and the distinction between "you" and "us" is very clear.

While Li Ying was in a daze, Li Heng walked up to him, smiled and saluted, saying, "Congratulations, Eighteenth Brother. Don't forget to invite Third Brother for this wedding drink."

Li Ying returned the greeting and said, "Thank you, Third Brother. I have always admired you. I hope you will give me more guidance in the future."

Li Heng said: "There is no need to be so polite between us brothers."

With Li Heng taking the lead, others congratulated Li Heng one after another. Li Heng politely returned the greetings and then thanked Li Longji.

Li Longji asked the Ministry of Rites to choose a date and granted Li Heng special permission to marry Wei Sanniang in Chang'an before returning to Helong.

The court meeting ended in a joyful atmosphere.

……

A few days later, Li Heng married Wei Sanniang.

Wedding night.

Wei Zhaoxun's daughter Wei Sanniang sat at the head of the bed politely, while Li Heng sat at the table, looking at her. Li Heng had been away for many years, and when he returned to Chang'an, he was busy with his own affairs, so this was the first time he met Wei Sanniang.

As for Wei Sanniang, Li Heng only knew her name was Wei Xianyi.

Wei Xianyi looks young, about sixteen or seventeen years old, with big eyes, an oval face, pretty features, and tender skin. At first glance, she looks like a lady from a wealthy family.

Li Heng was silent for a while, then said, "Do you want to go with me to Helong, or stay in Chang'an? The border is bitterly cold, and you may not be able to endure it."

"Wherever Your Highness goes, I will go. But if Your Highness really does not want to take me to Helong, I can stay in Chang'an and wait for Your Highness to come back." Wei Xianyi replied respectfully, her voice clear and pleasant, her tone neither humble nor arrogant, and at the same time threw the question back to Li Ying.

Li Heng stood up and walked to Wei Xianyi, saying, "You and I both know that this is a political marriage, and this is the first time we meet. If you have any dissatisfaction, you can tell me directly, but if you flatter me in front of me and do bad things in secret, don't blame me for turning my back on you when the time comes."

Li Heng deliberately made his words sound threatening because he was not familiar with Wei Xianyi and did not think he had much time to get to know her, so he wanted to be strict first and then lenient.

In an unequal relationship, if you treat others strictly at first and then leniently, others will appreciate your virtue. However, if you are lenient at first and then strict, others will resent your harshness.

Wei Xianyi didn't expect Li Ying to say this to her on their wedding night. She was stunned and said timidly, "Your Highness is meeting me for the first time, but I have met you several times."

"Oh?" Li Heng was a little surprised and asked in confusion: "When have you seen me?"

"Every time Your Highness returns to Chang'an, I have the honor of witnessing Your Highness's elegance." Wei Xianyi said, recalling the scenes of herself watching Li Heng leave from behind the crowd again and again.

Li Ying asked, "Why don't I have any impression?"

Wei Xianyi said: "Your Highness is a young hero, both civil and military, handsome and heroic. Every time he returns to Chang'an, he attracts a crowd of onlookers. It is understandable that he does not notice me."

"Uh..." Li Ying was stunned for a moment, and said, "So, you were not forced to marry me?"

"No," Wei Xianyi blushed, smiled awkwardly, and said, "I asked my master to propose a marriage to the Saint. There are countless girls in Chang'an who want to marry His Highness, and my master even gave me a lot of money to fulfill my wish."

Li Heng stared at Wei Xianyi and said, "But I have a strange disease. I might die suddenly one day."

Wei Xianyi said: "The Saint has assured you that the four towns of the Tang Dynasty will be handed over to Your Highness, so what should I worry about?"

Li Heng was skeptical about this, but he didn't know what to say. He just smiled and said, "In that case, I'll take you to Helong."

"Thank you, Your Highness." Wei Xianyi smiled happily.

Then, she boldly raised her hand and touched the muscles of Li Ying's arm, saying, "Let me undress Your Highness."

Li Ying glanced at Wei Xianyi's pretty face and slim figure, hesitated for a moment, and nodded.

After getting consent, Wei Xianyi stood up and took off Li Ying's coat, then began to undress herself.

However, whether because she was nervous or for some other reason, she didn't unbutton her clothes for a long time.

"Let me help you." Li Ying leaned over and prepared to unbutton Wei Xianyi.

But Wei Xianyi fell into Li Ying's arms, her clothes scattered all over her in an instant, and then she took Li Ying's hand and put it on her body, looking hot and burning.

Since he had already married her, Li Heng had no scruples and he and Wei Xianyi soon became inseparable.

(End of this chapter)