Queen Sun

Chapter 38
In the year of auspicious snow, on the night when the two Highnesses were born, large flakes of snow floated in the sky above Chang'an. In the morning of the next day, when people opened the door, they saw a snow-white and crystal-clear world, followed by There is also fine wine bestowed by the emperor to each family, and those who have a son on the same day are even given silk horses, and the whole world celebrates it, just for the pair of sons and daughters.

When people in the streets and alleys were talking about this happy event that had never been seen since the founding of the Tang Dynasty, an imperial edict from the emperor was like a thunderbolt on the ground, which caught the officials by surprise.

Wei Zheng and Wang Gui stood up and remonstrated almost at the same time, wanting to let the prince follow his mother's surname is something that has never happened in the past dynasties, let alone the empress's son, once this trip is made, it will definitely bring chaos to the country .

When the emperor heard this, there was no anger on his face, but he nodded to signal Wei Zheng to continue.Wei Zheng saw it, but his scalp was slightly numb, but after all, it was a major matter related to the lifeblood of the country, he gritted his teeth and said firmly: "Secondly, it is not impossible for the fifteen princes to be crowned king as soon as they are born, but your majesty uses "hiding" It is also not in line with the ancestral system to use words as titles instead of actual titles."

As soon as the words fell to the ground, the faces of those ministers who did not speak also showed an agreeing look, but at this time, the newly appointed admonishing doctor Chu Suiliang asked Wei Zheng: "How does Lord Wei think your majesty should govern the country? "

Wei Zheng was startled, hesitated and said nothing.

"Your Majesty, I believe that the Son of Heaven should rule the country by law, not by the ancestral system. Your Majesty's edict today does not violate the law in the slightest. Moreover, the names of the children are originally the wishes of the parents. Your Majesty's family affairs, the ministers should have no objections. The reason." Chu Suiliang looked at the emperor without squinting.

Li Shimin nodded lightly, tapped the table in front of him with his fingers, raised his eyebrows slightly and said: "Do you have any other advice?"

Everyone looked at each other in blank dismay, all looked at Fang Xuanling, but Fang Xuanling didn't seem to notice, sitting upright with no expression on his face, let alone saying a word.

Wei Zheng glanced at Chu Suiliang, and then looked at Changsun Wuji without any trace. He had already heard that Chu Suiliang was recommended by Fang Xuanling and Changsun Wuji, so what he said just now might not be true. Just his personal opinion.

For a while, the court was silent for a while, until Xiao Yu's words broke the silence. This veteran minister who had experienced three emperors directly asked the emperor: "Where does your majesty want to put the eldest grandson's family in this move?"

Li Shimin's expression froze suddenly, and he said in a deep voice, "What do you mean by Xiao Qing's words?"

"Your Majesty." After saluting respectfully, Xiao Yu raised his head and said, "Today, Your Majesty makes the prince follow the surname of the minister, which seems to be an honor, but actually makes the queen's mother's family fall into a situation of disloyalty and filial piety. Love the house to the Wu, favor to the family of the relatives, those who have too much power and position will eventually bring disaster to the family, the country, and the world, Your Majesty Wanwang, think twice."

Fang Xuanling's hands were clenched tightly, and she screamed inwardly.Sure enough, Xiao Yu's words brought out a wave of discussions about the monopoly of foreign relatives.

Seeing His Majesty's face getting worse, Ma Zhou, the crown prince who had been silent for a long time, has been keenly aware of the hidden worries shared by the emperor and the queen behind this edict, especially... Thinking of this, he couldn't help but secretly feel sorry for himself. The students far away in the north lamented that he was born to be the favored son of heaven, and he even had the thoughtful protection of his mother. I don't know if it is good or bad?

In fact, most of the courtiers present have clearly expressed their resolute opposition, but they are still unable to shake the general trend, just like the case of the world-famous hero not long ago, although most people opposed it, but in the end the real What changed the emperor's mind was the queen's private remonstrance and Changsun Wuji's resolute refusal letter.

In the Zhenguan Dynasty, the emperor's eclectic employment strategy has always been praised by people. Above the temple, there are all officials with outstanding achievements, either loyal and filial, or knowledgeable.However, once one becomes an official, any sensible and transparent person can clearly perceive the turbulent undercurrent under the harmony of the officials.One is a meritorious minister who has undergone the Xuanwu Revolution. Although Du Ruhui died young in the fourth year of Zhenguan, Fang Xuanling is still the head of civil servants, not to mention that although Changsun Wuji resigned from the position of servant, he was still entrusted. Revise "Zhenguan Law" together with Fang Xuanling with heavy responsibility.The second is Wei Zheng and Wang Gui, the former enemies of the Prince Yin's mansion. Most of them started as admonishing ministers, and after winning the emperor's trust, they also rose to high positions one after another.And the humble officials represented by Ma Zhou are also the pillars of the country.

Among the three main factions, the emperor may have the same trust in them, but the most intimate ones are none other than Changsun Wuji and Fang Xuanling.When encountering undecidable matters, Li Shimin more habitually takes their thoughts and wishes into consideration.

Therefore, when the former ministers of the Qin Palace and even Changsun Wuji looked like they had nothing to do with him, everyone knew that the matter might be overwhelmed.

After arguing all morning, Li Shimin gradually revealed a casual expression.Seeing this, Wei Zheng simply turned to Changsun Wuji and said seriously: "Master Changsun, what we are discussing today concerns the foundation of the country if it is far away, and it is also related to the favor of your majesty's heirs and the grandson's family. Still keep silent?" Wei Zheng was right in thinking that if he wanted to change the emperor's decision, Changsun Wuji would undoubtedly be a very important weight, but what he didn't expect was that the matter of the hidden king would actually From the queen's will, the emperor loves his wife, and the country's uncle cherishes his sister. This matter has long been settled.

I saw that Changsun Wuji still stood up unhurriedly, and just said nonchalantly: "The prince's name stops, Changsun Zhi, Mr. Wei still doesn't understand?"

Wei Zheng was surprised, and thought to himself, the third eldest son, eldest grandson Zhi, King Yin, a dark line that he had ignored for a long time seemed to suddenly become clear, until the emperor announced his retirement, he couldn't help but press the button. Holding his forehead, he let out a long sigh and walked out of the hall.

Time flies, the same Liangyi Hall, but not as solemn as in the early court, in the center of the hall, the silk and bamboo are melodious, and the dance is graceful, and the woman sitting next to the emperor seems to have never known the turmoil of the rest of the month, With a gentle and leisurely smile, he looked at the king, the child in his arms, and the courtiers beside him.

In the middle of the banquet, Wei Zheng took a sip of the wine, and accidentally caught a glimpse of Changsun Wuji smiling upwards, that smile...he couldn't help being stunned for a moment.A long time ago, I heard that the queen's brothers and sisters are not very similar. It is not surprising that the queen's appearance is elegant and dusty. It is said that the eldest grandson is a heroic general, the eldest grandson's wife is famous in the East, and his younger brother Gao Shilian is even famous for being a handsome man. Changsun Wuji was short and fat, with a face like a disc.But until today, he seems to have discovered that the two brothers and sisters have strikingly similar charms, elegant and restrained, but under the gentle eyes, there is a deep and quiet that no one can understand.

Looking at Wang Gui, who was drinking with his head sullen, Wei Zheng shook his head slightly, understanding that he had been depressed about the prince recently. He has been friends for many years, and naturally knew that he was not very good at drinking, so he just wanted to reach out to stop the wine glass in his hand, but he heard a crisp sound. With a loud blushing, Wang Gui staggered to his feet, grabbed a pot of wine beside him with one hand, and said mockingly, "Your Majesty, Empress, I congratulate the eldest grandson on his full moon."

There was a dead silence in the hall for a moment, Wei Zheng came back to his senses, and was eager to kneel down to acquit his friend, but his body was involuntarily fixed by the emperor's cold and sharp eyes, and the deep color was completely stained on the emperor's face, Compared with the furious anger of the court in the past, the hidden anger at this time is even more chilling.While hesitating, Changsun Wuji stood up calmly, raised the wine glass in his hand to Wang Gui without any suspicion, and said, "Master Wang, I thank Zong Zheng of the Changsun's family here." After speaking, he drank it down.

"You!" Wang Gui, who was more than half sober, pointed at the other party and said sharply, "Changsun Wuji, you have exceeded the guidelines of a monarch and a minister."

The eldest grandson Wuji didn't look surprised, and asked indifferently: "Then what is the meaning of the congratulatory speech just now? Do you think that the fifteenth prince will no longer be the direct son of His Majesty and the Empress if he follows his mother's surname?"

Sweat slowly dripped from Wang Gui's forehead, he knelt on the ground with a plop, and said in a shy voice, "Your servant is guilty..."

"That's it." Li Shimin interrupted him in a cold voice, "The matter of the fifteenth prince is settled here, and no one needs to mention it in the future."

Xu Shi was frightened by his father's cold anger. Mingda, who had been very quiet since the beginning of the banquet, suddenly burst into tears. Ruoshui glanced helplessly at the last child in his hand, but fortunately he just woke up, rolling his eyes curiously, is cute.Seeing her husband's angry face still mixed with a helpless look coaxing his daughter, Ruoshui pursed his lips and smiled, and said softly: "Second brother, you come to hold the last son, and I will coax the second son."

Seeing that the queen still looked gentle and smiling, all the ministers were sure. Changsun Wuji had already sat back to his original place, half-closed his eyes, with a peaceful expression, but secretly felt a little grateful in his heart. Suiliang was absent for an excuse. ...

"Empress, I risk my life to say something. Now the fifteen princes are not at the age of ignorance. If he reaches the age of tying his hair in the future, what kind of identity should he face his brothers?" Wang Gui led With a hint of resoluteness, he said, "I want to ask again, if your majesty, your empress, will guarantee the future of the prince after a hundred years, how unfair is such a decision to a direct prince?"

The sound was loud, and the hall was completely silent, like ice covering the ground.The superior king suddenly fell silent, his eyes glanced at Wang Gui as if Ling Chi, his arms holding his son tightened unconsciously, Mo Zi uncomfortably stretched out his little hand from his swaddle and waved it in the air, but he still didn't cry.Li Shimin hastily loosened his tight arms, and when his eyes touched his son's immature cheeks and bright eyes, a trace of reluctance came to his mind, if...if...

Ruoshui sighed deeply, the sourness, astringency, and horror that he had borne in his heart surged up in his heart, and the fact that he had deliberately avoided in the past few months was revealed like this, it was unfair, yes, he had another What power decides the future of others? Can the youngest son's fate of ruling the world be sacrificed for the sake of the eldest son?

However, she stood up, handed her daughter to Danyun beside her, and then slowly walked to Wang Gui's side. She was still the graceful and noble queen in ordinary times, but there was a clear hint of desolation in that gentle smile: "Wang Gui My lord." With complicated feelings in her heart, she said softly, "I am a mother, and I am also the empress of the Tang Dynasty. I am the mother of the fifteen princes, but I am also the mother and queen of the prince. Both benefit each other. Whichever is more important, the lesser of two evils, I have no choice."

After finishing speaking, she stared at Wang Gui, who was always bowing her head for a while, then walked back to Li Shimin and said, "Your Majesty, Mr. Wang is very loyal and trustworthy. Not only is he innocent, but he should be rewarded."

Like the others present, Li Shimin did not hear what his wife said earlier, but saw Wang Gui, who had been refusing to give in, suddenly fell silent. Relaxed.

When Wang Gui was thanking her, he clenched his sweaty palms tightly and looked at the queen steadily. He suddenly remembered that on the New Year's Eve of the second year of Zhenguan, Wei Zheng said that it was the aura of the mother, but until this moment, he couldn't help but I would like to ask, is that desolate helplessness also the responsibility that Mother Yi Tianxia must shoulder?Or is that just a price that has to be paid?

(End of this chapter)