Tiantang Splendid

Chapter 4913 King Wei, you want to go to heaven

On the 20th day of the twelfth lunar month, the heavy snow stopped.

Early in the morning, Prince Li Tai of Wei sent people to the Zongzheng Temple and the Taichang Temple to deliver a letter, saying that he would go out of the city today to pay homage to Emperor Gaozu's Xianling Mausoleum and Emperor Taizong's Zhaoling Mausoleum. Then, without waiting for a reply, he brought his entire family out of the palace, with full ceremonial guards and a large number of carriages and horses, and left the city through the Mingde Gate, intending to bypass Chang'an City and then turn north to Zhongwei Bridge, cross the Weishui River, climb Wanshouyuan, and go to the Xianling Mausoleum to pay homage.

As soon as he left the city, Chang'an was already in chaos.

As the saying goes, "The most important affairs of a state are sacrifices and wars." Sacrifices are as important as wars.

The procedures and regulations for sacrifices all come from the "Book of Zhou". The regulations for sacrifices to heaven, earth, and humans are different. There is no room for any mistakes in who will preside over the sacrifice and when to offer the sacrifice.

Especially for someone of Wei Wang Li Tai's status and identity, when to burn incense, when to kowtow, what the ranking was... everything had been customized in advance.

It was not yet time for the sacrifice, but he rushed out of the city to the imperial mausoleum. What was the King of Wei trying to do? !

After breakfast, the Minister of Imperial Clan Affairs and the Prince of Han, Li Yuanjia, went to the government office. As the year was drawing to a close, the Ministry of Imperial Clan Affairs was busy with many affairs, and he was so busy last night that he went home to sleep at three in the morning. At the beginning of the new year, the imperial clan would receive rewards from the emperor. Generally speaking, the rewards would be doubled on the basis of the annual salary, and those who had made contributions would receive extra rewards. In addition, the entire imperial clan genealogy and the annual review of the imperial clan's property all needed to be reviewed by him, the Minister of Imperial Clan Affairs.

As a result, he arrived at the government office yawning. Just as he sat down and had not yet had a sip of tea, he received a letter from Li Tai, the Prince of Wei. Li Yuanjia was so scared that he almost smashed his teacup...

"Where is the King of Wei now?"

"I have already left Mingde Gate and plan to go north from the west of the city, cross the Xianyang Bridge, cross the Wei River, and go to Xianling and Zhaoling to pay tribute."

"He's completely crazy. Can he go to Xianling and Zhaoling whenever he wants to pay homage? As a prince, does he have any taboos?"

Li Yuanjia was furious and could not understand Li Tai's actions.

"Hurry up and prepare your horses. I will catch up with him and ask him clearly whether he still respects the laws of the Tang Dynasty and your Majesty."

"Here!"

The clerk dared not say much. The King of Wei's action had already involved etiquette and laws, so it was better for outsiders to stay away...

Li Yuanjia grabbed a cloak and put it on. When he went out and saw that the clerk had prepared the horses, he jumped on the horse and went out of the gate with more than ten officials from the Zongzheng Temple. He rode out of the Suzaku Gate and went straight to the Mingde Gate along Suzaku Street. After going out of the city gate, he went west around the city wall of Chang'an and chased all the way north.

He caught up with them when they were almost reaching the Jinguan Gate.

"Your Highness, stay!"

Li Yuanjia rode his horse all the way and caught up with Li Tai who was also riding a horse. In his haste, he didn't care about etiquette, jumped off the horse, trotted a few steps to Li Tai, stretched out his hand to grab the reins, and pulled the horse forcibly. Only then did the whole team stop.

Li Tai was wrapped in a fur coat, a felt hat on his head, and a wool scarf around his face. When he saw Li Yuanjia, he exclaimed, "Oh my, uncle, why is this happening? Let go quickly, or you'll get hurt by the animal!"

He also dismounted and bowed in greeting.

Li Yuanjia was so angry that he blew his beard and glared. He held the reins tightly and shouted angrily: "Are you crazy? Do you know what the consequences of such an action will be? Come back with me quickly and tell others that you plan to go out of the city for hunting. I will not let go even if I die! If anyone insists on giving in, I will stop them for you!"

In a hurry, he spoke harshly.

Li Tai was somewhat touched. He knew that if Li Yuanjia blocked the criticism for him, he would definitely pay a huge price. He said he had done his best. He smiled and said, "Uncle, I appreciate your kindness, but I have to do it. I can't give up halfway."

Li Yuanjia was angry and anxious, stamping his feet in anxiety: "You are confused! The court has its own etiquette and laws, how can it allow you to act so recklessly? Even His Majesty cannot go to the tomb of the late emperor at any time, and you, a mere prince, are so willful. Where do you put the royal family? Where do you put the royal family? Where do you put His Majesty? King Wei, you are asking for trouble!"

The royal family has strict clan system and many rules, but the core is no different from that of ordinary aristocratic families. For example, when an ordinary family worships their ancestors, only the head of the family can lead the sacrifice, while in the royal family, only the emperor can lead the sacrifice. This is a symbol of status and the core of etiquette.

You said this is also my ancestor, can't I visit his grave?

It really doesn't work.

It is fine for ordinary people, but for the royal family, the symbolic significance of ancestor worship is too important. The first thing a new emperor does when he ascends the throne is to worship heaven and ancestors, which means "showing the gods and ensuring orderly inheritance." What do you want to do, King Wei, by going to worship your ancestors?
What a treason!

Li Tai smiled bitterly, took Li Yuanjia's hand, and whispered: "This matter is really forced to do, I hope my uncle will forgive me if I have offended you."

After saying this, he let go of Li Yuanjia's hand, turned around, mounted his horse, and shouted, "Go!"

The team moved slowly again and headed straight for Xianyang Bridge.

Li Yuanjia stood on the side of the road in a daze for a moment, and after thinking carefully, he suddenly realized... Why did it come to this?

He sighed, turned around and mounted his horse. After entering the city through Jinguang Gate, he headed straight for Taiji Palace and dismounted outside Chengtian Gate. There was already a eunuch standing there. When he saw Li Yuanjia, he hurried over to greet him and said, "King Han, you have arrived just in time. His Majesty has ordered us to wait here. When you arrive, you don't have to enter the palace to ask for permission. You can come directly to see him."

Li Yuanjia nodded, his heart heavy. His Majesty had received the news, and he didn't know how this matter would be resolved. Would it be as smooth as the King of Wei had hoped...

Just as he was about to enter the palace, he heard the sound of horse hooves behind him. Looking back, he saw several horses galloping towards him. When the horses got close, before they had even stood firm, the riders had already thrown off the stirrups and jumped off. They were nimble and agile, and after a few trots to break free of the inertia, they stood right in front of Li Yuanjia.

It was Fang Jun.

He has slightly dark skin, handsome features, and sharp eyebrows. He bowed and greeted, smiling, "It turns out to be His Royal Highness the King of Han. I just happened to be in the palace. Let's go together."

Li Yuanjia stood there with a sullen face and asked, "How old are you?"

Fang Jun was stunned and subconsciously touched his short mustache. Before he could answer, he saw Li Yuanjia frowning and glaring, shouting: "Are you a three-year-old child? It is extremely dangerous to jump off the horse like this. If you are not careful, you will break your legs. If you are unlucky, you will fall and break your head. As an important official of the court, you have no sense of prudentness at all. It is simply stupid!"

The eunuchs and guards in front of Chengtian Gate either looked down at the ants or looked around, turning a deaf ear and a blind eye to the conversation between the two.

With Fang Jun's current status and power, there are very few people who can scold him. The King of Han can barely be considered one of them, not because of his prince title, but because he is Fang Jun's brother-in-law.

But everyone knows the temper of Fang Erlang, this stupid guy. He is like a donkey. He won't move when led, and he moves backwards when hit. It's okay to stroke him by the hair, but it's not okay to scold him in public, even if it's for his own good.

Besides, the brother-in-law of the King of Han might not have much face in Fang Jun's eyes. The story of "Horse trampling the King of Han's mansion" scared the King of Han so much that he dared not go home and went to the palace to beg Emperor Taizong for help. It is still circulating in the palace today...

Although everyone turned a blind eye, they all kept their spirits up. In case Fang Jun got angry and beat up the King of Han, everyone would have to step forward to stop him at all costs. After all, this was in front of Chengtian Gate. If they saw the King of Han being beaten and did nothing, they would definitely be punished afterwards.

Fang Jun looked at Li Yuanjia coldly. Seeing that he was inexplicably angry at him, he knew that Li Tai had probably told him his purpose. Li Yuanjia also guessed that it was he who gave Li Tai the idea. This move was extremely serious for Li Tai, and the Zongzheng Temple would inevitably be charged with poor supervision and indulgence of royal family members. Li Yuanjia had been blamed for no reason and wanted to vent his anger.

Of course, he might have believed that he was too guilty to act, so he took the opportunity to act cool in front of others...

Seeing Fang Jun didn't say anything, Li Yuanjia felt relieved and immediately pressed the issue: "What are you looking at? If he wasn't a relative, who would care about you? I wish you would really fall off your horse and fall!"

I was secretly happy, and the depression caused by Li Tai's sudden action was also reduced a little. After all, not everyone can show off in front of Fang Jun. However, in order to prevent this "idiot" from getting angry, I still reminded him that he is a "relative" and the reason he got so angry is "for your own good"...

Fang Jun's eyes were deep, and he smiled with a fake smile: "Thank you for your concern, Your Highness. I am deeply grateful. I will come to thank you in person later."

Li Yuanjia, however, was not afraid at all. As long as he didn't lose his temper on the spot, what would he be afraid of behind others' backs?

Killing is not the right thing to do. As long as I give in quickly enough, what can you do to me?
"That's not necessary. Just remember that I'm doing this for your own good. Let's go. Your Majesty is waiting anxiously."

"Hehe, please go first, Your Highness."

The eunuchs and guards in front of Chengtian Gate looked at Li Yuanjia with admiration and respect, and watched him enter the palace.

There are only a handful of people in the court who can scold Fang Jun in public without making him angry...

As soon as the two men entered the palace gate, Zhongshu Ling Liu Ji, Shizhong Ma Zhou, Yushi Doctor Liu Xiangdao and other civil servants arrived one after another. The scene caused by the King of Wei was really horrifying. The dignitaries, officials, and royal family members in the whole Chang'an City were in chaos and their hearts were in turmoil.

After all, the King of Wei's action can be regarded as a challenge to etiquette and contempt for the monarch, which is intolerable in any dynasty from ancient times to the present. If he is not severely punished, how can we appease the people's hearts?

Soon, Xiangyi County Prince Li Shenfu also arrived in a carriage...

Li Demao jumped off the shaft, opened the door of the four-wheeled carriage, and helped Li Shenfu get off.

Li Shenfu glanced sinisterly at the many officials who had gathered at Chengtian Gate but had not been summoned to the palace. He came to the palace gate with the help of his son and said, "Please come in and report. This old minister begs for an audience."

[If you have a happy family, and you encounter provocation or even abuse from others outside, do not get entangled with them. You must know how to avoid them and be tolerant, because there are people at home waiting for you to return safely.]