The film and television world begins with the battle for the throne in Kowloon

Chapter 990 Li Shimin’s Misunderstanding (Part )

He had always been worried that after he left, the Tang Dynasty would have no successor and there would be chaos.

However, after going through the Hades' Hall once, he found that he no longer cared much about the "betrayal" of people around him, whether it was the Queen, Fang Xuanling, Hou Junji, Zhangsun Wuji, or Li Tai.

As a man struggling on the brink of death, unable to even stay awake, he has no control over anything that happens.

In this case, just stop worrying and go with the flow and let nature take its course.

People are like this. When they find that things are about to collapse and there is still a chance to save them, they are most anxious and worried, and want to try every possible way to save the situation. But when things are completely out of control and there is no hope, they let go.

The sky falls and the earth collapses, what can I do?
At this moment, Li Shimin felt relaxed, as if his life had broken through another layer of shackles and reached a new realm. His whole body felt much more comfortable, his chest was not so stuffy, and his mind was also much more relaxed.

He had already determined in his heart that he had become the later Li Yuan, and was ready to become an emperor emeritus.

Seeing Wang De in the room, Li Shimin breathed a sigh of relief. At least the old servant had not been replaced. So he ordered the palace maid to help him up. He struggled to get up, put a few cushions behind his back, and asked, "Wang De, who is outside?"

"Your Majesty, the Empress, Princess Ankang, the former Crown Princess, Duke Lu, Lord Zhangsun, Cen Wenben, Xiao Yu, Ma Zhou, Chu Suiliang and other important officials of the Secretariat are all waiting in the outer hall."

At this point, Wang De added: "They have been waiting outside since your Majesty fell into a coma yesterday. They have not returned all night, hoping that your Majesty is safe."

"Why isn't Fang Xuanling here?" Li Shimin asked with a frown.

"Your Majesty, Lord Fang fainted yesterday after Your Majesty fainted. He was so anxious that he also fainted. He hasn't woken up yet."

Wang De recounted yesterday's situation: "Yesterday, the emperor suddenly fainted, and the queen collapsed in panic. Later, she woke up with the treatment of the imperial physician. The other ministers were also summoned after the queen woke up."

"We immediately sealed off Chengqing Palace, strengthened the palace guards, and prevented the news from leaking out."

"Ah."

Li Shimin nodded. These were routine arrangements. The courtiers outside the palace did not show a one-sided attitude. "Who is the commander of the guards outside?"

'Well?'

Wang De was stunned, not quite understanding what Li Shimin meant, and asked in surprise, "Of course it's the chief steward Ma Xuanliang. Does the emperor want to summon him to see the emperor?"

Li Shimin breathed a sigh of relief when he heard this. He was afraid that if it was someone else, he would really be placed under house arrest. This situation was not so bad.

But, you never know.

Li Shimin changed his mind. The queen was in control of the situation, and he was going to die soon! Changing the guards or not actually made a big difference, and the fact that the people around him did not move showed the other party's strong confidence in controlling everything.

Be confident that even if you don't move, you can't turn the world upside down.

Li Shimin's heart sank, but now he had thought it through. If it was impossible, then he shouldn't force it. The eldest grandson was also his blood. If people really wanted him, then there was nothing wrong with passing the throne to him.

After a change of mind, Li Shimin was no longer worried.

With my body in this condition, I really can't stand any more torture. If I faint a few more times, I'm afraid I won't be able to last even two months.

"Wang De, Queen Xuan, come in."

"Yes, Your Majesty."

After a while, Zhangsun Wugou, who had not slept all night and was worried and frightened, walked in. At this time, she was completely different from yesterday's complexion, with dark circles under her eyes, and her face was very haggard. She was worried and a little at a loss.

As soon as she came in, she saw Li Shimin lying on the couch, and she threw herself beside the bed, crying, "Your Majesty, you are finally awake. I was really scared yesterday. If something happens to your body, which is worth millions of gold, who can we rely on for the Tang Dynasty?"

After saying this, tears slid down her smooth cheeks like beads from a broken string, and Changsun Wugou began to sob softly.

She only now realized that although her husband's personality had changed drastically in his later years and he didn't like her very much, as long as he was alive and breathing, the Tang Dynasty would not be defeated. Just last night, she was panicked and at a loss.

I was afraid that something might happen in Chang'an and the situation would get out of control.

Don't think that you are a queen who is high above and respected by others, in fact, it is all because of the existence of the emperor. Once the emperor fails, the queen's influence will drop sharply, and the ministers below will lift you up when they need you.

They can praise the queen or the prince. They will praise whoever is beneficial to them. Whoever they praise is the real master?
Li Shimin was moved when he saw his wife's genuine concern, but also a little angry because of his own imaginary judgment. He stretched out his hand to touch Zhangsun Wugou's hair, but he pulled it back halfway. "Queen, don't worry. I have let it go. I will listen to you."

Li Shimin sighed and said, "The grand court meeting on the fifteenth day after tomorrow will be held as scheduled. Let Hou Junji bring Li Xiang with him when the time comes."

"However, I have said before that although more than 90% of the ministers came forward to recommend the King of Jin yesterday in Taiji Hall, most of them were just dissatisfied with me for not discussing it with them before pushing forward the King of Jin. Out of anger, they stood behind Hou Junji and resisted me together."

"This does not mean that the power of the Eastern Palace has already become overwhelming, nor does it mean that they all recognize Li Xiang."

"I will preside over the court meeting, but I will not favor anyone. Whether you can convince the ministers of other factions to jointly recognize the establishment of the crown prince will depend on your ability. I will not come forward to persuade the royal family and important officials in the court."

"Everything depends on your own ability."

After saying this, Li Shimin closed his eyes with a dejected look, leaned back on the couch and rested with his eyes closed.

He believed that the queen understood what he meant. As the emperor, he should take a step back and set the stage for you. Whether you can win the final victory in this game depends on you.

If you have the ability to undermine yourselves, you will naturally have the ability to deal with other ministers.

The superior has his own responsibilities and obligations. It is not possible to replace the emperor just by getting rid of him. If you don't even have this ability, there is no need to fight for the throne, because there are still many difficulties ahead.
He had gone through the same thing before, and now he understood why his father took such a passive attitude.

Considering the overall situation, he couldn't persist any longer. If the internal fighting continued, both sides would suffer losses, and the foundation laid by two generations of father and son might be taken advantage of by others. However, out of the dignity of an emperor, he couldn't help you to "defeat" him actively.

There is no such despicable person in the world, let alone an emperor.

If you can't clean up the situation, you will naturally invite me, the 'emperor', to come out again, and then you will naturally 'compromise completely'. At that time, I can calmly restore the situation and clean up the mess.

As an emperor, what can you do when facing the oppression of "unfilial descendants"?

No matter how much hatred, bitterness, or discomfort he felt in his heart, he had to grit his teeth and swallow this bowl of Coptis chinensis. Could he really treat them like outsiders and kill all of these closest people just for the sake of not knowing how many months he could enjoy the imperial power?

In his later years, Emperor Wu of Han personally forced to death his empress and the crown prince whom he had trained for decades.

When he saw the bodies of his old wife and son lying coldly in front of him, he felt no pleasure or relief. Instead, he felt endless frustration and pain from the bottom of his soul, the sorrow of losing his son in old age.

He wished he could kill everyone in the world and bury his wife and children with them.

Li Yuan did not repeat the mistakes of Emperor Wu of Han, so he could still enjoy drinking and music in the harem in his later years. Whenever Li Shimin conquered a piece of territory and obtained the submission of foreign races, he would invite Li Yuan out to participate in the large-scale palace art performances that he used to show off.

It staged a scene of loving father and filial son, and a happy family, which won praise from countless subjects.

Zhangsun Wugou was somewhat confused by what she heard and asked in surprise, "Didn't the emperor say that Li Xiang was too young to bear the heavy responsibility of the country, and that he was the emperor's grandson, so it was inconvenient to bypass his son and enthronize his grandson? Why did he change his mind now?"

"And Hou Junji?"

"He knows that he has offended the emperor in the court and his crime is grave. As soon as the court was dismissed yesterday, he came to Chengqing Palace to plead guilty to Your Majesty. I see that he really pleads guilty sincerely and has no intention of being disloyal. I ask Your Majesty to give him a lighter punishment."

So, Zhangsun Wugou recounted what happened in the court yesterday, combining his own understanding, and finally said: "What happened yesterday was all a misunderstanding and coincidence. No one colluded secretly, and there was no unusual movement in Chang'an City."

"I suggest that you take a step back and let this matter go."

"As for the matter of appointing a crown prince, there is no need to be so anxious. We can wait a while. If the emperor really prefers Zhinu, we can discuss it again. Hou Junji has already promised me that he will no longer insist on pushing Xiang'er to the throne. Everything will be arranged by your majesty."

I thought that such a thoughtful speech would win praise from the other party, but Li Shimin could no longer control his anger that had been suppressed for a long time. He stood up angrily with a roar, his eyes were red with anger, and he said, "Don't take advantage of me here and act like a good boy?"

"I have already let Hou Junji slap his face in front of all the officials in public, and you still think it's not enough?"

"Once is enough, how can it happen again?"

Li Shimin just felt that Zhangsun Wugou was too much, and killing people was not enough. I know that you have mastered the overall situation, and your power is so strong that you don’t even need to replace the close ministers and guards around you, and you don’t have to worry about yourself causing trouble.

I have fully cooperated with you.

With my crippled body, I convened a grand court meeting and presided over it in person, so that all officials in the world could be convinced and believe that the election results were approved by the emperor, were in line with legality and orthodoxy, and that there was no coercion, intimidation or sidelining.

What else do you want?
(End of this chapter)