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

Chapter 992 Cen Wenben’s Intentions
Empress Changsun spoke in a sonorous and powerful tone, with a firm and tough attitude. In addition, she had accumulated prestige as an empress for many years. Her face was stern, which made all the ministers feel a chill in their hearts. They bowed their heads and responded, "Your subjects respect your will and the instructions of the Empress."

"Ok!"

Nodding slightly, Empress Changsun continued, "As for the matter of selecting the crown prince, it has been scheduled for a grand court meeting the day after tomorrow. The emperor will personally preside over it. Except for the imprisoned Prince of Wei Li Tai, all adult princes in the court can participate."

"All the ministers may submit their recommendations to nominate a new crown prince, and Your Majesty will follow the public opinion."

Upon hearing this, all the ministers looked at each other in surprise and doubt.

Changsun Wuji frowned slightly, Cen Wenben was secretly happy, and Xiao Yu stroked his beard in thought, all of them quickly thinking about the pros and cons of doing so.

Taking advantage of the silence, Zhangsun Wugou said to Hou Junji: "His Majesty said that the eldest grandson has reached adulthood and can also participate in the nomination of the new crown prince. The day after tomorrow, Duke Lu will lead the eldest grandson to the Taiji Hall to participate in the court meeting."

'hiss'

Many people took a breath, especially Zhang Sun Wuji. A light flashed quickly in his eyes, and then he drooped his eyelids. His eyes kept changing. I wonder what he was thinking?
But Cen Wenben looked worried. After yesterday's incident, the King of Wei was eliminated early, and the King of Jin lost face. If the emperor was angry with the eldest grandson because of Hou Junji, then the King of Wu would be left. This was one of the reasons why Cen Wenben agreed with the Eastern Palace faction yesterday.

But unexpectedly, such a tough emperor like Li Shimin actually swallowed his anger and retreated on his own initiative.

It is simply unbelievable, is this still the Li Shimin that I know, with a strong character and who never bows to anyone?

If the emperor's eldest grandson also gets involved, he will be a formidable enemy, and the King of Wu may not be his match?

Thinking of this, a sharp light flashed in Cen Wenzhong's eyes, and a righteous expression was squeezed out on his face. He hurriedly stepped forward and said, "Empress, no matter what, we still offended Your Majesty yesterday, which violated the way of a minister."

"If I cannot personally apologize to Your Majesty, I will feel uneasy."

"Please show some mercy, Your Majesty, and let us confess our crimes to the Emperor in person. Only when we see the Emperor is safe and hear His Majesty's instructions with our own eyes, will we feel at ease!"

"I understand Lord Cen's loyalty, and I also understand Lord Cen's feelings."

Zhangsun Wugou remained unmoved and said expressionlessly, "His Majesty has made it clear that he wants to rest well these two days and will not see anyone. If Lord Cen has something to do, he can wait until after the grand court meeting and then report to His Majesty."

"I believe that in just two or three days, no matter how big the matter is, it is not as important as nominating a new crown prince?"

Seeing that Cen Wenben was still insisting, Changsun Wugou frowned and said directly: "If Lord Cen wants to ask His Majesty's opinion on the new crown prince, His Majesty's original words are that he has no opinion. He believes in the wise ministers who created the prosperous Zhenguan era."

"I will definitely be fair-minded and select an excellent crown prince for the Tang Dynasty."

Zhang Sun Wuji, Xiao Yu, Ma Zhou, Hou Junji and other ministers all clasped their fists and said, "If that is the case, then we ministers will respect your Majesty's will."

Unlike the last time when the emperor insisted on his own way and stood against all factions, this time the emperor took a step back and let the ministers make the decision. This move gave all the princes an opportunity and won the support of all factions. Naturally, Cen Wenben's opinion was easily rejected.

Seeing this, Cen Wenben could only sigh with regret: "I will obey the Holy Order!"

"Well, you guys will take care of the court meeting. If you have any questions or unresolved matters, please come and ask me directly. Don't bother His Majesty."

"Yes, Queen."

After all the ministers left, Changsun Wugou turned around, pulled Haitang over and said, "Haitang, since the emperor has allowed Xiang'er to participate in the nomination of the new crown prince, then you should not have any scruples. Take Xiang'er out of the palace and have a good discussion with Duke Lu."

"Since you want to fight, then try your best and win it in one fell swoop. I also hope to see Xiang'er inherit Cheng Qian's legacy and take on the heavy responsibility that his father should have shouldered."

Haitang's eyes instantly filled with tears. She immediately knelt down and kowtowed, saying excitedly, "Thank you, mother. I and your daughter-in-law will never forget your great kindness."

"Well, silly child, why are you crying?"

Zhangsun Wugou pulled Haitang up affectionately and wiped away her tears with her hands: "I have watched Xiang'er grow up since he was a child. My feelings for him are deeper than my feelings for Chengqian. You should train him well and make him a wise and enlightened monarch."

"Go ahead, time is running out."

Watching Haitang and Hou Junji leave, Zhangsun Wugou pulled Ankang aside and whispered about Li Shimin's situation. He then ordered in a very serious manner, "Ankang, Ma Xuanliang and Wang De are of low status and their importance is slightly insufficient. From now on, there must be someone outside Chengqing Hall."

"You and I will take turns to wait here. You must not let the emperor's true condition leak out. Otherwise, the country will be without a crown prince and the princes will be watching covetously. If they knew that the emperor is no longer in his right mind, I'm afraid there would be chaos immediately."

"So, we must delay time until the court meeting is held the day after tomorrow, the crown prince is appointed, and the country is stable. Then it won't matter even if they know about the emperor's illness, do you understand?" When Ankang heard that his father had gone crazy, he covered his mouth with his white hands to stop him from crying. Tears fell down his face. He looked at Zhangsun Wugou helplessly and nodded vigorously.

Zhangsun Wugou felt a pang of heartache and hugged Ankang in his arms: "Don't cry, now is not the time to cry. Your father is the weakest now. He needs us to help him stabilize the situation. We must hold on."

"Mother, Ankang will not let father down."

Ankang wiped away his tears, and a resolute look appeared on his face, "Mother, you stayed up all night yesterday, and now father has woken up, you should go back and have a rest! Leave this to me, I am here, no one can break in."

Not long after bidding farewell to Ankang and walking out of Chengqing Hall, a minister suddenly flashed out from the side and stood in front of Changsun Wugou.

Changsun Wugou took a look and turned away without paying any attention.

"Sister, what are you doing?"

Changsun Wuji walked quickly forward and followed behind Changsun Wugou, then turned around and waved his hand with a smile. The palace maids and eunuchs behind him stepped back a little and kept some distance, giving the two space to talk.

Seeing that there was no one around, Changsun Wuji said with a shameless face: "Sister, I am far away from the court now, without an official position, and I have rarely seen you for several months. When did I offend you to make you dislike me so much?"

"You still have the nerve to say it?"

Zhangsun Wugou's pretty face was frosty. "You have retired, but your heart has not. Your desire for fame and gain has become even stronger. You have Li Ke, Qing Que and Xiang Er to assist you, but you have abandoned these strongest people and instigated the emperor to establish Zhi Nu, who has no foundation at all."

"What are you planning? Do you think I don't know?"

"Brother, isn't the Changsun family's grace and honor great enough? Apart from the royal family Li, the Changsun family was the most glorious during the Zhenguan period. You have been the Right Prime Minister for a long time, on par with Fang Xuanling. Now you are the Minister of Education, one of the Three Dukes."

"Your sister is the current empress, and your nephew is either the crown prince of the Tang Dynasty or a legitimate prince."

"Even Changsun Shunde was named Duke of Xue and appointed General of the Left Guard. The brothers of Changsun's family are either in various departments in the court or in important local governor's offices. Chong'er married Princess Changle at a young age and served as the Secretary General."

"What else do you want? Do you really want to be like that old thief Sima who usurped the throne of Wei?"

"Oh, my sister!"

Changsun Wuji was so frightened that he trembled all over, looked around vigilantly, and took Changsun Wugui two steps forward, and came to a quiet place in the imperial garden. He was so scared that he wanted to go forward and cover his sister's mouth: "You really dare to say anything?"

"If people hear this, the Changsun family will be in immediate disaster."

Zhangsun Wugou's face was gloomy, and he said sternly: "Have you forgotten that during the reign of Emperor Yang, a rumor that a poem about peaches and plums could conquer the world caused Yang Guang to raise his butcher knife, and several main branches of the Li family were killed, and thousands of clansmen were implicated."

"Now our Changsun family is so prosperous that we have become the target of public criticism. If someone is behind this, would it be difficult to make up a few prophecies about the Changsun family? Why are you unwilling to be more restrained?"

"Since ancient times, blazing fire, boiling oil, and blooming flowers are not good omens."

"Why was Qian'er sent to the grasslands? Why was he wanted by Xueyantuo? And why did he disappear inexplicably on the grasslands? No one can find him alive or dead? Why did you resign from your post as the Right Prime Minister and stay away from the court to practice Taoism?"

"Isn't it because of arousing other people's jealousy that they are framed?"

Changsun Wugou's guess was not groundless. Although it was caused by Tuli's request, Li Yan finally considered it and took advantage of the situation and made a positive response. However, it was indeed instigated and instigated by Cen Wenben and others that he finally made it happen.

Zhangsun Wuji faded out of the court because someone slandered him in front of Li Shimin, which aroused Li Shimin's suspicion. In addition, all the reforms in the court were offensive, so Zhangsun Wuji chose to retreat after weighing the pros and cons.

In the original drama, Li Chengqian was at the center of a storm and accidentally fell off his horse, leaving him with a limp that would cause him lifelong disability. Was it really an accident?

And those scandals about Li Chengqian being a homosexual, weren't they all caused by his position as crown prince?
When Changsun Wuji heard his sister talking about the past, his face became heavy and he said bitterly, "Sister, don't you know how expensive firewood and rice are if you don't manage the household? Over the years, you have been the queen and enjoyed the honor of being the mother of the country in the palace."

"You want to stay out of the Changsun family's affairs and never care about them."

"It's such a big family, with hundreds of people, and everyone depends on me. How can I not worry?"

"I know what you said, but the new emperor has a new power. The attitude of the new emperor is directly related to the future of the Changsun family. I treat Cheng Qian as a child, even closer than my own son. If Cheng Qian is fine, I won't worry even if I have no official position or title."

(End of this chapter)