Tang Dynasty: The Holy Prince, the Dragon that Reigns Over the World

A few days after Li Chengqian's coming-of-age ceremony, Li Shimin issued an edict: The crown prince has reached adulthood and should share the worries of his father and the emperor. In order to train the crown prince's ability to govern, from now on, the crown prince will be the regent and have the power to know military and national affairs.

All reports from the inside and outside the court shall be submitted to the Crown Prince first, and the Crown Prince shall review them and submit them to me. All matters of the court, except for major ones, shall be decided by the Crown Prince. If there are major state affairs, the three provinces and six ministries shall discuss with the Crown Prince and submit them to me for decision.

Upon hearing this decree, the Deng brothers, the troops under their command, and the servants of the Prince's Mansion were all smiling. The officials of the Prince's Mansion were celebrating. Everyone in the court was shocked. Everyone in the Prince's Mansion praised the emperor for his wisdom, and the prince's power was in his hands, and his position as the crown prince was unbreakable. However, when Li Chengqian received the decree, he threw it aside with an unhappy look on his face.

"Old man, you are trying to be lazy. Damn it, the politics of a country are so complicated. I am still young, can you let me play for a few more years? The old man is not loyal. Besides, I have just been crowned and have such great power. Can the officials obey me? The old man is not afraid of causing suspicion in the court and the public and spreading rumors. Is this my real father?" Li Chengqian complained in his heart.

"What's wrong? Dalang doesn't seem happy to receive the imperial edict?" Li Shimin laughed behind him.

"What's the point of being happy? I'm only 13 years old. The old man wants to tire me to death." Li Chengqian replied subconsciously. Then he felt that the voice was very familiar, and turned around to see Li Shimin looking at him with a dark face.

"Hehe, what's the matter, Prince, are you dissatisfied with my arrangement?" Li Shimin sneered.

"I dare not, I dare not. You didn't even inform me when Father came, so I could go to the door to greet him. If Father has something to do, he can just send someone to call him, and I will run to see him. Why should Father come in person? Please sit down, Father." Li Chengqian said with a flattering smile.

"I noticed that Dalang looked quite dissatisfied just now. What's the matter? Do you have any objection to my arrangement?" Li Shimin sat in the main seat and spoke lightly.

"How dare I have any objection, but I am still young and lack the ability. I am afraid I can't take on such a big responsibility." Li Chengqian poured Li Shimin a glass of water and said with a smile.

"Oh? When did Dalang learn to be humble?" Li Shimin said with a fake smile.

"I have always been very humble." Li Chengqian scratched his head.

"Speak human language." Li Shimin slammed the table and said angrily.

"I'm still young and want to have fun for a few more years. Old man, you should do this job yourself." Li Chengqian said honestly. Then he whispered, "Old man, you just want to be lazy."

"Rebellious son, you have come of age. In public, you are the crown prince of the dynasty, and you should assist the king and learn how to govern the country. In private, you should share your father's worries and fulfill your filial duty.

You have worked so hard for your father for so many years, so what if you are lazy? You just want to play all day. You are such an unfaithful and unfilial son, you really make me angry. If I don't give you a good beating today, I will never be able to calm down the fire in my heart. "Li Shimin said angrily, and then he took out a wooden stick from his sleeve and pretended to hit him.

Li Chengqian hurriedly stopped him and said with a flattering smile, "Father, calm down. I admit my fault. It's not good to get so angry that you get yourself hurt."

"Then are you willing to serve as regent and be in charge of military and national affairs?" Li Shimin put down his stick and asked.

"Can we discuss it and do it a few years later?" Li Chengqian asked hopefully.

"What do you think?" Li Shimin stroked the stick as if he were stroking a peerless sword, saying without even raising his head.

"Alas, the situation is stronger than people, and a higher-ranking official can crush people to death. After all, you are my father. If you want to use force, I can't fight back, so I have no choice but to accept it." Li Chengqian said dejectedly.

Li Shimin looked at Li Chengqian's dejected expression and scolded him with a smile, "You bastard, I don't know what you are worried about. Aren't you afraid that the ministers will be dissatisfied, causing suspicion and rumors? With your father behind you, you can do it without any worries."

"Father, do you really believe that I can handle the affairs of state?" Li Chengqian asked in confusion.

"Yes. Actually, Dalang's worry is unnecessary. In the past few years, Dalang has presided over reforms and has made remarkable achievements. All the officials, both inside and outside the court, have witnessed it. Your title of the Holy Prince is everyone's recognition of you. Dalang, what is there to worry about? Throughout the ages, how many holy kings and wise rulers have toiled for their entire lives and spent all their efforts on government affairs. As a father, I have also felt physically and mentally exhausted in the past few years.

"Da Lang, you are so outstanding, don't you want to share some of the hard work for your father?" Li Shimin said gently. Li Chengqian looked at Li Shimin, who was in his early thirties and had been burdened by government affairs, and had white hair. He felt very sad and knelt down and choked with sobs.

"I am an unfilial child, but I am willing to share your worries. I hope you take care of yourself."

"Haha, I, Li Shimin, may not be the greatest emperor throughout history. But I have given birth to a best prince and son who is the best in history. Having such a son is enough to comfort me in my life." Li Shimin laughed and helped Li Chengqian up.

The father and son chatted and laughed for a while, and Li Shimin was going back to the palace to handle government affairs. Before leaving, Li Chengqian suddenly asked in confusion.

"Aye! Every time he sees me, Aye has a stick with him. Every time he sees me, he is prepared? Ready to beat me at any time?"

"Haha, Dalang often does stupid things, so as a father I have to give him a warning from time to time. Besides, the government affairs are complicated, and when I'm in a bad mood, beating my son can help me vent my anger. Anyway, I'm free anyway, so I might as well beat my son for fun." Li Shimin laughed.

"You beat me to vent your anger? You beat your son for fun when you have nothing to do? Old man, you are so cruel." Li Chengqian said depressedly.

Looking at Li Chengqian's deflated expression, he laughed out loud and left in a happy mood.

On the second day, the palace and the three provinces and six ministries sent reports from all over the country and various court affairs to Li Chengqian's residence. Looking at the pile of memorials, Li Chengqian wailed. He had no choice but to start dealing with them, and he was secretly criticizing Li Shimin.

A month passed in a flash. Li Chengqian was getting more and more adept at handling state affairs. Seeing that Li Chengqian was quite knowledgeable and able to make decisions, and doing a very good job, all the officials admired him. Li Shimin was even happier.

On this day, Li Chengqian was reviewing memorials.

"What the hell is going on here? The governor of Jingzhou actually submitted a petition to ask for a title for a sorcerer and to promote his teachings." Li Chengqian frowned as he looked at the petition submitted by the governor of Jingzhou. He wrote the word "refute" and then wrote.

"I have heard that you are from a noble family of scholars, so how could you not know what Confucius once said: 'A gentleman should not speak of strange things, supernatural powers, or demons.' You are the father of a state and an important official in the imperial court. How could you believe in such things as ghosts?" He then put the memorial aside without giving it much thought.

However, what Li Chengqian never expected was that the sect mentioned by the Jingzhou Governor would eventually become a cult that almost brought disaster to the Tang Dynasty.

When Li Chengqian was about to review the next memorial, Ling'er's voice suddenly rang out.

"Brother Qian, the system has released a side quest."

"Hey, girl, I haven't contacted your brother for a long time. What's wrong? Do you miss your brother?" Li Chengqian said in a frivolous tone.

"Brother Qian, please stop making trouble. The system has issued a side quest: Zhangsun Wugou was angry, which led to premature birth and difficult labor, which is life-threatening. The host must keep Zhangsun Wugou and her daughter safe. Mission successful: reward of 20 system coins. Mission failed: no punishment. In addition, due to price changes, 2 strings of money can now be exchanged for 1000 system coins." Ling'er said.

"What? Difficult labor?" Li Chengqian heard that Zhangsun Wugou was going to give birth early and had a difficult labor. He stood up in shock and didn't listen to the rest of the words. In ancient times, giving birth was like fighting death for women, and difficult labor would increase the probability of maternal death.

Back to this morning, Zhangsun Wugou was idle and was supported by a palace maid while strolling in the Imperial Garden. When she arrived in front of a pavilion in the Imperial Garden, she saw a beautiful woman from Goguryeo who came to congratulate Li Chengqian during his crowning ceremony, Park Mi-hye, who was recently canonized by Li Shimin, sitting in the pavilion.

Park Mi-hye was the daughter of a minister of Goguryeo. She was beautiful and charming, and was very good at sex. She did all kinds of things to please Li Shimin. Li Shimin was so pleased with her service that he could not let her go and stayed at her place every night.

Soon after entering the palace, Park Mi-hui was favored by Li Shimin. She relied on Li Shimin's favor and was spoiled since childhood, so she was arrogant. She was quite disrespectful to Changsun Wugou and other concubines in the harem, and often ridiculed them.

When Changsun Wugou saw this girl, he frowned and was about to turn around and leave.

"Isn't this Her Majesty the Queen? Why did she leave after seeing me? Does Her Majesty the Queen have something against me? Or is it that the Crown Prince is the regent, and a mother is honored by her son, so the Queen doesn't think highly of concubines like us?" Park Mi-hye smiled contemptuously when she saw Changsun Wugou.

Changsun Wugou frowned even deeper and said, "Pu Zhaoyi, please be careful with your words. How could I look down on you and other concubines? It is the will of His Majesty that my Dalang is the regent. It has nothing to do with me. Besides, Dalang is the crown prince of this dynasty. There is nothing wrong with him being the regent and governing the country." Changsun Wugou said.

"Hmph, isn't it just that she was born a few years earlier? What virtue does the crown prince have to govern the country? When I give birth to a prince, I'll let Your Majesty change the crown prince. With Your Majesty's love for me, there's nothing wrong with that. The queen is old and her beauty has faded, and Your Majesty has no interest in her. I advise you to report to His Majesty as soon as possible and give up the throne." Park Mi-hye said sarcastically.

"How dare you, I am the Queen of the Tang Dynasty, and you dare to ridicule me and disrespect the Crown Prince." Changsun Wugou said angrily. Changsun Wugou was a generous person who disdained the competition for favor in the harem, but Li Chengqian was her Achilles' heel. Seeing that Park Mi-hye had the idea of ​​persuading Li Shimin to change the Crown Prince, she flew into a rage.

Park Meihui was about to retort when she saw Li Shimin coming over. Her expression immediately changed, and she knelt down to Changsun Wugou with a wronged look on her face, and said in a horrified tone.

"Your Majesty, when did I ever seduce the king? How can I be called a foxy woman? If Your Majesty does not like me serving Your Majesty, you can tell Your Majesty not to come to my place in the future. Why do you have to punish me to kneel before you for no reason?

Your Majesty favors me, I didn't force it, how can Your Majesty treat me like this. If Your Majesty is jealous of me, please let me die, don't insult me ​​as a foxy woman." Park Mi-hye said with tears in her eyes, I felt pity for her.

Changsun Wugou was looking confused when she heard Li Shimin speak in a bad tone behind her.

"Queen, you are the head of the harem, the mother of the country, and the role model for all women in the world. How can you be so jealous? Insulting people with your words and punishing concubines at every turn, how can a queen of a country act?"

"I am jealous? I insulted her with words? I punished the concubine? Li Erlang, you and I have known each other since childhood and have been married for more than ten years. How can I, Changsun Wugou, be jealous? How dare you say that about me? You!" Before Changsun Wugou finished speaking, she suddenly felt an unbearable abdominal pain and could not stand steadily. Li Shimin was shocked when he saw this and hurriedly ordered people to send Changsun Wugou back to the palace and summon the imperial physician.

Time goes back to the present. At this moment, a palace servant ran in anxiously. Seeing Li Chengqian, he knelt down and said, "Your Highness, the Crown Prince, the Queen suddenly had abdominal pain this morning. The imperial physician said that the Queen was going to give birth early. She is now in a coma due to dystocia. Your Majesty, please summon the Crown Prince to the palace immediately."

"What caused the premature delivery?" Li Chengqian asked sternly.

"I don't know." The palace maid trembled and said. Li Chengqian didn't ask any more questions and rode towards the palace. Li Chengqian had the privilege of riding a horse in the forbidden palace. Along the way, the palace maids saw that Li Chengqian looked unhappy and angry. They all bowed their heads and saluted, not daring to speak. Li Chengqian rode to the Lizheng Palace, dismounted and ran into the palace.

When they entered the palace, they saw Li Shimin with a sad face, walking around anxiously. Li Yuan sat in the main seat with an angry face, looking at Li Shimin. Li Tai and Li Lizhi cried breathlessly. The three-year-old Li Zhi was frightened and burst into tears when he saw everyone's tense expressions and the solemn atmosphere. Seeing Li Chengqian coming, Li Zhi stumbled and ran into Li Chengqian's arms.

Li Chengqian picked up the young Li Zhi and comforted Li Tai, Li Lizhi and Li Zhi with a gentle voice. Seeing that Li Zhi stopped crying, he ordered people to take Li Zhi away. His expression was solemn.

Zhangsun Wugou was kind and generous to the people in the harem. Everyone in the harem loved Zhangsun Wugou. When all the concubines, except Park Mi-hui, heard that Zhangsun Wugou had a difficult delivery, they all rushed to the harem, worried.

Among all the concubines, Changsun Wugou and Concubine Yang had the best relationship. After Li Chengqian greeted everyone, Concubine Yang walked over and grabbed Li Chengqian's hand to comfort him.

"The queen is kind and will be blessed by heaven. Don't worry, Dalang."

"Aunt Yang, what made Mother act like this?" Li Chengqian asked. Concubine Yang looked embarrassed and hesitated to speak. Li Chengqian was about to ask Li Shimin when he saw Zhangsun Wuji and Zhangsun Chong rushing over.

Changsun Wuji entered the palace and asked Li Shimin why Changsun Wugui was like this. Li Shimin hesitated. Li Chengqian saw this and gave Changsun Chong a look, and the latter nodded and left.

At this moment, the imperial physician came out of the delivery room, knelt down and spoke in a trembling voice.

"Your Majesty, the Queen had a difficult delivery and has been in a coma for a long time. Her breathing is weak and her pulse is unstable. I'm afraid."

"Speak. Why are you hesitating?" Li Yuan frowned.

"Your Majesty, I am afraid that Her Royal Highness the Queen will have a hard time surviving this disaster." The imperial physician buried his head even deeper and said tremblingly.

"Bullshit, how could anything happen to my Guanyin maid? Don't you usually claim to be famous doctors and national experts? Let me tell you, if there is anything wrong with my Guanyin maid, I will let your whole family be buried with her." Li Shimin said angrily.

"Why are you yelling? It's Erlang's fault. You favored the foreign concubine and neglected Guanyin maid, and now you scolded Guanyin maid because of the foreign concubine. If it weren't for this, how could my good daughter-in-law have a difficult birth.

Imperial physician, I don't care what method or medicine you use, I want my daughter-in-law to be safe." Li Yuan said angrily.

"Li Erlang, it's your business if you dote on the foreign concubine, but why did you scold my sister when she was pregnant? Since my sister married you, she has given birth to your children and taken care of the household chores. Has she ever complained?

If anything happens to my sister, I, Changsun Wuji, will risk confiscating my family and exterminating my clan to have a say in you." Seeing that his sister, who had been dependent on him since childhood, was on the verge of death, Changsun Wuji, regardless of the rules of monarch and subject, shouted sternly.

Li Shimin knew he was in the wrong, so he lowered his head and said nothing. Li Tai and Li Lizhi were so scared after hearing what the imperial physician said that they grabbed Li Chengqian's sleeves and burst into tears.

"Brother, is our mother dying? We don't want our mother to die."

"Don't worry, mother will not collapse as long as my elder brother is here. Even the King of Hell can't take mother away." Li Chengqian touched the two men's heads and forced a smile.