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

Li Chengqian was talking to everyone when he suddenly heard a young man's frivolous and dissolute laughter coming from downstairs.

"Oh! Where did this young lady come from? She is so beautiful. This face, this figure, wow, are just exquisite. It must be very satisfying to hold her under you. This young lady is not from here, right? Come over here and let this prince take a closer look."

"Master, this is the maid of a merchant from Tang. She lives in our store now. If you like her, you can take her home to enjoy. It is a blessing for a maid to be favored by the master." The shopkeeper ran out from behind the counter with a flattering smile and said in a very flattering way. Seeing that Li Ling'er was dressed in ordinary clothes and was preparing food and tea for Li Chengqian and his group downstairs, the shopkeeper thought she was Li Chengqian's maid.

"A maid from a Tang merchant? The women from Tang are really much prettier than those from Goguryeo. A maid has such a pretty face and figure, much better than those vulgar women in the city. Young lady, this prince has taken a fancy to you, please come back with me. You can enjoy silks, satins, delicacies from land and sea, as long as you let this prince enjoy your body." The young man said with an obscene look in his eyes.

Li Ling'er shouted tenderly upon hearing this.

"Where did you come from, you lecher? Don't be so rude. You can't touch my wife. You flirted with a decent woman in broad daylight in front of everyone. Is there any law in Liaodong City?"

"The king's law? In Liaodong City, this prince is the king's law. Young lady, don't be ungrateful. You are a merchant's maid, and it is your blessing for three lifetimes to be able to like you. Tsk tsk, listen to this voice, it is really beautiful. Just hearing the voice, this prince is already burning with desire. When I think of you enjoying yourself under my crotch and making beautiful sounds, this prince can't wait.

Young lady, please follow me back quickly. I promise to make you feel like you are in heaven, rich and glorious. Hehe." The young man said with a lewd smile, and the servants behind him also laughed lewdly. As the young man spoke, he stretched out his hand to flirt with Li Ling'er, but Li Ling'er quickly dodged and pushed the young man's hand away with a palm.

"Oh, you're pretty hot. This prince likes people like you. Several Tang country girls like you have never escaped from this prince's grasp. Do you think you can be spared? Come on, tie you up for this prince. When this prince has enjoyed you enough, I will reward you." The young man said with a sly smile. The servants behind him surrounded Li Ling'er with lewd smiles.

Li Chengqian heard this in the room, his face was as cold as frost, anger gathered between his brows, and he led everyone out of the room. Downstairs, a young man wearing bright yellow clothes embroidered with dragon patterns was standing in front of Li Linger with a lewd smile on his face. The young man's tear ducts were black, his face was pale, and his eyes were red. It was obvious that he had been drinking too much and had no self-control.

"Damn it, I've really opened my eyes today. They use bright yellow as the background color of their signboards, and now someone is openly wearing bright yellow clothes with dragon patterns, and calling himself a prince. Damn it, Goguryeo is dead, how come a prince has appeared again. Is this Liaodong City still the territory of my Tang Dynasty? Damn it, how dare you tease my wife?

Ah Hu, go down and break the hands and feet of that bitch who molested my wife. Spare his life, I want to ask who gave him the courage. The rest of you, if you dare to resist, chop them all up. Wu Qianyuan immediately gave a signal, and the soldiers outside the city took my gold medal and entered the city immediately, blocked Liaodong City, and brought all the officials in the city here. "Li Chengqian could no longer bear the anger at this time, and shouted angrily.

After Deng Xiaohu and the others bowed their hands in response, Deng Xiaohu flew downstairs directly, and before the people downstairs could react, he grabbed the arms of the playboy, and used both hands to pull off the arms, and then kicked the two knees of the playboy to pieces. The playboy screamed and fell to the ground wailing.

Seeing this, the servants behind him rushed forward to rescue him. Deng Xiao roared like a tiger, drew his sword, and chopped all the servants into pieces.

"Ah, who are you? Do you know who I am? How dare you hurt me? I am bleeding a lot. Call a doctor quickly." The playboy screamed miserably.

Li Linger stood aside with a cold face. When she saw the dandy fall to the ground, she raised her pretty eyebrows and walked forward. She sneered at the dandy, then stepped hard on the dandy's crotch several times, snatched the saber from Deng Xiaohu's hand, and stabbed the dandy's crotch several times. A mixture of red, yellow, and white liquid oozed out of the dandy's crotch. Li Linger sneered.

"Hehe, my husband said that he would cripple your hands and feet, so let's cripple your third leg as well. This will prevent you from causing harm to other women. If you dare to tease me, I will castrate you." The playboy was in so much pain that he broke out in a cold sweat and screamed in agony.

"Why are you yelling? It's just that his limbs are broken and his life is gone. What's there to howl about? You ask who he is? He is the Tiger Marquis of the Tang Dynasty who frightened Goguryeo so much that he pulled out arrows and ate his eyes.

Don't worry, the lord said to spare your life, you won't die for now. Besides, if I let you die like this, it would be too easy for you." Wang Lianghe walked to the side of the dandy and said coldly, then used a silver needle to stop the bleeding for the dandy.

"The Tiger Marquis of the Tang Dynasty? Are you Deng Xiaohu, the servant of Li Chengqian?" the playboy asked in surprise.

"How dare you call my master by his name?" Deng Xiaohu was furious and slapped the playboy unconscious.

Soon, the soldiers outside the city received the signal and rushed into the city. When the city defense soldiers saw the gold medal shown by the Prince's Palace Guard, they all knelt down in fear and dared not stop them. The Prince's Palace Guard sent half of them to surround Chengtian Restaurant and guard the surroundings, while the other half rushed to various government offices and took all the officials to the restaurant.

After the Lord of Liaodong City was taken to the restaurant, he was shocked and angry when he saw the dude lying unconscious on the ground with a pool of blood beside him.

"Where did you come from, evil thief, to be so rude to me? Who gave you the right to lead troops into the city without authorization and insult the officials appointed by the court? You killed innocent people in broad daylight. Aren't you afraid of the law?"

"What a great prestige! The city lord is not obedient to my orders?" Li Chengqian changed into the prince's uniform in the room and slowly walked down the stairs. Deng Xiaohu saw Li Chengqian sitting downstairs and shouted with his sword.

"His Royal Highness the Crown Prince of the Tang Dynasty is here, why don't you kneel down and bow down to him?"

"Prince." When the officials in Liaodong City saw Li Chengqian sitting not far away in the crown prince's uniform, they were so frightened that they all knelt on the ground and spoke in fear.

"I didn't know the Crown Prince was coming, so I failed to go out of my way to greet you. Please forgive me for my impoliteness."

"Atonement? I have come here incognito, and you have really opened my eyes. Liaodong City is an important town in Liaodong, but have you seen how the people in Liaodong City live and what the city looks like? Are you all blind? A local official has run a place like this, have you lost your conscience? How could there be such ruthless people like you in our Tang Dynasty?

A mere restaurant, how dare they use bright yellow as the background for their signboard, not only use the taboo of the venerable, but also use the same meaning as my name. They even dare to change the silver price without permission and speak disrespectfully to the court. Oh, and what is this thing lying on the ground? It dares to wear a bright yellow dragon-patterned suit, and calls itself a prince, flirting with my beloved concubine. I have destroyed Goguryeo, so where did the prince come from? Are you trying to set up a rebellion?

Humph, you are disrespectful to the royal family, disrespectful to the court, and secretly change the silver price, making the people under your rule miserable. Is this how you are as an official? Someone openly wears usurpatory clothing, but you turn a blind eye to it. Are you blind? I have to say that you are too bold. Are you bullying the Tang Dynasty because its laws are not strict? Do you still have the court in your eyes? "Li Chengqian said angrily.

The officials in Liaodong City were so frightened that they knelt on the ground, trembling and not daring to speak.

"Why aren't you talking? Do you know this traitor?" Li Chengqian pointed at the unconscious dude and said.

"This man is my son Gaoshou. I was originally a member of the royal family of the former kingdom of Goguryeo. I am the only child of my son, and he has been spoiled by me and my wife since he was young. My son did not know that the crown prince had arrived in Liaodong City, and he had no intention of offending him. I did not intend to offend the crown prince and his concubine.

Moreover, my family has absolutely no intention of treason, let alone rebellion. My son committed a heinous crime unintentionally, and it is my fault for not disciplining him properly. All the sins are my fault, and I am willing to die to atone for my sins and hand over all my property.

Your Highness, please consider that I have offered my city to the Tang Dynasty and that I have only one son in my old age. Please spare my son’s life and leave a trace of incense for my family.” Gao Jianshu, the governor of Liaocheng Prefecture and the lord of Liaodong City, kowtowed and said.

"Humph! You're scared now, what were you doing before? According to the Tang Dynasty Law, anyone other than a saint who uses bright yellow is considered treason and will be punished with the death of all nine generations of the clan. Wuxin? You let your son go with just one word. What use is there for the Tang Dynasty Law?

"Hmph! Besides, your son wore presumptuous clothes, spoke treasonous words, and flirted with the Crown Prince's concubine. This is indeed a rebellious act, a way to death. The Crown Prince's concubine has imposed a light punishment, which has completely abolished your son's uncivilized behavior. You have no descendants." Zhuge Fu sneered as he stood beside Li Chengqian.

"Ah! Gone? I will have no descendants? Li Chengqian, you are so cruel. My son did not mean to offend you, but you cut off my bloodline. I will not let you go even if I become a ghost." Gao Jianshu cursed like a madman when he heard that his son was castrated and he would have no descendants.

"Okay, I'll wait for you to turn into a ghost and come to me. Knock Ah Hu out and drag him away. Arrest Gao Jianshu's family and wait for their fate." Li Chengqian said calmly. Deng Xiaohu stepped forward and knocked Gao Jianshu out with a punch. He ordered the guards to drag Gao's father and son out, and ordered a team of people to go to Gao's mansion to arrest Gao Jianshu's family.

"Where is the president of the Liaocheng Prefecture Supervisory Council?" Li Chengqian asked.

"The guilty minister, Tian Buguang, the director of the Liaochengzhou Supervisory Office, is here." Tian Buguang, the director of the Liaochengzhou Supervisory Office, knelt down and said in fear.

"As the director of a state's supervisory council, you are responsible for supervising local officials. Now such a bad thing has happened. Do you have anything to explain to me?" Li Chengqian asked.

"I know that I am guilty of a grave sin and have no excuse. In my house there is evidence that Gao Jianshu and officials at all levels in Liaocheng Prefecture secretly exchanged money and oppressed the people. I have lived in fear every day for the past year and have thought about reporting it. However, Gao Jianshu threatened the lives of my family and bribed me with gold, silver and beautiful maids, so I gradually fell into his trap and helped him to commit atrocities. Now that the truth has been revealed, I feel relieved. I am ashamed of the grace of the emperor and I ask to die." Tian Buguang said with relief.

"Very good. Come here, go to Tian Buguang's house and get the evidence. If the evidence is true, I can spare the lives of your family." Li Chengqian said.

"I, your humble servant, thank you, Your Highness." Tian Buguang kowtowed happily.

"Does anyone else have anything to say?" Li Chengqian asked coldly. The others knelt on the ground in fear and dared not speak.

"Hehe, it seems there is nothing more to say. Do you think that if you don't say anything, I won't be able to deal with you? Don't worry, if I can easily let you parasites go, I won't be the crown prince of the Tang Dynasty.

Come here, throw all the people and their families into the prison and wait for their fate. Zhici, I order you to check the evidence and lead the Prince's Palace Guards to arrest the offending officials. If they resist, kill them without mercy." Li Chengqian said coldly.

Five days later, Zhuge Fu arrested all the officials of Liaocheng Prefecture who had committed crimes and brought them to Liaodong City based on the evidence. With the cooperation of Wang Lianghe and the guards of the Prince's Palace, he interrogated them overnight and submitted the signed testimony to Li Chengqian for review. After reading the testimony, Li Chengqian swept the signed testimony to the ground and shouted angrily.

"Beasts, they are all a bunch of beasts. They bully the people, rob women, extort money, take human lives, confuse right and wrong, and can't tell black from white. These beasts dare to do anything. There is no point in keeping such wolves and dogs, people with beastly faces. Most merciful, order the crown prince to supervise the state education."

In ancient times, although the crown prince also had the right to issue certain orders. But in general, especially for national decrees, the crown prince could not directly issue orders, because the crown prince was not considered a government official. Unless the emperor ordered the crown prince to be responsible for superintendent or a certain government affairs, the crown prince could issue orders to other government officials. At this time, the order issued by the crown prince was called the crown prince's decree. Others were called orders.

"I respectfully request your instructions, Your Highness." Zhuge Fu knelt down and bowed his head.

"The chief culprit, Gao Jianshu, the governor of Liaocheng Prefecture and the lord of Liaodong City, and his son committed treason and brought disaster to the area. Gao Jianshu and his son were sentenced to be skinned and stuffed with straw, and all the men in his nine clans were beheaded. The women were demoted to slavery and sold to brothels to be prostitutes forever.

Tian Buguang, the director of the Liaocheng Prefecture Supervisory Office, assisted the tyrant in his evil deeds. Considering that he voluntarily handed over the evidence and had a good attitude of repentance, he was sentenced to immediate execution and his property was confiscated.

Yin Buhui, the chief of the Liaocheng Prefecture Criminal Court, and Lu Tao, the chief of the Liaocheng Prefecture Law Court, accepted bribes, broke the law knowingly, and took human life lightly. They were sentenced to death by slicing and the extermination of their three clans.

For the rest of the criminals, those who have killed people will have their property confiscated and their clans exterminated. For those who have not, if they have embezzled more than 1000 guan, their entire family will be executed, and their three generations will not be allowed to hold office. For those who have embezzled more than 100 guan but less than 1000 guan, their heads will be cut off and their property confiscated, and their families will be exiled to Lingnan as slaves, and they will not be allowed to return if pardoned. For those who have embezzled less than 100 guan, they will be beaten with 40 strokes of the cane, and their entire family will be exiled to Lingnan as slaves.

This matter does not need to be reported to the Dali Temple for review. The emperor will approve it and execute it directly. Tomorrow, the charges will be announced outside Liaodong City and the collective punishment will be carried out. After the Gao family father and son are skinned and stuffed with straw, they will be placed at the gate of Liaodong City to warn future generations and allow passers-by to spit on them.

In addition, the events that took place in Liaodong City should be recorded in detail in the imperial copy and distributed to all prefectures and counties of the Tang Dynasty as a warning to all officials in the world. "Li Chengqian said sternly.

"I will follow the orders of the Crown Prince." Zhuge Fu responded loudly.

On the second day, outside Liaodong City, Zhuge Fu loudly read out the charges against the officials and the prince's instructions in front of the people of Liaodong City. He ordered the Jinyiwei secret service to skin Gao's father and son alive, stuff them with straw, and stick them at the city gate in front of the people of Liaodong City. Nearly a thousand officials and their families who committed crimes were collectively executed, and the people of Liaodong City applauded when they saw this.