Traveling through Du He, Li Chengqian's rebellion begins

The palace banquet just now should have been a time for family and friends to reunite and reminisce, but it was filled with power struggles and intrigue.

No matter whether it was the princes or the concubines, all of them were trying their best to please the emperor, hoping that he would give them more power.

Li Yi knew that today was just the beginning. Before these princes and princes went to their fiefdoms, they would think of various ways to ask for benefits for them.

Du He looked at his wife who was full of emotion and said with a smile.

"Yier, isn't this just human nature?"

"Anyone who saw your majesty's appointment of the King of Wu and the King of Yue would have some thoughts in their mind, let alone the princes guarding the barren lower states."

"What's more, the reward that Your Majesty gave to King Wu is really astonishing!"

The power of the royal family is different from that of the court officials. The power of the court officials is temporary. If the heirs cannot inherit their father's business, the family will gradually decline.

Take the Huguo Mansion as an example. After Qin Shubao died, his descendants were too young to take up the responsibility, which led to the gradual decline of the family.

If he had not recommended Qin Huaidao to the Eastern Palace, perhaps the Hu Mansion would have disappeared from the court and the country in Qin Huaidao's generation.

But it is different for princes and princes. Their fiefdoms can be passed down from generation to generation. As long as the Li royal family is not destroyed, their interests can be guaranteed.

Li Yi frowned and asked, "My husband, what do you think our father wants to do by giving our third brother this great power?"

"You don't want to train him to compete with my elder brother for the throne, do you?"

The third elder brother Li Ke has always been an outstanding performer since he was a child. If he was also a legitimate son, his father would probably make him the crown prince when his eldest brother rebelled.

Now my father has appointed King Wu as the Governor of Songzhou, and he is in charge of the military affairs of three states. This power is almost as great as that of my fourth brother Li Tai.

Du He shook his head and said, "Yier, Li Ke's bloodline is complicated, and there is no one in the court who supports him to ascend the throne."

"And those who support him are either old or have lost any authority, you can rest assured."

Prince Wu Li Ke has the royal blood of the Sui and Tang dynasties flowing in his veins. If he were allowed to inherit the throne, it might cause civil unrest or even thoughts of revenge.

The civil and military officials in the court would never allow such a person to ascend the throne.

If Pei Ji were still alive, he might contact old ministers like Xiao Yu and do some small tricks behind the scenes.

Li Yi nodded with relief, then lowered the car curtain.

...

The next morning.

The arrival of the Yuanzheng Festival made the Chengyang Princess Mansion extremely lively early in the morning, and everyone was busy with smiles on their faces.

The people in the princess's mansion tore down the old door god portraits on the vermilion gate and pasted up portraits of the two ghost gods Shentu and Yulei with pious faces.

Du Wu, Zhang Shizheng and others came to the princess's mansion early in the morning, waited for Du He to finish his meal, and then escorted him to court.

While waiting, these servants will also lend a hand to the people in the princess's mansion.

They all make a living in the same mansion, and the relationship between these servants is relatively good.

"Miss Xiao Cui, give me the mahogany board and I'll hang it up."

Du Wu took two pieces of peach wood carved with the images of Shentu and Yulei handed to him by a maid, climbed up nimbly, and hung them at a specific position on the door.

Just as they were busy, Du He, breathing cold air, walked out from the side hall.

When the servants and attendants of the princess's mansion saw Du He coming out, they all bowed and saluted with smiles on their faces.

"Greetings to the Prince Consort!"

"Greetings, sir!"

Du He waved at them and then walked slowly to the gate.

Looking at the newly posted door gods and the servants wearing brand new clothes, he muttered to himself.

"It's been 19 years since Zhenguan!"

After expressing his feelings, Du He turned to look at the smiling attendants and told them a piece of great news.

"Her Royal Highness the Princess said last night that she would give you a reward after you finish your lunch."

"The reward won't be much, probably about one month's salary for you. Just consider it as a small token of appreciation from the Princess's Mansion."

This was of course Du He's own idea, but he just gave this good reputation to Li Yi.

"Oh my God!"

"They actually gave me one month's salary as a reward!"

The maids in the princess's mansion and Du He's own servants all shouted out excitedly.

This group of people were hit by such a huge surprise early in the morning, and everyone's face turned red with excitement.

This is about two hundred coins, and it is enough to buy fifty or sixty kilograms of pork!

Thanks to the innovative castration method of Duke Du Gou of Lai, the domestic pigs raised have a lighter smell and the food they cook is even more delicious.

They made money from Du He and would buy a pound of meat for their wives and children every now and then to eat as snacks.

After a brief moment of surprise, they bowed to Du He again in gratitude.

"Thank you, Princess, and thank you, Prince Consort!"

Du He shook his head slightly, and then, accompanied by Du Wu, Zhang Shizheng and others, he quickly rushed to the palace.

Today, according to the usual practice, a grand court meeting and grand display will be held.

The purpose is self-evident, which is for Li Shimin and his court officials to receive envoys from various vassal states and accept their tribute in the new year.

By the time Du He arrived at the Taiji Hall, most of the civil and military officials had already arrived.

A group of officials who were staying at the entrance of the hall and chatting bowed to Du He one after another.

"Meetings, Mr. Du."

"I wish Minister Du good health and further promotion!"

"I wish that Du Shangshu will have many wives and concubines, and many children!"

Hearing the congratulations from these officials, Du He's face was immediately filled with smiles.

After congratulating each other, Du He originally wanted to chat with his eldest brother Du Gou and ask why the third brother Du Aitong had not returned to Chang'an yet.

But Du Gou is the Shangshu Zuocheng, and he is in charge of today's grand court meeting and grand display, so he will be very busy.

Du He had no choice but to return to his seat and sit down, chatting with Hou Junji, Liu Li, Ma Zhou and others.

I don't know how long it took, but a eunuch's shout was heard outside the Taiji Hall.

"His Majesty is here!"

After hearing the eunuch's reminder, the ministers who were still wandering and chatting in the Taiji Hall quickly returned to their seats and sat down.

After a while, Li Shimin, wearing a crown with twelve strings of white beads, and Li Chengqian, wearing formal clothes, walked into the Taiji Hall.

Behind the two of them, there were actually four princes: Prince of Wei Li Tai, Prince of Jin Li Zhi, Prince of Wu Li Ke and Prince of Yue Li Zhen.

It was the first time that the civil and military officials saw the prince appear at a grand court meeting, and they immediately showed expressions of confusion on their faces.

After a moment of stunned silence, they all saluted Li Shimin and the princes.

After watching Li Shimin and the other princes take their seats, they all looked around curiously, trying to find out from other officials the purpose of His Majesty's action.

"what's the situation?"

"Why did His Majesty bring a group of princes with him?"

These officials asked around and found out that His Majesty had not mentioned this matter in advance.

After Li Shimin sat on the throne, his eyes swept over the civil and military officials, and then asked the Shangshu Zuo Pushe Changsun Wuji.

"Zuo Pushe, are you all ready?"