Li Shimin faked his death? Then I will be powerful enough to conquer the world!

The first snow of the first year of Xianheng quietly descended on Chang'an City with a biting cold.

Leaden clouds hung low, covering the prosperous capital like a heavy curtain. The bluestone pavements in the streets and alleys were covered with white snow, making a crackling sound when stepped on.

The copper clock in Xuanzheng Hall dripped dully and rhythmically, as if counting the passage of time, but it could not cover up the undercurrent of discussion among the people.

When the white flag of the Ye Ting Palace slowly rose, the news was like thunder, instantly causing an uproar in Chang'an City.

"Queen Wang is dead!" These few short words, as if with wings, quickly flew across Zhuque Street and spread to every corner.

The tavern in South City was packed with people. The storyteller stood on the stage and slammed the gavel, attracting everyone's attention.

He said with an exaggerated expression and spit flying, "Ladies and gentlemen, Queen Wang was fine, but she fell ill after Concubine Wu entered the palace. This is so strange that it can't be explained away as a coincidence!"

The drinkers in the audience immediately started talking to each other.

Someone lowered their voice, their face full of suspicion, "That's right! For so many years, Queen Wang has failed to give Your Majesty a child, but as soon as Concubine Wu entered the palace, she was already pregnant and bewitched Your Majesty. There might be some shameful plot going on here!"

As the news spread further and further, all kinds of speculation and rumors became rampant.

Some people said that when Queen Wang was seriously ill, they saw the palace maids around Concubine Wu sneaking in and out of the Ye Ting Palace.

Some people even claimed with certainty that Queen Wang was secretly poisoned and died.

In the streets and alleys, women gathered together, doing needlework and whispering to each other, their eyes full of speculation.

"I heard that Concubine Wu is very powerful. To get to the top, what would she not do?"

"That's right, after Queen Wang's death, isn't she the biggest beneficiary?"

These discussions, like an invisible net, enveloped the entire Chang'an City.

However, this is just the prelude to the storm.

Not long after, an even more shocking news came - His Majesty wanted to make Wu Meiniang the queen!

This news made the already bustling Chang'an City even more boiling.

People stood on the street, discussing the matter in astonishment, their eyes filled with surprise and a bit of excitement from watching the fun.

"This Wu Zhaoyi is just a Zhaoyi, how can she directly become the queen?"

"I heard she once served Emperor Taizong. That doesn't make sense!"

Everyone was talking at the same time.

Compared with the heated discussions among the people, the officials in the court were even more anxious and felt like they were facing a formidable enemy.

In their view, the matter of establishing a queen concerns the foundation of the country and must not be taken so hastily.

Although Wu Meiniang was deeply favored by His Majesty, she was once a talented woman of Emperor Taizong, and this identity became the biggest obstacle for her to ascend to the throne.

According to traditional etiquette and ethical principles, such a situation is really unacceptable.

Once this precedent is set, it will not only trigger criticism from people all over the world, but may also shake the foundation of the Tang Dynasty.

Inside the Tai Chi Hall, the atmosphere was so solemn that it was hard to breathe.

The carved dragons and painted buildings cast eerie shadows in the flickering candlelight. Li Zhi sat on the dragon throne, struggling to support his sick body.

He looked at the ministers below, all with different expressions, and said with a hint of impatience: "Come, all of you tell me, what's wrong with making Wu Meiniang the empress? Why can't I make Wu Meiniang the empress?"

The ministers below looked at each other, and for a moment no one dared to speak first.

The court was completely silent, with only the cold wind blowing in through the crack in the door, making a whistling sound.

Pei Yan was impatient and was about to step forward when he was stopped by Liu Rengui beside him.

Liu Rengui winked at him and shook his head slightly, signaling him to leave.

Although Pei Yan was full of confusion, he still managed to hold back and took a step back.

Liu Rengui knew very well that Pei Yan had a hot temper and spoke bluntly, and he was afraid that he would say something disrespectful in a fit of impulse, which would not only make the emperor angry, but also implicate everyone else and even make the entire situation of admonishment worse.

Liu Rengui straightened his official uniform, stepped forward slowly, bowed respectfully, and said, "Your Majesty, I have no objection to making Wu Meiniang a Zhaoyi, or even a Guifei. After all, this is a matter concerning Your Majesty's harem, and it is inconvenient for others to interfere too much."

"But the matter of appointing a queen is completely different. The queen is the mother of a country, shouldering the heavy responsibility of governing the country. The appointment of a queen is a matter of great importance to the prosperity and decline of the country."

"Everyone in the world knows that Wu Meiniang was once the concubine of Emperor Taizong. Your Majesty, as the Emperor of the Tang Dynasty, should set an example and follow the rules of propriety. You must not take the lead in doing anything that violates moral principles."

Liu Rengui's voice was steady and powerful, echoing in the empty hall.

At this point, Liu Rengui paused briefly, secretly glancing at Li Zhi on the dragon throne. Seeing that His Majesty did not interrupt, he continued, "If Your Majesty takes the lead in violating the rites and laws and sets this precedent, then the upper echelons will follow suit, and the entire Tang Dynasty's moral order will be thrown into chaos, with disastrous consequences."

"I implore Your Majesty to avoid suspicion and think twice before acting!"

After saying this, he bowed deeply again, and did not straighten his body for a long time, as if he was expressing his sincerity in this way.

Pei Yan, who was standing by, widened his eyes with a look of astonishment.

He never expected that Liu Rengui, who seemed calm on weekdays, would speak so bluntly, almost rubbing His Majesty's face on the ground.

Pei Yan was secretly shocked: "Old Liu, you are so bold! If it were someone else, he would have been punished by His Majesty long ago."

Li Zhi was silent for a moment and did not immediately respond to Liu Rengui's words. He just waved his hand, indicating that he should continue.

This calm and composed demeanor made all the officials present secretly amazed, and at the same time made them more nervous, not knowing how the next debate would develop.

Seeing this, Liu Rengui realized that he had been shouldering a heavy responsibility until now. As the Minister of Rites, he had to argue for his rights.

He cleared his throat and continued, "Your Majesty, during the reign of Emperor Taizong, he considered making Concubine Yang his empress. However, Wei Zheng strongly dissuaded him, citing etiquette and law. Ultimately, Emperor Taizong gave up the idea."

"During the Wei, Jin, Southern and Northern Dynasties, 369 years of chaos led to the breakdown of social order and human relations, and most of the Han Dynasty's etiquette was lost."

"At that time, it was common for fathers and sons, and brothers to pass on their wives and concubines, and social order was in chaos."

"During the Zhenguan period, the eighteen tribes of the grasslands had a widespread custom of sons marrying their father's wives and concubines after their father's death, and elder brothers marrying their younger brothers' wives after their brothers' death. They believed that this did not violate etiquette."

"Since the Northern Dynasties, steppe tribes like the Rouran and Xianbei have intermingled with the Han people, and their customs have influenced each other, resulting in some behaviors that violated moral principles not being considered unusual at the time."

"But Your Majesty, after the late emperor ascended the throne, he devoted great efforts to rectifying social order and re-establishing the ethical standards of the Han people, allowing rituals and laws to flourish again."

"He recruited talented people, revised laws, and promoted education, all in an effort to make the people of the Tang Dynasty respectful and law-abiding, and to ensure long-term peace and stability in the country."

"Does Your Majesty intend to take the lead in violating the ethical principles painstakingly established by the late emperor?"

"If this precedent is set, not only will the people of the world question your majesty's virtue, but it will also destroy the years of hard work of the late emperor!"

Liu Rengui became more and more excited as he spoke, his voice trembled slightly, and beads of sweat appeared on his forehead.

His eyes became more determined as he spoke.

There was silence in the Taiji Hall, with only Liu Rengui's voice echoing in the empty hall.

All the ministers dared not breathe, their eyes fixed on Li Zhi sitting on the dragon throne, and they were all trying to guess what His Majesty was thinking.