Tang Dynasty: Father, if you don't rebel, I will!

Everyone said something to me.

Under the leadership of Empress Zhangsun, a few words were enough to make Li Chengqian look defeated and unwillingly give up the action of taking off his dragon robe.

However, this situation, which was outside his plans, still made him quite unhappy.

Soon after, Li Gang, the Junior Guardian of the Crown Prince, Yu Shinan, the Junior Tutor of the Crown Prince, and Kong Yingda, the Junior Preceptor of the Crown Prince, arrived at the scene under the leadership of Prince Li Zhi.

Li Gang was carried over in a sedan chair by eunuchs.

He was really too old. Although the Crown Prince sent him secret medicines every month to nourish him, time waits for no one. It was fine for him to walk slowly, but now His Highness the Crown Prince was wearing the dragon robe, such an important event.

This forced him to agree to the Prince of Jin's transgression.

"Your Majesty, we, your humble servants, pay our respects..."

After bowing to Empress Zhangsun, the three were finally able to turn their gaze to Li Chengqian, who was now dressed in a dragon robe.

"Tsk tsk tsk... This dragon robe is truly suitable for the Crown Prince."

Kong Yingda stroked his beard, his eyes filled with excitement and fervor. As the Crown Prince's teacher, his status would naturally rise if the Crown Prince ascended the throne, and the status of the Kong family would also be greatly enhanced.

This is an objective fact, and no matter how you look at it, it's still true.

Yu Shinan bowed formally to Li Chengqian: "Your subject Yu Shinan greets Your Highness..."

Although he didn't directly address Li Chengqian as "Your Majesty," the wrinkles on his face had already folded into the shape of an old chrysanthemum, and he smiled and cupped his hands in greeting.

"Your Highness has finally decided to take this step. In fact, Your Highness should have put on this dragon robe long ago. This is also His Majesty's wish. Why should you hold back? We will take care of everything. When the people of the world learn that Your Highness has ascended the throne, they will only cheer 'Long live the Emperor!'"

Li Chengqian: "......"

Is this what I'm worried about?

Li Gang, however, looked at Li Chengqian with a smile and immediately hit the nail on the head.

"Hehe, Your Highness is worried about losing your freedom after ascending the throne, isn't that right?"

"In fact, there is no need to fear the throne. The retired emperor is still vigorous, and Your Majesty is in the prime of life. The affairs of the court are clear and efficient. As officials of the Tiance Mansion, we will stand on Your Highness's side and help you supervise the affairs of the court."

"With the Duke of England serving as a Grand Councilor, Your Highness need not worry about national affairs or military matters. As long as you are not away for several months, it is not a big problem for Your Highness to travel by train to various places to see the people's conditions."

Sure enough, Li Chengqian's expression improved somewhat.

I reluctantly accepted it in my heart.

Not long after, the sixth prince arrived at the Eastern Palace with a group of Dukes and nobles from Chang'an who were in a great hurry.

Before he could even see the person, Li Chengqian heard two loud voices.

"Your Highness, Your Highness, you must not hesitate!"

"Your Highness, this is His Majesty's will; you must not disobey your sovereign and father!"

They were Duke Ashina Quli of Du State and Duke Yuchi Jingde of E State.

Li Yin's figure appeared quickly, with Ashina Quli and Yuchi Jingde behind him resembling a lion and a chimpanzee.

Behind the two was their uncle, Duke Huo, Chai Shao, who was also in Chang'an.

Fang Xuanling, the first Grand Secretary of the Tang Dynasty and Duke of Liang.

Second Grand Secretary, Duke of Cai, Du Ruhui.

Feng Deyi, Minister of Revenue and Duke of Mi.

Pei Ji, the retired former Left and Right Ministers of the State of Wei, and Xiao Yu, the Duke of Song, also rushed over, breathless.

The other six ministers, the Grand Censor of the Censorate, and others also rushed over.

Almost the instant everyone saw Li Chengqian, they all shouted anxiously.

"Your Highness, you must not hesitate!"

Li Chengqian: "......"

He glanced sideways at Zheng Jiang, one of his fathers-in-law whom he had demoted, with dead fish eyes. Zheng Jiang was the most agitated among the group, shouting anxiously.

On the other hand, he even looked anxious and tearful.

It's as if Li Chengqian saying he wants to take off his dragon robe and delay his ascension to the throne is some heinous crime.

Empress Zhangsun looked at her eldest son with a half-smile.

"Now that your father has agreed, the retired emperor has agreed, the officials have no objections, and your mother also supports your ascension to the throne, Crown Prince, do you still want to continue to defy the world and remain the Crown Prince?"

Li Tai tugged at Li Chengqian's sleeve: "Brother, it's really time for you to ascend the throne. We can't delay any longer!"

Li Zhi, also a son of the same empress, whispered his advice.

"Brother, Father is now focused on preparing for the western expedition. He has truly entrusted the Tang Dynasty to you. So, ascend the throne. Well, if you want to travel, I can help you review some documents."

Prince Yan, Li Yun, seized the opportunity to say, "Your Majesty, the railway from Hebei to Henan is almost completed. I will speed up the railway construction to Zhenbei and Longyou, so it will be more convenient for Your Majesty to travel around."

"You shall be the emperor!"

"Yes, Your Majesty, you should be the emperor."

“You’re not worried, but your brothers and I are worried for you, and the people are certainly more worried than we are!”

"That's right, that's right..."

Listening to the urging and persuasion of his younger brothers, Fang Xuanling and others who rushed to the palace also kept trying to persuade them.

Li Chengqian was extremely annoyed, but he knew that he couldn't avoid this blow today.

"Okay!"

He shouted loudly, as if he had made a decision that went against the ancestors' wishes.

He gritted his teeth and said with difficulty, "I can ascend the throne, but at the very least, it must be in the ninth year of Zhenguan! This year, let's focus on completing the wedding of the Prince of Chu!"

The younger brothers were still somewhat dissatisfied, and Prince Li You of Chu also wanted to say that his own marriage could be postponed so that his elder brother's enthronement ceremony could be held first.

But Empress Zhangsun stopped him with a single glance.

She knew that her eldest son was determined and would not compromise any further. However, so be it, the ninth year of Zhenguan.

However, there are only about six months left.

Fang Xuanling coughed lightly and bowed to Li Chengqian, saying, "Your subject obeys! In fact, even if Your Highness hadn't said anything, we would have postponed the enthronement ceremony until next year. After all, since Your Highness has ascended the throne, many things need to be arranged in advance."

Minister of Justice Li Daozong nodded: "That's right. Your Highness needs to grant a general amnesty upon ascending the throne. However, our Great Tang is now implementing new policies, and legal reform is one of the most important aspects. While a general amnesty will not pardon serious criminals, there are still some prisoners whose cases can be handled in varying degrees of severity. In half a year, I can lead the officials of the Ministry of Justice to process all these backlogged cases."

Minister of Revenue Feng Deyi bowed.

"I will coordinate the relocation and settlement of residents in the northern desert region before Your Highness ascends the throne next year."

Wang Ming, the Minister of Personnel, was also in a good mood: "I will lead the Ministry of Personnel to coordinate the vacancies of officials in various regions, and strive to conduct a performance evaluation of the principal officials in various regions within six months, and eliminate some of the officials who do not meet the standards."

Tang Jian, the Minister of Rites, was also all smiles, as if he had won a great victory.

"I will inform all the vassal states of the Great Tang Dynasty, and instruct their kings or send envoys to attend Your Highness's enthronement ceremony next year."

Li Chengqian had no way to resist; things had already been said to this extent.

At this point, Mingming had initially intended to urge his younger brothers to get married as soon as possible, but he never expected that the fire would eventually spread to him.

He inexplicably became a prince wearing a dragon robe.

Morning next day.

Li Chengqian sat on the dragon throne, and the eunuch Wang De standing beside him would occasionally glance at the prince out of the corner of his eye. The dragon robe really suited the prince well, and the embroiderers and weavers of the Imperial Household Department should receive a reward.

As the ceremony for the start of the court assembly concluded, before the officials could even step forward and speak...

Prince Li Yin of Liang, standing in the row of princes, stepped forward, holding a scroll of cloth that appeared to be covered with writing.

"Your subject, the Prince of Liang, has a memorial to present!"

"The people of Silla are grateful for the virtues of our Great Tang Dynasty, and for our Great Tang Dynasty's assistance in quelling the war and providing them with high-yield seeds and literacy education. Now, your humble servant, the Minister in charge of Silla, presents a petition from the people of Silla."

"We humbly beseech the Great Tang Dynasty to grant the people of Silla the status of subjects of the Tang Dynasty!"

"Nassilla is one with our Great Tang! Together we will cultivate heavenly blessings and forever exemplify your holy virtues!"