Chapter 88

Li Chengqian shouted sharply: "Do you think the whole world is a fool, and only you can see clearly?"

"You only see people using good deeds to do evil, but have you seen that the people of the Great Tang will be united because of this?"

"You see hypocrites filling the court, but have you seen how many people will survive because of hypocrites?"

Kong Yingda opened his mouth to argue, but was interrupted by Li Chengqian before he could speak:

"I don't care if you came here to advise me sincerely or to test me for someone else."

"I can tell you clearly that I am determined to do this. Even if the General of Heavenly Strategy comes, he cannot stop it."

After speaking, Li Chengqian flicked his sleeves and left the Lizheng Hall directly.

Kong Yingda stared blankly at Li Chengqian's departing back, and felt a bitter smile in his heart:

'Emperor, you asked me to test the Crown Prince. Isn't this making things difficult for me? The Crown Prince said so much, but he didn't say anything about his next plan.'

Kong Yingda had to admit that Li Chengqian's method was good for the Great Tang.

'Forget it! I'll just tell the truth. The Emperor will handle it himself. I'll just stay in the Guozijian and annotate books.'

Li Chengqian had too many actions, and the situation changed too fast. He couldn't see clearly long ago and could only hide.

Kong Yingda couldn't see clearly, but Zhangsun Wuji saw it very clearly, so when Xiao Yu found him, he agreed without much thought.

With Zhangsun Wuji's promise, soon a minister submitted a memorial at the court meeting:

"Reporting to the Crown Prince, recently the people in Chang'an have donated grain and cloth to the Shannan Circuit one after another."

"Such good deeds should be vigorously promoted so that the people of the Shannan Circuit know about the good deeds of the people of Chang'an."

"This subject proposes to write the donor's name on each piece of material and use public notices to inform the people of the Shannan Circuit that this move is because the Emperor cannot bear to see the people suffer, and he took the lead in donating."

Li Chengqian glanced at the minister and then looked at Li Tai with a smile that was not a smile:

"Qingque, what do you think?"

"This move is very good!"

As soon as Li Tai said this, most of the officials present agreed:

"This subject seconds that! The Emperor's benevolent heart should be spread throughout the Great Tang."

"This subject seconds that..."

Li Chengqian ignored these people and turned his gaze to Fang Xuanling and Zhangsun Wuji:

"Fang Gong, Uncle, what do you think?"

Fang Xuanling lowered his head and said calmly: "Everything is decided by Your Highness the Crown Prince. This subject has no objections."

Zhangsun Wuji agreed directly:

"This subject also thinks this move is feasible. This can not only stabilize the hearts of the people in the Shannan Circuit but also let the people of the world know the Emperor's benevolence. This is a win-win situation."

First looking at Zhangsun Wuji, then at Li Tai, Li Chengqian chuckled:

"You've become smarter! Hitting a snake at its seven inches. Qingque, your move is truly ruthless!"

"Since that's the case, then do as you say. This donation will be promoted in the Shannan Circuit in Father's name."

"How to write on the public notices and materials will be left to the Prince of Wei to be responsible."

"Your Highness the Crown Prince is wise!"

Li Chengqian looked at Li Tai and Zhangsun Wuji, and the smile at the corner of his mouth became more and more obvious:

"Qingque, Uncle, I have always been the one giving you gifts. I didn't expect you to be so polite and think of returning the gift."

"Cough cough!"

Speaking of this, Li Chengqian coughed twice to suppress the smile on his face:

"Qingque, Chang'an city also needs to pay attention. You can't just promote the Shannan Circuit, understand?"

Li Tai was a little confused. He couldn't understand why Li Chengqian gave up so quickly? And he seemed to see Li Chengqian laughing just now.

However, with Li Shimin's name, whether it was loyalty or filial piety, Li Chengqian had no reason to refuse, and most of the court officials agreed. He couldn't think of how Li Chengqian could deal with it.

"Yes!"

Li Tai and Zhangsun Wuji didn't know one thing: people only believe what they are willing to believe. Under the premise of first impressions, their move would only make others feel that Li Shimin was snatching the credit of his daughter-in-law.

If it was just that, it would be fine. As long as Li Chengqian guided it slightly, he could easily control the public notices.

After the court meeting, Li Chengqian looked at the backs of the ministers leaving and couldn't help but sigh:

"Surprises often come in unexpected ways. Am I the so-called Son of Heaven like Emperor Guangwu of Han?"

"Fang Gong, do you think if I tell Father about today's events, will he be so angry that he will return to Chang'an immediately?"

"Your Highness the Crown Prince, what do you mean?"

Li Chengqian turned his head abruptly, looking stunned:

"Fang Gong, didn't you think of it?"

Fang Xuanling shook his head: "Please enlighten me, Your Highness!"

"Enlightenment is fine! But you have to pretend to be stupid!"

"Okay!"

Li Chengqian grinned: "The Crown Princess begged the people of Chang'an to donate with tears in her eyes. Father snatching his daughter-in-law's credit—this reputation will likely be praised for generations."

"Qingque is truly a filial son, 'great filial piety in the hall'! I am just waiting for Father to come back and see how he beats Qingque and Uncle."

"Hahaha..."

Fang Xuanling was horrified. He thought that Li Shimin was on the eastern expedition, which the whole world knew. By the time the news of the Shannan Circuit flood reached Li Shimin, the Crown Princess would have finished crying, and it would be impossible to send an edict back.

The people of Chang'an are not fools. A little thought will tell them that this is snatching credit.

Thinking of this, Fang Xuanling rushed out of the Liangyi Hall, wanting to stop Li Tai from doing stupid things.

Just as he reached the door, a sentence from Li Chengqian made him have to stop:

"Fang Gong, why do you think Qingque and Uncle joined forces? Will they let go of this opportunity?"

"Is there a possibility that Uncle already thought of this consequence?"

"If Father really blames them, Uncle can directly say that he didn't consider it thoroughly and just did bad things with good intentions."

"If you stop it now, you are cutting off Uncle's retreat, and the Zhangsun family will really have a grudge with the Fang family."

Fang Xuanling turned around slowly, his eyes complex: "Your Highness the Crown Prince, do you not care about the Emperor's reputation either?"

"What other reputation does Father have? Do you really think the Xuanwu Gate incident won't be recorded in the history books?"

"As long as he can make the people live prosperously and the Great Tang can hit whoever it wants, the history books will only say he is a wise monarch. Later generations won't care about this little thing at all."

At this point, Li Chengqian paused and turned his gaze to the map on the wall:

"Just like Emperor Wu of Han, although he was poor in martial arts and the country was almost destroyed, it didn't prevent him from being a wise monarch."

"Not to mention anything else, just a Hexi Corridor is enough to make his name go down in history."

"Your Highness the Crown Prince! This is not a small matter. Snatching the credit of the younger generation is shameless, even more despicable than the Xuanwu Gate incident."

Li Chengqian spread his arms, looking helpless: "This is not my idea, so don't blame me."

"I'm just reminding you. Whether to stop Qingque or not is up to you."

"How does the saying go? Power-hungry! I don't think Qingque will listen to you."

As soon as the words fell, a soldier in armor ran in hurriedly:

"Greetings, Your Highness the Crown Prince, there is an edict from the Emperor!"

Saying this, the soldier held up two edicts with both hands high above his head.

Fang Xuanling stepped forward to take the edicts and waved his hand to let the soldier retreat.

Looking at it casually, Fang Xuanling placed the edicts in front of Li Chengqian:

"The Emperor agrees to establish the Xuancheng Department, which will be under the jurisdiction of the Secretariat. Xiao Yu will serve as the Xuancheng Minister."

"There is another edict for Your Highness the Crown Prince. This subject did not look at the specific content."

Li Chengqian picked up the memorial and looked at it, grinning:

"After a while, Qingque will return to Longxi to sacrifice to his ancestors and also go to Zhaoling to live for a period of time. This is protecting him."

"The worst thing is that he also moved Xiao Yu to be the Crown Prince's Grand Tutor. Father's heart is truly ruthless! He sells the twenty-four meritorious officials of Lingyan Pavilion as soon as he says so."

"Fang Gong, what do you think Qingque will think? Will he be quiet for a few days?"