novelcrest Chapter 4690 The Fire of Jealousy
Chapter 4690 The Fire of Jealousy
Chapter 4690 The Fire of Jealousy
Li Xiaogong was confused. He admitted that Fang Jun's words made sense, but this went against his identity as a member of the royal family. In many cases, the interests of the royal family were consistent with those of the emperor. The emperor was just a representative of the interests of the royal family. If the emperor was denied and restricted, wouldn't it also restrict the power of the royal family?
Power means benefits.
"Perhaps you are right. This approach is beneficial to the country and the people, but it is cruel and unacceptable to Your Majesty."
Fang Jun disagreed: "There is no such thing as having the best of both worlds. For example, the rain outside the window is like ointment. Farmers like its moisture, but pedestrians hate its muddy surface. The autumn moon is like a mirror. Beautiful women like it, but thieves hate its brightness. The world is so big that everyone sighs. Who can be an exception?"
Li Xiaogong did not want to say anything more, shook his head, put down the teacup, and asked: "Your Majesty slapped the Queen, and I don't know what the situation is in the palace now. I want to enter the palace. Will Erlang come with me?"
Fang Jun asked back, "Is it appropriate for me to enter the palace at this time?"
"It's not a question of whether it's appropriate or not. We must suppress the gossip inside and outside the palace. Otherwise, someone will take advantage of the opportunity to cause trouble, and the consequences will be disastrous."
Once someone causes trouble, the emperor's authority will be further reduced, which is absolutely unacceptable.
Fang Jun sighed, "I don't know what he did wrong to do such a thing. I used to pay attention to his generosity and kindness, but I didn't expect him to be so narrow-minded. It's really disappointing."
Li Xiaogong said in a deep voice: "Now that things have come to this, what else can we say? We can't let those evil spirits succeed."
Your Majesty has many faults and shortcomings, but he is the eldest son of Emperor Taizong. Only he sitting on the throne can ensure peace in the world. If the emperor's authority is allowed to be repeatedly degraded, I am afraid that disaster will arise within the family and the world will be in turmoil.
An emperor who cannot win the support of the people will inevitably make people covet him...
……
The two men arrived at Chengtian Gate and asked the guards in front of the gate to go into the palace to report and request an audience. The guards went in and came back soon, accompanied by a eunuch who led the two men into the palace.
The lights in Taiji Palace were bright. His Majesty had slapped the Queen. Everyone in the palace held their breath and walked on thin ice, fearing that if they made the slightest mistake, His Majesty would take his anger out on them...
All the palace servants seen along the way were walking hurriedly with their heads bowed, trembling with fear, and hunched over. The entire palace was shrouded in a depressing and solemn atmosphere.
His Majesty and the Queen have always been in harmony and treated each other with respect. It is indeed difficult for people to accept this sudden incident...
In the imperial study, Li Chengqian was wearing casual clothes and looked at Li Xiaogong and Fang Jun who were bowing in front of him with complicated eyes.
Especially the latter.
The reason why he lost his mind and slapped the queen in anger today was not because he was embarrassed by the queen's advice, but because of long-standing jealousy. He didn't think he was wrong. Which man could accept that the man in his wife's mind was not himself?
The fire of jealousy drove him mad at one point.
Although I didn't feel I had done anything wrong, after calming down, I regretted venting my emotions too aggressively, especially hitting someone in front of others.
After all, she was the queen who ruled the country, and the consequences were serious.
Especially when he thought that tomorrow morning the censors would surely deliver countless impeachment memorials to the Imperial Study, severely condemning his "bad behavior" of slapping the Queen, and admonishing and teaching him a lesson with quoting classics, he couldn't help but feel a headache.
"My two dear ministers, please stand up, take your seats, and I will serve you tea."
"Thank you, Your Majesty."
After the two of them drank a sip of tea, Li Chengqian asked knowingly, "It's late at night, and you two have come to the palace together. I wonder what's the important matter?"
Although the palace restrictions today are far from those during the time of Emperor Gaozu and Emperor Taizong, the palace is strict and deep inside. Unless it is absolutely necessary, no one will enter the palace at night. After all, if something happens, it will be impossible to wash it clean...
Li Xiaogong felt that the emperor was indeed narrow-minded and violent, so he said bluntly: "I heard that the queen fainted, I wonder if it is serious? The queen is virtuous, dignified and wise, praised by the court and the public, and known to everyone. If she is ill, the ministers are very worried."
Do you really think that as the emperor and the supreme ruler of the world, you can beat the empress whenever you want?
It's just nonsense.
Li Chengqian paused, looking grim, but he did not lose his temper. He just said calmly, "The imperial physician has examined him and he is fine. Thank you for your concern."
Li Xiaogong seemed relieved. "That's good. But Your Majesty should be alert to yourself, think calmly and respond calmly, and think more about the consequences. Now the whole Chang'an is a little agitated because of this matter. Your Majesty should be more vigilant and not be negligent."
Li Chengqian was stunned for a moment. He knew that the Taiji Palace was full of leaks and had no secrets at all, but what just happened in the harem spread throughout Chang'an City in half an hour, which made him feel ashamed and angry.
What exactly does Li Junxian’s “Hundred Cavalry Division” do?
After repeatedly "cleaning up the palace", it was still infiltrated by various forces. As an emperor, he even had to open one eye when sleeping...
But that's not the most important thing.
The important thing is that Li Xiaogong and Fang Jun came together, which means that they just got together and discussed something. And now Li Xiaogong's attitude towards him is more like an "uncle" rather than a "subject", and the disappointment and teachings in his words are extremely obvious.
Have the two reached an agreement that Li Xiaogong will help Fang Jun gather power in the army and promote military reform together?
He, the emperor, represented the interests of the royal family, but the "first commander of the royal family" chose to work with the "rebel ministers" to limit his imperial power...
what is this?
Since he ascended the throne, he has been working diligently, caring for the people, and not slacking off in the slightest. But why is it that he always fails to get the recognition and support of these people?
Li Chengqian's eyes were gloomy, and he said slowly: "What the uncle taught me is that I will definitely cultivate my mind and character, be humble and forbearing, live up to the uncle's earnest expectations, and work hard to be a good emperor."
Li Xiaogong: "..."
I am only giving you a few words of advice. It is up to you whether you listen or not. But as an emperor, why do you say such heart-wrenching words to your subjects?
Feeling there was no need to say more, Li Xiaogong took a deep breath and was about to stand up and say goodbye.
Fang Jun, who had kept his mouth shut since entering the palace, suddenly said, "The queen is ill, and we should go visit her to fulfill our duty as subjects."
Li Xiaogong turned his head and looked at Fang Jun. Is he planning to support the Queen?
It is said to be the duty of a minister, but in fact it is not appropriate for an outsider to visit the queen at this time. After all, it involves the emperor, so where would the emperor's face be placed?
But one of them is a prince of the imperial clan, and the other is a royal consort, so they are considered "family members", and there is nothing wrong with visiting at this time. And because the emperor slapped her before, asking to visit in front of the emperor was a clear expression of dissatisfaction with the emperor, and it clearly told the emperor that "we stand on the side of the queen" in this matter...
Li Chengqian looked extremely unhappy, staring at Fang Jun for a long time before he slowly nodded: "Since Duke Yue is interested, just go and visit him yourself, why bother telling me?"
After saying this, he stood up, went into the back hall, and left in a huff.
Li Xiaogong and Fang Jun were left staring at each other in the imperial study...
Later, the eunuch led the two out of the imperial study and went to Lizheng Hall where the queen was staying.
Zhangsun Wuji and Li Zhi launched two consecutive mutinies, both of which affected the Taiji Palace and caused the destruction of many buildings in the palace. In particular, the Wude Hall where Li Chengqian had been living was the target of the rebels and suffered particularly severe damage.
The entire building complex centered on the Wude Hall includes the Daji Hall, Lizheng Hall, and Wanchun Hall. It is located on the east side of the Taiji Palace and was besieged and attacked by tens of thousands of rebels. The palace walls on the west and north sides have collapsed, and the rebuilt walls have not yet been painted. Bricks, wood and other building materials can be seen everywhere on the roadside and next to houses, looking quite dilapidated and shabby.
The eunuch walked in front with a lantern in hand, bowing. Li Xiaogong walked side by side with Fang Jun, hands behind his back. When passing by Daji Hall, he glanced at the surrounding buildings and complained in a low voice: "The emperor and his subjects are different in status, and the upper and lower are different. How can you be so disrespectful to Your Majesty?"
Fang Jun walked calmly, "The emperor and the empress are in harmony, husband and wife are one, but slapping the empress is actually hitting your Majesty's own face. Your Majesty doesn't want to lose face, so what does it have to do with others?"
Li Xiaogong hesitated and sighed again.
Since the end of today's court meeting until now, he has lost count of how many times he has sighed...
In the past, Emperor Taizong had intended to change the crown prince several times, but he felt that it was too harsh on the crown prince. So when Fang Jun firmly defended the crown prince, he sat back and watched. Although he did not express his attitude, he was implicitly on the side of the crown prince.
However, judging from Li Chengqian's performance since he ascended the throne, although he did well in many areas, he gradually revealed the shortcomings of narrow-mindedness and shallowness of character. This might not be a big problem for an ordinary person, but it was very inappropriate for an emperor.
Emperor Taizong was very good at judging people...
In front of the gate of Lizheng Palace, palace maids were waiting with lanterns in their hands. Apparently they had heard that Prince Hejian and Duke Yue were coming to visit. When the two arrived, they were led directly into the palace without any need to notify them.
Inside the main hall, Empress Su was wearing a round-necked, double-breasted casual dress. The collar and cuffs were embroidered with auspicious cloud patterns in gold thread, and her body was embroidered with dark peony patterns. She had long since removed all the pearls and jade on her head, and her black hair was tied up with a white jade hairpin.
Natural and without any embellishment, like a lotus emerging from clear water, the queen, who is naturally beautiful, exudes simplicity and beauty without any extravagance.
Li Xiaogong and Fang Jun entered the palace, bowed to the ground and saluted respectfully: "Your Highness, the Queen, is here to see you."
"My two beloved ministers, please stand up quickly and take your seats."
"Thank you Queen."
The two of them stood up and sat on the chairs beside them.
When the palace maid brought the fragrant tea, Li Xiaogong leaned slightly to the side, his eyes full of concern: "I heard that the queen is not feeling well, I wonder if it's serious?"
The Queen Su's face was pale and she seemed to have put on some powder. It was hard to see clearly under the candlelight, and there were no obvious scars. She opened her red lips and said softly, "Thank you for your concern, Prince. The imperial physician has examined me and there is nothing wrong with me."
She was not a weak woman who would whine and despair when faced with difficulties. As a queen, she should be strong. However, when her soft and bright eyes turned to Fang Jun's face, she saw that although he did not speak, his expression showed his concern. She didn't know why, but her heart trembled suddenly. She could no longer bear the endless grievances, and tears rolled down her cheeks.
(End of this chapter)