Chapter 683 Dai Ji Wan Shun Zheng Guan Yin

By the afternoon.

Su Mingzhe was dealing with memorials with Li Chengqian.

A eunuch came to report that the third prince Li Ke came to ask for a meeting.

Li Ke, the son of Concubine Yang, was named King of Wu and appointed as the Governor of Anzhou and the Grand Commander.

Anzhou was later called Anlu City, next to Wuhan.

At the end of last year, an imperial censor impeached Li Ke for trampling crops while hunting.

Under pressure from the court, Li Shimin dismissed Li Ke from his official position and asked him to return to Chang'an to reflect on his mistakes for three months.

Now that the reflection period is over, this kid can't sit still and probably wants to find something to do.

Su Mingzhe also thought highly of the third brother and summoned him immediately.

Not long after, Li Ke, dressed in a coarse cloth suit, narrow sleeves, and leggings, strode into the hall.

"Your son pays respects to the emperor, and your younger brother pays respects to the emperor."

"Be flat."

When Su Mingzhe saw Li Ke's look, he immediately felt unhappy.

Now is the time when spring comes and everything comes back to life, but it is not a good season for hunting.

Li Ke also saw that the emperor was unhappy, and hurriedly bowed and explained:

"Father, I heard a few days ago that a tiger came down from the Zhongnan Mountain to kill people, so I led people to hunt it down. We returned victoriously this morning."

Su Mingzhe listened to the explanation, but was somewhat skeptical:

"Tiger Head, you didn't lie?"

Hutou is Li Ke’s nickname.

Seeing that his father was suspicious, Li Ke quickly said that the tiger's body was still outside the palace gate. He had wanted to send it into the palace to present it to his father and mother, but was intercepted by the imperial guards and was not brought in.

After listening to the explanation, Su Mingzhe asked Zhang Ananda to send someone to bring in the tiger's body, and then he nodded with satisfaction at Li Ke:

"You are kind-hearted enough to get rid of harm for the people. Since you have been out for a few days and have worked hard, go visit your mother and go back to rest early. In a few days, your father will reward you."

"Thank you, Father."

Seeing that Su Mingzhe said no more, Li Ke did not dare to stay any longer and knelt down again to say goodbye.

After Li Ke left Hanyuan Palace, he went to the harem to see his mother, led by a eunuch.

Concubine Yang gave birth to two sons, namely Prince of Wu Li Ke and Prince of Shu Li Yin.

Originally, there was another daughter, but she died shortly after birth.

Because Concubine Yang has royal blood from the previous dynasty, she has always been low-key in the harem.

After Empress Changsun passed away, among the concubines in the harem, except Concubine Yin who did not dare to compete for the position of Empress because of her father's family, Concubine Yang always restrained herself and kept a low profile.

Last year, the two sons made mistakes in their fiefdoms and were impeached by the censor.

After Concubine Yang heard the news, she began to worship the Bodhisattva Buddha every day and pray for her two sons, hoping that her two sons would be safe and sound and not cause trouble again.

Soon, Li Ke arrived at Concubine Yang's palace, Shujing Hall.

Shujing Palace was originally where princesses of the previous dynasty lived. It has an elegant and unique environment. It was also where Concubine Yang lived when she was a child.

Later, when Li Shimin ascended the throne, he awarded Shujing Palace to Concubine Yang.

Concubine Yang, who was less than forty years old, wore the red and white phoenix robe that was popular in the Sui Dynasty. She had a slender figure, elegant and calm manners, a noble temperament, and a beautiful face. She sat beside the desk and received her son Li Ke.

When mother and son meet, they first reminisce about the past.

After Concubine Yang knew that her son had not suffered any punishment, she began to admonish him:

"Your father told me a few days ago that he was going to transfer you to Suzhou. You should stop making trouble these few days. You should be diligent and care for the people when you get your fiefdom..."

"What the mother taught her, the son remembered."

Li Ke was still very filial, so he naturally nodded in agreement to Concubine Yang's words.

Concubine Yang hesitated for a moment before revealing a piece of news:

"Your father also said that he plans to establish a feudal vassal state in ten years. All the princes' fiefs will be moved again, and the princes will be moved to the many islands in the east and south. I asked your father, and he said that there are few people there, and it is just a barren land. For the princes who don't want to be feudal vassals, their titles will be downgraded in the future. For example, Ren'er can only be a county prince, and Ren'er's children can only be dukes."

When Li Ke heard the news revealed by Concubine Yang, the muscles on his face trembled slightly.

After a long while, he pretended to be calm and laughed:
"Father is indeed wise. This method is a long-term plan for our descendants."

"is it?"

When Concubine Yang saw her son praising her, her originally sad face disappeared a little:
"It's good that you can understand your father. When you go to Suzhou, you must be diligent and love the people. Your father has promised that when you go to the East China Sea and the South China Sea islands, he will allow you to move 10,000 households from Suzhou to accompany you to the vassal state."

"When I get my fief, I will work hard and love the people."

Li Ke secretly breathed a sigh of relief when he heard that he could take 10,000 households away with him.

He was almost scared to death just now.

The islands in the East China Sea and the South China Sea are still a barren land, and the natives there are no different from monkeys.

I heard that they are still at the stage of eating raw meat and drinking blood, which is even worse than the Turks.

If he were really asked to be the king of a group of monkeys, he would rather stay in the territory of the Tang Dynasty and accept demotion and inheritance of the title.

However, if we can bring 10,000 households with us, there will be no problem.

Ten thousand households, in the Spring and Autumn Period and the Warring States Period, was considered a good vassal state. The demotion and inheritance of the title was spread deliberately by some people and soon became known to the powerful people of the Tang Dynasty.

These people reacted in different ways.

A simpleton like Cheng Yaojin, upon hearing that his title could be passed down for seven generations, just laughed, patted his son on the head, and said with a smile:

"Let alone passing it down to seven generations, even if it's passed down to five generations, I, Old Cheng, would still think it's worth it. You should go and fight for fame and fortune right away. Relying on your ancestors is useless!"

Civil servants like Fang Xuanling and Zhangsun Wuji were also very calm.

After experiencing the vicissitudes of the Sui and Tang dynasties, they all knew that the wealth and honor of future generations did not depend on any hereditary system, but on the emperor's will.

If the emperor gives you wealth and honor, you will have wealth and honor.

If the emperor doesn't give you wealth and honor, but you still go forward to him, you are just asking for death.

Unfortunately, there are very few wise people like Cheng Yaojin, Fang Xuanling and Changsun Wuji.

The vast majority of people were in a panic and wanted to unite to put pressure on the emperor and force him to revoke this "disorderly order".

Undercurrents were surging inside and outside the court.

After Su Mingzhe found out, he ignored it and continued to live his life at his own pace.

At night.

After he left Hanyuan Palace, he first went to Ganlu Palace for dinner, and then refused Wang De's arrangement for his concubines to sleep with him.

"Wang De, there is no need to make any arrangements for tonight. You can stay here. If you have any urgent matters, please go to Dai Ji's place in the Ye Ting Palace to find me. I will rest at Dai Ji's place tonight."

Su Mingzhe told Wang De where he was going, and Wang De could only nod.

After the Xuanwu Gate Incident, Dai Ji was also favored for a time.

Unfortunately, as the old was replaced by the new, Dai Ji unknowingly ended up in the Yunting Palace, living with Crown Princess Zheng Guanyin.

Ok?
Wang De couldn't help but take a deep breath when he thought of Dai Ji and Zheng Guanyin being together:
"Your Majesty will not..."

Wang De wanted to catch up with Su Mingzhe and persuade him, but as soon as he raised his front foot, a look of struggle appeared on his face, and finally he slowly put his foot down.

Ever since Empress Changsun passed away, the emperor began to slowly let himself go.

How could he, a castrated man, dare to stop the emperor?

Su Mingzhe, who was not stopped, soon arrived at the Ye Ting Palace, where Dai Ji and Zheng Guanyin lived.

When he pushed the door open and walked in, he saw that the furnishings in the house were simple. Three women were kneeling on the bed, doing needlework.

Hearing the noise, the three women looked up together.

The oldest among them was a young woman who looked to be in her thirties. Although she had a plain face, was clothed and barefoot, she had a beautiful face and a gentle voice, a natural expression, and a dignified manner without even getting angry.

This is Zheng Guanyin, who is 40 years old this year, the same age as Li Shimin.

Rumor has it that the Zheng family was optimistic about Li Shimin and wanted to marry Zheng Guanyin to him.

When Li Yuan learned that the Zheng family wanted to form an alliance with the Li family, his eldest son Li Jiancheng's wife died in childbirth, so he wanted to find a legitimate daughter from a prominent family to marry.

Li Yuan pushed Li Jiancheng out and married Li Jiancheng to the Zheng family.

When Li Shimin heard about this, he was angry that his elder brother had stolen his woman, so he married Empress Zhangsun, whose name also contained the word "Guanyin".

When Zheng Guanyin saw that the person who pushed the door open was Su Mingzhe, she did not stand up, but frowned slightly and said angrily:
"Erlang, this is my residence. You come here in the middle of the night. Aren't you afraid of being laughed at by the world?"

"Sister-in-law, calm down. I came here to look for Dai Ji."

Su Mingzhe's playful smile made the three women in the room let down their guard a little.

Dai Ji, who was less than thirty years old, had a complexion as white as snow and frost, clear eyes and white teeth, and was extremely beautiful. After hearing the man's words, she showed a hint of struggle, but finally got down from the bamboo couch and stood beside the man.

Unlike Zheng Guanyin, Dai Ji was Li Yuanji's concubine.

If Su Mingzhe brought disaster to Zheng Guanyin, some upright court officials would probably throw their hats and leave in anger.

But when it came to Dai Ji, no one spoke.

After all, concubines in the Sui and Tang dynasties were no different from slaves.

Dai Ji also knew her situation, so when faced with the emperor's threatening eyes, she could only be gentle and obedient.

Soon, Su Mingzhe took Dai Ji's hand and went into the next house.

After entering the house, Su Mingzhe did not show any sign of hunger or thirst, but instead said in a gentle tone:

"Daiji, that girl just now, is she Wanshun? She looks very much like my sister-in-law."

Li Wanshun is the only child of Li Jiancheng left in this world, and is also the daughter of Li Jiancheng and Zheng Guanyin.

After Zheng Guanyin married Li Jiancheng, she gave birth to a son and a daughter. The son was killed by Hei Yuchi that night.

But her daughter Li Wanshun escaped the disaster because she was young and hid at Zheng Guanyin's place.

After the Xuanwu Gate Incident, Zheng Guanyin also exchanged a night of pleasure with a man for her daughter's chance of survival.

Dai Ji didn't know what the man was going to ask, so she could only remind him in a defensive tone:
"That's Wanshun, and she's also your niece. You spared her back then, so you won't go back on your word now, right?"

"What are you thinking about?"

Su Mingzhe watched Dai Ji walk up to him and undress him. She was much more proactive than twelve years ago, and he couldn't help feeling proud.

At the same time, he did not forget the purpose of his visit and began to preach:
"Yesterday, when I was walking in the palace, I heard someone singing here. I asked and found out that it was Wanshun. There is no need to talk about the past. Now that Wanshun is grown up, it will be inconvenient for her to stay in the palace. I plan to marry her off to someone. You can ask my sister-in-law to see what she wants."

(End of this chapter)