Chapter 26: Li Zhi: Li Xian to Ascend the Throne? Then What About Hong and Xian?!
Chapter 26: Li Zhi: Li Xian Succeeds the Throne? What About Hong’er and Xian’er?!
Emperor Taizong felt he never wanted to eat cream puffs again in his life.
Where on earth did this description from his younger brother come from? Vivid yet disgusting…
After gagging for a long while, that nauseating feeling barely subsided, and Li Zhi hesitated unwillingly at the side.
“What are you doing?” Li Shimin frowned, displeased by Li Zhi’s timid and reluctant demeanor.
Having children like sheep is nothing compared to having children like wolves… Taizong lamented inwardly.
“Afraid you’ll beat him up, what else?” Li Qing said with a gleeful smirk.
Of course Li Zhi was afraid; the pain he just felt was no illusion. Yet when he changed his clothes, there wasn’t a single bruise on him. Could it be that Father really was a ghost? Li Zhi wondered anxiously, hoping that he himself wouldn’t be dragged to the underworld.
“Before we set off, let’s bring your father to see your two children first,” Li Qing suggested. “If I’m not mistaken, Li Hong and Li Xian have both been born, right?”
“What’s the point of seeing them?” Li Shimin grimaced at the thought that they were born of Wu Zetian.
It somewhat felt like playing a medieval king.
“Ah, Brother Li,” Li Qing put an arm around Li Shimin’s shoulder, coaxing him, “to be honest, Li Hong and Li Xian are both quite outstanding. Li Hong is benevolent, filial, and virtuous; Li Xian is both literary and martial. They truly deserve your attention—they’re good grandsons of yours.”
“Really?”
Li Shimin eyed Li Qing skeptically. It wasn’t that he didn’t believe him, but he couldn’t quite tell if Li Qing was being sincere or sarcastic.
“Have I ever lied to you?” Li Qing’s expression was full of challenge.
In the end, Li Shimin chose to trust Li Qing. “If you say so, then let’s go see them.”
One must admit, affection skipping a generation is real. Coupled with the fact that unworthy descendants were as plentiful as fish in a river, suddenly faced with two grandsons praised by Li Qing as "good grandsons," old Li began to find the two little ones quite pleasing to the eye.
Li Hong was born in the third year of Yonghui. From a young age, he was intelligent and appeared to be a gentleman of great promise. Li Xian, born in the fifth year of Yonghui, was still swaddled in infancy, babbling softly.
“This is your imperial grandfather, this is your uncle,” Li Zhi introduced Li Hong with a heavy heart.
Li Hong had never seen his grandfather since he could remember but suppressed his curiosity and respectfully bowed, “Your grandson Li Hong pays respects to Imperial Grandfather and Imperial Uncle.”
“Good child, rise quickly,” Li Shimin said, instantly liking the boy from the moment he saw him. In Li Hong, old Li saw a reflection of young Li Chengqian.
“Thank you, Imperial Grandfather,” Li Hong obediently stood up.
Li Shimin played with the swaddled Li Xian for a while, then tested Li Hong with a few simple questions. Satisfied, he pulled Li Qing aside.
“Which one is the crown prince?” he asked quietly.
Li Qing glanced at the kicking, stretching Li Xian, then at Li Hong soothing his younger brother, and whispered, “Brother Li, which one do you think it is?”
“I think it’s Li Hong. He’s gentle and sincere—a true benevolent ruler,” Li Shimin twirled his beard, extremely pleased with Li Hong.
Li Qing gave a thumbs-up. “Brother Li guessed right.”
“Ha! You see, my eyesight is sharp…”
Before Li Shimin could finish gloating, Li Qing interrupted.
“Whichever you pick, it’s correct. And you’re still bragging?” Li Qing gave him a disdainful look.
“Whichever is correct…?” Li Shimin was momentarily stunned, realizing a possibility. He breathed heavily and asked, “Could it be… did something happen to Hong’er?”
“There are two rumors: one says he died suddenly at twenty-three, the other that Empress Wu poisoned him. But the more likely is sudden death, since he was always in poor health,” Li Qing shrugged.
“Even the fiercest tiger does not devour its cub…” Li Shimin frowned. “Perhaps it’s just hearsay. Hong’er was so kind and filial—I cannot believe Empress Wu would poison him.”
“Do you know why historians made such assumptions?” Li Qing looked at Li Shimin sympathetically.
“No, little brother, don’t keep me in suspense.”
“Li Xian, posthumously titled Crown Prince Zhanghuai, was truly forced to death by Empress Wu,” Li Qing whispered.
“What?”
A voice came from behind—it was Li Zhi, trembling and pointing at Li Qing. “Impossible, absolutely impossible!”
“Ah Wu is gentle and virtuous—how could she do such a thing?!”
Li Qing looked at Li Zhi as if he’d discovered a new continent. Buddy, are you serious? Wu Zetian and those four words don’t belong in the same sentence—has she been playing your family like a game of match-three too many times?
“Words are powerless, Li Zhi,” Li Qing pressed down Li Zhi’s pointing hand. “Uncle will take you to see for yourself, then you’ll understand.”
“How will we see?” Li Zhi asked instinctively.
“Just like your father,” Li Qing said, snapped his fingers, and the three vanished from the hall in an instant.
Leaving little Li Hong standing there, utterly confused.
…
First year of the Sisheng era, Luoyang Palace.
The three appeared above the clouds.
Below them, the great hall was surrounded by soldiers, impenetrable.
“What… what is going on?” Li Zhi’s face paled, instinctively looking down.
It wasn’t fear of the soldiers, but a fear of heights.
“Your uncle is an immortal; flying in the sky is only natural,” Li Shimin said impatiently, smacking Li Zhi’s head. He then asked Li Qing, “Little brother, could this be a coup?”
“Ah… probably not. A mother deposing her son hardly counts as a coup, right?”
“A mother deposing her son? Could it be Wu Zetian? Impossible! Hong’er is her beloved—how could…”
Li Zhi trembled, pointing downward. “Uncle, can you come lower? This height scares me…”
“Damn it! Before your uncle, I don’t even call myself ‘I, Your Majesty.’ You’re less than a steamed bun!” Li Shimin kicked him and shouted, “I! I! Your Majesty!”
Feeling something was missing, he hesitated, then punched Li Zhi three times before finally letting go, satisfied.
“I—I—Your Majesty, I was reckless,” Li Zhi hurriedly apologized to Li Qing.
Li Qing waved off such formalities and began a brief recap for Li Shimin and Li Zhi.
“In December of the first year of Hongdao, which is roughly twenty-eight years after the sixth year of Yonghui and forty-six years after the eleventh year of Zhenguan, Li Zhi, you passed away in Luoyang Palace. Two days later, your third son Li Xian ascended the throne before your coffin. On the first day of the following year’s first month, he changed the era name to Sisheng. Now, it is the sixth day of the second month in the first year of Sisheng.”
Li Zhi felt sick to his stomach hearing his uncle say “passed away” so casually. But soon he had no time for such thoughts. Upon hearing that his third son Li Xian had succeeded the throne, he was stunned. “Li Xian? Li Xian is my third son? Then what happened to Hong’er and Xian’er?”
(End of chapter)