Chapter 440: The Empress Pearl

Li Qing’an executed Meng Yun and Luo Zhengyi in front of the city gates, in the presence of the crown prince and hundreds of court officials. This incident immediately caused a sensation in Chang’an, becoming a hot topic among its people during meals and conversations.

The entire city of Chang’an was discussing it. In every tavern and inn, people could be heard talking about it, with varying opinions—mostly shaped by personal preferences, as the saying goes, “To the kind, it seems kind; to the wise, it seems wise.”

Those who hated Li Qing’an called him arrogant and domineering, accusing him of killing people in front of the crown prince, comparing him to Dong Zhuo at the end of the Han Dynasty. Those who favored him praised his decisive action, arguing that Meng Yun and Luo Zhengyi had betrayed him first, and this execution would help him establish great prestige among the troops. Neutrals believed Li Qing’an’s true aim was to kill to assert power and send a warning to the court officials: “Those who follow me will prosper; those who oppose me will perish.”

But the most concerning group was the Southern Army. Li Qing’an had practically executed their commander in front of them. Would they simply accept this? Surprisingly, the Southern Army showed no reaction. Wang Sili, who had come from Tongguan, took over as their commander, while Chen Xuanli, the former general of the Right Imperial Guards, became the new commander of the Jinyiwei. The army remained eerily calm, with no unrest caused by Meng Yun’s death.

Even Li Heng, the retired emperor to whom Meng Yun was directly loyal, showed no reaction. Many speculated that Li Qing’an and Li Heng must have reached a secret agreement, with Li Heng betraying Meng Yun in exchange for Li Qing’an’s position as regent.

After all, Meng Yun’s death was merely a minor incident. The real event was the ascension of the new emperor. It was now certain that Crown Prince Li Shi would ascend the throne; it was only a matter of time.

In the Linde Hall of Daming Palace, Empress Shen of the Tang Dynasty formally received Li Qing’an. Shen Pearl came from a prominent family in Huzhou. Beautiful and virtuous, she was only 28 years old. Although her husband’s death had dealt her a heavy blow, the prospect of her son inheriting the throne brought her great comfort. For this reason, she was deeply grateful to Li Qing’an.

“Prime Minister Li, the Emperor often tells me that you are the backbone of the Tang Dynasty. It is only now that I truly understand his words. You have fully supported the crown prince’s ascension—I am infinitely grateful.”

This time, Shen Pearl did not sit behind a curtain. She sat in an intricately carved pearwood armchair, surrounded by a dozen maids. Dressed in a plain white dress with no makeup on her face, she appeared somewhat weary.

She did not sit behind the curtain because Crown Prince Li Shi stood right beside her. Li Qing’an’s public execution had shocked him greatly, but his trusted eunuchs secretly told him that Li Qing’an was actually trying to intimidate the retired emperor. Only then did he realize the truth.

Although Prince Li Shi was not yet thirteen, he had begun formal education at the age of six, making him mentally mature beyond his years. He understood his situation—his grandfather was competing with him for the throne, and it was only through Li Qingan’s full support that he would eventually succeed. He was deeply grateful to Li Qingan.

Li Qingan bowed slightly and said with a smile, “Your Majesty, rest assured. I have already discussed this with the Emperor Emeritus and several key officials in the court. It’s best to act sooner rather than later. The prince will officially ascend the throne tomorrow morning.”

Shen Zhenzhu let out a soft sigh of relief. She had summoned Li Qingan specifically for a reason. She knew that although the Emperor Emeritus had failed to seize the throne this time, it didn’t mean he would give up easily in the future. Her son, though titled emperor, actually had no troops or power and was merely a puppet emperor. The real power in the court lay in the hands of the Emperor Emeritus and Prime Minister Li. Whether her son could stay safe and take control smoothly depended on whether Li Qingan would fully support him. Therefore, she needed to win over Li Qingan thoroughly.

Shen Zhenzhu glanced at her son affectionately before earnestly saying to Li Qingan, “As the Prince of Zhao and having a blood relation to Prince Shi, along with being around the same age as his father, you are like brothers. If you don’t mind, please accept my son’s bow and become his adoptive father.”

Li Shi immediately knelt down and kowtowed to Li Qingan, saying, “Dear adoptive father, please accept my bow!”

Li Qingan quickly helped Li Shi up, saying, “Your Highness, please get up. You’re scaring me!”

Shen Zhenzhu also stood up and bowed deeply to Li Qingan, crying, “The lives of my son and I depend on you.”

Li Qingan sighed and said, “Even if I have to sacrifice everything, I will protect the queen and the prince!”

……

After leaving the Daming Palace, Li Qingan rode in a carriage slowly along the Zhuque Street, surrounded by hundreds of bodyguards. He felt somewhat confused. He was so close to the throne he had long dreamed of. If he could muster another hundred thousand troops from Anxi, he would be able to defeat any force and step into the Hanyuan Hall. Yet, he truly felt as if he was still very far from the throne.

With Li Yu’s death, people considered the heirs to be Prince Li Shi, Emperor Emeritus Li Heng, or Li Longji. Some even mentioned other members of the royal family, but no one thought of Li Qingan. Neither the court officials nor the common people considered the possibility of Li Qingan ascending the throne.

What exactly was the problem here? Li Qing’an was puzzled. As the carriage approached Anren Fang, he suddenly heard a clear singing voice not far away.
“Li of Chang’an, Li of Anxi—though of the same lineage, separated by distance. Li of Anxi fights in countless battles to protect the realm, only to end up making wedding clothes for Chang’an…”
“Stop!”
Li Qing’an shouted sharply. Seeing a man in green robes enter Anren Fang, he immediately ordered his attendants, “Find that singer at once!”
Dozens of cavalry rushed forward at full speed. Li Qing’an was astonished—who could this be to speak so directly to his heart?
A moment later, his bodyguards brought in a middle-aged man, about forty years old, tall and slender, with clear features and an air of elegance, almost like a sage. Surrounded by the cavalry, he walked calmly, showing no sign of fear.
When he reached Li Qing’an’s carriage, he placed his hands behind his back, gazing proudly at the sky, refusing to bow to Li Qing’an. Several guards were about to rebuke him, but Li Qing’an stopped them with a wave. He got out of the carriage, bowed, and said with a smile, “The song you sang just now seems to be about me.”
The man turned to look at Li Qing’an and said indifferently, “This official is overthinking it! There are so many people with the surname Li in the world—why would it be you?”
Li Qing’an wasn’t angry and still smiled. “Do you know who I am?”
The man laughed and said, “In Chang’an, those with armies under their command are only six: Ge Shu Han, Guo Ziyi, Wang Sili, Chen Xuanli, An Baoyu, and Li Qing’an. Ge Shu Han is a barbarian. Guo Ziyi and Chen Xuanli are old. Wang Sili left Chang’an at noon. An Baoyu leads the Imperial Guards. So who do you think you are? Besides, isn’t it written on your guard’s flag ‘Anxi’?”
Hearing the contempt and mockery in his tone, Li Qing’an felt displeased, but he controlled his anger and said with a fading smile, “Since you know I’m Li Qing’an, how dare you mock me? Aren’t you afraid I’ll kill you?”
The man smiled slightly. “If you were a great general, I would naturally fear you and not dare mock you at all, because I’m afraid of death. But now you’re just Prime Minister Li. If Prime Minister Li doesn’t have the tolerance to forgive others, then why have you come to Chang’an?”
Hearing the hidden meaning in his words, Li Qing’an narrowed his eyes and smiled. “So what do you say I came to Chang’an for?”
“Didn’t I just sing it? At least not to make wedding clothes for Chang’an, right?”
Li Qing’an stared at him for a while before suddenly bowing deeply and saying, “Please teach me, sir!”

The man chuckled and said, “Prime Minister, you might think I’m singing because I’m in dire straits, hoping to get a drink from you. But this isn’t the place to talk.”
Li Qing’an nodded and said to his guards, “Give him a horse and send him back to the camp at once.”
The soldiers helped the man onto a warhorse, and everyone sped toward the camp outside Mingde Gate.
Li Qing’an’s army of tens of thousands was stationed on an open plain five li outside Mingde Gate. When they returned to the camp, Li Qing’an ordered the man to be brought in.
The middle-aged man entered Li Qing’an’s tent. Though not overly respectful, he was no longer as rude and arrogant as he had been on Zhuque Street. Since he had made it clear that he came to seek employment with Li Qing’an, he at least became a bit more polite.
He bowed to Li Qing’an with a smile and said, “I’m from Fengyi County in Tongzhou. My surname is Wei, and my name is Wei Qingping.”
“Oh! Are you related to the prestigious Wei family?”
“Just an ancestor from five hundred years ago.”
Wei Qingping smiled and said, “I grew up in poverty and studied hard. At the age of 25, I came to Chang’an to take the imperial exams. After more than a decade of trying, I still failed to make it onto the list of successful candidates. But I met some fellow poets and friends who called me ‘the Mad Scholar of Fengyi’. A few months ago, Cen Shen wrote to me, suggesting I go to Anxi to pursue my career. I was somewhat tempted, but then I encountered the General here in Chang’an. I wonder if the General would tolerate such an uncouth man as me?”
Seeing his calm demeanor and easygoing manner, Li Qing’an developed a slight fondness for him. He smiled and said, “In Anxi, talent is what matters. They don’t care about your background or appearance. If you want to get a drink from me, you’ll have to show some real ability first. Tell me! What makes you deserve a drink from me?”
Wei Qingping didn’t hesitate and replied frankly, “The General killed Meng Yun and Luo Zhengyi outside Mingde Gate. Some people accuse the General of being cruel, while others praise him for being decisive. Some say this action will harm his reputation among the officials. But I think it doesn’t matter. Those who dislike the General will still dislike him even if he shows ten thousand smiles. On the other hand, those who like him will praise him even if he kills ten thousand people in public. Killing Meng Yun and Luo Zhengyi had mixed results, but as the Right Prime Minister, I think it was inappropriate.”
“Why?”

“It’s simple—being the Right Prime Minister isn’t an easy or leisurely position. From Zhang Jiuling to Li Linfu, and even Yang Guozhong, each of them was overwhelmed with countless tasks. Li Linfu was almost always busy until dusk before returning home. Although Yang Guozhong lacked ability, he was just as busy, even bringing memorials home to handle. Every matter, no matter how trivial, required the Prime Minister’s decision. If a general resigned as the governor of Anxi, it would be easier for him to focus on government affairs and achieve a reputation as great as Zhang Jiuling’s. But in reality, for a general, the power in Anxi far outweighs that of the Right Prime Minister. A general becoming Prime Minister isn’t for the sake of fame. Thus, having to handle both prime ministerial duties and military affairs in Anxi, where would he find the energy, let alone the time, to consider matters of the realm?”
Li Qing’an felt as if he had been awakened from a dream. After advancing eastward, he had success after success—defeating An Lushan, thwarting Li Heng, gaining fame in Chang’an, and rising to the position of Right Prime Minister, even becoming Li Shi’s guardian father. His glory was at its peak, and it made him somewhat complacent.
But Wei Qingping shook him awake with these words. What he said made sense. Once he became the Right Prime Minister, his control over Anxi would surely weaken. If something serious happened in Anxi, he wouldn’t be able to return to deal with it. Over time, he might very well lose control of Anxi. Moreover, his control over Anxi was far inferior to An Lushan’s control over Fanyang and northern Hebei. Was it really wise of him to be so eager to become the Right Prime Minister?
Li Qing’an immediately ordered his attendants, “Go and bring Mr. Wei a cup of tea.”
“Thank you, General!” Wei Qingping bowed in gratitude.
“Mr. Wei, please don’t mention it. Go on, what do you suggest I do in Chang’an?”
Wei Qingping smiled and continued, “In my opinion, the general can hold a position in the government hall but not be involved in actual governance. The general can appoint a trustworthy person as the Right Prime Minister to carry out the general’s will, while the general stays in the background, making adjustments from behind the scenes. It may not be as glorious, but I believe the general doesn’t desire nothing but glory.”

Li Qing’an paced back and forth in the tent with his hands behind his back. At first, he suspected this man had dubious origins—a nobody who talked to him so freely about military and state affairs, as if they were already close friends. He wondered if the man might have been sent by Li Heng, but what he said made perfect sense, serving as a wake-up call. If he were sent by Li Heng, he certainly wouldn’t warn him like this. His words were spot on: find a proxy as right chancellor while he remained hidden behind the scenes to make decisions. In that way, he could focus solely on military and state affairs while still having time and energy to manage Anxi.

Li Qing’an glanced at him and then remembered the song he had sung, so he asked, “Then tell me again—why is Li of Anxi acting as a matchmaker for Li of Chang’an?”

Their conversation grew increasingly profound. Wei Qingping’s reckless demeanor vanished, and he began to show his sincerity in seeking Li Qing’an’s support. He said earnestly, “General, you must be confused. You are clearly a member of the imperial family, so why aren’t you considered for the throne? Some even suggest Li Lin, the Prince of Sining, or Li Zhen, the Prince of Qi, as successors, along with other princes. But there’s no mention of you at all. Why is that?”

“I really want to know why too.”

The frivolous smile on Wei Qingping’s face disappeared completely. His expression turned serious as he said word by word, “Because General, you are not a descendant of Li Shimin, but rather of the crown prince Jiancheng.”

……

On the eve of Crown Prince Li Shi’s ascension to the throne, Li Longji was making a final attempt. Huxian was about eighty li southwest of Chang’an, a town of moderate size. At that time, Li Longji was stationed there under the protection of three thousand cavalrymen. Inside the Huxian government office, Li Longji was extremely anxious. He had just arrived in Hanzhong when he heard the news of Li Yu’s death. He felt both anxious and regretful. If he had been in the capital at that time, he would have been in charge of the situation. With his prestige and influence, it would have been easy for him to regain the throne. But he had left Chang’an at this critical moment, missing the best opportunity.

Yet Li Longji was not willing to give up. He would do everything he could to fight for it. With eighty li to cover, if he rode fast, he could reach Chang’an before dawn.

But the situation before him disheartened him. Geshu Han led thirty thousand troops from Longyou and blocked his path ahead. Now his only option was to use his prestige to influence Geshu Han. Even if he couldn’t turn Geshu Han around, he could at least prevent him from blocking his way.

The messenger sent by Li Longji had been gone for over an hour with no news, leaving him anxious. At that moment, the sound of running came from outside the county government office; the guard he sent back had returned.
“How did it go? Did you see Ge Shu Han?”
“Your Majesty, I met General Ge Shu Han and delivered Your Majesty’s letter to him.”
Li Longji waved his hand to send the others away, then sat down slowly and said, “Tell me in detail what his expression was and what he said—don’t miss a single detail.”
“Yes! I understand.”
The guard thought for a moment before saying, “I could tell that General Ge Shu Han looked very ashamed after reading Your Majesty’s letter. He said he had no choice but to act that way and would never dare show any disrespect toward Your Majesty, hoping Your Majesty would understand his circumstances at the time.”
“What circumstances?”
Li Longji’s eyes began to gleam. He sensed that Ge Shu Han hadn’t completely betrayed him. The key now was to find out what those circumstances were. Li Longji closed his eyes and pondered for a while. He remembered that he had been eager to weaken the power of the regional lords by sending princes to take control of their territories, and he had targeted An Si Shun first, which scared Ge Shu Han into leading his troops to Dafeichuan. Later, when Li Longji fell ill, Ge Shu Han might have thought there was no hope he would recover, so he defected to Li Heng.
“And then?” Li Longji asked again.
“General Ge Shu Han then said that even if he allowed Your Majesty to go, Your Majesty wouldn’t be able to enter Chang’an. Li Qing’an’s scouts had already detected Your Majesty’s movements. As long as Your Majesty approached Chang’an, he would be ambushed by the Anxi army.”
Li Longji nodded. He was gradually calming down. He believed Ge Shu Han was telling the truth. With so many troops, how could he possibly enter the city? He couldn’t even get close to Chang’an. Given the third prince’s cruelty, he would surely take the opportunity to kill him. Not only would he lose the throne, but he might even lose his life.
Once he calmed down, his urgency to return to Chang’an and fight for the throne faded. But loss in one place could bring gain elsewhere. Ge Shu Han’s attitude gave him hope of bringing him back under his command.
“What happened after that? What else did he say?”
“After that, General Ge Shu Han hoped Your Majesty would take care of himself. If Your Majesty needed his help or lacked anything, he asked Your Majesty to speak up, as he would surely assist wholeheartedly. In the end, General Ge Shu Han escorted me all the way out of the camp.”

At this point, relying on his decades of political experience, Li Longji had already figured out that Geshu Han was not absolutely loyal to Li Hen. His words and actions today were clearly an attempt to find a backdoor out. Li Longji smiled with satisfaction—so long as Geshu Han was not completely loyal to Li Hen, he would eventually be under his control. However, Li Longji truly did not understand why Geshu Han might waver in his loyalty to Li Hen. Could it be that Li Hen failed to ascend the throne or failed to keep his promises, leaving Geshu Han disappointed? No matter how hard Li Longji thought about it, he could not figure out the reason for Geshu Han’s wavering loyalty. The truth was quite simple: he didn’t know that Li Qing’an had beheaded Meng Yun that morning, which had chilled Geshu Han’s heart. …