After returning home and telling Chai Yue and the others about the matter of returning to Chang'an, as expected, everyone wanted to go back and see.
Li Shimin had matters on his mind and decided to leave immediately.
The cruise ship set sail against the setting sun, cutting through the waves towards the direction of the Tang Dynasty.
In the presidential suite on the top floor, Empress Changsun changed into silk pajamas and sat down beside him.
“Er Lang, what are you thinking about again?”
Li Shimin looked at the Emperor’s Gibbon sashimi in front of him, feeling a bit dejected.
“I’m thinking about whether to let go of imperial power.”
“This world doesn't belong to one person; it should belong to everyone.”
“These days, over there, I’ve been thinking about this issue.”
“Look at the history books. Has any ‘family-owned’ dynasty ended perfectly?”
“Not to mention far back, just look at Yang Guang. He opened the Grand Canal, established the imperial examination system, and dared to be the first in everything. These are achievements that benefit generations.”
“Merely because he touched the interests of the aristocratic families, he ended up being universally condemned.”
“You’ve also read the history of the Tang Dynasty, and you know the fate of our descendants.”
“Thinking of them, my heart aches as if stabbed by a knife!”
“Those are our descendants!”
As he spoke, his eyes inadvertently turned red.
Empress Changsun’s heart ached when she saw this. She stood up and walked behind Li Shimin, her jade-like hands gently massaging his temples.
“Children and grandchildren have their own blessings; don’t be a beast of burden for them.”
“This is a folk saying, Er Lang. You should try to look at it more optimistically.”
“As Zuo Zhuan says: Fortune and misfortune have no fixed abode, they are only summoned by people themselves.”
“An Zhi also said that troublesome children should be disciplined, and if they are not taught well, they deserve to be scorned.”
“How can we manage things two hundred years from now?”
“All we can do is build a solid foundation so that our descendants can squander it for a few more years.”
Li Shimin closed his eyes and leaned into Empress Changsun’s embrace after hearing this, letting out a long sigh.
“Alas…”
“I know, I know it all.”
“But in the end, it’s the common people of the world who suffer!”
Empress Changsun looked at him in confusion. “Didn’t Er Lang ask An Zhi for advice?”
Li Shimin shook his head helplessly. “He has already done all he can.”
“Do you really think that kid took me traveling around was for fun?”
“He was broadening my horizons!”
“Not only that, but he also used the pig fat collector as an example for me.”
“An Zhi’s intentions were truly profound…”
Some things can only be understood, not spoken!
If spoken, they would lose their original meaning…
Empress Changsun was a bit confused and couldn’t quite grasp what was happening for a moment.
“What example?”
Li Shimin didn’t answer her question. He stood up and laughed heartily, lifting her by the waist and walking towards the bedroom.
“Hahahaha, I’ll leave those troublesome matters for Old Fang the Miser and the others to worry about later!”
“After returning to the capital this time, I want to take you all around the world and be a carefree emperor!”
“I want to try experiencing the beacon fires used by King You of Zhou to amuse the lords, and the wine pools and meat forests of King Zhou!”
————
A few days later, Li Shimin, accompanied by civil and military officials, appeared on the city walls of Chang'an, sighing with emotion as he looked at the scenery before him.
Many bicycles were shuttling back and forth on the streets.
There were several times more people from outside the Central Plains than before, with red hair, yellow hair, and countless others.
The common people had smiles on their faces. They walked into the Chang'an Bank empty-handed and came out with cloth bags filled with money.
In the market area, over a dozen minor clerks from the Ten Thousand Year County’s Household Department were busy collecting taxes, their smiles almost frozen on their faces.
By the public notice board on the street corner, a few scholars stood on a cement platform, reading out the newspaper to the surrounding commoners.
“A strong youth makes a strong Tang. A wealthy youth makes a wealthy Tang…”
“Li Chai Changsun, Yuchi Chengfang, Fang Du Wei Gao, Xiao Duan Liu Zhang…”
“Guan Guan Ju Jiu, by the river’s bend. A fair lady, a gentleman’s pursuit…”
“Disciples’ Rules, Sage’s teachings, first filial piety and brotherly love, then trustworthiness…”
Children, holding lollipops, recited poems and classics taught in their schools as they walked further away.
Looking at this peaceful scene everywhere, Li Shimin laughed, laughing loudly.
“Hahahaha!”
“My esteemed ministers, follow me back to the palace!”
Upon arriving at the Two Poles Hall, his gaze swept across everyone with sharp eyes, finally resting on Li Chengqian.
“Chengqian, I ask you, how does the current Great Tang compare to the Han and Tang dynasties?”
Li Chengqian quickly stepped forward, cupped his hands, and replied.
“Replying to Father Emperor, the prosperity of the nation is unprecedented, and the scene of prosperity is rarely seen in history.”
His face was beaming with a smile, but his heart was filled with anxiety.
Didn’t this old man say he was going out to have fun…
Uh, no, didn’t he say he was going out to observe the customs of the people? Why did he suddenly return?
Finally, am I going to be exiled to Lingnan to feed mosquitoes?
Li Shimin nodded slightly, then looked at the others.
“All my esteemed ministers, what do you think of this Chang'an, this Great Tang, this world?!”
“Your Majesty is wise and virtuous, comparable to Yao and Shun!”
In the Two Poles Hall, a dense crowd of heads bowed in unison with shouts of acclamation.
These praises from the officials came from the heart, but Li Shimin’s face showed no trace of joy.
He walked down the imperial steps and moved among the civil and military officials.
“Comparable to Yao and Shun?”
“But during this trip, I met someone who could surpass Yao and Shun in merit!”
“He made everyone in the world live a good life!”
“He made the descendants of Han straighten their backs!”
“He made the whole world tremble for this land of the Central Plains!”
“Even if he is no longer here, this land will still be inviolable!”
“I admit, I cannot do it, and Yao and Shun cannot do it!”
“Therefore, I have returned this time for only one purpose!”
“To obey the will of heaven and abolish imperial power!”
“Boom!”
Outside the hall, the sky was clear and blue, without a single cloud.
But inside the hall, everyone heard a thunderous clap!
Abolish imperial power!
For thousands of years, this concept of hereditary rule had never been spoken. The royal family would not say it, and ministers dared not.
But now, Li Shimin had said it.
And he had said it so calmly!
“Your, Your Majesty, what, what do you mean by this!”
Fang Xuanling, who was over fifty years old, heard this and trembled as he stepped out of the queue, the muscles around his eyes twitching uncontrollably.
Fang Er, standing beside him, was stunned by Li Shimin’s words. Seeing Fang Xuanling’s condition, he felt a jolt in his heart.
Damn it.
Could this old man be having a stroke!
He quickly shouted to Deng Dengjie, “What are you still standing there for? Hurry up, bring a chair, and summon the imperial physician!”
This old Li really knows how to play…