Because the light screen was projected onto the ceiling, Zhao Kuangyin found himself a soft couch. Lying there, all he had to do was lift his eyes to see everything clearly. Lower his gaze just a little, and there sat his troublesome younger brother.
The light screen explained things clearly. The eunuchs recorded everything neatly. Zhao Kuangyin himself was also slowly thinking it through.
The meaning of "the elder brother dies and the younger brother succeeds" was something no one failed to understand. With a bit of thought, Zhao Kuangyin could name quite a few examples.
The Han dynasty had its Shao Emperor and Emperor Xian. Jin had Emperor Hui and Emperor Huai, Emperor Cheng and Emperor Kang, Emperor Ai and the Deposed Emperor.
The Tang was no exception. Li Xian and Li Dan were only one pair. After them came Emperor Jing, Emperor Wen, and Emperor Wu, three half brothers of the same father, as well as Emperor Xizong and Emperor Zhaozong.
Before the Song, this kind of succession was indeed not rare. But to deliberately bring it up like this, there was only one possible explanation.
In the Song dynasty, there must have been a brother to brother succession that stood out prominently in the historical records.
And if he was the elder brother, then this younger brother in front of him…
Zhao Kuangyin lowered his gaze and met his younger brother's face, full of concern.
"Brother, are you worried that our Song descendants will be unworthy?"
Zhao Kuangyin did not answer. But in his heart, two words he did not wish to recall surfaced immediately. Jingkang.
Huizong. Qinzong. And Zhao Gou.
The nation had suffered catastrophe, the throne passed hands in rapid succession. Could there have been brother to brother succession involved as well?
In the end, he stored it all away in his heart. Faced with his brother's warm concern, Zhao Kuangyin only gave a flat "Mm," then raised his head again, staring blankly upward.
He was no stranger to Tang history. Relatives by marriage, princesses, and empresses fought in endless rotation. The bloodstains at Xuanwu Gate had never truly dried. And yet, when later generations spoke of the Tang, there was still fondness in their tone. He could hear it clearly.
But when it came to the Song, though there was occasional praise for its craftsmanship and refinement, most of the time the words were filled with unmistakable disappointment. The contrast left him deeply unsettled.
The shame of Jingkang was said to be worse than the fall of a state. Just how shameful was it?
If later generations criticized the Song because of Jingkang, then he would simply exert himself and pacify the northern threat.
That would settle it.
[Lightscreen]
["One day we see the light of heaven again, and we swear to have no restraints." This was Li Xian's promise to Empress Wei, as recorded in the Old Book of Tang.
Life in Fangzhou as the Prince of Luling had not been pleasant. Feeling deeply indebted to Empress Wei, Li Xian made this promise.
When the two were exiled to Fangzhou, their youngest daughter was born. Li Xian personally unwrapped her swaddling clothes and cherished her greatly. He named her Li Guo'er, later known as Princess Anle.
Some people described this promise as a symbol of beautiful love. In truth, it was more a reflection of limited ability.
When Li Zhi passed away and Li Xian ascended the throne, he lasted less than a month before trying to appoint his father in law, an eighth rank military officer, as chancellor. That was when he uttered his famous line.
"I can give the whole realm to Wei Xuanzhen if I want. Why should I begrudge him the post of Attendant?"
This sentence put his near zero political competence on full display. It promptly pushed the chancellor Pei Yan into Wu Zetian's camp. Thus, the former political enemies set aside their differences and joined forces to pull Li Xian off the throne in less than three months.
After Li Xian ascended the throne again, events proved that he not only remembered this promise, but fulfilled it quite thoroughly. His indulgence of his wife and daughters reached a point where nothing was forbidden.
The Zhongzong reign ended the Wu Zhou regime and restored the Tang. It should have been a time of rebuilding. Instead, his boundless indulgence of his wife and daughters turned the court into a political free for all.
Wu Sansi colluded with Empress Wei, and Li Xian turned a blind eye. Later, after Li Chongjun's failed coup, Li Xian even used his son's head to offer sacrifices to Wu Sansi.
Princess Anle and Princess Changning quarreled, seized dozens of miles of farmland, and built palatial estates. Memorials of remonstrance were submitted, and Li Xian still did not punish them in the slightest.
Even the most basic cultural education expected of an emperor seemed lacking.
Li Xian may have had redeeming qualities as a husband and father, but as an emperor, he was clearly negligent.
This was the greatest guarantee behind Li Longji's Xuanwu Gate coup succeeding without a hitch.
Yet as his third brother carried out the purge of "state traitors" and heads rolled, Li Dan's eldest son, Li Chengqi, instantly broke into a cold sweat.
He looked at Xuanwu Gate and thought of Li Erfeng. No one needed to remind him. Li Chengqi rushed to remonstrate with his father, now emperor, and proposed that the third brother should be made crown prince instead.
His reasoning was magnanimous. In times of peace, the legitimate eldest should be prioritized. In times of crisis, merit should decide. He urged his father not to disappoint the realm.
After a round of brotherly yielding, Li Longji was smoothly installed as crown prince.
Looking across the entire Taixuan era, Li Chengqi was truly the number one carefree man under heaven.
After relinquishing the position of crown prince, historical records described his life like this.
"Music, drinking, polo, cockfighting, hunting in the suburbs, or enjoying retreats and villas, year after year without interruption."
Xuanzong shared an excellent relationship with this elder brother. Every year on Li Chengqi's birthday, he attended the banquet in person. Whenever tribute goods arrived, he always made sure to share some with his elder brother.
In the twenty ninth year of Kaiyuan, amid the last lingering glow of the Taixuan golden age, Li Chengqi passed away from illness. Li Longji posthumously honored him as the Yielding Emperor.
This pair of brothers, working together, completely brought the "brotherly harmony" version that began with Erfeng to an end.
Unfortunately, Xuanzong later decided to enhance the "fatherly affection and filial sons" version instead.
Of course, becoming crown prince was only the first step in Li Longji's imperial career. Looming before him next was another towering mountain.
Princess Taiping.]
For the first time since watching the light screen, Fang Xuanling sincerely wished it would stop talking.
Brotherly harmony. Fatherly affection.
Think of Xuanwu Gate. Think of Xuanzong's "one day, three sons killed." How could one fail to taste the meaning behind those words?
They were separated from later generations by a thousand years, not by a lack of intelligence.
And earlier, when His Majesty learned of the bloody struggles among his descendants through the light screen, that suffocating expression, as if he were about to vomit blood, was still vividly remembered.
"I…" Li Shimin was just about to say something when Wei Zheng spoke first.
"Your Majesty's Inscription at the Hot Springs fully captures Yu Shinan's essence. The brushwork is rounded and harmonious, balanced and refined. In its carefree flow there is vigorous beauty. To behold it is like silken brocade in spring, like swans and cranes playing upon a pond. It can truly be called a treasure of the age."
Li Shimin laughed helplessly and shook his head.
"What I have been practicing recently is the grand Tang Yan style. And this Inscription at the Hot Springs has not been preserved. It is unlikely such brushwork even exists."
With Wei Zheng taking the lead, Fang Xuanling, Du Ruhui, and Zhangsun Wuji all joined in, critiquing and comparing the calligraphy of various emperors.
From Jin to the present, everyone practiced the Two Wangs. Now that they had seen Yan Zhenqing's writing from later generations, discussing calligraphic strengths and weaknesses had become a frequent topic.
When Li Shimin finally managed to extricate himself and sit back down, Empress Zhangsun smiled and said,
"Zhinu's writing contains both firmness and softness. It has the bearing of a gentleman who hides his tools. That is quite rare."
Li Shimin nodded and commented casually.
"The structure lacks a bit of bone. Otherwise, it could be called superior."
After a brief silence, Li Shimin suddenly said,
"At this moment, I truly do envy this Li Longji."
Empress Changsun smiled gently.
"Your Majesty can still dispel this… version. It is not too late."
"I only hope that Chengqian, Zhinu, and Qingque can be brotherly and harmonious like those brothers."
Li Shimin's face immediately twisted.
"…Let us use a different phrase."