Whenever Tang Shunzong and Li Song are mentioned, they always think of the one on TV, so I have to explain it in detail to everyone.
The Tang Dynasty was a peak in ancient history, with strong development in all aspects, so it is also known as the prosperous Tang Dynasty. Although the Tang Dynasty developed well, because Emperor Taizong obtained the throne by killing his brother, the struggle for imperial power in the Tang Dynasty has always been very fierce. Even if he is crowned as the crown prince, he may not necessarily become emperor.
The Crown Prince of the Tang Dynasty was also the saddest of all dynasties. Before ascending to the throne, he had to be on guard every day and always be wary of his brothers. If you’re not careful, you may lose your life before the emperor becomes emperor. These are all the consequences left over from the Xuanwu Gate Incident. Emperor Shunzong of Tang, Li Song, was quite sorrowful. At the age of nineteen, he was conferred the title of Crown Prince and endured for twenty-six years before becoming emperor. Only he himself knew the heartache involved.
Li Song’s father, Emperor Dezong Li Shi of the Tang Dynasty, was a long-lived emperor who lived until the age of 64 before passing away. When Li Shi first ascended the throne, he was considered a relatively wise emperor. In court, one should know and make good use of people, and appoint them based on their merits. Under the court, the taxes were lightly collected and the people rested, creating a prosperous atmosphere. So, at this time, Prince Li Song’s life was still very easy.
In the late period of Li Shi’s reign, like many other emperors in history, he began to slack off in dealing with court affairs and became a incompetent ruler. He began to favor eunuchs and impose various harsh taxes and levies on the people, causing public grievances to boil and the government to gradually become chaotic. When the government was in chaos, it became difficult for Li Song to become the crown prince, and other princes began to compete for Li Song’s position as crown prince.
Although the elderly Li Shi has become foolish, he still trusts his son Li Song very much and has no intention of abolishing the Crown Prince and establishing a new heir. Long term mental stress affected Li Song’s health. In September of the 20th year of the Zhenyuan era, he suddenly suffered a stroke and was bedridden ever since.
Stroke is a disease that is difficult to treat even in modern medicine, and in ancient times it was basically considered as waiting for death. After Li Song fell ill, the struggle for the crown prince of the Tang Dynasty became even more intense. Li Song’s brothers openly suggested to his father that the Crown Prince be deposed and a new crown prince be appointed. They believe that Li Song’s illness is so severe that he is unable to fulfill the duties of a crown prince. Regarding the matter of deposing the crown prince, Emperor Dezong of Tang, Li Shi, was also hesitant in his heart. Li Song had been the Crown Prince for 25 years at this time. He was peaceful, kind-hearted, and supported by civil and military officials as well as the people, so he once again held onto the position of Crown Prince.
Li Shi and Li Song can be said to be a father who is kind and a son who is filial. Li Shi loves Crown Prince Li Song very much in her heart. Since Li Song fell ill and was bedridden, he has never been able to attend court meetings again. During the court meeting, whenever Li Shi saw the empty throne of the Crown Prince, he choked up and passed away within a few months.
Because Li Song had been bedridden for a long time, many people were worried about whether he could hold the coronation ceremony, after all, there was no precedent in history for holding the coronation ceremony while lying down. Unexpectedly, after learning of the news of his father’s death, Li Song was deeply saddened. In a moment of excitement, his condition actually improved a lot and he was able to stand up. Since Li Song’s body has recovered, he can naturally inherit the throne smoothly, and the other princes will have no chance at all. This can be considered a blessing in disguise.
