The "Preface to Tengwang Pavilion" written by Wang Bo, a talented man in the early Tang Dynasty, has been passed down through the ages. Li Yuanying was the builder of Tengwang Pavilion. Li Yuanying was the 22nd son of Emperor Gaozu Li Yuan of the Tang Dynasty. In the 13th year of Zhenguan, he was named King Teng by his elder brother Li Shimin.
As the emperor's son, Li Yuanying's behavior throughout his life is the best interpretation of a playboy.
In the thirteenth year of Zhenguan, Li Yuanying was granted the title of King Teng and lived in Teng County, Shandong Province. When he first arrived in Shandong, he was extravagant and extravagant, building pavilions and palaces. In the eyes of the local people, he was regarded as a lawless second generation ancestor. Tang Taizong condoned his mischief, but when Tang Gaozong arrived, Li Zhi really couldn't stand the emperor's uncle's behavior.
Because Li Yuanying is really outrageous.
He "does not follow the rules and goes beyond the rules." He often gathers his subordinates to watch dances, music, and acrobatics, ignoring the city's prohibition system, and leaving the city gates open at night to facilitate his entry and exit at any time. He often went to the grassroots to "inspect the people of the province", but his "inspections of the people" did not go to understand the people's conditions but led people everywhere to borrow hunting dogs and poultry nets for hunting and recreation. Even during the busy farming season, they would shoot at the farmers with slingshots and enjoy watching the farmers scatter and escape.
He also ignored his status as an imperial son, wrestling and fighting with the slaves in the palace, and allowed his slaves to tease the officials who came to do business. Even during the mourning period of Emperor Taizong of the Tang Dynasty, he continued to enjoy singing and dancing without knowing the law.
Li Zhi, Emperor Gaozong of the Tang Dynasty, issued an edict to severely point out his crimes, hoping that he could correct them, but he still went his own way.
There was no other way, so Emperor Gaozong of the Tang Dynasty drove him to Suzhou to serve as governor, and soon he rushed to the more remote Nanchang to serve as governor. From Shandong to Suzhou and then to Nanchang, he never forgot to bring his singing and dancing instruments with him along the way. After arriving in Nanchang, he drank and had fun all day long in the mansion. Later, the world-famous Tengwang Pavilion was built near the river just for his entertainment.
Not only that, he often raped the wives of his subordinates in Nanchang. Once he met a subordinate's wife who would rather die than obey, and she broke her face with her shoe, leaving her in a state of embarrassment. This move greatly damaged the royal family's face, and Tang Gaozong punished and demoted Chuzhou, but he still did not know how to restrain himself.
The above-mentioned behaviors of Li Yuanying are exactly the image of a "bad young man" who committed crimes and committed crimes by taking advantage of his status as a prince.
In the eyes of normal people, Li Yuanying is definitely a bastard. His behavior is a reminder of his death. He wishes he could die early.
But in the eyes of the emperor, Li Yuanying was just an incompetent person without any threat, but his behavior was a life-saving talisman.
The real reminder is not his behavior, but his identity as the emperor's son. As the emperor's son, his dissolute behavior bothered the people. This behavior was actually a life-saving talisman.
Looking at the fate of the princes of the Li Tang clan, you will know how lucky Teng Wang Li Yuanying was.
Among the fourteen sons of Emperor Taizong of the Tang Dynasty, three died young. The ninth son Li Zhi succeeded to the throne. Nine of the remaining ten sons died unexpectedly. Only the thirteenth son Zhao Wang Li Fu died a mediocre death.
Among the twenty-two sons of Emperor Gaozu of the Tang Dynasty, five died early and six died of illness. Except for the second brother Li Shimin, he was the only one to die a good death.
By the time of Wu Zetian, many of the sons of Emperor Gaozu and Emperor Taizong of the Tang Dynasty were killed for treason. However, Li Yuanying, the Prince of Teng, who had been misbehaving and breaking laws and disciplines throughout his life, was appointed by Wu Zetian as the official in charge of the imperial office, the third division of the imperial court, and the Liang Dynasty. The governor of the state, not only was he not attacked and persecuted, but he was promoted and reused. After his death, he was given the gift of Situ and the governor of Jizhou, and was buried with him in his mausoleum.
Is Li Yuanying really of bad character, or is this intentional? I'm afraid the latter is more likely.
Among the princes of Emperor Gaozu and Emperor Taizong of the Tang Dynasty, there were many who behaved as naughty and unruly as Li Yuanying, but he was the only one who was not implicated in a major rebellion, which shows that there was wisdom behind his debauchery.
Judging from the fate of Li Yuanying's brother and nephew, Li Yuanying is undoubtedly the luckiest, at least he did not die unexpectedly or harm his descendants.