Li Yuan

Biodata

Feature	Information
Name	Li Yuan (李渊)
Alias(es)	Duke of Tang; Prince of Tang; Emperor of Great Tang
Gender	Male
Affiliation	Longxi Li Clan; Great Sui; Great Tang
Occupation/Role	Governor of Qizhou; Prefect of Loufan; Prefect of Jinyang; founding Emperor of Great Tang
Status	Alive; abdicated in favor of Li Shimin and resides in Taiji Palace 327
First Appearance	Chapter 215: Li Yuan

Background / History

Li Yuan was the Duke of Tang and governor of Qizhou when Qing Niao, Verdant Green Maiden's Daoist disguise, stopped him outside his villa in Wugong County. He initially dismissed her claim to be a Zhenren, but immediately reconsidered after she caught up to his horse on foot and startled it into throwing him. When she foretold that his heavily pregnant wife, Dou Shi, would bear a son destined for greatness, Li Yuan invited her into his home to await the birth. 215

The child was Li Shimin. Li Yuan and Dou Shi later asked Verdant Green Maiden to name him; she gave him the name Shimin, while Li Yuan chose Jia Lan as his childhood name. 219 He subsequently allowed Li Shimin, Li Jiancheng, and Li Xiu Ning to become Verdant Green Maiden's disciples. 225 226

During the late Sui period, Yang Jian summoned Li Yuan to Chang'an to consult him on deposing Crown Prince Yang Yong. Li Yuan cautiously recommended Yang Guang, earning Yang Jian's approval. 221 Following Yang Guang's accession, Li Yuan was appointed Prefect of Loufan with military and political authority over the Turkic frontier. Forced to leave his family in Chang'an, he entrusted their safety to Verdant Green Maiden, who gave him a jade token blessed by a Bodhisattva. 228

After returning to the capital, Li Yuan was appointed Prefect of Jinyang. Guanzhong aristocrats pressed him to oppose Yang Guang's costly Goguryeo expedition, but Li Yuan recognized that they chiefly sought to protect their own interests. On Verdant Green Maiden's advice, he declared open loyalty to Yang Guang and relocated his family to Taiyuan. 242 243

When Yang Guang died, Verdant Green Maiden wrote Li Yuan urging him to support Yang Jian's installation. Soon afterward, the Sui court summoned Li Yuan to Luoyang. 254 The Li family ultimately seized power: Yang You abdicated, presented Li Yuan with the Imperial Seal, and Li Yuan became Emperor of Great Tang. He named Li Jiancheng Crown Prince, Li Shimin King of Qin, and Li Xiu Ning Princess Pingyang. 262 263

As emperor, Li Yuan demonstrated both political calculation and a growing attachment to absolute authority. He spared Dou Jiande and Wang Shichong after their surrender, placing the former under house arrest and arranging the latter's exile to Shu. 310 However, he resisted Verdant Green Maiden's demand that he make Li Shimin Crown Prince, insisting that Li Jiancheng would remain heir and that Great Tang belonged to him and his sons. 284 285

His conflict with Verdant Green Maiden sharpened after Li Yuanji's rebellion and death. Li Yuan believed the decision over his son's fate should have belonged to the emperor alone, even though Li Yuanji had been sent away in childhood and raised by Chen Shan Yi. 275 286 He sought Yuan Tiangang's help to expel Verdant Green Maiden from Chang'an, but Yuan Tiangang refused to contend with an Immortal. 285

When Li Jiancheng was believed killed during the war against the Turks, Li Yuan accused Li Shimin of intentionally delaying relief and blamed Verdant Green Maiden for the death. In grief, he ordered Qing Xiao Jade Maiden Temple destroyed despite public outrage. 321 Li Jiancheng was later revealed to be alive, having been saved by Verdant Green Maiden; his return left Li Yuan shaken and forced him to confront the consequences of his hostility toward her. 328

Li Yuan eventually relinquished the throne to Li Shimin, who became Emperor under the Zhenguan era name. With the succession settled, Li Yuan withdrew from state affairs and remained in Taiji Palace. 327

Personality

Li Yuan is cautious and politically observant when his position is insecure. He recognized the self-interest behind the Guanzhong aristocrats' calls to challenge Yang Guang, survived Yang Guang's loyalty test through emphatic submission, and accepted Verdant Green Maiden's counsel when it served his family's survival. 242 243

After taking the throne, his desire to preserve imperial authority increasingly overrides his earlier caution. He resents Verdant Green Maiden's influence over his family, rejects her intervention in succession, and treats Li Yuanji's death as an affront to his right to determine the fate of his own son. 275 285 286

He can still act pragmatically when necessary. Li Yuan spares surrendered rivals to preserve public confidence and restrains himself from punishing Wan Nian County's populace when Dou Shi warns that doing so could destabilize Great Tang. 295 310 Yet grief over Li Jiancheng drives him into irrationality, leading to his accusation against Li Shimin and the destruction of Qing Xiao Jade Maiden Temple. 321

Relationships

• Dou Shi — Wife and mother of his children. She advises him to control his anger during the god-seeing-off ceremony, warning that further alienating the people could endanger Great Tang. 215 295
• Verdant Green Maiden / Qing Niao — Initially a revered guest, adviser, and protector of the Li household. Their relationship deteriorates when she interferes in Li Yuanji's fate and presses Li Yuan to yield the throne to Li Shimin. 215 228 284 285
• Li Jiancheng — Eldest son and first Crown Prince of Great Tang. Li Yuan initially favors his succession, mourns his apparent death intensely, and is stunned when Verdant Green Maiden returns him alive. 263 321 328
• Li Shimin — Second son, Verdant Green Maiden's disciple, King of Qin, and eventual successor. Li Yuan rewards him heavily while attempting to preserve Li Jiancheng's position, later accuses him over Li Jiancheng's presumed death, then ultimately abdicates in his favor. 285 309 321 327
• Li Xiu Ning — Daughter, named Princess Pingyang upon Li Yuan's accession. Li Yuan credits Verdant Green Maiden with having taught the family a capable daughter. 263 258
• Li Yuanji — Youngest son, sent to Shu with Chen Shan Yi after Dou Shi rejected him. His rebellion and death become the decisive source of Li Yuan's break with Verdant Green Maiden. 226 275 286
• Yang Jian — Sui emperor and relative who sought Li Yuan's opinion on replacing Crown Prince Yang Yong; Li Yuan's endorsement of Yang Guang won Yang Jian's approval. 221
• Yang Guang — Sui emperor whom Li Yuan publicly supported after being tested over his ties to Guanzhong officials. 243
• Yang You — Final Sui emperor, who abdicated and personally transferred the Imperial Seal to Li Yuan. 262 263
• Yuan Tiangang — Daoist Li Yuan asks to remove Verdant Green Maiden from Chang'an. Yuan Tiangang refuses, explaining that a mortal cultivator cannot oppose an Immortal. 285

Story Role / Major Arcs

Rise of the Li Family

• Meets Qing Niao and accepts her prophecy concerning Li Shimin's birth. 215
• Allows Verdant Green Maiden to become mentor to Li Jiancheng, Li Shimin, and Li Xiu Ning. 225 226
• Navigates Sui court politics, serving in Loufan and Jinyang while protecting the Li family's position. 228 241 243
• Receives the Sui imperial transfer of power and establishes Great Tang. 262 263

Rule of Great Tang

• Enfeoffs Li Jiancheng as Crown Prince and Li Shimin as King of Qin. 263
• Balances clemency and control by sparing Dou Jiande and Wang Shichong while limiting their freedom. 310
• Grants Li Shimin the title of Celestial Strategy Supreme General and three coin-minting furnaces, deepening court concern over the balance of power between his sons. 309 314

Conflict over Imperial Authority

• Rejects Verdant Green Maiden's demand to name Li Shimin Crown Prince, insisting on Li Jiancheng's succession. 284 285
• Attempts unsuccessfully to use Yuan Tiangang against Verdant Green Maiden. 285
• Orders Qing Xiao Jade Maiden Temple destroyed after Li Jiancheng's apparent death. 321
• Accepts Li Shimin as Crown Prince and abdicates after Li Jiancheng's survival and the succession crisis are resolved. 327 328

Notable Quotes

“This is Zhen's Great Tang!” 285

“Da Lang is the Crown Prince! Second Young Master will forever be nothing more than the King of Qin!” 285