Tiantang Splendid

Chapter 5289 Knocking on the mountain and shaking the tiger
When Li Yuanjia returned to the palace to report, Prince Jiang, Li Yun, happened to be there as well. Li Yuanjia stroked his chin and beard, seemingly understanding that Fang Jun's warning to him was not truly aimed at him, but rather a "warning shot." He was the "mountain," and the handsome nephew who was about to become his brother-in-law was the "tiger"...

After reporting on the Jiangxia Prince's Mansion, Li Yuanjia sat down and recounted Fang Jun's warning. He couldn't help but complain, "I am a prince of the Great Tang Dynasty and the Minister of the Imperial Clan Court. You are his brother-in-law and uncle, but in his eyes, how am I any different from those street urchins who abuse their wives and children? He hits and scolds me whenever he wants. He is simply lawless. Your Majesty must stand up for me!"

Li Yun, standing to the side, was shocked. In his eyes, the Prince of Han was already the most prominent figure in the imperial clan. The princes and dukes who were of higher seniority and more experienced than him had almost all died out. He was in charge of the Imperial Clan Court and his word was law. Yet he was afraid of Fang Jun like a tiger!

He was so frightened by a few warnings that he actually ran to His Majesty to beg for help.
Li Chengqian was speechless. It was one thing to say such things in private, but how could he say them in front of Li Yun?

Don't you have any sense of dignity at all?
"He was just saying it casually, why take it seriously? If he really hit you, I'll stand up for you."

Li Yuanjia cried out in protest: "If we really fought, would it be too late? Besides, back then, when his horse trampled the Han Prince's mansion, I didn't even dare to go home. I had to rush to the palace at night to seek the protection of Emperor Taizong. How wise and powerful Emperor Taizong was! In the end, nothing came of it."

Even Emperor Taizong couldn't do anything about Fang Jun afterwards, Your Majesty, are you really capable?
Li Chengqian was furious. Although I am far inferior to Emperor Taizong, how can you praise one and criticize the other in front of me?
"If you brothers-in-law have any conflicts or disputes, you should resolve them yourselves. Don't make a scene at Taiji Palace, or I won't care!"

Upon hearing this, Li Yun's eyes widened.

If the dignified Prince Han and Minister of the Imperial Clan were slapped in the face and dragged to the Imperial Ancestral Temple by Fang Jun outside the Vermilion Bird Gate, would His Majesty really do nothing about it?!
Putting myself in her shoes, what if I offended Fang Xiaomei...

Li Yun shivered.

Li Yuanjia shook his head and sighed, patting Li Yun on the shoulder with a sigh: "Whether it's the eldest sister or the youngest sister of the Fang family, or even the entire Fang family, they are all excellent. It's just that this Fang Er protects his older sister and spoils his younger sister without any bottom line, which is really outrageous. You must be more careful in the future and never do anything wrong. I am, after all, his uncle and the Minister of the Imperial Clan Court. Although he is rampant, he still has some restraint. But if it were you, it wouldn't just be slapping your face with a shoe outside the Vermilion Bird Gate. He would dare to tie you up and take you to Zhaoling Mausoleum to dismember your arms and legs in front of Emperor Taizong's spirit tablet!"

Li Yun's face turned pale, and he hurriedly said, "Uncle, you are too kind. My sister and I are deeply in love and will surely live in harmony and mutual respect. How could I let my sister suffer any injustice? As long as I don't do anything wrong like you did, the Grand Commandant won't treat me like that!"

Li Yuanjia: "..."

Can't you speak properly, kid?!
Li Chengqian had a headache. He vaguely understood Li Yuanjia's intention and warned, "Whether it is Fang Xuanling, who pioneered the way and assisted Emperor Taizong, or Fang Jun, who was loyal and made great contributions to the country, they have both made great contributions to the country. Their daughters joining the royal family is not a favor bestowed by the royal family. It is both a reward for the Fang family and a way to use the Fang family's family education to benefit the royal family's children. If anyone mistreats or abuses the Fang family's daughters, not only will I not intervene when Fang Jun retaliates, but I will also punish them severely according to the laws of the imperial clan!"

He personally went to the Fang family to propose marriage. If Fang Xiaomei suffers any grievances in the future, and Fang Er comes to him to question her, what will he, the matchmaker, do?
His relationship with Fang Jun is currently fraught with unpleasantness and quite delicate. If further conflicts arise due to the matter of the eldest and youngest sisters in the Fang family, he truly doesn't know how to handle it...

Li Yun, trembling with fear, repeatedly assured his brother, "Your Majesty, rest assured, I will only dote on my younger sister and would never allow her to suffer any injustice."

Li Chengqian nodded and said, “Now that the betrothal has been made, the marriage is settled and the proper etiquette must be observed. Before the New Year, I will prepare a New Year’s gift for you in Wangde and send it to the Fang family in your name. After the New Year, you can personally bring the gift to their door. Then, we will carry out the formalities of asking for the name, accepting the auspicious date, presenting the betrothal gifts, setting the wedding date, and welcoming the bride one by one. The wedding will take place before you go to Thonburi to assume your fiefdom.”

Standing nearby, Li Yuanjia asked curiously, "Has the place of enfeoffment been determined? Where is Thonburi?"

Li Yun replied, "Zhenla is a large river that flows into the sea in the south, and it is currently just a small fishing village."

"Real wax? That's alright then."

Li Yuanjia nodded. Although it was just a small fishing village, it was by the sea and could receive naval assistance at any time. In addition, with Fang Xiaomei, who was equivalent to a "naval princess", Li Yun's future life would be too carefree.

However, it is precisely because the navy's assistance provides Li Yun with better military and financial resources that Fang Xiaomei's status has risen accordingly. If she really causes trouble within the fiefdom, she will probably not have a good outcome...

Fortunately, Li Yun was a rather mild-mannered young man, so he didn't develop the rebellious thought that "a great man should not remain subservient to others for long and rely on his relatives by marriage to establish himself in his fiefdom."

If he really does have this idea in the future, given Fang Jun's methods, Li Yun will likely "catch an illness and die suddenly," and then Fang Xiaomei's son will inherit the fiefdom...

After thinking for a moment, Li Yuanjia patted Li Yun on the shoulder and exclaimed in admiration, "You're really lucky, kid. With the help of the navy in the future, you will surely be able to govern the fiefdom into a prosperous and thriving place and guard the region. Your brothers will be so envious and jealous. Make the most of this opportunity, mature a bit, and achieve a great feat that will be passed down to future generations."

Li Yun grinned, seemingly oblivious to Li Yuanjia's hidden warning, and said with a smile, "Uncle, rest assured, although my sister and I were betrothed, we are truly in love and perfectly matched. She was willing to leave Chang'an with me to go overseas to a desolate and barbaric land to establish a kingdom, living a simple life and enduring hardships. How could I possibly let her down and cause her the slightest grievance? I am not talented, but I still have this sense of responsibility, and I will not let you, Uncle, have all the credit!"

"……Um?"

Li Yuanjia clicked his tongue and looked Li Yun up and down with a suspicious gaze. Was this kid sincere or just being sarcastic?

Are you mocking me?
Kids these days are so naughty...

*****
In Wu Shunniang's house, Fang Jun took a bath, changed into a set of casual clothes, and sat in the hall drinking tea. Looking at the beautiful woman with a rosy face and bright eyes beside him, he felt relaxed and satisfied.

A true man, when walking through the world, pursues nothing more than "power and lust".

Awake, he wields power over the world; drunk, he rests on the lap of a beautiful woman. He can conquer the most powerful barbarian tribes and also his own woman. What more could a man ask for?

Helan Yan was very attached to Fang Jun. She sat on a small stool, hugged Fang Jun's legs, and talked with her face upturned. Although she was only six or seven years old, she was exquisitely beautiful with delicate features. She had inherited the beauty of her mother and aunt and was sure to grow up to be a beauty.

Fang Jun chatted with He Lanyan, occasionally letting out a hearty laugh.

When Wu Shunniang saw that her daughter was close to Fang Jun and that Fang Jun also liked her daughter very much, she couldn't help but smile with joy.

Although she followed Fang Jun without any status or even shame, it was her own choice, and she had no regrets. Her only worry was that her children would not support her. Now, He Lanminzhi has been tempered in the academy and seems to have been reborn. He also understands her affair with Fang Jun. She is truly perfect and has no regrets in life.

Fang Jun suddenly asked, "Why isn't Minzhi at home?"

Wu Shunniang said, "When the students of the academy are on holiday, they go home. It's probably because the studies at the academy are too heavy and the discipline is too strict. Once they get home, they all run wild and play. Minzhi hasn't been home for several days... But he's become much more sensible and obedient now. He only drinks and plays with his friends. At most, he'll stroll around Pingkang Lane. He wouldn't dare to do anything bad."

"Ah,"

Fang Jun chuckled; he knew Helan Minzhi far better than Wu Shunniang did...

“Minzhi is naturally restless and unruly. If he stays in Chang’an, he will be both pampered by you and have my power. He will inevitably become arrogant and domineering, which is not a good thing. In two years, send him to the army to be disciplined and tempered by military discipline. If he can change his violent nature, he will surely make a name for himself with his intelligence. You will also be able to give an explanation to his deceased father.”

Wu Shunniang felt a warmth in her heart and a flush on her face. She couldn't help but give the man a charming sidelong glance. Just a moment ago, they were tossing and turning in the brocade quilt inside the room. Why is she mentioning that dead man now?
She was depressed and unhappy after marrying into the Helan family, and suffered all kinds of scorn from everyone. She had no feelings for her deceased husband at all...

"You can decide for yourself... As long as I can see Minzhi get married and have children, and Yan'er marry into a good family, I will be content for the rest of my life. I only need to answer to myself and my two children, not to anyone else."

He paused, then whispered, "I just don't know how to explain this to Meiniang..."

Fang Jun didn't take it to heart and laughed, "Meiniang is broad-minded and a woman who is just as capable as any man. Why would she care about such things? As long as you sisters can live happily and be filial to your mother, she will be happy to see it happen... Speaking of which, I have been back in the capital for a long time, but I have not seen my third sister and her husband yet. What are they busy with?"

Wu Shunniang said, "The news of the upcoming naval battle has spread like wildfire. My brother-in-law is in the Imperial Guard, where he has to check the quantity and condition of the armory's weapons and equipment, as well as participate in the deployment of the Guanzhong garrison and the management of the household registration of recruits. He is extremely busy."

Fang Junqi asked, "He's busy with his own affairs, so why didn't Third Sister come to visit when Meiniang returned to the capital?"

"hehe,"

Wu Shunniang found it amusing and gave him a charming sidelong glance: "Guess?"

Fang Jun blinked: "Uh... could it be that they're wary of me?"

Wu Shunniang smiled radiantly, her delicate features as charming as a young girl's: "You're not only a 'good princess,' but you also like to make a move on your wife's older and younger sisters. How can people not be wary of you?"

Fang Jun: "..."