The film and television world begins with the battle for the throne in Kowloon

Chapter 575 Meeting Li Shimin in Chengqing Palace
Thanks to Li Yan's intervention, in the Battle of Bianqiao that year, Li Shimin was able to add more than 100,000 troops, and Jie Li retreated in time.

Li Shimin's army was in high spirits. In order to win over Yang Ji, he returned to the palace early and did not pretend to inspect the Flying Tiger Army. Concubine Shu also did not drink the "prescription" that Li Shimin had prepared in advance for the imperial physician Sun He, thus saving her life.

However, Concubine Shu had been ill for a long time and was dying. Not long after Jie Li's army retreated, she died of fright, leaving behind her only daughter Ankang.

Li Shimin placed all his deep affection and grief for Concubine Shu on Ankang, holding her in his hands for fear of dropping her, and holding her in his mouth for fear of melting her. In the Taiji Palace, it didn't matter if Li Shimin was offended, but Princess Ankang should not be offended. This was the consensus of everyone in Chang'an.

After Concubine Shu passed away, Empress Changsun brought the underage Ankang back to Qiyun Palace to raise her. Over the past few years, Ankang has grown into a young girl.

Empress Changsun had seven children. Except for Li Tai, who was one year younger than Li Yan, and Li Zhi, who was only two years old, the rest were daughters. As the most sensible eldest brother, Li Yan naturally had the responsibility to take care of his younger brothers and sisters. He got along well with his older sisters, Ankang and Changle.

Empress Changsun got married at the age of thirteen, but Ankang is now fourteen years old, only a few months younger than Li Yan. However, Li Shimin was still reluctant to marry her off.

In the Taiji Palace, only Ankang can freely enter and exit the Queen's Qiyun Palace, Li Shimin's Chengqing Palace, and Li Yan's Prince's Palace.

Xiao Ankang appeared to be well-behaved and sensible in front of Li Shimin and Empress Changsun, but in Li Yan's Eastern Palace, he was like a bird out of a cage, letting himself go, eating, drinking and having fun without any scruples, causing chaos in the Eastern Palace, and he often teased Li Yan.

However, facing such an elf-like sister, Li Yan just treated it as a relaxation in his spare time. Not only did he allow her to indulge herself, but he also accompanied his sister to secretly prepare some unique food in the East Palace.

Little Ankang was so happy that the little elf wanted to stay in the East Palace every day.

In the end, Empress Changsun occasionally intervened on the grounds that the prince was getting older and that it would not affect his studies.

Otherwise, Li Yan would have no time to study at all.

Of course, Li Yan himself doesn't think so. Playing with his lovely sister is much more interesting than studying the classics of state governance with the old masters.

"Brother, the beggar's chicken you made for me last time was so delicious. I haven't eaten it for half a month. When can we make it again?"

Little Ankang grabbed Li Yan's arm and shook it like a spoiled child.

Li Yan had no choice but to turn around, scratched Ankang's nose, carefully glanced around, swallowed his saliva greedily, and said lovingly: "I haven't eaten for a long time. During the time you were away, I ate bread and corn every day. But you also know that the few chickens in the garden that were used for crowing were eaten by us."

"Now I rely on Henglian to wake me up every morning."

Li Yan had no choice. Although he had been through three worlds, he was the kind of person who had everything provided for him. He had never been a cook, so he didn't know how to cook too many things. When he really tried to cook by himself, he realized that he was too ambitious and could only cook barbecue and beggar's chicken.

Fortunately, these two things do not require much skill and are easy to use.

"Ah, what should I do?"

When Ankang heard this, his delicate little face, which was as delicate as a baby's, immediately drooped!
"Well, after I pay my respects to my father and mother, we'll leave the palace together and say we're going to visit my uncle's house. When we leave, take all the chickens in his chicken coop with you. That way, we won't have to worry about having beggar chickens to eat."

"Also, I heard that my uncle has sheep at home. You don't know that the lamb meat is soft and tender. If you roast it over a fire and sprinkle some Western spices on it, the taste is so delicious. The fat and lean lamb meat is sizzling with oil, crispy on the outside and tender on the inside. It melts in your mouth, with a rich aroma and an endless aftertaste. It's so delicious that I can even swallow my tongue."

'Gudu.'

Ankang couldn't help but swallow his saliva, his stomach rumbling, his eyes showing eager anticipation, his little tongue licking his lips subconsciously, wishing he could take a couple of bites right now.

"Hehehe, brother, you are still very cunning! Let's do this, mother is in there, let's go quickly, and then go to see uncle, aunt and cousins ​​early." Ankang urged repeatedly with a happy smile on his face.

"Hey"

Changsun Wuji, who had been following behind without saying a word for a long time, was unhappy and pretended to be displeased and said, "You two little foxes, when you plotted against me, could you not have done it behind my back? You really don't take my uncle seriously."

"what?"

Ankang Qiao blushed and asked, "Uncle, when did you come? How come you suddenly appeared? Ankang didn't see you?"

"Humph, you only have your brother the Crown Prince, the beggar's chicken and the roasted lamb in your eyes. How can you forget about me, your uncle?"

Ankang refused coquettishly, and the three of them came to Qiyun Palace chatting and laughing.

After paying his respects, Li Yan left Changsun Wuji and Ankang to chat with Empress Changsun, and went to Chengqing Hall alone.

After Li Shimin left the court, he usually handled official business in Chengqing Hall. Outside Chengqing Hall, Li Yan saw Yang Ji, whom he had not seen for a long time. Yang Ji's Zuo Qianniuwei was in charge of the Imperial Sword Guard, which was the emperor's inner circle and personal guard, responsible for the last line of defense for Li Shimin.

For some reason, after Yang Ji surrendered to Li Shimin three years ago, he gained great trust from him and handed over all the imperial sword guards around him to Yang Ji for management. In the first two years, he was guarding the outer palace of Taiji Palace, and in the past two years, he was transferred to his side and made responsible for personal guards. This surprised everyone who thought that Li Shimin was temporarily appeasing Quan Yi. Of course, Li Yan knew that this was completely a check and balance for Li Shimin as an emperor on the old team.

In addition, Li Yan had never had any contact with Yang Ji in the past three years. Yang Ji also strictly followed his arrangements, adhered to the three rules of survival, and kept a distance from other forces. Only then did he gain Li Shimin's full trust.

Yang Ji was arranging the guards to change shifts. When he saw Li Yan coming, he hurriedly stepped forward and saluted, saying, "Your Highness the Crown Prince."

"Oh, it's General Yang!"

Li Yan was neither too distant nor too close, and nodded casually, "I have something to see my father, please inform the general."

"Okay, Your Highness, please wait a moment."

Yang Ji did not behave too closely with Li Yan, and the two of them behaved like ordinary ministers.

Both of them knew that all their actions were in public, and there were countless people watching them, so they didn't dare to make any excessive movements, or even say a few words.

Yang Ji's eyes lit up slightly, he remained calm, bowed respectfully, and then went in to report.

After a while, Yang Ji came out and said, "The Emperor is reviewing memorials. The Crown Prince can go in by himself."

"Okay, thank you General!"

Li Yan nodded kindly and exchanged glances with the most lurking Lao Liu, which was a silent comfort and encouragement, and then strode in.

As we walked into Chengqing Hall, we were suddenly hit by a cool breeze. Although it was already April, the sun was shining brightly outside, spring was in full swing, and flowers were blooming everywhere.

But the temperature in Chengqing Hall is several degrees lower than outside. It is very comfortable in summer, but normal people would definitely not be able to bear it in spring, autumn or winter.

Chengqing Hall was inhabited by several generations of emperors, and some of the foundations have indeed collapsed. The humidity in the hall is very heavy. No wonder Li Shimin suffers from rheumatism in autumn and winter. Living in such a low-lying place and having old injuries, wouldn't he have leg pain in autumn and winter?

However, Li Yan would not be so foolish as to think about reselling grain to build a palace for Li Shimin, and almost lost his position as crown prince.

Li Shimin was seen reviewing memorials behind the imperial desk. The desk was very low, and Li Shimin was sitting on a mat with several layers of cushions, which was even closer to the ground.

Li Yan secretly shook his head, stepped forward and bowed respectfully: "Your Highness, I pay my respects to you, Father."

"Well, sit down!"

Li Shimin greeted him without even raising his head.

Li Yan moved a brocade cushion and placed it naturally on Li Shimin's right hand side. He did not sit on it, but knelt down and helped Li Shimin sort out the memorials that had been reviewed and thrown into a pile, and placed them neatly on the desk.

Then he walked to the side, shook the teapot on the small table next to him, tested the temperature, and told the eunuch Wang De to heat a pot of goat's milk.

He brought it to the imperial desk, poured out the leftover tea that had already cooled down, brewed a cup of hot goat milk, and placed it in front of Li Shimin: "Father, take a break. You can't finish reviewing the memorials. It's better to combine work and rest."

"Um"

Li Shimin stretched himself, took a sip of goat milk, and felt his internal organs warm up. He looked at Li Yan with a smile and said, "If you can help father with some official business someday, father won't have to work so hard."

"Haha, Father, I am only twelve or thirteen years old this year. I should focus on learning from my teacher. These memorials are all important matters of the court. I can't even understand them now. If you want me to help you deal with them, it will probably take another ten or eight years."

"Your Majesty's court is full of counselors and military commanders. Uncles like Lord Fang, Lord Xiao, and Lord Cen can all help your Majesty deal with it."

Li Yan smiled rudely and didn't take Li Shimin's words to heart. He thought, jokingly, how could Li Shimin let other people help him with such things? If he helps to deal with memorials today, can he help sit on the throne tomorrow?

In addition, Li Yan III was a very clear person, so he knew that what Li Shimin said was half true and half false. Even if Li Yan could help him deal with it, it would have no practical significance. Didn't the Li brothers help Li Yuan deal with state affairs back then?

Li Shimin helped in fighting the war, and Crown Prince Li Jiancheng helped in dealing with memorials. In the end, both father and son were killed by Li Shimin, who held military power.

It can be seen that these empty things are of no use at all, and it is not these things that determine who will own the throne.

(End of this chapter)