Da Tang: Father, can I resign?

Chapter 28: Get on the horse! Your father will help you show off!
Before Li Ming had time to react, he sat steadily in Li Shimin's arms.

"If you have anything to say, just tell me directly. Why are you asking the gatekeeper to take the blame?"

Having already had a huge fight with this rebellious son, Li Shimin was too lazy to put on any pretense in front of him.

"I'm afraid you'll be angry with me." Li Ming rose and fell on the horse's back.

Li Shimin stopped pretending, and Li Ming stopped pretending either.

The two of them spoke frankly to each other, just like an ordinary father and son who had a daily bickering.

Li Shimin laughed angrily:

"Weren't you very brave in the Liangyi Palace that day? Why are you scared now and hiding behind others? Did that old man with an expressionless face teach you that?"

Does Mr. Fang know that you called him by a nickname behind his back? Li Ming sneered at this mean behavior and said openly:
"That guy with a paralyzed face does nothing but drink tea and recite from a script. Grandpa should get rid of him and replace him with Mr. Kong Yingda. The tuition that Mom paid for him should also be refunded in proportion."

Li Shimin stroked his mustache and said, "Do you know who I'm talking about, facial paralysis?"

Li Ming was startled: "Who else is there besides Fang Xuanling?"

Li Shimin showed a meaningful smile:

"Sheep Urine Bubble Li Jing, Charcoal Head Yuchi Jingde, and Seven-spotted Ladybug Li Xiaogong, these military commanders who made great contributions to the world, chose to retreat bravely after helping me build my kingdom, did not form cliques, and rarely went out.

"Do you know why?"

The nickname is so fancy, you are actually this kind of Li Shimin... Li Ming replied casually:
"A wife, children, and a warm bed. After fighting all your life, can't you enjoy yourself?"

Li Shimin shook his head, and the smile on his face became more intense:
"On the day that Black Charcoal Head resigned, he said to me: 'Your Majesty, this court meeting gave me a chill. Why are all these civil servants so expressionless?'

"Do you understand?"

Li Ming's mouth twitched, and he understood the subtext without any difficulty -

Even a famous general could not distinguish the expressions of civil servants, but this little kid could distinguish them clearly.

The only person whom Li Shimin could not see through was Fang Xuanling.

This is why the father and son are in sync when it comes to "facial paralysis".

Damn it, I’ve been tricked again!
My golden finger that is good at observing people's words and expressions has been exposed by my father!

Can people be more sincere and less formulaic with each other?
Under Li Shimin's malicious gaze, Li Ming turned his eyes away, changed the subject and continued to slander:

"Let's get back to the topic just now. Fang Mian Tan spreads reactionary poisonous weeds in elementary schools every day, polluting the flowers of the motherland. Grandpa, you should let Mr. Kong come back. I will definitely not make trouble."

Li Shimin ignored his strange talk:

"I'm going to the Lide Hall for dinner. I'll test you with your mother later."

After saying that, he gently squeezed the horse's belly and increased the speed.

The steed galloped briskly through the palace, and Li Ming's rhythmic howling echoed between the towering palaces:
"My big ass cracked! Slow down!"

…………

It was evening now, and the roads in the palace were crowded with officials and princes and princesses returning home after court.

They chatted in groups of three or four, and apart from discussing state affairs, they shared the latest news.

Li Ming's disrespect for His Majesty has become the biggest topic in Taiji Palace in the past two days.

Regarding this prince who was the first to prepare for the war against the "idle prince", the always straightforward officials of the Zhenguan court said bluntly that if he continued to seek death like this, he would probably lose his life.

"Since Your Highness has been named the King of Qi, you should have gone to Qi as soon as possible. Staying in the capital is not a long-term solution."

Yin Hongzhi, the younger brother of Concubine De Yin, was discussing more important matters with his nephew.

His nephew, the fifth son of Li Shimin and Concubine Yin De, Prince of Qi Li You, yawned lazily and said with little interest:
"I'm sick and don't want to go."

Yin Hongzhi squinted at him and said, "You've been ill for more than half a year, and you were still riding a horse and hunting rabbits in the forbidden garden yesterday."

Did Ning get a disease that would cause him to die on the spot as soon as he left Chang'an?
Li You was a little embarrassed, but he couldn't come up with an excuse, so he just stiffened his neck and yelled at his uncle:

"I'm fine wherever I want to be! Even my father can't control me, so what does it have to do with you?"

Yin Hongzhi was not annoyed by his nephew's criticism, but patiently encouraged him:
"Your Highness loves hunting, why don't you go to Qi to recruit soldiers... I mean, make friends with knights and hunt in the mountains? Wouldn't it be more comfortable than being criticized everywhere in the capital?"

"hiss……"

Li You has always been idle and can do nothing except hunting. These words really touched his heart.

Yin Hongzhi secretly observed his expression and curled the corners of his mouth slightly.

"Let's not talk about this for now." Li You didn't like to think, so he simply stopped thinking and changed the topic to a more interesting one:
"Have you heard about the recent farce in the palace?"

"Which one?" Yin Hongzhi asked politely.

Li You naturally could not hear his uncle's ridicule of the royal family, and said excitedly:

"I have a younger brother named Li Ming. Do you still remember him? That guy was in Liangyi Palace, cursing at our father!"

"Is this true?" Yin Hongzhi was half-believing and half-doubting.

"Of course, it's all over the palace!" Li You felt extremely superior to his uncle who had access to the Internet in the village:

"That fellow Li Ming even brought up the Xuanwu Gate Incident in front of my father!"

"Ah? Xuanwu Gate?"

Yin Hongzhi was truly enlightened.

Is this a topic worth discussing?

Are all of you Li family members so stupid?

There is the cross-dressing tycoon Li Chengqian, the reckless and incompetent Li You, and now there is the ignorant Li Ming.

Weren't your previous generation quite capable when they beheaded my father, Yin Shishi, in public?

The Li family has no successor, there is an opportunity to take advantage of...

"Hahaha!" Li You's hearty laughter interrupted Yin Hongzhi's little thoughts, "Uncle, tell me, there are so many fun things in the palace, how can I bear to leave!"

Li Youzai was a fool, but he also understood the principle of relativity - his brother became weaker = he became stronger relatively.

Even though his youngest brother had nothing to do with him, the King of Qi, he was narrow-minded and was happy to see him suffer.

"Hahaha! It is just as Your Highness said. I wonder how Your Majesty will deal with that ridiculous kid."

Yin Hongzhi did not hide his inner joy. The more absurd and incompetent the Li family's descendants were, the happier he was.

At this time, the sound of horse hooves came from behind.

The emperor was the only one who could ride a horse in the inner court, so everyone immediately made way and bowed to the horse.

"Today's horse hoofbeats seem lighter than before..."

Li You, who loved horse riding and hunting, heard something fishy and took a peek out of curiosity.

Then I saw a cute, chubby little ball sitting safely in the arms of his father, Emperor Li Shimin.

wrong……

Isn’t that…? !

Li You opened his mouth slightly.

"Li Ming?!"

After he reminded them, others also noticed something was wrong and couldn't help rubbing their eyes, thinking they had seen it wrong.

No, Your Majesty...

Isn’t that “that” little prince who has done so much evil?
How could he sit in that position?
Why can he sit in that position?

"It's been almost twenty years since I was born, and that man has never hugged me like this before..."

Li You's face was distorted with jealousy, and he almost growled out these words through his teeth.

Yin Hongzhi was horrified inwardly: No way... are all of you in the Li family so good at playing?

This form of palace fighting was too advanced for Yin Hongzhi.

He suddenly felt that not all of Li Shimin's descendants were cowards.

My plan still needs to be polished...

Amid the puzzled, envious and jealous gazes of the crowd, Li Ming sat high on his horse and galloped past.

…………

To the north of Yongxiang is the harem.

When the beauties in the harem who were eating heard the sound of horse hooves, they immediately threw down their bowls and chopsticks, stared at themselves in the mirror, and waited anxiously and hopefully.

How many years have passed since His Majesty last rode his horse in high spirits in the harem...

"Hurry, hurry up!"

Concubine Wei was waiting in the main hall early, and at the same time she was desperately urging her maid to dress her up.

Although she is old and her looks have faded, she still feels charming.

Moreover, she came from the noble Wei family and ranked first among the four concubines under the queen.

When His Majesty visits the harem, he will definitely visit me first... She thought very confidently, and quickly ordered the eunuchs to set out the dishes and chopsticks, which took a long time to prepare.

Then, the busy people in the room heard the sound of horse hooves passing the door, without stopping, going away... going away... going away...

Concubine Wei's cheek twitched slightly. She stood up silently, walked to the window with unsteady steps, and pressed her face against the window frame, rubbing off a thick layer of powder.

Under the bright palace lanterns, she clearly saw Li Ming in His Majesty's arms.

"It's him again..." She murmured expressionlessly, her heart slowly sinking.

His Majesty actually carried it in his own arms and paraded it through the city.

How great a grace is this???
…………

"Father! Your jade belt buckle..."

The twelve-year-old Prince of Jin, Li Zhi, carefully held the buckle left by Li Shimin and ran out of the Lizheng Hall step by step.

At the gate of the palace, he witnessed the whole process of Li Shimin holding his little brother Li Ming in his arms.

He bit his lower lip and returned to the back hall dejectedly.

"Brother Zhinu, why did you take the button back? What if grandpa's belt falls off?" a pretty little girl said angrily.

"Hey, sister Mingda, why do you call me Zhinu..." Li Zhi touched his head and expressed his protest weakly.

"Grandpa can call me, but I can't? Brother Zhinu, Brother Zhinu, Brother Zhinu!" Li Mingda playfully teased his good-tempered brother, and the pair of shallow dimples on his face were so adorable.

Li Zhi fought back without hesitation: "Then I will call you by your nickname too! Ah Sizi Ah Sizi Ah Sizi!"

"Pheasant, pheasant!"

"Ah Sizi, Ah Sizi!"

The two children played for a while, and Li Zhi gradually began to smile.

"Did Brother Zhinu encounter anything just now?"

Li Zhi was stunned. His sister was looking at him tenderly, her big moist eyes blinking.

He vaguely saw the figure of his mother, shook his head in self-mockery, and told Li Mingda everything he had just seen:

"Father held brother Li Ming in his arms and went to the harem. I was embarrassed to disturb them, so..."

The hand holding the jade belt buckle clenched involuntarily.

"Really? That's great!" Li Mingda clapped his hands happily.

This reaction surprised Li Zhi a little.

"Brother Ming was not like us. He was raised by Grandpa himself. Since he was born, Grandpa has rarely visited the harem. He must have been very lonely."

Li Mingda said seriously, his eyes shining:

"Grandpa took him horseback riding today. He must be very happy!"

Li Zhi was healed by this sweet smile, and his mood became light-hearted and open-minded.

Yes, that's a good thing.

(End of this chapter)