Datang: Just been appointed as the crown prince, the counterattack system is here

Chapter 234 New System Tasks [Seeking Monthly Tickets]

The next morning, Li Chengqian stood in the attic with a weary look on his face, gazing out quietly.

The pain in his head, like the sharp pricking of silver needles, was tormenting him constantly.

The gloomy and stubborn clouds were so oppressive that it was almost impossible to breathe.

The heavy rain has not yet fallen, and the air is even more stuffy, humid and hot than yesterday.

After a while, Li Chengqian looked back at the room, and the traces of having been turned over were particularly obvious.

The books on the bookshelf, the envelopes on the desk, and the papers scattered on the floor all indicated that the uninvited guest last night was looking for something.

I wonder if it has anything to do with the upcoming Double Ninth Festival?
"Your Highness, the Minister of Rites Tang Jian is here."

Lai Fu's soft call came from the stairs.

Li Chengqian frowned and then asked, "Why did the Minister of Rites come to see me?"

"It is said to be related to envoys from various countries. I would like to consult His Royal Highness the Crown Prince!"

"Oh?"

Li Chengqian raised his eyebrows, then walked downstairs and asked Lai Fu, "Where is the Minister of Rites?"

"Already waiting in the hall!"

"it is good!"

Li Chengqian responded and immediately followed Lai Fu to the hall.

"Your Highness, I pay my respects to His Majesty the Crown Prince!"

"No gift!"

Li Chengqian waved his hand to stop Tang Jian, who was about to bow, and then asked with a smile, "I wonder what brings the Minister of Rites to visit?"

"To be honest, Your Highness, I'm here on behalf of Gaochang, Khotan, Shule, Kangguo, and other 29 nations. I'm begging Your Highness to give them a chance!"

"what chance?"

Li Chengqian looked at Tang Jian with confusion.

Tang Jian smiled and explained, "Isn't His Royal Highness the Crown Prince planning to hold a competition at the Chongyang Banquet? Those foreign envoys also want to form a team to participate. I asked Your Majesty for permission, and Your Majesty said you would host the Chongyang Banquet, so I came to ask for your permission!"

Li Chengqian was still somewhat puzzled and asked, "They have no training, don't even know the rules, and don't have the right armor. How can they participate in the competition?"

"This"

Tang Jian hesitated for a moment, then said with some embarrassment, "Your Majesty's intention is to try our best to meet their demands so that they can experience the culture of the Central Plains."

"Ah!"

Li Chengqian smiled and said speechlessly, "How did they get here? Doesn't my father know? If the Tang Dynasty hadn't destroyed the Eastern Turks, they would probably have been like the Eastern Turks, frequently invading the borders of the Tang Dynasty."

"As for seeing the culture of our Central Plains, haven't they seen enough? If they hadn't seen enough, they wouldn't covet our things!"

"Uh,"

Tang Jian's mouth twitched, and he didn't know how to respond for a moment.

Li Chengqian dared not complain about Li Shimin like this, he could only stand there and pretend to be stupid.

Fortunately, Li Chengqian didn't push the issue too far and instead changed the subject, saying, "Besides letting me make the final decision, did my father give me any other instructions?"

"Yes, yes, His Majesty said he likes polo!" Tang Jian smiled awkwardly and nodded repeatedly.

Li Chengqian rolled his eyes at him and said, "Then let's hold a polo match. But twenty-nine countries are too many. You should ask them to select their own teams, and only two teams can compete on the Double Ninth Festival day!"

"what?"

Tang Jian was surprised and said, "Only two teams were selected from the twenty-nine countries to compete. Isn't that too much?"

"Too what?"

Li Chengqian waved his hand to interrupt Tang Jian, then said without question: "This is our Tang Dynasty's home court. Do we really want a group of guests to rule our Tang Dynasty? Letting them compete is already giving them face!"

"If you can't compete on the Double Ninth Festival based on your strength, then go back and work hard. Respect is earned, not given by others. Just like how the Tang Dynasty conquered the Eastern Turks, it wasn't our own efforts, was it their help? What a joke!"

After hearing this, Tang Jian was speechless.

Although Li Chengqian's approach was a bit overbearing, Tang Jian heard it sounded quite confident.

In the past, when he was engaged in diplomatic activities, he was either considering this overall situation or that overall situation. It was not until he experienced the Jie Li incident that he finally understood that the real overall situation is never considered by big countries. Only small and weak countries would consider the overall situation.

Because weak countries have no diplomacy and small countries have no sovereignty.

"Okay, that's settled. If the Minister of Rites has nothing else to do, I'm going to get busy!"

Seeing that Tang Jian remained silent, Li Chengqian directly ordered him to leave.

When Tang Jian heard Li Chengqian's order to expel him, he realized that he had other things to do. He quickly said to Li Chengqian, "Your Highness, I have another matter that I would like to ask for your opinion on!"

"What's the matter?"

Li Chengqian frowned, as if his previous headache had come back again.

Tang Jian then interrupted, "It's like this. When Sun Fujia was serving as the Dali Temple's Secretary, he approached me and said that while reviewing the files at the Dali Temple, he had discovered several very strange cases, all of which were related to foreign tribes. He hoped that the Honglu Temple would assist him in investigating the matter."

"Later, new developments arose in the Turkic region, and Your Majesty sent me there. Sun Fujia also resigned from his post, and this matter has been shelved until now."

"Yesterday, I received news that the Dali Temple had investigated a smuggling case involving foreigners. This reminded me of what Sun Fujia mentioned!"

"Therefore, I would like His Royal Highness to agree that Sun Fujia will assist me in handling this matter!"

"What foreign race dares to run wild in our Tang Dynasty?" Li Chengqian asked with a frown.

Tang Jian replied: "It is said that they are Japanese!"

"Japanese people?"

Li Chengqian was slightly stunned, then asked in surprise, "When did Japan pay tribute to the Tang Dynasty?"

"Your Highness, it was during the second year of the Zhenguan era."

"Did they ask for benefits from the Tang Dynasty?"

"This"

Tang Jian hesitated. Although he didn't understand why Li Chengqian cared about this, he answered truthfully, "They didn't ask for benefits directly from the Tang Dynasty, but Your Majesty gave them some seeds, cloth, and some porcelain objects."

"in addition."

At this point, he suddenly seemed to remember something and added, "They want some architectural blueprints. It's said they like the architecture of our Tang Dynasty and want to take the blueprints back to build their own. The officials of the Dali Temple reported this to me, but I haven't had time to agree yet."

"Humph!"

Hearing this, Li Chengqian snorted coldly and said, "No need to agree. It won't be needed in the future anyway!"

"Ah? Why is this?"

“Because we can build it ourselves!”

"This"

Tang Jian was stunned for a moment and didn't know how to respond.

But Li Chengqian continued, "You can let Sun Fujia assist you in handling this case, but Sun Fujia must be reinstated. Otherwise, what qualifications does he have to interfere in the affairs of the court?"

"But."

Tang Jian said with an embarrassed look on his face: "I can't make the decision on this matter."

"Then wait until you have reported to His Majesty and he agrees!"

"But."

"Okay, I'm tired, you go back first!"

Li Chengqian waved his hand impatiently, then turned and left without saying a word.

Tang Jian, who watched him leave, sighed helplessly and muttered, "They say the Crown Prince won't get up early unless there's something to gain. His reputation is well-deserved. I wonder what his purpose is in hosting this Chongyang Banquet."

After saying this, he looked up at the sky outside the door, wiped the sweat from his face and said, "This delay in rain is not a good omen, but I don't know what it will mean."

No one dared to respond to him.

After standing there for a long time, Tang Jian turned around and left silently.

On the other side, Li Chengqian left the hall and returned to his room.

The splitting headache seemed to get worse.

Although he knew it was not poison, he could not withstand it with his current physical condition, which was really strange.

"Could it be a viral infection?"

Li Chengqian said to himself.

Although viruses are also poisonous, they are not as poisonous as drugs.

If it was poison, he could easily dissolve it with the Taixuan Health Preservation Sutra he was currently practicing, but if it was a virus, he didn't know if it would have that effect.

After a brief silence, he finally decided to leave the solution to the system.

But he heard him call out directly: "System!"

[Here! ]

"I seem to be infected with a virus. Do you have any way to treat it for me?"

[Some hosts, the system has antiviral oral solution, antiviral particles, and antiviral vaccines. Which one do you need?]

"Children make choices, I want them all!"

[OK! Host, please complete the system task]

"No, I'm in so much pain right now. Can you give me the anti-virus first so I can complete the mission?"

[According to the system's physical examination, the host will suffer pain for 32,850 days before dying.] "."

Li Chengqian: "Do you think you are humorous?"

[I am a system derived from the Tiandao program. There is no humor in my program. Please complete the system tasks and receive rewards.]

"Good good!"

Li Chengqian laughed in anger. "I won't argue with you! Just tell me, is there a system task that's quick, simple, easy to complete, and comes with generous rewards?"

[Host, do you want to release a new side quest? ]

"Holy crap! You're not going to fool me with all this, are you?"

【The system will not confuse the host. 】

"Okay! Then release a new side quest!"

Li Chengqian said decisively.

The system voice sounded again: [New side quest released: After you returned to the throne of Crown Prince, you gained the trust of Li Shimin. Coincidentally, he dispatched troops to Liaodong to attack Goguryeo, so he left you in Chang'an to supervise the country. Please exercise your power in the name of the Crown Prince.]

[This mission can be abandoned]

[Rewards for this mission: Super vaccine that immunizes against all viruses, oral solution that treats all viral infections, antiviral particles that prevent all viruses.]

"Well,;
Li Chengqian's mouth twitched slightly, thinking, has this system become so abstract now? Even antiviral drugs are so fancy!

However, there was one thing that surprised Li Chengqian. How could there be viruses in this era? Or, how could someone know how to use viruses to harm others?
If the system had not confirmed that he was infected with the virus, he would at most suspect that he was infected with the virus, but the system directly confirmed that he was infected with the virus and also issued a related task.

He no longer had any doubts.

But who was that woman last night? Why did she appear in his room? What was she looking for?

Just when Li Chengqian was puzzled, the system's voice suddenly rang out: [Host, do you want to give up this side quest?]

"Ok?"

Li Chengqian was stunned for a moment.

Because this was the first time he heard the system confirm whether he gave up the mission.

In the past, he would ask the system whether he could give up the task, or directly say that he would give up the task. This situation had never happened before.

This made him feel increasingly puzzled, and he couldn't help but ask, "There's one thing I don't understand. Your mission is to exercise the power of the Crown Prince Regent. How do you exercise that power to complete your mission?"

[The Crown Prince Regent is the most powerful person besides the Emperor. The greater the power you exercise, the greater the chance of completing the mission.]

"Wait, you said probability, does that mean your mission is flexible?"

[There is a certain degree of flexibility, but the host does not need to worry. The system will make reasonable judgments based on the power you exercise.]

"That's reasonable! You've changed, system!"

[Congratulations, host, you've discovered a hidden mission. The system has just been upgraded, and you've discovered it. Does the host need to complete the hidden mission? You can get extra rewards!]

"What hidden mission?"

Li Chengqian was confused and thought to himself, is this okay?

But the system's answer almost made him vomit blood.

[The host must accept the hidden mission to know the content of the hidden mission. ]

Damn it!
What a bullshit hidden mission!
I guess it’s a huge pit!

"I do not accept!"

[Host, are you sure you don't want to accept the hidden mission? ]

"Sure!"

[In order to prevent the host from making a mistake, this system confirms again whether the host wants to cancel the hidden task? ]

"Yes Yes Yes!"

Li Chengqian said "yes" several times in a row, and suddenly he felt a sharp pain in his head again.

[This system is canceling hidden tasks]

After the system said this, it fell silent.

Li Chengqian waited for a long moment, then raised his hand to his forehead, thinking, "Is this the same trick again? I fell for it last time, how could I possibly fall for it again this time?"

However, just when he felt his headache was about to explode, the system still did not respond.

"System, I'm really dying of pain!"

[The Tiandao server is busy, please try again later]

Half an hour later, Li Chengqian was in so much pain that cold sweat broke out on his forehead.

An hour later, Li Chengqian was drenched in sweat and curled up on the bed like a cicada pupa.

An hour and a half later, Li Chengqian was in so much pain that he was almost losing consciousness.

Just like last time, he finally said those unwilling words at the moment when he was about to lose consciousness: "System, I will not cancel the hidden task!"

[Okay host, the system has helped you accept the hidden mission.]

[Mission: Use the power in your hands to drive Wei Wang Li Tai and Jin Wang Li Zhi to their fiefdoms.]

[Quest Reward: Prophecy ability. Left eye twitching means good things are coming, right eye twitching means danger is coming.]

"I go!"

Li Chengqian smiled and thought that this system has indeed become more abstract!
But the next moment after he accepted the hidden mission, the splitting headache disappeared.

"What's going on?"

Li Chengqian restrained his smile and muttered in confusion.

The system sound rang again.

[After the host accepts the hidden mission, the system will help you resist the invasion of the virus until the host completes the new side mission and receives rewards]

"Ah!"

Li Chengqian snorted and was completely speechless.

At this moment, Lai Fu's voice came from the stairs again, "Your Highness, are you okay? I just noticed that you don't look well. Are you sick? I will call the imperial physician for you."

Hearing this, Li Chengqian felt warm in his heart. He then got up from the bed, wiped the sweat from his forehead, opened the door and said, "I'm fine. Go get me some hot water. I need to take a bath. It's too hot!"

"it is good!"

Lai Fu responded and was about to leave.

But then Li Chengqian seemed to recall something and said, "Oh, right, Lai Fu, send someone to tell Yu Gushe to follow the normal procedures on the day of the banquet to escort Jie Li to an audience with my father!"

"Also, inform Cen Wenben that I want the entire banquet hall to be filled with yellow chrysanthemums."

"promise!"

Lai Fu agreed and went downstairs immediately.

On the other side, the attic where Li Yuan lived.

Yuan Tiangang gently stroked the black and white chess pieces, as if he had some understanding of the current situation, and then he said to himself, "The world is as unpredictable as a chess game. One wrong move may lead to eternal damnation, while one successful move may lead to a meteoric rise to the top. This is true for being an official, and it is also true for being a human being."

"From what you said, it seems that you are not optimistic about what Cheng Qian is going to do next?"

Li Yuan glanced at him indifferently and asked calmly.

Yuan Tiangang smiled and continued, "When I was reading Lun Heng, I learned about the story of the King of Huainan in the Western Han Dynasty who achieved immortality. Now that the king has ascended to heaven, those who only hear the sound of roosters crowing and dogs barking can now look down upon the mortal world. All mortals in the world respect those who only hear the sound of roosters crowing and dogs barking as immortals, and no one cares about the 'crowing of roosters and barking of dogs' in the past anymore."

Having said this, he paused and then said to Li Yuan, "To become a god like this is not the most satisfying thing in life."

Li Yuan looked at him deeply for a long moment, and finally said, "Mr. Yuan's words leave me with no room for rebuttal."

Yuan Tiangang had regained his respectful and humble demeanor. "How dare I leave the Retired Emperor with no room for rebuttal? It's just that the Retired Emperor, concerned for my reputation, refuses to teach me. The Retired Emperor is the supreme being, and I'm just a humble Taoist. Talking nonsense to vent my anger only serves to draw the Emperor's ridicule."

Li Yuan waved his hand calmly, and for a moment, both of them stopped talking.

After a moment of silence, Yuan Tiangang resolved the awkwardness: "Twelve years ago, I have set my sights on someone. If this person and I work together, perhaps they can see the future of the prince!"

"Oh?"

Li Yuan's eyes lit up: "Who is this person?"

"Taishi Bureau, Li Chunfeng!"

Yuan Tiangang smiled and stroked his beard.

Li Yuan frowned slightly, then said solemnly: "He is Erlang's man, do you want to let Erlang know about this?"

"Your Majesty will know sooner or later, why should the Emperor worry?"

"If it's not good for Cheng Qian, I'd rather not know his future!"

"Then it's up to the Emperor. However, I've been in contact with the Crown Prince recently and have found his future increasingly uncertain. I'm afraid that if things drag on for too long, even with Li Chunfeng, his future won't be clear."

After saying this, Yuan Tiangang bowed politely and left.

Li Yuan watched his departing figure, his eyes gradually growing colder, and then he snorted to himself, "If you can't see clearly, then you can't see clearly. You're making my grandson look like a demon or a monster!"

"Haha, who knows."

Yuan Tiangang, who was a few steps away, said with a smile.

Upon hearing this, Li Yuan fiddled with the chess pieces with a sense of loss and fell silent again.

　[Please give me a monthly pass, please give me a monthly pass, please give me a monthly pass]

　　
　
(End of this chapter)