Sheng Tang: What is Liu Jianjun going to do today?

Chapter 43 Crown Prince Li Xian
Li Xian was filled with confusion.

He had imagined many scenarios for meeting Li Xian, but he never expected it to be like this, and so soon.

To be honest, Li Xian was a little unsure how to face Li Xian.

At first, Li Xian didn't know how to face Li Xian because he didn't know how to comfort him. He thought that Li Xian must feel very guilty for taking away his position as crown prince.

But now, he and Liu Jianjun are plotting against Da Bao.

Of course, although they were together, Li Xian didn't actually know what Liu Jianjun was thinking.

Regardless, the fact remains that they conspired against Da Bao.

Therefore, Li Xian doesn't know how to treat Li Xian now because there can only be one person in the highest position.

If he goes up, Li Xian has to come down.

But he didn't want to hurt Li Xian, his closest younger brother.

……

Li Xian arrived at the gate of the Prince's Mansion with mixed feelings, and immediately saw Li Xian standing at the gate.

He had come on foot, his body covered in snow, making him look like he had turned white-haired. He was looking in his own direction, followed only by a group of followers who served as guards and porters.

Nearly a year has passed since they last met, and Li Xian's appearance hasn't changed much, but their identities have been reversed.

Li Xian stood inside the Prince's residence, momentarily forgetting to speak.

But Li Xian also saw him at the same time, and hurriedly stepped forward, cupped his hands, and bowed, his expression excited: "Brother Wang!"

Only then did Li Xian realize who it was and hurriedly returned the greeting with clasped hands: "Your Highness..."

Before he could finish speaking, Li Xian saw Li Xian take out an object from his bosom. It was the Crown Prince's crown... no, it was missing a jade bead, just like his own prince's crown.

Li Xian stared at Li Xian in astonishment.

"The person who came today is my brother's younger brother, not the Crown Prince," Li Xian said solemnly.

For some reason, Li Xian's eyes suddenly welled up with tears, and his lips trembled for a long time before he finally managed to say, "You...you tore off one of the beads. What will Father Emperor do when he sees this..."

……

Prince Pei's Mansion, Caixia Pavilion.

When the Prince of Pei's Mansion was still Furong Garden, this place was a recreational space for royal women and a viewing platform for overlooking Zhongnan Mountain and the Big Wild Goose Pagoda. But now that Furong Garden has become the Prince of Pei's Mansion, Li Xian has repurposed this place as a place to receive guests.

Li Xian gestured for Li Xian to sit down, and looking at the excited Li Xian, he was momentarily at a loss for words, only stammering, "Li...Xian."

Instead, Li Xian comforted him, saying, "If you don't like being called Li Xian, then just call me Li Zhe."

Li Xian shook his head and said, "You are already the Crown Prince. As your elder brother, it is already presumptuous of me to disregard etiquette and call you by your given name. How can I still call you by your old name?"

After Li Xian finished speaking, the two of them fell silent again.

Li Xian suddenly remembered that because Li Xian was timid and he was the elder brother, he was usually the one to speak when he was with Li Xian in the past.

But now, with something on his mind and not knowing what to say, Li Xian found himself speechless with an awkward silence between them.

After thinking for a while, Li Xiancai took the initiative to ask, "How is Taiping?"

Li Xian, Li Dan, and Taiping were his only remaining siblings. However, Li Dan was enfeoffed in Jizhou, but he was transferred to the post of governor of Luozhou and was no longer in Chang'an. Only Li Xian and Taiping remained in Chang'an.

For a moment, Li Xian thought that although his title had been granted, his fiefdom had not yet been determined, and he did not know where he would be enfeoffed in the future.

When Taiping was mentioned, Li Xian's eyebrows finally moved, and he said, "I was supposed to come with Taiping today, but Taiping was afraid to see my brother, so she said... she said I should go first, and if my brother doesn't blame her, she will come later!"

Li Xian shook his head with a wry smile: "How could I blame her? What happened in the past is already set in stone. Even if I added her, it would be futile and would only drag her down for no reason."

The two fell silent again.

This silence lasted even longer. After a long while, Li Xian suddenly spoke solemnly: "Brother! I do not wish to be the Crown Prince!"

Li Xian was taken aback, and hurriedly looked at the followers behind Li Xian, lowering his voice to scold, "Are you crazy! How can you say such things so casually?" He forgot his manners for a moment.

"It's alright, they are all elderly people who came from the Prince's Palace."

Li Xian shook his head, grasped Li Xian's hand, and said earnestly, "Actually, not only Taiping, but I am also hesitant to come and meet my brother, the king."

“I know I have never been as intelligent as my elder brother since childhood, so I have only ever wanted to follow him and enjoy comfort. Now that my elder brother has returned, the position of crown prince should rightfully be yours…”

"Don't say that!" Li Xian interrupted sternly, then admonished, "How can matters of the imperial family be changed so frequently? This will ruin the order of the court!"

Li Xian pursed his lips and remained silent for a short while.

Then he suddenly smiled with relief: "My brother is still the same as before, always lecturing me."

Li Xian was stunned.

Immediately, memories of their past interactions surfaced in her mind, and a warm feeling welled up inside her. She exclaimed, "On the contrary, you've grown quite a bit. You even came up with the idea of ​​tearing off the tassels of your crown to persuade me!"

Li Xian smiled shyly: "This was also Taiping's idea. She said that since my brother has just returned, he will definitely feel resentful because of my status as the crown prince, so she asked me to pry off a bead to strike first!"

Li Xian chuckled to himself.

That's right, only someone as clever and quirky as Taiping could come up with such a method.

His younger siblings are still the same as before.

very nice.

Unbeknownst to him, Li Xian felt that the barrier between him and Li Xian caused by their different statuses had completely disappeared.

Li Xian sighed softly, "When will we summon Taiping? My brother misses her too..."

Speaking of this, he suddenly remembered Liu Jianjun and said, "By the way, Brother Wang will introduce someone to you later!"

"Introduce someone?" Li Xian was taken aback, then as if he remembered something, he said, "By the way, Brother Wang, when I just arrived at the gate of the Prince's Mansion, I saw a dark-faced young man greeting guests at the gate."

"But as soon as he saw me, he fled into the Prince's mansion as if he were running away. This man is your new advisor, how can he be so unruly?"

Li Xian frowned and looked displeased as he said this.

Li Xian couldn't help but laugh.

Liu Jianjun must have thought that he would have to kneel before the Crown Prince, which is why he ran away.

“Yes, he is the person Brother Wang wanted to introduce to you. His name is Liu Jianjun. This person…” Li Xian thought for a moment, then shook his head: “Never mind, it’s hard to explain in a few words. Next time you two come together, I will introduce him to you together.”

Li Xian looked thoughtful, but didn't press the matter further. He changed the subject excitedly, saying, "Brother Wang! I brought something special with me this time!"

As he spoke, Li Xian turned his head and called out to the attendant behind him.

Then, the attendant brought over two large birdcages covered with red cloth. Li Xian glanced at them and his eyes lit up. He asked, "The mighty general?"

Li Xian returned an affirmative look, then laughed loudly: "Grand Marshal of the Expedition!"

……

Li Xian is gone.

Li Xian felt a sense of loss.

His mighty general was no match for Li Xian's Grand Marshal of the Expedition!
Looking at the listless and majestic general in the cage, Li Xian wondered if Liu Jianjun knew how to raise fighting cocks. He thought he must ask Liu Jianjun to help him get back at him next time.

Carrying the mighty general, he walked all the way to Ziyun Tower.

Liu Jianjun crept up furtively: "Has the Crown Prince left?"

……

(End of this chapter)