Traveling through Du He, Li Chengqian's rebellion begins

The Counselor was a censor who could not only advise the emperor against unreasonable actions, but also criticize officials who did wrong.

He is much more useful than the Shangcheng Fengyu who only serves his father.

Moreover, Du He has the golden signboard of the Duke of Lai's Mansion, so his chances of promotion in the future are much greater than others.

Li Chengqian turned to look at Xi Junmai and said, "Junmai, my safety will be in your hands from now on!"

This seemingly ordinary sentence actually means that Li Chengqian has begun to treat Xi Junmai as his confidant.

Although the Eastern Palace Qianniu Rate does not command the palace troops, he is responsible for protecting the safety of the prince, which is very important.

Xi Junmai saluted with a straight face and said, "Don't worry, Your Majesty, I will protect your safety even at the cost of my own death!"

After chatting for a while, the study door was knocked again by the personal soldiers.

"Your Highness, the Imperial Censor Ma Zhou has arrived and is waiting for you in the hall."

"Okay." Li Chengqian responded, then turned to Du He and said, "Du He, I'm going to meet Ma Zhou first."

At the beginning of this year, in order to guide the rebellious Li Chengqian back on the right track, Li Shimin ordered Ma Zhou, Liu Li, Cen Wenben and Chu Suiliang to go to the East Palace every other day to talk with Li Chengqian.

After hearing Li Chengqian's words, Du He was afraid that he would do something wrong, so he hurriedly reminded him.

"Your Highness, the Imperial Censor Ma Zhou supports the legitimate son ascending the throne, so you should be more polite."

"Okay." Li Chengqian nodded solemnly, then limped out of the study.

"Your Majesty, I will take my leave as well." Xi Junmai bowed to Du He and left as well.

Now that he has been promoted across departments, he not only needs to familiarize himself with his duties in advance, but also needs to meet with his brothers below him.

Protecting the prince's safety requires a lot more consideration than guarding the gate of the East Palace.

Du He, who had nothing to do, stayed in the study in the East Palace, took out a piece of rice paper that was half written on, and continued writing and drawing.

It was almost time to end the shift, but Li Chengqian had not returned yet.

Du He stretched lazily, put away the rice paper, and went back in the sedan chair without saying goodbye to Li Chengqian.

Now that he has a family, he does not live in the Duke of Lai's Mansion, but in the Princess Chengyang's Mansion.

Moreover, the money for food, clothing and other expenses is also used by the princess's mansion, which is no different from that of a live-in son-in-law.

Princess Chengyang's Mansion, in the lobby.

The first time Li Yi saw Du He, he jumped up to him and then threw himself into Du He's arms.

Before Du He could open her mouth, she started talking in a babble.

"My husband, do you know that when we were reciting the sutras, I found that Sister Gao Yang and Monk Bian Ji left secretly, and they didn't come back for more than half an hour."

"I noticed that Sister Gao Yang's clothes were a little wrinkled and her face was very rosy, just like what happened last night."

Li Yi told everyone about Princess Gaoyang's strange behavior as if he had discovered a new continent.

But she was thin-skinned and didn't say anything dirty.

Du He put his arms around her slender waist, lowered his head and looked at her with a smile: "My Yi'er is really great, she is so observant."

Li Yi raised his head slightly, and asked curiously with satisfaction: "Husband, why do you think Sister Gao Yang would have an affair with a monk?"

The Liang family is at its peak, and if the truth is exposed, Sister Gao Yang will be in trouble.

Even if Sister Gao Yang is favored by our father, he will not let her off easily in order to avoid bringing shame to the royal family and Duke Liang.

Du He was stunned for a moment, then shook his head and said, "Perhaps only Princess Gao Yang herself knows the answer to this question."

"Yier, keep this matter deep in your heart and don't tell anyone."

Li Yi nodded obediently: "Husband, I will listen to you."

Although she did not like intrigue, she grew up in the harem and had a subtle influence on power struggles.

Du He held her hand and strolled in the back garden of the princess's mansion, while Linglong followed not far behind.

"Yier, I have good news for you."

"What good news?"

"Today, my father has appointed me as a counselor and I can attend the daily court meetings."

"That's great, congratulations, sir."

Li Yi jumped up happily, her pretty face turning red with excitement.

Although the rank of the Counselor was not very high, it was a great thing for him to leave the Shangcheng Bureau where he had no chance to make meritorious service.

Li Yi turned around and happily said to the maid Linglong: "Linglong, go and tell the kitchen staff to celebrate the promotion of the Prince Consort. The whole mansion will have an extra meal today."

"I'll go right away." Linglong trotted away happily.

The higher the status of the prince consort in the court, the higher the status of the people in the princess's mansion will be. The two complement each other.

Seeing his wife so happy, Du He did not say anything to stop her.

After all, his promotion was the first good news in the princess's mansion since their marriage.

...

Wubenfang, Duke Liang’s Mansion, inside the lobby.

"Clap clap~"

Sikong Fang Xuanling held a wooden stick as thick as a thumb and beat his second son Fang Yiai who was kneeling in front of him, cursing loudly as he beat him.

"Are you out of your mind? How dare you say that Du He has no father to teach him?"

"Am I too lenient with you and too indulgent?"

Fang Yiai's exposed skin was covered with purple scars, but he said nothing and endured it silently with gritted teeth.

Every time the stick hit him, Fang Yiai's eyes showed more hatred towards Du He.

If it weren't for Du He, he wouldn't have been beaten so badly and condemned by His Majesty.

"Crack~"

After Fang Xuanling finished the last beating, he leaned on the stick, panting, and shouted angrily.

"I have warned you more than once to stay away from the King of Wei, why didn't you listen?"

Fang Yiai said defiantly: "Dad, our Fang family is so powerful. It will be good for us to support the King of Wei to become the emperor. What are you afraid of?"

It was precisely this sentence that made Fang Xuanling break out in a cold sweat and he let out a loud roar.

"Close the door!"

The butler guarding outside the lobby quickly closed the door.

"Rebellious son, if you want to die, don't bring trouble to the Fang family."

"How dare you say such brazen words!"

After Fang Xuanling cursed in a low voice, he picked up the stick and beat Fang Yiai again.

"Clap clap~"

The dense sticks hit Fang Yiai's back again.

"Dad, stop beating me. My second brother knows he is wrong."

"Don't be angry, calm down."

On one side, a middle-aged man who looked 30% similar to Fang Xuanling came out hurriedly and grabbed the wooden stick.

He is Fang Xuanling's eldest son Fang Yizhi, and the future heir to the title of Duke of Liang.

The second brother was also stubborn. He thought that he could have just admitted his mistake quietly and let the matter go, but he insisted on enduring the beating.

"Whoo~"

Fang Xuanling straightened up and exhaled heavily. His chest heaved up and down violently because he was too angry.

After a short pause, Fang Xuanling calmed down a lot, and he spoke earnestly.

"Rebellious son, it is precisely because we are highly valued by His Majesty that the more favored our Fang family is, the more we must behave ourselves."

"All the favors we have now are granted by His Majesty. As long as the Fang family makes a wrong move, these favors will instantly vanish. Don't you understand this?"

Fang Yiai remained silent. He was very unconvinced in his heart, but he didn't dare to be stubborn anymore.

He was afraid that his angry father would really beat him to death.