Tang Dynasty: Father, if you don't rebel, I will!

They all went to Taiyuan Prefecture?!

When Empress Zhangsun heard her husband, the emperor, say this, her first reaction was surprise, followed by an irresistible flutter in her heart.

however.

As the Empress, who ruled the world with dignity, she still had to consider the pros and cons involved.

Emperor Yang of the Sui Dynasty always caused immense hardship and expense to the people during his imperial tours. If they had also...

As the husband beside Empress Zhangsun, Li Er could easily see through her thoughts and cleared his throat.

"We don't need to go to great lengths. I'll have Qin Qiong lead a troop of soldiers to accompany and protect us, along with Consort Yang and Lady Wang. We don't need to bring much. That rebellious son is very wealthy now. As his father and mother, do you think he can't entertain us?"

"Besides... I haven't been back to Taiyuan for many years, so I don't know what those things mentioned in the newspapers actually look like."

Li Er watched as his empress pursed her lips in thought, her delicate brows furrowing slightly, revealing her inner turmoil and longing.

"Ahem, Guanyinbi~ Chengqian must miss you, his mother, very much, right? Alas, he's been sensible since he was little. He's all alone in Taiyuan Prefecture, dealing with those old foxes from the Wang family of Taiyuan. And now it's the festival of reunion, yet he can't see his mother..."

"Second brother, stop talking! Let's go to Taiyuan!" Empress Zhangsun's eyes reddened slightly.

A smug look of triumph flashed in Li Shimin's eyes.

"But Second Brother, Chengqian is currently in Taiyuan, and Qingque and Ke'er are not in Chang'an either. Chang'an cannot be without its ruler for even a day..."

Empress Zhangsun asked another question.

But then she saw that the familiar Second Young Master Li from Taiyuan Prefecture immediately revealed a familiar "filial piety" smile.

"It's alright. Leave Guanyinbi's matter to me. You should quickly tell Consort Yang and the others not to bring too much stuff. We need to hurry on our journey, so it's best to be as light as possible..."

Empress Zhangsun watched as Li Shimin rushed out of the Lizheng Hall and disappeared in the blink of an eye.

The other party didn't say anything, but she already understood what her emperor husband was planning. She hesitated for a moment and frowned.

"Someone, summon Minister Changsun to the Lizheng Hall for me!"

Wude Hall.

Since the incident involving the Wei family of Jingzhao, and since there has been no news from Yuexi County, Li Junxian has not sent any updates.

Li Shimin never came to the Wude Hall.

So much so that when the eunuchs at the entrance of the Wude Hall saw the figure carrying two wine jars approaching from afar, they rubbed their eyes in disbelief.

Upon seeing clearly that it was indeed His Majesty the Emperor, they hurriedly bowed in respect.

"This servant greets Your Majesty!"

"Hmm, where is the Emperor Emeritus?"

The eunuch bowed his head respectfully and replied, "Your Majesty, the Emperor Emeritus is playing cards with Prime Minister Pei and the others in the pavilion behind the palace."

Li Shimin nodded and immediately strode towards the back of the Wude Hall.

"Father, your son has come to see you!"

Li Shimin appeared before Li Yuan with a smile, carrying wine, startling Li Yuan and the three men who were playing cards with him: Pei Ji, Xiao Yu, and Wang Gui.

After a moment of stunned silence, they hurriedly stood up and bowed.

"Your Majesty, we pay our respects. May Your Majesty be well!"

"Hmm, it's alright, Prime Minister Pei. I've been so busy with state affairs these days that I've neglected the Emperor Emeritus. Fortunately, he has you all to keep him company. Not bad, not bad..."

Li Shimin sat directly next to Li Yuan, making the old man even a little nervous.

"Um, Erlang, you've finished dealing with things?"

Li Yuan asked tentatively, and what else could the matter he was referring to be besides the "Wei family of Jingzhao"?

Li Shimin smiled faintly, naturally understanding his father's meaning.

"Not yet, but I have already made a plan. It's alright, it's just a small matter. Don't let these trivial matters disturb the peace between my son and me. Let's play cards, let's play cards. Come on, Prime Minister Pei, move aside. Today, watch my son and I annihilate you without leaving a single piece of armor!"

Pei Ji, Xiao Yu, and Wang Gui exchanged a subtle glance.

Their eyes clearly revealed their guesses about the reason for His Majesty's unusual behavior today.

"Come, Father, taste the Sanle wine I ordered to be brewed in the palace this year. The aroma of this year's wine is much richer than in previous years..."

Li Yuan, somewhat confused and bewildered, gradually put aside all his doubts under Li Shimin's warm hospitality.

For two consecutive days.

Li Shimin would come to the Wude Hall every night to sit and drink with the retired emperor until they were completely drunk.

The rift between father and son that had arisen because of the Wei family of Jingzhao seemed to have miraculously disappeared once again.

until......

"Your Majesty, it's time for the morning court session..."

"Hmm...hmm?" Li Yuan, still reeking of alcohol and not fully awake, heard a familiar voice calling him awake that he hadn't heard in a long time.

He opened his eyes instantly.

When he saw the eunuchs and maids standing in front of his bed, holding basins of water or clothes, as if preparing to wash and dress him, he felt dizzy.

"Hiss... What does this mean? This, huh?"

He was completely dumbfounded, staring blankly at the old eunuch who had served him for years: "What happened, Second Master? Did he die from drinking too much last night?!"

The old eunuch turned pale with fright and involuntarily looked in a direction behind him.

Fang Xuanling and Du Ruhui stood on either side of him, dressed in official robes.

"Your Majesty, there is a morning court session today. Yesterday, His Majesty issued an edict that he will be traveling to Bingzhou in the next few days to inspect the local conditions and see how His Highness the Crown Prince's new policies are being implemented. In the next few days, Your Majesty will oversee the country... Your Majesty, isn't that imperial edict right beside your bed?"

Li Yuan was completely stunned. Following the direction Fang Xuanling pointed, he saw a roll of bright yellow cloth beside the bed.

Expand it and take a look.

In an instant, the hazy memories began to gradually become clear in my mind.

"Father, Your Majesty, what do you think of my governance?"

"Hahaha, not bad, but compared to my good grandson Chengqian... Erlang, I'm not saying this to be mean, but you're not even worthy to carry Chengqian's shoes, hahaha!"

"Yes, yes, my son thinks so too. My Chengqian is truly a wise and sagacious crown prince, a rare talent throughout history!"

"Hehe, hiccup, it's good that you know, Erlang. Treat Chengqian well, and in the future, the Tang Dynasty will surely... hiccup..."

"Father, how is this wine?"

"Very good, very good, hahaha, Erlang, you are very thoughtful."

"Since Father Emperor likes it, very well! These brewing workshops are yours for the Emperor. Come, come here and sign the document..."

Li Yuan looked at the imperial edict, which read, "You shall govern the country and oversee the state."

And his own signature, and that glaringly obvious phrase, "By the mandate of Heaven, may your life be long and prosperous."

Li Yuan was so angry that his drunkenness vanished on the spot.

“You unfilial son! Where is that unfilial son now? He abandoned me to build a country for him, and he himself wants to…” As he spoke, Li Yuan’s expression changed instantly.

He pulled the old eunuch beside him over.

"Tell me! What day is it today? Is the Reunion Festival coming soon?"

Du Ruhui looked at the trembling old eunuch and sighed. He felt that they were in the same boat as the retired emperor.

"Your Majesty, there are less than ten days left until the Reunion Festival."

Li Yuan's eyes immediately began to blaze with fury.

"As expected, this rebellious son! As expected, what 'understanding the people's plight' and 'inspecting the new policies'?! Is the Crown Prince unable to return to Chang'an for the Mid-Autumn Festival?!"

Fang Xuanling sighed and nodded.

"Dog thief!!!"

"That unfilial son, he actually plotted against me! I was wondering why that guy kept coming to my place for several days in a row, and getting drunk with me every day... Well, Li Shimin, you have truly made me underestimate you."

"Even you've started plotting against me! Very well!"

"Where is that unfilial son now?!"

Fan Qi was covered in sweat. As Li Shimin's personal eunuch, in order to avoid following in the footsteps of his predecessors Wang De, Gao Hai, and Sun Yi, he was sent by His Majesty to serve as the most arduous and exhausting servant to the Crown Prince.

Upon receiving the imperial edict from Li Shimin, ordering him to prepare a convoy and depart for Taiyuan Prefecture, he dared not stop for even a moment.

"Quickly, check again. His Majesty has ordered us to travel quickly. We can't afford to be delayed halfway. If we miss the Reunion Festival, my head will be in danger, and none of you will escape unscathed."

"The snacks and fruits for the noble ladies, the palace maids accompanying them, please register them carefully. Don't blame me for not reminding you, this is to Taiyuan Prefecture, the caravan will be traveling at high speed. If any of the masters in the palace encounter any problems along the way, be careful with your heads, you little palace maids!"

"How is the situation at the Duke of Yi's residence? We must depart before 9 PM this morning; we cannot afford to delay..."

"Eunuch Fan, the Duke of Yi has already led his men to wait outside Chang'an City, five thousand elite cavalry from the Left General of the Martial Marquis's mansion."

"Alright, we need to prepare several cartloads of food. If the cavalry's supplies are insufficient, we must replenish them. We can't let His Majesty and the Empress miss their meeting with His Highness the Crown Prince..."

It is not yet Hai hour (9-11 PM).

The sky was still somewhat dark when Empress Zhangsun stood in the Zheng Hall. Emperor Li Er and Empress Zhangsun had already gotten up and finished getting ready.

However, instead of getting up and putting on his dragon robe for court, Li Shimin was dressed in plain black imperial robes, and his hair ornaments had been changed to a style that made him look younger and more heroic.

"Second brother, is Father really alright? We mustn't upset him..."

Empress Zhangsun was somewhat worried.

"Ahem, it's come to this point already. Guanyinbi, do you think that if Father Emperor knew that we were going to Taiyuan to see Chengqian, he wouldn't make a fuss about coming along? There is no retired emperor in Chang'an, no emperor like me, and no crown prince like Chengqian."

"I'm afraid that's what will really cause trouble!"

Empress Zhangsun was speechless. Li Shimin took her hand and quickly walked out of the Lizheng Hall, heading towards the convoy in the direction of the palace gate.

at the same time.

Consort Yang, Consort Yin, and the other birth mothers of Li Yin and Li You also emerged from their respective palaces, each accompanied by one or two personal maids.

At this time, some ministers were preparing to attend court in the direction of the palace gates. They stared blankly at the emperor and empress, who looked as if they were about to leave the palace with their families.

They all looked stunned.

Some of those who knew the situation, such as Yuchi Jingde and Cheng Yaojin, were veteran officials of the Prince of Qin's mansion. They came over and bowed to Li Shimin.

He looked as if he was determined not to cause any trouble in Chang'an.

"Fan Qi, is the convoy all here? If so, let's set off immediately!" Li Shimin was a little nervous. At this time, Fang Xuanling and the others should have already gone to the Wude Hall.

Just as I was thinking this, a familiar, aged, and angry roar suddenly came from a corner in one direction inside the palace.

"Li Shimin! Where are you going? Stop right there!"

Li Shimin's expression immediately changed.

"Let's go! Hurry up, the convoy is moving!"

Fan Qi hurriedly ordered the convoy ahead to start moving.

Watching the carriages begin to head out of the palace, Li Yuan was so angry that his nose was crooked. The eunuchs behind him chased anxiously, but they still couldn't catch up with the furious old man.

"I haven't boarded the carriage yet! I haven't boarded the carriage yet!!!"