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

"Sister, try your best! Strive to make His Highness the Crown Prince my brother-in-law!"

Wu Zetian and Wu Si's two little maids waved two fans with the word "Victory" written on them. As they watched their older sister board the carriage to Yangcheng Palace, they waved the fans, eager to watch the excitement.

Samurai Go was immediately in a real predicament.

"Go away, have you finished your homework? Stop fooling around here!"

"Brother-in-law, if His Highness the Crown Prince sees you two acting like this, he'll surely teach you a lesson."

The voices of her younger sister, father, and mother faded into the distance behind her. She sat in the carriage, dressed in a simple yet elegant brocade robe that was embellished, yet not so plain as to blend into the crowd.

She wore a light layer of makeup.

Wu Shun tensed up and clenched his hands.

at the same time.

The Lu State Duke's Mansion, within the Wang family residence in Taiyuan.

Two horse-drawn carriages also set off.

The selection of the Crown Princess has always been a topic of great interest and even greater interest among officials throughout Bingzhou Province, especially those whose daughters serve as ladies-in-waiting in the Eastern Palace Secretariat.

They would inquire about the situation every day.

Currently, His Highness the Crown Prince is unable to return to Chang'an for the Mid-Autumn Festival due to his busy affairs in Bingzhou.

While holding a family banquet at Yangcheng Palace with his younger siblings, he sent invitations to several young women, the meaning of which was self-evident.

At the entrance of the Duke of Lu's mansion.

These past few days, Hou Junji has been either frightened or has accidentally caught a cold.

His complexion was sickly sallow.

"Father, rest assured, you can rest at home and recuperate. I will return as soon as the palace banquet is over."

Hou Junji waved his hand.

Around him, the retainers and relatives of the Duke of Lu's mansion were all extremely excited.

"Lord Duke, it seems that the eldest daughter has truly caught His Highness's eye. Among the families invited to the banquet, only the daughter of that old man Wang Ming might have some competitiveness."

"But Your Highness has never made any intimate gestures with the other party."

Someone crowded around and said excitedly.

It was as if they could already see their Lu State Duke's Mansion becoming the future Empress's family, with everyone rising to prominence along with them.

Hou Junji silently surveyed everyone's reactions.

Suddenly, I felt a chill run down my spine.

Thinking about what his daughter had said to him these past few days, and recalling all the things that had happened in the past, he felt a gust of autumn wind blowing through the night in Taiyuan.

"Cough cough cough..."

Hou Junji coughed violently, his mouth agape, his eyes wide open as if they were about to pop out of their sockets.

Her already sallow face began to turn even paler.

"Master, master! Please, quickly, go and call the physician!"

"Young Miss, Young..."

"Shut up!" A hoarse, painful growl came from Hou Junji's hunched back.

His gaze was fixed on the figure trying to call Hou Qianya back.

"Today, anyone who dares to call the young lady back and obstruct her from entering the palace, I will kill him!"

This was the first time that the Hou clan members and the retainers of the Duke of Lu's mansion had been stared at with such vicious and cold eyes by Duke Hou Junji.

Their faces changed.

Hou Junji, his body weak, watched the car disappear around the street corner. He tried hard not to cough, but his old face turned pale and red in turns.

I couldn't resist at the end.

"Cough, cough, cough!"

"Quickly, help the master inside, and go fetch the physician!"

At the Duke of Lu's residence, chaos erupted as Hou Junji fell ill.

Meanwhile, at the Wang family mansion in Taiyuan...

Without needing much explanation from Wang Ming, Wang Yuyan boarded the carriage bound for Yangcheng Palace amidst the gazes of the Wang clan members, who watched her depart like a warrior going to war.

"Master, is Yu Yan really alright? I heard that Hou Qianya is not someone to be trifled with, and she even knows martial arts. Didn't Yu Yan say that His Highness likes this kind of woman..."

Mrs. Wang couldn't help but feel worried.

Serving a ruler is like serving a tiger, especially when it involves the position of Crown Princess. If one is not careful, there could really be a big mess.

Wang Ming's expression was complicated.

He gritted his teeth, but in the end, all he could do was sigh.

"Look, at least for now, the Wang family of Taiyuan, a once-prosperous clan that is about to decline, still retains some value. Hou Junji of the Duke of Lu's mansion is a brainless fool; who knows, this wealth might just fall into our hands?"

Madam Wang nodded: "Then, I've heard about His Highness's Qian Yingying."

"He's just an ordinary person. Even though his father, Qianlou, is the commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, he's just a lackey, not someone to be trifled with. There's no need to worry about him..."

At Yangcheng Palace, Li Chengqian gently placed his hands on Qian Yingying's shoulders.

Looking at the other person in the mirror, she smiled faintly.

"You think so too?"

Qian Yingying twirled two fingers. She was a woman of both literary and martial talents, capable of both fighting alongside Li Chengqian and managing the Taiyuan military factory with great efficiency. However, when faced with this situation, she surprisingly showed a lack of confidence in front of Li Chengqian.

"This...this might be of some help, it would be good."

Li Chengqian smiled faintly, looking at Qian Yingying in the mirror. It was the first time she had put so much effort into her makeup. She was already naturally beautiful, but now she was even more stunning.

"You~"

"There are certainly many powerful and influential people in the world who come from prestigious families. Aren't any of the secretaries noble ladies from the court?"

"But what if I don't give them this so-called power? Can they possibly resist?"

Li Chengqian sneered, his face full of arrogance.

He had already established his power, holding the new army and the Imperial University in his hands, as well as the support of the people.

Which family in this world would dare to claim power and influence in front of him?

"Those I like, I can make their whole family rise to prominence the very next day; those I don't like... no matter how great their power, it will all just be a bubble in the end!"

Li Chengqian gently stroked Qian Yingying's earlobe, which was as white as pearls and jade.

This caused the other person's cheeks to flush red again.

Such intimate gestures were not uncommon, but they always occurred when serving Li Chengqian a medicinal bath.

now......

"Knock knock knock..." came the knocking sound.

"Your Highness, the banquet is all prepared. The princes and princesses have all arrived, as have the young ladies you invited..."

Wang De's voice rang out.

Li Chengqian's lips curled into a wicked smile as he reached out his hand to Qian Yingying in front of him.

"Qian Yingying, you didn't chicken out because you saw the power struggle between Wang Yuyan and Hou Qianya, did you?"

......

In the Pear Garden behind the Shougong Hall.

The banquet venue, which had been set up several days ago, now not only had an even better stage, but also many more screens and other items around it.

The ground was also paved with blue bricks.

"Hehe, I've always been worried that my brother wouldn't find someone he likes, but I never expected to bring me so many sisters-in-law all at once..."

The dining table faces the stage directly.

One side was already packed with people.

To the right of the main seat, Chang Le smiled and propped her head up, her big eyes scanning Wang Yuyan, Hou Qianya, and Wu Shun.

"Your Highness is too kind. I would never dare to have such an excessive thought," Wang Yuyan, a lady of noble birth, bowed respectfully.

Even Hou Qianya, who was originally a descendant of a minister of the Prince of Qin's mansion, was meeting Chang Le for the first time.

At this moment, a bit of tension was inevitable.

Hearing Chang Le's question, he repeatedly expressed his humility.

"Your Highness is too kind. How could I dare to covet such a wise ruler as Your Highness?"

Wu Shun was obsequious and lacked proper etiquette. Compared to the elegant clothes and jewelry worn by the two people beside her, she became the most easily overlooked presence in the entire room as soon as she appeared.

He even sat on the edge of the room.

"Brother, you've finally arrived! Oh my... Sister Yingying, you look so beautiful today!" Li You heard the commotion behind him and turned around. He had only said half a sentence when he saw Qian Yingying, who was holding hands with Li Chengqian, attending the event together.

I couldn't help but gasp.

Just as they were looking forward to the start of the opera, Li Yin, Li Yun, Li Zhen, and the others turned around at the dinner table and were immediately wide-eyed.

Looking at Qian Yingying, who was holding Li Chengqian's hand with a shy expression, wearing a gorgeous dress that was obviously made by the imperial court craftsmen, and a golden hairpin that was glittering but not gaudy.

Wang Yuyan and Hou Qianya, who had always regarded each other as their biggest rivals, suddenly changed their expressions.

among them.

Hou Qianya looked at the seat next to the main seat, a seat that Princess Chang Le had ordered to be left empty, a seat that none of them were allowed to sit in.

It dawned on me in an instant.

Has His Highness the Crown Prince already made a decision?

The unavoidable sense of loss made their eyes visibly dim at that moment.

Wu Shun, who was not very noticeable to begin with, had a glint in his eyes when he saw Qian Yingying, who was being personally brought out by Li Chengqian and sitting next to him.

If Qian Yingying were in that position, it would seem to be the most suitable...

"Hehe, you've all been waiting for a while now... Wang De, announce the start of the banquet."

Li Chengqian smiled at Wang Yuyan, Hou Qianya, and Wu Shun.

"Today is my private banquet, there are no rules, so please don't be shy..."

In the night sky, the full moon and the lights around the pear garden illuminated everything. Plates of steaming, fragrant dishes were brought out by the palace maids.

Although the princes Li You and Li Yin missed their mother during this reunion festival, they showed no restraint and began to feast heartily.

The sound of tinkling music came from the stage.

The actors, dressed in their costumes, took to the stage one by one...

However, while Li Chengqian was enjoying himself immensely, Gao Hai, the eunuch guarding the entrance to the Pear Garden, was alarmed when a junior eunuch rushed in with a report.

His expression changed drastically with horror.

"Who...who did you say it was?"