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

Taiyuan Prefecture.

When Fan Qi, who was collecting debts, arrived in Taiyuan Prefecture with the Crown Prince and a group of princes and princesses in his entourage,...

Before even entering the city, they were so stunned by the bustling scene before them that they were speechless.

Outside Taiyuan city, every ten meters or so along the official road, there was a black street lamp standing straight.

Like guardians standing on both sides of the road.

Meanwhile, carriages came and went, moving quickly along the wide and flat official road, either entering or leaving the city.

Along the roadside, several figures wearing uniforms with the words "Taiyuan Lighting Company" on their backs were each using a simple ladder as dusk approached.

Turn on that streetlight.

And not far away, the city walls of Taiyuan Prefecture, bathed in the setting sun, were equally brightly lit.

On either side of the human-powered "traffic light" signs hanging on the city wall.

The road administration officials also slowly lowered several hanging lanterns from the city wall.

So that passing carriages could clearly see the signs.

"It's not like we've never been here before, so why are you still acting so surprised?" Wang De, who was driving the carriage, smiled.

Gao Hai, standing to the side, watched Fan Qi, who was clearly embarrassed, and chuckled softly.

Suddenly, as the carriage entered the city gate, he leaned closer to the other person and spoke in a low voice.

"Fan Qi, tell me honestly, are you already thinking about where to buy a house in Taiyuan?"

Fan Qi was startled and turned her head.

Then he saw Gao Hai's expression, as if he could see right through him.

Seeing his surprised expression, Gao Hai chuckled twice.

"You know, before, Eunuch Wang and I made a bet that you would definitely stay in Taiyuan Prefecture. But you didn't come with us during the New Year. We thought we were wrong. Now... hehe."

Fan Qi's face immediately turned red.

"I...I came because I am carrying out His Majesty's decree!"

Gao Hai scoffed, "It's like you're criticizing someone..."

He pointed to himself.

"I am here on His Majesty's orders to ask the Crown Prince for half a mountain of gold."

“Eunuch Sun Yi was ordered by imperial decree to have His Highness the Crown Prince withdraw his troops from Tuyuhun immediately.”

"As for Eunuch Wang..."

"Ahem!" Wang De coughed twice, and Gao Hai immediately shut his mouth.

It's best not to mention the incident of His Majesty running naked through the palace back then...

Wang De smiled faintly and turned to look at Fan Qi, who was standing there in a daze.

"Heh, just keep it. Don't worry, you're probably not getting that silver anymore..."

The convoy was a grand and impressive sight.

With the Taiyuan Prefectural Road Administration Office, the Six Guards of the Eastern Palace, and the Embroidered Uniform Guard leading the way, the motorcade passed amidst cheers from the people of Taiyuan Prefecture on both sides of Longmen Street.

They drove into Yangcheng Palace.

In the eyes of the people of Taiyuan Prefecture, and even Bingzhou Road, it was equivalent to the dragon banner of Yangcheng Palace, a symbol of the crown prince.

Li Chengqian's entourage entered Yangcheng Palace not long afterward.

It was under the eager gaze of the people and officials around Yangcheng Palace.

It rises slowly.

The flickering flames of the hot air balloon seemed like the only sun in the darkness of Bingzhou Road.

Everyone got off the bus.

Li Chengqian didn't need to worry about the princes like Li You and Li Yin; they simply took their own carriages and headed towards their respective palaces.

Princesses like Gao Yang and Cheng Yang are also under the care of palace maids from Yangcheng Palace, as well as the eldest princess, Princess Xiangcheng, and the legitimate eldest princess, Chang Le.

Li Chengqian doesn't need to worry about it.

As soon as he got off the carriage, Sun Yi, the personal eunuch who had returned to Yangcheng Palace earlier, came up to him.

"Your Highness, bathing preparations are underway at your bedchamber, and Imperial Chef Chu will be preparing dinner soon..."

Li Chengqian nodded, but to the astonishment of the others.

He pointed to Fan Qi, his father's personal eunuch, who was standing to the side.

“Go to the treasury and withdraw 75 strings of cash for him.”

Wang De and Gao Hai were stunned for a moment: "???"

Sun Yi looked at Fan Qi, who was being very cautious, and was momentarily stunned.

"Your Highness, do you mean to give it to him now?"

"What else? Did you go crazy over the New Year?" Li Chengqian glared at him.

"No, no, no, this servant will take care of it right away!"

Sun Yi hurriedly led Fan Qi toward the Yangcheng Palace Treasury. 75 strings of cash was a considerable sum, but it was nothing to His Highness the Crown Prince.

Along the way, Sun Yi walked ahead, but every now and then he would glance at Fan Qi behind him with a strange look, and then shake his head with a barely perceptible sigh...

"Eunuch Sun, if there's something you need, could you please give us a clear answer? You're making us scared!"

Fan Qi was somewhat flustered.

Sun Yi paused, turned around and looked at him with a puzzled expression. After looking around and seeing that no one was around, he stopped.

It means to lower your voice.

"When did you offend His Highness and fall out of favor with him?"

"What?!" Fan Qi's heart skipped a beat, and his expression changed drastically.

"Why do you say that, Eunuch Sun? I... I have always served diligently and have never offended Your Highness in any way. This..."

Sun Yi also shook his head, making a clicking sound.

He frowned and stared at Fan Qi in disbelief, making the other woman feel quite uncomfortable.

"That's strange. His Highness just let you finish your task so easily... You must have offended His Highness in some way. Tsk tsk tsk, I advise you to think about it carefully."

The two quickly arrived at the treasury.

With Sun Yi leading the way and the Crown Prince's warrant, a Royal Bank note was quickly handed to Fan Qi, who was clearly distracted at the moment.

"Eunuch Fan, please keep this item and the voucher for exchanging silver. You can go to the Royal Bank branch in Chang'an to process it when you get back."

Fan Qi nodded blankly.

His mind was racing, trying to recall the times he had interacted with the Crown Prince since he became His Majesty's personal eunuch.

What offense have I committed, Your Highness?

Where exactly is it...?

Sun Yi led him to a courtyard in Yangcheng Palace and settled him in.

When someone brought dinner, Fan Qi, who was sitting at the table, looked completely bewildered and dazed.

This is the residence of Wang De, Gao Hai, and Sun Yi in Yangcheng Palace. The three of them are now the personal eunuchs of His Highness the Crown Prince, taking turns on duty.

Living together makes it easier to keep track of things when handing over work assignments.

One advantage of this line of work is that you earn a lot of money, and the meals are all prepared by the imperial kitchen. Although the imperial chefs don't cook them themselves, the taste and ingredients are just as good.

But there's a downside to this line of work: they have to have someone by the Crown Prince's side at all times.

For example, right now, Wang De is wolfing down his food, and he doesn't have time to savor the delicious dishes.

After eating in a hurry and feeling full.

She quickly washed herself and sprinkled some perfume on her clothes.

After putting on the steward's uniform and taking some small items that His Highness the Crown Prince might need at any time, he prepared to go out to work.

He had just taken a step when he suddenly seemed to remember something.

He turned around and came to Fan Qi's side, patting him solemnly on the shoulder.

"Fan Qi, I think you must have offended His Highness unintentionally somewhere. You really should think about it..."

After Wang De finished speaking, he left Fan Qi, whose face had turned even paler.

Gao Hai, sitting across the table, nodded in agreement.

With an air of certainty, he said, "I told you, you must have offended His Highness sometime ago..."

Sun Yi asked, "Is it that one day you didn't notice your clothes or didn't wear any perfume?"

Fan Qi felt like dying.

"Gentlemen, I've been serving in the palace for over a decade. My mentor is the same old eunuch from the Jinyang Palace; how could I not know the palace rules?"

Gao Hai and Sun Yi exchanged a glance.

He took a bite of the white steamed bun in his hand, shook his head, but his voice remained firm.

"You! You must have offended His Highness the Crown Prince somewhere!"

......

"Wang De! Serve tea to our governor!"

Shougong Hall.

After bathing, changing clothes, and having dinner, Li Chengqian sat refreshed in his seat in the Shougong Hall.

He's been idle for a month or two at a time, and now he's back in that position.

He felt a strange sense of emotion and gave an instruction to Wang De, who was standing beside him.

"Your Highness, thank you for the tea."

Wang Ming rose and bowed, not daring to overstep his bounds in the slightest.

Li Chengqian waved his hand and asked about serious matters.

"So, Japan hasn't sent anyone to protest or anything yet?"

Wang Ming shook his head, a thoughtful look in his eyes.

"Now, there is no Japanese left in Taiyuan Prefecture. The properties and shops previously purchased by Japanese have all been seized by my order."

"When the Embroidered Uniform Guard first arrested that Japanese, the envoy Soga no Kiseki even came to see me, but after that, there was no further contact... Your Highness, I'm afraid something has changed on the Japanese side!"

Li Chengqian nodded, but there was no worry on his face.

"Heh heh, if the Soga clan dares to bare their teeth, then I have a thousand ways to make the Japanese mainland a hundred times more chaotic than the Goguryeo peninsula!"

Wang Ming nodded.

He has always been very restrained and rational when it comes to matters outside of Bingzhou Road.

Don't get too involved.

My only job is to serve as His Highness the Crown Prince as the chief steward of Bingzhou Province...

"Your Highness, there is one more thing... A messenger from Tibet has reported that they will be sending a batch of slaves and valuables in half a month at most. We hope that we can prepare what they need in advance."

"Judging from their situation, they seem to be in a great hurry!"

Upon hearing this, Li Chengqian, who had just picked up his teacup, suddenly had a glint in his eyes.

anxious?

Is it urgent?

Hehe, it seems something interesting has happened in Tibet again!