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

"Splash, splash, splash..."

The croupier's hands moved in a blur, and his previously methodical shaking of the dice cup suddenly became unpredictable.

Even the sound of the dice clashing began to become chaotic and disordered...

Kim Seung-man's pretty face suddenly changed.

She looked up in surprise, but the dealer had already snapped the dice cup in his hand.

He slammed it on the table.

"Please, gentlemen!" the dealer said, but with a strange smile on his face, he looked at Kim Seung-man, whose expression was somewhat gloomy.

Young Master Wang smiled faintly, casually tossing the 80,000 chips in front of him onto the 12-point betting spot as if they were trash.

"I've never bet on points before, but I'll give it a try today..."

Everyone's gaze was like that of wolves, fixed on Kim Seung-man, who now appeared rather frail.

The latter's expression changed, and he turned his head.

Where was Prince Li Yin of Liang, who should have been by her side?

Instantly, a bad premonition began to grow stronger in her heart.

"Where is that young master Liu from earlier?"

She gritted her teeth, but those around her who heard her question frowned.

They all looked puzzled.

The dealer glanced at the person next to him with a puzzled look.

"Young lady, what Young Master Liu? You came alone..."

"Yes, it's always been you who insists on betting with our Young Master Wang, and on such high stakes..."

"What nonsense is this person spouting?"

Kim Seung-man: "...You, you're all in cahoots with him!"

Young Master Wang sneered inwardly, but on the surface his face darkened and he slammed his hand on the table.

"What do you mean 'in cahoots'? There's no such thing as Young Master Liu or Young Master Tao here. I've already placed my bet, are you trying to back out now?!"

A series of menacing figures had somehow surrounded the second floor.

this moment.

Even if Kim Seung-man was slow to realize it, she finally did.

She was fooled!

Not only has she been tricked, but she's now likely in big trouble!

.......

"Your Highness, the Emperor Emeritus and General Li Jing have led their army to Gaochang. As you instructed, all provisions, supplies, and weapons have been provided in full."

Respectfully reporting to Junhong.

Although he currently holds the position of Commander of the Six Guards of the Eastern Palace, he is still the Left Qingdao Commander of the Army.

Having experienced the Xuanwu Gate Incident and fought alongside the Crown Prince, he also earned the title of Marquis of Jingshui.

Shougong Hall.

Li Chengqian nodded casually.

"Alright, half of the Bingzhou New Army has gone to Gaochang Kingdom. The construction of the Yellow River channel must not be disrupted. In that case, you will lead Zuo Qingdao to cooperate with the local forces and guard the banks of the Yellow River construction."

"Yes! I take my orders!"

Jing Junhong left in a great hurry.

Li Chengqian's gaze then turned to Xiao Rui, who was standing in front of him.

This young man, who was among the first to follow him to Bingzhou and played a role in the implementation of the new policies that was no less significant than that of Wang Ming, the governor of Bingzhou, would have been about the age of an ordinary college student in later generations.

However, Xiao Rui today is not only mature and composed.

His eyes were bright and full of reason.

He resembles a younger, more vigorous version of Duke Xiao Yu of Song.

"I have already advised the Duke of Song on his matter..."

"Your Highness need not worry. I have already met with my father. This was his own choice. Although this trip may be our last, it is a blessing that countless people cannot obtain to die in the midst of a great war like the Northern Expedition, having devoted himself to the country and the nation."

"Your Highness, I must thank you for granting my father's request!"

Although Xiao Rui's eyes showed some grief and worry, he understood that this was his father's own choice and had no resentment towards the royal family.

The opposite of.

Even he hadn't expected that this Crown Prince would allow the retired emperor, or even a senior official of the same caliber as his father, to take charge of such important military and national affairs.

This was entirely the recognition and praise from the royal family and His Highness the Crown Prince for the Duke of Song's mansion and the Xiao family.

Li Chengqian nodded and said nothing more.

After reviewing all the documents the other party brought, I handed them over.

"Work hard, and I won't treat you unfairly!"

Xiao Rui bowed respectfully and was just about to leave.

Suddenly, a figure rushed in from outside the Shougong Hall.

"Your Highness, Your Highness, something terrible has happened..."

Wang De didn't have any testicles, but he still looked like he was in a real pain.

Still a little out of breath, but not caring about that, she hurried to Li Chengqian's side.

Lean close to the other person's ear.

"Your Highness, something terrible has happened! Princess Kim Seung-man from the Silla delegation is smashing the petition drum outside the palace gates..."

Li Chengqian frowned and listened attentively.

Sure enough, a faint thumping sound could be heard.

"What's going on? She's a foreign envoy, and a princess of Silla. How could she possibly have been wronged in our Great Tang Dynasty?"

Wang De turned his head and glanced at Xiao Rui.

The latter immediately bowed again and quickly left.

"Your Highness, Jin Shengman said that she was cheated out of her entire fortune by a prince of our Great Tang Dynasty and almost lost her innocence."

"WTF?!"

I saw Kim Seung-man again.

The woman who once appeared at the grand court assembly in the Taiji Hall of Chang'an, dressed in the attire of a Silla princess, exuding nobility and elegance, now looked so different that even Li Chengqian was stunned for a few seconds.

The other person's face, devoid of makeup, appeared haggard yet pitiful.

She wore a coarse linen shirt, just like an ordinary woman.

Upon entering the Shougong Hall and seeing Li Chengqian, he immediately knelt down with a thud, tears streaming down his face.

"Kim Seung-man, a foreign subject of Silla, pays his respects to His Highness the Crown Prince of the Great Tang Dynasty... Waaaaah!"

Li Chengqian: "......"

What kind of script is this?

"Jin Shengman, why are you like this? Since you're here, just say what you want to say!" Li Chengqian said coldly.

Despite the fact that the other party cried like Lin Daiyu, Li Chengqian, who knew that this shameless Silla princess was just trying to get free aid from the Tang Dynasty, felt no pity or wavering.

"Waaah, Your Highness, you, you must stand up for me! I, my Silla, though a small country, is not worthy of respect, but we still serve the Tang Dynasty as our master. Yet, under the clear sky, I have been deceived by the Tang royal family."

"boom!"

"Explain yourself! What the hell do you mean you were fooled by the Tang Dynasty royal family?" Li Chengqian snorted angrily.

He slammed his hand on the table.

However, Kim Seung-man took out something that looked like a contract from her bosom and handed it to the eunuch beside her while sobbing.

"Your Highness, please understand. If I hadn't truly been deceived, why would I have dared to be so rebellious as to disturb you? I... I was almost tricked out of my innocence by a villain..."

Kim Seung-man wept again, looking utterly heartbroken.

But it doesn't look fake at all.

Li Chengqian frowned as he looked at the contract presented to him by Wang De.

The document clearly records the exclusive sales of some Silla Kingdom's industries within the Tang Dynasty, as well as... Kim Seung-man owes 10 kan in gambling debts.

"You're a gambler?" Li Chengqian frowned.

Unexpectedly, this simple question caused Jin Shengman's tears to fall even more profusely.

She then began to sob, feeling wronged.

“Yes, Your Majesty, while I do gamble, I have never had this vice. These... these were all tricked by His Highness the Crown Prince's younger brother. He..."

"Bang! You're talking nonsense! My brothers are all pure and kind, taught by Confucius since childhood, and well-versed in Confucian classics. Why would they lie to you! And say they'd cheat you out of your money? Ha, that's utterly laughable!"

"Do you think I, a prince of the Great Tang, need your little bit of money? Why would I need to cheat you? Even if I rob you, what can you do about it?!" Li Chengqian roared in anger.

However, the last sentence made Wang De, who was standing to the side, cough awkwardly.

Your Highness, you let it slip!

Kim Seung-man, already feeling desolate and sorrowful, cried even more bitterly.

Shameless!

The entire Li Tang royal family is shameless!

Li Chengqian gave a soft snort.

"My brother, ha... Wang De, go and summon all my brothers to the Shou Gong Hall. I want to see which of my brothers this Silla princess has slandered!"

Today, both the Imperial University and the First Official Academy are on holiday.

The princes who happened to be in the palace were soon summoned by Wang De.

"Where is the sixth brother?" Li Chengqian frowned slightly.

"Your Majesty, the New Policies Implementation Office held an auction for the contracting of Goguryeo land today, and His Highness Prince Liang departed for it this morning..."

"Bring him back!"

Kim Seung-man looked gloomy. Although Lee Seung-gwan was acting as if he was going to stand up for her, the contempt and disdain for their small Silla Kingdom emanating from his words was palpable.

Even if Prince Li Yin of Liang were to stand here today, she would personally testify to it.

Even this unreasonable Crown Prince of the Tang Dynasty would probably deny it outright.

"hehe......"

Tears streaming down her face, she knelt there dejectedly, letting out a self-deprecating laugh filled with sorrow.

Li Chengqian glanced at her indifferently, looking at his younger brothers who were all very confused at the moment.

He stood up from his seat with his hands tucked in his pockets and walked over to the group.

He pointed to Kim Seung-man, who was kneeling on the ground.

"You all probably know this Silla princess. She just said that my brother was tricked and set up by someone, causing her to lose everything at the gambling den and almost lose her innocence."

As soon as these words came out.

The princes were Li You (Prince of Chu), Li Yun (Prince of Jiang), Li Zhen (Prince of Yue), and the youngest, Li Zhi (Prince of Jin).

All four of them widened their eyes instantly.

When Li You met his elder brother's cold gaze, he immediately shuddered and became extremely anxious.

"Brother! You know me! How could I do such a thing?"

Li Chengqian crossed his arms, looked at him, and spoke calmly.

"When you were at the Imperial Academy in Chang'an, you probably played quite a few of those unorthodox gambling games..."

Lee Yoo's expression changed as he looked at Kim Seung-man, who was kneeling there looking utterly dejected.

But then, as if suddenly remembering something, he quickly spoke up.

"Brother, you know me! If I were the one who did it, I wouldn't set her up in a casino; I would choose a brothel!"

Li Chengqian understood and nodded slowly.

His gaze then turned to the side, to the most honest of his younger brothers, Prince Jiang, Li Yun.

Li Yun: "Your Majesty, Your Majesty, you know me... If she gets close to me, I guarantee the first thing I'll do is take her to the Imperial Prison of the Embroidered Uniform Guard!"

Li Chengqian nodded again, instantly ruling out his younger brother who knew a lot of national technical secrets.

His gaze then casually fell upon Li Zhen, who was standing to the side.

Li Zhen was greatly alarmed.

"I...I...Your Majesty, you know me. If I were truly after the Silla delegation's money, I guarantee not a single one of them would have made it here alive. They're just some people from a small country..."

Li Chengqian immediately turned to look at the youngest, Li Zhi.

Li Zhi: "I...I don't lack money either, Xiaoyu has plenty of money..."

The brothers thought of Murong Shun, the crown prince of Tuyuhun, who, with the support of their imperial brother, was now living in Taiyuan Prefecture.

Li Zhi's playmate, Murong Yu, was Murong Shun's only daughter, and she was definitely a well-known and wealthy woman in the entire First Official Academy.

Upon hearing Li Zhi's explanation, everyone couldn't help but chuckle.

Li Chengqian gently shook his head.

"Alright, I know you are all highly skilled, today..."

"Your Highness, Prince Liang has returned."

Sun Yi rushed in, followed by Li Yin, who looked puzzled.

When he saw all his brothers there, and then saw Kim Seung-man turning her head to look at him, with eyes that seemed to want to kill.

Li Yin was instantly startled.

"Brother! It wasn't me!"

"You know me..."