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

"They've arrived! It's the imperial carriage from Taiyuan!"

"They're here! We're saved! We're finally saved!"

In front of the gate of Chang'an City.

The people looked at these people as if their life force had been drained by some female demon.

The officials, who had been looking dejected, suddenly became excited and excited as a procession of carriages carrying flags drove out from the end of the official road.

They all couldn't help but look curiously in the direction of the carriage.

What has happened recently in the Chang'an Imperial Palace and the imperial court is still unknown even to the people of Chang'an.

This is entirely thanks to the efforts of these officials, who, in their eyes, appear listless and have dark circles under their eyes.

As the convoy gradually drew closer.

Some officials couldn't help but walk towards the direction of the motorcade, heading straight towards it.

The blissful expression on his face, like a layer of winter sunshine shining on it, almost made the drivers, who were responsible for driving the carriages, lose their minds.

"Eunuch Wang, Eunuch Wang, does His Highness the Crown Prince have a solution?"

Duan Lun pushed the two officials aside and looked excitedly and expectantly at Eunuch Wang, who was peeking out from the carriage.

The latter nodded with a smile.

There was also a box that was carefully protected and displayed at the window, which was quite mysterious.

"Hehe, gentlemen, rest assured, His Highness the Crown Prince has sent us with some fine gifts this time. We guarantee they will persuade His Highness the Prince of Wei to focus on governing the country from Chang'an..."

Upon hearing this, Duan Lun and the other officials from the Six Ministries of Chang'an felt a lump in their throats and almost burst into tears on the spot.

He hurriedly returned the greeting with a cupped hand: "Then, I'll trouble Eunuch Wang to enter the palace as soon as possible... I'm afraid the Empress can't hold out much longer."

"Mother, there are still a lot of things to deal with in Luoyang that I need to go back to handle. If you restrict me like this, not only will things in Chang'an be delayed, but things in Luoyang will also be affected."

Lizheng Hall.

Li Tai lay listlessly on the table, casually toying with a handful of steel balls as if they were walnuts.

Looking listless, he casually piled up a stack of memorials from Chang'an onto the ground.

Scattered all over the place.

Empress Zhangsun sighed helplessly, gesturing for the palace maids to pick up the items.

"If I could find a way to bring your brother back to Chang'an, do you think I would need to personally stop you like this? Qingque, you are also royalty, and a legitimate son at that. I believe you don't need your mother to explain this to you again, do you? You..."

Li Tai rolled his eyes: "Mother, Father is still the emperor! Didn't he still abandon Chang'an and run away?"

Empress Zhangsun was instantly speechless: "..."

"Don't compare yourself to your father, compare yourself to your elder brother, you..."

Li Tai raised both hands: "I concede! Therefore, my elder brother, the Emperor, should be appointed to oversee the country!"

Empress Zhangsun let out a long, melancholy sigh.

Just as she was at her wits' end with Li Tai, who was so stubborn and unyielding, Consort Yin's excited voice suddenly came from outside the palace.

"Here it comes! Your Majesty, the Crown Prince's letter has arrived!"

Upon hearing the name of the Crown Prince, Li Tai thought it was his elder brother returning. His eyes lit up and he raised his head, but upon hearing that it was a letter, he immediately slumped back onto the table.

"Mother, I advise you not to waste your energy on me. Luoyang alone is already giving me a huge headache. As for overseeing the country in Chang'an, it would be better to just kill me..."

Empress Zhangsun stood up, ignoring Li Tai's listless and weak appearance, and quickly walked to the entrance of Lizheng Hall.

Then they saw Wang De carrying a box in his arms, with two Imperial Guards protecting him on either side.

"This humble servant greets Your Majesty the Empress..."

"Wang De, what does Gao Ming mean by this?" Empress Zhangsun's question was also the question posed by the officials from the six ministries who had come upon hearing the news.

Wang De smiled and said, "Your Majesty, rest assured, His Highness the Crown Prince said that the Prince of Wei will agree."

"Tch!" A sneer came from the Lizheng Hall.

Wang De said nothing more, and under the tense yet expectant gazes of everyone, he carried the box into the Lizheng Hall.

"Your Highness, I am here on orders to deliver a few things to you on behalf of His Highness the Crown Prince."

Li Tai slightly raised his head, but did not react much.

Wang De carefully placed the box on the table, opened it, and took out a letter from it.

"Your Highness, this is a letter from the Crown Prince to you..."

Li Tai casually took it.

"My dear brother Qingque, seeing this letter is like seeing you in person."

“I know that the matter of overseeing the country is no small matter, and it involves complex political affairs and is by no means an easy task. However, apart from my brother Qingque, I have no other suitable candidate to take on this important responsibility. Although my third and sixth brothers are capable of governing the country, they are still not skilled enough and are somewhat immature when it comes to the country.”

"The responsibility of overseeing the country should fall on the crown prince, but I am ashamed to say that I cannot be distracted by the affairs of Bingzhou, the western expeditionary army still needs support, and the situation in the Tibetan kingdom of Nipo is just beginning to improve. I am truly overwhelmed and have no other choice."

"I now hope my younger brother, Qingque, will assist me. I bow to you on my behalf..."

Li Tai's pupils suddenly contracted, and his body felt as if it had been electrocuted. He instinctively stood up from his seat.

"The agriculture, commerce and administration in Luoyang are very good, and the government is efficient and the people are harmonious. It is already like the prosperity of the new policies in Bingzhou. This is all thanks to my brother Qingque. I have not done enough to reward him."

"Although my brother Qingque often relies on the advantage of firearms when dealing with outsiders, I know his wisdom very well."

"With my brother in charge of Chang'an, I have no worries about the power of the state and the sacred instruments of the nation."

Li Tai swallowed hard, his expression unusually tense and excited.

Seeing this, Wang De smiled and took out another item from the box.

Those were five brocade boxes.

"Your Highness, this was made by His Highness the Crown Prince himself..."

Wang De opened a brocade box, and what came into view was a tea set carefully wrapped in gold silk.

Li Tai was taken aback.

Pointing to the exquisite teacup, he looked at Wang De and said, "Are you saying that this was made by my elder brother?"

Wang De nodded.

"Yes, Your Highness, the selection of materials, the shaping, painting, and firing were all done by His Highness the Crown Prince. The paintings and poems on this piece were all written by His Highness the Crown Prince... It started at the beginning of this year."

I heard there were also paintings and poems.

Even the officials from the six ministries standing at the entrance of the Hall of State Affairs couldn't help but peek out curiously.

However, due to the constraints of etiquette, they dared not go in.

Li Tai put down the letter and took out a teacup from one of the brocade boxes.

A set of covered bowls, a fairness cup, and four master cups.

The teacup is slightly larger than the palm of your hand, and the skill to paint on it must be extraordinary.

Li Tai had never seen his elder brother, the Emperor, paint.

He couldn't help but carefully turn the teacup, admiring it.

Above was a banquet scene, with all the figures dressed in armor; it must have been a victory celebration.

The words "Yanmen" and the iconic faces of several Turkic people clearly indicate that this painting depicts the scene of his and his elder brother's victory over the Eastern Turks.

He looked at his reflection in the teacup, sitting beside his elder brother, raising their wine cups together.

Suddenly, my nose tingled, and my eyes involuntarily welled up with tears.

He turned the teacup and saw the poem written in the thin gold script on the other side.

"When Emperor Wu of Han traversed Fen, King Zhou of Zhou held a banquet in Hao."

"How about creating a peaceful and harmonious society, and restoring harmony among relatives and virtuous people?"

Wang De whispered, "Your Highness, these five teacups together, when combined, form a complete poem."

Hear the words.

Li Tai, who was still lost in his memories and in a daze, finally came back to his senses.

Carefully place the teacup down.

Then they opened the other four brocade boxes.

A set of tea sets depicting the bustling activity of the people in Taiyuan Prefecture.

"The Phoenix Nest Pavilion is newly built, and the Flying Dragon Spring is old."

"The song of Dihua still exists, and the play of Tongye is still passed down."

A scene depicting the busy activities of officials and princes in Yangcheng Palace.

"The atmosphere of the forbidden palace is separated, but the scenery on the platform is connected."

“The sage’s benevolence and compassion are abundant, and the kingly way is indeed impartial.”

A set of maps depicting the Tuyuhun surrendering their territory, a scene of universal celebration.

"Inquire about local customs to ensure prosperity, observe traditions to promote the five religions."

"The map is presented to open up new lands, and music is played to the heavens."

The last set of images depicting the worship of all nations.

“The wine cups are full as the wine is served, and the drums are raised to inquire about the advice of the common people.”

"May our friendship last forever, and may all nations unite in harmony."

Li Tai: "......."

With eyes full of surprise and astonishment, tears welled up uncontrollably and streamed down Li Tai's face, though he seemed oblivious to it.

Carefully stroking each teacup and bowl.

This gift, which was already a treasure, was further enhanced by the fact that it was made by his own elder brother and had a profound meaning.

For Li Tai at this moment, it can already be considered his "Imperial Seal of the State".

Then Wang De took out a long brocade box from the chest.

“Your Highness, Prince Wei… His Highness the Crown Prince said that these tea sets were a gift from his elder brother, while this calligraphy masterpiece was a gift from the Crown Prince to Your Highness, Prince Wei.”

Upon hearing this, Li Tai raised his eyes, his still tearful eyes glancing indifferently at the brocade box in Wang De's hand.

But he only glanced at it before looking away.

Carefully, he placed one of the teacups, which was painted with a picture of a farmer harvesting autumn, back into the brocade box.

Then he solemnly closed the box again.

"Honestly, he keeps saying he's busy with government affairs. If he were really that busy, would he have time to deal with these porcelain pieces?!" Li Tai muttered, quickly wiping away a tear.

One hand, however, was full of tenderness, caressing the brocade box.

After remaining silent for an unknown period of time, he took a deep breath and picked up the letter from the table again.

After reading to the end, there was another silence, and finally, she pursed her lips.

With a blush of embarrassment and annoyance on her face, she dared not look at her mother's mocking gaze and glared at Wang De, scolding him.

"Go back and tell him! Three years! He's the one who said three years!"

"As his younger brother, I can only help him for three years at most. After three years, he must inherit the throne!"

"Otherwise, I really won't do it!"

Wang De bowed respectfully with a smile.

The officials outside the gate were overjoyed and bowed loudly in greeting.

"Your subject thanks Your Highness, the Prince of Wei, for your benevolence!"

Li Tai watched this scene and couldn't help but mutter to himself.

"With your abilities, it's a real pity you're not a treacherous minister, Your Majesty..."

.......

The Ganlu Palace, which originally belonged to Li Shimin, is now occupied by Li Tai.

In the study room.

Li Tai carefully admired the teacup in his hand with shining eyes, making "tsk tsk tsk" sounds of surprise.

“My royal brother, when did you acquire such skills... I had no idea at all.”

However, his smile then became unrestrained.

"Hahaha! Li Ke and Li Yin, you two brothers, so what if the Emperor has entrusted you with important responsibilities? Do you even have such a gift?"

"I have five sets!"

"Hahahaha!"

Li Tai's laughter was full of smugness, while Dou Cai, who had returned with the group, cautiously reminded him.

"Your Highness, there's also the original calligraphy by the Sage of Calligraphy, a treasure even His Majesty cherishes..."

Upon hearing this, Li Tai's smile vanished instantly, replaced by a disdainful sneer.

"So what if the emperor likes it? Does that make it a treasure just because the emperor likes it? Compared to the gifts my brother gave me, what kind of trash is that? Get out of my sight and go back to work!"

Dou Cai's attempt to flatter backfired spectacularly, leaving him utterly embarrassed.

He didn't dare to explain, and after bowing respectfully, he fled in a disheveled state.

However, Prince Lu, Li Yuanchang, hesitated for a moment.

A dry cough.

"Your Highness, King Wei... what do you intend to do with the Prince of Jing?"