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

"Hahaha! My Chengqian! Your Majesty the Emperor is back!"

An aged but energetic voice came from the carriages as the Zhenguan train, billowing with steam and white smoke, docked at Chang'an Railway Station before dusk.

Li Yuan had not yet disembarked when he saw Crown Prince Li Chengqian on the platform.

He waved excitedly from the window.

Before Pei Ji and the others could get out of the carriage, Li Yuan pushed his old buddies aside and rushed out of the carriage first.

He laughed loudly and opened his arms to the imperial grandsons who were welcoming him.

"Hahaha, Chengqian, let Grandpa Emperor give you a hug!"

Li Chengqian: "......"

Although he understood Li Yuan's longing for him after not seeing him for nearly two years, being held in the arms of this old man in front of so many people still made him look somewhat embarrassed, like a young boy.

Li Tai watched with schadenfreude.

Unexpectedly, the next moment, Li Yuan released Li Chengqian and looked at him standing to the side.

"Your Majesty, Grandfather, I'll pass... I..."

"Qingque, you've worked so hard these past few days~ They're all my good grandsons, all my good grandsons~"

Without a word, he pulled the other person into his arms, and the thumping sound of Li Yuan patting his back was like the beating of a drum.

This caused Li Tai's face to flush red.

"Fortunately, your elder brother has a younger brother like you to help oversee the country in Chang'an, otherwise... sigh, they are all good children."

Li Yuan's yellowish eyes were filled with tears of emotion.

Such praise made Li Tai instinctively look at his elder brother, his eyes seeming to be seeking credit.

"Ahem, Father, let's return to the palace first. The journey has been arduous, and the Duke of Wei and the others must be exhausted as well," Empress Zhangsun reminded him from the side.

however.

It would have been better if this hadn't been mentioned, because as soon as it was brought up, even Pei Ji and the others standing nearby instantly pointed excitedly at the train behind them.

"Your Majesty, this divine artifact not only travels hundreds of miles a day, but we also traveled from Taiyuan to Chang'an in an extremely comfortable manner the entire way. There was no bumping along the way, and we could even drink tea and play chess while traveling... It is truly a divine object!"

As Xiao Yu spoke, his gaze involuntarily drifted toward Prince Yan, Li Yun, among the princes present.

"Seventh Prince is truly a genius. With this divine artifact, the expansion of our Great Tang to ten thousand miles is just the beginning. In the future, all the land illuminated by the sun and moon will belong to our Great Tang."

"With this divine artifact, even if there is turmoil on the frontier, it can be received within a few days."

Xiao Yu became more and more excited as he spoke.

Li Yuan couldn't help but show a smug look on his face: "Hahaha, that's right, don't you know whose grandson he is!"

Pei Ji bowed respectfully and said, "May Heaven bless our Great Tang! May the Great Tang last ten thousand years!"

"May the Tang Dynasty last ten thousand years!!!"

Li Yun hurriedly said, "I dare not say that this thing could have appeared. It was not my doing alone. My brother and the professors of the Imperial University were the ones who really contributed. I only did some minor things."

Seeing this, Li Chengqian stepped forward and offered a reminder.

"Grandfather, let's return to the palace. A banquet has been prepared there. We invite the Duke of Wei, the Duke of Song, and other officials to come as well. This is my way of welcoming you all and Grandfather back home..."

"He's the grandson of the Emperor of the Tang Dynasty?" Salmana was helped down from the side of the carriage.

They boarded another carriage.

During the brief moment she got off the carriage, she caught a glimpse of the young man who was clearly more favored by the old emperor of the Tang Dynasty.

Her blue eyes were filled with surprise and curiosity. At the same time, she breathed a sigh of relief after seeing Li Chengqian's appearance, which had been making her anxious.

"Princess Salmana, that is the retired emperor of our Great Tang Dynasty, and the grandson you speak of is the imperial grandson of our Great Tang Dynasty, the crown prince! The future heir to the empire!"

Ayu Shun gave a serious reminder.

"The palace rules are strict. Don't think that just because you are a princess of a country, you are anything special. In our Great Tang Dynasty, a princess from a foreign land is nothing. If you offend or transgress against a noble person, the Sassanid Persians will not even have the chance to become your subjects!"

Salmana stiffened.

Meanwhile, Ayu Shun was explaining the palace rules to Salmana from inside the carriage.

Li Yuan, who didn't take the "gift" seriously at all, instead held Crown Prince Li Chengqian's hand and warmly inquired about his well-being in the carriage.

"I have already received your letter in Xizhou County. Since that girl from Xiangcheng and that young man from the Song State Duke's family are in love, and that young man is quite capable, there shouldn't be any problem with her marrying him, except..."

"Your father, that rebellious son, doesn't he even come back for something as simple as marrying off his daughter?!"

Li Chengqian: "......"

These words sounded strange, but he could only manage a helpless, bitter smile.

"Father sent a decree promising to use half of the imperial treasury for my elder sister's wedding. As for him... I'm afraid he won't dare to return to Chang'an easily."

Li Yuan snorted coldly, and was about to say something when Li Tai, who was standing to the side, suddenly looked at him with anticipation.

“Grandfather, there’s nothing left to conquer in the Western Regions now. With Duke Li Jing and the others there, what we need now is long-term governance. Now that you’re back this year, there’s no need for you to go back to the Western Regions, is there?”

As soon as these words came out.

Not only Li Chengqian, but also Empress Zhangsun, who was also sitting in the carriage, couldn't help but look at Emperor Wude with her beautiful eyes.

If Li Yuan chooses to stay in Chang'an, then the responsibility of overseeing the country can be entrusted to him.

Taking care of her own child would make things much easier.

Moreover... if the retired emperor agrees to oversee the state, then His Majesty the Zhenguan Emperor, whom we haven't seen for over a year, will likely be able to find some time to return to Chang'an...

"Ahem, Qingque, you don't understand, do you? The Western Regions still need me to oversee things! Li Jing is good at fighting, but as for governing the region..." Li Yuan shook his head, pretending to be serious.

"He's not good enough."

Li Tai was immediately disappointed, but the thoughtful look in his eyes when he lowered his head made Li Yuan, who was also staring intently at him, feel a chill down his spine.

It seemed as if they were afraid that this kid would use the same tactics his father, Emperor Li Shimin, used against him on his grandfather, the emperor.

Li Yuan quickly coughed twice.

"During my time back, I haven't been staying in the palace. I've been staying at Xuanzhen's residence, which is a good opportunity to talk with Xuanzhen and the others about the future of Xizhou Prefecture... Chengqian, the cotton you requested has already been handed over to the officials in Taiyuan Prefecture."

Li Chengqian nodded.

Li Tai, however, couldn't help but secretly curl his lip upon hearing such wary words.

What kind of imperial grandfather is he?

When it comes to the regent, they all act like cowards!

When Li Yuan returned to the palace, the banquet hall was filled with the other party's hearty laughter.

The concubines, whom he had neglected in the palace for over a year, were now fawning over him, their soft-spoken inquiries accompanied by delicate, adoring expressions and covering their red lips.

This greatly satisfied the vanity of the retired emperor.

"That Ashina Dili deserved to be taught a lesson. Not only was he routed by my men, but his tribe was also mostly scattered. What a Siyegu Khan! Hahaha, he's nothing but a stray dog..."

During the banquet, Li Yuan, slightly drunk, boasted to his concubines.

Prince Wei, Li Tai, remained calm and quietly approached his elder brother, the emperor.

"Your Majesty, I believe we cannot allow Grandfather to leave again. Chang'an has been without an emperor for two years; this is simply outrageous..."

Li Chengqian took a sip of the rice wine in his cup.

She gave him a half-smile, then chuckled softly.

"If you want to keep the Emperor in Chang'an, then we'll have to see what you can do... Putting aside the Emperor Emeritus for now, do you think the Duke of Song and the Duke of Wei won't be wary?"

"They've already earned the credit for conquering the Western Regions, but now the credit for ensuring long-term peace and stability in the Western Regions, making them permanent territory of our Great Tang, is before them, and the court doesn't have the manpower to compete with them for it..."

"Qingque, why don't you just sit in this position of regent until the very end..."

"Don't even think about it!!!" Li Tai interrupted with a cold snort.

"Since Your Majesty refuses to help me, then I will find a way myself. However, even though I was unable to keep my grandfather in charge of the country, a year has already passed since I promised Your Majesty the three-year period..."

"At most two years, Your Majesty, you should be able to ascend the throne!"

Li Chengqian sipped his wine, showing no intention of responding.

There are still two years left, what's the rush?

He glanced subtly in the direction of Prince Li Zhi at the banquet.

Two years should be enough time for this kid to grow a lot, right?

Li Zhi: "!!!"

A sudden chill made him freeze as he was about to add another bowl of rice.

He hurriedly turned his head and looked around, but found nothing unusual.

Wiping away non-existent sweat from his forehead, Li Zhi couldn't help but feel a sense of unease.

"What's going on...? Is it just my imagination?"

During the banquet.

Princess Xiangcheng, the eldest princess of the Tang Dynasty, was also present at the banquet.

However, now she is surrounded by little princesses who ask all sorts of questions.

Some of the bold questions made this young woman, who was about to get married, blush and mutter under her breath about how shameless those girls from Gaoyang and Chengyang were.

Li Chengqian watched this scene quietly.

Thinking that he would need the help of the Xiao family from the Duke of Song's mansion in the future, even though his elder sister, Princess Xiangcheng, and that boy Xiao Rui were in love.

However, as the crown prince, he had to think more deeply about these things.

He suddenly waved to Li Tai beside him.

"I wish to prepare a larger dowry for my elder sister..."