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

"Go together!"

Li Tai seemed to have been provoked.

Despite his disheveled appearance, upon hearing his elder brother's arrogant provocation, he suddenly roared and sprang to his feet in a flash.

He assumed a fighting stance, his feet moving with a combination of feints and real steps, his figure shifting and leaping, and unleashed a powerful cannon punch aimed at Li Chengqian's chest.

"ah!"

Li Ke made a palm strike with his hand, aiming straight for Li Chengqian's neck from the side and rear.

Such a deadly move would certainly make them hesitate if it were someone else, but given their own elder brother's iron-clad physical strength... if they weren't ruthless, they might be beaten even more severely because of their "regressed martial arts skills".

Surrounding them were the fifth prince, Prince Chu, Li You; the sixth prince, Prince Liang, Li Yin; the seventh prince, Prince Yan, Li Yun; and the eighth prince, Prince Yue, Li Zhen, who had the worst martial arts skills, and the ninth prince, Prince Jin, Li Zhi.

Facing their own elder brother, they all turned pale, yet had no choice but to grit their teeth and attack.

"Single ram top!"

Li Tai gritted his teeth, and with a sudden burst of power from his feet, he transformed his body into a sharp crossbow spear, thrusting it towards Li Chengqian's chest, as if using the ground as a bow and his body as a spear.

"Snap!" The powerful single ram elbow strike was easily neutralized by Li Chengqian's footwork and a quick, fluid movement, using his palm to deflect the attack.

A slight smile played on his lips: "Not bad, but just not bad..."

Li Tai gritted his teeth, looking at his elder brother Li Chengqian, who, while deflecting his attacks, also seemed to have eyes in the back of his head, easily dodging Li Ke's attacks like a reed in the wind.

I couldn't help but gasp.

What new martial arts style is this?

The "Bajiquan" they practice today was taught to them by Li Chengqian.

The fist technique is fierce and domineering, with each move capable of taking a life. It is also one of the martial arts that the elite troops of the Eastern Palace's Six Guards train in daily.

But now, their hard-earned and powerful fist techniques seem to be hitting cotton when faced with their elder brother's new tricks that they don't know when he came up with.

The subsequent attacks by Li You, Li Yun, and others were easily evaded by Li Chengqian, who either pulled or used their force against them.

Li Chengqian spread his hands out, striking a leisurely and relaxed pose.

"What kind of boxing style is this?"

On the high platform, Li Yuan, who had come to watch the excitement, asked Li Daozong beside him in confusion.

The latter, however, looked troubled and shook his head slightly.

"Your Majesty, please forgive me. This... I have never heard of this boxing style before. Perhaps it is like the Crown Prince's Bajiquan, a style that he developed on his own?"

"His Highness the Crown Prince is truly a genius..."

Li Yuan was an archer who knew some martial arts, but he was more skilled with swords and spears. He could also fight in close combat, but that wasn't the place for him.

However, hearing everyone's praise for his grandson, Li Yuan also felt proud.

"Hahaha, that's right. Don't you know whose grandson Chengqian is? He is the precious darling of the Li Tang dynasty, sent by heaven. It seems that this child is proficient in everything except giving birth."

Li Gang, the Junior Guardian of the Crown Prince, and Yu Shinan, the Junior Tutor to the Crown Prince, exchanged a glance, both feeling awkward.

The crown prince cannot have children, but he knows exactly how to have them.

In private, when no one was around, he would discuss the principles of Yin and Yang with his two teachers. The novel and profound theories made the two old men wish they could be ten years younger again.

Put the theory into practice.

Just as everyone was enjoying the "Brother's Painful Love" performance in the center of the training ground, a commotion suddenly came from behind the training ground gate, which made Li Yuan and the others turn their heads slightly.

"What happened?" Li Yuan frowned.

A guard rushed in to report: "Your Majesty, the Sassanid Persian princess wishes to see His Highness the Crown Prince and has prepared pastries from her hometown for him."

Upon hearing this, Li Yuan suddenly slapped his forehead.

"Oh dear, how could I forget the gift for Chengqian? Alright, since the gift has come on its own, let it in. Let's see if Chengqian is interested."

"If we can keep them, then we'll keep the Sassanid Persians for a while. If they find them boring... I'll just wipe them out this year while I'm at it."

Everyone was speechless.

The retired emperor simply doesn't have that ability anymore.

Otherwise, the crown prince might say he wants the stars in the sky and fly up to pluck them down.

Salmana entered with her personal maid and translator, Ayushun.

The sight of one person fighting off several others with ease made her legs feel heavy and reluctant to move.

"Gudong..."

A blush crept onto her fair, milk-like face.

At this moment, in the other party's eyes, Li Chengqian was like the Eastern prince described by those wandering poets who traveled far and wide or wrote stories...

"Is he really that brave?"

Salmana felt a gentle push from beside her, turned around and saw a nervous Ayushun giving her a reminder.

"First, go see the Emperor Emeritus. If you disturb His Highness the Crown Prince's enjoyment, and then commit the crime of being disrespectful to the Emperor Emeritus, no one can save you..."

Salmana sighed inwardly.

The prince from the East was good in every way, except that his country was too barbaric.

She walked slowly, turning back every few steps, to the foot of the high platform where Li Yuan was. After bowing according to the etiquette taught by the palace ladies, she found that Li Yuan didn't even bother to acknowledge her.

They remained there, surrounded by the imperial ministers, admiring the crown prince's bravery.

Finally, only when the Ninth Prince Li Zhi was sent flying through the air, tears streaming down his face in grievance, did Li Chengqian finally let go of his tormented younger brothers.

"My stamina is up to par, but my martial arts skills are still lacking. I need to practice more!"

Panting heavily and completely disheveled, Li Tai and Li Ke exchanged a glance, both thinking the same thing.

Livestock!

They wouldn't even dare to dream of training to the level of their own imperial brother.

My elder brother's body is like a tireless bull with bones and muscles forged from steel.

Not only did they possess unheard-of martial arts techniques, but their physical strength alone was beyond their comprehension.

"Hahaha! Good! Chengqian! Chengqian, come here quickly!"

Upon seeing this, Li Yuan laughed heartily and clapped his hands amidst the disapproving looks of his other grandsons.

Qian Yingying handed Li Chengqian a towel.

When Li Chengqian walked over to Li Yuan, the first thing he saw was this unusual foreign woman.

Damn it?

His facial features possessed a refined quality that perfectly matched Eastern aesthetics, but his high, straight nose and fair complexion, which was unmatched by people from the Central Plains, made Li Chengqian's eyes light up slightly.

Upon seeing this, Li Yuan exchanged a glance with Pei Ji beside him and revealed a knowing smile that all men understand.

"Chengqian, this woman..."

Pei Ji whispered a reminder: "Salmana."

"Yes, this woman is named Salmana. She is a princess of the Sassanid Persian royal family and is said to be a famous beauty in Sassanid Persia. I brought her back to you as a gift. Chengqian, do you like her?"

Li Yuan's face was full of doting anticipation.

Amidst this heartwarming scene, only Salmana, who understood the meaning of Li Yuan's words, couldn't help but tense up slightly, nervously and pitifully holding a plate of pastries.

"Your Highness, may I...may I stay by your side?"

Returning goods means the destruction of a nation.

Salmana, trembling, tried her best to pronounce the Tang language she had practiced for several days clearly and accurately.

Her sapphire-like eyes were filled with pitiful tears, which made Li Chengqian's lips curl into a slight smile.

"Okay, not bad."

Now another year of festivals has passed, and my eldest sister has already gotten married.

And he is already seventeen this year.

These days, Empress Changsun has sent several letters to Jiannan Road, urging her Emperor Zhenguan, who is wandering outside and can't be found, to come back.

He didn't even attend his eldest daughter's wedding.

We can't possibly not even return for the Crown Prince's wedding...

"Yingying, from now on you will take care of her and teach her the rules of the palace. Also, make sure she learns Tang language as soon as possible..."

Having thwarted Li Tai's repeated attempts to trick him into staying at Ganlu Palace, Li Chengqian returned to his own Xiande Palace in Chang'an East Palace.

Salmana was just handed over to Qian Yingying.

On the other side, Wang De walked in with a troubled expression.

"Your Highness, Queen Kim Deok-man of Silla requests an audience and has sent me with this..."

It was clearly a carefully selected envelope, and it even carried a faint scent of peach blossom perfume.

Peach blossoms...

Qian Yingying smiled slightly, "Your Highness, won't you open it and take a look?"

Li Chengqian: "...Why do I feel like I've become Tang Sanzang?"

Wang De asked in confusion, "Your Highness, who is Tang Sanzang?"

Li Chengqian shook his head slightly. He used to think that some unofficial histories were just that—unofficial histories. But now… He tore open the envelope and took out the letter inside.

Qian Yingying couldn't help but look over here with a gossipy expression.

The line of elegant Chinese characters that came into view made Li Chengqian's lips twitch.

"His Highness the Wise Crown Prince of the Great Tang Dynasty"

"Spring is just beginning to break through, and all things are reviving. I am Kim Deok-man, a daughter of Silla, and I gaze towards Chang'an with longing. Your Highness's name is renowned far and wide. You are skilled in both literature and martial arts, and possess both virtue and talent. You are truly a hero among men. Although I am far away in the East Sea, my admiration for Your Highness is like a surging river, never-ending, or like the overflowing Yellow River, unstoppable."

"Since childhood, I have been fond of the culture of the Central Plains and have longed for the prosperity of the Tang Dynasty. If I could serve Your Highness as a concubine, it would be my greatest honor. I hope Your Highness will not reject me and will grant me this honor, so that I may witness Your Highness's magnificence and together we may create a beautiful story."

"I am willing to offer the wealth of Silla as a bulwark for the Tang Dynasty, to unite as one forever and jointly resist foreign aggression. I beseech Your Highness to consider this carefully and grant me a reply."

"Queen Seondeok of Silla, Kim Deokman, pays her respects."

Li Chengqian: "......"

That day, in the inner palace of Chang'an.

Consort Yin excitedly ran quickly toward Empress Zhangsun.

"Sister, sister, a love letter! A love letter expressing admiration for His Highness the Crown Prince has been delivered directly to the palace!"

In an instant, all the concubines in the harem, some plump and some slender, were alarmed.

The nobles and ministers of Chang'an were also alarmed.

The Wang family of Taiyuan, the Zheng family of Xingyang, the Duke of Ying's Mansion, the Duke of Lu's Mansion...