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

"Ugh... These guys didn't react at all before you arrived, but as soon as you sent a letter, they all started panicking..."

Outside the Chang'an Imperial Palace, inside a carriage.

Kim Seung-man looked at the Tang Dynasty officials who were rushing to the palace one after another with obvious displeasure.

Especially after seeing Wang Ming, the head of the Wang family in Taiyuan, and Zheng Jiang, the head of the Zheng family in Xingyang, he couldn't help but mutter curses in Silla language.

"Sister, I'm afraid His Highness the Crown Prince really won't see us now."

Her face was full of worry.

Inside the carriage, Queen Kim Deok-man of Silla frowned slightly as she watched the Tang Dynasty officials enter the palace one after another.

I'm not in a hurry.

"There is no need to worry. After all, we are a vassal state of the Tang Dynasty, and now the Tang Dynasty has completely taken control of our military. Submission is the only way for our royal family to continue to survive."

“Those people are anxious because they are worried that their daughters will have more unnecessary people competing with them for the position next to the Crown Prince, but I have never been eyeing those positions from the beginning.”

Jin Deman sighed softly and gently stroked her lower abdomen.

"A raccoon that can't be brought home, no matter how much you like it, is still just a stray cat. But if this mascot kept outside knows its limits, maybe the owner will come out to feed it more often?"

Kindeman lacked confidence.

Even with such a method that almost resulted in the loss of national dignity and honor, the Silla royal family faced the predicament of potentially losing even its mascot status at any moment due to a single word from King Yang Im.

Even if she had to swallow her pride, she had no choice but to do it.

Moreover, the target is a brilliant and unique emperor like Li Chengqian, the crown prince of the Tang Dynasty. If it can be achieved, it may not be a bad thing for Silla in the future.

“Let’s go. We’ve done all we can today. The stray cat lingering at the door for too long not only puts the owner in a difficult position, but it might also attract unwanted attention and be chased away by other people with sticks…”

"Your Highness, the Queen of Silla and the others have returned to the embassy."

In the Xiande Hall, Wang De whispered something to Li Chengqian before respectfully stepping aside.

"Your Highness, the Queen of Silla clearly came with a purpose. She either wants to regain military power, or she wants to extract something from our Great Tang—weapons, technology, money... I've heard that their royal family is also following our Great Tang's lead and implementing new policies..."

"Yes, yes, Your Highness, what Governor Wang said is true. The Court of State Ceremonial has recently received many applications from noble sons of Silla to study in our Great Tang. Prince Liang must have received quite a few applications as well?"

"In my opinion, this Jin Deman is trying to use her beauty to seduce Your Highness. With her status as the Queen, she is deliberately being humble and subservient... Her ultimate goal is nothing more than to scheme against my Great Tang."

"Your Highness, you must not listen to these sycophantic slanders..."

Wang Ming, Zheng Jiang, and Hou Junji spoke vehemently, as if they wished they could immediately grab their swords and rush out of the palace to help Crown Prince Li Chengqian purge the court of corrupt officials.

However, Qian Lou, the commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard standing behind Li Chengqian, and Wu Shiyue, the Duke of Ying, who had obviously been forcibly dragged there, remained silent.

The atmosphere inside the hall was somewhat strange. Li Chengqian remained calm, as if he were listening to everyone chatting casually.

As Salmana, the Sassanid Persian princess, walked in carrying tea and snacks and carefully placed them in front of him, he gently pulled her back.

He reached out and gently smoothed the furrowed brow that the other person had formed due to nervousness.

"Let them say what they want. Just listen to Yingying and do what you're supposed to do. There's no need to be so tense. I'm not a man-eating tiger..."

The crowd fell silent.

They all looked at Li Chengqian, who was sitting in the main seat, with complicated and nervous expressions.

"Huh? You two continue talking, it's alright, I'm listening."

Li Chengqian waved his hand with a smile, his deep, all-seeing eyes sweeping over the faces of the group.

In the end, it fell on Wang Ming.

"Prefect Wang just said that the Queen of Silla must harbor evil intentions towards our Great Tang and me, and is plotting something, right?"

Wang Ming was startled and lowered his head to advise, "Your Highness, those who are not of our race are bound to have different hearts. Moreover, our Great Tang has seized military power from Silla and sidelined the Kim clan of Silla. How could they not harbor resentment?"

Li Chengqian nodded, seemingly agreeing with the other party's meaning.

"Hmm, Governor Wang's words make sense, but... doesn't the Wang family of Taiyuan, or any of your other families, have anything they're after?"

The sudden change in tone caused Wang Ming and the others' expressions to change instantly.

"Your Majesty, I am filled with trepidation!" *3

Seeing Wang Ming, Zheng Jiang, and Hou Junji kneeling nervously on the ground, Li Chengqian stopped Wu Shiyue, who was about to awkwardly get up from his seat and kneel down as well.

"Fearful? What's there to be afraid of? I didn't mean to blame you."

Li Chengqian smiled faintly, reaching out to pinch Salmana's smooth chin as if admiring a work of art.

He didn't even glance at the group, and just chuckled lightly.

"The world is bustling, all for profit; the world is in turmoil, all for gain... What's wrong with that? Now is the most crucial time for the new policies. If I don't have the help of the Wang family of Taiyuan and the Zheng family of Xingyang, I can't very well ask the Cheonghae Choi family of Goguryeo to come back and help me, can I?"

"Hahaha......"

Like a biting cold current sweeping in from the polar regions, it instantly spread across the floor of the main hall.

The three people, including Wang Ming, who were kneeling on the ground, were so shocked that they couldn't help but shudder.

The anxiety and irritation triggered by the Queen of Silla's sudden action were instantly brought back to their senses, as if doused with ice water.

However, those who came to their senses, especially those from aristocratic families like Wang Ming and Zheng Jiang, were more aware of the situation.

A cold sweat instantly broke out on his back.

Failed!

They were in such a hurry that they exposed such a huge flaw!

Li Chengqian glanced at them with a half-smile, then looked at the snowflakes that were faintly drifting behind the icy window decorations outside the glazed windows of Xiande Hall.

"Ah, how time flies! The new policies that began in the ninth year of the Wude era have already passed into the fourth year of the Zhenguan era... It's time for me to establish my own concubines..."

Wang Ming and the others lowered their heads in fear.

"Wang De"

Wang De bowed slightly: "This servant is here."

Li Chengqian chuckled lightly: "Please convey my message to the Empress that my future Crown Prince's principal wife will be Qian Yingying. As for concubines..."

Wang Ming and the others knelt on the ground, but instinctively pricked up their ears.

I think Shun'er is quite good.

It's over......

He stumbled.

With a thud, Wang Ming collapsed onto the snow at the palace gate, numb and bewildered, as the soldiers on duty helped him up.

However, he still couldn't recover from the foolish thing he had just done.

"How ridiculous, how ridiculous... I've told myself time and time again to stay calm..."

Zheng Jiang was also in mourning, muttering to himself.

Hou Junji slapped his forehead in frustration: "I shouldn't have drunk so much last night. My head is still spinning today, and you guys dragged me into the palace... Now look what's happened, my mistress at home is probably going to skin me alive!"

Thinking back to these past few days, her daughter, who had repeatedly and confidently told her that she was at least destined to be a concubine, was now a source of pride for him.

Hou Junji couldn't help but shudder instantly.

"No, I can't go back. I'll die if I go back..."

The three were expressing their frustration, but their words came to an abrupt halt when they heard footsteps behind them.

Wang Ming, his beard flakes dusted with snowflakes, looked at Qian Lou and Wu Shiyue, who both appeared perfectly normal.

He dared not say anything to Qian Lou, the commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard.

but.

"No wonder His Highness the Crown Prince was able to entrust the Duke of Ying with such a confidential department as the Royal Bank, and remain calm and composed in the face of temptation... I am truly impressed today!"

Wu Shiyue turned to the side and bowed towards the direction of Xiande Hall.

"It's all thanks to Your Highness's kindness. That girl Wu Shun still has quite a few flaws that need to be corrected."

Qianlou didn't say anything and went straight to the Jinyiwei's office.

Meanwhile, the Empress stood in the Zheng Palace.

Empress Zhangsun looked pleased as she listened to her eldest son, the Crown Prince, explain.

“Shun’er is a well-educated and reasonable girl with a gentle nature. She is not suitable as the principal wife, but she is just right as a concubine. With Yingying as the principal wife, given her decisive nature, the two of them will help you manage the harem in the future, and Mother can feel more at ease.”

Consort Wei, who was standing to the side, gently shook her head and sighed.

"When the opportunity finally arrived, he couldn't control his thoughts... It seems he's lost his initial vigilance. Even someone like Wang Ming of the Taiyuan Wang family couldn't avoid making the wrong choice in the end."

Consort Yin rested her chin on one hand; she was clearly a woman who had given birth to the Fifth Prince, Li You.

Now, sitting beside Empress Zhangsun, she inexplicably exudes a pure and lively aura.

"Hmph, they deserve it. However, my initial choice for a concubine was Hou Qianya, the daughter of the Duke of Lu. If that girl finds out about this, she'll probably beat the Duke of Lu so badly he won't be able to get out of bed for ten days or half a month..."

Li Chengqian listened with a smile to the conversation between Empress Zhangsun and the others.

Wang Ming and his group's recklessness today can be attributed to their inability to resist temptation.

But looking deeper, isn't it also the ambitions of the aristocratic families at play?

A cold glint flashed in Li Chengqian's eyes.

Five years have passed.

Five years is enough time for many people's memories to become hazy, and they may have forgotten how Li Chengqian got to where he is today...

"Qingque, regarding the reform of the promotion of officials, the number of aristocratic officials should be further reduced. Thirty percent is still too high. Let's reduce it to one and a half percent!"

That evening, Li Chengqian came to Ganlu Hall and said those words.

Li Tai immediately realized that something was wrong.

He has been handling paperwork here all day, a lot of budget-related documents, although they are also reviewed by members of the Chang'an Cabinet such as Ma, Zhou, Gao, and Shilian.

However, as the regent King of Wei, he still needed to carefully review it again.

"Brother, has something happened?"

Li Chengqian gently shook his head, stood by the window of Ganlu Palace, and looked at the snowflakes drifting outside.

But he was just muttering to himself.

"It's nothing...just the most commonplace scenario: 'When the cunning rabbit dies, the hunting dog is cooked.'"