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

Lu Shiming and his associates would never dare to deceive the emperor.

When Li Shimin finally saw the daughter of the Langqiong Zhao leader, who was escorted by a troupe of envoys from Langqiong Zhao and entered Chengdu Prefecture...

A look of amazement flashed in his eyes.

The girl was delicate and pretty; despite living in the harsh environment of the mountains, her skin was as white as mutton fat jade.

Combined with her gently swaying, bell-like silver headdress.

Even Emperor Zhenguan, Li Shimin, was momentarily stunned.

"Ahem... Your Majesty, this is the daughter of the leader of Langqiong Zhao, named Yuyao."

Lu Shiming cleared his throat and coughed lightly as a reminder.

Li Shimin immediately smiled and nodded repeatedly. The deeper meaning in that smile made Fang Xuanling and Du Ruhui secretly shake their heads.

He looked like he was about to die just a moment ago.

Now that I've actually met him in person, I can no longer see the slightest bit of reluctance in him.

"Your Majesty the Emperor of the Great Tang Dynasty, our leader has stated that if the Tang imperial family is willing to form a marriage alliance, Lang Qiong Zhao is willing to henceforth serve the Great Tang as its master, and will obey all orders from His Majesty the Emperor..."

Officials from the Langqiong Imperial Envoy bowed with their hands on their chests.

He was dressed like a southern barbarian, but spoke fluent Tang language.

Although the accent is quite biased.

"Yuyao greets His Majesty the Emperor of the Great Tang Dynasty..."

A somewhat ethereal voice emanated from Yu Yao, the daughter of the leader of Langqiong Zhao, like a clear spring striking a rock in an empty valley, stirring Li Shimin's heart once again.

As the emperor, and far from Chang'an where no one was watching over him.

Li Shimin would naturally not compromise himself, and recently he has taken in several new concubines from the Sichuan and Chongqing regions, although the imperial decree has not yet been issued to the Imperial Household Department in Chang'an.

However, he had already arranged for her to live in the Qing Shu Palace.

"Hehe, okay, okay, how old are you this year?"

Li Shimin smiled and narrowed his eyes.

Yu Yao lowered her head gently: "Yu Yao is exactly sixteen this year."

Li Shimin nodded slightly, but suddenly heard Fang Xuanling's seemingly unintentional murmur in his ear.

"Sixteen, ah, that's just like His Highness the Crown Prince..."

Li Shimin: "......."

The previously radiant smile froze on the spot upon hearing the word "Crown Prince".

In his mind, the image of his eldest son's ambiguous smile, tinged with coldness, appeared.

"Father, what should I address this concubine?"

"Father is truly vigorous and powerful!"

"Father, you abandoned Mother and the others in Chang'an, while you ran off to Chengdu to enjoy yourself..."

Li Shimin: "......."

He turned his head stiffly, only to see Fang Xuanling and Du Ruhui whispering to each other.

The voices that Lu Shiming and the others couldn't hear were no different from those spoken to Li Shimin, a "non-human" whose body had been enhanced by the red fruit.

Fang Xuanling: "Hiss, Kemin, what if His Highness the Crown Prince finds out that His Majesty has taken a concubine who is younger than him? Wouldn't he blame us for not giving him enough advice?"

Du Ruhui: "No rush, no rush. In a moment, you and I will vehemently object, making sure to speak loudly enough for the Imperial Guards outside the door to hear us. Then we will write a letter to His Highness to explain."

"Even if His Highness is angry, he certainly won't take it out on you or me... His Majesty's debauchery will be dealt with by the Empress and the Crown Prince..."

Li Shimin's lips twitched, his face contorted with rage, and he instantly raised his hand and slammed it onto the armrest of the dragon throne.

"boom!"

"Fang Xuanling! Du Ruhui!"

"What are you two whispering about?!"

The sudden angry shout startled everyone present, and even Fang Xuanling and Du Ruhui trembled.

"Your Majesty, I have been disrespectful before the palace. I beg Your Majesty's forgiveness!"

Seeing the two men hurriedly begging for mercy, Li Shimin was still furious. These two old bastards were always trying to use the Crown Prince to pressure me.

Does he really think I'm afraid of Li Chengqian?!

"What were you plotting behind my back? Speak! If you can't tell me today, I'll make you regret it!" Li Shimin roared.

The two men, Fang Xuanling and Fang Xuanling, who were kneeling on the ground, looked down at each other.

The next moment, Du Ruhui was the first to cup his hands in greeting.

"Your Majesty, please forgive my bluntness. Now is the perfect time for our Great Tang to expand its territory and govern diligently. Your Majesty must not be licentious and disorderly, and ruin your morals and the government!"

Fang Xuanling also bowed and proclaimed, "Your Majesty, His Highness the Crown Prince and His Highness the Prince of Wei are currently working diligently to govern the country. The other princes and even the princesses are cultivating virtue and clarifying their aspirations. As the sovereign and father, Your Majesty should set an example!"

"Your Majesty, I humbly request that you reconsider. If Langqiong wishes to establish a marriage alliance, perhaps one or two princes could be selected as their concubines..."

"Bang!" Li Shimin's face turned red with anger.

He's giving his own woman to his son?!

"How dare you!!!"

Li Shimin shouted angrily, then pointed at Lu Shiming and the others who were standing there dumbfounded and questioned them sternly.

"Lu Shiming, I originally did not approve of this marriage alliance. It was only after you repeatedly insisted and begged me that I finally agreed. Now, Fang Xuanling and the other two are saying that I am licentious, incompetent, and immoral. What do you say we should do about this?!"

Lu Shiming was about to speak.

Suddenly, Du Ruhui, who was kneeling on the ground, let out a soft sigh.

"Alas, His Highness the Crown Prince is such a person who clearly distinguishes between public and private matters. Surely he wouldn't hold a grudge against you all because of what Governor Lu and the others did today?"

Lu Shiming's expression froze.

Those who had just stepped out of the ministers' ranks paused involuntarily.

Li Shimin glared angrily: "Du Ruhui, are you threatening my minister?!"

Du Ruhui cupped his hands in greeting, his voice neither warm nor cold: "Your subject dares not."

"If you dare not, then shut your mouth. If you dare to speak again, don't blame me for having it gagged! Lu Shiming, you tell me, have I been immoral and senile?!"

Now, Lu Shiming and the others, having finally come to their senses, looked at each other in bewilderment.

The officials of Chengdu Prefecture all lowered their heads, as if afraid of being called upon by the emperor to express their opinion, abandoning their cowardly behavior.

Lu Shiming was left alone in an awkward situation, unable to move forward or backward.

Seeing his appearance, Li Shimin became even more furious.

"What are you afraid of?! The Crown Prince is far away in Chang'an, the sky is high and the Crown Prince is far away, but I, the Emperor, am right here, what are you hesitating for?!"

Upon hearing this, Lu Shiming took a deep breath and took another step forward.

Just about to speak.

Suddenly, a young eunuch rushed in from the side of the hall.

"Your Majesty, Chief Steward He has returned..."

Li Shimin frowned angrily: "You're back, so what? Can't you see I'm holding a court assembly here? You clueless scoundrel..."

The young eunuch's forehead was covered in cold sweat, but he knelt on the ground and hurriedly explained.

"Your Majesty, along with the Crown Prince's personal steward, Eunuch Wang De... Eunuch Wang has brought the Crown Prince's decree."

Li Shimin, who had just been full of boldness and courage, heard these words.

His angry expression froze instantly.

His gaze seemed to drift towards the crowd, but he noticed that Lu Shiming, who had just stepped out of the line, had somehow retreated back inside.

He lowered his head, as if he wished he could cover his face with his official robes.

His lips twitched slightly, a mixture of embarrassment and nervousness creeping over him.

"Let him in..."

He adjusted his posture, trying to make himself appear more robust and imposing, but then he thought about the several concubines he had recently taken in Chengdu behind the Empress's back.

He then felt as if sharp thorns had sprouted from the dragon throne beneath his buttocks.

It made him very uneasy.

When He Ding led Wang De into the hall, Wang De respectfully bowed and greeted him.

Li Shimin cleared his throat and asked in a casual manner.

"What message did the Crown Prince send you to deliver to me?"

Wang De smiled respectfully, bowed, and returned the greeting.

"Your Majesty, His Highness the Crown Prince officially confirmed the selection of the Crown Prince's harem during the New Year this year. Qian Yingying, daughter of Qian Louqian, the Commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, will be the Crown Prince's principal wife, and Wu Shun, the eldest daughter of the Duke of Ying's mansion, will be the secondary wife."

"In addition, Hou Qianya, the eldest daughter of the Duke of Lu, and Li Xueyan, the daughter of Prince Li Daozong of Jiangxia, will be appointed as concubines."

“Wang Yuyan, daughter of the Wang family of Taiyuan, and Zheng Lizhen, daughter of the Zheng family of Xingyang, are to be named Liangyuan.”

"Her Majesty the Empress plans to hold a grand wedding for His Highness in the latter half of this year. This servant is acting on the Crown Prince's orders to request His Majesty to return to the capital at that time..."

Li Shimin frowned slightly.

He had long known that neither the Wang family of Taiyuan nor the Zheng family of Xingyang could become the Crown Prince's principal wife.

It's understandable that the concubine didn't get anything either.

However... she didn't even get the rank of a third-grade concubine; instead, her own crown prince arranged for her to be a fourth-grade concubine, something that even Li Shimin hadn't anticipated.

One can imagine that something must have happened in Chang'an recently.

Li Shimin nodded slightly: "I understand. I will naturally return for the Crown Prince's wedding."

He was just about to order someone to take Wang De down to rest when he saw the latter smiling and bowing again.

"In addition, Your Highness has something else to tell this servant to convey to His Majesty."

Seeing him pause, Li Shimin's expression stiffened slightly, and a bad premonition rose in his heart.

"His Highness the Crown Prince said that when His Majesty returns to the capital, he should bring those seven newly acquired concubines back to the Empress for her to see, since the Empress is the head of the harem."

Li Shimin's forehead immediately broke out in a cold sweat.

Hey!

That brat really did plant a Jinyiwei (Imperial Guard) right next to me!

I clearly had that bastard Li Junxian thoroughly investigate the Hundred Cavalry Division several times!

Fang Xuanling looked at Du Ruhui with a puzzled expression: "Seven? Didn't His Majesty only take five as concubines?"

Li Shimin's lips twitched, but Wang De smiled and looked at the officials from Chengdu Prefecture present.

"Among you gentlemen, which one is the Commander of the Wall-Running Cavalry?"

The burly man from Qiangben trembled violently when Wang De, the eunuch, suddenly called his name.

"I, I am here, but I do not know Your Excellency..."

Wang De smiled and nodded: "His Highness the Crown Prince said you are quite good, and you are indeed willing to spend a lot of money, even offering up your cousin's twin daughters... You really can't judge a book by its cover!"

Wall Run: "!!!"

Plop.

The latter turned pale and immediately knelt on the ground.

"Your Excellency, Your Excellency is wise! His Highness the Crown Prince has misunderstood! I, I would never dare to harbor any intention of flattering Your Majesty! This, Your Majesty..."

Wang De's smile deepened as he softly reassured, "Sir Qiang, there's no need to be nervous. His Highness the Crown Prince understands; it must be His Majesty and Sir Qiang's two cousins ​​who are in love."

"Her Majesty the Empress is already aware of this matter."

Wall Run: "!!!"

I felt like I was going to faint from exhaustion.

Upon hearing these words, not only were officials from Chengdu Prefecture like Qiang Ben and Lu Shiming speechless.

Even Li Shimin, who was sitting on the throne at this moment, felt a chill run down his spine and a sense of panic.

It was as if... his own empress and crown prince were standing behind him, holding knives.

Wang De smiled as he looked at Yu Yao, the daughter of the leader of Lang Qiong Zhao, who was also looking at him with curiosity.

"May I ask who this young lady is...?"

"We are envoys from Langqiong Zhao. This lady is our leader's daughter, and we have come today to meet with the Emperor of the Great Tang..."

"They've come to form a marriage alliance with the Tang Dynasty royal family!" Li Shimin hurriedly interrupted.

His forehead was still covered in cold sweat from nervousness.

Seeing the doubt in Wang De's eyes.

He quickly coughed and cleared his throat.

"This young lady, Yuyao, is exceptionally beautiful. I intend to bring her back to Chang'an for Chengqian to see. If she is suitable, I will bestow upon her a marriage title and grant her the rank of Zhaoxun or Fengyi..."