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

"Your Majesty, actually, if we take the train from Chang'an, we can reach Taiyuan in just one day. We can sneak into the city and then transfer to that train..."

The convoy changed course, bypassing Chang'an, and took the official road heading north to Bingzhou.

Li Junxian whispered his suggestion outside Li Shimin's carriage.

Li Shimin rolled his eyes.

"Do you think the Empress doesn't know that we've entered the city? We'll just keep a low profile while we're out there. When did you become so confident in your Hundred Cavalry?"

Li Junxian's face flushed red.

No more talking.

Li Shimin cleared his throat. Annoyed, he once again looked at Fang and Du in the carriage, a smile returning to his face.

"Hehe, Xuanling, we've known each other for so many years. Do you really think I'm someone you can doubt? What I did that day was just a temporary measure. Once I've secured myself, can't I then issue an edict to help you get rid of your wives' accusations?"

"I didn't say it explicitly, but you should understand."

Fang Xuanling ignored him.

If they were to continue paying attention to this heartless leader now, it would mean they truly don't understand him.

Fang Xuanling looked out the car window at the vast expanse of farmland.

Besides the vast expanse of lush green wheat fields that will be ready for harvest in a month or two, there are also many orchards and vegetable gardens to be seen.

They were all surrounded by neatly arranged fences.

It also bears the sign "XXX Farm" and a door number like those of shops in the market town of Chang'an.

The sign also indicated the size of the farm and the types of crops grown.

Du Ruhui's face was filled with relief and excitement.

“Your Highness has been busy for over a year while we were away from the capital. I still remember Your Highness’s wish to ensure that the people are well-fed and then well-fed… and now it is clear that we have achieved results.”

Fang Xuanling also smiled and stroked his beard.

"Hahaha, it seems that the people of our Great Tang are indeed very satisfied with those Harsha slaves. It seems that every household has bought them. In previous years, which ordinary people in the Central Plains would dare to say that they still had servants to serve them?"

"His Highness the Crown Prince is truly a sage ruler, one in ten thousand years for our Chinese nation..."

Whether intentionally or unintentionally, when they said these words, Fang Xuanling and Du Ruhui glanced at Emperor Zhenguan, who was also staring blankly out the window at the busy farming scene.

He glanced up and down, then shook his head inwardly.

No comparison!

There's no comparison!

His Highness the Crown Prince encourages officials to do their jobs by setting an example himself. He works tirelessly day and night to serve the people and also provides officials with various benefits for their achievements.

The Zhenguan Emperor before us is quite something... Ha, he uses the beauty of women to seduce his ministers into adultery, and then uses that beauty to blackmail them.

"Oh, oh!"

Du Ruhui curled his lip again, and a wad of phlegm flew out of the car window.

Noticing the emperor's strange gaze, he merely offered a perfunctory bow.

"Your Majesty, please forgive me, I've been feeling a bit feverish lately."

He seemed to have thought of something, and suddenly stood up and patted the carriage to signal for it to stop.

"I'm going to find that beauty in the back to relieve my pent-up desire. Your Majesty, please continue to rest."

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

Seeing Du Ruhui actually step down from the carriage and head towards the concubine's carriage, Li Shimin was at a loss for words.

He had considered all sorts of scenarios and possibilities, but this was the only one he had ever considered: that he had intended to use the other person as a scapegoat, but in the end, he ended up being the one to be the scapegoat.

This was something he truly hadn't expected.

Li Shimin stiffly turned his head to look at Fang Xuanling beside him, wanting to say something, but saw the latter drink the ginseng tea in the cup in front of him in one gulp.

Like someone about to be executed, calmly facing their final meal.

He actually stood up and bowed.

"Your Majesty, I'm going to relieve my pent-up frustration too..."

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

No way, aren't you afraid of dying?!

Your mistress is still sharpening her knife at home, waiting for you to return!

Li Shimin reached out to stop him, but the latter had already taken a step, jumped off the carriage, and strolled over to the concubine's carriage.

Li Junxian rode alongside the carriage, head bowed, his eyes fixed on the horse's mane, as if pondering some profound question about life.

"Woo!!!"

A deafening roar echoed throughout the surrounding area.

The sound of "eating empty food" grew louder as it approached.

Through the carriage window, Li Shimin saw a steel monster speeding out from between the trees on both sides of the railway, which was surrounded by fences and patrolled by a few soldiers from time to time.

Isn't it just like the train I saw in the model before?

"The Zhenguan Era..."

The three large characters were clearly visible on the front of the train and one side of the carriage. Through the windows, Li Shimin and the others could clearly see the passengers sitting inside, chatting and laughing.

Some people are even like His Majesty the Emperor, who could drink tea in his carriage while traveling.

They were also drinking tea...

The train sped by with a "rumble-rumble" sound.

On the side of the official road, in the middle of the farmland and country road, an old man riding a packhorse saw Li Shimin's caravan and so many people stopping to watch, so he slowly stopped as well.

"Haha, gentlemen, you've never seen this before, have you? That's a train. You can board it in Chang'an at dawn and arrive in Taiyuan before dusk. It's not only extremely fast, but also quite comfortable to sit in."

Li Shimin turned his head upon hearing the sound, and the first thing he saw was three or five Harsha's slaves carrying baskets full of vegetables behind the old man.

Judging from the old man's appearance, he probably didn't come from a wealthy family.

They are just ordinary people.

He smiled and cupped his hands in greeting: "Old man, from what you're saying, you've ridden that train before?"

The old man immediately waved his hands repeatedly.

"I would like to give it a try, but unfortunately... nowadays the ticket price is five Tang silver coins. With that money, I would rather buy two more Harsha slaves."

He spoke with a smile, and although he had never ridden that train, there was no regret on his face.

Instead, they were filled with satisfaction.

"Although I have never ridden it myself, my youngest son, who is currently traveling with the manager of the Liu Clan Chamber of Commerce in Lantian County to Taiyuan Prefecture, has had the honor of riding it once... Hahaha, I'm sure you esteemed gentlemen are not short of a few silver coins. If you ever have an urgent matter in the future, you should really give that train a try."

"It's so fast!"

"My family restaurant is still waiting for these vegetables, so I'll take my leave now, esteemed guests..."

Watching the smiling old man carrying his luggage and leaving with several Harsha's slaves, I saw his back as he walked away.

Although Mingming's appearance and complexion suggested he was an ordinary person who had worked hard for a long time, he displayed composure, confidence, and basic courtesy when talking to them.

Yet, it's impossible to associate them with "troublemakers" or "peasants."

Upon witnessing this scene, Lu Shiming and several other high-ranking officials from Chengdu Prefecture, who were also in the convoy, couldn't help but nod in admiration.

"When granaries are full, people know etiquette; when food and clothing are plentiful, people know honor and shame... No wonder His Highness's first priority in implementing his new policies was to allocate land to the people and guarantee grain prices..."

"The ancient sages have said this, but only His Highness the Crown Prince of our Great Tang has truly put the words of the sages into practice!"

Li Shimin seemed to be deep in thought.

The caravan continued its journey and soon arrived at a post station on the official road just as darkness was about to fall.

He left Chang'an and went to Chengdu Prefecture for a year.

Upon returning to this territory, Li Shimin was surprised to find that the post station had undergone tremendous changes.

The first thing is that the area has increased.

Besides the "Great Tang Post Station Office" which handled some post station procedures, a variety of newly built hotels, restaurants, and teahouses had sprung up around it.

It is as orderly as a small town built around a post station.

"Gentlemen, are you looking for a place to stay? Our Niu's Restaurant is newly built, with all the beds, tables, chairs, and other furnishings newly installed. We even have flush toilets!"

"If you distinguished guests were to stay at our restaurant, we at Niu's Restaurant guarantee you will be well entertained..."

A clever young servant carrying a lantern approached.

"Our restaurant's chefs all trained at restaurants in Taiyuan Prefecture, and our ingredients are directly supplied from farms around the post station; they are all freshly picked..."

Li Shimin nodded to Li Junxian, instructing him to make the arrangements.

Fang Xuanling and Du Ruhui alighted from their respective carriages, looking as if they believed they had "died a worthy death."

"Are Prime Ministers Fang and Du still angry? Why don't you go and vent your anger again? I'll keep watch for you." Li Shimin said with a forced smile.

Du Ruhui and the other man were not nervous at all.

It was as if their heads had already fallen to the ground, and where they rolled to was no longer their concern.

He calmly cupped his hands in greeting: "Thank you for your concern, Your Majesty, but I have no more to squeeze out."

Li Shimin's lips twitched, and he took a deep breath.

"Then let's get down to business. I've really come up with a way to get through this safely!"

Seeing the disdain or indifference in their eyes, Li Shimin could only continue speaking.

"We have both witnessed how well the Crown Prince's new policies have been implemented along the way. If we can start from this point and take the new policies in Chengdu as a breakthrough, Chengqian will recognize that we are not just indulging in debauchery, but are actually doing practical work."

"If only the Crown Prince would put in a good word for us, we might be able to get through this ordeal safely..."

"Mother, rest assured, your son will definitely stand by your side this time! Father has gone too far!"

Yangcheng Palace.

Even without his mother asking, Li Chengqian's expression instantly turned serious with just a glance, adopting a righteous and awe-inspiring demeanor.

"Father wants me to speak well of him in those sordid matters, which is an insult to me as the Crown Prince!"

"Your subject! I swear to be irreconcilably opposed to evil!"

Empress Zhangsun, who had just arrived in Taiyuan by train, rolled her eyes slightly.

"In terms of being glib, you've just inherited your heartless father."

"Alright, you don't need to concern yourself with your father's affairs. Do whatever you want. Once you've settled things here... I'll speak with His Majesty personally..."

As they were talking, a dozen or so eunuchs came over carrying boxes.

Wang De bowed and asked, "Your Majesty, where should these things be placed?"

Li Chengqian was puzzled, so he went forward to take a look and saw that the box contained a woman's bright armor.

The other two eunuchs were carrying a long iron spear that looked even more familiar to him.

"hiss!!!"

Suddenly he gasped, pointed at the objects, and exclaimed in surprise.

"These...these are Aunt Pingyang's armor and weapons?!"

Empress Zhangsun sipped her tea gracefully and nodded slightly.

"That's right, I had someone borrow it from the Duke of Huo's residence..."

Li Chengqian: "......"

Just thinking about it makes me imagine how interesting my father's expression will be.

Suddenly, I remembered the ridiculous gift package I had prepared.

Li Chengqian even felt a pang of conscience.

"Snapped!"

"What nonsense! This is for the country and the people! It's a glorious and righteous act for the continued prosperity of our Great Tang Dynasty for ten thousand years!"