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

Fortunately, it was just a false alarm.

After Empress Zhangsun recounted the events of Lady Feng's visit that day, Li Chengqian immediately breathed a sigh of relief.

It's good that it wasn't him.

However, he quickly realized what was happening.

She wanted to marry her daughter to a prince so she could become his princess, but then she remembered what she had said to him last night.

Li Chengqian understood Feng Ang's thoughts almost instantly.

It has to be said, experience truly matters!

"Haha, Madam Feng, rest assured, I have no problem with this matter. I wonder which of my brothers the Duke of Yue has taken a fancy to? Just tell me, and I will not refuse to help if I can!"

Madam Feng chuckled awkwardly, rose and bowed: "How dare the Duke of Yue's mansion have such rebellious and arrogant thoughts... I am only bothering Your Majesty the Empress today because I am thinking about whether that girl Jin Si has the fortune to climb into the royal family. If any prince is willing, that would already be a great favor."

Check it out!

Look at how well he speaks!

Li Chengqian couldn't help but sigh, "As expected of the wife chosen by Feng Ang, she truly reinforces the impression that the Feng family of Lingnan is loyal to the emperor and the country, and dares not have the slightest improper thoughts."

Madam Feng noticed that Li Chengqian had a smile on his face, and seemed to be in a good mood.

Then he spoke again.

"Many more matters need to be decided by my master and Your Highness. However, Jin Si has been personally cared for and raised by me since my eldest daughter got married. If possible, I still hope that she can find a husband who understands her heart."

Empress Zhangsun nodded: "That's true. Forced melons are never sweet. Madam Feng and I share the same opinion on this point."

Li Chengqian understood the Yue State Duke's intentions from Madam Feng.

He immediately ordered his teachers to be summoned to the palace.

Li Chengqian frowned as he looked at Kong Yingda, whose beard seemed to still have a few drops of traditional Chinese medicine on it.

"Master Kong, if you are unwell, you may rest at home..."

As soon as he finished speaking, Kong Yingda was startled, like a cat whose tail had been stepped on, and then waved his hands repeatedly.

"Your Highness, do not worry. I am in good health and can still work hard for at least another ten years!"

As he spoke, he even did a chest-expanding exercise right in front of Li Chengqian, and jumped around a couple of times, which startled Li Chengqian so much that the veins on his forehead throbbed.

"Alright, alright, Master Kong, please sit down..."

Kong Yingda sat down as instructed, but his eyes were filled with a burning desire to make a name for himself: "Your Highness's wedding has just ended, why are you in such a hurry to summon us to the palace? Have you encountered any difficulties?"

As he spoke, his expression became somewhat ambiguous.

It's like the people who hand out small advertisements for men's health clinics on the street in later generations.

This caused Li Chengqian's lips to twitch twice: "Master Kong, you're overthinking it. I'm perfectly healthy..."

He gently shook his head, took a deep breath, and recounted the story of Feng Ang from the Duke of Yue's mansion.

When everyone heard that Madam Feng had entered the palace today to seek a marriage alliance with the royal family, they couldn't help but stroke their beards and ponder.

Yu Shinan chuckled softly.

"Ha! No wonder that old fox, Duke Feng Ang of Yue, can still hold his position as Grand Pillar of State and not be suspected by the Emperor Emeritus and His Majesty... Tsk tsk tsk, he really is a cunning and treacherous fellow!"

He cupped his hands in greeting and smiled at Li Chengqian, saying, "Your Highness, the Duke of Yue is clearly trying to show his loyalty to you. They are willing to use the prestige of the Feng family of Lingnan to promote the new policies in Lingnan, but all the credit will be handed over to the royal family."

"Based on my understanding of Feng Ang, now is the time to act, and there is much that can be done!"

Li Gang smiled and nodded: "Back when the Emperor Emeritus had just established the dynasty of our Great Tang, Feng Ang's power in Lingnan was no less than that of Dou Jiande and his ilk. However, in the end, our Great Tang did not use a single soldier, and Feng Ang took the initiative to submit to our Great Tang."

"This person is very wise, and is also a sharp-minded person who can distinguish right from wrong."

"With him presiding over the new policies in Lingnan and the prince in charge, all the Feng family sought was to ensure the stable continuation of their family ancestral hall and the wealth and honor of their descendants. What our Great Tang and the people of Lingnan received, however, was a peaceful and harmonious society with good governance and tranquility in all directions."

"This is a win-win-win situation!"

Kong Yingda nodded repeatedly, but then realized what was going on: "Your Highness, why have you summoned the three of us?"

Li Chengqian smiled and asked, "Which of my three younger brothers do you think is suitable to take charge of Lingnan Province?"

.......

"Didn't my royal brother always seem uninterested in these kinds of poetry gatherings? Why have you been attending them so frequently lately, and even asking us all to come?"

On the banks of the Wei River in Chang'an, there is a resort called "Yichun Manor" built by the Tang Dynasty royal family.

Prince Wei, Li Tai, stood with his arms crossed beneath a pavilion, gazing intently at the figures not far away, who were fishing and playing by the lake with several concubines, including Qian Yingying and Wu Shun. His eyes gleamed with contemplation.

Beside him stood Prince Li Ke of Han.

However, it seemed that he had received some news before coming today. He was not wearing ordinary clothes, nor did he choose the court dress that would show his status as the King of Han. Instead, he was wearing a rather eye-catching flying fish robe as the deputy commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard.

He also carried a brocade spring knife at his waist, which was completely out of place with the theme of today's poetry gathering.

From the very beginning of the poetry gathering, it scared away many noblemen and beautiful ladies from Chang'an.

His lips seemed to barely move, yet a clear voice reached the ears of Prince Wei, Li Tai, who was standing nearby.

"Even though my elder brother just got married recently, he ordered Xiao Rui, Wang Ming, and Xue Wanche, the commander of the Six Guards of the Eastern Palace, to select elite personnel who seem to be preparing for overseas assignments. In addition, merchants in Lingnan Road have also received many orders recently."

"All the escort agencies from Chang'an that had business dealings in Lingnan Road were completely booked..."

Li Tai frowned, his warning look scaring away a noblewoman who was overjoyed, holding a piece of calligraphy she had just finished, ready to approach him for an appraisal.

He asked in a soft, unassuming voice.

"Didn't my elder brother mention before that he wanted to start a new policy for Lingnan Province this year? Is there any problem with it?"

Li Ke did not answer directly, but gestured with his eyes towards a distance not far away.

"Look, that lady over there is the only unmarried daughter of the Duke of Yue, the second young lady of the Duke of Yue's mansion, Feng Jinsi. She has been at the banquets and poetry gatherings these past few days."

Following Li Ke's gaze, Li Tai immediately saw a woman standing not far away, her hands behind her back, her slender figure leaning slightly to one side.

The man was squatting on the ground, seemingly studying something on the ground.

Li Tai seemed to understand something, and couldn't help but gasp softly.

"This is... Xiang Zhuang's sword dance was actually aimed at Liu Bang?!"

......

"What are you looking at?"

The cold voice made King Li You of Chu raise his head. After glancing at the person behind him, he turned back and continued to stare at the ant colony busily dismantling and carrying a piece of pastry on the ground.

"Look at the ants!"

Feng Jinsi: "......."

She looked around, somewhat speechless and discouraged.

The family's intentions had been made very clear to her by her mother, Madam Feng.

They wanted her to marry a prince and become his future queen. Even His Majesty, the Empress, and the Crown Prince had agreed to it, but... weren't any of these princes even remotely normal?!

Her gaze fell upon the King of Wei and the King of Han, who were not far away and whose surroundings were mostly empty of any living creatures.

These two guys, from the very beginning of the poetry gathering, were like the Black and White Impermanence, wandering in broad daylight, luring souls and begging for their lives. She didn't even want to go up and chat with them, let alone greet them.

Not to mention, in the future, you might share a bed with one of them, and live a harmonious and loving life together...

Just thinking about it made Feng Jinsi instinctively shake her head in refusal.

She certainly didn't want to be sound asleep in the middle of the night, with a brocade dagger or a short flintlock pistol pointed at her head, and being asked in a sinister tone, "Is your father going to rebel?"

Let's look at the others.

Li Yun, the Prince of Yan, who was even more sought after than the current Prince of Wei and Prince of Han, had a taciturn demeanor. Despite the fact that several noble ladies from Chang'an were interested in him, he remained upright and proper.

He glanced at the clock not far away every now and then, as if he were going through some terrible torment.

Marrying this guy, with a fiefdom in Youzhou, means I'll probably never see my parents again, and I might not even see this taciturn husband. What's the difference between that and living as a widow?

Feng Jinsi gently shook her head.

On the other side of the line of sight, King Li Zhen of Yue, though young, seemed to be a normal person who could communicate.

But that's all there is to it.

Feng Jinsi still can't forget that when she was chatting with the other party at a banquet a couple of days ago, and they talked about local customs and traditions, she thought that according to the procedure, the other party would take the initiative to show off his literary talent.

But unexpectedly... the writing was indeed literary.

But it's just a little bit unrefined...

"Miss Feng, suppose there is a commoner in Chang'an named Zhang San who has a private transaction with a woman who sells herself in a brothel. After having relations with the woman, the money he gives her is counterfeit ghost money based on banknotes. The woman from the brothel appeals to the county government on this basis. If you were the prefectural judge, what crime would you charge Zhang San with?"

"Rape? Counterfeiting? Fraud? Or is Zhang San innocent?"

I'm guilty!

I am guilty!!!

What sins have I committed to deserve running into a bunch of oddballs like you?!

Feng Jinsi stood still, taking deep breaths repeatedly.

Prince Liang, Li Yin, and Prince Jin, Li Zhi, already had people in their entourage, and it was impossible for either of them to be assigned to Lingnan Road. In the end, Feng Jinsi awkwardly discovered that the Prince of Chu was squatting on the ground, staring blankly at the ants.

It turned out to be her only somewhat acceptable choice...

She took a deep breath, trying to become a good listener, and squatted down beside Li You, her skirt tucked in.

"What's so interesting about ants? Why is Your Highness so engrossed in watching them?"

Li You glanced at her, a confident smile playing on his lips.

"Ants have many benefits. Miss Feng, you've never farmed, so you don't know the wonders of it."

Feng Jinsi: "......."

I'll fuck your grandpa!

As a member of royalty, you're quite the odd one out for farming!

She forced a smile: "Oh? I wonder if Your Highness, the Prince of Chu, could enlighten me?"

"Ants increase soil aeration and water retention by digging underground tunnels and building anthills, which helps plant root development. In addition, some ants also prey on pests, such as aphids and thrips, controlling their numbers and reducing damage to crops."

"In addition, ants participate in the material cycle of the ecosystem, which helps maintain ecological balance. I've recently been researching ways to reasonably control ant populations to improve crop survival rates..."

Feng Jinsi: "......."

I don't understand... Why is it that even though you look like the stupid one, I actually feel like I'm the stupid one?

"So, you ended up spending the whole afternoon talking about farming?!"

In the Eastern Palace, Li Chengqian didn't know whether to laugh or cry. He looked at Prince Chu, Li You, who stood obediently in front of him, seemingly unaware of whether he truly didn't understand or was pretending not to.

Take a deep breath and try to force a smile.

"Fifth brother, your knowledge is actually quite good. Many people don't even have your talent and memory in agriculture. But listen to your brother's advice: when you chat with women in the future, you can talk about your profession, but you can focus more on the key points."

"For example... you could talk about flower cultivation, and that would make it easier for the girl to keep up the conversation, wouldn't it?"

Li You looked puzzled: "Nowadays, the Tang Dynasty's agriculture needs grain or vegetable seeds more than anything else. Why do you want to study flowers? Those things can't be eaten, and they're useless to the people..."

Those concubines beside Li Chengqian, including Qian Yingying and Wu Shun, couldn't help but chuckle as they looked at their crown prince's aggrieved and helpless expression.

Li Chengqian's lips twitched. Seeing that this fellow was completely unyielding, he gritted his teeth.

"Old Five?"

Li You: "Your subject is here!"

"Your Majesty!"

Li You was puzzled, but after glancing at his elder brother's dangerous expression, he obediently knelt on the ground.

"Fifth brother, I have a favor to ask of you!"