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

The melodious mountain songs, guided by the morning sunlight streaming through the window, gently awakened the sleeping figure on the bed.

"Ooh~ Your Highness...."

Like a docile kitten, Wu Shun avoided the sunlight, making a coquettish sound, and instinctively shrank deeper into Li Chengqian's embrace.

His disheveled hair fell loose, covering Li Chengqian's muscular chest.

Li Chengqian slowly opened his eyes, and as his mind gradually cleared, he couldn't help but stretch lazily.

"Ugh~"

"This is what life is all about..."

Li Chengqian took a deep breath, put one arm around Wu Shun, who was breathing softly and was quite tired, and thought about the happiness he had had these past few days. Li Chengqian was somewhat impressed with himself.

For four or five years, he was as diligent as ever, day after day. If you count the time, since he came to Lingnan Circuit, he has slept until he naturally wakes up more often than he did in Chang'an and Taiyuan combined.

A faint, bell-like laugh could be heard from outside the door; it was because Qian Yingying and the others had already gotten up.

Li Chengqian could even keenly hear Qian Yingying practicing her morning exercises with a long spear.

Gently removing Wu Shun from his chest and covering the sleeping woman with a blanket, Li Chengqian, dressed in a single garment, walked out of the house and happened to see Qian Yingying doing her morning exercise in another small courtyard through the garden corridor.

Wang Yuyan, Zheng Lizhen, and Li Xueyan were still awkwardly following along, learning from the sidelines.

"Your Highness, you're awake. This servant will prepare your washing and grooming routine right away..."

Li Chengqian nodded lightly, watching the palace maids who went to call for servants. It was already deep winter in Chang'an, but here in Lingnan, one could only feel a slight chill.

In fact, the cold was completely negligible to Li Chengqian.

On the stone table in the courtyard, a half-finished Go game from last night was still scattered about. From the dense banyan tree branches overhead, the clear chirping of fledgling birds could be heard.

Li Chengqian couldn't help but relax and become more relaxed.

Wang De approached cautiously, holding an imperial edict in his hands: "Your Highness, the Prince of Wei has sent another imperial edict urging you to return to the capital..."

Li Chengqian was taken aback when he picked up the wet towel handed to him by the palace maid.

"Wasn't a copy just sent two days ago?"

Wang De lowered his head: "Yes, another one was sent early this morning... and it seemed even more urgent."

Li Chengqian couldn't help but sigh and shake his head.

"How long have I been away? Subtracting the time spent in meetings and inspections, how many days of my two-month honeymoon did I actually enjoy? And they're already pressuring me!"

"Tsk..."

He casually tossed the towel into the basin, and with his wet hands, he took the imperial edict.

He glanced at it and couldn't help but show his disgust.

"Letting this fourth prince oversee the country just means he has to deal with more paperwork, right? It's like I'm taking his life..."

Wang De hurriedly caught the imperial edict that Li Chengqian had casually tossed to him.

While tidying up, she nervously watched Li Chengqian begin washing up.

"Your Highness, it's been two months since we left Chang'an..."

Li Chengqian glanced at him sideways and snorted, "What? Are you trying to teach me how to do things?"

Wang De shuddered and fell to his knees with a thud.

"This servant wouldn't dare! This servant has misspoke!"

"Tsk, what's the rush? I've already approved and processed everything that required my personal decision before I set off. Now it's just a matter of some tedious details developing."

"With Wang Ming and the others keeping an eye on Taiyuan Prefecture, the Fourth Prince is just dealing with a few more memorials and documents; it's nothing serious..."

"What do you mean by 'some'?! Father, isn't that incredibly heartless of you?!"

Chang'an, Ganlu Palace.

Li Tai roared loudly, both angry and aggrieved.

"Do you even know how much 'some' you're talking about?!" He waved a stack of documents in his hand, the rustling sound causing Emperor Zhenguan, Li Shimin, to involuntarily take a step back in shock.

"The population of Guannei Circuit has exploded, and some local tyrants, relying on their meager power, are oppressing the people and seizing land. The Embroidered Uniform Guard and my musketeers have been dispatched again!"

"Because of the Yellow River downstream water conservancy project, Hedong Province has a large amount of fertile land, and some fearless people are even trying to take my bullets with their heads!"

"The Prince of Yan needs a large amount of supplies and personnel to build the railway!"

"And then there's my royal brother, that troublesome fellow. He went to Dengzhou Prefecture, left a message telling the Prince of Han to increase investment in overseas bases, without mentioning the budget at all, and then he just packed his bags and went to Lingnan Circuit!"

"And those from Xizhou Prefecture, Qinghai Prefecture, Tibet, the Harsha Dynasty..."

Li Tai became more and more agitated as he spoke, and suddenly threw down a pile of documents and memorials in front of him.

It scattered all over the Ganlu Hall with a crash.

Li Shimin looked somewhat embarrassed: "..."

He was just a little carried away by his newfound freedom from those awful days and said the wrong thing. Who would have thought that the Fourth Prince, Qingque, would react so strongly?

"I only asked you, Father, to handle some matters, and you say these are just minor matters?! Fine, then you handle them!"

"I've long since given up on this damned regent position!"

As he spoke, Li Tai angrily ripped open his long robe and was about to take it off and throw it to Li Shimin, who was so frightened that he quickly stepped forward and stopped him.

"Hey, hey, hey? Qingque, Qingque, why are you so agitated? It's not that serious... I misspoke just now. How can the position of regent be changed so easily? Besides, I didn't say you did anything wrong..."

Li Shimin's heart was in his throat at this moment.

Oh shit!

After his father, the retired emperor, decided to take charge of Xizhou County, he didn't even stay in Chang'an for an extra day and went directly to Taiyuan Prefecture.

In the entire Chang'an today, apart from Prince Wei, Li Tai, only the emperor himself has such great power and ability to handle so many affairs.

If Li Tai abandons his post, then Li Shimin can forget about the Mount Tai sacrificial ceremony and going to Chengdu to oversee the new policies.

"Cough cough cough, Qingque, you're absolutely right, your imperial brother Chengqian has gone too far!"

"Since the marriage, he hasn't been as diligent as before, and instead leaves everything to you... I must give him a good scolding!"

As Li Shimin spoke, he buttoned up Qingque's collar again.

Then he straightened the other person's clothes.

However, such a petty trick was of no use to King Li Tai of Wei, who now saw everyone as an enemy.

The latter stared straight at him.

"Father, that's why I'd like to ask you to help with some of the government affairs. What do you think?"

Li Tai's eyes were dangerous, which did not surprise Li Shimin at all. If he were to show even the slightest sign of refusal now, the latter would be able to abandon his power as regent and rush out of Chang'an on horseback.

"This, this is naturally no problem for me."

Li Shimin forced a smile, glancing at the documents scattered on the ground. He felt a sudden, sharp pain in his heart and lungs, which had only been at peace for a few days.

You're smart to know your place...

Li Tai snorted softly, looking at his father with a humble expression, rubbing his hands together and smiling, his mouth moving slightly.

"Your Majesty, I do not wish to trouble you, but alas, there are many matters that I cannot handle alone, even with the help of the Chang'an Cabinet... If Your Majesty wishes to take up your post in Jiannan as soon as possible, you will have to bring back my brother who is wandering outside!"

"Otherwise, neither you nor I, father and son, will have an easy time!"

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

Watching Li Tai leave Ganlu Palace in a huff, Li Shimin's expression, which had been polite and apologetic a moment before, instantly turned gloomy as if a storm was about to break.

He shouted loudly towards the door.

"Li Junxian! Immediately send someone with urgent permission, whether you send pigeons or fly them yourselves!"

"Half a month! The Crown Prince must return to Chang'an within half a month!"

One fast horse after another, carrying imperial edicts and decrees from the Regent King Wei, departed from the Taiji Hall and Ganlu Hall every day for several days in a row. The heavy workload of government affairs put considerable pressure on even the civil and military officials in the court.

Feng Deyi, the Minister of Personnel in Chang'an, requested an imperial decree to hold an additional civil service examination and assessment for the promotion of officials this year, and to transfer a group of officials and interns from the Imperial University and the First Official School in Taiyuan Prefecture to Chang'an to assist in handling government affairs.

The topic was raised at the court assembly and immediately drew fierce criticism from Wang Ming, the prefect of Taiyuan.

Feng Deyi of CNM!

Do you think only Chang'an has a lot of problems? Taiyuan Prefecture has more than twice as many problems as Chang'an!

Lu Shiming, the governor of Chengdu Prefecture, who was ordered by Li Shimin to postpone his departure from the capital and stay in Chang'an for a few days, wanted to act as a peacemaker and persuaded Wang Ming that if he couldn't give three thousand men, he could at least give a few hundred men to Chang'an.

This once again drew a barrage of criticism from officials from both the Taiyuan and Chang'an factions.

An official from Taiyuan Prefecture said, "Those clerks and interns are the result of a lot of effort and time spent by Taiyuan Prefecture in training them, providing them with so many platforms and opportunities. Why should we be allowed to transfer them to you just because Chang'an says so?!"

An official from Chang'an said, "This is Chang'an! The capital of our Great Tang Dynasty, the central hub of the nation! We should be the first to receive your help..."

Taiyuan Prefecture official: "Damn the central government! The central government still owes Taiyuan Prefecture more than eight million strings of cash. They want our people back? Pay up the debt first!"

At first, the two sides only talked about how foul language was used.

When someone suddenly suggested that a portion of Changsun Wuji's group go to Hedong Road to assist the Ministry of Works, Changsun Wuji immediately retaliated with a punch.

Suddenly, the Taiji Hall became the venue for daily court assemblies for Crown Prince Li Chengqian two months after he left Chang'an.

"Damn you, Duan Lun! If you can't handle being the Minister of Works, then don't be a minister! If you need people, I'll fucking kill you!"

"Hey! Changsun Wuji, you old bastard without even a title, how dare you lay a hand on me! Go to hell!"

"None of you will be transferred from the top official school and the Imperial University of Taiyuan! I, Wang Ming, said it! If you're short of people, train them yourselves. Haven't you nobles from Chang'an always boasted about your profound family learning?!"

"What, you can't even get the children of officials to handle business?"

"Damn it! So what if you're from the Wang family of Taiyuan? Your daughter didn't even get a concubine from the Crown Prince! You...you dare to hit me!"

"I'm going to beat you up today! Dai Zhou, you bastard, I've been wanting to get back at you for ages! Die!!!"

Amidst the clanging and shouting of fighting, both sides looked as if their tails had been stepped on, wishing they could kill each other.

however.

Sitting on the throne, Prince Li Tai of Wei looked listless, his dark-circled eyes staring blankly at the chaotic scene.

He didn't even bother to stop them. Without anyone noticing, he simply strolled out of the Taiji Hall from the side of the side hall.

He then leisurely arrived at his mother's palace.

Looking at Empress Zhangsun, who was becoming increasingly radiant these days, whether it was because of Li Er's presence or because the food in the palace had improved, a feeling of grievance welled up inside her at this moment.

"Waaaaah, Mother... Your son doesn't want to die! Your son is about to die young... Waaaaah! Mother, please help your son oversee the country, your son really..."

Li Tai cried like a child, running towards Empress Zhangsun while sobbing and shouting.

Empress Zhangsun was about to say something when her expression suddenly changed.

"Woo!"

The intense retching startled Yin Fei, who quickly handed over a spittoon...

An hour later, Emperor Zhenguan, who had just rushed over from the Taiji Hall to break up a fight, received news that delighted him.

The Empress is pregnant!

Li Tai... the sky has fallen.