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

"Pfft!"

"Hahahaha!"

"Ha ha ha ha......."

His Highness the Prince of Wei had not been so happy, or rather, overjoyed, in a long time, as if he had encountered some extraordinary good fortune.

At Li Tai's palace, the palace maids were secretly curious when they saw Li Tai burst into laughter as soon as he returned, slamming his fist on the table and laughing so hard that tears streamed down his face.

"Hahahaha...Brother, oh brother, hahahaha, you've finally met your match, hahahaha..."

Yes, Li Chengqian never imagined that he would have such a day.

now.

He knelt outside the Empress's Hall of State Affairs, his expression desolate and helpless in the autumn wind.

This whole thing is going to be...

Just as he was arguing with the officials about their holiday break, the wives and daughters of the officials came to the Lizheng Hall to complain to Empress Zhangsun, which became a blow that even he, the crown prince, could not bear.

Then, Empress Zhangsun ordered him to kneel here.

"If you're going to give us a holiday, then give us a holiday. Why all this complicated stuff..."

Crown Prince Li Chengqian, who had already become known as "Li the Skinflint" in the eyes of the officials, knelt upright, but still muttered resentfully.

"I gave them three or even five times their usual salary, so what if they're a little tired?"

"Am I short of their money, or have I stripped them of their titles? These officials in the court today, which one of them isn't considered a first-rate, eternally good official in the eyes of the people... Tsk, heartless bastards."

The Crown Prince's discontent reached Empress Zhangsun's ears, causing her to rub her forehead slightly, feeling a bit of a headache.

"Gao Ming, you can't assume all officials are as energetic as you... Madam Du and Madam Fang have been married to Prime Minister Du and Prime Minister Fang for so many years. Every time, it was Prime Minister Du and Prime Minister Fang who came to me for help. And now look what's happened..."

"Madam Du and Madam Fang came to me for help, all because of you..."

Empress Zhangsun truly lived up to her reputation as a woman capable of ruling the world. She was able to calmly recount the events that had just caused Consort Yang and Consort Wei to suppress their laughter and hastily return to their palaces after bowing.

"Brilliant! Let's give all the officials a holiday!"

Empress Zhangsun's words already carried a hint of unequal importance, and Li Chengqian hesitated, his lips barely moving.

"What about the affairs of the court...?"

"Then let's put it aside for now!"

Li Chengqian: "Mother, some things can't be put off, this..."

Empress Zhangsun conceded a step: "Then you can choose a few people to deal with. Prime Minister Fang and Prime Minister Du are no good! Don't force them to actually divorce their wives, or you'll be the subject of gossip behind your backs!"

Li Chengqian: "......"

On the seventh day of the ninth month of the fifth year of the Zhenguan era, there were still two days until the Double Ninth Festival.

At the court assembly of officials in the Chang'an Imperial Palace, the Crown Prince, looking rather reluctant, announced the imperial decree.

"The holiday for the Double Ninth Festival will be extended from three days to seven days. Except for officials in certain departments, all officials shall take their full leave on schedule..."

color!!!

Inside the Taiji Hall, all those who were able to stand here at this moment, except for a few people standing in the front positions, could still maintain at least a minimum of composure and calmness, but their fists were clenched excitedly in their sleeves.

The remaining officials were all overjoyed, with tears in their eyes.

"Your Highness, we are deeply grateful for your great kindness!"

As the imperial decree was issued, the officials became noticeably more proactive after the court session. Some even jumped for joy as they walked out of the Taiji Hall after the session ended.

"Duke of Mi, Minister Zheng, please wait!"

Feng Deyi and Zheng Jiang, who had just come out of the hall, were stunned for a moment. When they turned around and saw that the person who came was Wang De, their expressions immediately tightened.

An ominous premonition came over me.

"Gentlemen, His Highness the Crown Prince requests your presence in the Imperial Study..."

Feng Deyi's hand holding the scepter trembled involuntarily.

No way, are you saying we have no way to survive?!

I'm already so proactive every day, isn't that enough?!

I'm already eighty years old!

Despite their inner turmoil and fury, the two men outwardly remained respectful and followed Wang De to the imperial study, under the watchful eyes of those who seemed to be gloating over their misfortune.

The two walked in.

Besides Li Chengqian, there was another person accompanying him in the hall.

Zheng Jiang looked at his daughter, Zheng Lizhen, and his heart suddenly trembled.

Spicy balls!

Sure enough, as soon as he entered the hall, seemingly chatting happily with the Crown Prince, Zheng Lizhen, who was covering her mouth and giggling, brightened up and quickly came to him, pulling at his stiff body.

"Father, you've come! It's been a while since you last visited your daughter in the palace!"

Her voice was soft and sweet, but it sent chills down Zheng Jiang's spine, making him feel tense as if he were surrounded by snakes and scorpions.

"Ahem, Your Highness, Consort Zheng, this subject..."

"Dad, everyone here is one of us, so don't be shy," Li Chengqian said with a smile.

Instead of feeling relieved, Zheng Jiang became even more vigilant and fearful.

My life is over!

Sure enough, the next moment he heard Zheng Lizhen, who was clinging to his arm, say in a sweet and coquettish tone: "Father, His Highness the Crown Prince is planning to take his daughter on an outing for the Double Ninth Festival, but he is very busy with many affairs at the Ministry of Personnel. Father, you are now the Vice Minister of the Ministry of Personnel, a very important minister of the country~"

Zheng Jiang's eyelids trembled, and he forced a smile, wanting to bow to Li Chengqian and decline, hoping to salvage his rare vacation.

But his own daughter stopped him from bowing.

"Father~"

Zheng Lizhen lowered her voice: "Recently, that wretched maid from Silla has been pestering the Crown Prince. I finally had a chance to be alone with His Highness. Father, you can't ruin my life again!"

Zheng Jiang wanted to cry but had no tears.

How could I have such a stupid daughter? This Li family scoundrel is clearly using you and your unborn child to lure and coerce me into working for him!

However, Zheng Lizhen didn't care about the Crown Prince using her. If she could, she would even wish that the Crown Prince Li Chengqian would use her more, every day, and use her ruthlessly.

He would not hesitate to offer up even his own father's lifespan.

"Your Highness, I will certainly not fail in your trust..."

Every word he uttered trembled. Zheng Jiang only regretted that as the head of the Zheng family of Xingyang, he couldn't just give up and die. Otherwise... he really didn't want to live another day of this exhausting existence.

Li Chengqian nodded in satisfaction and beckoned to Zheng Lizhen. The latter immediately fluttered over to Li Chengqian with a charming smile, her eyes only for her lover and not her father.

Li Chengqian then looked at the Duke of Mi, his smile playful.

"How is the old Duke doing lately? I've heard that he hasn't been feeling well lately. You've been a loyal minister of two dynasties since the reign of my grandfather, Emperor Wude. You must take good care of yourself."

"There are many affairs in the court, but none of them are as important as your health, Duke!"

Feng Deyi swallowed hard.

Aside from daring not to say anything, he didn't know how to respond to this "skinny Li".

Li Chengqian smiled enigmatically: "Old Duke, are you finding your work at the Ministry of Personnel comfortable? The Ministry is very busy, and many things can actually be handed over to younger people nowadays. I think Ma Zhou is quite good; he has worked in all six ministries and has also worked with Chancellor Fang and others on many of the new policies..."

"I truly cannot bear to see the old Duke die from exhaustion at his desk."

An alarm bell rang in Feng Deyi's mind instantly.

What do you mean?

Is this an attempt to remove me from my position as Minister?!

"Your Highness, this is probably just a rumor spread by outsiders. Although the affairs of the Ministry of Personnel are complicated, they do not require much attention... at least in my opinion, they are just ordinary matters."

Li Chengqian stared wide-eyed in "surprise": "Oh???"

"Does the old Duke mean that the Ministry of Personnel is relaxed? But Minister Duan, Minister Tang, and the other ministers are exhausted. Just a few days ago, they made a big show of asking me to give them a break."

Feng Deyi stepped forward and solemnly cupped his hands in greeting.

"Your Highness, this old minister would not dare to deceive you. I do not know who spread the false rumor that the Ministry of Personnel is a laborious and demanding department. In my opinion, the Ministry of Personnel is far too easy!"

Zheng Jiang, standing to the side, felt his vision go black and felt utterly hopeless.

Li Chengqian smiled broadly: "In that case, would you be so kind as to trouble Minister Feng and Vice Minister Zheng to do their part for the sake of our Great Tang Dynasty on the Double Ninth Festival?"

Feng Deyi: "Your Highness, I am willing to give my life for you!"

Zheng Jiang said weakly, "...Your Highness, I am willing to give my life for you."

"Hahahaha! Okay!"

Li Chengqian was overjoyed and waved his hand: "Wang De, bestow wine!"

Wang De, who had been prepared in advance, carried a tray with a small golden goblet on each side and presented it to Feng Deyi and Zheng Jiang.

"Please, gentlemen!"

Under Li Chengqian's watchful gaze, the two picked up their wine cups. It was clearly a fine medicinal wine, as Wang De had said, with abundant medicinal power and great benefits to the body.

At this moment, the two of them felt a sense of dread, as if they had been given poisoned wine.

Trembling, he drank it all under Li Chengqian's gaze, feeling the heat gradually rising from within his body, and the fatigue that had lingered after court was swept away.

He regained his vitality.

Zheng Jiang and Feng Deyi, however, felt only the sorrow and fear of being whipped and beaten like cattle and horses.

Serving as an official under the Crown Prince during the Zhenguan era was a bitter experience!

......

The Fang family mansion, study.

Looking at the hazy moonlight outside, Fang Xuanling felt a strong sense of unreality in the quiet moments he was enjoying in his study at home.

He picked up his pen.

"On the seventh day of the ninth month of the fifth year of Zhenguan, I led all the officials to a great victory over the Crown Prince, and was granted a seven-day rest."

"Having long heard that Luoyang's prosperity rivals that of Chang'an and Taiyuan, I decided to go..."

The next day.

Of the six ministries in Chang'an, only the Ministry of Personnel, which was forced to work overtime by Li Chengqian, and the Censorate, which was led by its leader Dai Zhou and was vigorously cracking down on corrupt officials, were still working overtime.

The officials of Chang'an, the capital of the Tang Dynasty, finally welcomed their long-awaited holiday.

Then, the merchants of Chang'an saw a group of very distinctive people. Each of them was adorned with jade at their waist, dressed in bright and expensive silks specially supplied by the royal family, carrying swords, and accompanied by beautiful women. They appeared in groups on the streets of Chang'an's East and West Markets.

Wandering around east and west.

Every few steps he takes, he approaches a vendor or shop that catches his eye, and invariably, he makes a grand gesture, buying everything in sight...

Before leaving the shop, he exclaimed with emotion.

"This was all exchanged for my life essence and blood!"

Ma Zhou, accompanied by his newlywed wife and servants, strolled through the markets of Chang'an for most of the day. Around noon, they found a restaurant with an elegant storefront and delicious, flavorful dishes.

As soon as he entered, the shopkeeper immediately stood up to greet him.

"Haha, it's such an honor for our humble shop to have you, sir!"

Ma Zhou was taken aback. Although he held some influence in the court, he actually had little real power and was merely a minor secretary to the Crown Prince, serving alongside Chancellor Fang and Chancellor Du.

"Does the shop owner recognize me?"

The shopkeeper's smile grew even wider, but his eyes were full of deep meaning as he looked at Ma Zhou's dark eye sockets.

"Hehe, I naturally do not know you, sir, but you have an outstanding demeanor. One glance is enough to tell that you are a diligent and good official!"

Ma Zhou: "......."