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

When Li Chengqian and Li Tai returned to Chang'an, it was already close to the end of May.

It's not that the roads are blocked or that traffic is inconvenient.

Li Chengqian simply traveled at a leisurely pace, occasionally issuing orders for the convoy to detour to nearby counties for inspection.

Furthermore, after entering Henan Province, he secretly led a team of Imperial Guards away from the caravan several times and entered nearby counties.

Or they could stroll around the city, looking at the merchants' goods and subtly inquiring about local conditions and the government's reputation.

Or they might walk through the fields and villages, looking around to see if there are any people who are starving.

However, everything he had seen along the way made him wryly laugh at himself for being so paranoid.

"Ah, that's true. If this vast world were truly filled with traitors like Chen Congyun and Li Xiyu, then the chaos and instability of the empire wouldn't be their fault..."

On the side of an official road west of Ruzhou City in Henan Province, Li Chengqian quietly returned to the caravan.

The caravan, which had just rested at the post station, set off again.

Upon hearing his elder brother's sigh, Prince Li You of Chu, who had returned from the secret visit with him, couldn't help but smile.

"Now you can rest assured, Your Majesty. If the other places were as corrupt as Jiangnan and Huainan, Father would not have led people to Jiangnan to quell the rebellion. Instead, he would have directly issued an edict to you, Your Majesty, ordering you to kill all the civil and military officials in the court."

While this statement may be somewhat exaggerated, it is not without merit.

If all the other regions in the world were like the two rivers, with local corruption and official paralysis.

Then there's no difference between the Tang Dynasty and the end of the Sui Dynasty.

Governance is no longer necessary; what is needed is to tear everything down, sweep it away, and rebuild a new empire from the ruins.

Mid-May of the eighth year of the Zhenguan era.

When the Crown Prince and the Prince of Wei returned to the capital after suppressing the rebellion, officials knelt to welcome them outside Chang'an.

The common people and merchants flocked out of the city to welcome him.

Outside Chang'an, Li Chengqian watched the grand spectacle, resembling the First Emperor's procession, yet remained calm, leaving the officials who were secretly peeking unable to discern what he was truly thinking.

It's even more unclear whether the Crown Prince intends to take drastic measures to reform the court, or simply eliminate corrupt officials and clean up some individuals.

Even more nervous than these officials were the owners of the major merchant guilds in Chang'an, who had been making numerous inquiries about the situation these past few days.

Chen Congyun, that scoundrel they had never even heard of before, who was holed up in Jiangnan Road, not only stirred up trouble locally, but also made a huge blunder for the merchants of the Tang Dynasty in front of the court and the royal family.

"Your Majesty, I respectfully welcome you. Did Your Majesty have a safe journey?"

Prince Li Zhi of Jin and Prince Li Zhen of Yue, who were in charge of the country, also came out to greet them.

Li Chengqian nodded, glanced to his left and right, gave Li Zhi and the others a look, and then ignored the officials present before entering the city.

"What, what should we do? What should we do? Your Highness is still angry..."

The shackles on Zheng Jiang were finally removed.

However, although the physical shackles were removed, the invisible shackles remained tightly bound to the old man. Seeing that the Crown Prince didn't even bother to look at them, his already uneasy heart became even more anxious.

He lost his position as Minister of Personnel, and that was that.

However, if the events in the two rivers region cause His Highness to lower his attitude towards the Zheng family of Xingyang, or even completely ignore them, then Zheng Jiang will have no face to meet his ancestors.

"Calm down! Zheng Jiang, don't make me repeat myself!" Du Ruhui hissed impatiently.

Only then did Zheng Jiang finally manage to quiet down, albeit reluctantly.

Du Ruhui sighed inwardly, then glanced at Wang Ming, the Taiyuan Prefect, whose face remained impassive. He already felt a sense of superiority over these two colleagues, both heads of powerful clans.

the other side.

When Li Chengqian returned to the palace with his entourage and saw his mother, a smile finally appeared on his face.

He bowed respectfully and said, "Your subject greets Your Majesty. I have caused Your Majesty worry these past few days."

Empress Zhangsun glanced at him and saw that he was still in perfect condition as when he left Chang'an, so she was completely relieved. On the surface, she glanced at Li Chengqian and then turned her gaze to Prince Chu, Li You, who was standing next to him.

A gentle and kind smile appeared on her face, befitting the First Lady.

"You'er, come here, let your mother take a look. Why do you look even thinner than last time?"

Li Chengqian was helpless. Ever since he had a son and became a father, his mother's affection for him had been decreasing day by day.

"Tsk, tsk, tsk..."

She left her fifth brother, Li You, behind so he could talk to the Empress Dowager and Consort Yin.

Li Chengqian then went directly to the Eastern Palace.

"Your Highness, you're finally back... Waaaaah!"

As soon as Li Chengqian arrived at the East Palace, he immediately saw Zheng Lizhen crying and looking like she was about to die, as well as the Crown Princess Qian Yingying with a helpless expression.

"Your Majesty, I respectfully welcome you. However, my mother forbids me from greeting you outside. Please forgive me."

Li Chengqian nodded slightly. They had gone out to kill people and returned, so it was understandable that Empress Zhangsun had such concerns. However... his gaze then fell on the weeping Zheng Lizhen.

He didn't say anything, but just stared at the other person with sharp and cold eyes.

Under the blazing May sun, Chang'an had warmed up considerably, but everyone present could clearly sense the chill in the air.

Both Crown Princess Qian Yingying and Consort Wu Shun wisely chose not to speak.

Hou Qianya and Li Xueyan, who had each given birth to twins (a boy and a girl) and a princess respectively, remained silent.

Queen Ryangwon Kim Deok-man of Silla, heavily pregnant, watched calmly, still maintaining an indifferent and detached demeanor.

The Persian princess Salmana and the newly appointed noblewoman Meng Yuyao from the Southern Six Zhao and Langqiong Zhao kingdoms wisely chose not to speak.

The atmosphere at the scene suddenly became even more eerie.

Even Zheng Lizhen, who had initially been crying and pleading for her father, now realized that something was wrong.

"Your Majesty, Your Majesty..."

She hesitated, her pretty face turning slightly pale.

However, what she received in return was Li Chengqian's cold and unfamiliar eyes, which seemed to harbor a hidden murderous intent.

“It’s really strange today. When I was in Jiangnan, I could hear people crying everywhere. They were crying because I killed their sons, husbands, or other relatives.”

"Now that I have returned to Chang'an, I hear you crying... I have killed the people's relatives, so it is only natural for them to cry. But which of your Zheng family members from Xingyang did I kill?"

The cold, ruthless words instantly shattered Zheng Lizhen's initial little hope.

She was so frightened that she knelt down on the ground with a thud.

"Your Highness, I am guilty!"

Li Chengqian snorted coldly and strode past the other party, clearly letting out a low curse, which was heard clearly by the palace maids and eunuchs serving him.

"unlucky......."