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

Li Chengqian smiled and looked at Zheng De's wife, the wife of the second branch of the Zheng family in Xingyang. After Zheng De went to the Indian subcontinent to take up an official post, she had been in charge of the second branch's property and clan affairs.

Upon hearing Li Chengqian call his name, the latter stood up and hurriedly pulled Zheng Liwan behind him to greet him.

"Your Majesty, this is my daughter, Liwan. She just graduated from the School of Economics at the Imperial University last year with a bachelor's degree."

Zheng Liwan's eyes sparkled, and she couldn't help but blush under Li Chengqian's gaze.

But as expected of a noblewoman from the Zheng family of Xingyang, her demeanor remained composed and polite, and she acted with propriety and propriety.

"Your subject, Liwan, pays her respects to Your Majesty. Your Majesty's blessings are boundless."

Li Chengqian smiled and murmured softly.

"The School of Economics... Heh, you're into finance?"

He said with some interest: "Since I established the Imperial University and new-style official schools in various places, although the people have obeyed the law and sent the girls in their families to school, most of them have been studying plays and poetry. Even those who later entered officialdom mostly worked in places like the Information Bureau under the Ministry of Rites or the National Book Bureau."

"It's quite rare to see someone choose to study economics..."

Universities in the Tang Dynasty were not as superficial as those in later generations; both professors and students were exceptional individuals.

In today's Tang Dynasty, where all industries are developing rapidly, successfully obtaining a degree requires more than just sufficient insights at the theoretical academic level.

Practical experience is especially important.

Because the professors and senior talents of the Imperial University, as well as the Six Ministries of the Tang Dynasty, the Royal Bank, the Stock Exchange, and other institutions, all had many work requirements for them to take on concurrent positions.

They only talk a lot on the podium but don't actually do anything in their positions.

They were eliminated long ago.

Zheng Liwan pursed her red lips, her voice soft and melodious: "I was raised by my mother since I was a child. Perhaps because I saw a lot of family business ledgers, I developed a love for mathematics from a young age. A few years ago, His Majesty ordered Prince Jin to open a stock exchange. I was just curious and dabbled in this field. Later, I found it to be very interesting. So, after graduating from the First Official School of Taiyuan Prefecture, I took the entrance exam to enter the Imperial University."

Li Chengqian nodded slightly.

Calculate the time.

The other party said that he was "raised by his mother since childhood". That period should have been the time when his father, Zheng De, risked his life to cross the Tibetan border and made his first mission to the Kingdom of Nepal to help the Tang Dynasty.

Li Chengqian nodded noncommittally.

Whether intentionally or unintentionally, she sighed softly, "You're much more sensible than your sister..."

The other ladies present all had different expressions.

Madam Zheng's expression was complicated, as she didn't know how to express herself.

Zheng Lizhen, the eldest daughter of the Zheng family of Xingyang, truly displayed the family traditions and upbringing of the Zheng family in the palace, making it difficult for Zheng Jiang, the current head of the Zheng family, to even retain his position as Vice Minister of the Ministry of Revenue.

If it weren't for this, why would Zheng Liwan, the legitimate daughter of the second branch of the Zheng family in Xingyang, choose to participate in the imperial concubine selection at this time?

It's all about interests, it's all about politics...

Li Chengqian did not state his decision in front of everyone, but only told Empress Dowager Changsun that he would let her know after making a decision, and then got up and left Zhenguan Hall.

Several days after the mobilization of the Embroidered Uniform Guard.

Empress Dowager Zhangsun received a list from Emperor Li Chengqian, which contained the names of the selected women for the imperial concubine selection.

Empress Dowager Changsun only needed one glance to see the trick.

Nearly half of them came from humble families, 30% were daughters of newly promoted officials from ordinary backgrounds, and the last 20%, or only three people, came from aristocratic or noble families.

Zheng Liwan, the legitimate daughter of the second branch of the Zheng family in Xingyang.

Yang Susu, the eldest daughter of the Danyang branch of the Hongnong Yang family.

And Pei Caizhi, the eldest daughter of the third branch of the Pei family in Hedong.

"elder sister......."

Zheng Liwan entered the palace's back garden only after receiving permission from Empress Dowager Changsun. Upon seeing her cousin Zheng Lizhen, Zheng Liwan's expression was complicated. The resentful and sorrowful look in Zheng Lizhen's eyes, coupled with her pale face, made her unable to look directly at her.

"Father, Father... has he abandoned me?"

With tears welling up in her eyes, Zheng Lizhen asked a question that didn't need an answer from the person in front of her at all.

Her body, much thinner than last year, swayed slightly before being supported by her personal maid.

Zheng Liwan didn't know how to answer such a question, so she could only lower her head and softly comfort her.

"Don't worry, sister, once I enter the palace, I definitely won't let anyone bully you..."

Zheng Lizhen looked at her with a desolate yet ironic expression, shook her head slightly, and let out a short, mocking laugh.

"Hehe... Good sister, it seems His Majesty has granted you a high position. From now on, I, a mere concubine, will probably have to pay my respects to you?"

She felt a chill seeping into her bones, making her feel stiff and weak, and her body seemed to grow heavier and heavier.

The palace maids who were helping her noticed that something was wrong.

"Your Majesty, Your Majesty, what...what's wrong?"

.......

"Your Majesty, Consort Zheng has fallen ill..."

The imperial study was as bright as day, with even the lamp on the dragon desk still lit.

Li Chengqian was looking at a letter sent back by Prince Li Ke of Han, which contained not only written descriptions but also a series of black and white photographs.

The first photograph clearly shows Prince Li Ke of Han, Prince Li Yin of Liang, Prince Li Yuanchang of Lu, and Prince Li Yuanjing of Jing, standing on a coastline and taking a group photo under the banner of the Tang Dynasty's stars, sun, and moon.

In the distance on the sea behind them, one could see the Great Sage Overturning the Sea, his enormous body emerging halfway out of the water.

Li Chengqian smiled, but then he heard Wang De's nervous voice beside him. He frowned and asked again.

"what happened?"

Wang De said anxiously, "Your Majesty, Consort Zheng has fallen ill."

Li Chengqian frowned: "What did the imperial physician say?"

"Physician Jiang is treating him; he says it's a cold..."

Immediately, Li Chengqian waved his hand and looked at the letter in his hand again: "Then let the Imperial Medical Academy treat him."

Wang De had no choice but to accept the Emperor Tianwu's intentions, and silently bowed and withdrew.

Autumn arrived in the first year of Tianwu.

Tonight, Chang'an was suddenly struck by lightning and thunder, and a heavy rain began to fall.

The rain stopped the next morning, and the air in Chang'an was filled with a refreshing and invigorating feeling.

Merchants continued to run their businesses, coming and going.

Farmers around Chang'an began organizing the Harsha slaves to prepare the farm tools needed for the autumn harvest and to clean up the granaries.

The officials of the Six Ministries were also busy, carrying enormous pressure.

However, when Zheng Lizhen groggily opened her eyes in the early morning, her face pale, she did not see the figure she longed for in the palace. In fact, it seemed that there was no trace of him in the air.

Her face grew even paler, almost deathly pale.

"Your Majesty, Your Majesty..."