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

His Highness the Crown Prince is about to return to the capital!

This news, along with His Majesty the Emperor's carriage and the departure of Chang'an officials from the city, immediately stirred up quite a stir throughout Chang'an.

In the latter half of the ninth year of the Wude era, who were the most prominent figures in the Tang Dynasty?

The people of Chang'an would immediately think of Crown Prince Li Chengqian, who is now in charge of the Grand Secretariat of Bingzhou.

In just six months, not only did Bingzhou Dao Taiyuan Prefecture become a prosperous and wealthy place that could almost rival Chang'an, but it also brought many previously unheard-of delicacies to the market of the Tang Dynasty.

Even this winter, the people of Chang'an City are using coal stoves, which came from Bingzhou and are said to have been personally designed by His Highness the Crown Prince, for heating and cooking.

I heard that the Crown Prince is returning to the capital today.

Despite the warning from the Marquis of Wu in Chang'an, the people still flocked out of their homes, and the area around Zhuque Street in Chang'an was deserted.

The officials of the Jingzhao Prefecture, the Jinwu Guard, and the Imperial Censor immediately tensed up.

However, despite their best efforts to order the village heads in charge of each neighborhood in Chang'an to control the people and prevent them from causing unrest.

The situation inside Chang'an City, however, remained as turbulent as boiling water.

outside the city.

Upon hearing the urgent reports from Qin Shubao, the Grand General of the Golden Guard, and Li Junxian, the Commander of the Hundred Cavalry, Li Shimin was startled, but also suddenly felt a pang of jealousy.

His gaze turned to Empress Zhangsun and the others beside him.

He really didn't want to come and greet this rebellious son.

However, Empress Zhangsun, along with Consort Yang, Consort Yin, and several other favored concubines, all came to Ganlu Palace. After much pleading and cajoling, even Emperor Taizong (Li Er) had no choice but to appear there.

"Hmph, very well, everyone is hoping for that rebellious son to return. My empress and concubines are like this, and so are my people in Chang'an..." Li Shimin suddenly turned his head.

"Xuanling, it seems you all are also eagerly awaiting the return of my Crown Prince to the capital?"

Dangerous gazes fell upon Fang Xuanling and his companions.

Changsun Wuji, who was standing on tiptoe gazing toward the official road and seemed to have an impulse to stand on the roof of the carriage to look around, suddenly froze.

They quickly stood still on the spot.

However, Li Shimin still noticed this action.

The latter immediately snorted coldly.

"Fuji, it seems you also really want the Crown Prince to return?"

Changsun Wuji hurriedly cupped his hands and coughed twice: "Your Majesty, I am missing my two sons. Chong'er and Huan'er have been raised in the manor since they were young, and this is the first time they have been so far from home. I am truly worried..."

Li Shimin snorted coldly.

His gaze then swept over Fang Xuanling and the others standing beside him.

Fang Xuanling: "Your Majesty, I also miss that child, Yi'ai. I've heard he's now joined the Six Guards of the Eastern Palace. I... I'm worried..."

Du Ruhui: "Alas, I wonder if my son Du He has caused His Highness the Crown Prince any trouble."

Pei Ji, who was hiding in the back, also came over. Just as he was about to say something, Li Shimin pressed a large hand directly onto the other man's old face and pushed him back down.

Li Shimin looked displeased, while his empress and Consort Yang chatted noisily on the side.

Empress: "The Crown Prince has spoken to me about Ke'er's situation. He is a very good person, thoughtful in his work, and has a strong sense of justice. He has helped the Crown Prince a great deal."

Consort Yang: "Oh, sister, please don't joke. I know that child is impetuous and needs the Crown Prince to take good care of him."

Consort Yin: "Li You is becoming more and more difficult to discipline these days. Even the Chancellor of the Imperial Academy is quite angered by him. I think it should be handed over to the Crown Prince for instruction. As his mother, I really can't bear to hit or scold him."

Consort Yang: "Who says otherwise? The Crown Prince is a good elder brother. This time when he returns to the capital, I'll trouble you, elder sister, to inquire whether he should bring that brat Li Yin along..."

Li Shimin took a deep breath and closed his eyes.

I, the Emperor, am not even dead yet, and these women are already trying to curry favor with my Crown Prince...

His fist, hidden beneath the dragon robe, clenched again.

He slightly opened his eyes, glanced at a spot on his dragon carriage, and snorted softly to himself.

Just then, the sound of galloping horses suddenly came from the distant official road.

"His Highness the Crown Prince has arrived! His Highness the Crown Prince's carriage has arrived!"

Hear the words.

Fang Xuanling and others standing beside Li Shimin hurriedly straightened their clothes.

Stand at attention solemnly.

Seeing this, Li Shimin's forehead veins throbbed violently once again.

As the heavily armed cavalry of the Eastern Palace, led by six men, appeared on the distant official road, Li Shimin's expression changed slightly.

It's one thing to hear that the Six Guardians of the Eastern Palace are now considered the strongest in the world.

Upon seeing their military might, Li Shimin couldn't help but gasp in astonishment.

"This kid... is even more extravagant than I, the emperor..."

Li Shimin muttered to himself, his Xuanjia Army, which he had always regarded as the world's top army, had been suppressed by the rebellious son's Eastern Palace Six Guards in just half a year!

What's even more infuriating is that his own Xuanjia Army only numbers a little over three thousand.

However, the number of the six guards in the Crown Prince's palace was a full six thousand!

How could I have been so blinded by greed!

Did we agree to let this rebellious son recruit all six members of the Crown Prince's faction?

“Inhale…exhale…”

Empress Zhangsun looked at her Emperor Li Er strangely as he suddenly took a deep breath for no apparent reason.

Only when the Crown Prince's carriage was about to arrive did Li Shimin regain his composure, and a formulaic smile appeared on his face.

"Guanyinbi, my Crown Prince has returned! I am overjoyed!"

Empress Zhangsun: "......"

Li Shimin suddenly burst into laughter and strode towards the Crown Prince's entourage.

Consort Yin and Consort Yang, who were standing next to Empress Zhangsun, all showed expressions of astonishment.

"Sister, what's wrong with His Majesty...?"

Empress Zhangsun shook her head helplessly: "It's alright. Men will behave strangely for a few days every month. There's no need to worry."

.......

"Hahahaha! My Crown Prince! My Chengqian! My brilliance!"

"You are finally back!"

His Majesty the Emperor opened his arms, and his laughter reached the entourage amidst the scattered snowflakes falling in Chang'an.

The convoy was forced to stop.

Inside Li Chengqian's carriage.

Upon hearing Li Shimin's laughter, Li Tai was slightly taken aback, and then hurriedly lifted the carriage curtain.

When he saw his father, Emperor Li Shimin, walking through the snow not far away, his expression suddenly changed.

"Crash".

The carriage curtain was closed again.

Then he turned to look at his elder brother with a panicked expression.

"Brother, disaster has struck! Father, Father is here!"

Li Chengqian frowned, while Li Ke, standing beside him, asked in confusion, "So what if Father is here? Fourth Brother, what trouble have you gotten yourself into? If Father hears this, he'll surely give you a good scolding..."

As Li Ke spoke, he lifted the carriage curtain.

Subsequently.

When he saw Emperor Taizong of Tang standing in front of the carriage window, smiling broadly with his arms outstretched, gazing at him.

A layer of cold sweat instantly broke out on his forehead.

"Wow!"

The carriage curtain, which was suddenly closed, almost brushed against Emperor Taizong's face.

Li Ke turned around, his face showing a hundred times more panic than Li Tai's.

"Your Majesty, Your Majesty, this is truly terrible! Father, Father is right outside the carriage!"

He wanted to say, "Father seems to have gone mad," but knowing that his father could hear him clearly, he could only look at his elder brother, Li Chengqian, with trepidation, as if he were looking at his pillar of support.

Li Chengqian frowned and lifted the carriage curtain.

Then I saw this picture, the last time I saw him when I left Chang'an, which should have been the "face of my father" that I had beaten into a pig's head.

Looking at the other person, who resembled a scarecrow with outstretched arms and a strange smile on their face as if cursed, they were struck by a grotesque expression.

Confirmed eyes.

They're the ones who're trying to cause trouble for me!

there is always a solution to a problem!

Li Chengqian hurriedly stepped down from the carriage and bowed to Li Shimin, saying, "Your subject greets Your Majesty. I am ashamed that Your Majesty has come to greet me personally."

Li Shimin laughed heartily and suddenly pulled Li Chengqian into his arms.

With arms outstretched, it looked like the most normal hug.

however.

The loud banging sounds, like the beating of drums, caused the expressions of Prince Yue, Li Tai, and Prince Hanzhong, Li Ke, who were standing behind Li Chengqian, to change.

Wang De and Gao Hai, two former close eunuchs of Li Shimin, had their facial muscles twitching with each muffled thud.

"My Chengqian, you've finally returned! You've been away from Chang'an for half a year, and my heart aches greatly!"

"bang bang bang"

Li Chengqian stared wide-eyed, turned his head to meet Emperor Taizong's gaze, and instantly revealed a stiff, crying face as if he had been cursed.

"Waaaaah, Father, I've missed you so much! I thought I'd never see you again, waaaaah!"

"Bang bang bang..."

Li Er's expression changed slightly. The slaps coming from his back almost made him vomit on the spot.

This brat, what has he been eating these past six months? His strength is more than twice as much as it was when he left Chang'an.

His mouth twitched, and his teeth clenched together below his lips.

He started to apply force with his hands.

"My good Crown Prince, you've had a tough six months in Bingzhou. Look at you, you've lost quite a bit of weight..."

The sound of the blow coming from behind made Li Chengqian, whose physique was at least two sizes larger than it was six months ago, twitch at the corner of his mouth, and he also began to exert force in his hands.

"Father, you've lost a lot of weight. It must be from worrying about state affairs. Your son is ashamed... Waaah..."

A numb sensation began to spread through his back. Emperor Li Er, whose belly had grown larger since the Crown Prince left Chang'an six months ago, gasped in shock.

Not far away, the Tang Dynasty officials who were unaware of the truth, upon seeing such a harmonious scene between father and son, were all moved to tears.

"With His Majesty and His Highness the Crown Prince, how can our Great Tang Dynasty not enjoy peace for ten thousand generations!"

"Your Majesty truly misses the Crown Prince. Such a distant welcome, without even the formal embrace of a subject, truly shows the deep affection between father and son. May our Great Tang last ten thousand years!"

"His Highness the Crown Prince has repeatedly distinguished himself in battle on the Turkic steppes, even annihilating the Eastern Turkic Khaganate in one fell swoop. At such a young age, in that wild and uncivilized land, he must also miss His Majesty..."

Only Empress Zhangsun and a few others watched as the father and son, who were now embracing each other, clearly locked in a bitter feud.

The two of them were locked in a stalemate, neither willing to give way to the other.

He looked like he was about to beat the other person to death on the spot, and hurriedly stepped forward.

"Your Majesty, Gao Ming and his entourage have had a long and arduous journey. Let's not linger here and proceed into the city."

Then, the father and son exchanged a glance and agreed to a truce.

Among the caravan were Fang Yi'ai, Du He, Lawyer Pei, and other second-generation members who had accompanied Li Chengqian to Bingzhou Road, and who were also returning to Chang'an for the New Year.

At this moment, he was being pulled around by his own father, who was asking him all sorts of questions.

As Li Shimin ordered them to return to the city, Li Chengqian was pulled onto the imperial carriage by Li Shimin.

"Your Highness, you have accomplished a great deal in Bingzhou over the past six months. I hear the people of Chang'an praising your wisdom every day."

"With a crown prince like you, how can I worry that this empire will not last for thousands of generations?"

The convoy entered the city.

Imperial guards led the way for the imperial carriage, while the Golden Guards stood watch on both sides.

With a smile on his face, Li Shimin put his arm around his crown prince's shoulder and waved to the cheering crowds on both sides.

however.

A series of sharp pains arose as the other person continued to exert force on their hand.

It started to gradually come from the shoulder.

Li Chengqian's lips twitched. He looked up and noticed the mocking and provocative look in his father's eyes. He took a deep breath, in front of so many people.

It's not really a good idea to beat the other person into a pulp on the spot.

"Hiss... It's all for the sake of my Great Tang Dynasty, for the sake of its people. It's nothing for your son to be a little tired. But Father, it seems that the lives of the people in Chang'an haven't changed much in the past six months?"

"Alas, in this winter snow, the people of Bingzhou Road have already put on warm clothes made of wool."

The pain in his shoulder began to intensify, but Li Chengqian looked up and gave Emperor Li Er a look that seemed to say, "Little brother, you don't seem to be up to the task."

"Father, it seems you haven't done much in the past six months?"

You should strive to do better!

Li Shimin: "!!!"

His smile instantly became even more stiff, and his peripheral vision involuntarily glanced towards a corner of the imperial carriage.

Emperor Taizong of Tang, his face burning with embarrassment, forced a stiff laugh: "Hehe, hehe."

The Crown Prince, his shoulder burning, laughed, his lips trembling occasionally: "Hehe, hehe."

The people on both sides of Zhuque Avenue were moved to tears by the heartwarming scene, repeatedly chanting phrases like "May the Tang Dynasty last forever."

His Majesty is benevolent, and the Crown Prince is wise; the future of their Great Tang will only get better and better.

As the motorcade entered the palace gates, the officials stopped there.

Meanwhile, the Li family father and son on the dragon carriage were staring intently at each other.

Just as the imperial carriage officially passed through the palace gate...

Li Chengqian suddenly swayed his shoulder and slammed his right elbow into the arm that Li Er was holding on his shoulder.

"Old Bi Deng! I know exactly what you're up to! Third brother, fourth brother! Get out of here!"

Li Shimin stumbled, then suddenly came to his senses. Watching the Crown Prince's retreating figure as he ran for his life, he instantly pulled out a horsewhip from the corner of the imperial carriage.

A furious shout startled Consort Yang and the other concubines in the harem who were behind him.

"You unfilial son! Where do you think you're going to run to me! Waaaaah..."

On the imperial carriage, Empress Zhangsun covered the eyes of Empress Changle and Emperor Lizhi, took a deep breath, and smiled at Consort Yang and the others who were looking in their direction.

"Heh, men, they all have those few days a month when they're not quite right..."

......

In the Wude Hall, the retired Emperor Li Yuan, wearing a woolen undergarment sent by Empress Zhangsun, felt no coldness outside.

Watching the figures running away frantically in the distance, one after the other.

Slowly pick up the hot tea from the stove and take a delicious sip.

"Hmm...it's almost the end of the year, and the palace is starting to get lively..."