In a private room on the fourth floor of the Drunken Immortal Restaurant.
Seeing the Li siblings leave, Cheng Chumo hesitated for a moment before nudging Li Zexuan's arm.
"Little Xuan, do you really not know the identity of this Li Gaoming?"
Li Zexuan shook his head, somewhat hesitantly replying, "I don't know.
If they don't say, it wouldn't be good for me to take the initiative to ask. However, judging from the temperament of the siblings, they should be from an official's family. "
Cheng Chumo somewhat admired his observation skills. Leaning over, he whispered, "Heh, not only are they from an official's family.
"Heh, it's not just the families of officials. That Li Gaoming is the current Crown Prince, and that Li Lizhi is the Emperor's most beloved Princess Changle."
Li Zexuan was stunned.
"Ah? Isn't the current crown prince Li Chengqian? "
"Are you stupid? Crown Prince Li Chengqian's calligraphy is brilliant. Don't tell me you don't even know this?" Cheng Chumo was speechless.
Eh, he was actually being looked down upon by this uncultured fool. If he wanted to blame someone, he could only blame himself for choosing engineering. He only knew that the crown prince was called Li Chengqian. Who knew what his calligraphy was?
At this moment, Cheng Chumo said somewhat worriedly, "Little Xuan, you have to think carefully.
The matters of the imperial family are not as simple as you think. The waters are deep. It's best if you don't get too close to the crown prince. My father has told me to stay away from the crown prince and the Prince of Wei. His attitude towards them is to not offend them, nor to cling to them. Moreover, His Imperial Majesty is still in the prime of his life. If you get too close to the crown prince, the Prince of Wei, and the others, it will not be beneficial to your future. "
Li Zexuan was somewhat moved. For Cheng Chumo to say these words to him, it proved that he truly regarded him as a friend, a brother. Smiling, he patted Li Zexuan's shoulder and said, "Brother Chumo, don't worry.
"Don't worry, Brother Chou Niu. I've been cultivating in the mountains with Master for eight years, and I've long since become indifferent to these fights for fame and fortune. Leaving the mountain this time, I have no intention of pursuing an official career. I only want to stay at home and be a rich man, accompany Father and Mother, tease Lan 'er, or drink with Brother Chou Niu. If I'm tired of staying at home, then I'll go to the pugilistic world and find a confidante. Isn't life like this wonderful?"
Cheng Chumo also admired his open-mindedness, but he couldn't live such a life. He was the kind of person who couldn't stay idle. Letting him stay at home was worse than killing him.
"Little Xuan, since you already know how powerful it is, then I won't say anymore."
Li Zexuan nodded.
"Thank you for your reminder, Brother Chou Niu. If the Crown Prince continues to treat me as a friend like this, I'll naturally still treat him as a brother. If he feigns civility and wants to use me to achieve his own goals, then there's no point in having such a friend. "
Although Li Zexuan knew that in history, Li Chengqian had a violent temperament and was excessively extravagant, resulting in his rebellion being defeated, at the very least, the current Li Chengqian was still a humble and courteous youth. Although he didn't know why he became like this, perhaps he could be saved.
Hearing the conversation between the two, Lan 'er opened her mouth in surprise.
"Wow, so Big Sister Li Zhi is a Princess. Brother, isn't the position of Princess very important?"
Li Zexuan patted Lan 'er's head in amusement.
"Mm, the position of Princess is indeed very important. In the entire Great Tang, only His Majesty the Emperor has such a position. Does Lan 'er also want to be a Princess?"
Lan 'er frowned and thought for a moment before answering.
"Lan 'er doesn't want to be a Princess. Lan' er only wants to be Brother's little sister."
Li Zexuan laughed heartily. He didn't dote on this girl for nothing.
Inside Taiji Palace.
Li Shimin was currently flipping through a memorial. After reading the memorial, the corners of his mouth revealed a trace of a smile. At this moment, a beautiful woman dressed in palace attire, carrying a bowl of lotus seed porridge, gracefully walked over to Li Shimin's side. Seeing that Li Shimin was in a good mood, she smiled and asked,
"Why is Your Imperial Majesty so happy?"
Li Er put his arm around the beautiful woman in palace attire and handed the memorial in his hand to her.
He smiled and said, "This is a report of victory sent by Jingde from Youzhou. Maid Guanyin, take a look. In the first month of this year, Luo Yi rebelled in Youzhou. Your brother and Jingde suppressed the rebellion in less than two months. With these capable ministers and generals, why should We worry about Great Tang's prosperity? Haha! "
Seeing that Li Er was so happy, Empress Zhangsun also smiled and said,
"That's all because Erlang has a good eye for people. Erlang, you've been reading memorials for so long. It's time for you to rest. This is the lotus seed porridge that Your Imperial Concubine made. Erlang, have a taste."
At this moment, an eunuch hastily entered and bowed to Li Er and the Empress.
"Your Imperial Majesty, Imperial Concubine, His Imperial Highness the Crown Prince and Princess Changle are waiting outside."
Li Er curiously said to the Empress, "These two children have been hard to find in the palace recently. Today, they have finally come to see Us."
He then said to the eunuch, "Quickly let them in."
Not long after, Li Chengqian and his sister entered the palace. Bowing to Li Er and the Empress, they said, "This son pays respects to Imperial Father and Imperial Mother!"
"Mm, dispense with the formalities. Changle, quickly come to Imperial Father and Imperial Mother."
Li Er beckoned to Changle. He doted on this eldest daughter of his. When Changle was born, Li Er viewed her as the apple of his eye and named her Li Lizhi. The history books were full of praise for Princess Changle, praising her as' bright as the night moon illuminating the jasper forest, rotten as the morning glow reflecting the pearls'.
At this moment, Li Er saw the box of food in Li Chengqian's hand. Curious, he asked, "Chengqian, what is that in your hand?"
Li Chengqian promptly bowed and replied, "Replying to Imperial Father, this is a delicacy that this son and younger sister Changle encountered at a restaurant in the western market today. The price of this item is the same as usual, with a limit of two hundred servings per day. However, many people are scrambling for it like a flock of ducks. By the time this son arrived, there was already a very long line in front of the restaurant. This son asked a friend that this son had just met to obtain two servings. Seeing that Imperial Father's appetite has not been good recently, this son wanted to bring it over for Imperial Father and Imperial Mother to try."
Li Er and Zhangsun glanced at each other, smiling with gratification. Li Er said, "It is rare for Chengqian to show such filial piety. Hearing you say this, We are rather curious. What is so miraculous about this delicacy? Despite the price being so expensive, it still causes so many people to scramble for it. Zhao Song, go and bring out the box of food. "
An old eunuch behind Li Er bowed and accepted the order.
At this moment, Changle, who was beside Empress Zhangsun, also smiled at Li Er and said, "Imperial Father, the method of cooking this food is indeed rather peculiar. This son has also tasted it. It is indeed delicious. This son also saw Cheng Chumo of Duke Lu's family in the restaurant. He ate sixteen servings by himself."
Finished speaking, he couldn't help but cover his mouth and chuckle.
Changle naturally did not know that not long after the two of them left, Cheng Chumo had almost eaten twenty servings.
At this moment, Zhao Song brought out the box of food and was about to test it for poison when Li Er waved his hand to stop him. "No need. Would Chengqian harm Us?"
Finished speaking, he looked at the box of food. Inside, he saw pieces of golden and tender chicken lined up on a plate. Bursts of crispy chicken aroma wafted into his nostrils. Li Er couldn't help but feel his appetite increase. He picked up a piece of chicken and sent it into his mouth. The charred aroma of egg and starch mixed with the freshness of the chicken.
Li Er couldn't help but smack his lips and praise, "Hmm, this thing is indeed delicious. Guanyin maid, you should also try it. The crispness of this fried chicken will be paired with the empress's lotus seed porridge in a moment. It doesn't appear greasy. It really whetted Our appetite."
Seeing that the Emperor finally had an appetite, Zhangsun was also happy. She picked up a piece and tasted it. The taste was indeed rather peculiar. In the future, she could have the royal chef try it and see if they could make it. Zhangsun was not a greedy person. After eating two pieces, she put down her chopsticks. It was rare for Li Er to have an appetite, so she left the rest for the Emperor to eat.
The empress turned her head and looked at Li Chengqian. "Chengqian, what is the name of this delicacy?"
"Imperial Mother, this food is called Nibbled Chicken."
Li Er interjected as he ate, "Nibbled Chicken? This name is very strange and rather inelegant. "
After eating the piece of chicken in his hand, Li Er asked again, "Chengqian, where have you and Changle been these two days?"
Li Chengqian hurriedly replied, "Imperial Father, I saw sister Changle in the palace a few days ago. Furthermore, Changle's health has always been poor. I was worried that she would fall ill from boredom, so I took Changle out of the palace to relax in Chang 'an."
Hearing this, a rare trace of warmth appeared on Li Er's face. After the Xuanwu Gate incident last year, although he had taken the throne, he had also lost a lot at the same time. There was no familial love in the royal family, but he really needed it. He was most worried that his children would live under the shadow of the Xuanwu Gate incident. Now that he saw his eldest son's heartfelt care for his eldest daughter, he was very gratified.
Li Er said to Li Chengqian,
"Yes, Chengqian, as the elder brother, you should indeed be more concerned about your younger siblings. However, you must not neglect your studies. You are the future Crown Prince, so you should prioritize your studies. You can leave first. Changle will stay with Imperial Father."
Li Chengqian hurriedly excused himself from Li Er and the empress. Zhangsun smiled and nodded. She had seen the warmth in Li Er's eyes just now. She and Li Er were husband and wife and had helped each other in difficult times for 15 years. They had long known each other deeply. She was also quite satisfied with what her son had done this time.
"Changle, has your Qi flared up recently? Why did Chengqian say that you were depressed a few days ago? "Li Er asked with some worry.
Changle and Zhangsun had always had Qi. The imperial physicians in the palace were all helpless. A few days ago, they had asked Sun Simiao to enter the palace to treat the two. Sun Simiao had also said that he could only help the empress and princess recuperate, but could not cure them completely. The two's Qi had now become Li Er's mental illness.
"Imperial Father, my Qi has not flared up recently. However, a few days ago, I did feel that my chest was stuffy. These two days, Brother Crown Prince has taken me out of the palace. I have seen many interesting things, and my mood has improved a lot. Imperial Father, don't worry."
Thinking of the stories she had heard outside the palace these two days, the delicious food she had eaten, and the interesting siblings she had seen, the corners of Changle's mouth could not help but curl up slightly.
Li Er saw that his daughter was in a good mood and was truly happy. He said, "Changle, then tell Imperial Father what interesting things you have seen these two days. It just so happens that your Imperial Mother is here today. Changle, you haven't chatted with Imperial Father and Imperial Mother for a long time."
"Yes, Imperial Father."
…
You've already exceeded your reading limit for today. If you want to read more, please log in.
Login
Select text and click 'Report' to let us know about any bad translation.
