In the Eastern Palace, Li Chengqian sat with a gloomy face, struggling to make a decision.
He understood the personalities of his Imperial Father and Imperial Mother very well. Although this marriage appeared to be a matter of seeking Princess Changle's opinion, in reality, it was already irreversible. The marriage of Princess Changle to Zhangsun Chong was already a foregone conclusion.
If he interfered rashly, based on his own words, Li Shimin's personality, it would only backfire.
"Come!" Li Chengqian shouted.
"Your Highness!" A black-clothed eunuch quietly appeared behind Li Chengqian.
"Sister Changle seems to be ignoring Father and Mother's kind intentions of making her family even closer. Send someone to investigate the cases of making her family even closer in Chang 'an. I will use facts to persuade Changle."
"Yes, Your Highness!" the eunuch said calmly.
Just as the black-clothed eunuch was about to disappear, Li Chengqian suddenly said, "The focus should be placed on the descendants of these relatives. No matter if they are living children or those who have passed away, they should be recorded in detail. After the investigation is completed, keep it a secret. I want to give Father a surprise. "
As the Crown Prince of the Eastern Palace, Li Chengqian had his own forces that he could use. Even so, Li Chengqian was still very careful. After all, this involved his sister's life. If it was exposed prematurely, all his efforts would be in vain.
"By the way, record the birth of a fourteen-year-old girl." Li Chengqian seemed to inadvertently add another sentence.
The black-clothed eunuch paused for a moment. He nodded his head silently and soon disappeared.
The Eastern Palace was very powerful. Even if Li Chengqian did not use his forces on the surface, shocking news still came one after another.
"A mentally retarded child!"
"Ten mentally retarded!"
…
Out of the three hundred incestuous families, more than fifty of them had children with mental retardation. More than a hundred of them died prematurely. What was even more tragic was that one family had seven children in a row. Two of them died prematurely, and five of them were mentally retarded. In the end, the couple and the children went crazy together. There were countless cases of young women having difficulties in childbirth.
The veins on Li Chengqian's hands were bulging, and his heart was cold. Although he had already believed Meton and Elder Hua's words and was mentally prepared, he still felt a sharp pain in his heart when he saw the shocking numbers in front of him.
This was only the result of two days of investigation in Chang 'an, and there were already so many. What about the entire Guanzhong area? How many of them were there in the entire Tang dynasty?
This was the tragedy of human relations caused by the ignorance of human beings. Yet, they were complacent and said that it made their relationship even closer. How ironic was this?
Li Chengqian suddenly remembered Meton's words. Everything in the world could lie to you, but numbers could not. Now, Li Chengqian truly understood the cruelty of this sentence. His sister was about to become one of these cold numbers.
"This matter must be kept secret. Do not spread it." Li Chengqian looked coldly at the eunuch in black, who was sweating profusely.
"Yes! Your Highness! "the eunuch in black said in panic.
When he started the investigation, Li Chengqian asked him to keep it a secret. He had a hunch that this task was not simple, but he did not expect it to be such a big matter.
These days, the news of the marriage between Zhangsun Chong and Princess Changle had spread throughout the Heavenly Palace. Furthermore, the Crown Prince had ordered him to investigate such a shocking matter. One was His Imperial Highness the Crown Prince, while the other was the foremost noble of the court. Either of them could easily crush him to death.
Li Chengqian gazed into the distance at Taiji Palace Hall. He stood up several times, but then he sat back down dejectedly. This matter was not as simple as it appeared on the surface. It involved Li Shimin's policy of gathering the hundreds of officials, as well as his mother's plans for her maternal family after a hundred years.
If he forcefully exposed this matter, he could destroy the marriage. But that would make his father and uncle lose face, and it might even lead to the other extreme.
No, even if there was a chance, he could not risk Changle. After thinking it over, Li Chengqian still felt that the one who tied the bell should untie it. Since Mo Jiazi had raised this difficult problem, then perhaps Mo Jiazi had a way to solve it.
Thinking of this, Li Chengqian hurriedly stood up. He wanted to find Meton, but then he slowly sat down. He suddenly remembered that Meton would come tomorrow at this time to draw a portrait of Lingyan Pavilion for his father. It would not be too late to find him then.
"Sit properly!"
"Straighten your back!"
…
"Okay!"
In a side room of Taiji Palace, Meton directed Li Shimin to get into position.
Unlike last time when Mo Jiazi painted Li Shimin and Princess Jinyang, Meton's painting of Li Shimin was much more formal. He was going to paint a giant bust similar to the great people of the future. It was convenient to hang in Lingyan Pavilion.
Meton painted very carefully, but Li Er was not a qualified model. Every time Meton corrected his posture, he could not maintain it for more than a quarter of an hour.
Fine! Who told you to be the Emperor? You are awesome and you are willful. Meton accepted his fate and began to work hard. Little by little, he fixed the deviation caused by Li Shimin's movements.
"I heard that Changle left the palace to learn painting from you?" Li Shimin suddenly said.
Meton's hand trembled and he almost destroyed the portrait.
"Changle?" Meton's face revealed a look of confusion. "There is no Changle, but a young prince called Li Zhi came to the Mo Estate. The Minister let the maid Zi Yi teach him a few moves."
"En! A very talented young man. His painting is very good! " Meton flattered. He secretly praised himself for being quick-witted. Which parent did not want their child to be praised?
"Oh! You mean that boy Li Zhi! So it's him. He really likes painting. "Li Shimin suddenly remembered. Yes, he did not mention Changle again.
Modun breathed a sigh of relief inwardly. Fortunately, he had managed to fool him. However, seeing how much Li Shimin doted on Princess Jinyang, if Li Shimin were to get hold of his weakness, even if he didn't die, he would lose a layer of skin.
However, thinking that Princess Changle was about to get married, Meton could not help but feel a little depressed. He did not know how Li Chengqian was progressing and whether he could save the fairy-like girl.
Morton busied himself for nearly two hours before he finally finished the painting.
"Your Majesty, please take a look!" Meton took the painting from his simple drawing board and handed it to Li Shimin. The drawing board was a pleasant surprise. Meton only mentioned it casually. He did not expect Old Zhang to finish it so quickly. He even sent it over with a pencil. With a handy tool, Meton's painting skills improved.
"Not bad!" Li Shimin looked at the portrait that was like a real person and could not help but nod in satisfaction.
"It seems that Lord Yan was right! When it comes to painting portraits, you, Meton, are still the best. "Li Shimin said with satisfaction.
Well, Moton was speechless. He felt that he had worked for nothing the whole day. How could he have gotten such an evaluation of his painting?
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