Chapter 44

And you, as a son, only think about eating, drinking, and playing?

You really are something!

But thinking about it, if he becomes the Emperor in the future, wouldn't it be easier for me to control him?

Thinking of this, Empress Zhangsun Zhangsun Wuji immediately put on a kind smile and said: "Crown Prince, it is rare for us to have time to get together; why not come to my mansion to talk?"

"?"

"Ah?"

"Uncle, I have nothing to say to you! And, I... I still have government affairs to handle!"

Li Li Chengqian was somewhat unwilling.

The eunuchs were still waiting for him!

Empress Zhangsun Zhangsun Wuji’s mouth twitched, wishing he could slap this incompetent Crown Prince directly.

If you could handle government affairs, the sun would rise from the west!

But Empress Zhangsun Zhangsun Wuji finally held back, continuing to smile: "Crown Prince, I won't let you go for nothing; I have some crickets contributed by envoys, they are all top-grade."

Of course.

"Also, I have some dancing girls in my mansion, all of them beautiful, and there are Western Regions..."

Empress Zhangsun Zhangsun Wuji didn't want to let Li Li Chengqian go to his mansion to play.

He wanted to have a showdown with this noble Crown Prince!

Right now.

The Emperor is on a campaign, the Empress is kidnapped, Qin Mu has rebelled, and the family of three has become irreconcilable enemies.

And the Crown Prince is in charge of Changancheng, and he himself has the final say.

Isn't this the best time for a showdown?

"Really?"

Hearing that there were beauties and crickets, Li Li Chengqian’s eyes immediately lit up.

"Of course! Of course it’s true!"

Empress Zhangsun Zhangsun Wuji said with a smile.

"Great, then Uncle, let’s go quickly! I’ll also let the little eunuchs under me have a good look; I’ve lost miserably these past few days."

Li Li Chengqian’s dark, flushed face was filled with a happy smile, and he impatiently pulled Empress Zhangsun Zhangsun Wuji toward Changancheng.

The civil and military officials who had not yet left were stunned.

What kind of Crown Prince is this?

Everyone showed expressions of contempt and disappointment.

"Sigh!"

"With the Crown Prince being so absurd, what will become of our Great Tang in the future?"

Watching Li Li Chengqian’s short, stout back, the ever-upright Wei Zheng was so angry he stomped his feet and beat his chest.

"Mr. Wei need not be so anxious; the Crown Prince is still young, and his heart is still considered pure and kind."

"Besides, he is the legitimate eldest son of His Majesty and the Empress. If he does not inherit the throne in the future, I fear our Great Tang will face even greater chaos!" Du Du Ruhui stroked his beard, appearing unconcerned.

He believed that the blood of His Majesty and the Empress flowed through Crown Prince Li Li Chengqian, and sooner or later, he would surely become sensible and strong.

It would simply take time, step by step.

As the crowd dispersed, the gates of Changancheng fell silent once more.

Night.

The Prefecture of Zhao Guo.

Inside the main hall, music and dance filled the air, a scene of joy and celebration.

Li Li Chengqian watched the beauties dancing gracefully before him, his mouth watering with greed.

Empress Zhangsun Zhangsun Wuji and his son Empress Zhangsun Chong exchanged a glance, both revealing a tacit smile.

"Alright, you may all withdraw now."

As the words fell, the musicians and dancers all retreated.

The main hall instantly fell silent.

"Don't leave, you all!"

"Keep playing the music, keep dancing!"

"Uncle, why did you make them leave?"

Li Li Chengqian’s expression was one of dissatisfaction.

"Hehehe, Your Highness the Crown Prince, there is plenty of time to watch the music and dance later."

"This old minister recently heard a shocking and bizarre story that I wish to tell Your Highness. I wonder if Your Highness is interested?" Empress Zhangsun Zhangsun Wuji walked up to Li Li Chengqian and said with a smile.

"Oh? A bizarre story? Excellent! I love listening to bizarre stories the most. Uncle, tell me quickly!"

Upon hearing there was a good story to be told, Li Li Chengqian’s interest was immediately piqued, and he hurriedly pricked up his ears.

"This story took place more than a dozen years ago."

"Back then, there was a Prince who shook the world with his might. He and his Princess were exceptionally devoted to each other, and for a time, they were known as a match made in heaven."

"Later, this Prince was ordered to lead an expedition. Due to the turmoil in the imperial court, the Prince took the Princess with him to the battlefield."

"But who would have known, the Princess was already pregnant at the time, and it was only when they reached the front lines that it was finally discovered."

"Left with no choice, the Prince ordered the Princess to be settled in a city not far behind the front."

"Unexpectedly, the enemy was extremely powerful. The Prince encountered great challenges during the expedition and even faced a shortage of provisions."

"Later on, the Prince was defeated and had to lead his troops in flight. Pitiably, in the chaos, the Princess was escorted by her own subordinates to a village."

"At that time, the Princess was about to go into labor. Coincidentally, the woman in the household where the Princess was staying gave birth at almost the exact same time."

"That night, there was thunder and lightning, and the winds and clouds surged, as if the heavens themselves were warning that the birth of this child would bring great misfortune."

"As two cries rang out, the wind stopped and the clouds settled; everything became calm. But unexpectedly, the midwife and the women who came to help could no longer distinguish which was the Prince’s child and which was the villager’s child."

"The woman saw that the Prince’s child was clever and bright, with red lips and white teeth, and immediately became so fond of him that she could not bear to part with him, deciding on the spot that this was her own child."

"The Princess, meanwhile, chose the villager’s child, not minding that he looked dark and ugly, and bestowed all her maternal love upon him."

"Later, the Prince returned in triumph and brought the Princess and their son back to the prefecture, caring for them meticulously until this very day." Empress Zhangsun Zhangsun Wuji spoke very slowly, ensuring every word was as clear as possible.

The main hall was deathly quiet.

It was so quiet that one could hear a needle drop on the floor.

"Tsk tsk tsk! That Prince was truly unlucky; born a Prince, only to end up the son of a lowly peasant." After hearing the story, Li Li Chengqian shook his head and sighed repeatedly, though his tone carried disdain for the peasant woman.

He had always looked down upon the common people, especially farmers.

He felt those people were nothing but lowly subjects who could never grace a refined hall.

"Your Highness the Crown Prince, don't you find this story familiar?"

Empress Zhangsun Chong smiled meaningfully and asked, looking at Li Li Chengqian.

"Familiar? Why would I find it familiar? Why are you acting so strange today, kid?"

Li Li Chengqian rolled his eyes and downed the fine wine before him in one gulp.

Sweet and delicious!

"Hahaha, Your Highness the Crown Prince, you must find it familiar!"

"Because the son of the woman in this story is you!"

Empress Zhangsun Chong laughed wildly.

"Crack!"

Just then, a bolt of lightning suddenly flashed across the sky.

The light illuminated Li Li Chengqian’s terrified face, making it look exceptionally hideous and horrifying.

"What did you say!?"

Li Li Chengqian was so startled that the chopsticks in his hand fell, and he stared at Empress Zhangsun Chong with wide eyes.

Seeing his reaction, Empress Zhangsun Zhangsun Wuji, standing to the side, felt quite satisfied.

"Your Highness the Crown Prince, I will not hide it from you; this is the result of my many years of investigation."

"You are not the biological son of the current Emperor and Empress, but the flesh and blood of that lowly peasant you spoke of!"

Empress Zhangsun Zhangsun Wuji plunged another dagger deep into Li Li Chengqian’s heart.

"Impossible! Impossible! I am the Crown Prince, a scion of the heavens! I am not the son of some lowly peasant!"