Chapter 97: Li Chengqian learns of his origins and lets out a near-maniacal roar

"Sigh!"

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

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

"Mr. Wei, there is no need for such anxiety. The Crown Prince is still young, and his heart is actually quite 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 Ruhui stroked his beard, appearing unconcerned.

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

It was simply a matter of taking it one step at a time.

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

Nighttime.

The Duke Prefecture.

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

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

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

"Alright, you may all withdraw for now."

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

The main hall instantly fell silent.

"Don't leave yet!"

"Keep playing the music, keep dancing!"

"Uncle, why did you make them leave?"

Li Chengqian's expression was one of dissatisfaction.

"Hehehe, Your Highness the Crown Prince, there will be plenty of time to watch the singing and dancing later."

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

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

Upon hearing there was a good story to be told, 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, known for a time as a match made in heaven."

"Later, this Prince was ordered to lead an expedition. Due to 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."

"Helpless, the Prince had no choice but to order the Princess to be settled in a city not far behind the lines."

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

"Later still, the Prince suffered a defeat and had to lead his troops in flight. Poorly, 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 of 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 swirled, as if the heavens themselves were warning that the birth of this child would bring great misfortune."

"With two cries, the wind stopped and the clouds cleared; 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 woman's child."

"That 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 couldn't bear to part with him, deciding on the spot that this was her own child."

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

"Later, the Prince returned in triumph, brought the Princess and their son back to the prefecture, and cared for him meticulously until this day." Zhangsun Wuji spoke very slowly, enunciating every word as clearly 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. He was born a Prince, only to end up the son of a lowly peasant." After hearing the story, Li Chengqian shook his head and sighed repeatedly, though his tone carried disdain for the peasant woman.

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

He felt those people were nothing but lowly subjects who could never ascend to the halls of elegance.

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

Zhangsun Chong smiled meaningfully, looking at Li Chengqian as he asked.

"Familiar? Why would I find it familiar? Why is your speech so strange today, you brat?"

Li Chengqian rolled his eyes and downed the nectar in front of 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!"

Zhangsun Chong laughed wildly.

"Crack!"

Just at that moment, a bolt of lightning suddenly flashed across the sky.

The light shone upon Li Chengqian's terrified face, making it look exceptionally hideous and horrifying.

"What did you say!?"

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

Seeing his reaction, 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!"

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

"Impossible! Impossible! I am the Crown Prince, a scion of the imperial bloodline! I am not the son of some lowly peasant!" ===== CHAPTER 99 =====