Chapter 120: Unfair to Gao Yang?

"Kid, you certainly have clever tricks."

Inside a palace, Chen Yan, holding Xiao Sizi's hand, was about to bid farewell to Li Yuan, while Li Yuan stared at him with a lingering gaze.

Earlier, whatever they had discussed by the lake, he hadn't asked anyone to eavesdrop, yet he still felt uneasy and hid in the shadows to watch.

At first, the two seemed to be getting along fine; Li Yuan could see that Li Lizhi was smiling sincerely.

Then the kid stopped being honest, actually hugging his precious granddaughter inside his Da An Palace.

And his beloved granddaughter didn't refuse, leaning against Chen Yan's chest—a truly coddled little bird.

That was Li Yuan, after all; if Li Shimin saw it, he'd probably die of anger.

Chen Yan said awkwardly, "It's just that I just exchanged feelings with Lizhi; the retired emperor should understand."

Li Yuan laughed, "You were calling her Princess Highness before, why is it Lizhi now?"

Chen Yan couldn't answer that, so he pretended not to hear.

Li Yuan wasn't in the mood today to meddle in Li Lizhi's affairs, so he waved his hand, "Alright, you go back first. If you want to meet later, find a place yourselves."

"Don't come to my place anymore."

"Then I shall take my leave."

When Chen Yan left with Sizi, he couldn't help glancing back at the elderly man seated above.

Although, as the retired emperor, Li Shimin and Empress Changsun both respected him greatly.

But because of the Xuanwu Gate incident and his recent years of house arrest, his life hadn't been good.

In a sense, Li Yuan… was also a pitiful person.

Chen Yan sighed softly, holding Xiao Sizi's hand as he walked away slowly.

That old man was pretty decent; maybe I'll help him when I get the chance.

"......"

Within the Imperial Palace, in a scenic pavilion.

Li Shimin and his wife, having just finished lunch with Chengyang Little Princess, were sitting together chatting leisurely, very relaxed.

At that moment, Wushe, holding a letter, stepped lightly before Li Shimin and respectfully said, "His Majesty, news from Da An Palace has arrived."

"Oh?" Li Shimin's eyes lit up as he reached out to take the letter from Wushe and began reading.

These years, Li Yuan often confided the original events to others and asked for their opinions.

Li Shimin actually knew all of it.

Today Chen Yan went to Da An Palace; given Li Yuan's temperament, he'll probably keep asking.

He wanted to see how that brat Chen Yan would answer.

Beside them, Empress Changsun opened her mouth as if to speak, but after a moment decided to wait until Li Shimin finished reading.

In the letter, the times Chen Yan entered Da An Palace, what he did, and what he discussed with Li Yuan were recorded almost perfectly.

"Huh?" Li Shimin glanced twice, then said with surprise, "That kid actually dares to answer!"

His gaze grew serious as he kept reading, and saw Chen Yan using Fang Xuanling's request to marry the princess as a hint about Fang's lingering affection.

Later, he directly pointed out their original predicament.

Li Shimin sighed, "The events back then were never that simple."

"However… Zi An's words do make sense."

Empress Changsun heard this and relaxed a little.

Like Li Shimin, she also understood Li Yuan, knowing he often liked to ask others for their views.

She feared Chen Yan might say something that would anger Li Shimin.

Now it seemed Chen Yan hadn't misspoken.

But just as she exhaled, Li Shimin suddenly widened his eyes and shouted angrily, "Damn it, that brat actually dares to lay hands on my Lizhi!!"

"Guanyin Maid, this time you must not stop me; I will definitely give him a lesson!"

A moment of silent hush.

Li Shimin turned to look at Empress Changsun, only to find her utterly calm, still carefully arranging Chengyang Little Princess's hair.

"Guanyin Maid…"

Empress Changsun finally looked up, "His Majesty, what is your command?"

Li Shimin: "......"

Previously, when he said he would punish Chen Yan, Empress Changsun always pleaded endlessly, urging him not to treat it like a child's matter.

Today, he clearly showed such anger, yet why didn't Empress Changsun intervene?

She, while arranging her daughter's hair, said, "Er Lang, just as Father Emperor said, matters of the young should be left for the young to resolve themselves."

"We've been married for years; I, as your consort, am not unaware that you are actually quite pleased with Zi An."

"Two young people have just revealed their feelings; a bit of intimacy isn't abnormal, right?"

"You back then…"

"Alright, alright, stop." Li Shimin hurriedly cut her off, fearing she'd continue.

Immediately after, his gaze complex, he said, "I… am worried about Gao Yang."

"If I don't act angry enough, what will Gao Yang think?"

"She may be a bit spoiled, but after all I've watched her grow up since childhood."

"Now, because Lizhi also fell for Zi An, she's being forced to share Zi An, which is unfair to her."

"Er Lang, what does unfairness matter?" Empress Changsun said with a hint of sigh, "When has there ever truly been fairness in this world?"

"Back then you led men to sacrifice their lives to seize the empire, yet you didn't even obtain the Crown Prince title, did you?"

"You and I have already given Gao Yang many chances, there is a marriage contract, and we have repeatedly tacitly allowed her to leave the palace to seek Zi An, openly supporting her."

But she was still outdone by Lizhi, who managed to get Zi An and Lizhi together.

Then what kind of fairness does she still want?

Li Shimin thought about it and felt it made some sense.

Gao Yang was able to leave the palace so many times smoothly, of course because they tacitly approved.

Otherwise, how could a princess with an engagement possibly leave the palace so easily?

It's a shame; despite giving Gao Yang so many chances, she just isn't up to the task.

Then what else is there to say?

Empress Changsun said with a smile: "Er Lang, instead of thinking about Gao Yang, you should consider how to find a reason to let Lizhi marry over there."

I believe that, with Lizhi's intelligence, she will surely find a way to solve Gao Yang's problem herself.

We, uh, just don't need to worry.

Although she hasn't seen the letter, she can still guess a bit.

Li Yuan originally said to let Chen Yan go to the Palace of Great Peace to see him and have a chat, and Empress Changsun guessed that Li Yuan wanted to create some opportunity for Chen Yan and Lizhi.

Now looking at it, today the two likely have already been intimate, perhaps they have mutually agreed.

Things have come to this; Empress Changsun can do nothing else but support.

After all, no matter what, Lizhi is still her biological daughter, while Gao Yang always remains a step removed in relation.

People, after all, are all selfish.

In a situation where there is room for maneuver, Empress Changsun would definitely be the first to support Gao Yang, but since the situation cannot be changed, she will naturally favor her own biological daughter's side.

Li Shimin rubbed his forehead, "This really gives me a tough problem..."

"......"