"Your Highness, something's wrong..."
When Li Xiang came out of Cheng Yaojin's house, he wanted to return to the palace quickly. After all, the time for the grand court meeting was about to begin. If Li Xiang could not go back, it would be difficult to explain the matter.
"What did you find?"
Li Xiang looked at Li San in surprise. He naturally knew that this guy would not talk nonsense. He must have found something unusual when he went in just now.
"The housekeeper, Old Cai, is inappropriate."
Li San had indeed discovered something just now. Old Cai, the chief steward of Cheng Yaojin's mansion, sent out a package in the middle of the night, and someone in the distance took it away. Li San captured that person directly.
This person was wearing a black gauze dress, just like the ones they had met before. These people were all the emperor's men. In other words, Lao Cai was also the emperor's man.
"Where are the people?"
"During the fight, when he was about to be defeated by me, he took poison and committed suicide."
Li San said apologetically that he thought he could capture the man alive, but the man's ability was not that great, but he had a strong will to die bravely. When he was about to be captured, he bit the poison on his teeth and died instantly.
Li Xiang looked back at Cheng Yaojin's mansion. Perhaps there were quite a few people like him in the entire Chang'an City. It was also possible that Cheng Yaojin knew of this person's existence, but just to reassure the emperor, he did not get rid of the old housekeeper.
"What's in the bag?"
"There's nothing too secretive about some of the daily activities in this mansion."
Li San has checked the bag. Although there are more than a dozen messages on it, they are basically normal communications and there is nothing unacceptable. This shows that Cheng Yaojin's home was also under surveillance in the past.
Every country has such internal conflicts, and Li Xiang was not in a position to say anything. Perhaps when he was in that position, he sent out more people than Li Shimin. In order to secure his throne, he must of course hold these powerful people in his hands. In case one day he had no other ideas, Li Shimin could take the initiative.
After returning to the Eastern Palace, Li Xiang had no time to think about these things. The emperor had already informed them that he would meet with the Tubo national teacher Lu Dongzan in the main hall today.
Li Xiang knew that Lu Dongzan was not a simple person. Today was his first public appearance in the court. He might express all his demands, or he might ask the emperor to make a public response. No matter what the matter was, today would not be an easy day.
"There's nothing wrong with Cheng Yaojin's daughter. Although Cheng Yaojin is a big, strong man, I've seen his youngest daughter, Cheng Luan. She's one of the most beautiful women in Chang'an."
Li Chengqian was comforting his son along the way. He thought his son's bad complexion must be due to the marriage granted by the emperor, but Li Chengqian was very satisfied with the marriage. Even if he married the daughter of the five surnames and seven noble families, what would it matter? He still had no military power.
In Li Chengqian's eyes, the daughters of those big families were far inferior to the daughters of military generals. The reason why he wanted Hou Junji's daughter was that he thought he could use Hou Junji's strength to extend his hand into the army. Unexpectedly, after getting married, the emperor was too strict with him and he never found an opportunity.
Now his son has married Cheng Yaojin's daughter, who is only fourteen years old. When the emperor gets old in the future, he will definitely not be on guard against his son. After all, someone has to take over the army. In Li Chengqian's view, his son is the best candidate.
As the two were talking, they happened to meet Changsun Wuji who was walking out of the palace. This man was Li Chengqian's uncle and Li Xiang's great-uncle, and had the highest status in the court. Even though they were the crown prince and the eldest grandson of the emperor, they had to wait obediently and let Changsun Wuji pass first.
"Yesterday's events were outrageous. If word gets out, where will the reputation of the Tang Dynasty be? Even if you oppose this marriage, you shouldn't kneel outside His Majesty's bedroom. This will have a very negative impact."
Changsun Wuji never had the chance to talk to Li Xiang about this matter. In his opinion, this matter was acceptable. Although Changsun Wuji had a bad relationship with the military generals, if Li Xiang could marry Cheng Yaojin's daughter, it would be equivalent to building a bridge between him and the military generals. How could you still go to the emperor to push it?
"Uncle, Xiang'er didn't mean that. Father has always disliked our interactions with military commanders. Although the imperial decree was issued by Father, if suspicion falls on Xiang'er, then wouldn't that be..."
During the time that Li Xiang was away from the capital, the relationship between Li Chengqian and Changsun Wuji eased a lot. After all, Li Chengqian had to handle all the affairs of the Eastern Palace. If even Changsun Wuji didn't give him face, others would look down on Li Chengqian even more.
Recalling that when Empress Changsun was alive, Changsun Wuji and his sister complemented each other and did a good job, so Changsun Wuji gave Li Chengqian a chance.
"Cheng Yaojin fell into that state because he was afraid his daughter wouldn't get married. You guys made this matter so glorious for me. I don't care what you say in front of the emperor. From this moment on, you must treat Cheng Yaojin's daughter well. If I find out that you treat her badly, our relationship as relatives will be over."
Before Li Xiang could say a word, Changsun Wuji had already set the tone for this matter. Li Chengqian agreed readily. Li Xiang didn't know how to face his future wife. To be honest, from the moment he traveled through time, Li Xiang knew that he couldn't decide who to marry, but he still had a glimmer of fantasy in his heart and always wanted to find someone he truly loved. Now it seemed that he could only obey the arrangement.
"Go to court."
Fortunately, Wang De's voice came over, otherwise Changsun Wuji would have to lecture them here for a long time. After everyone lined up, they slowly walked towards the main hall. Li Xiang looked back and saw that Cheng Yaojin's position was vacant. The emperor gave him a month's leave. The Cheng Chumo brothers were not qualified to attend court, so Li Xiang did not see them.
Further away at the palace gate, the Tibetan Prime Minister Lu Dongzan was already prepared. Behind him was a pile of gifts he had sent out. Although the Ministry of Rites had already received the list, today was the day to officially present it to the emperor.
It was a coincidence that when Li Xiang turned around, Lu Dongzan happened to be looking at this side. Their eyes met in the air, and both of them felt the other's murderous intent...
The war has already begun...