Thief Emperor

Chapter 964 Crown Princess

Qian Zhong came from the anti-theft team.

Back then, he was the "Red Flower Double Sticks" in a mountain stronghold in Xuanzhou. He could be said to be the best fighter in the entire stronghold. However, he was captured alive in two rounds by the young Emperor Li. From then on, he followed Li Yun wholeheartedly.

He was also one of the first brigade commanders of the Yuezhou Army.

At that time, because the names of these brigade commanders who came from the anti-theft team were somewhat vulgar, Li Yun asked Queen Xue to change their names one by one. Qian Zhong was one of them.

He originally had no name, only a nickname called Gou'er, which was later changed to Zhong by Xue Yun'er and has been used until now.

Qian Zhong was one of the most down-to-earth people among the old members of the anti-theft team. He worked his way up from brigade commander to captain and then to captain. For a long time before that, he served as Deng Yang's deputy in the Jinling Army.

He was among the first batch of people to be conferred titles in the early years of the Zhangwu period and was granted the title of Marquis.

In the third year of Zhangwu, he was sent to Jiannan Road by Li Yun to take over the post of General of Chengdu. In a blink of an eye, more than four years passed, and he successfully resigned from the position of General of Chengdu and returned to Luoyang.

Coincidentally, he has a daughter of the right age.

Although in Li Yun's heart, both his eighteen-year-old son Li Yuan and Qian Zhong's fifteen or sixteen-year-old daughter were still too young, but each era has its own standards.

For this era and the current situation, the prince is the heir to the throne and the foundation of the country. If the prince gets married and gives birth to the third generation of the Li Tang royal family, then this dynasty can be said to have taken root.

It also allowed those people in the court to completely put their minds at ease.

You know, since the fifth year of Zhangwu, the court officials have been writing to Li Yun, requesting the appointment of a Crown Princess, in an endless stream like snowflakes.

Hearing Qian Zhong's words, Li Yun smiled and said, "The women in Sichuan have open personalities. It wouldn't necessarily be a bad thing if I really learned their personalities."

"Besides, we are both from Xuanzhou, so we are from the same hometown."

Emperor Li patted Qian Zhong on the shoulder and said with a smile: "You just returned to Luoyang, so there is no need to rush to report to the Privy Council and the Ministry of War. Rest at home for a few days. I happen to be free tomorrow."

"How about this, tomorrow, you bring your family to the palace and walk around so that our two families can meet."

It was no secret that Emperor Li was looking for a daughter-in-law from among the old members of the Anti-Theft Team. Qian Zhong also knew about this. Hearing this, he was a little excited. After taking a deep breath, he said, "I will follow the orders of my superior. I just hope that my daughter will not upset my superior and the queen."

“There is no such saying.”

Emperor Li said sternly, "How many of our old brothers are still around? Isn't it normal for us to visit each other?"

At this point, he sighed and said, "In the past few years, those civil officials have been writing to me every day, asking me to choose a princess for the prince. I am fed up with it. This matter should be done as soon as possible. Let's take a look at your daughter first. Even if it doesn't work out, our two families are still old friends."

Qian Zhong lowered his head and said: "My name was given by the queen, how can I be considered a family friend of the upper family..."

"The Qian family."

He took a deep breath, bowed his head and said, "I will always be a retainer of the higher position!"

Li Yun pulled his sleeve and said with a smile: "Aren't you a minister of the court now?"

"Okay, okay, stop talking nonsense."

Emperor Li said, "You can go back first. I will wait for you in the palace tomorrow afternoon."

Qian Zhong bowed his head deeply, replied with a "yes", and then retreated respectfully. When he walked out of the Ganlu Palace, he was thinking about what the emperor had just said. When he was lost in thought, someone patted him on the shoulder.

Qian Zhong suddenly came back to his senses, only to hear the man opposite him say unhappily: "Big guy, why don't you recognize me?"

Qian Zhong looked carefully and recognized the person in front of him. He bowed his head quickly, clasped his fists and saluted, saying, "Your subordinate greets the Prince of Jin!"

Li Zheng hit him on the shoulder and scolded him with a smile: "What do you mean by prince or not? You bastard, you are a general now, but you didn't even greet me when I met you. I thought I recognized the wrong person just now!"

Li Zheng was also the founder of the anti-theft team. Besides, he and Qian Zhong were of the same age, so they were naturally very familiar with each other.

Qian Zhong gave a bitter smile and quickly bowed to beg for mercy: "Please forgive me, Third Master. I was just thinking about something and really didn't see you."

Li Zheng looked at him, then looked at the Ganlu Palace behind him, and said with a smile: "Have you met His Majesty?"

Qian Zhong nodded and hummed.

Li Zheng smiled and said, "Your Majesty has been missing his daughter-in-law like crazy these past two years. I guess he wants to see your daughter too."

He joked: "If you become the father-in-law of a king in the future, don't forget us old brothers."

This sentence made Qian Zhong's face turn red. Seeing him waving his hands, Li Zheng laughed.

"Alright, alright, I have to go see His Majesty. I won't entertain you any more."

"It's rare to see you back. I'll go and have a drink with you in a few days when I have some free time."

Qian Zhong quickly clasped his fists and responded, "I'll treat you to a drink in a few days."

Li Zheng smiled, said goodbye to Qian Zhong, and walked into the Ganlu Palace. He came to the emperor, saluted the emperor, and said, "Second brother, the matter over there has basically been completed. Bury according to the rites of a duke." Li Yun put down the brush in his hand, looked up at Li Zheng, and asked, "Did Wu Yuanyou say anything?"

Li Zheng coughed and said, "Wu Erlang is mainly asking about what to do with his nephews and nieces."

"Nothing else was said."

Li Yun stood up, stretched his muscles, and then said calmly: "No need to interfere too much."

"The new dynasty is now in full swing. Even if someone wants to cause trouble, it won't be a big deal. If they really want to cause chaos, the court will punish them according to the law."

"It's their family, so we can't be blamed."

Li Zheng smiled and said, "That's what I told Wu Er as well. I said the court wouldn't interfere too much with the Wu family, but I gave him a few warnings."

At this point, Li Zheng paused and continued, "With Wu Er's cunning means, he will naturally help the court to restrain and manage his nephews, and even..."

Prince Jin looked at Li Yun and whispered, "This branch of Wu Da will most likely die out in Wu Er's hands."

"No more descendants..."

Emperor Li said with a smile, "That's not necessarily true. The Emperor of the Wu family has a lot of thoughts on his mind."

Li Zheng was stunned for a moment, then reacted and said, "He left a seed in Xichuan."

Li Yun did not deny it, nor did he continue to speak. Instead, he said, "Youyan has already started fighting. During this period of time, there must be undercurrents in Luoyang City. All kinds of people will move around. You in Luoyang Prefecture must pay more attention and put more thought into it."

Li Zheng nodded and said yes, then looked at Li Yun and said, "Second brother, now that Zhang Sui has resigned, Jingzhao Prefecture is short of a Shao Yin, you must fill the position for me as soon as possible."

He said with a bitter face: "Otherwise, I will be too busy."

Li Yun looked at him and laughed.

"Don't worry, the new Shao Yin has been decided and will be sent to you in a few days."

Upon hearing this, Prince Jin blinked his eyes and asked with a smile, "Who is it?"

"You'll know in a few days."

…………

The next day, in Hanyuan Hall.

Emperor Li and Empress Xue sat together on the main seat in the Hanyuan Hall. Qian Zhong's family entered the Hanyuan Hall cautiously, then knelt before the emperor and empress, and kowtowed to them.

Behind Qian Zhong, a little girl in light blue first knelt down, then raised her head and looked at Emperor Li and Empress Xue with curious eyes, then quickly lowered her head.

Li Yun looked at the family, then smiled and said, "Today is a family dinner, no need to be polite, everyone get up, everyone get up."

When the whole family stood up, Li Yun and Queen Xue set their eyes on the daughter of the Qian family. After looking at her for a few seconds, Li Yun turned his head to look at his wife.

Empress Xue also turned her head and looked at Li Yun, then looked at Qian Zhong and said with a smile: "In the past few years, there have been wars, and General Qian has been running around. After the founding of the country, he finally settled down and went to Chengdu to work again."

"It's been a long time since we last met."

Qian Zhong was respectful and whispered to Empress Xue, "Yes, I have been thinking of your kindness all these years and never dare to forget it for a moment."

"What kindness?"

Empress Xue smiled and said, "It was just nonsense back then. If I had known that the general would be granted a title of nobility and become a general today, I should have been more serious."

Qian Zhong looked serious and bowed his head, saying, "Your Majesty, the name you gave me couldn't be better."

Empress Xue did not continue the conversation, but looked at the girl behind him and asked, "What a pretty girl, what's her name?"

"My name is Suzhen."

Qian Zhong lowered his head and said, "At home, I call you Susu."

Empress Xue waved to Qian Suzhen and said with a smile, "Come, come, come closer."

Qian Zhong looked back at his daughter. His daughter was not stage-frightened either. She walked forward confidently, knelt in front of Li Yun and Queen Xue, and saluted.

"Kowtow to your majesty, bow to my empress."

Queen Xue stood up herself, helped her up, looked her up and down, and finally looked back at Li Yun.

The couple looked at each other and smiled.

(End of this chapter)