Li Chengqian of the Tang Dynasty: Please say long live His Majesty

Chapter 109: Yifeng Qi Clan, Qi Zhixuan (Part )

Susong County Government Mansion, inside the back hall.

Li Chengqian and Zheng Shuang'er stood side by side, bowing solemnly to Zheng Rentai and his mother-in-law Cui, who were sitting in the hall. "Greetings, father-in-law and mother-in-law!"

As Li Chengqian was the crown prince, in the whole world, apart from the ancestors of heaven and earth, only the emperor could accept his worship.

At least the Zheng family can't do it.

So I could only bow.

It’s like getting married.

Cui's eyes were filled with tears. She looked at Zheng Xuanguo and said, "Dalang, why don't you help the prince to his feet?"

"Your Highness." Zheng Xuanguo stepped forward slightly and gave Li Chengqian a light support, and Li Chengqian stood up.

"Your Highness, please go to the front hall. Lunch is ready." Zheng Rentai also stood up and extended his hand to invite Li Tai to go to the front hall.

Li Chengqian glanced at Zheng Shuang'er and whispered, "Then you stay in the back hall and spend some time with your mother-in-law."

"Yes!" Zheng Shuang'er bowed slightly and said softly, "I obey your command."

"Mother-in-law, I will go to the front hall first." After Li Chengqian bowed seriously, he went to the front hall.

……

Cui watched Li Chengqian leave, then breathed a sigh of relief and said, "The prince is very different from what people say."

"Your Highness is a very nice person." Zheng Shuang'er walked up to her mother and leaned against her gently.

"You!" Cui's eyes fell on her daughter's eyebrows, and she nodded slightly, saying, "Mother is most worried that you won't be able to marry into a good family, especially after two failed marriages. That's why mother was anxious and married you to the East Palace as Crown Prince Liangti. In the end, it's all hardship for you."

"What are you talking about, mother? I don't know how many people wanted to marry into the Eastern Palace but failed. Besides, the prince is very good to me and can understand many of my problems." Zheng Shuang'er mentioned vaguely.

Cui looked at her daughter in surprise and said, "The prince allows you to practice martial arts?"

Her daughter has been fond of martial arts since she was young, and her skills are quite good. This is why Cui is worried that her daughter will not be able to marry into a good family.

Moreover, given Zheng Shuang'er's personality, if she was bullied by her husband's family, she might really pick up a knife and kill someone.

It was precisely because of this that when the task of selecting a good and brotherly man for the Crown Prince fell upon her, Cui immediately seized the opportunity.

The rules in the palace can restrain my daughter.

Zheng Rentai was originally a little hesitant, but Cui's words left him speechless.

You go find a better home for your daughter, this marriage is just that.

Zheng Rentai was speechless. It would be difficult to find someone who was more suitable for his daughter than the prince in a short period of time.

Especially since his daughter is getting older, it seems that only Crown Prince Liangti is the most suitable person at the moment.

The facts prove that this is indeed the case.

Facing her mother's incredulous eyes, Zheng Shuang'er nodded shyly and said, "The prince said that I might be able to protect his safety in the future."

Cui was slightly stunned, then immediately understood.

Although the conflict between the Crown Prince and the King of Wei gradually subsided over the past year, it was only because the Emperor went on an eastern tour, the Crown Prince was acting as regent, and the King of Wei followed him to Luoyang. As a result, they were separated from each other and the conflict between them was not as intense.

But who knows what will happen in this kind of situation.

Especially her husband, who was one of the nine vanguards of Xuanwu Gate at that time. Together with Yuchi Jingde, Hou Junji, Zhang Gongjin, Liu Shili, Gongsun Wuda, Dugu Yanyun, Du Junchuo, Li Mengchang and others, he killed Li Jiancheng and Li Yuanji.

This was also the reason why Zheng Rentai was unwilling to marry into the Eastern Palace at first, and he even thought that the emperor would not agree.

But later, when the emperor's decree was issued, Zheng Rentai realized that the emperor really allowed the Zheng family to marry the prince.

During this period, Li Mengchang, Du Junchuo and Gongsun Wuda came to inquire about it many times.

Cui now completely understood that even without mentioning her father's affairs, her daughter's abilities were no less than those of men, and in the eyes of the prince, she was very useful.

As long as it's useful,

Cui's eyes softened, and then she said, "As long as you can live well."

For Cui, although the prince's position was shaken last year, this year, he has won back the emperor's favor and even served as regent for three months. He has received very good reviews from both the court and the public.

Compared with the crown prince, the King of Wei, who only knew how to edit books, did not win the favor of military generals like Zheng Rentai.

……

"Hello, uncle." Li Chengqian bowed seriously to Zheng Renji, the Minister of Works.

Zheng Renji is not only Zheng Shuang'er's cousin, but also the elder brother of Concubine Zheng. According to etiquette, he is Li Chengqian's elder.

Of course, this is just a calculation, and the same applies to Concubine Shu.

But Li Chengqian was the crown prince. According to etiquette, he was the most powerful person in the world, second only to the emperor.

Of course, that's what they say, but in reality, Li Chengqian's actions will be restricted by everyone.

Because if he takes one more step, he will be the emperor.

So everyone was helping the emperor keep an eye on him.

"Your Highness is very polite." Zheng Renji responded solemnly.

"Uncle, there's no need to do this. You and I will see each other every day." Li Chengqian couldn't help but smile.

Li Chengqian held his daily morning court session. Although Zheng Renji, the Minister of Works, didn't say much, he was always present.

"Shiqilang is here too." Zheng Renji turned to look at Zheng Rentai. As the general of the Left Jinwu Guard, he also had to attend court every day.

"But thanks to Your Highness, I'm finally able to stand closer." Zheng Rentai sighed. He didn't complain about losing his actual military power, but instead took it very lightly. The emperor himself was a very disciplined person. Although these veteran ministers held real power, they also needed to gain experience to move up step by step.

If nothing unexpected happens, it will take Zheng Rentai four or five years to get to his current position.

As for the loss of real power, Zheng Rentai didn't care.

Because he knew that the emperor was planning an eastern expedition to Goryeo, and Zheng Rentai would definitely not be left out of such an event.

Military merit can be achieved on horseback.

Zheng Rentai is confident enough to gain more military power.

……

"Your Highness, this is Qi Zhixuan, son of Qi Yu, the governor of Guangzhou." Zheng Xuanguo brought Qi Zhixuan to Li Chengqian and introduced him cautiously, "Brother Qi is from the Qi family of Yifeng, a distant relative of the Zheng family. Brother Qi will be taking the next imperial examination next year and happened to be in Chang'an recently... Yesterday was your wedding, and Brother Qi gave you a generous gift. Xuanguo would like to thank you for that."

Zheng Xuanguo's words made his relationship with Qi Zhixuan clear.

Although the Zheng family and the Qi family are related, they are distant relatives.

The reason why Qi Zhixuan was still in the Zheng family when Zheng Shuang'er returned home was because he had given a generous gift at the wedding yesterday, so Zheng Xuanguo introduced him to Li Chengqian as a return of favor.

Li Chengqian looked at Qi Zhixuan seriously. If even the Zheng family of Xingyang said it was a great gift, how great must it be?

He was wearing a black round-necked robe with water ripples, a red inner skirt, and a black jade hat inlaid with gold beads on his head. It was obvious at first glance that he was a child of a wealthy family.

He has a handsome face, sharp eyes, but a gentle expression, and extraordinary demeanor. Just by approaching him, you can tell that he is someone who is not easy to mess with.

"Your servant Qi Zhixuan, a scholar, greets His Royal Highness the Crown Prince." Qi Zhixuan bowed earnestly to Li Chengqian.

"Today is a family dinner. Qi Qing, there's no need to be so polite." Li Chengqian raised his hand slightly, then casually said, "Qi Qing, what are your chances of success in next year's imperial examination?"

"About 70 to 80 percent." Qi Zhixuan said calmly, but his eyes showed a look of complete certainty.

Li Chengqian looked up at Qi Zhixuan in surprise and asked, "Qi Qing, have you ever taken the imperial examination before?"

"Not really, but my father said that with my level, it's enough to pass the imperial examination." Qi Zhixuan bowed gently, but for some reason, there was a hint of arrogance in his reserved expression.

Li Chengqian looked at him in surprise.

When he first met Qi Zhixuan, Li Chengqian had some good feelings towards him, but now, this good impression suddenly disappeared.

Because Li Chengqian knew that Qi Zhixuan would not be among the candidates for the imperial examination next year.

A man of Qi Zhixuan's outstanding character should have been particularly eye-catching, but his name and presence were not included in next year's imperial examination.

Not only next year, but also the year after.

What's more, in Li Qian's future memory, there was no name of Qi Zhixuan at all.

He had never even appeared in Li Chengqian's sight.

No, not only Li Chengqian, but also Li Tai, and even the entire Chang'an, has never had such a person.

You know, in the previous life, Li Chengqian and Li Tai were fighting fiercely, and all the outstanding people in Chang'an were in their attention, but there had never been a person named Qi Zhixuan.

Such a charming and extraordinary person suddenly appeared this time.

Li Chengqian felt inexplicably nervous.

"Then I wish Brother Qi success next year." Li Chengqian nodded, looked at the wine and food that had been prepared on the side, and said, "Then let's eat and chat."

"Okay!" Qi Zhixuan nodded confidently.

……

In the inner courtyard of the Susong County government office, Li Chengqian looked at Zheng, who was wearing a pink skirt, and asked in surprise, "Why are you here?"

"Your humble servant Zheng Chu greets His Royal Highness the Crown Prince." Lu Hu's widow, Zheng Chu, bowed slightly and said somewhat awkwardly, "I come from the southern ancestral branch of the Zheng family in Xingyang..."

"That's not what I'm asking. Shouldn't you be going back to Fanyang?" Li Chengqian turned sideways and looked at Zheng Shuang'er, Zheng Xuanguo, and his mother-in-law Cui.

Zheng Chu said with a hint of bitterness, "I should have returned to Fanyang long ago, but my late husband's body is still detained in Yongzhou Prefecture, so I can only stay in Chang'an temporarily and wait for the result."

"Duke Chen refuses to release him." Zheng Rentai shook his head slightly. He and Hou Junji had some dealings. Lu Chengqing had approached Hou Junji about this matter, and Zheng Rentai had also approached him, but for some reason, Hou Junji just refused to release him.

Li Chengqian nodded. Inexplicably, Qi Zhixuan's figure suddenly appeared in Li Chengqian's mind.

The person involved in Lu Hu's affair was Fang Xuanling, whose wife was from the Lu family of Fanyang.

Today, when Li Chengqian saw Qi Zhixuan, he subconsciously thought that the other party was coming for him, but now it seems that he might be coming for Zheng Chu.

This is interesting.

Li Chengqian nodded gently, looked at Zheng Chu and said, "Come to the East Palace tomorrow and tell me what's going on here. After all, Lu Qing is a minister of the East Palace. I can't ignore this matter."

"Thank you, Your Highness." Zheng Chu bowed with a happy expression.

Li Chengqian breathed a sigh of relief, turned to look at Zheng Rentai and said, "Father-in-law, mother-in-law, I have returned to the palace now. The Imperial City and the Eastern Palace are only a stone's throw away. If you want to see Shuang Niang, you can come anytime."

"I understand." Zheng Rentai bowed seriously.

……

The carriage swayed slowly towards the direction of the palace.

Through the curtains of the rear window, Li Chengqian could clearly see Qi Zhixuan.

Qi Zhixuan was holding a long sword with a red tassel in his hand, and just standing there he was extremely eye-catching.

(End of this chapter)