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

Chapter 305: Sucking the Abscess for His Father, the Filial Son of Ancient Times (Part )
"Your Highness!" Li Anyan and Li Junxian stood in the room and bowed to Li Chengqian, saying, "We haven't found the Prince of Jin."

Li Chengqian, dressed in a bright yellow python robe, looked at the sky outside and asked, "How long until we set off?"

"We're almost there, but Prince Jin is not here..." Li Junxian's face looked a little ugly.

Although they are now escorting the prince north, the real responsibility of protection actually lies with him, the Right Guard General.

Although Li Anyan was the General of the Left Guard, his position in the army was higher than that of the Generals of the Left and Right Guards.

Now that Prince Jin has disappeared inexplicably, all the responsibility lies on him.

"Your Highness!" Chang Sunxiang walked out quickly and bowed to Li Chengqian in confusion, saying, "Your Highness, someone just reported seeing the Prince of Jin and three guards running north."

"North, Dingzhou?" Li Chengqian frowned and asked uncertainly, "Did Zhinu abandon the main group and head north alone?"

Li Junxian's expression changed slightly: What does King Jin mean by this? Does he not trust him, Li Junxian?
"Your Highness!" Li Anyan suddenly spoke, and just as he was about to say something, he suddenly closed his mouth and lowered his head.

Li Junxian turned sideways and frowned at Li Anyan, as if...

"If you have something to say, just say it directly. Is there anything else you want to hide in the current situation?" Li Chengqian waved his hand.

"Yes!" Li Anyan said cautiously, "Your Highness, I suspect the King of Jin intends to imitate the story of Duke Huan of Qi, Xiaobai."

"Duke Huan of Qi?" Li Chengqian was startled when he heard this, then his face darkened and he said, "No need to wait, let's set off immediately."

Li Chengqian strode out, and Changsun Xiang's eyes were equally deep as he hurried to follow.

Li Junxian pulled Li Anyan, who was about to catch up, and asked in a low voice, "Brother Li, what does the story of Duke Huan of Qi and Xiaobai mean?"

Li Anyan turned to look at Li Junxian, and then said with a serious expression: "Duke of Wuchang, what I said today came out of my mouth and entered your ears. Remember not to let anyone else know."

"Yes!" Li Junxian's face became serious.

"When Duke Xiang of Qi died, the State of Qi was without a ruler. Prince Xiaobai and Prince Jiu received the letter and returned to their country at the same time, but Prince Jiu traveled slowly, while Prince Xiaobai rushed back to Qi day and night. In the end, Xiaobai became the king of Qi, and was known as Duke Huan." Li Anyan was halfway through his words when Li Junxian's face suddenly turned pale.

He was also a descendant of an aristocratic family. How could he not know what happened before Duke Huan of Qi ascended the throne? It was just that Li Anyan only mentioned the story of Duke Huan of Qi Xiaobai in seven words and said nothing more.

Li Anyan's words were obscure, but Li Chengqian understood them instantly.

Li Junxian lowered his head slightly. These people are scheming!
But in an instant, Li Junxian's expression became completely serious.

Duke Huan of Qi, Xiaobai, ascended the throne ahead of schedule because Duke Xiang of Qi had already died. And now, the King of Jin has also suddenly headed north ahead of schedule. Could it be that Your Majesty...

"Let's go!" Li Junxian strode towards Li Chengqian.

Just after they left, a team of black-clad guards took the two twin maids in the room to a carriage.

At this moment, the postmaster was also stuffed in the carriage, his hands tied and his mouth blocked. When he saw the two maids who were unconscious but their clothes were intact, his face turned completely pale.

……

The thick smoke gradually dissipated, and when Li Chengqian and others arrived at the Hutuo River, the floating bridge on the river had been completely burned.

"Prince Jin!" Li Junxian looked at the scene in front of him and couldn't help but grit his teeth.

Li Chengqian turned and glanced at him, then looked at Li Anyan and said, "Where is the next bridge closest to this one?"

"The downstream is vast and the floating bridge is very far away. However, there is another bridge more than ten miles upstream. However, that would mean taking a long detour, and the round trip would take at least half an hour." Li Anyan's face became serious.

Now they are already two quarters of an hour behind King Jin. If anything else happens, they will probably be delayed for more than an hour.

Li Chengqian looked up at the sky and said softly, "According to this calculation, even if we can reach Dingzhou City tonight, I'm afraid we won't be able to see Father tonight."

"The gates of Dingzhou City will be closed after dark. Your Highness can still force the gates open with an imperial decree. However, if His Majesty is resting in the palace, Your Highness may not be able to see Him." Li Junxian lowered his head slightly, and a chill was already in his heart.

Now, if His Majesty is fine, they will just not be able to see His Majesty for one night, but if something really happens to His Majesty, then the Prince of Jin may forcibly ascend the throne during this night.

Moreover, the Prince of Jin is not that simple either. He has the support of the Qinghe Zhao family and the Hongnong Yang family. If he really ascends the throne by force, the Crown Prince and he will probably be in big trouble.

"There's a boat!" Chang Sunxiang's voice suddenly sounded from the side, and everyone couldn't help but look upstream.

Suddenly, a dozen large and small boats came from upstream. An old man in the front shouted to the crowd, "Dear guests, when we saw the floating bridge burned, we knew that pedestrians must be blocked, so we came to help. If you have any spare money, please leave some."

Distinguished guests, even when they saw that Li Chengqian and his group were wearing horses and armor, these people remained calm and did not show any awe at all.

"Good!" Li Chengqian nodded with a smile.

Li Junxian was still in shock until he and Li Chengqian boarded the boat, crossed the river, and reached the other side.

What happened was that when the prince wanted to cross the river, a boat came from upstream.

Could this be destiny?

...After crossing the river, Li Chengqian asked someone to leave a bag of gold, and then led everyone to Dingzhou.

There were only two hundred people in their group, so they crossed the river very quickly. There were more guards, ceremonial guards, and carriages behind them, so they crossed the river much more slowly.

The group rushed to Dingzhou City. It was sunset and there was still a quarter of an hour before the city gates closed.

After passing through the city gate, everyone went directly to the palace in the north of the city. Just before they arrived at the palace, the evening drum sounded in the city.

Everyone stopped their horses in front of the emperor's palace.

Li Anyan quickly dismounted and handed the token to the gatekeeper. He said calmly, "Right Gate Guard General Li Anyan and Right Guard General Li Junxian have been ordered to escort the Crown Prince to the Emperor... When did the Prince of Jin arrive?"

"Half an hour ago." The guards at the gate immediately bowed and made way.

Li Chengqian then slowly urged his horse forward. The other guards stayed outside the palace. Only Li Anyan, Li Junxian, Changsun Xiang, and four Qianniu guards escorted Li Chengqian into the palace.

Although it is just a temporary palace, it is like a small city.

There are separate courtyards on the left and right, and palaces in front and back.

Countless officials were constantly coming and going inside, handling official documents, and everything was in perfect order.

When Li Junxian saw this scene, he completely relaxed. The emperor was fine.

For a moment, he felt immense hatred towards Li Zhi.

If he hadn't left the group and wandered around, this wouldn't have happened.

At the same time, he felt a little gloating. The emperor was in good health, the prince was back, and he had to settle the score with Prince Jin for his sudden departure from the team.

As soon as the group arrived at the central hall, Changsun Wuji hurried over to greet them.

Li Chengqian raised his hand slightly. Li Junxian, Li Anyan and Changsun Xiang stopped immediately. Only Li Chengqian came forward quickly and was the first to bow to Changsun Wuji and said, "Uncle!"

Changsun Wuji waved his hand and turned around, saying, "Prince Jin has already gone in. I just requested an audience, but the eunuch said that it was not an important matter and that he should not be disturbed, so I am waiting for Your Highness."

Li Chengqian followed Zhangsun Wuji to the back hall, saying, "Originally, my nephew should have arrived earlier, but a floating bridge burned when we were crossing Zhaozhou, so we were delayed for a while."

Changsun Wuji stopped immediately, frowned, and asked, "The floating bridge on the Hutuo River."

"Yes!" Li Chengqian nodded and said, "It burns very quickly!"

"In other words, in addition to drugging the prince, the Prince of Jin also burned an important bridge in Hebei?" Changsun Wuji's face had completely gloomy.

"It can't be considered drugging, it's just that the amount of tonic used was large, which increases the potential risks." Li Chengqian explained briefly, saying, "Zhi Nu didn't have any overly malicious intentions..."

"But in the end, he used medicine to plot against his brother. One day..." Changsun Wuji suddenly stopped talking and walked quickly towards the backyard.

Li Chengqian sighed inwardly, then hurried to catch up.

……

In the backyard of the palace, Li Chengqian and Zhangsun Wuji came to the outside of the other palace together.

An eunuch stepped forward to stop him, saying, "Duke Zhao, His Majesty has ordered that no one should be spared unless there is a reason."

With a "slap", Zhangsun Wuji slapped the eunuch in the face, then said with a cold look: "The prince is here, don't you know how to greet him?"

The guards and eunuchs around all lowered their heads.

"Let's go!" Changsun Wuji took Li Chengqian directly into the hall.

Inside the central hall, the imperial couch was on top, but there was no trace of anyone on it.

A faint sound was heard from the inner hall on the east side.

Changsun Wuji took Li Chengqian and headed straight towards the inner hall on the east side. The eunuch guarding outside the door tried to stop them but was forced back by Changsun Wuji's cold eyes.

Zhang Ananda, who was standing at the palace gate, noticed the movement and was slightly startled when he saw Zhangsun Wuji and Li Chengqian. He then lowered his body and bowed, turning to look inside the palace and whispered, "Your Majesty, the Duke of Zhao and the Crown Prince have arrived."

Li Shimin, lying on the bed, turned his head subconsciously and saw Changsun Wuji and Li Chengqian standing at the door.

At this time, Changsun Wuji and Li Chengqian also saw everything clearly in the hall.

The emperor was lying on the bed with the clothes on his back lifted up. Li Zhi lay on the emperor's back, lowered his head and sucked the abscesses on the emperor's back.

With a "puff" sound, Li Zhi spat a mouthful of pus into the bowl beside him, then turned around and looked at Li Chengqian. His face was a little pale and his expression was friendly, but Li Chengqian could see a hint of pride deep in his eyes.

Proud, yes, proud.

Sucking out the pus for his father, this is what the filial sons of ancient times did best!
(End of this chapter)