Datang: Just been appointed as the crown prince, the counterattack system is here

Chapter 134 Li Shimin: As long as I am on the throne, he will always be the crown prince! [Please subscribe]

Jiangling celebrates the New Year with great enthusiasm, and Chang'an also celebrates the New Year with great enthusiasm.

But the way the two sides celebrate the New Year is very different.

Although His Majesty Li II lifted the curfew in Chang'an, allowing the people to go out and play at night, and even hosted a banquet in the palace to entertain the ministers, such banquets usually consisted of watching singing and dancing, drinking, bragging, and then everyone returned home when the time was up.

It seems lively, but it is actually boring.

As for Emperor Li II and his family, they would start to stay up all night to celebrate the New Year after finishing their meal.

At this time, Ganlu Palace.

Li Shimin was staying up to celebrate the New Year, but compared to his cheerful expression at the banquet before, his face now looked like two different people, and he was dissatisfied with everything.

Empress Zhangsun, who was standing by, gently persuaded him: "Second brother, what are you angry about? Who has offended you again?"

In private, Empress Changsun and Emperor Li II addressed each other more casually, without paying as much attention to etiquette as in formal occasions.

Seeing that His Majesty Li Er was still sulking after her questioning, Empress Changsun smiled and approached him, put her arm around his shoulder, and said softly, "Second brother, the children are still waiting for you in the palace. It's New Year's Day, and you have such a gloomy face. Don't scare them."

After saying this, he casually picked up a cup of tea and placed it in the hands of His Majesty Li Er. He pinched his tense shoulders and continued softly, "I understand that you are angry with Cheng Qian. Whether as the crown prince or as a son, he should express his blessings and congratulations."

"but."

Then she changed the subject and chuckled, "Don't you know what kind of personality Cheng Qian has? He's just a little kid who doesn't know how to express his feelings. Look at the things he sent from Jiangling. Which one of them isn't a token of his filial piety?"

Li Shimin snorted a few times upon hearing this, picked up the teacup and drank it all in one gulp. His tone was still a little annoyed as he said, "That's his filial piety towards you, not towards me! You don't know, he gave gifts to all the civil and military officials in the court, and I was the last to know. Even this tea was exchanged for me by Changle!"

At this point, Li Shimin placed the teacup heavily on the table, his tone already filled with murderous intent: "It must be my father who instigated Cheng Qian to do this! He just wants to use Cheng Qian to anger me, to torture me, to avenge the loss of his eldest and third brothers!"

Empress Zhangsun shook her head helplessly. "Second brother, you are right. Cheng Qian's actions are indeed inseparable from our father. However, today is Chinese New Year. You can't just ignore your other children because of this matter, right? There are other concubines outside the door!"

After saying this, Empress Changsun stroked her bulging belly and bent down to wipe the water stains splashed by Li Shimin when he dropped the teacup.

Li Shimin saw this and quickly raised his hand to help Empress Zhangsun up, saying, "Guanyin, you are pregnant now, don't move rashly. The imperial physician said..."

"Well!"

Before Li Shimin could finish his words, Empress Zhangsun blocked his mouth with a finger and smiled, shaking her head: "Don't say unlucky words during the New Year. I will give birth to a son for you. You must govern the country well and bring prosperity and peace to the Tang Dynasty."

"Ah!"

Hearing what Empress Zhangsun said, Li Shimin couldn't help but laugh: "The baby hasn't even been born yet, how do you know it's a son?"

"I've already given birth to two sons, so I naturally know!"

"really?"

"The real can not be fake, the fake can not be real!"

Empress Changsun smiled and joked with His Majesty Li Er, then reminded His Majesty Li Er:

"Although Cheng Qian is young, he is very smart. He knows what is right and what is wrong. Even if there is an impact from his father, it won't be a big one!"

"Well, you are right!"

Li Shimin nodded in agreement, then sneered, "Father thought that if he and Cheng Qian went to Jiangling, Cheng Qian would continue to serve him? But he forgot that as long as I am on the throne, Cheng Qian will always be the crown prince, no matter how smart he is!"

"Look at you, why are you getting so serious with Cheng Qian again? Besides being the crown prince, he's also your son! Look how well he governs Jiangling? He's only eight years old! Can't you just praise him?"

"It's precisely because he's my son that I can't praise him casually! Have you forgotten my elder brother and Yuanji? After just a little achievement, they were praised to the skies by their father and the ministers. What happened in the end?"

"Everyone's ambition is higher than the sky!"

As he spoke, Li Shimin slowly stood up from his seat and said as a matter of course:

"My son does well, it's his duty. He should be a role model for all children in the world! If he doesn't do well, then he doesn't deserve to be the crown prince! I won't be like my father, unable to distinguish between the crown prince and his son!"

"No, second brother."

Empress Changsun was completely speechless after hearing what Emperor Li II said.

But His Majesty Li Er felt that his words were not wrong, and instead warned Empress Zhangsun: "Guanyinbi, Chengqian is a man who will not do anything without profit. Don't be fooled by his things. As the saying goes, a loving mother often spoils her child. I don't want you to... Hey, Guanyinbi, why are you leaving? I haven't finished what I'm saying yet!"

"I am about to give birth, so I will not stay here with Your Majesty!"

Having said that, Empress Changsun rushed out of Ganlu Palace without saying a word.

Li Shimin was slightly stunned, and then he was shocked: "Isn't it only five months? It's premature! Hey, Guanyinbi, slow down, Imperial Physician! Quickly call the Imperial Physician!"

On the other side, the princes and princesses stayed up all night in the Daji Hall.

"Sister Lizhi, were these things sent by the Crown Prince from Jiangling?"

Li You, holding a candy in his mouth, looked at the snacks on the table with excitement and asked Li Li.

Li Lizhi raised her pretty face and said proudly, "Of course! Our Crown Prince is amazing! Not only has he managed Jiangling perfectly, he's also created many things that Chang'an doesn't even have!"

Then he pointed to something not far away and asked, "Do you know what that is?"

"What?" The princes and princesses all looked at it intently.

I saw that the thing was colorful and looked like a lantern, but it was wrapped tightly in paper. Even if you lit a candle inside, it would not illuminate very far.

But then Li Ke smiled and said, "Sister Lizhi, don't keep us in suspense. Tell us now."

"Third brother, it's not that I don't tell you, this thing is the New Year's gift from the eldest brother, the crown prince, to mother. You have to wait until the New Year's bell rings and then show it to mother according to the instructions!"

Li Lizhi said helplessly.

In fact, she was also curious about what that thing was.

But Li Chengqian repeatedly warned in the letter not to move it or get it wet, and to wait until the New Year's bell rang, and then to have a palace guard find an open place and put it in front of Empress Changsun according to the instructions he gave.

However, when Li Tai heard Li Lizhi's words, he sneered: "My royal brother likes to be mysterious and treat everyone as fools!"

"How do you interpret this, fourth brother?" Li Ke looked at Li Tai with some confusion.

Who is your fourth brother? When Li Chengqian is not around, I am the boss! The little fat man glared at Li Ke unhappily, then walked up to the thing and pointed at it, saying, "This thing is made in a fancy way. It looks like a lantern, but it's not a lantern. It's painted on the outside. In my opinion, this should be a Kongming lantern!"

"Kongming Lantern?"

The princes and princesses were all puzzled, and then nodded in sudden realization.

Just now Li Lizhi said that they would wait until the New Year bell rang and then release it for Empress Zhangsun to see. Doesn’t the “release” here refer to the Kongming lantern?

What else can we release besides Kongming lanterns? There is no river in the palace, and this thing doesn’t look like a boat, so we can only release it into the sky.

And apart from the Kongming lanterns, there seemed to be nothing else flying in the sky.

Thinking of this, the princes and princesses immediately lost interest.

What’s so special about Kongming lanterns?

It’s just a little more beautifully painted, and once it flies into the sky, it’s all the same!
These princes and princesses have played with everything, so naturally they wouldn't care too much about a Kongming lantern.

When Li Lizhi heard what Li Tai said, she became furious: "What do you know? Who told you this is a Kongming lantern?"

"Don't you study, sister?" Li Tai asked Li Lizhi in amusement, then sighed with a mature air: "Alas! Father still dotes on you too much!"

"No! The emperor favors you! Look how fat you are!"

"What did you say!?"

Although the little fat boy is fat, he doesn't like others to say that he is fat.

Especially in front of so many younger brothers and sisters.

However, before the little fat man and Li Lizhi could start a quarrel, a voice came from outside: "Your Majesty, the Queen has arrived!"

As soon as these words were spoken, all the princes and princesses obediently stepped aside and saluted His Majesty Li Er and Empress Zhangsun: "Your sons, I greet you, Father, and Mother!"

"Yes!" Li Shimin nodded with pretended dignity, then glanced at all the princes and princesses. Except for Li Chengqian and the baby in swaddling clothes, all other children were there.

Although he couldn't name some of his children, seeing the family reunion brought a gratified smile to his face. He said, "Starting tomorrow, you'll be another year older. From now on, you must listen to your father and mother even more. Do you understand?"

"My son, please remember your father's teachings!"

All the princes and princesses said in unison.

Li Shimin nodded with satisfaction, then looked at Empress Changsun.

Although what happened just now was just Empress Changsun quarreling with him and not a real premature birth, he was still frightened and did not dare to mention Li Chengqian to Empress Changsun again.

However, when Empress Zhangsun saw him looking at her, she ignored him and instead encouraged the other princes with a smile: "The Tang Dynasty is vast, and you all have the opportunity to showcase your talents. I hope you can, like the Crown Prince, dedicate yourself to the Tang Dynasty and benefit the people!"

"This"

The princes and princesses hesitated for a moment and turned to look at Li Shimin.

Li Shimin glanced at Empress Zhangsun with a complicated expression, then reluctantly agreed: "The Queen is right. You should not only listen to your father and mother, but also work hard for the Tang Dynasty and benefit the people!"

"Your son will remember your mother's teachings!"

The princes and princesses spoke in unison again.

The next moment, the New Year’s bell suddenly rang.

Led by His Majesty Li Er and Empress Zhangsun, all the princes and princesses came to the square outside the palace.

At this time, the square was filled with countless lanterns that had not yet been lit.

According to the tradition of previous years, when the bell rang, the nobles in the palace would light a lantern and pray for blessings for the coming year. These lanterns would be sent to Chang'an City for exhibition until the Lantern Festival.

Now, the square was filled with nobles from the palace. Emperor Li II and Empress Zhangsun worked together to light the largest lantern, and then the nobles from the palace lit their own lanterns in turn.

However, just as His Majesty Li Er and Empress Zhangsun were about to light the largest lantern, Li Lizhi ran over and said crisply, "Father, Mother, the Crown Prince said he has a special gift for you, and he wants to show it to you at the first moment of the New Year!"

"Ok?"

Li Shimin frowned and asked unhappily, "What gift?"

"Your Majesty, I don't know either, but the Crown Prince instructed me to do so. Could you please let me put the Crown Prince's gift first?"

"Nonsense!"

Although Li Shimin doted on Li Lizhi, lighting lanterns was a tradition that had been passed down for many years and could not be easily changed. Besides, there were so many people watching. If a joke was made, all the good wishes for the New Year would be ruined.

This is not only a private matter of the royal family, but also a national affair.

However, Empress Zhangsun became interested and asked with her beautiful eyes, "Lizhi, are you saying that Cheng Qian brought me a special New Year's gift?"

"Yes, mother! The prince said that you will definitely like this gift!" Li Lizhi said sweetly.

Empress Changsun smiled slightly and was about to speak when the little fat boy suddenly came over and said dissatisfiedly, "Mother, don't be fooled by my elder brother. It's just a Kongming lantern. Apart from its beautiful appearance, there's nothing special about it!"

"Kongming Lantern?"

Empress Zhangsun was stunned for a moment. Before she could speak, Li Shimin spoke first, "Someone, bring that thing up and let us see it!"

"Yes!"

Soon, Yunduan brought people and carried the thing over.

The nobles who were watching from all sides came over one by one and talked about it in a flurry.

"What is this? It looks like a lantern, but it doesn't..."

"The painting above is quite nice, but if it were placed in the sky, it wouldn't be anything special."

"Yeah, they're not as good as the lanterns we light!"

"."

Hearing these nobles' mixed comments about the gift her son gave her, Empress Changsun frowned slightly and then looked at Li Shimin.

Li Shimin couldn't tell what it was, but it didn't look like a Kongming lantern. So he thought for a moment and said, "How about lighting the lantern first and then releasing it to see?"

"it is good!"

Empress Changsun smiled happily.

He didn't think there was anything wrong with lighting the lanterns first. After all, lighting lanterns was a tradition of the Tang Dynasty royal family. Even if he trusted his son, he didn't want to destroy the tradition easily.

Soon, as the huge lantern was lit, other lanterns were also lit by the nobles.

The entire small square becomes particularly beautiful under the illumination of the lanterns.

At this time, Li Shimin waved his hand, and the wine, drinks and delicacies for the lantern viewing were brought up by the palace servants.

Li Lizhi never forgot Li Chengqian's instructions. After carefully studying the instructions given by Li Chengqian, she ran to Li Shimin and Empress Zhangsun again.

"Father! Mother, can you let me go now?"

Li Shimin picked up a glass of wine, looked at Empress Changsun, and said with a smile: "Let it go!"

"Great!"

Li Lizhi jumped up happily, and then, as everyone looked at the "clown", she called on the imperial guards to carry the thing to an open place, took a torch, and lit a string.

I saw the line sizzling with flames.

Then, with a "bang", a strong flame rushed into the air and exploded into thousands of auspicious colors in the dark sky.

"Wow--!"

Someone exclaimed.

The wine glass in Emperor Li II's hand fell to the ground with a thud.

Everyone was stunned by this scene.

"Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!"

The continuous explosions made the entire sky colorful.

Li Lizhi jumped up excitedly: "Mother! Look! These are fireworks! Such beautiful fireworks! Mother——!"

Although her voice was very loud, Empress Changsun could not hear her voice at all under the fireworks.

However, none of this matters. What matters is that Empress Changsun was already moved to tears under the light of the fireworks.

At this moment, the countless lanterns on the ground have dimmed in front of these fireworks.

"hateful!"

The little fat boy took a bite of the chicken leg angrily, feeling extremely depressed.

Although he had experienced Li Chengqian's power many times, the more successful Li Chengqian was, the more uncomfortable he felt, even more uncomfortable than killing him.

The other princes, including Li Ke and Li You, clenched their fists as if they had made up their minds.

As for the nobles in the palace, they looked at Empress Changsun with envy.

Especially Little Yang, Big Yang, and the Yin Fei who had a dark face throughout the whole process.

In short, an unprecedented fireworks feast reflected many faces with different expressions, drawing a complicated end to the first year of Zhenguan that was about to pass.

In the second year of Zhenguan, it came.

　I didn't finish writing it last night, but I finished it today, and there's more to come in the evening! In addition, please give me some monthly tickets and recommendation tickets.
　　
　
(End of this chapter)