Tang Dynasty: A Guide to Avoiding Pitfalls for Li Er at the Start

Chapter 73 A Distinguished Guest Returns to Chang'an
"Go quickly and call Mother!"

Wu Shun tugged at his younger sister, lifted her skirt, and ran towards the mansion.

"Who were those two? They ran away when they saw us coming?"

Just as Li Tai was about to leave the carriage and lifted the curtain to look at the scenery outside, he happened to see this scene.

"They are women, so naturally we should avoid them." Li Ke, who was in the same carriage, chuckled, inwardly thinking that Li Tai was stupid and clumsy.

Although he didn't say it, his tone revealed his thoughts, and Li Tai immediately glared at him with displeasure.

Just as the two brothers were about to make their move, Li Chengqian, who was reading a book, suddenly put the book down.

"We've arrived at the master's residence. If you cause any more trouble, the master will punish you, and I won't care."

"Hmph, I don't need your help!" Li Tai snorted twice, put his hands on his waist which had become even fatter, and was about to climb out of the carriage.

But as soon as he poked his head out, he obediently shrank back and sat up straight.

“Brother is right.”

He had just peeked out when he met Wen He's gaze, and he immediately felt his hair stand on end.

Seeing his expression, Li Chengqian and Li Ke immediately understood why he was acting this way.

In Chang'an, besides his mother and father, only Wen He could frighten him so much.

Who told them that their father was backing this gentleman up?

There were more than a dozen Xuanjia guards beside them; even if the three brothers attacked together, they wouldn't be able to get close.

"I think I just saw Li Tai?" Wen He asked in surprise.

Qin Qiong and Cheng Zhijie also turned around and saw the approaching carriage. The two exchanged a glance.

"It's not just Prince Wei and his group; Duke Jiang and that monkey are here too." Cheng Zhijie's expression immediately showed displeasure when he mentioned the latter person.

"Yizhen, don't be rude. He is now the Duke of Liang." Qin Qiong shouted, and Cheng Zhijie reluctantly shut his mouth.

"The Duke of Liang?"

Wen He was somewhat puzzled.

Is it Fang Xuanling who has arrived?
That's not right. He remembered that Fang Xuanling was only granted the title of Duke of Liang in the eleventh year of the Zhenguan era.

Did I remember it wrong?

Just as Wen He was puzzled, Hou Junji stepped down from behind the carriage where Li Chengqian and the others were.

His attendant shouted, "The Duke of Liang has arrived!"

There were no military ranks or official positions listed before it, only the title of Duke.

But that was enough for Hou Junji.

Even compared to Jing Junhong's subsequent series of titles, such as "General of the Left Guard, Minister of War, and Duke of Jiang," Hou Junji's title of "Duke of Liang" seemed particularly desolate.

But he himself didn't seem to care.

"Isn't he the Duke of Lu?" Wen He was a little confused.

Cheng Zhijie didn't hear what he said, but Qin Qiong did, but he didn't make a fuss. Instead, he explained.

"During the court meeting the other day, His Highness issued an edict of self-reproach, taking full responsibility for the crimes of the late Crown Prince and the Prince of Qi's rebellion, pardoning Hou Junji's crimes, and bestowing upon him the title of Duke of Liang."

Which one is cool?

"Liangzhou's coolness".

hiss!
Wen He gasped in shock.

For some reason, he suddenly thought of Lan Yu.

But it must be a coincidence, since he hadn't told Li Er about Lao Zhu and Lan Yu.

The group approached Wen He.

The three children respectfully bowed to Wen He as his teacher.

"Meet sir."

"Greetings, Your Highnesses."

Since there were outsiders present, Wen He still had to give the three of them face.

But seeing him so polite for the first time, the three boys felt a little uncomfortable.

"I have met the Duke of Liang and the Duke of Jiang."

Hou Junji's title was already on par with Cheng Zhijie and Qin Qiong, all belonging to the second-class dukedom, a title bestowed by the vassal states of the Zhou Dynasty.

Jing Junhong belonged to the third rank, with a county as his title. If he didn't hold the official title of Minister of War, he would have to pay his respects to Hou Junji.

"Greetings, young master." Although Hou Junji was pleased, he was also aware of the young master Wen's status in front of the Crown Prince.

Moreover, he remembered that after His Highness the Crown Prince spoke with this young man, he suddenly decided to have him kill the former Crown Prince and the Prince of Qi.

I should thank him.

Needless to say, Jing Junhong's life was saved by Wen He, so he specially returned the favor with a generous gift and said, "His Highness will also be coming today, but a little later. It is said that a 'distinguished guest' has returned to Chang'an, so he will be a little later with the Duke of Wu."

"Um, Your Highness, if you don't have time, you don't really need to come." Wen He suddenly had a strange feeling that the air in Chang'an City seemed to be filled with the smell of blood.

The person who could get Duke Yuchi Gong of Wu to go and greet him.

If he wasn't mistaken, this distinguished guest's surname should be Li.

at the same time.

Outside Chang'an City, a troop of cavalry suddenly arrived.

There were about ten men, all burly and strong, dressed in gleaming armor, and their warhorses were clearly no ordinary horses.

The leader, with a heroic appearance, sharp eyebrows and bright eyes, looked up at Chang'an City with an undisguised smug expression.

"Let's go into the city first and pay our respects to His Highness the Crown Prince."

He led his men to the city gates, only to find them tightly shut and the soldiers on guard as if facing a formidable enemy. He was puzzled.

Upon seeing their arrival, the soldiers on the city wall immediately became alert. One of the officers, upon seeing the newcomers' attire, was greatly surprised.

The leader was actually wearing the robes of a prince.

"I am Li Yi, and I have been ordered to return to the capital to report on my duties!"

Upon hearing his name, the soldiers on the city wall looked at each other in bewilderment.

The officer on duty's expression changed for a moment, but he quickly calmed down.

"So it is the Prince of Yan. Recently, there has been news that the Turks have invaded Lingzhou, so His Majesty has ordered Chang'an to be under martial law. I hope the Prince of Yan will forgive me."

These words had been given to us long ago.

If Li Yi comes to Chang'an, we must trick him into entering the city.

Li Yi had no doubts; he had indeed received news some time ago that the Turks had suddenly gathered their forces.

He then nodded and told the people on the city wall to open the gate.

The city gates were wide open, and the officer on duty went down to greet them.

"Your humble servant greets the Prince of Yan."

"No need for formalities. I am going to pay my respects to His Highness the Crown Prince, so I cannot concern myself with etiquette. Will these brothers be able to come into the city with me?" Li Yi looked down at him, one hand gripping the hilt of his sword.

"Natural nature."

Na Lang felt a chill run down his spine as he was stared at, and quickly made a gesture of flattery, inviting him to enter.

Li Yi immediately beamed with joy, took out a string of copper coins from his pocket, and casually tossed them at him, as if throwing bones to a stray dog ​​on the roadside.

"For your reward."

The money hit Lang Jiang in the face, but he smiled and bent down to pick it up from the ground, thanking Li Yi, "This humble one thanks the Prince of Yan for the reward."

"Let's go." Li Yi didn't even glance at the general.

He rode away, unaware of the gloomy expression on Na Lang's face.

After he left, the general immediately ordered the city gates to be locked.

His Majesty has decreed that he come to Chang'an to assist the Crown Prince in ascending the throne.

Although he is now the Prince of Yan, he is still a general in the field. If he can assist the Crown Prince in the future, he can ensure his family's wealth and honor for three generations.

It would be best to send another daughter into the palace. Even if she doesn't become empress in the future, she can still be the head of the four concubines.

If we have another child in the future, with him around, that child might very well become the third emperor of the Tang Dynasty.

"Ok?"

He and his group hadn't walked far when suddenly a group of people appeared in front of them.

There were seven or eight carriages, and the one leading them was none other than his old nemesis.

"What's this dark-skinned fellow doing here?"

The person who arrived was none other than Yuchi Gong.

With him there, the King of Qin would certainly be there.

"The Crown Prince has not eliminated the King of Qin?" Li Yi found it somewhat unbelievable.

He had received a letter from Li Jiancheng long ago, saying that after Li Shimin was eliminated, the sixteen guards of Chang'an would be handed over to him.

But this King of Qin is still here.

"But was it the Prince of Yan in person?"

Upon hearing the sound, Li Yi looked up and saw that the curtain of the carriage behind Yuchi Gong had been lifted, revealing a familiar face.

It was Li Shimin.

Special thanks to: Machima the Demon of Domination for the 500 reward.

Thank you to the following readers for their monthly tickets:
Peerless Prince, Before Death_Free and Easy, Handsome Brother and Black General, Book Friend 150816192419876, Immortal Departure from the Vast Ocean, Moon in My Heart.

——

This chapter isn't filler anymore, right? It was originally supposed to be two chapters, but I've combined them into one.


(End of this chapter)