Tiantang

Chapter 163
Chapter 171

Zhang Xuan returned home from the East Palace and brought back ten beautiful court ladies gifted by Li Heng. The turmoil seemed to subside temporarily.

But Donggong Li Heng's attitude angered Zhang Qing and Zhang Liangdi's grandmother, Dou Shi.The Dou family was born in a famous family, and several empresses of the Tang Dynasty have been born in one family, and the Dou family is also the concubine of the old emperor Li Longji, and he is very popular in front of the emperor.

The Dou family is nearly seventy years old, and in the Tang Dynasty, he is already considered a super-long-lived old birthday star.

Although he is old, Dou's body is healthy, hearing and eyesight is bright and energetic.

Hearing that his favorite little grandson, Zhang Qing, was beaten, Donggong Li Heng didn't give the Zhang family any face.

Elderly people generally protect their shortcomings, and Dou's is no exception.

Seeing the scars on her grandson Zhang Qing with her own eyes, Dou was furious, and immediately took people to Zhang Xuan's General's Mansion by car, planning to demand justice from Zhang Xuan.

When Mrs. Dou arrived, Zhang Xuan happened to be returning from the East Palace.In line with the principle of respecting the old and loving the young, Zhang Xuan was more polite to Dou who came aggressively, and patiently explained a few words to Dou.

But Mrs. Dou couldn't listen to it at all, and kept clamoring for Zhang Xuan to give justice to Zhang Qing and the Zhang family.If not, you will have to go to the palace to find the old emperor to decide.

Zhang Xuan gradually became impatient.This old woman is really domineering and protective, making it difficult to communicate at all.

Zhang Xuan let out a long breath, stared calmly at Dou who was sitting across from him, who was still furious, and said softly, "What does the old lady want Zhang Xuan to do, just say it straight, don't need to hide it."

Dou waved her hand arrogantly, her snow-white hair trembling slightly, "I won't make it difficult for you... In this way, you send those two little girls to Zhang's mansion and accompany Zhang Qing face to face. The son is just exposed, and the old body will not blame the past."

In Dou's opinion, they are just two maids. Could it be that the Dou family, the Zhang family and Zhang Liangdi's face are not worthy of such two lowly maids?
The so-called old, mature, treacherous and cunning, this old lady of the Dou family looks arrogant and domineering, but she is actually quite scheming.She promised to come to the door in person at an old age, not afraid that Zhang Xuan would not give in.Firstly, she is not an ordinary person, but the elder of the current emperor, and the emperor wanted to take care of her a lot; secondly, she is very old, even if Sa Sapo made strict demands on her, Zhang Xuan couldn't do anything about her.

Zhang Xuan couldn't help laughing slightly, he waved his hand, "The old lady is really calculating. Zhang Qing went to my door to bully me, and asked Zhang to come to the door to apologize... May I ask the old lady, what if Zhang doesn't agree?"

Zhang Xuan tried his best to control his inner anger, unwilling to provoke the old woman verbally.It's not that he's afraid of her, but it's unnecessary. No matter how angry he is, he can't lose his composure when facing such an elderly man.

"Huh, since you don't agree, then don't blame the old man for turning his face and denying people. The old man will go to the palace and ask His Majesty to make the decision! Can the grandson of the old man be beaten by anyone? In Chang'an City, there is really no one. How dare you do it alone! You, General Zhang, are really brave enough to bully me, the Dou family and the Zhang family, even though I am old, I will fight to the end!"

Dou's case came up.

At her age, Zhang Xuan was a little surprised that her voice was so loud and powerful.

Zhang Xuan's expression remained unchanged, and he sat as firmly as Mount Tai.

He smiled calmly and looked at Dou who was in a panic, "Madam can do whatever she wants. If that's the case, Zhang will send me off respectfully!"

With that said, Zhang Xuan stood up and bowed to Dou without any haste.

Zhang Xuan didn't like it.Dou was furious, she lived such an old age, even the old emperor Li Longji gave her some face.But Zhang Xuan treated her like this!

Dou glared at Zhang Xuan angrily, turned her head and walked out slowly.

Zhang Xuan followed closely behind with a smile, leading her all the way to the gate of the mansion.

Dou didn't enter the palace, who did she go to find when she entered the palace?Now the old emperor is lingering on the sick bed, sometimes comatose and sometimes awake, in a half-dead state, and doesn't see his foreign ministers at all, so what if she goes?
But Mrs. Dou couldn't get out the breath in her heart, she couldn't get back her family's face, so how could she let it go.

She went back to the mansion and had a seizure for a long time, and then went to the East Palace by car.

Li Heng was feeling irritable, and Dou's arrival would undoubtedly add fuel to the flames.

Li Heng listened to Dou's whining with a sullen face, without saying a word, but glancing at Zhang Liangdi who was with him with gloomy eyes.

Zhang Liangdi's heart trembled, she sensed Li Heng's anger, she didn't dare to be negligent, she quickly got up and walked behind Dou's back, smiled and lightly beat Dou's back, and said softly, "Old Madam, don't you want to Angry. If you want to say it as a granddaughter, you can't blame General Zhang for this matter!"

"The two maids favored by General Zhang will definitely become concubines in the future. Brother Qing doesn't know what to do, so he went to the door to ask for it. How could he not be angry? Old Madam, it's Brother Qing's fault. Granddaughter, let’s forget it.”

When Zhang Liangdi was talking, she felt very bitter in her heart.She thought to herself, don't make more trouble when you are old, if you keep making trouble, your granddaughter's position will be lost.

Dou rolled her wrinkled eyes, and said dissatisfiedly, "Then my good grandson, your own brother, let someone beat you up for nothing like this? Where are you going to put the face of the old man and the Zhang family?"

Zhang Liangdi felt aggrieved, but couldn't speak out.She thought to herself, how much is face worth?If I become a queen in the future, will the Zhang family still lack power and status?If I'm thrown into the cold palace, what's the use of fighting for this kind of face?

Zhang Liangdi gritted her teeth, knelt down in front of Dou with a miserable expression, choked up, and said, "Old Madam, for the sake of my granddaughter, let's calm things down. It was a misunderstanding."

Dou sighed lightly, and quickly stood up to help Zhang Liangdi.

Although she is an elder, but Zhang Liangdi is the wife of the crown prince, the master and minister are different, she cannot be born to receive the great gift from Zhang Liangdi.

Li Heng watched coldly from the sidelines, and at this moment he forced a smile and said, "Yes, old matriarch, this is a misunderstanding. Just now Zizhan came to the palace to plead guilty to this palace. Zhang Qing was young and impulsive, but Zizhan is young and energetic." Sheng, the two of you had a little bit of trouble, but it's actually not a big deal!"

"It's such a small matter, it's really not worth making a big fuss, old matriarch, go back, children and grandchildren have their own blessings, and at your age, the most important thing is to take care of yourself!"

Dou's complexion changed, and the corners of his mouth twitched, but he didn't hold on any longer.He saluted Li Heng, then turned and left seemingly indignantly.

Zhang Liangdi hurriedly saw them off.And Li Heng hesitated for a moment, then followed out.

This is for Zhang Liangdi's face.After all, Dou is Zhang Liangdi's biological grandmother, and can also be regarded as the elder of the prince.

Zhang Liangdi noticed the details of Li Heng's behavior, and felt relieved.

Her eyes were red and her voice was choked with sobs, "Chenqie's family doesn't know how to advance or retreat, causing trouble to His Highness, Chenqie feels guilty and restless!"

Li Heng patted Zhang Liangdi's shoulder lightly, and sighed, "It's not because I'm unkind, but because this matter is really difficult for me. Don't say that Zhang Xuan is not guilty, even though Zhang Xuan For some faults, I can only tolerate one or two. After all, Zhang Xuan has contributed to my support and worked hard for this palace. For a little bit, this palace..."

"Okay, I don't blame you anymore. However, from now on, you have to be careful when you do things in the inner palace. It's not easy for our East Palace to come to this day..." Li Heng sighed, turned his head and left slowly.

……

……

Dou Shi left the East Palace but did not leave directly, but went around and turned back, quietly entered the East Palace again, and went straight to Zhang Liangdi's bedroom.

Zhang Liangdi was a little surprised, and rushed out to greet her.

Looking at her granddaughter, Dou's eyes flickered, she hugged her in her arms, and said in a low voice, "Good granddaughter, you have been wronged."

"I went to the General's Mansion once, and then came to the East Palace, obviously to save face for the Zhang family, but actually it's for you, the child."

"The prince relies heavily on Zhang Xuan. Naturally, he refuses to blame him. The old man knows it well. The old man is not a person who does not know how to advance or retreat. It is just that the old man heard that the prince executed Yu Chaoen in public today, so he guessed that the prince has a suspicion of you. ...The old man came this time to give you a step down—what does the crown prince say?"

"He said he didn't blame his granddaughter anymore. But he asked her granddaughter to be careful in her actions in the future..." Zhang Liangdi just now realized her grandmother's good intentions, and couldn't help being extremely moved, she threw herself into Dou's arms and began to sob softly.

"Good granddaughter, don't cry..." Dou's brows raised, "The prince is right, you have to be more cautious in your actions in the future. Now, the prince has not ascended the throne, everything needs to be patient."

"This time, the old body backed down a step, and Zhang Xuan owed the old body a favor. The old body will come to him in a few days and ask him to promise to fully support you in becoming a queen in the future." Dou smiled lightly, "Is it because I like beautiful maidservants? Well, I will give him two more now!"

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Dou Shi came to make such a fuss, but Zhang Xuan didn't take it to heart.After Mrs. Dou left, he immediately entered a courtyard where Zhang Sanchi lived alone in a corner of the General's Mansion.Zhang Sanchi took a few handymen and craftsmen to seize the time to develop gunpowder, and there were already some clues.

In fact, it is not difficult to develop gunpowder according to a certain formula.The difficulty lies in the practical application. Zhang Xuan asked Zhang Sanchi to develop some simple firearms that can be equipped for military use in the shortest possible time using the ideas and blueprints he gave.

After walking around Zhang Sanchi's gunpowder workshop, he left.After leaving this courtyard, a soldier came to report, "General, the Tubo prince Chisong Dezan is here to see you!"

"Chisong Dezan?" Zhang Xuan was taken aback.He who is familiar with Tang history knows that this Tubo prince will be the Tubo king a few years later.In the history of Tubo, together with Songtsan Gampo and Chizu Dezan, he was called the three great kings of Tubo, and he was the son of Princess Jincheng, the princess of Tang Dynasty.

(End of this chapter)