The rebellious grandson of Emperor Zhenguan of the Tang Dynasty: Please, Your Majesty, be called Cro

Chapter 171 Are you trying to humiliate me by refusing to let me attend court?

Princess Chang Le looked at her younger sister's pale and helpless face and felt a pang of heartache. She slowly raised her cool fingertips and gently wiped away the tears on her cheeks.

His body, weakened by a long illness, was so feeble that even raising his hand was somewhat sluggish.

She opened her mouth, wanting to offer some more words of comfort. But the words ultimately turned into a soft sigh.

Since the Empress Dowager's death, this family seemed to have lost its last vestige of warmth: first, the Prince of Qi rebelled; then the eldest brother, Chengqian, was stripped of his title as Crown Prince and imprisoned at home; the fourth brother, Qingque, was exiled to Qianzhou; the nephew, Li Xiang, began to become extreme and rebellious, contradicting his father, the Emperor; and now, this fifteenth-born sister is about to be sent to the grasslands—

It was as if a curse truly hung over the entire Li family, causing her brothers and sisters to suffer misfortune one after another.

"Ah Ning, this is our duty as women born into an imperial family, and it is also our destiny as royal women." Li Lizhi carefully organized her words and spoke softly to Princess Li Wanning of Xinxing.

"Women in ordinary families toil and suffer in managing household affairs, rarely finding peace and leisure."

"You and I were born into the imperial family and have been treated with luxury since childhood. In reality, we are being served by the common people."

"Since we are supported by the people, how can we sit idly by and watch them suffer? A marriage alliance with a woman is enough to bring decades of peace to the borderlands—it's not that Father is heartless, it's just that—"

"My father did it for the greater good—"

"Then—why me of all people?" Princess Xinxing sobbed, her voice filled with incomprehension and resentment towards her father, Li Shimin. "I didn't want to be born into an imperial family, nor did I want to understand any grand principles."

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"If it's all about fate, why was my elder sister able to marry into the Changsun family and stay in Chang'an, while Jinyang was able to enjoy the company of my father?"

"I only see my father a few times a year, so why must I travel all the way to the barbarian lands to marry an old man covered in stench?"

Li Lizhi remained silent. The words Princess Xinxing had unintentionally uttered were like a knife piercing her heart: as a daughter favored by her father, she truly had no right to use such lofty principles to persuade her younger sister.

Father Emperor—he is indeed biased. But, are the princes or princesses who are favored truly living well?

The fourth brother, Qingque, enjoyed the emperor's favoritism, but in the end, he was exiled to Qianzhou with a belly full of resentment.

And she, favored by her father, was allowed to marry the eldest son of the Changsun family and stay in Chang'an—did she really live a good life?

Princess Chang Le, Li Lizhi, coughed lightly a few times and continued to gently comfort Princess Xinxing. Princess Xinxing, still sobbing, looked up at Li Lizhi and said, "Sister, could you—"

"Could you... ask my brother-in-law to put in a good word for me in court?" Princess Xinxing's eyes were filled with hope.

"My brother-in-law is the eldest son of the Changsun family, and my uncle Changsun is a high-ranking official in the court. Perhaps—"

Li Lizhi looked desolate. Her husband, Changsun Chong? She herself hadn't seen him for a long time.

She and Changsun Chong were cousins ​​since childhood and childhood sweethearts. When the emperor arranged their marriage, everyone thought it was a sign of favoritism towards her, the eldest daughter of the legitimate wife. This marriage was believed to bring harmony to the family and strengthen the ties between the Li and Changsun families.

However, after marriage, the princess was separated from her husband by regulations. She lived alone in her residence, and her husband was not allowed to enter the inner courtyard at will.

After giving birth, she was bedridden for many years, her heart heavy with sorrow, and her health deteriorated day by day. At first, Changsun Chong would often come to visit her, but as time went on, perhaps he grew tired of her. Although he still maintained a respectable facade, the couple rarely saw each other anymore.

What seemed like a perfect match to outsiders ended up leaving only a desolate and lonely house.

Thinking of this, Li Lizhi felt a pang of sorrow in her heart and sighed softly, "Ah Ning, a king's word is law, the marriage alliance has already been decided."

"As long as Father Emperor does not change his mind, let alone Chonglang, even if Grand Tutor Changsun rashly steps forward, it will certainly be useless."

The light in Li Wanning's eyes dimmed slightly, but she still refused to give up. Clutching her sleeve, she choked out, "Then—elder sister, could you please persuade Father Emperor for me? Father Emperor loves you the most, perhaps—"

Li Lizhi initially wanted to refuse, but seeing the trembling tears in Li Wanning's eyes, she remained silent for a long time before finally letting out a soft sigh.

"Fine, I'll accompany you to the palace. I dare not promise whether I can persuade Father Emperor, but I will do my best to speak on your behalf."

Upon hearing this, Li Wanning's eyes, which had been dim for a long time, suddenly lit up.

The maids in the mansion immediately prepared a carriage drawn by two horses, its curtains draped with plain-colored gauze, and it came to a steady stop in front of the mansion gate.

Li Lizhi was frail and unable to walk for long, so she was helped by Princess Xinxing to slowly board the carriage. The wheels rolled over the bluestone slabs and slowly drove out of Chongrenfang, heading towards the imperial city.

Before long, the tall, vermilion gates of the palace came into view. But beneath the gate, one could faintly hear arguing, with imperial guards blocking the way with their spears, refusing to let anyone pass, and the situation remained deadlocked.

The carriage slowly came to a stop. A maid from the princess's residence lifted the curtain and reported, "Your Highness, there seems to be someone blocking the palace gate. Should we try to enter through another gate?"

"Cough cough—help me out of the carriage." Li Lizhi recognized one of the voices and instructed her maid.

"Oh dear, Your Highness! His Majesty is still in court and has no time to see you. Why don't you understand?" a slightly shrill voice said helplessly. Li Lizhi recognized the voice; it belonged to Wang De, the chief eunuch beside her father.

"Busy with state affairs?" Another clear and bright voice asked, sounding quite young. It was none other than Li Xiang!

He snorted coldly and said, "Don't call me the imperial grandson. I am an official in the Ministry of Rites!"

"Since I have been appointed as an official of the Ministry of Rites, why am I not allowed to enter the palace to participate in the administration of state affairs?"

"His Majesty is considerate of your young age and has specially decreed that you are exempt from attending court—" Wang De explained.

"Absurd!" Li Xiang straightened his sixth-rank official robe, stepped forward from the tower, and spoke with righteous indignation.

"The court system is established for the public good; how can it be created because of certain individuals, or abolished because of personal connections?"

"How can a system be abolished because of someone else?"

"This is the way to bring chaos to the country! To prevent me from attending court is to treat me as a petty person who prioritizes personal gain over public duty, and it is an insult to me!"

Are you trying to humiliate me?

"I—this—how dare this old servant—" Wang De's forehead was covered in fine sweat.

Why are you not allowed to attend court?

Isn't it because we're afraid you, little rascal, will disrupt the important court meeting with foreign powers?

A few days ago, Li Xiang heard that the Tang Dynasty was going to send Princess Xinxing to Xueyantuo for a marriage alliance. He immediately picked up his brush and wrote a memorial.

The officials couldn't stop them.

Li Xiang was a gifted orator, and his memorial was written with heartfelt sincerity and exquisite language. After reading it, Li Shimin was so moved that his fingertips trembled, his face turned ashen, and he almost suffered a relapse of his old ailment, slamming a bowl of wild rice he was eating onto the imperial desk.

He then immediately instructed Wang De not to inform Li Xiang of the court assembly the following day. Even if Li Xiang did find out, he was to be prevented from entering the Taiji Palace to attend court.

The Xueyantuo envoy, Tulishe, was scheduled to pay homage to the emperor on that day. If this brat were to disrupt things, wouldn't the court lose face, and might even cause further border troubles?

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