Tang Dynasty: Starting at Xuanwu Gate, this prince is better off not being one.

Upon hearing the sound, Li Yu immediately lifted the curtain of the carriage and looked outside.

On the main street of Zhuque, a soldier was galloping on horseback. His armor was covered with hardened dust and sweat, making him look extremely disheveled. What was most eye-catching was the swan feather on his shoulder.

"It's the urgent messenger from Hongling!" Li Xuanba, who was also observing the situation outside the carriage, exclaimed in surprise.

At this moment, Zhuque Street gradually became noisy, but no matter how noisy it was, the voice of the urgent messenger shouting about the great victory at Hulao Pass could still be clearly heard.

"Yes! Second Uncle is sure to win a great victory this time!"

"Hahaha!"

Li Xuanba laughed loudly, "Let's go! Let's head over there and go to the Crown Prince's residence!"

.........

Inside the Taiji Palace, Li Yuan held the battle report sent from the front with trembling hands, unable to tell whether he was excited or sad.

The excitement stemmed from the fact that Erlang had now accomplished what he himself had failed to do: unify the Central Plains. The tragedy, however, was that the brilliance of himself as the founding emperor had been completely overshadowed by his outstanding son.

"Your Majesty, His Highness the Crown Prince has achieved a great victory at Hulao Pass. Would you like to arrange a banquet to celebrate?"

Beside Li Yuan, Consort Zhang forced a happy expression, but inwardly she was cursing.

For her, there was no doubt that she hoped Li Er would die on the battlefield, because only in this way could the matter of her conspiring with the former crown prince Li Jiancheng to frame Li Er go unpunished.

But now that Li Er has returned victorious, it is a foregone conclusion that he will inherit the throne. Once he takes the throne, he will undoubtedly be purged.

"What are you thinking about? Hurry up and go!" Just as I was distracted, I heard Li Yuan's impatient voice.

"Go?" Where to? Zhang Jieyu was full of questions.

Li Yuan glared at him and said, "Didn't you ask me if I wanted to hold a grand banquet? Go now!"

"Yes! Your Majesty, I take my leave!" Fearing she might offend Li Yuan, Consort Zhang quickly bowed and hurriedly departed.

Watching Zhang Jieyu's figure gradually disappear, Li Yu sighed, "What a foolish woman!"

He couldn't understand why this woman thought that the people she sent to Luoyang could kill Erlang, since even he, the emperor, didn't have that ability.

Thinking of this, Li Yuan couldn't help but worry that when Li Er ascended the throne, he might also eliminate Consort Zhang.

After all, they had been husband and wife for many years. Li Yuan rubbed his forehead in exasperation and realized that now, he could only do as Li Yu suggested and give himself and Erlang a way out.

"Your Majesty, it's time for your medicine!" Seeing that Li Yuan seemed to be having a headache, the eunuch next to him ordered someone to bring over a porcelain bottle.

"I am unharmed!"

Li Yuan waved his hand, signaling the medicine to be taken away. He then turned to the eunuch and instructed him, "Order the Secretariat to draft an edict immediately! Send one copy to the Crown Prince's residence, and another copy urgently to the front lines, to be delivered to the Crown Prince personally!"

After issuing the decree, he thought for a moment and said, "Tell Consort Zhang that there's no need to prepare a banquet; I'm moving to the Eastern Palace!"

.........

The Crown Prince's residence was extremely lively today.

Fang Xuanling, Du Ruhui, Changsun Wuji and others gathered here, and even the great Confucian scholars Xiao Yu and Chen Shuda were also sitting here, all chatting and laughing.

Li Yu arrived early and, after exchanging a few pleasantries with the people, went straight to the inner courtyard.

"Your father has won a great victory at the front. As his eldest son and the future crown prince, shouldn't you be attending to his guests?"

As soon as Li Yu entered, he saw Li Chengqian hanging himself on a tree.

"I'd love to go, but I can't get away..." Li Chengqian pointed tearfully at the group of kids gathered under the tree, "Please come save me!"

Seeing this, Li Yu felt a headache coming on.

Li Er had far too many children. Including Li Chengqian, there were eight in total, each one like a reincarnation of a demon, making Li Yu avoid them whenever he came.

"I've met my cousin in Xiangcheng!"

Before Li Yu could come up with a way to rescue Li Chengqian, a young girl gracefully approached.

"You've come at the right time! Quickly, save your brother!" Upon seeing the girl, Li Yu immediately beamed with joy.

Of all Li Er's children, the one who is the most worry-free is the well-educated and courteous Princess of Xiangcheng in front of me—no, she should be called the Princess of Xiangcheng now.

After she finished greeting Li Yu, her gaze immediately fell on the several demon pills under the tree.

"If you dare to misbehave again, I'll have my mother punish you by making you copy books!"

The elder sister Xiangcheng's words were clearly more effective than those of the elder brother Li Chengqian, so the group of demon pills under the tree immediately scattered like birds and beasts.

Seeing this, Li Yu found it incredibly amusing. Just as he was about to laugh, he felt something tugging at the hem of his robe. Looking down, he saw a little girl of about four or five years old, who was also Li Er's second daughter—Princess Chang Le, Li Lizhi.

"Cousin, didn't Zhao'er come with you?" She tugged at Li Yu's robe, her big eyes full of anticipation.

Li Yu struggled to pull his clothes free from her grasp, then said, "My cousin came in a hurry and didn't bring her with him. How about you go to Prince Zhao's residence to find her when you have some free time?"

Upon hearing this, Chang Le first nodded, then shook her head, and innocently asked, "Is my cousin not coming tomorrow?"

Li Yu nodded, "I have things to do tomorrow..."

Hearing Li Yu say this, Chang Le tilted her head curiously and asked, "Does this mean my cousin will also disappear suddenly like some of my uncle's cousins?"

As soon as he finished speaking, Li Yu was so frightened that he immediately covered her mouth tightly, causing Xiao Chang Le to keep making muffled noises.

"Xiangcheng! Take your sister away immediately!"

.........

After finally getting rid of the bunch of kids, Li Yu and Li Chengqian finally had some free time.

"Why do I get the feeling that you're not very happy about your father's victory?" Li Yu asked, puzzled, seeing Li Chengqian's downcast expression.

Upon hearing this, Li Chengqian sat up in surprise. After looking around and finding no one, he lay back down. "I'm not unhappy, just a little confused..."

"Confused?" Li Yu was still puzzled. "What are you confused about?"

Li Chengqian sighed softly and said, "I was thinking, my father is so brave, if one day he conquers the whole world, what will he do when I become the emperor...?"

Holy crap!

Li Yu was shocked by Li Chengqian's words, so he placed his hand on his forehead: "You're not sick, so why are you thinking about such absurd things?"

"How come it's so far-fetched?"

Li Chengqian said indignantly, "My mother said that once my father ascends the throne, I will be the crown prince, and I absolutely cannot be idle like before..."

"You're thinking too far ahead. Your father is still the Crown Prince, what's the rush?" Li Yu said, somewhat speechless. "Besides, there are always higher mountains to climb, and more brothels to frequent... dangerous buildings. The world is vast, far beyond what you know..."

.........