Tang Dynasty: Taking the Empress Dowager to a brothel, Father Emperor, what a coincidence!

This left not only Cheng Yaojin stunned, but also Qin Qiong.

"They won't even tell the Crown Prince? Then whose side am I supposed to take?"

"It is precisely because even the Crown Prince is unaware of this that you, this hidden agent, can play a crucial role at the critical moment."

Du Ruhui said in a low voice,

"Although Your Highness is as cunning as a demon, you are still young after all."

He's surrounded by people who just go along with him now. If he encounters a real dead end, who will break the deadlock?

On the surface, you, Cheng Zhijie, must still be that scoundrel who is only loyal to His Majesty.

After you return to Chang'an, eat and drink as you please, and continue to act like a spoiled child.

"Even if necessary, you must take the lead in impeaching the Crown Prince in court."

Cheng Yaojin stared wide-eyed, pointed at his own nose, and asked:

"You want me to go and scold the Crown Prince?"

"right."

Du Ruhui said with certainty,

"The harsher your criticism, the more His Majesty will trust you. And the more secure your military power will be."

Only in this way, when a major upheaval truly occurs in Chang'an, when the powerful families and His Majesty intend to put the Crown Prince to death...

Du Ruhui stared intently into Cheng Yaojin's eyes.

"The military power you hold is the Crown Prince's trump card for a final comeback."

Qin Qiong, who was listening nearby, was terrified.

Du Ruhui truly lived up to his reputation as a cunning old fox; his scheming was incredibly deep.

He not only schemed against Chang'an and His Majesty, but he even managed to outmaneuver the Crown Prince.

This is to leave a final insurance policy for the crown prince.

Cheng Yaojin stood still, not immediately agreeing.

He may seem carefree and easygoing, but he's actually more perceptive than anyone else.

He also understood the danger of Du Ruhui's plan.

Once he became this hidden spy, he would have to fight alone in Chang'an.

Moreover, he must betray the prince at a crucial moment; if successful, Cheng Yaojin will be the greatest contributor to the prince's ascension to the throne.

However, if he fails, his entire Cheng family will be executed.

This kind of pressure is not something an ordinary person can withstand.

After a long while, Cheng Yaojin suddenly laughed.

He put one arm around Qin Qiong's shoulder and the other around Du Ruhui's neck.

"Sure, Lao Du."

No one but me could do this job.

You two stay here in Liaodong and keep busy with your business. Leave the monsters and demons in Chang'an to me.

Cheng Yaojin released the two men, took a step back, and solemnly clasped his hands in a fist salute, saying:

"Second Brother, Lao Du, take care."

After saying this, Cheng Yaojin lifted the felt cloth and stepped into the wind and snow.

Watching Cheng Yaojin's disappearing figure, Qin Qiong asked with some worry:

"Kemin, is it really okay for you to keep this from even His Highness?"

Du Ruhui looked at the wind and snow outside the tent, his eyes deep, and said:

"Your Highness is too clever. If he knew that Zhijie was one of his own, he would inevitably reveal his true colors when he was acting in Chang'an."

His Majesty has a very sharp eye.

Only when His Highness also perceives Zhijie as an enemy can this charade be performed flawlessly.

Qin Qiong nodded and said nothing more.

Under the cover of night, the two quietly disappeared into the shadows of the camp.

......

The next day.

Liaodong Camp, Central Command Tent.

"Order the entire army to pack their bags and prepare to return to the capital."

The generals inside the tent were all stunned.

Li Jing frowned and said:

"Your Highness, please reconsider."

His Majesty's urging you to return clearly shows his fear of your military power. If you return with the military merit of conquering three kingdoms, and this accusation of being too powerful for the emperor is pinned on you, countless eyes in Chang'an will be watching you for any mistakes.

This old minister dares to say, "If you return now, I fear something unforeseen may happen."

Li Jing is now genuinely starting to like Li Chengqian.

He didn't want the young crown prince to get caught up in the vortex of Chang'an and end up being smashed to pieces.

Li Chengqian smiled and looked at Li Jing, saying:

"Duke of Wei, you are a master at fighting, but you are still a bit lacking in understanding the Emperor's intentions."

What is Father Emperor most afraid of now? He is afraid that I will remain in Liaodong, amass military power, and that I will escape his control.

If I were to find an excuse to stay in Liaodong and not leave, that would only confirm his suspicions.

What will arrive then will likely not be an imperial edict, but rather the Tang Dynasty's army sent to quell the rebellion.

The more afraid you are, the more he will think you have something to hide.

I insist on returning openly and honestly, and I will even lead a large army back to apologize to him.

"I want to see what charges those old dogs from powerful families and the entire court can bring against me when faced with a crown prince who has destroyed three kingdoms and voluntarily relinquished his military power."

Li Chengqian snorted coldly, his tone revealing the arrogance of youth.

"I still want to play with them properly in this Tang Dynasty."

Li Jing opened his mouth, but did not refute.

He didn't know how to refute it.

"Your humble servant obeys."

Everyone clasped their hands in a fist salute and turned to go out to arrange the dismantling of the camp.

Qin Qiong and Du Ruhui had already left the camp.

Under Li Chengqian's arrangement, the two of them had already taken away 30,000 troops.

This time, they are going to help Li Chengqian prepare a Liaodong base without any worries.

After the army set off.

When passing through Pyongyang.

Cheng Yaojin suddenly rushed to the front and shouted towards the direction of Pyongyang:

"Listen up, you bastards left behind in the city."

I'm going back to Chang'an to enjoy my life. You guys stay here and build this shabby place up for me.

Anyone who dares to slack off, I'll hang them on the city gate when I get back.

After he finished cursing, Cheng Yaojin did something that left everyone baffled.

He dismounted and knelt on the ground with a thud.

He kowtowed three times in the direction of Pyongyang.

The surrounding generals were dumbfounded.

Li Jing looked at Cheng Yaojin and asked in confusion:

"Zhijie, what's gotten into you? Did you get snow in your head?"

Cheng Yaojin patted the snow off his knees, stood up, and said nonchalantly:

"You don't know anything. I'm saying goodbye to the local earth god of Liaodong, thanking him for protecting me from dying in this freezing cold."

The generals burst into laughter upon hearing this.

The entire army was amused by Cheng Yaojin's witty banter.

Li Chengqian looked at Cheng Yaojin, who was making a fool of himself, and shook his head with a light laugh.

That old rogue is quite the character.

And on a tall tower in Pyongyang.

Du Ruhui stood with his hands behind his back, quietly watching the scene outside the city.

Seeing Cheng Yaojin kowtow three times, Du Ruhui exhaled a breath of white air.

Others might think Cheng Yaojin was just being silly, but he knew the truth.

These three kowtows were Cheng Yaojin bidding farewell to the former Duke of Lu.

It all began when I mounted my warhorse and embarked on the road back to Chang'an.

Cheng Yaojin thus officially became a lone, hidden pawn.

He had to face the dangers and intrigues of Chang'an alone, and endure the machinations of the entire court and the emperor.

"Zhijie, stay alive and wait for us to come back."

Du Ruhui murmured something, turned around and walked down the tower to get involved in the reconstruction work.

......

Half a month later, the army arrived in Youzhou in a grand procession.

As soon as they entered the customs, the scene before them stunned everyone.

The official road was densely packed with people on both sides.

The people of Youzhou had received news of the Crown Prince's victory in conquering three kingdoms long ago.

When the Sui Dynasty launched its expedition against Goguryeo, the people of Youzhou suffered greatly, with relatives from every household dying on that desolate plain.

Now that their great revenge has been achieved, the entire Youzhou is in an uproar.

It's unclear who started it, but the crowd erupted in shouts.

"May the Great Tang Dynasty prosper!"

"Your Highness the Crown Prince!"

The frenzied shouts grew louder and louder, and many people even knelt by the roadside, wailing and kowtowing repeatedly in the direction of the army.

The Tang soldiers were filled with fervor and excitement.

The fatigue from the long journey vanished instantly, and the soldiers unconsciously straightened their backs, gripped their weapons tightly, and held their chins high.

Cheng Chumo, Changsun Chong, and their ilk of second-generation rich kids were practically flying with smugness.

They waved to the people on both sides of the road, enjoying a glory they had never experienced before.

However, Li Chengqian ignored all of this and even covered his ears in disgust.

Wei Zheng, who was standing nearby, couldn't stand it any longer.

He rode closer, somewhat puzzled, and asked:

"Your Highness, you have made such an unparalleled contribution that will last for thousands of years. Now you are supported by the people. This is a scene that all emperors throughout history have dreamed of."

Why are you so uninterested, not even willing to glance at it?

Li Chengqian glanced at Wei Zheng and scoffed:

"Lord Wei, listen to how loud this sound is?"

Wei Zheng nodded: "His voice resounds throughout the heavens, and the people's hearts are with him."

"Useless as a fart."

Li Chengqian cursed directly.

"No matter how loudly these people shout, the people in Chang'an City can't hear them."

They could only hear the scheming voices in their own minds.

The people felt that I was a hero who avenged their blood feud.

But in the eyes of the powerful families and officials of Chang'an, I am now a madman who might overturn the table at any moment, a thorn in their side who will steal their interests.

In my father's eyes, the cheers of the people were not the will of the people, but the clarion call for a coup.

The happier I laugh now, the faster I'll die when I return to Chang'an.

Upon hearing this, Wei Zheng was startled.

He had completely forgotten Li Shimin's petty nature.

Everyone thought Li Shimin was magnanimous.

He can tolerate himself constantly criticizing him.

Shit!

That was the persona Li Shimin created for himself; he wished he could skin him alive and tear him apart.

He just couldn't bring himself to ruin the image he had worked so hard to build.