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

Just as Li Junxian was feeling uneasy.

Li Chengqian walked out from inside, carrying a horsewhip.

Qin Huaidao and three hundred Eastern Palace Guards followed behind him.

Li Junxian quickly stepped forward and stood in front of Li Chengqian.

"Your Highness! His Majesty has decreed that you are not allowed to step out of the Eastern Palace."

Li Chengqian didn't even stop, and poked Li Junxian's breastplate twice with his riding whip.

"I'm out."

Commander Li, do you intend to kill me on the spot, or do you intend to tie me up and take me to the Ganlu Palace?

Cold sweat instantly streamed down Li Junxian's forehead.

Even if he had ten times the courage, he wouldn't dare to draw his sword against Li Chengqian.

Putting aside how Li Shimin would treat him, if Empress Zhangsun found out, he definitely wouldn't survive the day.

"Your Highness, please don't put me in a difficult position..."

"Then take your men and follow behind."

Li Chengqian casually pushed Li Junxian's shoulder aside.

"It just so happens that I didn't bring many people with me today. The Hundred Cavalry are quite skilled, so they can serve as my entourage."

After saying that, Li Chengqian mounted his horse and headed out of the palace.

Three hundred guards of the Eastern Palace followed closely behind.

Li Junxian waved his hand helplessly:

"Everyone follow! Keep a close eye on His Highness, and absolutely do not let His Highness approach the Duke of Shen's residence or the Imperial Palace."

The hundreds of elite cavalrymen could only reluctantly mount their horses and follow far behind the Eastern Palace Guard.

A scene that surprised the people appeared on Zhuque Street.

The Crown Prince led the Eastern Palace Guards at breakneck speed ahead, while the Hundred Cavalry Guards followed behind, eating dust and protecting him.

The more Li Junxian looked at the direction Li Chengqian was walking, the more suspicious he became.

This road leads neither to the imperial city nor to Gao Shilian's Shenguo Duke's mansion.

"Where is Your Highness headed?"

Li Junxian looked at the deputy commander beside him and asked.

The deputy commander looked at the intersection where Li Chengqian had turned and said:

"Commander, the gate ahead seems to lead to His Highness the King of Yue's residence."

Li Junxian's heart skipped a beat.

Would the Crown Prince take his anger out on the King of Yue?

The backyard of the Yue King's Mansion.

Li Tai was lying slumped on a soft couch, with several maids peeling grapes for him and carefully feeding them to his mouth.

Because of his good performance, Li Gang relaxed the previously harsh conditions.

Li Tai's life has finally crawled back from hell to the human world.

"Bang!"

Just as Li Tai was enjoying himself, the gate of the ward was kicked open.

"Who's so blind as to dare..."

Before Li Tai could finish his rant, he looked up and saw Li Chengqian walk in.

The maids and musicians in the room were so frightened that they shrank into the corner.

"Big...Big Brother?"

Li Tai quickly asked with a smile.

"Brother, what brings you here today? Didn't Father Emperor send you to the Eastern Palace...?"

"Have you heard about the imperial decree bestowing marriage upon Chang Le?"

Li Chengqian interrupted him, walked to the soft couch, and looked at him expressionlessly, asking a question.

Li Tai sighed and waved his hand in a gesture of feigned maturity:

"I heard about it. Gao Lixing got a really good deal."

However, elder brother, since Father has issued the decree, it is a done deal.

How can we sons possibly control our father's decisions?

Li Chengqian didn't speak, he just stared at him coldly.

Li Tai felt a little uneasy under Li Chengqian's gaze and could only continue to persuade him:

"Brother, I'm not trying to be mean, but I'm telling you this."

Chang Le is our younger sister, so it doesn't matter who she marries.

Royal children are born to enjoy wealth and luxury. Their daily food, clothing, and other necessities are all provided by the people of the world. When it is time for them to serve the royal family, they naturally have to be sensible.

Marrying into the Gao family would be good for the Emperor, the court, and everyone else.

"Brother, you're too impulsive. Why make a scene at Ganlu Palace over something so trivial? We're in the royal family; we're not really in control of our own destiny..."

"Snapped!"

Li Chengqian slapped Li Tai across the face.

Li Tai was completely stunned by the beating.

He looked up at Li Chengqian in disbelief:

"Big brother, are you crazy? Why did you hit me?"

Li Chengqian grabbed Li Tai by the collar and dragged him from the soft couch to the ground.

Say it again.

Li Tai, still unconvinced, spoke up again:

"Am I wrong? It is the Emperor's decree. If you dare to disobey it, that would be treason."

"Chang Le, as a member of the royal family, is a person of life, so what right do you have to come here to me...?"

"Snapped!"

Another backhand slap landed on Li Tai's face.

This blow made Li Tai cover his face and dare not utter another sound.

Li Junxian's teeth ached from looking at him from outside.

He was right; the Crown Prince had come to vent his anger on the King of Yue.

"Accept your fate?"

Li Chengqian used his riding whip to lift Li Tai's chin.

"Today I'll teach you what it means to be an elder brother who is like a father."

Chang Le is only thirteen years old. That old man used her to fill the stomachs of those old men in Guanzhong. How can you, as her brother, be making sarcastic remarks here?

"I'll ask you one last time, regarding Chang Le's marriage, do you accept your fate?"

Under the absolute threat of force and the suppression of his bloodline since childhood, Li Tai's rebelliousness was instantly corrected.

Seeing Li Chengqian raise his right hand again, he hurriedly covered his head with his hands and shouted:

"I won't admit it! I'd rather die than admit it."

Big brother is right. Father is selling his daughter; this is tyranny. Chang Le is our own sister; why should she marry that good-for-nothing Gao Lixing?

I, Li Tai, am the first to disagree. I swear to stand with my elder brother to the death and protect Chang Le.

Seeing Li Tai's ever-changing expression, Qin Huaidao almost burst out laughing from behind.

Just then, an angry roar came from outside the door.

"Absurd! Utterly absurd!"

Li Gang stormed in, furious.

"Your Highness! How can you, as the Crown Prince, lay a hand on your own brothers? This is utterly disgraceful and dishonorable to the royal family."

When Li Tai saw Li Gang arrive, he hurriedly rushed forward and hid behind Li Gang.

"Master Li! Save me! My brother is going to kill me!"

Li Chengqian put away his riding whip and glanced at Li Gang.

"Grand Tutor, you are well-versed in the classics. I ask you, when the sages taught the world, did human relationships and kinship come first, or did interests and power come first?"

Li Gang paused for a moment, then subconsciously replied:

"Of all virtues, filial piety is the most important, and human relationships and kinship are the foundation of a nation."

"What a fine foundation for a nation."

Li Chengqian pointed in the direction of the palace.

"Now, in order to appease the former officials of Guanzhong, the Emperor wants to force the thirteen-year-old Chang Le to marry someone."

Chang Le cried until her voice was hoarse in the Lizheng Hall, but her father turned a deaf ear.

As a brother alone, if I can't even protect my own sister and watch her become a bargaining chip in court transactions, what kind of human relationships and kinship is that?

Li Chengqian pointed to Li Tai, who was hiding behind Li Gang:

"This kid has studied for so many years, but all he thinks about is protecting himself. He can watch his own sister jump into a fire pit and still be eating and drinking here."

I beat him today not to show off, but to teach him a lesson.

If even the most basic brotherly instinct to protect his sister is gone, how can my Li family talk about ruling the world?

Li Gang opened his mouth, but found himself unable to refute the Crown Prince's words.

"Never mind... I didn't see anything today."

Li Gang shook his head and wisely turned to leave.

"But Your Highness, you must be careful with your actions. His Highness the Prince of Yue will be coming to my place for a lesson later."

"Don't worry, Grand Tutor, this kid will only have a superficial injury at most; he won't die."

Li Chengqian replied with a smile.

After Li Gang left, Li Tai was completely dumbfounded again.

What does this mean?

They came in, said a few words, and then left?

Did you forget your promise to be my beloved student so quickly?

Li Tai covered his face, looked pitifully at Li Chengqian, and asked:

"Big brother... I've already made my stance clear, can you please let me go?"

"Get over here."

Li Chengqian pulled up a chair and sat down.

"Go change your clothes and wash your face."

Li Tai quickly had a maid bring him a wet towel and haphazardly wiped his face a few times.

Then he stood obediently in front of Li Chengqian.

"Brother, although I support you, the imperial decree has already been issued to the Duke of Shen's mansion. We can't ruin this marriage just by shouting slogans in the mansion."

Li Tai muttered to himself.

"Who said we were just shouting slogans inside the mansion?"

Isn't the Gao family going to hold a grand banquet in three days to celebrate the bestowed marriage, and also bring Gao Lixing to the grand court assembly to express their gratitude?

I have already sent messages to my third son, Li Ke; my fifth son, Li You; and every other prince in Chang'an who is still alive.

Li Tai stared wide-eyed and asked:

"Big brother, what are you planning to do by calling all the brothers?"

Li Chengqian stood up and patted Li Tai on the shoulder:

"Three days later, at the grand court assembly, I will personally take you brothers to the Taiji Hall to present a grand gift to Gao Shilian and Gao Xingli."