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

"Your Highness, Grand Tutor Kong and Grand Preceptor Li have arrived. However, they don't look too well and are waiting in front."

Xiao Shunzi walked in from outside to report.

Li Chengqian raised an eyebrow.

What brings these two together today?

Li Chengqian hurriedly got up and went to the front hall.

Kong Yingda and Li Gang were sitting in chairs, spitting out their beards and glaring at each other.

"Gentlemen, who has upset you? Why are you so angry?"

Li Chengqian greeted him with a smile.

Kong Yingda roared angrily:

"Who else could it be? It's that old scoundrel Lu Deming."

Li Gang also stood up and said:

"Your Highness, you're being foolish. How could you agree to debate with that old scoundrel Lu Deming? And even wager the position of Crown Prince? This is utterly absurd."

Before Li Chengqian could explain, Kong Yingda interrupted and continued:

"Your Highness, please don't take offense at my bluntness. That old geezer Lu Deming is indeed quite learned."

But he was just a bookworm. He spent all his time engrossed in a few tattered scriptures, his mind filled with pedantic and pretentious ideas.

Li Gang snorted and echoed:

"Old Kong is right. Lu Deming is the most concerned with empty reputation. On the surface, he jumped out to uphold the way of the sages, but behind the scenes, isn't he just trying to step on Your Highness to gain a good reputation for himself that will be remembered as a virtuous person for all time?"

If the powerful families give him a little more incentive, he'll really start to think of himself as a leader in the literary world.

"that is."

Kong Yingda became increasingly angry as he spoke.

"Back in Luoyang, I once debated the Book of Documents with him. This old scoundrel ran out of arguments and started spouting nonsense. In terms of scholarship, he's not even half as good as me."

"In terms of knowledge, he is not even a hair on His Highness's head."

Li Gang said angrily.

"The universal gravitation that Your Highness speaks of is a real and tangible law of nature."

Lu Deming doesn't understand any rules. He's never even thrown an iron ball; all he does is spout nonsense.

Li Chengqian stood aside, not uttering a single word for a long time.

These two old men, whose combined age was over a hundred, took turns belittling Lu Deming, making him seem less than a dog on the street.

Li Chengqian chuckled inwardly.

Scholars often belittle each other; the ancients were right.

But you two used to be similar to Lu Deming, didn't you?

"Please calm down, gentlemen, and have some tea first."

Li Chengqian personally poured tea for the two of them and then helped them sit down.

"Your Highness, this old minister is truly worried about you."

Kong Yingda sighed.

"Lu Deming has many disciples, and on the day of the debate, the aristocratic families will definitely arrange for hundreds of scholars to create momentum below."

How can you possibly out-argue all those hundreds of mouths?

Li Chengqian pulled up a chair and sat down, smiling as he looked at the two of them and said:

"Master Kong, Master Li, do you think I'm the kind of person who suffers losses?"

The two were taken aback and exchanged a glance.

It seems that's not the case.

From running a business to establishing a school, this young master has always managed to leave his rivals with nothing.

Li Chengqian lowered his voice and said:

"Don't worry, my two masters. Since I dared to accept the task, I have no intention of teaching him anything about the Four Books and Five Classics."

Isn't Lu Deming a self-proclaimed great Confucian scholar?

Three days later, I will show the whole world that Lu Deming is not worthy of being on par with our two masters.

These words struck a nerve with the two great Confucian scholars.

Kong Yingda's eyes lit up:

"Is Your Highness truly speaking?"

"More real than real gold."

Li Chengqian patted his chest and assured him.

"At that time, the two masters can just sit in the audience and watch the show."

"I will make that old man lose face in front of all the people of Chang'an and throw himself into the Wei River."

Li Gang stroked his beard and laughed:

"Very well! I will trust Your Highness this once."

This time, Your Highness must thoroughly humiliate that old scoundrel.

"Grand Tutor, this time we need you to go up and fire the first shot. What do you think...?"

Li Chengqian planned to have Li Gang go up and slap Lu Deming in the face first.

This is the only way to suppress his arrogance.

"Hahaha, I'll definitely have no problem. Just wait and see how I'll leave that old scoundrel speechless."

Upon hearing that he was to go on stage first, Li Gang excitedly stood up and said.

Kong Yingda watched with envy.

However, he knew he didn't know much about Li Chengqian's new learning, so he didn't stand up and say anything.

After being thoroughly fooled and flattered by Li Chengqian, the two great Confucian scholars left the Eastern Palace satisfied.

After seeing the two off, Li Chengqian turned to Xiao Shunzi and instructed him:

"Prepare the car, we're going to Da'an Palace."

Xiao Shunzi was stunned for a moment:

"Your Highness, what brings you to Da'an Palace? The Emperor Emeritus has been keeping his doors closed to visitors lately."

"Go and invite a large Buddha statue."

Li Chengqian chuckled mischievously.

Inside the Da'an Palace.

Li Yuan was lying in a rocking chair, with chilled grapes on a small table next to him.

Princess Chang Le sat obediently to the side, peeling grapes for Li Yuan.

"Grandpa, Brother Gaoming is here."

When Chang Le saw Li Chengqian walk in, she waved happily.

Li Yuan opened his eyes and snorted irritably:

"You're a rare guest, aren't you? What's up? Didn't go messing around with your so-called 'Academy of Natural Sciences' today? Got time to visit this old codger?"

Li Chengqian walked up to Li Yuan with a smile and massaged his shoulders.

"Grandpa, what are you saying? I've been thinking about you every day."

Don't give me that.

Li Yuan slapped Li Chengqian's hand away.

"Unsolicited kindness is always suspicious; there's no smoke without fire. Tell me, what trouble have you gotten yourself into this time?"

Li Chengqian didn't stand on ceremony and pulled up a brocade stool to sit down.

"Grandpa, have you heard that I will be debating with Lu Deming in the Taiji Hall Square in three days?"

Li Yuan nodded:

"I've heard. You've got some nerve, betting the crown prince's position. Didn't your father die of anger?"

"I'm furious."

Li Chengqian sighed.

"The reason I've come this time is to ask my grandfather to come out of seclusion and oversee things on-site for me in three days."

Li Yuan raised an eyebrow:

"Isn't your father here? Isn't having the emperor in charge enough?"

"not enough."

Li Chengqian shook his head.

"You know Father Emperor all too well; he's obsessed with saving face."

He was worried about the powerful families and feared things would escalate.

"If Lu Deming acts unreasonably and the powerful officials join in the commotion, the Emperor might have to smooth things over again and simply rule against his grandson."

After listening, Li Yuan stroked his chin and pondered for a while.

He knew his rebellious son all too well.

What Li Shimin cared about most was his reputation and the stability of the court.

When things really got to the point where he couldn't back down, Li Shimin was absolutely capable of sacrificing the crown prince to appease the powerful families.

"Grandfather, you are the founding emperor of the Tang Dynasty. You conquered this world."

Li Chengqian began to shower Li Chengqian with compliments.

"As long as you sit there, even if the powerful families had ten times the courage, they wouldn't dare to act recklessly. My position as crown prince depends entirely on you."

Li Yuan felt very comfortable after hearing these words.

Since the Xuanwu Gate Incident, he has been under house arrest in the Da'an Palace. Although Li Shimin provided him with good food and drink, only he knows the frustration he felt.

Now that his grandson has come to his door seeking help, he can openly and legitimately put Li Shimin above him.

How could he be absent from such a moment of humiliation?

"OK!"

Li Yuan readily agreed.

"Three days from now, I'll be there to back you up. I want to see who dares to touch my grandson!"

"Thank you, Your Majesty."

Li Chengqian was overjoyed and immediately stood up to pay his respects.

Having achieved his goal, Li Chengqian chatted with Li Yuan for a while longer before taking his leave to return to the Eastern Palace to prepare.

After Li Chengqian had walked a distance, Chang Le looked at Li Yuan with some concern and asked:

"Grandfather, if you go, Father will definitely think you're interfering in politics. What if he gets angry?"

Li Yuan scoffed.

"Angry? What does his anger have to do with me?"

The more unhappy that unfilial son is, the happier I am. I'd love to see him driven mad with rage!

Chang Le was amused by Li Yuan's spiteful words and laughed heartily.