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

It was before dawn.

Two fast horses galloped wildly towards Chang'an.

Li Chengqian only took Cheng Chumo with him to enter the city first.

The others were relocated to other places.

The soldiers guarding the city saw two fast horses charging towards them from afar and immediately gripped their weapons to block the way at the gate.

"Who goes there? You're near the city gate, dismount at once!"

The city gate captain shouted.

But the horses' speed did not decrease at all.

When they reached the city gate, Li Chengqian pulled on the reins, and his warhorse reared up and neighed.

He slowly raised his head.

"Yes...it's His Highness the Crown Prince!"

"His Highness the Crown Prince is back!"

An uproar erupted on and around the city wall, and the soldiers who had been on the verge of drawing their swords instantly knelt down.

"Welcome back to the capital, His Highness the Crown Prince!"

Li Chengqian didn't say a word, but simply pointed lightly at the city gate with his riding whip.

No one dared to stop them.

The heavy city gate creaked open slowly, and Li Chengqian spurred his horse, carrying Cheng Chumo inside.

The city of Chang'an was now draped in white mourning clothes.

White banners were hung in front of every household, and pedestrians on the street wore black armbands and looked solemn.

When the people on the street saw Li Chengqian, a commotion broke out.

"It's His Highness the Crown Prince!"

"His Highness has returned after traveling day and night!"

"Your Highness, please accept my condolences!"

It's unclear who started it, but the people on both sides of the street all knelt down.

They may not understand the political intrigues at court, but they can most directly feel the Crown Prince's filial piety towards the Emperor Emeritus.

In addition, Li Chengqian treated the people very well.

Li Chengqian did not stop and headed straight for the palace.

However, when he reached Suzaku Avenue, a figure blocked his horse.

Li Chengqian and Cheng Chumo quickly reined in their horses.

To everyone's surprise, the one blocking their way was Wei Zheng.

Cheng Chumo, who was about to burst into a tirade, instantly turned into a quail.

"Your Highness, you're finally back. The Emperor Emeritus left us so suddenly."

Wei Zheng intended to offer words of comfort according to etiquette, but as soon as he uttered the words, he couldn't hold back his emotions.

He wiped away his tears with his sleeve and said through gritted teeth:

"During the period of national mourning, this old minister personally witnessed some beasts actually laughing."

That's utterly inhuman.

A cold glint flashed in Li Chengqian's eyes.

From Wei Zheng's words, he could sense that the current situation in the court was probably even more turbulent than he had imagined.

"Lord Wei, please accept my condolences. I understand."

Li Chengqian didn't say much, but simply patted Wei Zheng on the shoulder reassuringly.

Then they bypassed him and continued towards the East Palace.

The Eastern Palace, Cheng'en Hall.

However, when Li Chengqian arrived, he suddenly tightened his grip on the reins.

The number of guards at the gate was more than three times that before he left Chang'an, and they were not wearing the armor of the Eastern Palace Guards, but the armor of the Golden Guards.

A general from the Imperial Guard stepped forward and respectfully bowed to Li Chengqian on horseback.

"This humble general pays his respects to Your Highness the Crown Prince."

Your Highness, you have worked tirelessly through the night.

His Majesty has issued an oral decree that, during the period of national mourning, in order to ensure the safety of His Highness the Crown Prince, no one may enter or leave the Eastern Palace at will.

Your Highness, please enter the palace to rest and refrain from going out again.

Upon hearing this, Cheng Chumo's anger flared up instantly.

Is this what they call protection? This is clearly house arrest.

Li Chengqian raised his hand to stop Cheng Chumo, who was about to start cursing.

He looked at the Jinwu Guard general and asked:

"Father's imperial edict?"

"Yes, Your Majesty's decree."

The general bowed his head and replied.

Li Chengqian did not say another word, nor did he attempt to force his way in.

Instead, to everyone's astonishment, he suddenly pulled on the reins, turned the horse around, and rode away.

This sudden turn of events left everyone stunned.

Not returning to the Eastern Palace?

Where is the Crown Prince going?

Li Chengqian spurred his horse toward a nearby courtyard belonging to the Eastern Palace, which was usually used to entertain guests.

As soon as he stepped into the gate of the villa, a maid hurriedly came out from the inner hall to greet him.

This is none other than Qiuyue, a confidante of Empress Zhangsun Wugou.

"Your Highness!"

Qiuyue took out a letter from her bosom.

"Your Majesty has kept me waiting here for quite some time."

She quickly recounted the situation in the palace.

"After the Emperor Emeritus's death, His Majesty issued an edict in the court, declaring that the Emperor Emeritus had died peacefully of old age and had returned to a state of perfect health."

His Majesty has decreed that no one is permitted to discuss the cause of the Emperor Emeritus's death during the period of national mourning. Anyone who dares to spread rumors or cause trouble will be punished for blasphemy, and those whose actions are serious will be dealt with as treason!

Li Chengqian opened the letter written by Empress Zhangsun, and there were only eight characters on the letter.

"Observe the situation calmly and do not act rashly."

Li Chengqian's hand holding the letter trembled slightly.

He understood instantly.

Father was not deceived, nor did he compromise with anyone.

Given his father's methods and imperial mind, it was impossible for him not to see the suspicious circumstances surrounding his grandfather's death.

There's only one possibility that he's blocking the news and strictly forbidding discussion.

The Emperor wasn't avenging his grandfather; he was just playing along with his grandfather's act.

So, after all that work, I'm now an outsider?

A sense of isolation from his closest relatives made Li Chengqian feel very wronged.

Li Chengqian's rebellious spirit suddenly surged up at this moment.

You won't let me participate?

I'm determined to get involved, and I'm going to force those people out of it in my own way.