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

The city of Chang'an at night was as quiet as a dead city.

Because of the death of the retired emperor, a strict curfew was imposed during the period of national mourning.

The streets were deserted, with only the occasional patrolling Imperial Guards passing by.

Cui Mingan only dared to walk through the dark alleys.

If the Imperial Guards discover this, the entire Cui family could probably be wiped out.

Fortunately, Cui Mingan was quite familiar with the terrain of Chang'an.

Half an hour later, he arrived at the back gate of the Shu King's mansion without any major incident.

Two light knocks.

The back door opened a crack, and a middle-aged man who looked like a butler poked his head out.

After seeing Cui Minqian's face clearly, they quickly ushered him inside.

The butler was bribed by Choi Min-gon at a high price the moment the plan was decided.

"Master Cui, His Highness the Prince of Shu is in his study."

Cui Mingan nodded, took off his imperial physician's robe, tossed it to the steward, and then walked toward the study.

At this moment, Li Ke was sitting cross-legged on a low couch in the study, staring blankly at a large plate of pastries on the table in front of him.

After the death of the retired emperor, Li Shimin issued an edict ordering all underage princes and princes without real power to reflect on their mistakes behind closed doors in their respective residences.

Li Ke was never one to like causing trouble.

His mother was Consort Yang, the daughter of Emperor Yang of Sui, and she had half the blood of the previous dynasty's royal family.

Because of this identity, he lived in constant fear from a young age, always afraid of arousing his father's suspicion.

"Why is my right eyelid twitching so badly...?"

Li Ke rubbed his eyes, feeling inexplicably irritated.

He heard that the Crown Prince went mad at the funeral hall yesterday and even drew his sword to kill people.

This matter caused quite a stir in Chang'an.

Li Ke had a feeling that something big was about to happen in Chang'an.

Just then, the study door was pushed open.

Li Ke, assuming it was a servant coming to refill his tea, said without looking up:

"Put the tea down and leave."

"Your Highness the King of Shu has quite the appetite."

Li Ke looked up and was so frightened by what he saw that he almost rolled off the low couch.

"Choi...Choi Mingan?"

Li Ke looked at Cui Mingan in shock and asked,

"Wasn't Da'an Palace sealed off by Father Emperor? How did you get out? Did you disobey the imperial decree?"

Cui Mingan walked to the table opposite Li Ke and sat down, looking at him and saying:

"Your Highness, the Tang Dynasty is about to change. I have risked my life to come here tonight to bestow upon you immense wealth and honor."

Li Ke felt no joy at this moment, only a chill.

Although he usually keeps a low profile, he is definitely not stupid.

When a powerful figure like Cui Mingan comes to see him in the middle of the night, it's definitely not for anything good.

"I am quite wealthy now, and I lack nothing."

Li Ke quickly waved his hand and said...

"Lord Cui, you'd better leave quickly, or I'll pretend I never saw you tonight."

Butler! Where the butler is? Show the guest out.

There was no response outside the door.

Cui Minqian sneered:

"Your Highness, there's no need to shout anymore. Everyone in this courtyard has already been taken into custody by my men."

Li Ke's face instantly turned ugly.

"What exactly do you want?"

Cui Minqian continued with a smile:

"This wealth and honor is the dragon throne in the Taiji Hall. The five clans and seven noble families have decided to support His Highness in ascending the throne and becoming emperor."

"Are you crazy?"

After hearing this, Li Ke immediately roared.

"My father is the current emperor, and my elder brother is Crown Prince Li Chengqian. You want me to rebel? Do you think I have too much time on my hands?"

Cui Mingan looked at his pathetic appearance with a hint of disdain in his eyes.

"Your Highness, do you think you still have a way out?"

Cui Mingan took out a stack of letters from his pocket and slammed them onto the table.

"If Your Highness doesn't want the dragon throne, then these things should be of great interest to you."

Li Ke glanced at the letters with suspicion.

When Li Ke saw the signature on the top envelope, he was completely dumbfounded.

"This is a letter of loyalty written to you by Yuwen Bao, the former Left Guard General of the Sui Dynasty. And this is a letter written in blood by the former subordinates of Wang Shichong of Luoyang."

Cui Mingan counted the letters.

"Your Highness, you have the blood of Yang Guang flowing in your veins, and you have secretly allied yourself with remnants of the previous dynasty, plotting a rebellion. Isn't that a crime punishable by death nine times over?"

"You're talking nonsense!"

Li Ke immediately became anxious.

"Those letters were written to me unilaterally. I burned them without even reading them. How did they end up in your hands?"

Cui Minqian laughed:

"What you burned were just fakes that I had sent over. The real ones are all in the secret chamber of the Cui family in Qinghe."

Li Ke looked at Cui Mingan in disbelief.

These members of powerful families actually started plotting when they were young?

"Not only their letters."

Cui Mingan continued,

"There is also a reply written by His Highness himself, which clearly bears the seal of the King of Shu, promising to enfeoff them as kings of different surnames after the matter is accomplished."

Li Ke's mind went blank.

He remembered.

Last month, the prefectural clerk was investigated for embezzlement and committed suicide by jumping into a well out of fear of punishment.

That registrar was actually a spy planted by a powerful family. He had stolen and stamped his own seal.

"You're framing me! You're setting me up!"

Li Ke roared angrily.

He's really scared now.

Given Li Shimin's current state, let alone his illegitimate son.

Try letting Li Chengqian make a mistake like that.

Even if Empress Zhangsun protects her, she'll probably still get a beating.

Cui Mingan said unhurriedly:

"Would His Majesty believe it if it were a frame-up? If these irrefutable pieces of evidence appeared on His Majesty's desk by tomorrow morning..."

Do you think His Majesty believes you, or these written rules?

Crown Prince Li Chengqian was ruthless and killed countless people in Hedong Province.

If he comes to power, he will absolutely not tolerate you.

The aristocratic families have been driven to the brink of destruction, and Your Highness has also been driven to the brink of destruction.

If we cooperate, we will both benefit; if we separate, we will surely perish.

Three days later, the Emperor Emeritus was laid to rest, and the defenses of Chang'an were left undefended.

"Our clans are among the Twelve Guards, providing backup. As long as Your Highness gives the order, the elite warriors of the Five Clans and Seven Noble Families will escort you and storm the palace."

Upon hearing Cui Minqian's plan, Li Ke collapsed, utterly powerless.

"Lord Cui! My father has more than just me as a child. Why are you targeting me? You can go find Qingque; he is the legitimate son."

To everyone's surprise, Cui Mingan shook his head:

"The King of Yue was a hopeless wretch, while His Highness the King of Shu is the most perfect emperor in our hearts."

Cui Mingan was too lazy to waste words with Li Ke and directly issued an ultimatum.

"I have already shown Your Highness the way. Either cooperate with us to seize the gate in three days, and you will become the Emperor of the Great Tang."

Either tomorrow morning, irrefutable evidence of your collusion with the remnants of the previous dynasty will spread throughout Chang'an, and you will become a victim of their blade.

I'll give you three hours to consider. After three hours, my men will come with confirmation.

After saying that, Cui Mingan got up and left.

Li Ke collapsed onto the soft couch, staring blankly at the ceiling.

"It's over...it's all over..."

Agreeing to this is death, and refusing to agree is also death.

Those old dogs from powerful families are truly venomous.