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

Just as the captain was about to forcibly drag Li Tai away, the side door of the East Palace was opened from the inside.

Xiao Shunzi came out carrying a lantern that seemed to be burning out.

He shouted impatiently:

"What's all this noise about? Can't Your Highness have some peace and quiet in the middle of the night?"

Upon seeing that it was Xiao Shunzi, the captain quickly put on a smiling face and said:

"Eunuch Shun, it's His Highness the Prince of Yue..."

Li Tai shoved the captain aside and looked at Xiao Shunzi, saying:

"Xiao Shunzi! It's me. I need to see my older brother."

Xiao Shunzi glanced at Li Tai, who knew the decree issued by Li Shimin.

So he looked at Li Tai and advised him:

"Your Highness, what time is it? His Majesty has given a strict order: entry into the Eastern Palace is permitted, but exit is forbidden. Why have you come here in the middle of the night..."

"It's a really urgent matter, one that could kill you."

Li Tai grabbed Xiao Shunzi's arm in a hurry.

"Let me in quickly, or someone will die."

Xiao Shunzi saw Li Tai's anxious expression.

"Alright, Your Highness, please come in first."

Li Tai didn't rush in. Instead, he turned and waved towards the dark alley, calling out:

"Third Brother! Come out quickly."

Xiao Shunzi was taken aback and looked in the direction Li Tai was waving.

A figure emerged from the dark alley.

Li Ke walked towards them, his face pale.

Xiao Shunzi was startled when he saw this.

The King of Shu has also arrived?

The two princes risked defying the imperial decree and sneaked into the sealed-off East Palace in the dead of night.

This is definitely not a small matter.

Xiao Shunzi put away his joking thoughts and his expression became serious.

"Your Highnesses, please come in. This servant will take you to see His Highness the Crown Prince."

study.

Li Chengqian was sitting in a chair, fiddling with the token of the Hundred Cavalry Commandery.

"Your Highness, the King of Yue and the King of Shu have arrived."

Xiao Shunzi's voice rang out from outside the door.

Li Chengqian looked towards the door in surprise.

What are the third and fourth brothers doing here in the middle of the night?

"Let them in."

After the door was pushed open, Li Tai pulled Li Ke and rushed in.

As soon as Li Ke entered the room and saw Li Chengqian, his eyes reddened, and he almost knelt down on the spot.

Li Chengqian casually tossed the token onto the table, looked at his two disheveled brothers, and asked in confusion:

"What are you two doing here in the middle of the night instead of sleeping? Didn't Father Emperor order you to stay in the mansion and reflect on your actions?"

Li Ke lowered his head and hesitated for a long time without saying a word.

He is afraid.

Even the slightest involvement in rebellion is a capital offense.

He was afraid of implicating Li Chengqian, and even more afraid that Li Chengqian would not believe him.

Seeing Li Ke's hesitant manner, Li Tai anxiously spoke up:

"Third Brother! What are you dawdling about at a time like this?"

Li Tai looked directly at Li Chengqian and told him what had happened:

"Brother! That old scoundrel Cui Min has gone mad. He just went to Third Brother's palace and forced Third Brother to rebel."

Li Chengqian was taken aback upon hearing this.

"rebel?"

"Yes! That old dog said the aristocratic families have been driven to the brink of ruin. They plan to seize power and force Third Brother to abdicate on the day of the Emperor Emeritus's funeral, taking advantage of the city's weakened defenses."

As Li Tai spoke, he took the stack of letters from Li Ke's arms and placed them in front of Li Chengqian.

"Big brother, look! This is the letter that Cui Mingan used to threaten Third Brother."

It contained a letter of allegiance from the remnants of the previous dynasty, as well as a reply from Third Brother stamped with his seal.

The old dog said that if Third Brother didn't agree to rebel, these letters would appear on Father Emperor's desk first thing tomorrow morning.

Li Chengqian didn't speak, but simply reached out and picked up the top letter, casually flipping through it.

"The handwriting is quite well imitated, and the seal is genuine."

Li Chengqian threw the letter back onto the table with a mocking expression.

"The Cui family of Qinghe is getting more and more sophisticated in their forgery techniques."

Upon hearing this, Li Ke abruptly raised his head and asked in a trembling voice:

"Brother... do you believe me? This reply really wasn't written by me. It was the registrar of the manor who stole my seal."

Li Chengqian couldn't help but laugh when he saw Li Ke looking like he was about to cry.

"Third brother, this little thing has scared you like this? You're too scared to even go inside?"

Li Ke said with red eyes:

"Brother, I have the blood of the previous dynasty flowing in my veins. Father has always been wary of me. The evidence is irrefutable, how can I defend myself? I'm afraid... I'm afraid of implicating you."

The smile on Li Chengqian's face gradually faded.

If Li Ke had dared to rebel in his previous life, he would have been killed by Changsun Wuji through a scheme.

He stood up and walked up to Li Ke.

"Raise your head."

Li Ke subconsciously raised his head and met Li Chengqian's eyes.

"Third brother, listen to me clearly."

Li Chengqian said very seriously,

"Although you carry the blood of the previous dynasty, your surname is Li! You are the Prince of Shu of my Great Tang Dynasty, the emperor's own son, and my younger brother, Li Chengqian."

Li Ke was shocked upon hearing this.

"You think you can nail you to the pillar of shame for treason with just these few scraps of paper? Do you think your father is a fool, or that I am blind?"

Li Chengqian patted Li Ke on the shoulder.

"Whether you have rebellious intentions or not, Father Emperor knows it perfectly well. If he couldn't even see through his own son, he would have lost his throne long ago."

Li Tai breathed a sigh of relief, plopped down in a chair, grabbed the teapot on the table, and took a big gulp.

"That scared me to death! I knew it, going to Big Brother was the right thing to do."

Li Tai wiped his mouth.

"Big brother, what do we do now? That old dog Cui Mingan is still waiting for Third Brother's reply."

Li Chengqian turned to look at the stack of letters on the table, a murderous glint flashing in his eyes.

"Reply? Reply to what?"

Li Chengqian sneered.

"Since Cui Mingan dares to lay his hands on the prince, he must be tired of living. The aristocratic families are desperate and want to use you as a pawn."

Li Ke asked nervously:

"Brother, what about this letter...?"

"Keep this letter; it's irrefutable evidence of their treason."

Li Chengqian handed the letter to Xiao Shunzi.

"Take it and put it away properly."

Xiao Shunzi took the letter and carefully locked it in the cabinet next to him.

Li Chengqian sat back down in his chair and looked at Li Tai and Li Ke.

"Third brother, fourth brother. You two stay in the East Palace for the next two days and don't go anywhere."

Li Tai was taken aback: "Stay in the Eastern Palace? What about Father Emperor...?"

"I will speak to Father Emperor."

Li Chengqian waved his hand.

"If you two go out now, you'll be meat on the chopping block of a powerful family."

Since Cui Mingan dared to force the emperor to abdicate, he must have had a backup plan.

"You stay in the Eastern Palace; I can ensure your safety."

Li Ke solemnly bowed deeply to Li Chengqian.

"Thank you, brother."

Li Tai also bowed, then leaned forward and asked with a gossipy look:

"Brother, you just said that the aristocratic families are planning a rebellion on the day of the Emperor Emeritus's funeral. Are we just going to stand by and watch?"

Li Chengqian glanced at him:

"Just watching? That's so boring."

Li Chengqian casually picked up the token on the table and tossed it into the air.

"Now that they've set up the stage, wouldn't it be a waste of their efforts if we didn't go up and perform?"

Li Tai was shocked when he saw the token in Li Chengqian's hand.

"A token from the Hundred Riders Division? Brother, where did you get that?"

Li Chengqian ignored him and turned to look outside the door.

"shadow."

A dark figure appeared silently in the center of the study.

Li Ke and Li Tai were startled and quickly took two steps back.

"Your Highness."

Li Chengqian tossed the token to Shadow.

"Take this token and mobilize all the elite troops of the Hundred Cavalry Division. Keep a close watch on all the spies of the Cui family of Qinghe and the Wang family of Taiyuan in Chang'an for twelve hours."

"yes!"

"besides."

Li Chengqian's eyes turned cold.

"Investigate which generals in the Twelve Guards have recently become close to powerful families. Especially the general in charge of the city's defenses on the day of the Emperor Emeritus's funeral; investigate them thoroughly."

"Your subordinate obeys."

The shadow took the token and left.

Seeing this, Li Tai asked excitedly:

"Big brother, are you going to start a massacre?"

Li Chengqian looked at the chubby boy speechlessly:

"Murder? I'm a reasonable person. Since they like to play dirty tricks, I'll play along with them to the end."

Li Chengqian turned to look at Li Ke.

"Third brother, did Cui Mingan say he'd send someone to get your confirmation?"

Li Ke nodded:

"Yes, that's what the old dog said when he left."

Li Chengqian stood up and gave the order:

"Xiao Shunzi".

"This servant is here."

"Find a bodyguard with a build similar to the King of Shu, have him wear the King of Shu's clothes, and return to the King of Shu's residence."

Li Ke was taken aback: "Brother, what's going on?"

Li Chengqian sneered:

"Since they want a definite answer, then give them one. Tell Cui Mingan that the King of Shu has agreed."

Li Tai suddenly shouted:

"Brother, are you going to turn this on us?"

Li Chengqian was startled by the sound.

"You should rest well in the Eastern Palace for the next couple of days. On the day of the Emperor Emeritus's funeral, I will take you to see a good show."