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

Li Chengqian reached out and hooked Zheng Qiuying's chin as she approached him.

Zheng Qiuying showed no fear whatsoever; she even stuck out her tongue and licked Li Chengqian's finger.

"Sit still."

Li Chengqian seemed to have no interest in beauty at all.

"If you move again, I'll throw you off the car."

Zheng Qiuying was completely stunned.

He then shrank back in an annoyed manner.

Is he even a man?

How could there possibly be a man in Chang'an who has no feelings for her?

Zheng Qiuying suddenly felt both angry and relieved.

......

At the entrance of the East Palace.

Xiao Shunzi was already waiting at the door. When he saw His Highness the Crown Prince leading a woman wrapped in a cloak out of the carriage, his eyes almost popped out of their sockets.

"Take her to wash up and change into clean clothes."

Li Chengqian gave an instruction and then headed towards his study.

Half an hour later.

Zheng Qiuying, dressed in an elegant palace gown, was led by a palace maid to the door of the study.

After washing away the filth, she regained some of her former beauty.

After entering the study, she knelt down three steps away from the desk.

"The guilty woman Zheng Qiuying awaits Your Highness's judgment."

Li Chengqian was flipping through an account book seized from Hedong, seemingly unaware of her arrival.

The study was eerily quiet.

Every minute and every second was torture for Zheng Qiuying, who was kneeling on the ground.

Finally, Li Chengqian closed the account book and looked up at Zheng Qiuying.

"Tell me, how much do you actually know about the rebellion plot of the five clans and seven noble families?"

Zheng Qiuying spoke in a hoarse voice:

"This sinful woman truly knows nothing. My father has private dealings with Wang Gui and others, but he has never revealed a single detail of their plans to me."

As she spoke, Zheng Qiuying's tears began to flow uncontrollably.

"The woman believed that she could use her intelligence to navigate the court for her family, but ironically, it wasn't until Changsun Chong led his men to raid her home that she realized what was going on."

The woman then realized that she had been nothing more than a pawn in their scheme from beginning to end.

She cried so hard that tears streamed down her face; anyone else would have felt sorry for her.

However, Li Chengqian scoffed:

"A discarded pawn?"

He stood up and walked over to Zheng Qiuying.

"When you wrote those romantic poems to curry favor with the powerful and wealthy, and even sent out lewd jokes at poetry gatherings to cater to the filthy thoughts of some people, weren't you quite clever?"

How come they become blind when it comes to matters of life and death for their own family?

Zheng Qiuying raised her head, her face full of shame and indignation, and glared at Li Chengqian.

When the Zheng family wanted to promote her, she did indeed do those things at the poetry gathering.

How could she not know how many dirty deals and sycophantic flattery were hidden behind those so-called literary elegance?

But now Li Chengqian has actually brought it up directly.

"I......"

Zheng Qiuying opened her mouth, but couldn't utter a single word.

She just lowered her head and sobbed.

How much did she sacrifice for her family?

But in the end, her family abandoned her.

"Alright, stop crying. My Eastern Palace is not short of water."

He lifted Zheng Qiuying's chin and said,

"I'm giving you a chance to redeem yourself through good deeds."

Zheng Qiuying looked up at him with teary eyes.

"The Zheng family of Xingyang has had its roots in the north completely uprooted."

But your Zheng family's real money isn't in the north, it's in the south, isn't it?"

Zheng Qiuying's heart began to pound wildly because of Li Chengqian's words.

"Your Highness is wise."

"In recent years, the gentry of Jiangnan have relied on the fact that the mountains are high and the emperor is far away, and they are probably even more wealthy and deeply rooted than the five surnames and seven clans in the north."

Li Chengqian sneered.

"I need someone, a pair of eyes, to keep a close watch on them for me."

Zheng Qiuying understood instantly.

The Crown Prince intends to use her to influence the entire aristocratic class in Jiangnan.

"I can give you the power to speak within the Zheng family that you desire."

Li Chengqian's fingers slid across Zheng Qiuying's cheek.

"I can spare your brother's life, and even allow him to inherit the Zheng family name. You will then be the true master of the Zheng family in Jiangnan."

"but......"

His tone suddenly turned sharp.

"From this day forward, you, Zheng Qiuying, and the entire Zheng family of Jiangnan will belong to me. Your life, your brother's life, and everything in your family will be in my hands."

Upon hearing this, Zheng Qiuying began to tremble.

That's because of shock.

She didn't expect that Li Chengqian wanted more than just the Zheng family's assets in Jiangnan; he wanted the entire Zheng family.

But does she dare to refuse? Does she have the right to bargain?

Which bastard said that it's easy for a woman to pursue a man?

After a moment of silence, Zheng Qiuying looked at Li Chengqian and said:

"I, Zheng Qiuying, a sinner, am willing to die for Your Highness."

Li Chengqian nodded in satisfaction.

What he wanted was never a vase that only knew how to cry.

Get up.

He turned around, took a stack of blank Xuan paper and a pen from his desk, and threw them in front of Zheng Qiuying.

"I'll give you three days to memorize all of the Zheng family's businesses, connections, spies, and the details of that nautical chart in Jiangnan."

If you dare to try anything funny, you should know the consequences.

Zheng Qiuying nodded helplessly.

What other option does she have but to give in now?

......

The next day, at the Taiji Hall.

The once packed imperial court was now much emptier.

The positions that originally belonged to officials from the five surnames and seven clans are now largely empty.

The remaining officials fell silent, trembling with fear.

The brief but bloody suppression of the rebellion outside Xuanwu Gate was like a knife hanging over everyone's head.

They were all afraid that Li Shimin's executioner's blade would fall on their own necks.

Looking at the group of ministers below him who were acting like subservient subjects, Li Shimin felt a rare sense of satisfaction.

Without those nitpicking aristocratic families, the imperial court looks much more pleasing to the eye.

Seeing that there was nothing of great importance, Li Shimin was preparing to dismiss the court.

Just then, a figure stepped out from the ranks of civil officials.

"My lord, I have a report to report!"

All the officials looked in surprise toward the direction of the sound.

Wei Zheng stood in the center of the hall, holding a scepter.

Li Chengqian rolled his eyes helplessly when he saw Wei Zheng.

This old man really can't stand not finding fault with something every day.

Even a fool could tell that the old man was referring to yesterday's incident.

Li Shimin rubbed his temples, feeling a bit of a headache.

"Minister Wei, what is it you wish to report?"

Wei Zheng bowed deeply.

"Your Highness, I wish to impeach you!"

Upon hearing this, the entire Taiji Hall fell silent.

Impeaching the Crown Prince at this critical juncture?

Did Wei Zheng think he had lived too long?

Everyone thought they had misheard.

Who doesn't know that the Crown Prince enjoys great favor with the emperor? Why would anyone go looking for trouble at this time?

Li Shimin asked curiously:

"What crime has the Crown Prince committed? Is there any reason for you to take this matter so seriously, my dear minister?"

"His Highness the Crown Prince has disregarded the laws of the land and openly robbed a wanted criminal!"

Wei Zheng pointed at Li Chengqian and shouted,

"Yesterday on Zhuque Street, in full view of everyone, His Highness the Crown Prince ordered his men to open the prison cart and forcibly abduct Zheng Qiuying, the eldest daughter of the Zheng family of Xingyang."

This act is no different from that of bandits! It severely damages the dignity of the royal family. I humbly request Your Majesty to severely punish the Crown Prince to uphold the law!

As soon as he finished speaking, the once lifeless court instantly came to life.

Especially on the side of the military generals.

"Did I hear that right? His Highness the Crown Prince snatched that girl from the Zheng family?"

Yuchi Jingde looked at Cheng Yaojin with an incredulous expression.

"Hehe! I knew His Highness was destined for great things."

Cheng Yaojin winked at Li Chengqian and said,

"Your Highness has really broadened your horizons this time. Even heroes can't resist the charms of a beautiful woman, we're all men, we understand."

Li Ji, standing nearby, stepped on Cheng Yaojin's instep and muttered a curse:

"You old scoundrel, shut up! This is the imperial court, not your backyard."

Cheng Yaojin winced in pain, but still chuckled, raising an eyebrow at Qin Qiong and saying:

"Second Brother, do you think His Highness has finally come to his senses?"

Qin Qiong completely ignored this clown.

However, he was also curious, as he had come to know Li Chengqian over the years that he was not the kind of person who was lustful.

What's wrong?

Is she experiencing the first stirrings of love?

As Li Chengqian listened to the vulgarities uttered by these old thugs, the veins on his forehead throbbed.

Li Shimin's expression also became strange.

He glanced at Li Chengqian, his mind racing with doubt:

Shouldn't we find a crown princess for this rebellious son?

"Ahem!"

Li Shimin coughed twice, interrupting the generals' merriment.

"Silence! Cheng Zhijie, if you dare to make any more noise, you will be fined one year's salary!"

Cheng Yaojin immediately shrank his neck, but he couldn't hide the gossip spirit on his face.

Li Shimin looked at Li Chengqian and asked in a deep voice:

"Brilliant! Is what Wei Zheng said true?"

Li Chengqian first bowed to Wei Zheng before slowly speaking:

"Your Majesty, what Lord Wei said is basically true."

His admission was met with another gasp of astonishment in the court.

Cheng Yaojin quietly pulled Yuchi Jingde aside and began to place his bets in hushed tones:

"I bet a hundred strings of cash that Your Highness will definitely get a scolding today."

"I bet His Highness is alright; His Majesty can't bear to part with him."

Li Chengqian, too lazy to bother with those troublemakers, looked at Wei Zheng helplessly and said:

"Lord Wei, I know you are dedicated to your duties. But before you impeach me, could you please investigate why I took Zheng Qiuying away?"

"No matter the reason, it cannot be an excuse for His Highness the Crown Prince to disregard the law."

Wei Zheng spoke with righteous indignation.

"Zheng Qiuying is a wanted criminal and should be taken to the Dali Temple for trial. If Your Highness has any questions, you can ask the Dali Temple for questioning, rather than abducting her in the street."

"What if I say that the Court of Judicial Review cannot handle this case?"

Li Chengqian asked helplessly.

"Why can't it be reviewed?"

Wei Zheng frowned and looked at Li Chengqian.

"Because what she knows is more important than the entire Dali Temple combined."

Li Chengqian made a startling statement.

"Lord Wei, do you know that what I'm taking away isn't just a woman, but the fate of our Tang Dynasty for the next thirty years?"

boom!

This statement is ten times more powerful than Wei Zheng's impeachment of the Crown Prince.

A traitorous woman from a powerful family, whose fate is intertwined with the destiny of the Tang Dynasty for the next thirty years?

Who would believe that if I told them that?

Not only did Wei Zheng not believe it, but even Li Shimin thought that this rebellious son had been bewitched by beauty.

"Nonsense!"

Wei Zheng angrily pointed at Li Chengqian and roared,

"Your Highness! This is the imperial court; how dare you speak such nonsense? You forcibly abducted a woman for your own selfish desires, and you even dare to use the fate of the nation as a shield?"

Li Chengqian sighed, knowing that it was pointless to reason with such a stubborn old man.

He turned to look at Li Shimin and said:

"Father, I know this sounds absurd. But I dare to guarantee with my position as Crown Prince that there is not a single falsehood in this."

As he spoke, Li Chengqian took out a roll of Xuan paper from his sleeve.

This was exactly what he had Zheng Qiuying stay up all night to memorize.

"Father, this is Zheng Qiuying's confession."

The information recorded above concerns an unprecedented and enormous source of wealth for our Great Tang Dynasty.

Its value far exceeds the total value of all the property confiscated from the five prominent families and seven noble clans this time.

Li Shimin's breath hitched.

How much wealth have the five surnames and seven prominent families accumulated over hundreds of years?

The gold and silver counted alone filled several warehouses of the national treasury.

This unfilial son is saying that what a woman spits out is more valuable than this?

Li Chengqian held the roll of Xuan paper high above his head:

"Father, please take a look. However, I must remind you that after you have read it, you may no longer think that I have made a mistake."

He paused.

"On the contrary, you might feel that what I have done is far from enough."