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

Li Shimin waved his hand dismissively:

"No need. What urgent matter brings you here so early in the morning?"

Cheng Yaojin stood up, moved closer to the imperial desk, and carefully examined Li Shimin's face.

"Your Majesty, you don't look well. Have you been working too hard on state affairs lately and are exhausted?"

Li Shimin coughed twice to cover up his embarrassment.

"I'm fine. If you have something to say, get out of here."

Cheng Yaojin chuckled:

"Your Majesty, I have heard that you have been resting in Ganlu Palace for the past two days?"

Li Shimin's face immediately darkened.

How did this kind of thing get to the ears of this loudspeaker?

"Who's gossiping? Do I need to report to you where I'm resting?"

Cheng Yaojin quickly waved his hand and said:

"Your Majesty, please calm down. That's not what I meant. What I meant was that Your Majesty did the right thing this time. Absolutely the right thing."

Li Shimin was stunned.

Did this bastard take the wrong medicine today?

They didn't laugh at me?

"Your Majesty, we men should act like men."

Who makes the decisions at home? It has to be the man. Women are just lazy and short-sighted; you can spoil them a bit most of the time, but when it really matters, you absolutely can't tolerate their bad habits.

Li Shimin was stunned by what he said.

Li Chengqian, standing to the side, almost threw away the ginseng soup he was holding.

He finally understood that Cheng Yaojin, that old bastard, had actually come to bewitch Li Shimin for the sake of that ten strings of cash bet.

"What do you mean by that?"

Li Shimin looked at Cheng Yaojin with a stern face and asked.

"Your Majesty is the supreme ruler, the sovereign of the world. This harem is also Your Majesty's harem."

If Your Majesty were to humble yourself and apologize to a woman over such a trivial matter, where would Your Majesty's dignity be? What would the people of the world think of Your Majesty? Where would the face of the Tang Dynasty be placed?

Li Shimin looked at Cheng Yaojin and stroked his chin.

That makes some sense.

Seeing that Li Shimin did not refute him, Cheng Yaojin became even bolder.

"Your Majesty, please don't lose face by going to the Lizheng Hall."

If you go, it will be seen as a sign of weakness. Then, wouldn't the Empress be in charge of the harem? Your imperial authority will be completely undermined.

Li Chengqian, listening from the side, rolled his eyes.

This old bastard, who usually gets beaten up by Cui at home, is now running around pretending to be a big shot?

"Then, in your opinion, what should I do?"

Li Shimin has already been put on the chopping block and can't get down.

Cheng Yaojin waved his hand.

"Let it air out. It has to be aired out. Let it air out for ten days or half a month."

A true man only forgives his empress when she truly realizes her mistakes and takes the initiative to apologize to His Majesty.

Li Shimin stroked his chin again, seemingly lost in thought.

"Ten days to half a month...isn't that a bit too long?"

Cheng Yaojin became anxious upon hearing this.

"Not long. Not long at all. That's what I do at home."

If my wife dares to give me the cold shoulder, I'll just ignore her for ten days or half a month. In the end, doesn't she still obediently come and bring me water to wash my feet?

Li Chengqian could no longer hold back and asked with a smile:

"Duke Lu, I've heard that you're always being chased by Aunt Cui with a stick?"

Cheng Yaojin blushed and retorted stiffly:

"Your Highness, I was just letting her win. A good man doesn't fight with a woman. If we really started fighting, I could knock her down with just one finger."

Li Shimin then waved his hand, interrupting their argument.

"Alright, alright, Zhijie, I appreciate your kindness."

"I know what I'm doing. You may leave now."

Before leaving, Cheng Yaojin didn't forget to give him a word of advice.

"Your Majesty, you must stop! A man must never bow his head."

Li Chengqian watched Cheng Yaojin's retreating figure and cursed inwardly.

This bastard will do anything for money.

They even dare to meddle in the emperor's family affairs. Aren't they afraid that Empress Zhangsun will find out one day and have them all chopped up?

Li Shimin sat on the dragon throne, pondering Cheng Yaojin's words.

"Gao Ming, do you think what Duke Lu said makes sense?"

Li Chengqian quickly shook his head and said:

"Father, Duke Lu is talking nonsense. Don't listen to his lies."

"Your mother did that for your own good. It's not shameful for you to apologize."

Upon hearing this, Li Shimin's temper flared up again.

"How dare you! I am the Son of Heaven, why should I admit my mistakes?"

Zhijie is right, I have spoiled you and your son too much.

This time, I'll be firm. If she doesn't come to apologize, I absolutely will not step foot in the Lizheng Hall.

Li Chengqian sighed inwardly.

Well, Dad has been completely fooled.

"Your Majesty is wise. I shall take my leave now."

Li Chengqian quickly left Ganlu Hall.

For the next few days, Chang'an was unusually quiet.

The powerful clans suffered a loss they couldn't swallow, and didn't dare utter a single word.

Wang Gui stayed home, claiming illness, and the other officials also behaved themselves extremely well in the court.

Every day after court, Li Shimin would retreat to the Ganlu Hall to review memorials. He would also rest there in the evening.

One day, two days, three days...

Five days have passed in the blink of an eye.

Inside the Da'an Palace, Yuchi Jingde's face turned green with defeat.

"Old Cheng, you old scoundrel! Have you bewitched His Majesty with some kind of magic potion? Why hasn't His Majesty gone to the Hall of State Affairs yet?"

Yuchi Jingde pointed at Cheng Yaojin's nose and cursed.

Cheng Yaojin looked at Yuchi Jingde with a smug expression.

"A bet is a bet! I, Lao Cheng, won money through my own skill, so don't be envious."

Sitting in the dealer's seat, Li Yuan watched Cheng Yaojin's smug expression and felt a pang of heartache.

That's all his money! How could he let that bastard win?

"This rebellious son, why is he so stubborn this time? Five days have passed, and he still hasn't gone to the Hall of State Affairs?"

Li Chengqian sat to the side, cracking sunflower seeds and grinning from ear to ear.

"Grandpa, don't worry. There are still five days left. Whether Father can hold on for ten days is still uncertain."

Lizheng Hall.

Empress Zhangsun sat on the soft couch, flipping through the account book in her hand.

At that moment, Qiuyue walked in carrying a plate of pastries.

"Your Majesty, it's been five days, and His Majesty has been resting in the Ganlu Palace. What do you think...?"

Empress Zhangsun didn't even raise her head.

"He can rest wherever he wants. My palace is too small to accommodate such a great figure as him."

Qiuyue hesitated for a moment, then whispered:

"I heard that Duke Lu went to Ganlu Palace a few days ago."

Afterwards, His Majesty declared that if you did not apologize, he would never set foot in the Lizheng Hall again.

Empress Zhangsun stopped flipping through the account book.

"Cheng Zhijie?"

Empress Zhangsun asked coldly.

Qiuyue hurriedly replied:

"Yes. I heard it from a eunuch in Ganlu Palace. Duke Lu was making a fuss in Ganlu Palace, saying things like men should be in charge and not bow down to women."

Moreover, I've heard that the Crown Prince seems to have started some kind of betting platform...

Empress Zhangsun slammed the account book shut.

Good, Li Shimin has become more capable, and Cheng Zhijie has become more capable too.

How dare you sow discord between the Emperor and Empress behind their backs? Are you asking for trouble?

"Go and fetch Gao Ming."

Empress Dowager Changsun gave the instructions.

Not long after, Li Chengqian came running in, all excited.

"Mother, did you summon me?"

Empress Zhangsun looked at Li Chengqian and said:

"Gao Ming, I know about your opening of a gambling den at Da'an Palace."

Li Chengqian's heart skipped a beat.

Oh no! How did this get to the Empress Dowager's ears?

"Mother, please let me explain. It was all because my grandfather dragged me into playing that; I was forced into it."

Li Chengqian decisively shifted the blame to Li Yuan.

Empress Zhangsun sneered:

"I don't care who started it, I just want to know how much Cheng Zhijie bet?"

Li Chengqian answered honestly:

"Duke Lu pawned ten strings of cash for more than ten days."

Empress Zhangsun nodded:

"For ten strings of cash, he went to the Ganlu Palace to instigate your father. That old killer has quite the nerve."

"Gao Ming, do me a favor."

Li Chengqian quickly said:

"Your Majesty, please give your orders."

"Go check if any of those old killers have been imprisoned for eight days."

Li Chengqian paused for a moment, then quickly went through the records in his mind.

"Mother, the military officers who bet for five days at most, followed by those led by Duke Lu who bet for ten days or more. As for eight days, not a single one."

Empress Changsun sneered: "Since no one has bet on eight days, I'll take over this game where the house wins all."

"Go tell your imperial grandfather that half of the money won at Da'an Palace should be sent to Lizheng Hall."

On the eighth day, I personally went to the Ganlu Palace.

Li Chengqian quickly gave a thumbs up.

"Mother's move was brilliant. Not only did it give Father a way out, it also embezzled all the money from those old killers."

"Your Majesty, I will go to the Da'an Palace to deliver the message. If you knew that I could win over everyone, you would be ecstatic."

Empress Zhangsun waved her hand, signaling him to get lost.

Want to see the emperor and empress make a fool of themselves? And want to win money from the royal family?

Do they really think she, the empress, is a pushover?