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

"Achoo!"

In the study of the Eastern Palace, Li Chengqian rubbed his nose, looked at the thick stack of secret letters in front of him, and muttered irritably,

"Which old bastard is badmouthing me behind my back?"

Xiao Shunzi quickly handed over a silk handkerchief, suppressing a laugh as he said:

"Your Highness, I reckon it's His Majesty. A message just came from the Lizheng Hall saying that His Majesty knows about the betting scheme, smashed two teacups in the Lizheng Hall, and is saying he's going to make things difficult for you."

Li Chengqian took the silk handkerchief, wiped his hands, rolled his eyes, and said:

"Father is just stingy. It's not like I opened the betting shop. Why doesn't he dare to cause trouble for Grandfather? Besides, this time I helped him see the true colors of those old killers."

......

The Duke of Qi's Mansion.

Changsun Wuji's confinement period was finally over.

He sat in his study, staring out the window with a gloomy expression.

For the past two weeks, he has been living a more suffocating life than if he were in prison.

The entire city of Chang'an was watching him make a fool of himself.

Two knocks suddenly came from outside the door.

The butler pushed open the door and led in a person wrapped in a black cloak.

The cloak was removed, revealing Wang Gui's old face.

"Duke of Qi, you are finally free."

Wang Gui plopped down in a chair, his face full of worry, and said...

Changsun Wuji dismissed the servants and personally closed the door.

"Lord Wang, is your visit so late at night about the estate outside the city?"

Wang Gui said in a fit of rage:

"That's right. That's tens of thousands of strings of cash."

After investigating thoroughly, the Hundred Cavalry Commandery dismissed the matter with a mere dismissal of the matter by claiming that Turkic bandits were on the move.

Did the Turks grow wings? How could they sneak out of Chang'an and rob it without anyone noticing? This is clearly the imperial family just going through the motions.

Changsun Wuji sneered:

"Lord Wang, do you really think it was the Turks who did it? Think about it carefully. In this Chang'an city, who would dare to touch the property of your five clans and seven noble families, and make His Majesty swallow this mess?"

Wang Gui paused for a moment, then tentatively asked:

"Could it be that His Majesty himself sent someone to do it?"

"His Majesty has a sense of honor; he wouldn't do something so despicable."

Changsun Wuji tapped the table twice.

"It's the Crown Prince."

"Li Chengqian?"

Wang Gui almost jumped up from his chair.

"He's just a kid who hasn't even grown up yet, where would he get the manpower? The guards in the manor are all top-notch men we've hired. Anyone who can take them all down in an instant is definitely an elite member of the border army."

Changsun Wuji leaned forward slightly:

"This is what I wanted to tell you. I suspect that the Crown Prince is secretly raising a private army, and its fighting strength should be quite terrifying."

Li Gang was angered by him and left, and Kong Yingda was also fooled by him. Now even you aristocratic families are being manipulated by him.

Our crown prince has been hiding his true abilities far too well.

Wang Gui felt a chill run down his spine after hearing Changsun Wuji's analysis.

The crown prince is raising a private army? That's a serious crime of treason.

Outside the study, Changsun Wuji's youngest son, Changsun Huan, was squatting under the window catching crickets.

Hearing his father's voice coming from inside, he curiously pressed his face against the window to listen.

Changsun Wuji continued, "Lord Wang, if the Crown Prince is not eliminated, none of us will have a good life."

He holds something on my hands, and I'm hesitant to act rashly. But you five clans and seven noble families don't have anything he can do about you."

Wang Gui looked at Changsun Wuji and asked, "What does the Duke of Qi mean?"

"They joined forces with several other factions to launch an attack in the imperial court. Using the Crown Prince's alleged misconduct and the raising of a private army as pretexts, they pressured His Majesty to depose the heir!"

A fierce glint appeared in Changsun Wuji's eyes.

"As long as you charge ahead and fight on, and I support you from behind, even if the Empress protects His Majesty, he will not be able to withstand the pressure from the entire court."

Wang Gui stroked his beard and nodded repeatedly: "Good idea. Let's launch a surprise attack on him during tomorrow's morning court session."

Changsun Wuji snorted coldly in his heart.

You little brat, you think you've got something on me and I can't do anything to you?

Still too inexperienced.

Changsun Huan, who was outside the window, was so frightened that he sat down on the ground, his face turning pale.

Deposing the crown prince? Raising a private army? Forcing the emperor to abdicate?

Oh no, my dad's about to rebel.

Changsun Huan scrambled and stumbled towards the backyard, rushing straight into his mother's room.

Lady Changsun was removing her makeup in front of the bronze mirror when, before she could react, Changsun Huan grabbed her leg and began to wail.

"Mother! Something terrible has happened! My father is going to rebel!"

Lady Changsun's hand trembled, nearly breaking the jade hairpin in her hand: "What nonsense are you spouting?"

"Really. I heard it with my own ears."

Changsun Huan hurriedly said,

"Father is plotting with that old man Wang Gui in the study, talking about raising a private army, forcing the emperor to abdicate, and deposing the crown prince."

"Mother, rebellion means the extermination of nine generations of your family. I don't want to die."

Lady Changsun's mind went blank.

Ever since the incident at Zuixianlou, she has been furious with Changsun Wuji.

Later, when Changsun Wuji was confined to his quarters by the Empress, she felt even more humiliated.

Now that this old man has just been released from confinement, he's already plotting and scheming at home again, even trying to depose the crown prince?

That prince was her own nephew.

"Someone, bring me my feather duster."

Lady Changsun was filled with rage and, driven by malice, grabbed her weapon and stormed into the study.

In the study, Changsun Wuji and Wang Gui were discussing the details when the door was kicked open with a bang.

Lady Changsun stormed in, pointing her finger at Changsun Wuji and yelling:

"You damned Changsun Wuji! You old codger, you've only just been released from confinement, and you dare to plot a rebellion at home? You don't want to live, but I do!"

Changsun Wuji was stunned by this sudden turn of events.

Wang Gui was also dumbfounded.

"Madam, what's wrong with you?"

Changsun Wuji quickly covered her mouth.

"Lord Wang is still here."

"What's wrong with Wang Gui being here?"

Lady Changsun shoved him away and turned to glare fiercely at Wang Gui.

"Lord Wang, our Changsun family will not get involved in your messy affairs."

"If you want to rebel, go do it yourself. Don't drag our master down with you. Get out of here."

Wang Gui was so embarrassed that he wished he could disappear into the ground.

He, a dignified Imperial Censor, was actually scolded by a woman.

"Duke of Qi, this...this is utterly unacceptable!"

Wang Gui flicked his sleeve, covered his face, and fled in panic.

Changsun Wuji trembled with rage and pointed at his wife, roaring:

"You're utterly unreasonable. Who told you I was going to rebel?"

At this moment, Changsun Huan poked his head out from outside the door and said weakly:

"Father, I heard everything. You said you wanted to force the abdication of the Crown Prince..."

Changsun Wuji's vision went black, and he almost spat out a mouthful of blood.

What a damn unlucky thing!