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

"I will never yield."

I am going to see my mother; I have something to report.

You old bastard, just you wait!

While Li Gang was dozing off, Li Tai sneaked to the backyard and crawled out through the dog hole in the corner of the wall.

Lizheng Hall.

Just as Li Chengqian was picking up a grape and putting it in his mouth...

"Mother! Help!"

A loud shout startled Li Chengqian, who swallowed the grapes whole.

If Fu Gui hadn't been quick to help Li Chengqian catch his breath, he probably would have fainted from holding his breath.

When Empress Zhangsun saw Li Tai, she was so shocked that she almost didn't recognize her son.

In just a few days, Li Tai had lost a lot of weight.

He was covered in dirt, and his hands were swollen.

This broke Empress Zhangsun's heart.

"Qingque? What happened to you? Who beat you up like this?"

Li Tai burst into tears:

"Mother, that old madman Li Gang wants to kill me. He won't give me meat to eat, he pours cold water on me in the middle of the night, and he beats me to death with a ruler."

"Mother, if you don't take care of me, he'll torture me to death."

Changsun Wugou stood up defiantly:

"Outrageous! How dare Li Gang? Does he really think I dare not punish him? Guards, bring Li Gang to me."

"Please calm down, Your Majesty."

After catching his breath, Li Chengqian went straight over and hugged Li Tai tightly.

"Qingque, how did you get so thin? Let your older brother take a look at your hands."

Li Chengqian took Li Tai's hand, brought it to his lips, and gently blew on it, his eyes reddening as he did so.

"Grand Tutor went too far! How could he beat our Qingque like this?"

Seeing how much his elder brother cared about him, Li Tai cried even more aggrievedly.

"Brother, that old man was inhuman! How did you manage to get through it?"

Li Chengqian sighed:

"Qingque, you've suffered. But although the Grand Tutor is strict, it's all for your sake."

As the ancients said, a strict teacher produces outstanding students.

Since Father Emperor has appointed the Grand Tutor to teach you, it means he has high hopes for you.

Empress Zhangsun frowned and looked at Li Chengqian:

"Brilliant! Li Gang acted far too recklessly. Qingque is, after all, a prince."

"Mother, I know you are heartbroken."

Li Chengqian looked at Empress Zhangsun.

"Qingque was pampered from a young age, and her temperament was indeed somewhat spoiled."

If the Grand Tutor doesn't take drastic measures, how can he achieve great things? Besides, my uncle just recently privately praised Qingque for having the potential to become an emperor.

"If the Grand Tutor doesn't keep a close watch, and Qingque actually believes those rumors and repeats the mistakes of Xuanwu Gate, that would be a disaster for the Tang Dynasty."

Upon hearing this, Empress Zhangsun's expression instantly changed.

She then remembered Changsun Wuji's words, "The Crown Prince is often ill; you should encourage him."

If Qingque continues to be so arrogant, she will eventually be controlled by Changsun Wuji and become a puppet in the Changsun family's power struggles.

Sooner or later, a new round of the Xuanwu Gate Incident will be repeated.

"Mother..."

Li Tai was still sobbing there.

"You should issue an order to send that old man away immediately."

"Shut up!"

Empress Zhangsun rebuked her sternly.

"Look at yourself now. You cry and whine at the slightest thing. Where is the backbone that a man of the Li family should have?"

Grand Tutor Li Gang is a veteran of three reigns and a renowned Confucian scholar. It's a blessing that he's willing to discipline you.

Instead of striving for advancement, you come to the inner palace to complain? You've utterly disgraced the royal family.

Li Tai was dumbfounded.

This doesn't make sense. Didn't Mother just say she was going to punish Li Gang?

Why did Mother turn her back on me after my elder brother said just a few words?

"Mother, I really can't take it anymore..."

Li Tai still wanted to struggle a bit more.

"You have to endure it, even if you can't."

Empress Zhangsun interrupted him directly.

"Guards! Proclaim my imperial decree. Grand Tutor Li Gang has devoted himself wholeheartedly to instructing the Prince of Yue, and his merits are outstanding. He is hereby awarded a Ferghana horse from the Western Regions and two bolts of the finest Shu brocade. Send them to the Prince of Yue's residence with great fanfare."

After hearing Empress Zhangsun's imperial edict, Li Tai collapsed to the ground, utterly devastated.

Isn't this a blatant message to Li Gang: "I'm very satisfied with your current teaching methods. You can beat me up as much as you want?"

Li Tai's gaze unconsciously drifted towards Li Chengqian.

He then discovered that his older brother was looking at him with concern.

Just then, Li Shimin burst in.

He had just finished court when he heard that Li Tai had come to the Lizheng Hall to file a complaint, so he rushed back.

"Guanyinbi, I heard that Qingque has been wronged?"

As soon as Li Shimin entered the door, he started shouting.

"Oh dear, how come my Qingque has become so thin and unsightly? This Li Gang is too presumptuous."

Just as Li Shimin was about to pull Li Tai up from the ground, Empress Zhangsun glared at him.

"Does Your Majesty think I've done anything wrong in disciplining my son?"

Li Shimin's outstretched hand stopped in mid-air, and he looked up at Empress Zhangsun.

"Cough cough..."

Li Shimin awkwardly withdrew his hand and touched his nose.

"I am very pleased that the Empress has taught her son so well."

"Qingque, your mother is right, a strict teacher produces outstanding students. You must understand the Grand Tutor's good intentions."

Li Tai closed his eyes in despair.

It's all over, even my father isn't on my side anymore.

Li Chengqian then spoke up:

"Father, Mother. I think the reason why Qingque is not good at his studies is because he is often distracted by external factors."

Especially her uncle, who would run to the Yue Prince's mansion every few days and always say nonsensical things to distract Qingque.

For the sake of Qingque's future, I propose that no one, especially his uncle, be allowed to visit him until he has completed his studies.

Empress Zhangsun nodded in deep agreement:

"Gao Ming is right. Issue the decree: without the permission of this palace and His Majesty, no one is to set foot in the Yue Prince's residence. Those who disobey will be severely punished."

Li Shimin opened his mouth, wanting to say something on behalf of Changsun Wuji.

But seeing Changsun Wugou's serious expression, he ultimately didn't say it.

"Guards, escort the Prince of Yue back to his residence. Tell Li Gang to discipline him severely, just enough to keep him alive."

Empress Zhangsun waved her hand, and Fugui immediately led several eunuchs up and carried Li Tai outside.

"Mother! Father! Help! I don't want to go back!"

Li Tai's cries echoed throughout the palace.

Li Chengqian stood at the entrance of the Lizheng Hall and waved to Li Tai, who was being dragged away.

He hadn't expected that he was still thinking about how to prevent Changsun Wuji from going to the Yue Prince's mansion.

Li Tai himself delivered the opportunity to himself.

Now he wanted to see what kind of trouble Changsun Wuji and those aristocratic families could cause.

Li Tai sat in the carriage, heading towards the Yue Prince's residence.

As the carriage reached a corner, it suddenly lurched.

Outside the carriage window, a vendor quickly tossed a crumpled piece of paper into the carriage when the eunuch wasn't looking.

After a moment of surprise, Li Tai quickly picked up the crumpled paper.

After confirming that the eunuch couldn't see him, he unfolded the crumpled paper.

"Qingque, don't panic. Your uncle has a plan to ensure your freedom. Tonight at midnight, proceed as planned..."