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

The outhouse of the King of Yue's residence.

After Li Tai returned, he crawled inside.

He endured the stench and took the note out of his pocket to continue reading.

"Li Gang is old and values ​​his reputation above all else. If the prince were to seriously injure him without cause, he would surely be disgraced and forced to resign."

"In class tomorrow, you must provoke this beast. When the ruler falls, you must deliberately run headfirst into it, making sure it draws blood. Then shout for help and bring the guards inside."

"After this incident, my uncle will definitely contact important officials in the court to impeach Li Gang for abusing the prince and force His Majesty to replace him."

Li Tai almost threw the note into the chamber pot after seeing it.

Make yourself hit the ruler? And even bleed?

If I had that kind of guts, why would I complain?

But when Li Tai thought about what had happened in the past two days, and about his happy life before, he realized that...

He hardened his heart and stomped his foot.

"Let's give it our all."

As long as I get rid of this old man, I can go back to eating meat and sleeping in, even if it means shedding some blood.

The Eastern Palace.

Li Chengqian leaned back in his armchair, a blade of grass dangling from his mouth, watching Du Ruhui and Qin Qiong play chess with boredom.

Xiao Shunzi suddenly walked in at that moment.

"Your Highness, a message just came in that the people from the Duke of Qi's mansion contacted His Highness the Prince of Yue when he left Taiji Palace and even threw something into His Highness's carriage."

"You couldn't hold back anymore?"

Li Chengqian smiled.

"My uncle was forced into a corner, and he's resorting to this kind of tactic."

Du Ruhui put down the white chess piece in his hand, looked at Li Chengqian and said:

"Changsun Wuji is trying to break the deadlock. With the Yue Prince's mansion sealed off, he can't give advice in person, so he can only resort to such underhanded methods."

"Your Highness, should we have someone investigate what was thrown away?"

"Investigate what?"

Li Chengqian waved his hand.

"Uncle went to such lengths to provide Qingque with this plan; if we were to stop him, wouldn't that be disrespectful to our family?"

A relative frowned and said:

"Your Highness, Changsun Wuji is cunning and treacherous. If he teaches the Prince of Yue to feign illness or go on a hunger strike, and the matter reaches His Majesty, Li Gang may be in trouble."

"Uncle Qin, don't worry. I can guess what my uncle's tricks are even with my toes."

Li Chengqian stood up and stretched.

"He simply wanted to use a self-inflicted injury to injure Qingque, and then use the opportunity to impeach the Grand Tutor for abusing the prince in court."

After hearing this, Du Ruhui was taken aback for a moment, then stroked his beard and laughed loudly:

"Your Highness is wise. Li Gang values ​​his reputation most. If he were to be accused of mistreating a prince, he would truly be unable to continue running the Yue Prince's mansion."

Li Chengqian waved to Xiao Shunzi:

"Go and find the best piece of sandalwood in the storeroom, and have a craftsman forge it into a ruler overnight. Remember, it must be thick and easy to handle."

Xiao Shunzi looked at Li Chengqian with a puzzled expression and asked:

"Your Highness, why are you using the ruler?"

As Li Chengqian walked out, he said:

"Since Uncle wants to play the self-inflicted injury trick, I will give Qingque a big gift so that his self-inflicted injury trick can be performed in a legitimate way."

The next day, at the Ganlu Palace.

Just as Li Shimin was worrying over a pile of memorials, he saw Li Chengqian sneaking in, peeking out.

"You unfilial son, what are you doing here again?"

Li Shimin glared at Li Chengqian with annoyance.

"The matter between the Wang and Cui families is not over yet, so don't cause me any more trouble."

Ignoring Li Shimin's reprimand, Li Chengqian walked behind him and skillfully massaged Li Shimin's shoulders.

"Father, I've come to share your burdens."

"Share my burdens? You'll be lucky if you don't drive me crazy."

Li Shimin snorted coldly.

Although he said that, he still enjoyed his son's filial piety.

"Father, you know Qingque's temper best."

Having never experienced hardship since childhood, the Grand Tutor, though highly learned, was, after all, quite old.

If Qingque were to act recklessly, relying on his status as a prince to throw a tantrum, how could the Grand Tutor possibly control him?

"If he manages to anger the Grand Tutor to the point of causing serious injury, Father, you'll be in for a lot of trouble in court."

Li Shimin frowned upon hearing these words.

That's true. That brat Qingque has caused more trouble and tantrums than Li Chengqian.

"What's your opinion?"

Li Chengqian smiled and took out the polished sandalwood ruler from his sleeve, presenting it to Li Shimin with both hands.

"Your Majesty, I humbly request that you personally inscribe this ruler and bestow it upon the Grand Tutor."

With the Emperor's imperial brush, this ruler is equivalent to the Emperor's personal presence.

Even if Qingque had the greatest courage, she wouldn't dare to act presumptuously before her father's imperial edict.

Li Shimin looked at the ruler and thought it was a good idea.

"That makes sense."

Li Shimin nodded, picked up the vermilion pen, and asked,

What words should be written in the title?

"Regarding what you said the other day about punishing someone on my behalf."

With a flourish of his brush, Li Shimin wrote four large, elegant characters on the ruler.

"Take it. Tell Li Gang to discipline him properly. As long as he's not killed, he can do whatever he wants."

Li Chengqian looked at the words on the ruler and smiled:

"Your subject obeys the decree."

That afternoon, the imperial ruler, along with a secret letter from the Crown Prince, was quietly delivered to Li Gang's desk.

Li Gang unfolded the secret letter, and after reading it, he was so angry that his beard almost stood on end.

"You, Changsun Wuji, dare to trick me even though I'm not bothering you?"

Do you really think I, a veteran of three dynasties, got my position through flattery like you?

Li Gang picked up the ruler bestowed by the emperor and weighed it in his hand.

It was quite heavy, twice the weight of a regular ruler.

If you were to draw that on someone, they would definitely end up with bruises all over their body.

Li Gang put the ruler back and snorted coldly:

"Since you desire bloodshed, then I will grant your wish tomorrow."

The next day, early morning, at dawn.

As dawn broke, the lights were already lit in the study of the Prince of Yue's residence.

Contrary to his usual behavior, Li Tai didn't stay in bed or complain today; instead, he sat at his desk with great energy.

His eyes never left Li Gang.

He had already made up his mind that if Li Gang dared to raise the ruler, he would smash his head against it.

Once blood is drawn, he shouts for help to lure the guards inside.

This old man is doomed.

Li Gang looked at Li Tai's excited expression and a cold smile curled at the corner of his mouth.

He walked to the desk, looked at Li Tai, and asked:

"Your Highness, have you memorized the passage from Mencius, Book 6, Part 1, that I assigned yesterday?"

Li Tai raised his head, looked at Li Gang, and said smugly:

"What a load of crap."

Mind your own business, you old geezer.

I drink cold water and eat cornbread every day, and I don't have a single bit of oil in my belly. What am I supposed to use to recite books?

Today, I'm not going to take the blame. What can you do to me?

You dare hit me, Your Majesty?

Li Gang looked at the arrogant Li Tai and nodded in satisfaction:

"Indeed, disrespecting teachers and elders, and dishonoring the sages. I have taught countless people, but Your Highness is the first one to actively seek a beating."

Li Gang slowly rolled up his sleeves and pulled out the imperial ruler from his cuff.

Li Tai looked at the ruler and was overjoyed.

Was this old man so easily fooled?