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

"Gao Ming, you should go back now. I need to discuss the matter of investigating the people's conditions with your father."

Empress Zhangsun said this to Li Chengqian with a smile.

Under Li Shimin's pleading gaze, Li Chengqian gave him a look that said "good luck," and then scurried off.

As soon as Li Chengqian stepped out, he heard Li Shimin pleading for mercy coming from inside.

"Go, Mom! Kill that old man Deng!"

Li Chengqian returned to the East Palace, humming a little tune in a cheerful mood.

He had just sat down in the study when Xiao Shunzi ran in.

"Your Highness, this was sent by the Zheng family of Xingyang."

Xiao Shunzi placed an invitation card in front of Li Chengqian.

"The other party specifically mentioned that the invitation was for you, and the servant who delivered it is still waiting outside the East Palace Gate."

Li Chengqian was stunned for a moment.

The Zheng family of Xingyang?

He picked up the invitation and glanced at it.

The signature at the bottom is three neat small characters: Zheng Qiuying.

The invitation was simple: it invited His Highness the Crown Prince to a poetry gathering to be held at Qujiang Pool in three days.

Li Chengqian threw the invitation on the table and rolled his eyes.

"Is this woman out of her mind?"

"I already insulted her like that at Wangyue Tower, and she still sent me an invitation? Is she a masochist?"

Xiao Shunzi analyzed in a low voice:

"Your Highness, could it be that your identity has been exposed? Did the Duke of Qi's mansion leak the news?"

"Is that even a guess?"

Li Chengqian sneered.

"Do you really think that good-for-nothing Changsun Chong is the kind of person who would keep a secret?"

"But now that Zheng Qiuying knows my identity, why did she send me an invitation to some poetry gathering? What exactly is she up to?"

"Is Your Highness going or not?"

Xiao Shunzi asked from the side.

"I'm not going."

Li Chengqian resolutely refused.

"Sit by the water reciting poetry with a bunch of idiots? I'd rather go to the Da'an Palace and play mahjong with my grandfather."

Go and tell them that I am ill and cannot get out of bed.

Just as Xiao Shunzi turned to leave.

Li Chengqian suddenly called out to him again.

"Wait, this is a bit strange. I'll go ask the Duke of Lai first."

After an incense stick has burned.

The secret chamber of the Eastern Palace.

Du Ruhui was lying on the table, asking Qin Qiong to help him apply a plaster to his back.

Last night, when I got home and beat up Du He, I got so carried away that I strained my back.

Hearing footsteps, Du Ruhui quickly sat up and straightened his clothes.

After Li Chengqian walked in, he placed the invitation card in front of Du Ruhui.

"Uncles, take a look at this. It was sent by the Zheng family of Xingyang."

Du Ruhui picked up the invitation and read it over. He first frowned, then burst into laughter.

"Your Highness, this Zheng family girl is no ordinary person."

Du Ruhui handed the invitation to Qin Qiong.

"After being publicly humiliated by you, instead of joining forces with other powerful families to cause trouble in court, they took the initiative to invite you. This shows they have taken a liking to Your Highness."

Upon hearing this, Li Chengqian instantly got goosebumps.

"Uncle Du, please don't disgust me."

What does she see in me? Does she see me so I can cause my father's death? Or does she see me so I can bring about my uncle's demise?

After reading the invitation, Qin Qiong smiled and said:

"Your Highness, the Duke of Lai is right. The people of the Five Clans and Seven Noble Families have always been arrogant and haughty. Even His Majesty was rejected when he wanted to form a marriage alliance with the Zheng family. Now that Zheng Qiuying knows your identity, she still dares to send you an invitation. It's obvious that she wants to curry favor with the Crown Prince."

Li Chengqian asked in surprise:

"Paying out of pocket? Do you think I, the Crown Prince, am a garbage collector?"

When she was being bullied by the young masters of noble families at Wangyue Tower, she pretended to be deaf and dumb.

When I crush Cui Hao to death, she can come out and pretend to be a good person.

I find this kind of hypocritical woman repulsive.

Du Ruhui then put away Xiao Yi and said seriously:

"Your Highness, it's one thing if you don't like the Zheng family girl, but you must attend the Qujiang Poetry Gathering."

Why?

Li Chengqian asked, puzzled.

"What am I going to do there? Go and be a laughingstock for them?"

Du Ruhui shook his head, his fingers tapping lightly on the invitation:

"Your Highness, the powerful families are not a monolithic entity."

The five surnames and seven clans are closely connected because they share common interests.

But now, Changsun Wuji is courting the Wang clan of Taiyuan and the Cui clan of Qinghe, intending to depose you as crown prince and install Prince Yue, Li Tai, in your place.

"Prince Li Tai of Yue has been driven nearly mad by Grand Tutor Li Gang, and Changsun Wuji's plans have been thwarted. At this time, the Zheng family of Xingyang suddenly shows you goodwill. What does this mean?"

Li Chengqian reacted instantly.

"Does this mean the Zheng family wants to abandon ship?"

"That's right."

Du Ruhui nodded.

"Zheng Jibo is a cunning old fox who won't act until he sees a clear benefit."

Zheng Qiuying's actions were definitely approved by Zheng Jibo. They saw through His Highness's concealment of his abilities at Wangyue Tower, and they also saw that His Highness was by no means as weak and incompetent as rumored.

The Zheng family is trying to place their bets early, putting all their eggs in His Highness's basket.

Li Chengqian scoffed:

"Do I need them to place bets? If they piss me off, I'll have my Shadow Guards empty their entire treasury in Xingyang."

Qin Qiong quickly waved his hand to dissuade him:

"Your Highness, we can't keep robbing them. The powerful families have unfathomable resources. If we really push them too far, they might join forces and retaliate, and even His Majesty wouldn't be able to control them. After all, even a rabbit will bite when cornered."

Du Ruhui picked up the conversation and analyzed:

"The Duke of Yi is right. Suppressing aristocratic families cannot be done by brute force alone."

If Your Highness can use this Qujiang Poetry Gathering to win over the Zheng family, and even to create a group of aristocratic scions, then Changsun Wuji's alliance to depose him will collapse on its own.

This is called "winning one side over attacking the other," which is the best strategy to undermine the enemy from within.

After all, the powerful families' roots aren't in Chang'an, or even in the Tang Dynasty. Your Highness shouldn't risk offending them lightly.

Li Chengqian stroked his chin, pondering Du Ruhui's words.

Du Ruhui's words do make sense.

While robbery may bring in money quickly, it is not a long-term solution.

If we can get the powerful families to start fighting amongst themselves, while we watch the show from the sidelines and also cause trouble for Li Shimin and Changsun Wuji, then this is definitely something we can do.

"Alright. Then I'll go and meet this most talented woman in Chang'an."

However, since they're going to a banquet, I'll prepare a surprise for them.

Du Ruhui looked at Li Chengqian's wicked grin and felt a pang of worry for those scions of noble families.

"What does Your Highness intend to do?"

Li Chengqian said with a smile:

"Aren't aristocratic families supposed to value talent and reputation the most? Don't they pride themselves on being romantic and refined? This time, I'll crush their pathetic little pride, along with their shamelessness."

Uncles, I originally wanted to take Du He and Qin Huaidao with me, but with your two aunts' combined attack, those two probably won't be able to get out of bed.

I'll bring someone with me to bolster the situation.

Qin Qiong paused for a moment, then asked, "Whom does Your Highness intend to take?"

"Then I'll definitely have to bring my cousin."

Li Chengqian said with an innocent expression.

"He just took the blame for me behind the scenes and was punished with a six-month ban."

As the Crown Prince, how can I watch my cousin suffer? I must go to the Duke of Qi's residence and personally bring him out to clear his head.

Du Ruhui and Qin Qiong exchanged a glance, silently wishing Changsun Chong well.

That prince is too ruthless; he's going to kill someone he can find.

If Changsun Wuji knew, he would probably be so angry that he would vomit blood on the spot.

When Li Chengqian returned to his study, he said to Xiao Shunzi:

"Go and tell the Zheng family that I have accepted the invitation and that I will definitely attend the banquet in three days."

Xiao Shunzi accepted the order and withdrew.

Li Chengqian picked up a brush and wrote several names on a piece of Xuan paper.

Cui Hao, Wang Gui, Changsun Wuji, Li Tai...

He circled Li Tai's name heavily.

"Just bringing my cousin isn't enough to make it lively."

Li Chengqian muttered to himself,

"Qingque has been locked up in the Yue King's mansion for so many days, eating only chaff and wild vegetables and being beaten every day. She must be so bored."

As the eldest brother, I have to take him to Qujiang Pool for some fresh air.