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

Li Chengqian quickly grasped Empress Zhangsun's hand and patted it gently.

"Mother, don't be sad. Your son is perfectly fine, isn't he? My uncle tried to frame me, so I took the opportunity to drag the Cui family into it as well."

"That old bastard Cui Mingan signed a military pledge. If he dares to tamper with the supplies, I can rightfully exterminate the entire Cui family."

Looking at her son's nonchalant expression, Empress Zhangsun felt a pang of sorrow in her heart.

"You're oversimplifying things, kid."

On the battlefield, swords and spears have no eyes. As the saying goes, it's easy to dodge a spear in the open, but hard to guard against an arrow in the dark.

In addition, Liaodong is a harsh and cold place. The food, drink and sanitation of 100,000 troops all depend on you. How can your mother be at ease?

Gao Ming, you must remember this, Mother. No matter how the war turns out, no matter whether we can recover Liaodong, you must come back alive for me.

"If you dare to lose an arm or a leg, your mother will personally go to Liaodong and skin you alive."

Seeing his mother's red-rimmed eyes, Li Chengqian dropped his nonchalant demeanor.

He stood up and looked at Empress Zhangsun, assuring her:

"Don't worry, Mother. Your son is tough."

My name wasn't even written in the King of Hell's Book of Life and Death, so he dared not accept it.

Besides, I still have the divine weapon given to me by my grandfather, who would dare to touch me?

Empress Zhangsun was amused by his shameless behavior and couldn't help but reach out and pinch Li Chengqian's ear, giving it a hard tug.

"Ouch! Ouch! Mother, be gentle."

Li Chengqian shouted exaggeratedly.

"loquacious."

Empress Zhangsun burst into laughter through her tears, then released her grip and glared at him with a hint of annoyance.

"He's almost a great general, and he still has no manners."

Empress Zhangsun picked up a silk handkerchief and wiped her eyes, then continued:

"Your father threw a huge tantrum in the Ganlu Hall."

He's leaving the selection of the deputy general to you. Are you confident about this?"

Empress Zhangsun analyzed,

"Among the military generals in the court, Li Jing is ill and cannot go, and Li Ji is to guard Bingzhou. Although Cheng Zhijie and Yuchi Jingde are brave, they are too violent and impulsive."

The deputy general you chose this time must not only be able to fight, but also be able to keep order and, most importantly, be able to protect you wholeheartedly.

Who are you planning to take with you?

Li Chengqian picked up the teacup that Qiuyue had just served and slowly skimmed off the foam.

"Mother, I actually chose a deputy general long ago."

"Who?"

Empress Dowager Changsun asked anxiously.

Li Chengqian put down his teacup and said with a smile:

"Your subject intends to take Li Jing with you."

Empress Zhangsun was stunned upon hearing this.

"Li Jing? He's been ill for years, and now he can barely walk. You want him to go to Liaodong?"

Li Chengqian slowly stood up and said:

"Mother, there are two kinds of illnesses in this world. One is a real illness, and the other is an incurable illness."

The Duke of Wei's illness belongs to the latter category. Your subject will go and treat him immediately; I guarantee a complete cure.

Before Empress Zhangsun could ask anything else, Li Chengqian dashed out of the Lizheng Hall.

He had originally planned to go see Li Jing tomorrow, but now it seemed he should finalize the choice of the deputy general first.

To avoid any changes.

The Duke of Wei's Mansion.

Since returning from the campaign against the Turks, Li Jing has stayed at home, rarely venturing out, and even skipping court assemblies, effectively becoming invisible.

He accepted everything that Li Shimin bestowed upon him.

But whenever it involved matters of state, he would pretend to be ignorant.

After Li Chengqian arrived with Xiao Shunzi, he barged in without even knocking.

Just as the gatekeeper poked his head out, about to unleash a torrent of curses, he was so terrified by Li Chengqian's four-clawed python robe that he froze on the spot.

"Go and tell the Duke of Wei that I have come to visit him in his illness."

Li Chengqian walked towards the backyard as he spoke.

Li Jing was lying on the bed, his head wrapped in a yellowish cloth strip and covered with a quilt, groaning softly.

Sitting next to him was a spirited, middle-aged woman, who was none other than Li Jing's wife.

Zhang Chuchen, the Red-Robed Girl from the classic detective drama "Detective Chinatown".

Li Chengqian walked in without any formalities and plopped down on the edge of the bed.

"Uncle Li, your illness seems even more serious than last time?"

Li Chengqian looked concerned and even tucked the blanket around Li Jing in as if he were doing something serious.

Li Jing coughed weakly twice, and raised his hand barely, saying:

"This old minister... pays his respects to Your Highness the Crown Prince. I fear my health will not allow me to survive this winter; I do not even have the strength to bow to Your Highness."

Hong Fu Nu choked up as she spoke:

"Your Highness, my master is too weak to even get out of bed. He had to be carried into the palace just now."

Li Chengqian didn't respond, but suddenly said:

"Uncle Li, you can leave now without worry. I will go to my father and issue a decree to allow your daughter to enter the Eastern Palace. From now on, I will be your son-in-law..."

Li Jing, who was on the verge of death, suddenly grabbed Li Chengqian's arm.

"Your Highness, this joke is not funny at all."

Li Chengqian scoffed:

"Uncle Li, I will be mustering troops for Liaodong tomorrow."

"My father asked me to choose a deputy general, and after much thought, I believe that you are the only one in the entire court who is worthy of this position."

Li Jing waved his hands repeatedly and said:

"Your Highness is too kind to this old minister. Even if I were to go, my frail body would only be a burden to the army. Your Highness should seek a more capable advisor."

Li Chengqian cursed inwardly: "Old fox."

If he hadn't seen that Hong Fu Nu was about to draw her soft sword, he would have definitely teased Li Jing a bit more.

"So, Uncle Li, who do you think is suitable?"

Li Jing pretended to ponder for a moment:

"Hou Junji is a master of military strategy, and Niu Jinda is unparalleled in bravery. Both of them are capable of undertaking this important task."

Li Chengqian said disdainfully:

"Hou Junji is too preoccupied with his own thoughts. I'm afraid he won't obey my orders once he gets to the front lines."

Niu Jinda is too reckless and easily falls into the enemy's trap of luring him deep into their territory.

Li Chengqian moved closer to Li Jing, looking at him with a smile.

"I still think you are the most suitable."

Li Jing smiled wryly:

"Your Highness, look at my legs. I can't even get out of bed now. Let alone ride a horse into battle, even if I were to ride in a carriage for a few days, I'd probably die on the road."

Li Chengqian sighed:

"So Uncle Li really is dying."

Li Jing quickly nodded in agreement, saying, "It really won't work."

"Xiao Shunzi".

Li Chengqian suddenly turned his head and shouted towards the door.

"This servant is here."

Xiao Shunzi quickly ran in.

"Go and invite the best physician from the Imperial Medical Bureau. While you're at it, go to the coffin shop in the West Market and call the owner over to take the Duke of Wei's measurements."

"I will pay for it myself, and have a top-quality golden nanmu wood piece made, according to the specifications for a prince."

Hong Fu Nu almost drew her sword and killed Li Chengqian on the spot.

But Li Jing stopped him with a look in his eyes.

"Your Highness! This...this cannot be done! My master is still alive!"

Li Chengqian spread his hands and said:

"Why not? Since Uncle Li is nearing his end, making preparations in advance is a way of showing filial piety. I'm just worried about Uncle Li."

Li Jing lay on the bed, his eye twitching.

Is this brat here to visit someone who's sick? More likely, he's here to cause trouble.

"Uncle Li, you've been faking this illness for five or six years, haven't you?"

Li Chengqian's sudden remark stunned both Li Jing and Hong Fu Nu.

"Your Highness... what do you mean? This old minister is truly gravely ill..."

Li Jing wanted to explain, but Li Chengqian interrupted him directly.

"I have heard that Sima Zhongda of the Three Kingdoms period also suffered from the same disease as you."

With just that one sentence, Li Jing almost jumped out of bed.

Li Chengqian ignored Li Jing's expression and continued:

"Sima Zhongda used to feign illness, and even when he drank porridge, he would leak it all over himself."

He outlived Cao Cao, Cao Pi, and Cao Rui.

Finally, taking advantage of the young emperor's visit to Gaoping Mausoleum to pay respects at his grave, they launched a rebellion and seized the throne from Cao Wei.

Li Chengqian stared at Li Jing and asked very seriously:

"Uncle Li, are you trying to emulate Sima Zhongda?"