Perhaps no other dynasty was like the early years of the Tang Dynasty. The emperor's concubines lived in the palace, the prince of the East Palace lived in it, and even the adult princes lived in it.
And it's not like there are separate houses...Li Jiancheng lives in the East Palace adjacent to Taiji Palace, while Li Shimin and Li Yuanji both live in the back hall of Taiji Palace.
In other words, Li Shimin secretly reported in the history books that Li Jiancheng had a promiscuous palace and had an affair with a concubine in Li Yuan's harem... But in fact, Li Shimin's crime was more successful. After all, he might be bumped into when he went out, and Li Yuan was old. And Li Shimin was strong.
The backyard of Chengqian Palace.
Gao Shilian, who had been attending banquets everywhere until today, felt relaxed and looked at his niece in front of him with a smile, "After all the hard work, the joy comes."
"I would also like to thank uncle for your support." Changsun Wuji on the side thanked him solemnly.
King Qin Li Shimin, who had just returned, smiled and helped his brother-in-law up, "We are all one family, there is no need to be so formal."
"Your Highness is right." Gao Shilian looked at the dishes on the table, "Are they all cooked by Guanyin Maid?"
Princess Qin knelt down and saluted, "See you again, uncle, and you must be filial."
This sentence is not too much. After the death of Changsun Sheng, it was Gao Shilian who took in the siblings, raised them, and married them to Li Shimin.
"Today's small banquet is a family banquet."
There has never been such etiquette throughout the ages. In the early Tang Dynasty, emperors and princes were not treated as monarchs and ministers, but as father and son.
Li Shimin was just following the same example.
After reminiscing about their old friendship, Li Shimin, the leader, smiled and asked, "Auxiliary machine, why don't you bring Dalang with you?"
Changsun Wuji smiled bitterly and said, "Dalang has been too shy to see people these past two days... let's teach him a lesson."
"In terms of discussion, Li Shan is brave in martial arts, eloquent in his essays, and courageous." Gao Shilian shook his head, "Such a young hero, your highness, let him go so easily?"
Li Shimin picked up the wine cup, "I'm just a person who hides his head and shows his tail. Although he has courage and some means, he is secretive..."
Changsun Wuji asked softly and calmly: "I saw Master Li being very diligent that day. Could it be that he is a descendant of the Li family in Longxi?"
"The guest master only said that this person had a rough life, but did not mention his father and ancestors." Li Shimin drank the whole drink in one gulp, "Xuan Ling intends to recommend this person, but he also has to pass the test of being an auxiliary... and Ke Ming, Xing Gong, By the way, there is also Cheng Zhijie..."
Changsun Wuji joked for a few words and said casually, seemingly unintentionally: "I heard yesterday that His Highness admires this person quite a lot?"
"Huh?" Li Shimin frowned, "Xuanling mentioned it, and Keming also mentioned it in casual conversation, how do the outside world know?"
This time Changsun Wuji didn't speak, because there was no need to add fuel to the fire.
Gao Shilian slowly drank from the wine glass. Princess Qin frowned slightly and glanced at her brother from the corner of her eye.
Obviously, this is a very simple logical judgment.
The King of Qin wanted to seize his legitimate son, so he did not dare to talk about other matters in the palace, but the words of Li Shimin, Fang Xuanling, Du Ruhui and other confidants would never be spread.
Then, it can only be Li Shan’s handiwork.
Why do this?
The most direct judgment is, can the disciples of Prince Qin's palace bear this tone?
Of course I couldn't bear it, and of course I would find an opportunity to take revenge.
Changsun Wuji sneered in his heart, such a little trick... As long as King Qin says a word today, I will find someone to break your legs tomorrow, even if Master Li comes forward, I can't stop you.
The Changsun family declined for a time in the late Sui Dynasty, but it was strong in the early Tang Dynasty. In addition to Changsun Wuji and his sister Princess Qin, there were also Sun Shunde, the eldest son of Xue Guogong, and Sun Wuao, the eldest son of Qingdu County.
There are dozens of nephews below, such as Hengshan King Li Chengqian's eldest son, Sun Jiaqing, meritorious eldest son Sun Xiang, etc. Among these people, Chang Sun Wuji's eldest son, Chang Sun Chong, is the well-deserved core figure... After all, Li Chengqian only came this year. Three years old.
The eldest son, who had high hopes, was beaten by Li Shan and his nose was broken. He was also depressed and shy to see others... How could Changsun Wuji remain indifferent?
Although he knew that both Fang Xuanling and Du Ruhui intended to introduce Li Shan to the Prince of Qin's palace, Changsun Wuji still couldn't bear this tone. He asked people to find out... Li Shan was definitely not from the Li family in Longxi, and he was planning to launch an attack today.
As long as Li Shimin says a word today, Changsun Wuji will give orders when he leaves the house. Even if he has some talent, he is still just a common man.
From a certain point of view, Changsun Wuji can do more ruthlessly than Pei Shiju, because the latter has many scruples, while the former has none.
Just when Li Shimin was squinting in thought, a gentle female voice came.
"Uncle, do the dishes today still taste the same as those of the past?"
"It's vaguely discernible." Gao Shilian said with a smile: "It's a pity that His Highness has been on frequent expeditions in recent years."
Li Shimin shook his head and said: "There is no kitchen in the Chengqian Palace. Today is a special case..."
After a pause, Li Shimin smiled bitterly and said, "Maybe in a while, a kitchen can be set up in the house."
Changsun Wuji's face darkened and he explained a few words to Gao Shilian in a low voice.
There was a rumor in the palace a few days ago that the King of Qin was dissatisfied with living in the Chengqian Hall, because the Taiji Palace was built during the reign of Emperor Wen of the Sui Dynasty, Yang Jian, and only the Chengqian Hall in the harem was built during the reign of Emperor Yang of the Sui Dynasty. However, it was the Chengqian Hall that suffered the most damage. .
The sage Li Yuan believed the rumors and reprimanded his second son Li Shimin, while Li Jiancheng encouraged Li Yuan to build a palace outside the city... Second brother, don't you dislike the Chengqian Palace, so just move it away.
Gao Shilian shook his head repeatedly after hearing this, "How can it be unreasonable? How can it be unreasonable!"
Li Shimin only felt chest tightness and shortness of breath. After drinking three cups in a row, he said casually: "I don't want to control it for my own strength!"
Both Changsun Wuji and Princess Qin were silent. During the conquest of the world, Li Shimin's military talent became the sharpest spear in the Tang Dynasty. After the world was mostly peaceful, Li Shimin's numerous military exploits became the most feared thing about him.
After the small banquet was over, Li Shimin sent Gao Shilian and Changsun Wuji away and reclined on the couch, "When the tiger falls in Pingyang, do you even dare to humiliate me?!"
"Don't worry, Maid Guanyin, I will definitely do this for my eldest grandson tomorrow!"
Surprised to find that there was no answer, Li Shimin straightened up and looked around blankly. After a while, he saw the princess in full dress.
"Guanyin, why are you like this?"
Wearing a formal dress must be a grand event. Li Shimin remembered that the last time his wife wore a dress was the day he arrived in the Central Plains and returned to Beijing with his troops.
"I heard that during the battle in Luoyang last year, people said that Yuchi Gong wanted to rebel. His Highness didn't take it seriously. He took him into his bed and gave him gold and treasures. The next day, His Highness was surrounded by a heavy siege. Yuchi Gong killed the enemy general and rode alone to save him."
"Your Highness can tolerate Yu Chigong, why can't you tolerate Li Shan?"
Li Shimin was stunned for a moment, then laughed dumbly, "Yu Chi Gong has already had a reputation for bravery, how can Li Shan be ranked alongside him?"
"What's more, Yuchi Gong came to surrender, and Li Shanzang showed his head and tail..."
Princess Qin spoke clearly, "Everyone knows that the King of Qin likes to accept heroes. He invited Yuchi Gong, who had repeatedly defeated the Tang army, to surrender. He will eventually be rewarded."
"Although Li Shan is young and has unknown thoughts, he is talented in both civil and military affairs. He can be called a hero. Fang Xuanling and Duke Ming recommended him. Why does His Highness refuse to accept him and hate him even more?"
Li Shimin was silent for a moment and whispered: "Such rumors are nothing but child's play. Guanyin Maid is making a fuss out of a molehill."
"I am not Li Shan, but your Highness." Princess Qin raised her voice and said, "Since Your Highness returned to the capital this time, your will has been depressed and you often drink and get drunk. Could it be that your ambition is no longer there?"
Li Shimin's drunkenness had completely gone away. After a moment of confusion, he took his wife's arms and bowed down and said, "I have a good wife."
These words of Princess Qin, who had always been docile, spoke directly to Li Shimin's heart.
His father urgently summoned him back to Beijing and asked his third brother Li Yuanji to lead the armies in Hebei. This made Li Shimin feel too much vigilance and fear in his heart.
The reason is very simple. In order to defeat Liu Heitao this time, Li Shimin mainly had the generals of the Qin Palace and some of the Hebei generals who were defeated by Liu Heitai.
Li Yuanji commanded the armies... Obviously, Li Yuan had the intention to replace Li Shimin with Li Yuanji, and even encouraged Li Yuanji to recruit generals from the Prince of Qin's Palace.
The staff and generals of the Prince of Qin's Mansion were the foundation of Li Shimin's career.
In addition, Li Yuan intends to let him leave the palace, how can this not make Li Shimin depressed?
