In the time of Xu, Li Yuan's small courtyard.
Li Yuan looked at Concubine Zhang who was sleeping soundly beside him, lifted the quilt, put on his clothes and shoes, and left the back room.
The old eunuch Zhang Cheng seemed to have expected Li Yuan to come out, and had made tea early.
As soon as Li Yuan came out, he took the tea and handed it to Li Yuan.
Li Yuan took the tea, glanced at Zhang Zhangcheng and said angrily:
"You old dog is still so good at serving people."
Hearing this, Zhang Cheng seemed to hear the sounds of nature, his eyes narrowed with a smile, he arched his body and said:
"It is a blessing for this old slave to be able to serve His Majesty."
Li Yuan took a sip of tea, thought for a while and said:
"You old dog have been with me for decades, right?"
Eunuch Zhang Cheng replied:
"Back to Your Majesty, it has been thirty-three years and two months since I have been with Your Majesty."
Li Yuan nodded lightly when he heard this, then he leaned back on the chair and found a comfortable position. Then he looked at Zhang Cheng and said:
"Today I want to hear the truth from you. Do you think I was the reason for Erlang's rebellion back then?"
Zhang Cheng trembled when he heard this. He knew that this matter had always been a thorn in His Majesty's heart. Based on his understanding of His Majesty, His Majesty had been feeling guilty about this matter in his heart over the years. He not only felt that he was sorry for the dead Prince Yin. He and King Qi also felt guilty towards King Qin, who is now His Majesty.
The reason why I say this is that Zhang Cheng knows that His Majesty really voluntarily gave up the throne to King Qin. Otherwise, it would be impossible for King Qin's few men and horses to cause any harm to Your Majesty, not to mention the imperial guards in the palace. The secret guards around His Majesty in the palace were not something that King Qin could deal with at that time.
When Li Yuan saw that Zhang Cheng was silent, he thought he was afraid that he would offend him, so he continued:
"You can say whatever you want, and I will forgive you."
Zhang Cheng calmed down after hearing this and said:
"I thought that part of the reason for what happened that year was indeed related to His Majesty, but..."
Without waiting for Zhang Cheng to say anything else, Li Yuan waved his hand and said:
"Okay, no need to say any more. I understand."
In fact, Li Yuan was a very shrewd person, otherwise he would not have been able to become emperor. At the same time, Li Yuan was also a person who valued family ties, otherwise he would not have abdicated in frustration after the Xuanwu Sect incident.
In fact, in these years, he was just deliberately pretending to be confused and indulged in beauty. Firstly, to reassure Erlang, and secondly, he was really discouraged.
Originally, he thought that it would be quite good to live his whole life in such a muddle-headed way. At least there would be plenty of beauties around him, and his life would be quite comfortable.
But after listening to Qin Ming's rhetoric reported to him by the secret guard, his mind changed.
Maybe when he first came to the Qin Mansion, he just wanted to listen to the story and get to know Qin Ming. Originally, he planned to go back to the palace after hearing the story and continue living a life of drunkenness and dreams, but since he heard Qin Ming's views on that matter Later, he changed his mind.
He had already experienced the pain of losing a son, and he really didn't want his son or grandson to experience this in the future, so he decided to stay in the Qin Mansion and try to find some way out of Qin Ming.
Of course, he successfully obtained some solutions from Qin Ming today, but after careful consideration, Li Yuan discovered that knowing the solutions was one thing, but actually implementing them was another.
Take Qin Ming's first point as an example, how to ease the relationship between father and son? He hasn't spoken to Erlang for five years. Should he just call Erlang over to pay his respects after returning to the palace?
Isn't that equivalent to compromising with Erlang in disguise? He is the majestic founding emperor of the Tang Dynasty, does he have no respect for face?
In addition, he had sneaked out of the palace and had not returned for many days. Erlang was not sure how he would interpret this matter. From the information about the Twelve Guards outside Chang'an City compiled by the secret guards, it can be seen that Erlang At this time, I am afraid that I am still on guard against rebellion.
Maybe if he goes back, he will be put under house arrest. Even if he is not under house arrest, if he suddenly changes his attitude towards him and gets close to him, Erlang will become even more suspicious.
Thinking of this, Li Yuan reluctantly picked up the tea and took a sip.
For the time being, he could only stay in the Qin Mansion, wait until Erlang was no longer so wary, and then find an opportunity to go back.
Xu Shi, the Imperial Palace, the Zhengdian Hall
Li Shimin and Empress Changsun were lying on the soft bed. They were not sleeping yet, but please don't get me wrong. At this time, the two of them were not doing anything that Tomato was not allowed to write about.
The reason why the two couldn't sleep was simple. They were both worried about going to the Qin Mansion tomorrow.
Empress Changsun's mood at this time was the same as that of Li Shimin. She not only hoped that her father would be in the Qin Mansion, but also did not want her father to be in the Qin Mansion.
Li Shimin looked at the sad-looking Empress Changsun with some distress. After thinking about it, he comforted her:
"Mr. Guanyin, it's getting late. Go to bed first. We'll wait until we arrive at the Qin Mansion tomorrow to confirm whether that person is his father. Maybe the kid from Danyang recognized the wrong person."
Queen Changsun sighed and said:
"Erlang, I have a hunch that the man in the Qin Mansion is probably my father. What do you think we should do if our father really wants to give Changle to Qin Ming?"
When Li Shimin heard this, he felt a little dizzy for a moment. To be honest, he didn't want to answer this question, but he couldn't bear to see Guanyin Maid's sad look.
After thinking for a while he said:
"If this is really what you want, then how about pretending that the proposed marriage never happened, and choose another young talent for Changle in the future, and say that he is the one who is favored by the father?"
Queen Changsun frowned when she heard this. Of course she knew that the method His Majesty said was already the best solution, but in this case, she really felt sorry for Changle.
At the beginning, she clearly knew that she had a good impression of Qin Ming, but she still promised her to Changsun Chong as his wife for the sake of the Changsun family. Later, the Changsun family broke off the engagement, and she fulfilled her father's wish and promised her daughter to someone she didn't know. Whose person.
As the head of the harem, Queen Changsun not only knew that Qin Ming's calligraphy and paintings were hanging in Changle's bedroom, but she also knew that she had taken down those calligraphy and paintings after His Majesty granted her and Chong'er a marriage last time.
There is no better way to know a daughter than a mother. If she doesn't understand Chang Le's intentions, then she is too incompetent as a mother.
Thinking of Changle's emaciated figure, Queen Changsun calmed down and said to Li Shimin very seriously:
"Erlang, if my father really likes Qin Ming, then let's promise Changle to him."
Li Shimin looked at Queen Changsun with a puzzled face and said:
"Mr. Guanyin, why do you say that?"
Empress Changsun glanced at Li Shimin speechlessly, and then said quietly:
"Erlang, haven't you seen it? That kid from Changle has liked Qin Ming for a long time, and during this period Changle has experienced marriages, annulments, and marriages again. Every time, Changle agreed without hesitation, which shows that her She is filial and sensible, but the more she behaves like this, the more I feel sorry for this child.
So if it is really Qin Ming this time, it can only be said that this is fate arranged by God. "
Li Shimin was confused when he heard this, and then he gritted his teeth and said:
"I must make that boy look good tomorrow. He dares to covet my Changle."
The eldest grandson indeed sighed and said:
"Erlang, you are wrong. Now it is our daughter who covets Qin Ming's child."
...
Xu Shi, Qin Mansion, Qin Ming Xiaoyuan
A figure entered Qin Ming's study under the moonlight.
The night was already quiet. Although the sound of opening the door was very soft, Qin Ming still heard the movement.
He followed the sound and saw Xiao Changxi standing in the study with a pretty face.
....
