Datang: Rebirth of Li Chengqian, the beginning of the treason interrogation

Chapter 8 I would rather be sworn brothers in Taoyuan than burn a stick of incense in Wagang
"We will become sworn brothers with you, Prince!"

This sentence was like a thunder, exploding in everyone's ears. The three of them were stunned at the same time, and then shook their heads and waved their hands.

"No, how can this be possible? The prince is such a noble person!"

"Yes, this is absolutely not allowed!"

"What's the big deal? Didn't Chu Mo's father and Li Zhen's father also become sworn brothers? Let's follow their example and become sworn brothers in Wagang."

As soon as Li Chengqian finished speaking, the faces of the three people turned ugly in an instant, as if they had eaten a fly.

"Instead of learning from Wagang, we can learn from Taoyuan. The peach blossoms are in full bloom right now, how fitting!"

Li Chengqian suddenly understood, as if he had understood the main plot.

"This...!" The three of them looked at each other with hesitation on their faces. This decision was too sudden for them, and they were flattered.

Originally they just came to the East Palace as retainers, but unexpectedly they became the prince's brothers. This was really a pleasant surprise.

"Prepare the incense burner and wine immediately!"

Li Chengqian waved his hand and signaled several servants to immediately prepare the items needed for the sworn brotherhood.

Outside the Yichun Palace, in the peach blossom forest, pink petals dot the branches, like clouds in the sky, beautiful beyond measure. When the breeze blows, the petals fall like snowflakes, dancing lightly, intoxicating.

The aroma wafted into Li Chengqian's nose, which trembled slightly as he enjoyed the charming fragrance to his heart's content.

In the forest, wisps of green smoke rose up, and the incense table was covered with beautiful peach petals.

"Pour the wine and prepare to swear brotherhood!"

Li Chengqian strode forward and took up the wine bowl first. A piece of peach blossom floated lightly on the surface of the turbid wine, adding a bit of elegance.

Li Dejian, Cheng Chumo and Li Zhen also came forward, holding up their wine bowls, their faces full of excitement and anticipation.

However, at this moment, an inopportune roar rang out: "This is simply nonsense!"

Li Chengqian and the other three's faces suddenly changed. They turned around unhappily and saw Zhang Xuansu, Kong Yingda and Yu Zhining walking towards them quickly.

Zhang Xuansu frowned in grief and said sternly, "Prince, you have an important responsibility and a high position. How can you be so reckless and imitate those ruffians?"

"Lord Zhang, you mean to say that Duke Lu and Duke Ying are both outlaws."

Li Chengqian said indifferently, his tone was extremely cold, no wonder the original master wanted to find someone to assassinate these three people, they were all bad guys and good people, how could he tolerate them.

Li Zhen and Cheng Chumo looked even more unfriendly, and they had the urge to kill someone for daring to say that their fathers were bandits.

That was in the past. He is a Duke now.

"That's not what I meant. I am advising His Royal Highness the Crown Prince to restrain his behavior." Zhang Xuansu also felt that his words were a bit harsh. With just one sentence, everyone knew what was going on.

"Got it. I heard your advice. Go back now."

Li Chengqian remained indifferent and did not curse or throw things like he did before.

"Chu Mo, let's continue!" Li Chengqian turned around and prepared to complete the sworn brotherhood.

"Prince, you!" Zhang Xuansu's eyes widened, thinking that Li Chengqian would change a lot after this incident. "Prince, if you continue like this, we will have to write a letter to His Majesty."

"I am sworn brothers with you, so you write your letters to me. I have listened to your advice, but I do not accept it."

Li Chengqian said very straightforwardly. Although he didn't want to provoke these three little devils, he still had to prioritize. "Prince..." Zhang Xuansu's eyes widened, and he didn't know how to start.

"We, Li Chengqian (Li Zhen, Li Dejian, Cheng Chumo), have become brothers today. From now on, we will share happiness and difficulties together. We will work together and never leave each other. The heavens and the earth will bear witness to my heart."

The four of them ignored Zhang Xuansu's obstruction and recited the oath in unison.

"Cheers!" The four of them smiled at each other and drank the wine in the bowl in one gulp.

"Ugh!"

Zhang Xuansu and the other two could only wave their sleeves and leave angrily.

"These three old guys have been criticizing His Royal Highness the Crown Prince all day long. If I get the chance, I will kill them." Cheng Chumo snorted coldly.

"Chu Mo, it's time to change your address." Li Chengqian said with a smile.

"I remember that Li Zhen is the oldest, that is my eldest brother. I wonder when were you born?"

"Your Highness, I absolutely do not deserve this. The Crown Prince is the eldest." Li Zhen was shocked. It was already a great blessing to be brothers with the Crown Prince. How could he dare to be Li Chengqian's elder brother? Wasn't Li Chengqian the eldest son of the eldest son?

"The prince is the greatest!" Cheng Chumo and Li Dejian said in unison.

After some debate, Li Chengqian was the eldest, Li Zhen was the second, Li Dejian was the third, and Cheng Chumo was the youngest.

"Brother!" Li Zhen and the other two all had happy expressions on their faces and bowed to Li Chengqian.

"Second brother, third brother, fourth brother, no need to be so polite." Li Chengqian was also happy.

"Your Highness the Crown Prince...Brother, you'd better be careful with those three old guys. A stab in the back is very serious." Li Zhen also said seriously. In an instant, they united their front and wanted to deal with Zhang Xuansu and the other two.

As military men, they hated it most when civil officials filed complaints after the fact, and could even make up stories about things that did not happen.

"This requires long-term consideration. These three old guys have been appointed by His Majesty the Emperor, and we can't act recklessly." Li Dejian was more steady and considered things more comprehensively.

"Let's not talk about this worrying thing. Today we brothers have sworn brotherhood, so we should celebrate. I will have someone set up a banquet in the East Palace, and we will get drunk."

Li Chengqian smiled. This progress was already very good. All they had to do was wait and a great situation would come.

"Okay, there's no need to rush. Tell the old man this great news." Chen Chumo smiled.

I don’t know if Cheng Zhijie would jump up and curse when he finds out that his son has sworn brotherhood with the crown prince.

"It's still early, why don't you accompany me to Chongwenguan to see the students?" Li Chengqian continued.

"Of course, we have to use literati to deal with them. They play dirty. Gao Wenmin is in Chongwenguan. I heard that he has a lot of tricks. We can let him take the lead." Cheng Chumo had a sly smile on his face.

Gao Luxing, whose courtesy name was Wenmin, was the eldest son of Gao Shilian. He was also transferred to the Eastern Palace at the order of Emperor Taizong Li Shimin.

"And there's that kid Fang Yizheng. I don't know how much he has inherited from his father. It's said that Fang is good at making plans and making decisions. Maybe it would be better to let him come up with ideas." Li Dejian also spoke.

Fang Xuanling and Du Ruhui were both famous prime ministers during the Zhenguan period, and they were also the instigators of the Xuanwu Gate Incident. Fang Xuanling was good at strategy and Du Ruhui was good at decision-making, so they were known as Fang's strategies and Du's decisions.

Fang Yizheng was Fang Xuanling's eldest son, and Li Dejian felt that he could be asked to make suggestions. After all, he would be more suitable than the others.

The East Palace is a small court, and also the structure of the future court, where a group of children of high-ranking officials gather. These people will become the pillars of the Tang Dynasty in the future.

(End of this chapter)