Da Tang: Father, can I resign?

Chapter 106: Confusing Achievements and Adoption
Li Ke was quite disapproving of Lao Wu's attitude.

They and Li Ming are brothers after all. Although they don't have much interaction, how can they just give someone away like a puppy?
However, the fifth brother Li You's doubts about Li Ming are very well-founded.

If the fourteenth brother could really achieve great achievements as the court publicized.

How could he be adopted by his father to someone else?
And he was adopted by his fourth uncle Li Yuanji?

Li Ke had also heard of Li Yuanji's character.

That fourth uncle is not only my father's political enemy, but also a complete scumbag.

After the Xuanwu Gate Incident, my father may have felt guilty for killing his own brother Li Jiancheng.

But when he thought about killing Li Yuanji by the way, his guilt immediately eased a lot.

"In other words, Li Ming's meritorious service... is fake?"

But why did my father and the entire court want to portray my younger brother Li Ming as an omnipotent hero?
Li Ke didn't know either.

He just felt that Chang'an's routine was too complicated.

He wanted to return to his country of Wu.

"It turns out that the Fourteenth Prince is not really favored..." Li Yin, who was not very smart, felt as if he had suddenly realized something, as if the clouds had cleared and the sun had appeared.

Having lived in his fiefdom in Shu for many years, he was very out of touch with the news.

Therefore, as long as Li You, who has been staying in Chang'an, dares to say it, he will believe it.

At the same time, he also deeply understands his father's character.

Know not to listen to what your father says, but look at what he does.

Judging from Li Ming's experience, his great achievement must have been fabricated.

Then naturally, the so-called "favor" is also fictitious.

They are all fake, they are made of butter and water.

"Li Ming is definitely not favored. Father has been a soldier all his life, how could he favor a little kid who can't even draw a bow?"

Li You took off the nine-stone bow on his back and pulled it to its full length in one breath.

The bulging arm muscles, coupled with the dragon-patterned breastplate on his body, give him an aesthetic feeling of "bending the bow and shooting the eagle".

In the martial Tang Dynasty, this was the template for a "good boy".

Even if the emperor wants to pick a son other than the legitimate son to favor, he should favor Li You!
"Haha, my son is really brave."

At the back of the princes' procession, on a small mound, Concubine Yin gazed at Li You's heroic and tall figure, and boasted about it to the sisters around her.

Concubine Yin is Li You's biological mother and the daughter of Yin Shishi, who dug up the Li family's ancestral tomb.

However, she was not treated differently because of her father's relationship.

Li Shimin was also very kind to her and conferred her the title of "De Fei" on her, making her one of the four concubines in the harem.

This gave her a little fantasy, and she was always trying to compete with her sisters, overtly or covertly.

"Oh, yes, yes, yes." The other concubines responded casually.

Although it is past the beginning of autumn, it is still very hot during the day.

The concubines in the harem all huddled in a makeshift shed to avoid the sun, drinking tea, eating snacks, and chatting.

The concubines who had given birth to princes all sat in the best viewing seats, looking at their own handsome sons from afar.

Hunting was more than just a social activity in ancient times.

It can also be seen as a semi-military exercise.

So all the princes wore half a suit of armor, held a bow in one hand and a sword in the other, and had quivers tied around their waists.

From a distance, it looks majestic and magnificent.

A mother is honored by her son, and they all hope that their sons can shine in this autumn hunt.

Especially the princes who have married and established their own fiefdoms.

Their biological mother values ​​this opportunity even more and hopes that her sons can stand up to their father and win his favor.

In this way, they will have a more radiant look on their faces and can stand taller in the harem.

An invisible competition for the emperor's favor has quietly begun.

Outside the pergola, the concubines who failed to give birth to princes sat in the corner spontaneously.

They are not even qualified to participate in this competition, as if they are born inferior.

The women chatted in a friendly manner, complaining about the hardships of raising children and their longing for their sons after being apart for so long.

In fact, they were all openly belittling and secretly praising their own eldest son, and their words were full of swordsmanship.

As they were chatting, the sharp-eyed concubine noticed that the number of people was wrong.

"Hey, where's Wu Cairen? Isn't Wu Cairen here today?"

Only then did everyone realize that the talented Wu Meiniang did not attend the autumn hunt.

"Mei Niang caught a cold yesterday. I am afraid that it will harm your majesty and the sisters, so I didn't come. I am praying in the Ganye Temple in the Forbidden Garden."

Concubine Wei explained to everyone.

She was the highest-ranking concubine and the de facto master of the harem.

"Oh, she was fine when I saw her the day before yesterday, but she caught a cold today?" Yin Defei said in a sharp voice:

"I'm afraid it's because she was unable to give birth to a son or daughter for Your Majesty and she is too embarrassed to show up."

She is naturally arrogant and domineering, with an unpleasant personality, and Li You is like this just because of her.

Even in the harem where there are open and covert struggles, direct insults like that of Concubine Yin De are rare.

Everyone could only laugh and change the subject.

Concubine Yin did not notice the change in atmosphere at all. She put her hands on her forehead and continued to admire the heroic figure of her eldest son Li You, praying that His Majesty would look at him more.

As she watched, she also discovered the highlights:

"Hey, why is there one less prince?"

"Is it true?" A stone caused a thousand ripples. The concubines left the awning one by one, and imitated Concubine Yin, putting their hands on the awning, and counting them one by one out of curiosity.

The princes were not like the concubines. His Majesty visited the harem less often and became lax in his management of the harem. For example, Concubine Wu could not come if she was sick.

But the prince is different.

Your Majesty attaches great importance to filial piety.

Usually, the father and son are separated from each other and it is rare for them to reunite.

You still make a fuss about the moon waxing and waning. Aren't you asking for a beating?
"Eight, nine... ten, one person is missing." Everyone counted repeatedly and confirmed that a daring prince was absent. The one who was absent was "that" prince who often skipped classes, Li Ming.

"Could he have overslept?" Concubine Wei couldn't help but frown.

Concubine Yin snorted coldly:
"The autumn hunt will begin soon, and everyone except your Majesty has arrived.

"Is he going to be the last to appear?"

Just as she said, the autumn hunting was scheduled to begin at 9:00 p.m.

There is less than half a quarter of an hour left and His Majesty's carriage will arrive soon.

"This naughty child...!" Concubine Wei was fidgeting.

Although she also hated this naughty child who absorbed the emperor's grace and expelled bad energy.

But, after all, the grand ceremony is approaching.

If anything goes wrong, His Majesty will inevitably vent his anger on her as the mistress of the harem.

"Sister Yang!" Wei Gui anxiously found the mother bear Yang.

"Where's your Li Ming?"

Although Yang had a formal status, she was among the official concubines.

But she still maintained her past low-key habits, and took the initiative to sit at the outermost edge of the pergola, basking in the sun and chatting with the young concubines who were unable to give birth.

"Tomorrow?" Yang said slowly with a faint smile:

"Ming'er has been staying in Lizheng Palace these days, so I don't know his recent situation."

As soon as she said this, the chatter of the concubines nearby suddenly quieted down.

I remembered that her son lived in Lizheng Hall and was raised by His Majesty himself!
This is the treatment only the legitimate princes have!

Compared to this, their beloved sons were either exiled to the southern barbarians to be the "King of Wu" or to live in the miserable land of Bashan Mountain to be the "King of Shu" or something like that...

The closeness between him and Your Majesty is not on the same level at all!

However, this awkward silence was only temporary.

Soon, the concubines continued chatting as if nothing had happened.

"Hehe...Sister Yang." Concubine Wei's mouth twitched.

That's your son, why are you talking like an outsider? !
"Don't you go to Lizheng Palace to sleep with him occasionally? Didn't you see your son?"

Yang still had a smile on her face, and her tone was a little lonely:
"I am old and my looks have faded, and the emperor's favor has faded. I will not be able to go to Lizheng Palace in the next few days."

The concubines fell silent again.

In the brief silence, a small, grinding sound could be heard.

Is she showing off? She is showing off!
In the harem, apart from her and Concubine Wei, who else would have the blessing to step into the Lizheng Palace?
Most concubines are locked up in the harem for their entire lives, and they may not even see His Majesty a few times throughout the year!
Yang had only not slept with him for the past few days, but she actually cried out of loneliness.

The concubines suddenly realized that Yang, who seemed the most harmless person in daily life, was actually the real master of tea art!

As expected, hunters always present themselves as prey...

"Huh, hehe~"

Concubine Yin De's face turned pale and her voice trembled slightly.

She felt that Yang had shown off to her.

Is this remnant of Li Yuanji's rebel party worthy enough to show off the emperor's grace in front of her?

Her voice became sharp and sarcastic:
"I think Li Ming must have known that he was going to be adopted out.

"So, I just got angry and hid away."

Yin Fei was also a supporter of the "conspiracy theory", believing that Li Ming did not make any great contributions, or that, perhaps he had made some contributions, but they were far less exaggerated than what was being spread.

A naughty child who was mischievous everywhere, first saved the emperor with his "filial piety that moved heaven", then solved a major case with a "sudden inspiration", and traveled thousands of miles to save the emperor with the "spiritual god of war".

How is this possible?
After the Jiucheng Palace incident, His Majesty immediately announced that he would remarry Prince Yin and King Chao, which seemed to further prove this conspiracy theory:
If Li Ming really made great contributions, then Your Majesty would definitely favor him. Why is there such a hurry to adopt him out?
As for why the entire court, the emperor's uncle Li Daozon, and even His Majesty himself, all had to cooperate in the acting and package Li Ming as a child prodigy.

There must be a reason for that, Your Majesty.

As for the reason, don’t ask. The only thing to know is that the secret cannot be revealed.

That's what conspiracy theories are.

It can be said that Li You’s logic was learned from Concubine Yin.

"Alas, today is not an ordinary school day. How could that child dare to be so willful in an occasion like the autumn hunt?" The other concubines also complained one after another.

Just now, they accidentally let Yang pretend to be wrong. After Yin Fei reminded them, they remembered why they had mobilized so many troops today.

Li Ming was adopted by King Chao.

After today, Li Ming will no longer be your Majesty's son according to etiquette and law.

In other words, from now on, Yang's family will no longer be on the same track as them.

Haha, Li Ming was lucky enough to receive the emperor’s favor for a few days in Lizheng Hall, but what does that count for?
Yang was favored by His Majesty and showed off her power a few times in Lizheng Hall, but what does it matter?
If Yang wants to brag, let her do it.

As long as Li Ming is no longer a prince, all the previous courtesies are nothing but passing clouds!
The concubines chatted happily and even the dried apricots didn't taste sour anymore.

They felt that they had regained their ground.

"Alas... But Li Ming hasn't come yet..."

Concubine Wei was feeling very nervous.

She was different from other concubines in the harem who closed their eyes and ears and immersed themselves in conspiracy theories.

She had really witnessed His Majesty's favor towards Li Ming in Lizheng Hall with her own eyes.

Therefore, she had no doubt at all about the authenticity of the Jiucheng Palace incident.

Therefore, this adoption incident seems even more abrupt.

There are probably deep-seated reasons behind this.

Even she, the de facto mistress of the harem, could not figure out anything about it.

"Sister, why worry? The child knows how to behave himself." Yang advised calmly.

No, what makes me most uneasy is actually you... Wei Gui looked at Yang, not knowing how to answer for a moment.

"The prince" is the biggest amulet of the Yang family. Now this amulet is about to be invalidated, how can she stay so calm...

Just when she was feeling mixed emotions, bursts of gongs and drums came from the direction of Xuanwu Gate in the south.

The imperial guard of honor has arrived.

(End of this chapter)