My father, Li Shimin, please call me Crown Prince

Chapter 41: I gave you a bow and a horse. What do you want from me?

Prince Wei was favored by Li Shimin, while Li Chengqian had the advantage of being the crown prince.

The current situation in the court is basically leaning towards these two extremes.

Princess Gaoyang would choose Li Chengqian because she felt that Li Chengqian might be the final winner.

Except for the Five Surnames and Seven Clans who supported the King of Wei and attempted to cause trouble, most people would subconsciously stand on the side of the prince if they could get in touch with him.

This is the advantage of orthodoxy.

After seeing Princess Gaoyang off, Wen Zhong carefully reported, "Your Highness, Hou Junji and Shangshu have been waiting in the main hall of the East Palace for a long time."

Li Chengqian frowned: "What is he doing here?"

"I don't know, and the Minister Hou didn't say either. I heard that His Highness was in the back garden, so the Minister Hou said he was waiting."

"Bring the horse."

"Yes, Your Highness."

Most of the time, Li Chengqian still prefers to ride a horse, which is faster.

It’s just like driving in later generations, once you get used to it, it’s hard to get rid of it.

Most of the time, a wheelchair is just a chair.

Or a small movement.

Riding Tafeng to the main hall of the Eastern Palace, Li Chengqian dismounted.

Wen Zhong was still catching up from behind.

"Your Highness."

The guard who asked the question clasped his fists and bowed.

"Close the palace door and guard the perimeter. No one is allowed to approach until I come out."

"Yes, Your Highness."

As the palace door slowly closed, the hall became a little dim.

Li Chengqian limped in and saw a figure waiting.

"I have met His Highness."

Hou Junji smiled and bowed.

Li Chengqian said in a somewhat indifferent tone: "Minister Hou, you shouldn't have come. You should know how big a deal we are planning. If there is even a slight mistake, we will all be doomed."

As a founding hero, Hou Junji was punished by Li Shimin, but he still held an important position.

He and the prince were secretly plotting a rebellion, so it was impossible for them to be close in public, otherwise everyone would guess that something was wrong.

In addition to the civil service position of Minister of Personnel, Hou Junji was also the Left Yu Hou and General of Chariots and Cavalry, and controlled the military power. He fought in many wars in the south and the north for many years and had a group of loyal and trusted generals under his command.

He also has great influence and authority in the military.

Hearing the prince's question, Hou Junji laughed and said, "I heard that Your Highness has learned the method of making ice and opened an ice shop in Chang'an City."

"That Bing Si is really making a lot of money. I, the old marquis, am extremely envious. Many people want to cooperate with Your Highness."

"I thought His Highness would take me with him, but I couldn't get any news from His Highness for a long time, so I just came here by myself."

"Don't worry, Your Highness. Everyone knows my character. In the eyes of others, I came to the East Palace just to cooperate with Your Highness on Bing Si. I will never do anything serious."

Li Chengqian frowned and said, "You don't even need to think about Bing Si's matter."

Hearing this, Hou Junji became a little unhappy.

He has come in person, but the prince doesn't even give him this little bit of face? Can he still be considered one of our own?

Li Chengqian didn't care what he thought and continued, "You said you have an impatient temper, but aren't General Cheng and General Yuchi also impatient?"

"Why did you come here and no one else came?"

"You are right. In the eyes of most people, you, Hou Junji, came to the East Palace to ask for ice."

"But in the eyes of those with ulterior motives, things are not that simple. Not to mention that there is something wrong, even if there is nothing wrong, can't others speculate privately and report it to His Majesty?"

"If the truth is revealed, as the crown prince, I may be able to keep my life, but you, if you are afraid of losing your life, you will have to move away."

“No matter how much money you make, do you want to take it to the grave and use it as a burial object?”

After the reprimand, Hou Junji immediately realized the danger of his trip.

He bowed and said, "Your Highness is right. I was rash and almost ruined the whole thing." "I will leave now."

Li Chengqian held Hou Junji's hand and said to him, "Old Hou, don't you know clearly about our relationship?"

"If you can succeed, then Bing Si won't matter. Even if I teach you the ice-making method, it will be nothing more than a small matter."

"The matter must be done in secrecy. The Wei Wang party is now omnipresent. Our plan is very big, and we must not let even a single word of it get out."

"If there is any mistake, neither you nor I can bear it."

Li Chengqian's combination of a big stick and sweet dates made Hou Junji grin.

As long as I can help the prince, give me the method of making ice.

Eggs are not as delicious as the hen that lays them.

Hou Junji was almost full from eating this big pancake.

"Don't worry, Your Highness. I will not come to the East Palace anymore."

"If there is anything, just write to Chu Shi as before and let him convey it on your behalf."

Li Chengqian was speechless.

It was not easy to get Helan Chushi to burn the previous letter, but I still don't know if he has any other tricks up his sleeve.

You write again?
"No need."

"Writing a letter will leave evidence. If there is anything in the future, you can just speak it out."

"A son-in-law comes to see his father-in-law, and no one can tell him whether he is good or bad."

Hou Junji agreed immediately, but then he felt something was wrong.

"Your Highness, are you talking about Chu Shi?"

Li Chengqian smiled and said, "I am just worried, General Hou, don't worry too much."

King Li Tai of Wei hasn't figured it out yet, and he doesn't want to get into infighting.

After hearing this, Hou Junji stopped speculating.

After all, he is his son-in-law and is an official in the Prince's Eastern Palace, so he can be trusted.

"By the way, it's not convenient for me to meet Li Anyan. If General Hou has time, please say a few words to him for me." Li Chengqian added.

Li Anyan was originally an official under the reign of Crown Prince Li Jiancheng. His wife, Zheng, was of the same clan as Li Jiancheng's Crown Princess Zheng Guanyin.

During the Xuanwu Gate Incident, Li Anyan fought desperately for Li Jiancheng. Li Shimin believed that he was very loyal, so he trusted him very much and ordered him to be in charge of the palace guards and appointed him as the General of the Left Tunwei.

The palace guards were responsible for protecting Li Shimin's safety day and night, which was a very critical position.

In fact, at the end of last year, Li Chengqian bribed Li Anyan with a large sum of money.

Historically, why was Li Shimin so frightened when he heard that the prince was planning a rebellion?

Because he never expected that Li Anyan, who was in charge of the palace guards, actually became the prince's man.

In fact, if it weren't for Hegan Chengji exposing the secret of rebellion.

According to Du He's plan, Li Shimin was tricked into coming to the Eastern Palace, and the commander of the guards was the prince's man, so the possibility of Li Chengqian's coup being successful was very high.

"Don't worry, Your Highness. I will tell Li Anyan."

Li Chengqian said: "General Hou will know what to do when he leaves later."

Hou Junji said with a smile: "I, the old marquis, will not worry about it. If there are some rumors, Your Highness should not pay attention to them."

Hou Junji left cursing, he was doing this for others to see.

As dusk approached, Li Chengqian prepared to have Prince Pu Si roast a whole lamb for him to eat.

The roasted whole lamb with Hu pancake tastes really good.

Wen Zhong hurried over and told the prince that His Majesty had sent a night-lighting jade lion to the East Palace.

Wen Zhong said, "I heard that it was originally given as a reward to the King of Wei, but the King of Wei said that Your Highness needed it more, so Your Majesty had it sent over."

Li Chengqian was speechless.

Your Majesty presented the Juque Sky Bow, and Qingque presented the Zhaoye Jade Lion.

What do you want from me?
(End of this chapter)