Tang Dynasty Puppet Doctor

Chapter 134 Can You Be My Son-in-Law?

Upon hearing Lady Wei's words, Princess Anle, Li Guo'er, and Princess Yongtai, Li Xianhui, had their eyes light up. They couldn't help but run to Xiao Muchen and ask, "Really? Grandmother is willing to let us go back? When will we go back? After we go back, does that mean my father can…?"

"Shut up, all of you!" Madam Wei immediately interrupted, then quickly cast a fawning glance at Xiao Muchen. "Please forgive us, Vice Minister Xiao, the two princesses are young and have been a bit impolite!"

Xiao Muchen had no fondness for this Princess Anle, and only said, "It's nothing. However, virtue, appearance, speech, and ability are the virtues of a woman. I would appreciate it if Your Highness would take extra care in educating your children."

Madam Wei's face immediately darkened, and she thought to herself: What does this mean? Does it mean that she has not raised her children well?
Princess Anle seemed to understand the unspoken meaning and clenched her fists in secret resentment. However, the others in the hall did not sense this subtle atmosphere. Li Xian was overjoyed and almost burst into tears. At this moment, even the three young men who had been standing behind Li Xian with fear and anxiety all showed shocked and delighted smiles.

Li Xian currently has four sons. His eldest son, Li Chongfu, is a son born out of wedlock. His second son, Li Chongrun, is the eldest son born to Lady Wei. His third son, Li Chongjun, is also born out of wedlock. His fourth son, Li Chongmao, should still be an infant.

In Li Linghuan's memory, none of Li Xian's sons seemed to have met a good end.

She had seen Li Xian's later life in the Spring of Reincarnation. This man, who had lived a life of hardship and anxiety in the first half of his life, seemed to want to make up for the suffering he had endured and the hardships his wife and daughters had suffered with him after he became emperor. He began to indulge in extreme pleasures. He not only allowed his wife and concubines to sell official positions, but also once released all the palace maids out of the palace to play during the Lantern Festival, which caused a large number of palace maids to disappear on that day and could not be found again.

Moreover, in order to guard against his brother Li Dan and sister Taiping, he did not hesitate to give important positions to Wu Shi, regarded Wu Sansi as a confidant, and would personally visit him if he did not see him for three days. He even tolerated the extremely ugly affair between his wife Wei Shi and Wu Sansi.

In the end, he died a very ignominious death at the hands of Lady Wei and her daughter, Princess Anle.

Upon sensing Li Linghuan's memories, Murong Huan couldn't help but glance at Li Xian again, a question rising in his mind: Was this really the person who killed Li Linghuan in his past life?
She couldn't help but wonder if the last thing Li Linghuan looked at before he died was actually Li Xian.
After Li Xian returned to Luoyang, his eldest son Li Chongrun and Princess Yongtai would die in a political struggle because of the false accusation made by the Zhang brothers, Zhang Changzong and Zhang Yizhi, about "discussing matters privately within the inner chambers."

The one who killed them was their father, Li Xian, who was cowardly and afraid of being implicated.

Li Chongrun lost his life at a young age because he spoke without thinking, and Li Xian's other sons had an even worse time under the control of Lady Wei.

Just as Murong Huan was lost in thought, Li Chongrun also ran over and respectfully bowed to Xiao Muchen and Murong Huan: "Chongrun greets Minister Xiao and Madam Xiao. You two are truly celestial beings!"

After making a remark, he added,

“I have heard of Minister Xiao’s reputation since I was a child, and today I can see that it is indeed better than hearing about him. I wonder if Minister Xiao would be willing to take me as a disciple and teach me the Six Arts of a Gentleman? I would be very grateful!”

Upon hearing this, Madam Wei quickly replied, "Indeed, indeed. I have long heard that Minister Xiao possesses the talent of Cao Zhi and the wisdom of Zhuge Liang. Would you be willing to accept my son Chongrun as your student?"

Xiao Muchen pondered for a moment and replied, "Yes, but we'll have to wait until we return to Luoyang."

"That's wonderful! You must have traveled day and night to get here, Minister Xiao. Why don't you have something to eat first, and then rest well in the east wing... Oh, by the way, when do we set off for Luoyang?"

"Let's do it tomorrow. This matter is very confidential and must not be made public. Apart from the prince's wife, children, and daughters, no one else can accompany him. They must stay in Fangling. Otherwise, too many people will attract too much attention and may cause trouble!"

"I know that, we all know that, we will follow Xiao Zhongcheng's arrangements!" Madam Wei could no longer contain the excitement in her eyes. She hurriedly invited Xiao Muchen and Murong Huan to sit down, and then called the palace maids to serve dishes and pour wine.

When several palace maids approached Xiao Muchen, they couldn't help but smile and exchange glances, a scene that Princess Anle witnessed.

After the banquet, Xiao Muchen took Murong Huan to the place arranged by Madam Wei, a secluded courtyard with a beautiful and tranquil setting. Large swaths of crimson and white flower petals covered the ground, creating a serene and elegant atmosphere.

"I wonder if Minister Xiao is satisfied with this place?" Lady Wei asked.

Xiao Muchen nodded: "Satisfied, Your Highness has gone to great lengths!" Then he asked, "Has Your Highness heard of the evil dragon?"

Lady Wei's expression changed slightly, and she replied with a smile, "How could I not have heard of it? It must have been some gossipy person in Fangling County who told Minister Xiao. Some time ago, some children did go missing in our Fangling County, but His Highness sent people to search for them and also reported to the county government, ordering them to search together, but all to no avail."

Later, someone spread the rumor about the evil dragon, claiming it was right there in our palace. It's utter nonsense, Minister Xiao, don't believe it!

Xiao Muchen smiled and said nothing more. He put his arm around Murong Huan's shoulder and walked into the courtyard together without looking back.

Mrs. Wei's face darkened.

Suddenly, an inexplicable anger flared up in Li Guo'er, and she tugged at her sleeve fiercely, letting out a cold snort.

"Mother, why doesn't this Minister Xiao even glance at me? Doesn't everyone say I'm beautiful? I should be more beautiful than his wife, right?"

Lady Wei then laughed and said, "Of course, my daughter's beauty is probably unmatched in this world!"

He sighed again at this point, "However, I heard that this Minister Xiao is not only exceptionally talented, but also a rare man of unwavering devotion. Five years ago, he married his wife, Murong Huan, and has never taken a concubine since. I even heard that his wife was once rumored to be an ominous figure and a threat to the Great Zhou. The Emperor was very wary of her and wanted to kill her, but he stabbed himself in the back to take the blame for his wife, which barely dispelled the Emperor's concerns."

"Later, perhaps to get away from the political center and the harm done to his wife by the people of Luoyang, he simply resigned from his post and took his wife on a journey. I heard that this was his third year of travel. Unexpectedly, as soon as he returned, he received a secret decree from the emperor and came to our Fangling."

As Lady Wei continued speaking, Princess Anle became increasingly engrossed, thinking to herself: "How can there be such a good man in the world? Why doesn't he belong to me?"
"Mother, I also think that this Minister Xiao is excellent. If Father becomes emperor in the future and I become a princess, could he be my husband?"

Madam Wei's expression changed, and she quickly covered Li Guo'er's mouth, saying, "What nonsense are you talking about? You're still young, how would you know what liking someone is?"

“I used to like him too, but I later realized that it wasn’t true liking. But my daughter really likes this Minister Xiao. She liked him the moment she saw him.”

"Alright, alright, stop talking. My Guo'er can have anything she wants, let alone just a man. We'll talk about it when we get back to Luoyang." As he spoke, his expression turned serious again. "No matter what, we have to save her life first!"