Datang: Just been appointed as the crown prince, the counterattack system is here

Chapter 303 Chang'an Gains an Imperial Aura! [Seeking Monthly Tickets]

Li Chengqian was quite annoyed that he hadn't managed to kill Wu Zetian during his last trip to Jiangling.

Although Li Yuan had suggested that he go to the neighboring Yuzhou to find Wu Zetian, he refused.

Because the newly appointed governor of Yuzhou, Wu Shihuo, was Wu Zetian's father.

Even if Li Chengqian knew how much Wu Zetian had harmed the Tang Dynasty in history, he would not openly kill the daughter of a court official.

Moreover, Wu Shihuo was a trusted minister of Li Yuan, and he shared Li Yuan's glory and disgrace, so naturally he would not be unhappy with Li Yuan over this matter.

Therefore, the plan to kill Wu Zetian had to be temporarily shelved.

But now, he saw Wu Zetian again, and the killing intent he had suppressed for three years was awakened once more, causing him to stop what he was doing as if possessed, and stare intently at the outstanding young woman.

Despite the girl's ordinary attire, her charisma far surpassed that of everyone around her.

Even the girl whose appearance was comparable to hers was slightly inferior to her in terms of temperament.

Sometimes, Li Chengqian wondered what enabled a woman like Wu Zetian to rise against all odds in a patriarchal society.
There could be many answers.

But the answer absolutely cannot be separated from the word 'opportunity'.

As the saying goes, times make heroes.

It's like standing in the right place at the right time; even a pig can take off.

Of course, this is not to say that Wu Zetian was a pig, but rather that she did seize every opportunity to make herself powerful.

For example, Li Zhi's fondness for her; Empress Wang's attempt to use someone else to do her dirty work, only to be killed herself; and Li Zhi's illness in his later years, which led him to involve her in politics and to check the power of the aristocratic families, etc.

Every opportunity brought her considerable benefits.

So what about now? Does she still have that chance?
If history had unfolded as it should, Li Chengqian believed she would still have succeeded.

However, it is clear that normal history no longer exists; this belongs to a new history.

Therefore, Li Chengqian gradually came to terms with it. As long as he didn't give her any chance, she was just an ordinary pretty woman.

And the world is never short of beautiful women.

"Aunt Hua! Aunt Hua!"

Just as Li Chengqian was deep in thought, a slightly anxious shout suddenly came from not far away.

He paused for a moment, then looked in the direction of the sound.

Two boys of different builds ran up to Wu Zetian, panting, and said with their hands on their hips, "Your mother is dying! You'd better go back and check on her!"

"what?"

Wu Zetian's face turned pale instantly, and she even lost her balance. Fortunately, the slightly chubby young man supported her and prevented her from falling.

But then she asked, her voice trembling with tears, "Brother Yuanshuang, how could my mother be dying? She was perfectly fine when I left."

"You know it was when you left, how much time has passed?" The thin boy grumbled, looking annoyed. "It's clearly your mother, yet you expect us to take care of her for you, and here you are, watching the show."

"I... I wasn't watching the commotion, it was the princess and the others."

"Alright, I'm too lazy to listen to your nonsense. Anyway, your mother is dying. If you don't want to miss seeing her one last time, hurry back and see her!"

Before Wu Zetian could finish speaking, the other party impatiently interrupted her.

At this moment, the slightly overweight boy complained helplessly, "Aunt Hua, it's not that we're criticizing your mother, but she's so sick, why is she still trying to win favor? Father didn't even mention taking a concubine, yet she got so agitated that she fell on the threshold."

"Brother Yuanqing, you said my mother fell on the threshold?"

Upon hearing this, Wu Zetian grabbed the clothes of the slightly overweight boy and asked incredulously.

However, before Wu Yuanqing could answer Wu Zetian, Wu Yuanshuang impatiently urged her, "I already told you your mother is dying, what are you dawdling here for? Hurry up and come back with us to see your mother!"

After saying this, he pulled Wu Zetian outside without any room for argument.

At this moment, the other girls who were with Wu Zetian all looked in their direction.

Some people are indifferent to matters that don't concern them.

Some people looked worried, hesitant to speak.

Some people watched them with great interest, as if they were watching a good show.

It wasn't until Wu Zetian recovered from her earlier panic that she hurriedly said, "I can't just leave like this. I have to say goodbye to the princesses; I promised them."

"Oh dear! What time is it? Filial piety is the most important virtue. Even if she were a princess, she would understand you. Come back with us now!"

Wu Yuanshuang interrupted Wu Zetian again, trying to forcibly pull her onto the carriage.

Just then, the girl who was just as beautiful as Wu Zetian stepped forward and stopped Wu Yuanshuang, saying, "Brother Wu, we are guests invited by the princesses to attend the ceremony. Even if we want to leave, we must inform the princesses, otherwise it will be difficult to explain to the Empress."

Her words were spoken very gently, but they also conveyed an unquestionable meaning.

"who are you?"

Wu Yuanshuang frowned deeply: "How dare you interfere in the affairs of my Wu family?"

"Secretary Assistant, Su Dan's daughter, Su Wan."

"Oh?"

Wu Yuanshuang raised an eyebrow, then his face lit up with joy. He quickly bowed and said, "So it's Miss Su. I am Wu Yuanshuang. I greet you, Miss Su."

Upon hearing this, Su Wan ignored him and instead turned her gaze to Wu Zetian, saying softly, "Sister Wu, if your mother is in grave danger, I can explain to the princesses on your behalf. You can go back and visit her first!"

"This"

Wu Zetian hesitated for a moment, then bowed and said, "Then I'll have to trouble you, Sister Su!"

"You're welcome, you go ahead!"

Su Wan smiled slightly, poised and graceful.

Everyone around admired it.

But Wu Zetian didn't care what the people around her thought. She immediately turned around and rushed towards the carriage, ignoring the two brothers, Wu Yuanqing and Wu Yuanshuang, and ordered the driver to take the carriage back home.

By the time the two brothers realized what was happening, the carriage was already far away. They were so angry that their faces turned ashen, and they beat their feet and pounded their chests.

Meanwhile, Li Chengqian, who had been standing not far away, watched all of this with indifference, standing by and doing nothing.

In fact, he did know about Wu Zetian's history.

Before being summoned to the palace by Li Shimin, Wu Zetian experienced a very painful period.

That is, she lost her father at the age of twelve and was driven out of her home by her two cousins ​​and half-brother, and had no choice but to live a miserable life for four years.

Although these four years are not recorded in history, it is not difficult to see from Wu Zetian's attitude towards her brother after she gained power, and her brother's current attitude towards her and her mother, that these four years were definitely the past that Wu Zetian least wanted to recall.

"Crown Prince!"

Just as Li Chengqian was sighing over Wu Zetian's history, a playful voice suddenly came from behind him.

He paused for a moment, then looked in the direction of the sound and saw Li Lizhi dressed as a nurse.

"Oh, Lizhi! What are you doing here?"

Li Chengqian seemed to realize something and said, "Weren't you supposed to attend the lecture by a famous doctor later? Why did you run off here?"

"Ugh, there are so many people in there, it's so stuffy, I don't want to go in now!"

Li Lizhi playfully raised her hand to fan the blush on her face, then tiptoed to look in the direction Li Chengqian had been looking, and said with a grin, "What is Crown Prince looking at?"

"nothing!"

Li Chengqian didn't want to talk about this topic anymore, so he changed the subject directly, saying, "I'm going back soon, you should go back early too, don't be lazy, study hard!"

After saying this, he prepared to board the carriage and leave.

However, Li Lizhi grabbed his sleeve and said angrily, "Does Crown Prince dislike Lizhi that much? I just arrived and you're already leaving!"

"It's just peeking at beautiful women, I like looking at beautiful women too. Do you know who those beauties are, Crown Prince? Let me tell you, they are the Crown Princesses chosen for you by the Empress Dowager!"

"So, regretting it now?"

"!"

Upon hearing this, an exclamation mark instantly appeared on Li Chengqian's temple.

Because Li Lizhi's voice was neither too loud nor too soft, it reached the ears of the group of girls.

This caused them all to turn and look in their direction.

I rub!

How incredibly embarrassing!

Li Chengqian was almost speechless with frustration about his younger sister.

Li Lizhi, somewhat embarrassed, covered her mouth and hid behind Li Chengqian, her face flushed with embarrassment.

"This humble woman, a commoner, greets Your Highness the Crown Prince!"

Soon, Su Wan and the young ladies from official families, along with the brothers Wu Yuanqing and Wu Yuanshuang, all came to Li Chengqian and bowed to him.

"Excuse me!"

Li Chengqian glared at Li Lizhi with annoyance, then raised his hand to the crowd with a warm smile.

At this moment, Li Lizhi peeked out from under Li Chengqian's arm and said with a grin, "Wan'er, didn't you embroider a piece for my elder brother, the Crown Prince? Hurry up and give it to him! Don't miss this opportunity!"

Upon hearing this, Su Wan's pretty face flushed red instantly, and she was at a loss for what to do.

Although Li Lizhi supported Li Chengqian's decision not to marry young, she got along very well with Empress Zhangsun and Su Wan and Wu Zetian during the time they were in the palace. Therefore, emotionally, she still wanted Su Wan or Wu Zetian to be her sister-in-law.

But Li Chengqian quickly stopped Li Lizhi and changed the subject, saying, "Well, you've come to attend the opening ceremony of the medical school today, which is a contribution to the development of medicine. I hope you will promote the medical school more in the future and encourage those who like medicine to apply to the medical school."

"in addition."

He paused, glanced at Li Lizhi, and said, "As you have probably seen, although Lizhi and the others are princesses, they are also ambitious. In our Great Tang Dynasty, regardless of gender, as long as you have ambition, you can do anything."

"In Your Highness's opinion, what constitutes ambition for us women? Is it only through studying medicine?" A sweet-looking young girl blinked her bright eyes and asked Li Chengqian with a smile.

Li Chengqian glanced at her, pondered for a moment, and then smiled and said, "In my opinion, so-called ambition does not necessarily mean studying medicine, or even serving the country. It can be about striving for your own family and making them happier."

"Excellent! Your Highness is absolutely right!"

Upon hearing this, Wu Yuanshuang immediately clapped his hands in praise.

Wu Yuanqing, standing to the side, echoed, "Hearing Your Highness's words, we are deeply moved; it is indeed true."

What did you feel?

Before Wu Yuanqing could finish speaking, Li Chengqian calmly and indifferently interrupted him.

"what?"

Wu Yuanqing looked completely bewildered, seemingly not expecting Li Chengqian to ask him this question.

But then Li Lizhi said, "Who are you? I don't think I invited you."

"Your Highness, please forgive us. We are the sons of Wu Shiyue, the Governor of Yuzhou. My name is Wu Yuanshuang, and his name is Wu Yuanqing!"

Upon hearing this, Wu Yuanshuang immediately bowed respectfully to Li Lizhi.

Li Lizhi frowned slightly, about to speak, when Su Wan explained from the side, "They are Aunt Hua's brothers, who just came to inform Aunt Hua that her mother is seriously ill."

At this point, she glanced at Li Chengqian subconsciously, and continued, "I promised Hua Gu that I would inform the princess about this matter and let her go back to visit her mother first!"

"Oh!"

Li Lizhi suddenly realized, then blinked and asked Li Chengqian, "Does my elder brother, the Crown Prince, know about this?"

"know."

Li Chengqian calmly replied with two words, seemingly not intending to deliberately hide anything.

But Li Lizhi looked at him with great surprise and said, "Brother Crown Prince, you know this but you're not helping Hua Gu?"

"Why should I help her?" Li Chengqian looked back at Li Lizhi with a puzzled expression.

But then Li Lizhi said somewhat strangely, "Didn't you two already know each other? Aunt Hua even bought you fish balls! Have you forgotten?"

Wow!
The whole place was in an uproar!

Even Su Wan, who had been very calm, couldn't help but look at Li Chengqian with some surprise.

Li Chengqian's expression changed slightly, and he thought to himself, "How did this girl know about this?!"

However, before he could react, Li Lizhi grabbed his arm and urged him, "Quick! Crown Prince, come with me to Aunt Hua's house!"

"No, Lizhi! I have other things to attend to, I must return to the Crown Prince's residence!"

"Oh, brother! How could you do this! They helped you before, we can't be rude!"

"Wait! What did she do for me? I didn't ask her to buy those fish balls!"

Li Chengqian stopped Li Lizhi, somewhat speechless.

But Li Lizhi winked at him with a gossipy expression and asked, "Have you eaten yet?"

"I"

Li Chengqian was speechless for a moment, then said irritably, "None of your business!"

"Tch! You ate their food and then turned your back on them! No wonder they look down on you!" Li Lizhi said with a sneer.

Li Chengqian's face darkened.

Good guy!
I was like, wow!

Empress Wu Zetian actually looked down on me?

Li Chengqian was so enraged by Li Lizhi's words that he almost lost his composure!

But Li Lizhi ignored him and immediately said to Su Wan, "Wan'er, shall we go see Aunt Hua? In case she needs help, we can help her!"

"This"

Su Wan hesitated for a moment, then stole another glance at Li Chengqian. Seeing his expression constantly changing, she bit her red lips and nodded, saying, "Alright! There are many famous doctors here. Let's invite one of them to go with us!"

"Oh! How come I didn't think of that? Wan'er is so clever. Wan'er, please wait a moment, I'll be right back!"

After saying this, Li Lizhi ran away like a gust of wind.

Li Chengqian and Su Wan were left standing there, so embarrassed they were practically bursting with embarrassment.

Fortunately, Laifu noticed Li Chengqian's predicament and quickly said to him, "Your Highness, the Emperor Emeritus is still waiting for you at the residence. What do you think?"

"Oh, I almost forgot, my royal grandfather is still waiting for me!"

Li Chengqian reacted quickly, replying to Laifu in a serious tone, and then said to Su Wan, "Miss Su, I'll leave Lizhi here in your care. I'll be returning to my residence now!"

"It's alright, Your Highness, please proceed!"

Su Wan smiled faintly and didn't say anything more.

Soon, Li Chengqian left in a carriage amidst the curious, puzzled, strange, and thoughtful gazes of the crowd.

Meanwhile, at Da'an Palace.

Li Shimin sat down with Li Yuan, a rare occurrence.

The relationship between this father and son has reached such a point that there's probably nothing more to say.

But it was at this very moment that Li Shimin took the initiative to request an audience with Li Yuan.

Of course, while he claimed to be requesting an audience, he was simply coming whenever he wanted, without notifying Li Yuan at all.

Li Shimin spoke first: "Father, there is something I have always wanted to ask you, but I have never had the chance. I wonder if you could answer it for me?"

"What's the matter?"

Li Yuan took a sip of wine without even looking up.

Li Shimin frowned slightly, then said thoughtfully, "Does Yuan Tiangang staying by your side mean that there is some calamity that our Great Tang needs him to resolve?"

"Just like back then?"

"Ok?"

Li Yuan paused in his drinking, then slowly raised his head, stared at Li Shimin, and said with a cold smile, "You still remember what happened back then?"

“I know what Father wants to say, but some things are better left unsaid. I just want to know why Yuan Tiangang stays by Father’s side!”

Li Shimin looked calmly at Li Yuan, his eyes conveying an unquestionable meaning.

"Ah!"

Li Yuan scoffed, then downed his wine in one gulp, and said disdainfully, "He's just a freeloader, it's not surprising he stays by anyone's side. If you want to know the reason, just ask him directly, why bother asking me!"

"To be honest, Father, I have asked him several times, but he still refuses to see me!"

"Aren't you the emperor? Show your imperial authority and have him brought before you, won't that solve the problem? Does becoming emperor make you timid and hesitant?"

At this point, Li Yuan couldn't help but say sarcastically, "Back at Xuanwu Gate, you were incredibly ruthless and decisive!"

"Father!"

Li Shimin stood up angrily, then stared at Li Yuan with a gloomy expression and said, "Are we, father and son, really going to continue to hate each other like this?!"

Li Yuan: “.”

Li Shimin: "."

The two looked at each other, both silent.

After a long pause, Li Shimin suppressed his anger and knelt down helplessly: "Father! It's been five years! Do you know how I've spent these past five years? Do you know how badly my relationship with Chengqian has deteriorated? It's been so hard for me!"

After saying this, he couldn't help but shed tears, and his voice became very choked with emotion.

“I know you will never forgive me, but I really have many questions in my heart. I feel that Chengqian has changed too much. To put it absurdly, I even doubted whether he was my son.”

Upon hearing this, Li Yuan stared at Li Shimin in astonishment and asked, "What did you say?!"

"Ugh!"

Li Shimin sighed, then sat down and poured wine for Li Yuan, saying, "To be honest, Father, I've come here today because of a strange incident that has recently occurred in Chang'an!"

"What strange thing is going on?"

Li Yuan took a sip of wine and asked casually.

Li Shimin frowned and said, "Recently, Li Chunfeng of the Imperial Observatory observed the celestial phenomena at night and discovered that Chang'an has an extra aura of imperial power. Although I don't care, I'm worried about Chengqian."

"puff--"

Li Yuan sprayed a mouthful of wine directly onto Li Shimin's face.

good good!
Is my grandson finally going to make a move?!
(End of this chapter)