Tang Dynasty: A Guide to Avoiding Pitfalls for Li Er at the Start

Chapter 53: Wasn't that a waste of time travel?

The pavilion fell into a deathly silence.

The maids all lowered their heads at the same time.

Wenrou was a little scared and gently tugged at Wenhe's sleeve.

Wen He glanced at her younger sister and gently rubbed her head.

What happened next was beyond his control. In order to avoid getting involved in trouble, Wen He felt it was best to take Wenrou away first.

He rose and bowed to Empress Zhangsun.

"Your Highness, Xiao Rou seems a little tired. I would like to take her back to rest first."

“Yes, young master, you must be tired from your journey today. You should go and rest first. I think Lizhi is also tired. Let’s go together so that you can keep her company.”

Empress Zhangsun smiled gently.

The maid behind Li Lizhi quickly bowed and, seeing her bewildered expression, led her away following Wen He.

After he left, Empress Zhangsun had her servants take the three little ones away.

When only she and Madam Yang remained in the waterside pavilion, the latter bowed to her in fear and apologized.

"Your Majesty, I am guilty."

"This was His Highness's idea, what does it have to do with you?" Changsun Wugou said indifferently, but the smile on her face clearly faded a bit.

"You're just worried about your younger sister. That's fine, you can take care of her in the palace in the future."

Yang came today for two reasons: first, to see Wen He, and second, for her younger sister.

The destruction of the Qi Prince's mansion was inevitable. She worried that her younger sister, who had become the Qi Prince's wife, would be imprisoned, and wanted Empress Zhangsun to plead with Li Shimin for her life.

But to everyone's surprise, the people who went out to investigate brought back this news.

Her fear was not because Lady Yang had entered the palace.

Rather, she made it very likely that Empress Zhangsun would be guilty of "spying on the emperor's whereabouts," even though the Prince of Qin was not yet the emperor.

But if His Highness the King of Qin remembers this in the future, he will probably take his anger out on it.

Empress Zhangsun sighed softly, looking somewhat weary, unwilling to think about these things.

"Let this matter rest. I will apologize to His Highness later. You don't need to worry about it. It's getting late. Take Ke'er back to rest first."

Yang lowered her eyes, and seeing that she was unwilling to talk anymore, she tactfully agreed.

He bowed and withdrew from the waterside pavilion.

Watching her leave, Empress Zhangsun sat down as if all her strength had been drained.

She gazed calmly at the shimmering lotus pond beside her, and after a long while, she sighed softly, "I'm sorry to trouble Your Highness."

"No wonder she is the woman who wrote 'Rules for Women', she has such a great mind."

Upon learning that nothing had happened inside the waterside pavilion, Wen He couldn't help but sigh inwardly.

Empress Zhangsun truly embodied virtue to the core.

No wonder Li Shimin could tolerate her support for the court officials and showed her great respect.

He had countless beautiful women in his harem, but the most beautiful white moonlight must be Empress Zhangsun.

"Is it tasty?"

He bent down and used a wooden stick to roll up two rolls of maltose from the bowl.

The two little girls, with candy in their mouths, smiled so broadly their eyebrows resembled crescent moons, nodding their heads vigorously.

Wen He chuckled and looked up at a tree not far away.

Little Fatty Li Tai was licking his lips longingly.

He waved in that direction, and Li Tai quickly pulled his head back. After hesitating for a moment, he poked his head out again and walked over.

"Here's one for you, and another one for your brother. Don't eat it all by yourself when you go back."

"Thank you, Mr. Xie."

Li Tai timidly replied.

Maltose is not unusual, but as the young prince of the Qin Prince's mansion, he cannot eat it whenever he wants.

Eating this will easily cause tooth decay.

Therefore, the nannies were always extra careful.

"One a day is enough, don't eat more."

Wen He turned his head and saw Li Lizhi holding a wooden stick, trying to stick it into the bowl, but Wen He snatched it away. The little girl, furious, put her hands on her hips and glared at him angrily.

But the more she acted this way, the more Wen He wanted to tease her.

Who told this little girl's father to treat her like a beast of burden today?

After visiting Li Jing's house, I had to return to the palace to discuss the future with him.

If you were a beast of burden before time travel and you're still a beast of burden after time travel, then what's the point of time travel?
What Wen He didn't know was that half an hour later, Li Shimin was even angrier than him.

It's approaching evening.

The setting sun on the horizon was reduced to a sliver of crimson.

Candles were lit inside the Liangyi Hall.

Fang Xuanling placed a pile of newly reviewed memorials on Li Shimin's desk.

The emperor and his minister exchanged a glance and smiled knowingly.

At this moment, outside the main hall.

A soldier came in.

"Your Highness, the prisoner Wei Zheng has been brought here."

As soon as he finished speaking, several pairs of eyes in the hall suddenly focused on him.

The armored soldier couldn't help but shiver and lowered his head even further.

"It was I who asked him to bring Wei Zheng here. After Father Emperor establishes the heir tomorrow, the world will still need someone to build it up and appease it. Moreover, Wei Zheng is an upright official."

Fang Xuanling and Du Ruhui had already relayed Wen He's words regarding Wei Zheng's matter earlier.

For Li Shimin, who aspired to become a wise and virtuous ruler, he felt that he desperately needed such a minister.

Fang Xuanling and Du Ruhui exchanged a glance, but neither spoke.

Changsun Wuji, who was sitting not far away, opened his mouth as if to say something, but was interrupted by a look from Du Ruhui.

“Kemin, just say what you have to say. Don’t do something so petty.”

Li Shimin sat there, observing the actions of the three men.

Even though Wei Zheng had connections with all three of them, he was, after all, a man of Crown Prince Li Jiancheng.

Moreover, he had previously led his troops to attack the Qin King's residence.

Du Ruhui rose, bowed to Li Shimin, and chuckled.

“Your subject serves you, and you provide for him. Your appointment and dismissal are entirely at your discretion. How can an old minister interfere?”

His words carried a hint of bitterness, which Li Shimin noticed.

He then joked, "You, Keming, when did you learn this trick? Wen He said that Wei Zheng was just a loyal minister, a mirror for me, but the three of you are my brains. I can live without a mirror, but how can I live without brains?"

Upon hearing this, Du Ruhui, Fang Xuanling, and Changsun Wuji immediately bowed deeply to him and hurriedly said that they dared not accept it.

Although this was just a metaphor, Li Shimin bestowed upon the three of them immense honor.

"Of course, my reason for subduing Wei Zheng is to spare his life. If those people in Jiancheng are obedient, I will not mistreat them. But if they plot against me, then don't blame me for the sharpness of my blade."

If he wanted to smoothly transition the government, he needed to get those who originally supported Li Jiancheng to switch sides and serve him.

Only in this way can the Tang Dynasty smoothly transition through the succession of power.

"Your Highness is wise."

The three people present were not fools, and they naturally understood Li Shimin's purpose in doing so.

They were just a little resentful.

"Summon Wei Zheng."

Li Shimin did not offer any further explanation.

He is the future emperor, the master of the Tang Dynasty. If he has to compromise and explain to his ministers on everything, then he is in trouble.

Then his emperorship would be a joke.

With his decisive statement, Du Ruhui, Fang Xuanling, and Changsun Wuji all obediently stepped aside and sat down.

Not long after, outside the main hall.

A middle-aged man dressed in a green robe and covered in dust entered the Liangyi Hall under the escort of soldiers.

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(End of this chapter)