The Great Tang Dynasty: The Celestial Master Descends the Mountain, Starts by Being Deceived into Ma

Chapter 55 Night Escape

In the courtyard of Da'an Palace, the charcoal fire had burned out, leaving only ashes.

Li Yuan leaned back in his chair, his face flushed and his eyes glazed. He hadn't drunk this much wine in a long time, nor had he spoken so freely in a long time.

"Jinghe..." He patted Lu Jinghe's shoulder, his tongue almost slurring, "You're a good chess player, a good cook, and you know how to charm people... I'm at ease with Zhaoning with you..."

Lu Jinghe smiled and poured him a cup of tea: "Grandpa, you've had too much to drink. Have some tea to sober up."

Li Yuan waved his hand: "Not much! I can still drink!"

Despite saying that, his hand trembled as he took the teacup, and half of the tea spilled out.

Li Shimin couldn't help but smile as he watched this scene.

He hadn't seen his father look like this for many years.

In the past, at Da'an Palace, his father would either ignore him with a cold face or pretend to be having fun to disgust him.

It's been far too long since I've felt this relaxed and authentic.

"Father," he said, rising to his feet, "it's getting late. Shall I help you back to rest?"

Li Yuan glared at him: "What are you helping me up for? I can walk by myself!"

He stood up, swayed slightly, and then sat back down.

Li Shimin: "————"

Lu Jinghe suppressed a laugh and stepped forward to help Li Yuan: "Grandfather, let me help you inside."

This time, Li Yuan did not refuse and allowed Lu Jinghe to help him walk inside. When they reached the door, he suddenly turned around and looked at Li Shimin.

"Second son."

Li Shimin quickly stepped forward: "Your subject is here."

Li Yuan was silent for a moment, then said softly, "I'll come again tomorrow... I'll visit again tomorrow."

Li Shimin was stunned for a moment, then nodded emphatically: "Okay."

Li Yuan didn't say anything more and was helped into the bedchamber by Lu Jinghe.

When Lu Jinghe came out, Li Shimin was still standing there, staring blankly in the direction of the sleeping quarters.

"Father-in-law?" Lu Jinghe called out.

Li Shimin came to his senses, took a deep breath, and looked at Lu Jinghe with a more complicated expression.

"Jinghe, thank you so much for today."

Lu Jinghe smiled and said, "We're family, no need for thanks."

Li Shimin nodded and said nothing more.

The two returned to the courtyard. Gao Yang was sitting to the side holding the sleeping little Si Zi. A Lü poked her head out from Si Zi's sleeve and flicked her tongue.

"Has Grandfather gone to sleep?" Gao Yang asked.

Lu Jinghe nodded: "He's asleep. He drank quite a bit."

Gao Yang smiled and looked at Li Shimin: "Father, shall we go back now?"

Li Shimin glanced at the sky, then at Lu Jinghe, and suddenly said, "Let's stay in the palace tonight. It's so late, it's not convenient to leave the palace."

Lu Jinghe was taken aback, then shook his head: "No, no, I'm not comfortable living in the palace. I'd better go back to my Celestial Master's Mansion."

Li Shimin raised an eyebrow: "What? My palace is inferior to your little courtyard?"

Lu Jinghe nodded seriously: "It really can't compare."

Li Shimin: "—"

Gao Yang covered his mouth and laughed.

Lu Jinghe explained, "Father-in-law, you don't know, although my courtyard isn't big, I decorated it all myself. The floor tiles are made of marble, the windows are custom-made and can be replaced with glass at any time, and the beds are just the right firmness, warm in winter and cool in summer. The palace—cough cough, it's far inferior."

Li Shimin was speechless.

But he also knew that Lu Jinghe was telling the truth.

"Alright, alright," Li Shimin waved his hand, "go back if you want."

Lu Jinghe bowed and said, "Then I'll be going now. Father-in-law, you should get some rest too."

As he spoke, he turned to leave.

Gao Yang followed for two steps while holding the baby, then suddenly stopped and shoved the baby into Li Shimin's arms.

"Father, the rhinoceros is for you."

Li Shimin was taken aback: "What are you going to do?"

Gao Yang blushed and whispered, "I...I'll see Jinghe off."

Li Shimin: "Shall we see him off?"

He glanced at Lu Jinghe, who had already reached the palace gate, then at the sleeping little Sizi in his arms, and then at his own daughter's attempt to cover up her secret. How could he not understand?

This girl isn't giving it away to someone else; she's clearly giving it away to herself!

He opened his mouth, but couldn't say anything.

The words spoken in court during the day were still echoing in my ears.

If we stop them now, wouldn't we be contradicting ourselves?

Li Shimin took a deep breath, then another, and finally squeezed out a sentence through gritted teeth: "Get out of here."

"Thank you, Father Emperor," Gao Yang said with a smile.

After saying that, she lifted her skirt and chased after Lu Jinghe.

Li Shimin stood there holding the baby, watching the two figures disappear into the night, his expression complex.

A tongueless figure appeared out of nowhere and whispered, "Your Majesty, should we send someone to follow them...?"

Li Shimin glared at him: "Follow you my foot! Afraid they'll get lost?"

The tongueless creature shrank its neck and stopped speaking.

Li Shimin looked down at the little rhinoceros in his arms.

The little girl was sleeping soundly, still clutching the glass doll Xiao Li tightly in her hand, with a trace of drool at the corner of her mouth.

"You little ingrate," Li Shimin muttered, "your sister abandoned you and ran away, and you're still sleeping so soundly."

The little ox smacked its lips, turned over, and continued sleeping.

Li Shimin sighed helplessly and carried her toward the Lizheng Hall.

Well, I guess I'll have to be a stay-at-home dad again tonight.

Outside the palace gates, Gao Yang finally caught up with Lu Jinghe.

"Why are you running so fast?" she asked breathlessly, taking Lu Jinghe's arm.

Lu Jinghe glanced at her: "I run fast? You're the one who's running."

Gao Yang glared at him: "How could I catch you if I didn't run?"

Lu Jinghe laughed: "Why are you chasing me?"

Gao Yang blushed and turned her head away: "Who...who chased you? I just wanted to get some fresh air; it's so stuffy in the palace."

"Oh—" Lu Jinghe drawled, "Get some fresh air."

Enraged, Gao Yang punched him: "What's with that expression?!"

Lu Jinghe took her hand and smiled, "It's nothing, I just think it's kind of cute when someone says one thing but means another."

Gao Yang's face turned even redder, but she didn't pull her hand away.

The two walked side by side on the streets of Chang'an.

Night had fallen, and the streets were deserted, with only patrolling guards occasionally passing by, who would simply walk around the two of them from a distance.

Who would dare to stop the prince consort and the princess?

"Jinghe," Gao Yang suddenly spoke.

"Um?"

"When do you think we can get married?"

Lu Jinghe thought for a moment: "Next month, didn't my father-in-law say so?"

Gao Yang pursed his lips: "There's still a month left."

Lu Jinghe raised an eyebrow. He could tell that Gao Yang had gotten a taste for it, so he teased, "What? Can't wait?"

Gao Yang glared at him: "What are you saying!"

But she gripped Lu Jinghe's hand even tighter.

Lu Jinghe smiled and stopped teasing her.

After walking for a while, Gao Yang spoke again: "Jinghe."

"Um?"