Zhenguan: I, Dou Fengjie, will not be the first cuckold.

The small palanquin stopped on one side of the crossroads of Longzhengfang. Li Tai, the obese King of Yue and Grand General of Yangzhou, dressed in casual clothes, swayed as he walked toward Dou Fengjie's residence.

Even through his clothes, you could feel the rolls of fat jiggling on his body.

The clerk of the Yue King's Palace opened the door to Dou Fengjie for Li Tai.

"With the King of Yue's arrival, I, Dou Fengjie, am in mourning attire and cannot perform the grand ceremony of paying my respects. Please forgive me."

Dou Fengjie's words were polite, but his attitude of keeping people at arm's length was obvious.

"Uncle, you're too kind. Today we're only talking about kinship, not about social status."

"These are homemade Tian Su pastries. Uncle, please taste them and see how well you make them."

Li Tai took the food box from Sima Suxu; a faint steam rose from the box.

The "Xiaotian" in Xiaotiansu is an alternate name for the Vice Minister of the Ministry of Personnel.

This dish is venison and chicken porridge, which was one of the essential dishes of the Tang Dynasty's "Burning Tail Banquet" and appeared on Wei Juyuan's menu during the reign of Emperor Zhongzong of Tang.

The metaphor of Xiaotiansu is "cooperation," which is precisely the duty of the Vice Minister of the Ministry of Personnel.

"Your Majesty, I am only of minor kinship with Empress Tai Mu, and I dare not accept such a title. Please retract it."

"I dare not refuse Your Excellency's gift; I, a humble man, am deeply grateful for Your Majesty's generous donation."

Dou Fengjie was naturally confident in consuming anything that had been verified by the Weihuo system.

Dou happy's drooling expression made it impossible for Dou Fengjie to refuse Xiao Tiansu.

In short, the sugar coating was eaten, and the bullets were deflected.

Li Tai's visit to Longzhengfang was certainly not for a temporary mourning.

Apart from the emperor, only the crown prince could attend the funerals of important officials; princes were not qualified in this regard.

"The house may be small, but it feels comfortable; the donkey may be black, but it is full of spirit." Li Tai praised softly as he entered the house.

People who are literary and artistic types always have a pleasant way of speaking.

Ah Lu proudly raised his head and swished his tail, echoing the sentiment.

Liangzhou tea, Hongzhou bowl, the strange-tasting tea soup is hard to swallow.

Having grown accustomed to fine tea, Li Tai sipped the strange tea slowly, his eyes filled with sympathy as he looked at Dou Fengjie.

"Sima, after returning to Yankangfang, send a set of Yuezhou celadon bowls and a basket of Shuzhou compressed tea to your uncle," Li Tai instructed.

"Yes, Young Master Dou, please forgive us. The Prince of Yue's tea troupe in Guang Prefecture doesn't have much to offer, so we have to leave some to maintain appearances," Su Xu explained gently to Dou Fengjie.

Among Huainan teas, those from Guangzhou are the best, while those from Shuzhou are slightly inferior.

Although Li Tai's current expenses are slightly higher than those of other princes, they are still not as high as those of Li Chengqian.

Dou Fengjie clasped his hands and said, "Thank you for your generous gift, Your Majesty."

Li Tai and Su Xu's frank attitude won Dou Fengjie's favor.

The King of Yue put down his teacup: "I have come here to ask my uncle for a solution for my mother."

"With your extensive knowledge, Uncle, could you perhaps come up with an idea to lessen Mother's suffering?"

"Although Qingque doesn't have much ability, she is willing to protect her uncle from the wind and rain."

Dou Fengjie glanced at Su Xu and teased softly, "But even a scholar can't escape marrying a princess, how will Your Majesty protect you from the wind and rain?"

Su Xu, one of the eighteen scholars, has been confirmed to marry Princess Nanchang.

"I am willing to marry Princess Nanchang, and Young Master Dou need not mind."

Su Xu answered with a smile, subtly stabbing Dou Fengjie in the back.

Princess Nanchang was Princess Yongjia's half-sister and of good character. Su Xu, without the concerns of someone from the grasslands, spoke naturally and easily.

Dou Fengjie admitted that he was jealous.

Look, what kind of princess others are destined to marry, and what kind of princess I am destined to marry!

"Then, what brilliant plan does Your Majesty have?"

Dou Fengjie could only humbly seek advice.

"General Zhishi Sili, the Left Commander, has been widowed for many years. I can suggest to Father that he marry Princess Yongjia."

Li Tai's wicked schemes were on full display.

At present, many of the princesses and princesses of the Tang Dynasty were married off as second wives, since the Tang Dynasty did not discriminate against remarriage.

For those barbarian generals who remarried, they didn't care about the reputation of the eldest princess.

Hmm, that's a unique approach; it might just be able to get Dou Fengjie out of his predicament.

Su Xu took a sip of tea and slowly said, "Your Majesty's plan is quite difficult. The biggest problem is how to get Princess Yongjia to agree."

Li Tai smiled and said, "Isn't it just about vying for favor? I'll risk everything and make a few sacrifices, but Father will still have to give in to me, won't he?"

It was this extreme pampering that gave Li Tai a vague illusion that he could go even further.

Even though Li Shimin doted on Princess Yongjia, it couldn't compare to his affection for Li Tai; he even wanted him to live in the Wude Palace.

However, behind the seemingly tender and affectionate doting lies a cold calculation.

Having inherited Li Xuanba's experience, Li Tai's path to legitimately becoming the Crown Prince was fundamentally cut off.

In some ways, Li Tai's future was even more hopeless than Dou Fengjie's.

Dou Fengjie took out a small porcelain bottle: "Here are ten pills, given to me by a passing Taoist priest. One pill can relieve the rash when it flares up."

"Do not eat too much, and do not let anyone switch it out."

Whether or not there will be another Xi Simin depends on whether Li Tai can keep his promise.

If you really have allergic symptoms, even ten tablets of antihistamine won't last long.

This disease is incurable; once you get it, it's a lifelong condition, and it can always strike unexpectedly.

The excuse of "passing Taoist priest" is so half-hearted, everyone knows what it really means.

On the surface, Dou Fengjie was moved by Li Tai's filial piety, but in reality, it was still a transaction.

Although Dou Fengjie had a slight liking for Li Tai, it did not mean that he would join Li Tai's camp.

Unfortunately, Crown Prince Li Chengqian ignored Dou Fengjie and never appeared again after the funeral.

Li Chengqian's advantages far outweigh those of Li Tai.

It was because he was too rebellious that Li Shimin intended to suppress him, which is why he broke his sword.

As for the young Li Zhi, he's too young; he's too far away to be of any use in the present.

Li Tailai sought out Xi Simin, his aim being to gain favor and see if he could transform a whetstone into a steel blade.

Li Tai was aware of Lishi's fate, but he always held onto a sliver of hope.

What if, without resorting to violence, I could reenact the Xuanwu Gate Incident?

Since Aye has set a precedent, why can't Li Tai learn from his example?

-----------------

Ganlu Temple.

After groping Li Shimin, Li Tai stood before Empress Zhangsun like a treasure, and took out the porcelain bottle given to him by Dou Fengjie.

"Mother, this is medicine that Qingque obtained from her uncle in Longzhengfang. Take one pill when the rash flares up. Do not take more than one pill. Be careful not to switch it out."

Li Tai tried his best to show his filial piety.

"Does he really have the medicine?"

Li Shimin's face darkened.

Dou Fengjie's medicine was given to Li Tai rather than handed over to the imperial court; he deserves to die!

"My uncle said the medicine was given to him by a passing Taoist priest."

Li Tai answered innocently.

Everyone understands this excuse.

Empress Zhangsun smiled: "Qingque is very thoughtful. Dou Fengjie must have something to ask of you, right?"

Empress Zhangsun, who compiled the "Rules for Women," had some reservations about the actions of her sister-in-law, Princess Yongjia, but she simply did not want to argue with Li Shimin about it.

Li Tai smiled innocently: "I heard that the Left General Zhishi Sili has lost his wife, and I would like to recommend him to Princess Yongjia."

This ruthless idea made Li Shimin's eyes widen in anger, and he raised his hand but did not bring it down.

"Qingque's methods are truly remarkable; her father surpasses even her grandfather!"