The rebellious grandson of Emperor Zhenguan of the Tang Dynasty: Please, Your Majesty, be called Cro

Chapter 123 Princess Gaoyang and Princess Changle

Wait, is this the famous Princess Chang Le?

Princess Changle, Li Lizhi, was the eldest daughter of Li Er. She was born of the same mother as Li Chengqian and had the same temperament as her mother, Empress Zhangsun. She always cherished the younger members of the imperial family.

Whether before or after his time travel, Li Xiang recognized the extremely famous Princess Chang Le.

Princess Changle, as the eldest daughter of Li Er, and having married into the Changsun family, held the most prestigious position among all the princesses due to her familial ties. According to the original owner's memories, Li Xiang was also extremely close to this Aunt Changle.

Judging from her memories before the time travel, Princess Chang Le was the first choice for the protagonists of various Tang Dynasty time travel novels to marry.

Therefore, her historical husband, Changsun Chong, also earned the title of "King of Green Hats," and was able to sit at the same table with the children as the real King of Green Hats, Fang Yi'ai.

"Hey, where's Changsun, the cuckolded king? Why isn't he here?" Li Xiang looked around curiously.

Princess Chang Le was slender, but her smile was kind and gentle. The youngest son, Changsun Yan, whom she held in her arms, was curiously peeking out, his round eyes looking at Li Xiang and Li Jue.

"Aunt Chang Le." Li Jue ran to Princess Chang Le's side and bowed respectfully. In such a formal setting, seeing his aunt whom he had been close to since childhood, his tense body finally relaxed a little.

Li Lizhi freed one hand and gently stroked Li Jue's head, her eyes full of pity: "It's been several months since I last saw you, Jue'er has grown taller again. Are you living peacefully in Longqing Ward?"

One sentence struck a nerve with the child, causing Li Jue's nose to sting slightly. However, he dared not show it due to the occasion and simply lowered his head and responded softly.

"Elephant, what are you looking around for? Cough cough—aren't you coming over here?"

Seeing that Li Xiang was still looking around, Princess Chang Le gently beckoned to him. Her voice was as soft as a mosquito's buzz, almost breathy.

Perhaps it was the original owner's memories at work, but Li Xiang had no intention of breaking free or going against the grain, and obediently stepped forward as instructed.

Li Lizhi looked up at Li Xiang and sighed helplessly, "I saw you by the carriages outside just now. The carriage was simple and plain, which was too shabby compared to others. Others looked at you with disdain and indifference. You have always been strong-willed and didn't care, but your son is young and can't stand such treatment."

Having said that, he stepped aside to make room for the two empty cushions next to him. "Ahem—the seats here are empty, so you brothers can sit next to me. There's no need to go to those secluded seats in the corridor."

"Thank you, Aunt." Li Xiang, sensing the concern in her words, politely clasped his hands in thanks. Li Jue followed suit, clasping his hands as well, and then happily sat down beside Princess Chang Le with Li Xiang.

Li Lizhi looked at the brothers Li Xiang and Li Jue with heartache in her eyes, and gently pushed the pastries and snacks on the table closer to them.

As she stroked Li Jue, who was wolfing down his food, she asked Li Xiang, "Xiang'er—is my elder brother alright?"

"My father spends his days reading books and scriptures in the courtyard, which is much easier than when he was in the Eastern Palace, and his health is much better," Li Xiang replied.

"That's good, that's good. Cough cough—" Li Lizhi seemed to have caught a cold and coughed lightly twice. As if afraid of passing on her illness to the three children, she quickly covered her mouth and nose with a handkerchief every time she coughed.

Once her cough subsided, a look of guilt and sorrow appeared in her eyes: "Upon learning that my elder brother—I had intended to plead for him, but my father-in-law advised me that women should not interfere in politics. I had planned to visit him in Longqingfang, but my father wouldn't allow it, and my health is also very poor—"

"It's alright," Li Xiang quickly waved his hand. "Your health is the priority. Father is fine, so why trouble yourself to visit him?"

In the original owner's memories, Li Chengqian didn't seem to be very close to his younger sister, Li Lizhi. But Li Lizhi actually thought of pleading for Li Chengqian, and judging from her tone, it wasn't a lie, which was quite remarkable.

Moreover—her statement about being unwell is likely true. It seems Li Lizhi also passed away during the Zhenguan era?

He didn't know when it happened—thinking of this, Li Xiang couldn't help but secretly observe Li Lizhi's complexion.

Li Lizhi was also observing him and Li Jue, and noticed that the two brothers' clothes were quite worn. Li Xiang's robe even had a tear that had been accidentally made when he jumped over the wall to escape from confinement, which made Li Lizhi feel even more distressed.

"When the banquet ends, go with your aunt to Chongrenfang to get some valuables."

"Although my elder brother has been demoted, it has nothing to do with you brothers. Father has also been quite negligent, treating the children so harshly—with your aunt here, you will certainly have enough to eat and use in the future."

Li Lizhi was filled with pity and was giving instructions to take the two back to Chongrenfang after the banquet to buy them clothes and other valuables. Before she could finish speaking, a clear and charming female voice suddenly rang out beside her, with a hint of reproach and teasing: "Sister is so kind, always thinking of these two nephews. In my opinion, they are not lacking in food or clothing at all, and their lives are quite comfortable."

Everyone turned their heads at the sound and saw a woman in a brightly colored brocade dress slowly walk to the front of the table. Her jade pendants jingled, and her eyes were lively and bright, with a touch of arrogance. She first curtsied to Li Lizhi, then glanced at Li Xiang, who was sitting upright to the side, her eyes full of indignation.

Li Lizhi paused slightly, raised her hand to cover her mouth and nose and coughed twice, then asked in confusion, "Gaoyang? What do you mean by that? Elder brother—after moving to Longqingfang, Father provided him with only the necessities of an ordinary family. How can you say he's wealthy?"

Princess Gaoyang? Li Xiang raised an eyebrow, looking at Princess Gaoyang. This one was even more impressive. Her story with the chick-transforming master—no, I mean the master Bianji—was widely known throughout later generations. It was said that she was also skilled at taming her husband. While discussing Buddhist teachings with the master and experiencing his demon-slaying abilities, she could even command her husband to stand guard at the door.

Finally, because Master Bianji was caught and executed, he hated Emperor Gaozong of Tang from then on. After Emperor Gaozong's death, he dragged his son-in-law Fang Yi'ai into a rebellion, but was decisively given death by Emperor Gaozong of Tang, who was kind, benevolent, and cared for his relatives.

Why isn't her husband here either? Li Xiang looked around, searching for Fang Yi'ai. Neither of the two cuckolded kings were to be seen; could they really be drinking together?

Princess Gaoyang raised an eyebrow, gestured with her chin toward Li Xiang, and said with resentment, "Elder sister, you've been living in seclusion in the mansion all year round and know nothing of what's new outside."

"Although Father didn't give my elder brother much, our nephew here is very good at handling things!"

"Some time ago, I don't know what kind of sweet talk my son-in-law was deceived by, but he actually took away the glass jade reciting bowl that the Fang family had treasured for many years and which was a tribute from the Western Regions, and gave it to this good nephew. He said he wanted to grind it and make some kind of telescope."

At this point, Gao Yang's cheeks puffed out slightly, filled with resentment for his family and anger at Li Xiang for taking advantage of him: "That glass bowl was a rare treasure bestowed upon my family by my father. It is priceless and unavailable. Even in my father's treasury, there is probably only one of its kind."

"Not only was my foolish son-in-law tricked into presenting me with a treasure out of nowhere, but he also accepted a thousand strings of copper coins from my family as some kind of processing fee!"

"That one treasure alone is worth more than ten thousand taels of gold! It's more than enough to provide for their entire family's life, let alone a few new clothes. Why would they need you to spend more money on valuables and gold, sister?"

Upon hearing these words, several people at the neighboring seats turned their heads, and many members of the imperial clan secretly glanced at Li Xiang, their eyes lingering on him. Some were secretly surprised by Li Xiang's cunning methods, as he could easily swindle even the Fang family's treasures.

Li Jue's small hands, holding the pastries, froze in mid-air. He looked timidly at Li Xiang, unsure whether he should continue eating.

Upon hearing this, Li Lizhi was first taken aback, then looked helplessly at Li Xiang, both amused and exasperated: "Xiang'er, is this really true? How could you possibly deceive the Fang family's heirloom treasure?"

"You're going to ruin such a rare treasure and use it to make a telescope? Isn't that a terrible waste? It would be better to return it to Fang Xiang along with the money as soon as possible."

Li Xiang blushed. That day, Fang Yi'ai and the steward of the Fang family came to his door, asking him to make a telescope. He did have a sudden inspiration, and with the intention of earning some money for his reckless behavior, he accepted a thousand copper coins from the Fang family to act as a middleman and make a profit.

Actually, making a telescope is as simple as finding a bronze mirror polisher in the Upper East Side and having him carefully polish the glass bowl to the shape he requires. It doesn't even cost a hundred strings of cash, let alone a thousand.

However, intellectual property rights are still property rights, so charging a fee is reasonable, right? After all, a broken glass bowl is nowhere near as valuable as the world's first telescope.

Having calmed himself down, Li Xiang remained completely composed and said to Princess Chang Le with a slow and deliberate smile, "Don't listen to these exaggerated claims."

"The glass bowl, if left in the Fang family, would just be a dusty decoration in the storeroom, but in my hands, it can be transformed into a masterpiece."

"Besides, it's just a broken glass bowl. If Aunt Gaoyang wants it, I'll give you a better one later."

"And then you'll make ten or eight even better ones. I wonder if you'd be willing to pay a fortune for them then?"

Princess Gaoyang took Li Xiang's words as a provocation and immediately objected, taking a half-step forward: "Nonsense! You took my family's heirloom and used it to mess with small, broken items, and then you call it junk! You got a good deal and still have the nerve to argue!"

"If you can make one of those treasures, I'll buy one! It's a win-win situation!"

As she spoke, she glanced at the wooden box beside Li Xiang, raising an eyebrow: "Could it be that you tricked my family out of our treasures, intending to use it as a gift to my father, begging for his forgiveness?"

"If that's the case, then as your aunt, I can forgive you a little."

Princess Chang Le may not be fully aware, but the unconventional Princess Gao Yang knew exactly how Li Xiang had been courting death and gradually pushing himself into a "desperate situation" these past few days.

In her mind, her fourth brother's ascension to the throne was a foregone conclusion. This brat, however, had offended her father, her fourth brother, and the powerful families of the Five Clans and Seven Noble Families. Perhaps he had been indignant before because of his eldest brother's demotion. Now, he should have calmed down.

If Li Xiang wanted to pull back from the brink and admit his mistake to the emperor, today's Xia sacrifice banquet would be the best opportunity.

She spoke as if she knew exactly what Li Xiang was thinking.

Li Xiang was stunned for a moment, and upon hearing this, he almost fell off the mat.

Did I hear that right? Me? Offering gifts to Li Er to admit my mistake? Begging for his forgiveness?

He was both amused and exasperated, and patted the wooden box, saying, "Aunt Gaoyang has misunderstood."

"This box is indeed the gift I wish to present to His Majesty."

"However, it wasn't the glass bowl inside—"

"As for what it is, you'll have to wait and see in a moment—" Li Xiang winked and revealed a mischievous smile.

Princess Gaoyang and Princess Changle exchanged a glance, about to ask further questions, when just then, the drawn-out announcement of a palace attendant came from outside the hall: "The Emperor has arrived—"

"6

Upon hearing the sound, all the clansmen stood up, and the entire Liangyi Hall fell silent instantly. Everyone returned to their seats, straightened their clothes, and bowed in unison towards the hall's entrance to welcome the emperor.

As the protagonist of the Xia Sacrifice Banquet, Li Erfeng made a dazzling appearance at the palace gate.