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

Chapter 172 Your Majesty, the Imperial Grandson Pays His Holiness an Audience!

Li Xiang's words made Wang De's heart skip a beat, and he secretly groaned at this task. Stopping this little tyrant was truly not a job that ordinary people could do.

He only managed to stop them for a moment, and he was soon accused of insulting the royal family.

If we continue to obstruct him, won't he become a treacherous eunuch?

In the annals of history, he might even sit at the same table as the Ten Attendants of the Han Dynasty—

Just as he was caught in a dilemma, unsure of what to do, Wang De caught a glimpse of two graceful figures approaching slowly. Upon recognizing the sisters, Li Lizhi and Li Wanning, entering the palace hand in hand, his eyes lit up instantly, as if grasping at a lifeline. He quickly bowed and stepped forward, respectfully greeting the two princesses: "This old servant greets the two princesses—"

After bowing and rising, Wang De's face immediately contorted with distress. He took a half-step closer and pleaded earnestly, "Your Highness, please—please help me stop the Imperial Grandson—"

"The imperial grandson insists on storming the palace to remonstrate, but His Majesty has decreed that the imperial grandson is strictly forbidden from entering the court today. If this old servant releases him, it would be defying the imperial decree:"

If we forcefully stop them, we risk being accused of disgracing the imperial family and obstructing free speech.

He repeatedly cupped his hands in respect, his tone extremely earnest: "I beg Your Highness to persuade the imperial grandson to return home for now, and not to make things difficult for this old servant any further."

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Li Xiang laughed and said, "Does Your Majesty fear me? You want to sell your daughter for a marriage alliance, yet you worry that I will reveal this truth in court?"

"He prides himself on being a wise and diligent ruler who accepts advice, yet he excludes loyal ministers like me who dare to speak the truth from court meetings. How can such a thing be justified?"

After saying this, he glanced at the group of guards and eunuchs around him with strange expressions, and looked heartbroken.

Hearing the grandson of the emperor slandering His Majesty's reputation again, Wang De wished he could go deaf. Li Wanning, however, was startled and quietly tugged at Li Lizhi's sleeve.

Li Lizhi also looked surprised: "Xiang'er, you—have you come to advise against the marriage alliance?"

"Yes." Li Xiang nodded. Li Shimin's intention to arrange a marriage alliance—what a perfect excuse to criticize him—no, what a despicable policy he was!

How could one not remonstrate with a ruler who is so incompetent? Therefore, as soon as Li Xiang heard that the court meeting today would be to summon the Xueyantuo envoy, he put on his official robes early in the morning and went to the relatively remote Shang'an Gate, preparing to give the old man a big surprise when Li Shimin met with the Xueyantuo envoy.

He thought that since he had been slacking off for many days and had never attended court, Li Shimin would certainly not take any precautions. But to his surprise, Lao Deng had anticipated his prediction and sent Wang De to block him outside the palace gates in advance.

So much so that he spent half a day with this old eunuch outside the palace gate.

After a moment's thought, Li Lizhi pleaded with Wang De, "—the Grand Eunuch."

"Elephant's heart is also full of sincerity, why hinder it?"

"I also have business to attend to at the palace to see my father. Perhaps I should let Xiang'er accompany me to the palace."

"This—" Wang De hesitated. "His Majesty has issued an imperial edict—"

"Father was simply worried about Xiang'er, which caused the interruption of the audience with the Xueyantuo envoy," Li Lizhi said. "The envoy came to court, but the audience was only for a short while."

At this hour, the court assembly is about to end; presumably, the envoy has already returned to the Court of State Ceremonial through the Vermilion Bird Gate.

"There should be no problem now. Father and Xiang'er are also blood relatives. Can you really not see Xiang'er?"

Wang De was still hesitating when Li Lizhi's eyes lit up. She said, "Thank you, Grand Eunuch!" After saying that, she beckoned Li Xiang to get into the carriage and ordered the maid to drive the carriage towards the palace gate.

Wang De was already wavering, and knowing the weight this frail and sickly eldest daughter held in the court and in Li Shimin's heart, he feared that the imperial guards' weapons would frighten Princess Chang Le's carriage, so he hurriedly ordered the imperial guards to let her pass.

Watching the carriages and horses disappear into the distance, he was filled with regret. He stamped his foot and looked at the imperial guards who were staring at him blankly: "What are you looking at me for? Go and report to His Majesty!"

Hopefully, the Xueyantuo envoy has truly departed.

Hopefully, that prince won't do anything else outrageous or shocking.

"Why did Aunt Chang Le help me?" Li Xiang asked Li Lizhi while sitting in the carriage.

Due to her frail health, Li Lizhi was granted permission to enter the palace by carriage, but this was the first time she had used this special privilege enjoyed by only a select few. (Another exception was Li Tai, who was granted permission to enter the palace by sedan chair due to his obesity). As the eldest daughter of Li Er, Li Lizhi enjoyed the emperor's utmost favor.

However, the emperor's favoritism did not improve the young princess's health in any way.

After not seeing her for ten days, her health seemed to have deteriorated further. The carriage sped along, and even on the smooth imperial road, the bumpy ride made Li Lizhi feel particularly uncomfortable. She covered her mouth and nose with a handkerchief, coughed twice, and then had the strength to look at Li Xiang: "According to Eunuch Wang, Father met with the Xueyantuo envoy today and seems to be discussing the date for the fifteenth day of the lunar newcomer's departure beyond the Great Wall."

"Xiang'er, if you don't want our Great Tang to have a marriage alliance, is there a way to have the best of both worlds, so that we can avoid the marriage alliance and still be free from the border troubles of the Xueyantuo tribe?" As she spoke, she looked at Li Xiang with hopeful eyes.

"Of course not." Li Xiang's eyes involuntarily glanced at the girl beside Li Lizhi. The girl looked to be no more than thirteen or fourteen years old, far from being fully grown. But the sorrow on her face and the hope in her eyes were even stronger than Li Lizhi's.

"Could this be...?"

"—This is your fifteenth aunt, Princess Xinxing, who will be sent for a political marriage—" Li Lizhi said.

Holy crap! She's so young! She's practically a loli! I heard that Zhenzhu Yinan Khan is already in his sixties or seventies, and Li Er actually wants to send such a girl to marry a sixty- or seventy-year-old man?

Incompetent! Utterly incompetent! To entrust the safety of the frontier to such a young girl!

Li Xiang was immediately filled with righteous indignation. He stood up and raised his arms, saying, "Although a marriage alliance can ensure temporary peace, how ridiculous it is to entrust the safety of the border to a woman!"

"The Xueyantuo are greedy wolves! How could we possibly offer women as bribes? Why don't those ministers who support the marriage alliance offer their own women for the alliance!"

"Such corrupt practices must be stopped, otherwise, the Xueyantuo tribe will all think that our Great Tang has no men, and where will the might of our Great Tang be!"

It was only because he was still small enough to stand in the car that he didn't hit his head.

Li Xiang's words caused a sudden glint of light to appear in Princess Xinxing's eyes. This was the first time someone had so firmly and resolutely opposed a marriage alliance!

Although Princess Chang Le, Li Lizhi, still had doubts, she could only place her hopes on Li Xiang now that things had come to this. She said to Li Xiang, "In that case, your aunt will send you to the Taiji Hall to participate in the court assembly."

"Remember, speak respectfully to your imperial grandfather and do not be disobedient—your father values ​​you highly, so speak carefully."

"Father is kind and compassionate. If we can persuade him and his officials, perhaps they can come up with a solution that satisfies both sides—"

Li Xiang curled his lip in disdain. That Li Er was not only unfit to be a son, but he was also completely unfit to be a father.

These daughters were either sold to win over meritorious officials or sold to marry into political alliances; they've all become path-dependent.

There is no compassion whatsoever.

But in front of Li Lizhi, Li Xiang nodded vigorously.

"Don't worry, Aunt, I am also a scholar, and my words will certainly be refined!"

Li Lizhi finally nodded in relief. The carriage sped towards Taiji Palace, quickly delivering Li Xiang to its gates. Shortly after, inside the Liangyi Hall of Taiji Palace, Li Shimin received a report from a palace attendant: "Your Majesty, Imperial Grandson Li Xiang has come to see you!"

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