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

These words immediately startled the soldier who was about to step forward, causing him to flinch and nearly drop his sword.

"Your Highness... what did you just say?" The soldier's pupils shrank, his face full of astonishment, thinking that he had misheard.

Li Xiang remained calm and repeated in a flat tone, "I ask you, did Emperor Taizong (Li Er) never issue such an order—that anyone who dares to escape can be killed without mercy?"

He straightened his neck slightly, a hint of eager excitement flashing in his eyes, and urged:

"If so, then take action and finish this quickly; I'm in a hurry."

"This place is deserted and gloomy, making it a good place to carry out executions, so as not to disturb ordinary people."

A smile of encouragement curled at the corner of his lips, but to the soldiers it looked eerie and terrifying.

The soldier stood frozen in place, his mind racing, and it took him a long time to realize that the "Li Er" Li Xiang was referring to was none other than the current emperor.

But upon further reflection, he couldn't understand why the son of the deposed crown prince would utter such incomprehensible and hellish words.

Then I recalled the rumors that had already spread throughout the Imperial Guard camp about this grandson's erratic behavior and defiance of His Majesty. Some even said that he was possessed by some evil spirit...

A cold wind swept through the alley, chilling the air. The soldiers felt a chill run down their spines, their hair stood on end, and their legs felt weak.

He quickly braced himself with the hilt of his sword, forcibly steadying himself, and bowed his head, replying urgently, "There is absolutely no such decree! Absolutely not!"

"Your Highness, my family has served the Tang Dynasty for generations. How could I dare to harm the imperial bloodline? If Your Highness suffers even the slightest mishap, I will be condemned to death. I would never dare to act rashly!"

"So there wasn't one..." Li Xiang sighed with disappointment upon hearing this. Although he had only been testing the waters with a sliver of hope, he was ultimately disappointed.

His eyes flickered slightly, and he suddenly looked up: "You just said that if anything happens to me, you would be held responsible even if you died a thousand deaths?"

"Indeed." The soldier nodded repeatedly, his words earnest. "This humble officer was merely ordered to find you and return; I had absolutely no intention of harming you. The captain above has given strict orders to ensure Your Highness's safety and to prevent any mishaps."

Isn't this interesting?

Li Xiang smiled slyly, his tone deliberately turning cold: "Then if I were to commit suicide the moment you get close, how would you face the consequences?"

The soldier's expression froze instantly.

"Uh..." He chuckled dryly, forcing a smile, "Your Highness... are you perhaps joking?"

"Whether you're joking or not, take a guess?"

After saying this, Li Xiang directly took out a short dagger hidden close to his body, pressed it down with his fingertips, and the sharp edge was faintly pressed against his neck.

His gaze was enigmatic, a half-smile playing on his lips as he silently stared at the soldier before him, who was already drenched in cold sweat.

And sure enough, a bug has been encountered.

The soldiers were caught in a dilemma, hesitating several times. They wanted to step forward and capture him, but dared not.

This grandson of the emperor is infamous for his madness; the whole Imperial Guard has heard about it. He even dared to chase after His Majesty to the Liangyi Hall to insult him. What other absurd and resolute things wouldn't he do?

If I rashly step forward and force the other person to actually commit suicide on the spot, not only will my own life be in danger, but my whole family might also be...

Upon realizing this, the soldier felt a chill run down his spine, as if his entire family was trembling.

When force failed, they had no choice but to yield. The soldiers quickly lowered their stance, repeatedly bowing and scraping, almost pleading, "Your Highness, please have pity on us servants. If you are allowed to roam freely and never return, the entire Right Guard Command will be severely punished by His Majesty, and no one will be spared..."

Li Xiang slowly sheathed his dagger, his expression calm: "I have always only opposed Li Er, and have no intention of making things difficult for you low-ranking soldiers."

He never even considered actually escaping from prison.

Now penniless and trapped in the chessboard-like city of Chang'an, even if he manages to escape for a while, he will never escape the relentless pursuit that follows.

Moreover, only by staying under Li Shimin's nose could they have a constant stream of opportunities to court disaster and slack off.

If they really escaped Longqingfang and left Chang'an, would they have to hide their identities, work hard to start a business, and raise an army to fight Li Shimin at Xuanwu Gate?

He would never do such a time-consuming, laborious, and arduous task.

I sneaked out today, just to wander around the streets and alleys, hoping to find an opportunity to improve my quality of life.

Being caught up by this Imperial Guard soldier isn't necessarily a bad thing. He can be tricked into becoming a free bodyguard, which will prevent him from being kidnapped by thugs or other villains in remote alleys.

"I will obediently return to the manor before sunset and will never run away. If you don't believe me, you can follow me from ten paces away."

"Also, don't call me 'Your Highness' anymore. The Crown Prince has fallen from power, so what 'Your Highness' is he now? It's annoying to hear."

"...Yes." The soldier hesitated for a long time, but it seemed that there was no better way out, so he could only agree.

Li Xiang had everything arranged perfectly for them.

"By the way, I've felt you look somewhat familiar. Have we met before?" Since he had already brought this guy over as a bodyguard, Li Xiang tried to get closer to him.

"Previously, Your Highness... the young master and the deposed crown prince were imprisoned in a side hall, and it was I who was responsible for guarding them outside the hall."

"Oh!" I remember now, it was that old man from the Right Army Commander's Mansion who was listening to me rant about Kong Yingda and Yu Zhining outside the palace gate that day.

"Hey, I remember you dressed like a junior colonel back then, weren't you?"

"Look at your clothes... how did you end up as a junior officer?"

"...This humble officer was originally a squad leader, but because he failed to properly guard that side hall, allowing Lords Kong and Yu to break into the hall, he has been demoted two ranks and fined one year's salary..."

"And you've been sent here to keep an eye on you and your father..." The soldier glanced at Li Xiang, his tone resentful.

"Ugh... Kong and Yu, those two old dogs, they're really despicable!"

Li Xiang said, secretly suppressing a laugh. This guy really didn't seem very bright; he was the perfect target to be tricked into doing manual labor.

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

Although Longqingfang was considered remote, the East Market was just a short walk away from the gate.

Just across the street, the difference was like heaven and earth: Longqing Ward was deserted and rarely visited. Chang'an East Market, on the other hand, had its gates wide open, with pedestrians and merchants coming and going in an endless stream.

Li Xiang followed the crowd and entered the East Market. There he saw: a grid-shaped long street crisscrossing the market, with 220 shops lined up one after another, stretching endlessly. Various wine flags and cloth banners fluttered in the wind. Shops and workshops were arranged along the street, and the place was bustling with people and carriages coming and going.

This place is adjacent to Chongrenfang and Shengyefang, where many powerful and noble people lived. The goods sold here are the finest products of the Tang Dynasty at that time: Shu brocade and Wu silk are dazzling, and pearls, jade and spices are fragrant.

The exhibition is filled with a dazzling array of writing implements, musical instruments, and precious artifacts.

Goods from both the north and south gathered, and rare treasures from all directions converged. Everywhere one could see vendors setting up stalls and hawking their wares, merchants negotiating prices, young noblemen dressed in fine clothes, and all sorts of pedestrians coming and going.

Occasionally, distinctive shops and restaurants run by people from Central Asia can be found among the crowd. Whenever a shop is owned by Central Asians, a scantily clad woman is always present at the entrance, soliciting customers. They have slender waists and deep-set eyes, attracting the attention of passersby.

There are also many food stalls where the aroma of wine and the steam of food mingle, and the streets are filled with shouts, laughter, and the sounds of carriages and animal bells.

Sunlight streamed down as young men from the Five Mausoleums rode by, laughing and frolicking, stirring up wisps of dust on the rammed earth streets. Shops displayed their wares, smoke billowed, and the bustling scene showcased the wealth and prosperity of the Tang Dynasty's capital region.