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

"Those are what you were talking about..."

"...A strategist?"

"Yes, doesn't it look like it?"

"..."

Just now, Li Xiang spoke with such seriousness that anyone who heard him would have thought that this grandson of the emperor was going to seek out some brilliant sage of our time.

Or perhaps it is that hermit who retreated into the mountains or lived in seclusion in the city.

Who would have thought that the "strategist" he spoke of...

They were just a group of ordinary women chatting and working under the big locust tree!

...This grandson of the emperor has indeed gone mad.

Li Xiang paid no attention to the gossip in other people's minds. He was happily bowing to the women under the big locust tree, behaving as familiarly as if he were visiting relatives and friends.

Even if he truly saw through the astonishment and confusion of the Imperial Guards behind him, Li Xiang would still inwardly scoff:

What kind of master? What kind of hermit?

However, they are a group of vested interests trapped in feudal ethics and bound tightly by the hierarchical order.

They know nothing about rebellion!

An old man once said that we should come from the masses and go back to the masses.

We must be good at listening to the wisdom of the masses, for the wisdom of the masses is boundless.

When it comes to how to refute the corrupt and decadent feudal imperialism, throughout five thousand years of history, who is more professional than that old man?

Can those so-called experts and famous figures even compare to a single hair of that old man's wisdom?

If even that old man had to rely on the wisdom of the masses, then rounding up, the people are the best and most suitable advisors for us!

No one understands rebellion better than the common people!

"Come, come, ladies! I brought some snacks from home; please accept them as a small token of my appreciation. Let's eat and chat!"

Li Xiang smiled and handed over the cloth bags one by one.

Since he was seeking advice from others, he naturally had to be courteous. He specially prepared several side dishes, such as braised chicken feet and braised mutton, and brought them in porcelain bowls wrapped in cloth, distributing them one by one.

Although it was just a simple, home-style dish made on the spur of the fire, the aroma alone was enough to amaze these women, despite the difference in culinary skills spanning thousands of years.

They assumed it was some extremely rare delicacy!

"Oh my! Young man, why are you so polite!" The plump woman at the head of the group put down her needlework first, declined Li Xiang's offer several times, and then, seeing that she couldn't refuse any longer, smiled broadly and said:

"Then we should thank you very much for your generous gift, young master!"

"If it weren't for the young master's generosity, how could we, from humble families, ever have the chance to taste the delicacies that only officials and nobles enjoy!"

A group of women chatted animatedly, showering Li Xiang with words of gratitude as if they were free.

This braised flavor was nothing short of a taste bombardment for the people of the Tang Dynasty, and a group of them slurped it down with such relish that they forgot all about home.

With delicious food as their guide, the group of older women naturally became much closer to Li Xiang. After finishing a chicken foot, the plump woman asked Li Xiang affectionately:

"The young master left in such a hurry yesterday that we still don't know which family he belongs to."

"Oh, young man, your surname is Li, and you're the second oldest in your family," Li Xiang said.

It wasn't that he intended to lie; it was simply that he didn't want to be called "Da Lang" anymore.

Every time he heard someone call him "Da Lang," he felt as if that person would immediately pull out a bowl of medicine and force-feed it to him.

Besides, saying that you are the second oldest in your family... isn't exactly a lie.

Who says the elephant isn't number two?

"Oh my, it's young master Li!" the plump woman said with a smile, her tone friendly and warm.

"My husband's surname is Pang, young master, you don't need to be so polite, just call me Aunt Pang."

"Judging from your figure and demeanor, you must come from a good family. We are just common folk. For you to call us 'sister' would be beneath your dignity. That would be inappropriate."

Aunt Pang smiled kindly and gently, wiping the grease off her hands on her clothes. Her eyes were clear and bright, revealing her to be a shrewd and worldly person who had seen many people in the neighborhood.

"Young master, you've come all this way to see us today, surely you have something to ask us?"

She was very perceptive and took the initiative to speak:

"We work and chat under this big locust tree every day, and we keep watch over Longqingfang all day long. There's nothing we don't know about the neighborhood's activities and social interactions."

"If your household lacks laundry women, kitchen helpers, or is looking for reliable servants, please just let us know."

"I know many people in the neighborhood, and I guarantee that the men I choose for the young master will be honest, reliable, and hardworking!"

Li Xiang saw this and understood. This Aunt Pang, seemingly just an ordinary woman from the streets, also took on the role of matchmaker and recommender, making her practically a middleman in Longqingfang.

"It's not that I need to trouble you, Auntie, to be the mediator," Li Xiang said with a smile, waving his hand.

He thought to himself, "Indeed, the people are wise. This Aunt Pang is really shrewd. Isn't she the strategist I've been searching for?"

"Yesterday I overheard the aunties chatting, and they talked about the secrets and trivial matters of each family, as well as the rights and wrongs of human relationships. They all spoke very eloquently and made a lot of sense."

Li Xiang was well-versed in the ways of the world in this kind of society, and he knew that it was always right to flatter someone first.

"Although these aunties live in the city, they have clear vision, can distinguish right from wrong, and know the ways of the world. They are much more insightful than ordinary people."

He then changed the subject, feigning melancholy, and sighed softly, "It's just that I've been entangled in family troubles lately, with so many complicated matters that I can't untangle them all, and I'm really quite annoyed."

"As the saying goes, when you're desperate, you'll try anything. I really had no other choice, so I thought I'd come here to ask you ladies for some advice so I can get out of this predicament."

"oh?"

Upon hearing that it was about the secrets and intriguing affairs of a wealthy family, Aunt Pang's eyes lit up, and her interest was instantly piqued.

Several women who were snacking and chatting nearby also perked up their ears and unconsciously moved closer, their faces full of curiosity.

"Young master, please speak freely! We will tell you everything we know and can offer advice, and do our best to help you!"

Aunt Pang quickly spoke up, her tone warm and enthusiastic.

"It's like this, my father has encountered a difficult situation," Li Xiang explained in detail.

"My grandfather was the head of the household. Although my father was the eldest son, he was taciturn and not good with words. He was also a bit stubborn and didn't know how to please my grandfather."

He paused, and seeing that the women were listening intently, he continued:

"In principle, the family property and shops should have been inherited by my father, the eldest son. My grandfather did indeed raise him as his heir from the beginning, and even hired several tutors to teach him, hoping that he would become a useful person."

"But these gentlemen are all stubborn and inflexible!"

Li Xiang deliberately emphasized his words, his face full of indignation:

"My father has a somewhat impulsive temper and occasionally makes small mistakes or throws a tantrum. But if I give him a few words of advice and a helping hand, he'll get over it."

"But these gentlemen, instead of trying to dissuade me, insisted on beating my father up in front of everyone in the house, saying he was useless and had no manners."

"They even spread this story around, saying everywhere that my father is unruly and incompetent, utterly useless!"