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

This shout suddenly rang out, and everyone's eyes were drawn to Li Xiang and the Imperial Guard Liu Zhi.

Liu Zhi's heart tightened. Before he could explain to Li Xiang that he was not from a prestigious family, he was suddenly stared at by countless eyes. His whole body went numb, and goosebumps instantly rose on his skin.

He stared blankly at Li Xiang, who was walking towards the gate of Furong Garden as if no one else was around, and felt a chill run down his spine.

This eccentric young man acts completely unpredictably.

With no spare money in his pocket, if he really wanted to sneak into the garden, he should have kept a low profile and acted quietly. How dare he make a big fuss in public at the garden gate?

The gatekeeper was completely stunned: a donation of 10,000 strings of cash was far beyond what ordinary scions of wealthy families could match.

He looked surprised and suspicious, scrutinizing Li Xiang from head to toe. Not daring to be negligent, he quickly cupped his hands in greeting, his tone respectful yet tinged with a hint of probing:

"Young master, you have such a kind heart, generously donating funds. It is truly rare."

"But may I ask you, sir, where is this ten thousand strings of cash in donations?"

Li Xiang, without changing his expression, rolled his eyes and said calmly, "A fortune of this size is already difficult to transport by cart and horse, do you expect me to carry it on my person at all times?"

He raised his hand and pointed to Liu Zhi, who was already frozen in place with a blank stare, and said confidently:

"My family's money-carrying convoy is waiting on the long street behind us. You can send someone with my cousin to count it."

As soon as he finished speaking, Li Xiang stepped towards the garden gate with a calm and confident stride, showing no sign of guilt whatsoever.

The doorman was caught in a dilemma and reached out to stop him.

They wanted to ask the other party to wait, but the carriages and horses outside Furong Garden stretched for miles. If they waited until the identity was verified before letting people into the garden, they would probably offend people to death!

If they were indeed sent by the powerful Liu family to express their loyalty and filial piety to the King of Wei with a large sum of money, it would be impolite to rashly stop them, and it might delay the King of Wei's important business.

Given the King of Wei's temperament, he probably won't even be able to save his own life!

While the gatekeeper hesitated, he watched helplessly as Li Xiang swaggered into the Hibiscus Garden.

When Liu Zhi saw that Li Xiang actually swaggered in like that, his eyes nearly popped out of his head.

He hurriedly tried to chase after him, but the doorman stretched out his hand and stopped him.

"I will have to trouble you to lead the way."

Seeing that Liu Zhi was wearing the uniform of the Imperial Guard, the doorman felt somewhat relieved: Indeed, many branches of the Liu family in Hedong held official positions in the Imperial Guard.

I don't think I've caused any trouble, have I?

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

Furong Garden features pavilions scattered throughout, with winding paths leading to secluded spots.

The Tang people loved peonies, and their origins can be traced back to the Zhenguan era. It was peony season, and the garden was a riot of colors, with the leaves swaying gently in the breeze and a subtle fragrance wafting through the air.

Elegant seating was set up everywhere—by the water, under the eaves, and along the cobblestone paths. People from all walks of life gathered in small groups, each occupying a corner, creating a lively yet refined scene.

In a nearby waterside pavilion, seven or eight people sat around drinking. One of them held a wine cup, looked up at the water, and casually recited two lines of poetry. Immediately, someone next to him joined in, and the elegant words and phrases were carried far on the breeze.

On the stone table under the corridor, brushes, ink, paper, and inkstones were neatly arranged. A group of people were sitting around one of them, one of whom was writing with vigorous strokes. The others either stopped to watch or commented in hushed tones. Occasionally, a good phrase would be uttered, which would elicit a low sigh of admiration.

Deep within the flower-filled woods, several groups of scions of prominent families gathered, discussing poetry and literature, brewing tea and chatting leisurely, their robes fluttering and their expressions serene.

Beneath the pillars, musicians hid behind the flowers and trees, their instruments gently playing and their melodious music blending with the chanting and laughter in the pavilion and at the banquet, making the garden even more elegant.

The waiters, dressed in plain clothes, moved about lightly, carrying teacups and wine pots, their movements graceful and undisturbed by the elegant atmosphere of the meal.

In the distance, there are verdant artificial hills, babbling brooks, and occasional clear bird songs, all intertwined with the sounds of poetry and music throughout the garden, making the elegant gathering at Furong Garden even more vibrant and lively.

"Wow! This Hibiscus Garden is far more extravagant than the Eastern Palace!"

"That scoundrel Li Er is really good to that fat pig Li Tai. No wonder my cheap old man is resentful."

Li Xiang strolled slowly with his hands behind his back, his eyes darting around as he looked around, inwardly complaining about Li Er's favoritism.

This late spring gathering is probably just another way for Li Tai to show off his strength.

He had finally managed to defeat the Crown Prince, and now was the time for him to open his gluttonous maw and devour the fruits of victory.

The purpose of holding such a grand gathering was to win over and expand the faction of Prince Wei, and to see if the officials and noble families in the capital were willing to give face to Prince Wei, Li Tai.

Are they willing to pledge allegiance to King Li Tai of Wei and thus achieve the merit of following the emperor's rise to power?

From Li Xiang's perspective in the Hibiscus Garden, Li Tai's current reputation is truly astonishing.

After all, he was the prince who defeated the Crown Prince. In most people's eyes, Li Tai was the obvious choice to become the next Crown Prince and the future emperor, without any doubt.

Knowing that Li Tai was fond of literature, these people were all putting on airs, reciting poems and composing essays, trying to win the favor of the King of Wei.

"We've found a crowded place. Next, we need to make a scene... Is there any occasion more suitable for time travelers to make a scene than a poetry gathering?"

"It's a pity, everyone. Now that I'm here, no matter how hard you try, it's too late."

"All eyes are destined to be on me! Including the King of Wei!"

"However, it's uncertain whether my good uncle, Prince Wei Tai, will look at me with admiring eyes or with disdain, as if I'm about to faint from fright."

Thinking about the big news he was about to cause on Li Tai's territory, Li Xiang couldn't help but chuckle to himself, attracting the attention of passing scholars and servants.

"This group of people...are they chanting erotic poetry? This is no good, let's find another one."

"This group of people...wait, they're reciting erotic poems! Let's find someone else...let's listen in for a bit."

"This group... is arguing about which flower is the most beautiful. This one's perfect, this one will do!"

Li Xiang strolled leisurely among the elegant pavilions in Furong Garden, his eyes scanning the surroundings, secretly looking for a suitable opportunity to start a conversation and compose a poem to gain attention.

After wandering around, I finally stumbled upon a group of young men from prominent families sitting together, exchanging poems and songs.

As soon as one of them finished reciting a poem, "Ode to the Peony," and the echoes of the poem faded, while everyone was still savoring and reflecting on it...

Li Xiang coughed lightly at the right moment, stepped forward calmly, and slowly said, "You all seem to favor peonies for their symbolism and wealth, but my tastes are slightly different."

"I have a poem for you! Please listen carefully."

The young nobleman who had just composed a poem was startled by the sound, and looked up at Li Xiang, who had suddenly stepped forward, with a bewildered expression.

The others also turned their heads, their eyes filled with surprise and doubt.

"Uh, and who are you?"

The guests were all familiar faces, so the sudden appearance of a strange young man interrupting the conversation was puzzling, and people secretly scrutinized the newcomer.

"Oh, I forgot to introduce myself." Li Xiang gave these scions of noble families a wicked smile.

"I am Huang Chao."