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

A storm was brewing in the Hibiscus Garden. Li Xiang was about to wreak havoc on everything.

At this moment, King Li Tai of Wei was completely unaware that the elegant gathering he had painstakingly organized in late spring had already caused a huge uproar.

At this moment, Li Tai was sitting comfortably in a private room in a riverside pavilion by Qujiang Pool.

Inside the private room, the air was filled with the fragrance of sandalwood. On the table were exquisite tea snacks and writing implements. He and a group of Wei Wang's close associates sat around the table, their expressions solemn, discussing in hushed tones the important secret matter concerning the struggle for the throne.

"Your Highness, the area around Furong Garden and Qujiang Pool is now bustling with people."

Liu Ji, the Vice Minister of the Imperial Secretariat, sat upright at the table, his long beard trembling slightly. His tone was filled with excitement, and his eyes were brimming with the anticipation of an imminent success.

"Almost all the prominent officials, nobles, and powerful families in the capital have gathered here."

"Even those who were unable to attend in person due to various reasons sent their family members to the banquet in the garden or donated money to help build Ci'en Temple, as a way of showing their rapport with His Highness."

He leaned forward, his voice lower but more invigorated:

"Your Highness's popularity is now undeniable. Your succession to the position of Crown Prince is truly the will of the people and the will of the nation!"

The elegant gathering organized by Prince Li Tai of Wei in late spring was by no means a simple gathering of literati for leisure and refined pursuits.

This gathering was a carefully orchestrated scheme, a test concerning the powerful and influential figures of Chang'an.

He probed the hearts and minds of the civil and military officials and powerful families in Chang'an, ascertained the positions of various forces, and won over the major powers in the court to pave the way for his own struggle for the throne and to consolidate his power.

As for the reason for such haste in organizing this gathering to test the gentry and officials, there is actually nothing else to it:

Li Tai could not wait any longer. The emperor had not attended court for several days, and the position of crown prince had been vacant for some time.

But in five days, it will be the grand court session on the eve of the Lunar New Year, and the emperor must attend the court.

On that day, he will also mobilize all the officials to submit a memorial, requesting his father, Li Shimin, to appoint him, Li Tai, as the crown prince!

In Liu Ji's opinion, this test was extremely successful; almost 90% of the officials in the capital gave face to the Prince of Wei's mansion.

When the time comes in a few days to establish the King of Wei as the crown prince, even if these people do not advocate for the King of Wei, they should remain silent and tacitly agree to his unanimous recommendation.

Your Majesty has long desired to depose the Crown Prince and establish the Prince of Wei in his place. Now that everyone in Chang'an is devoted to the Prince of Wei, Your Majesty should go with the flow and establish the Prince of Wei as the heir apparent!

After years of investment, the returns were about to be realized. How could Liu Ji not be excited?

Liu Ji looked excited, but Li Tai seemed not to hear him.

He gently stroked the porcelain cup in his hand, his slightly plump face revealing a deep concern.

He toyed with the porcelain cup with a solemn expression, his eyes cold and sinister, a stark contrast to the honest, chubby man with a simple and honest face who was always smiling when he was under Li Shimin's knee in the palace.

The air hung heavy for a long time before Li Tai finally spoke, "Yiai, which other important officials in the court have not yet arrived?"

"Oh, Your Highness, none of the Dukes of Zhao, Ying, Lu, and E have sent their family members."

"Oh, and also, the Grand Counselor Chu Suiliang, he wasn't home when I went to deliver the letter..."

Below him, Fang Yi'ai, a tall man with a full beard, spoke in a deep voice.

He was the second son of Sikong Fang Xuanling and the husband of Princess Gaoyang. Although he lacked intelligence, he was included in the core circle of the King of Wei's faction because of his background.

This gathering was to be attended by him on behalf of Li Tai, who would deliver invitations to the homes of the former officials of the Tian Ce Mansion.

He never expected that so many people wouldn't give him, Li Tai, face... Li Tai's face darkened instantly.

With a loud "smash," he smashed the celadon teacup in his hand, angrily shouting, "It's one thing for others... but the Duke of Zhao is my maternal uncle. I'm building a temple for my mother, and he's not even here?"

Li Tai couldn't help but be furious. The Duke of Zhao, Changsun Wuji; the Duke of Ying, Li Ji; the Duke of Lu, Cheng Yaojin; the Duke of E, Yuchi Jingde…

These men were among Li Shimin's most trusted ministers.

These ministers all avoided Li Tai like the plague, which made Li Tai terrified.

"Why does Your Highness have to do this?" Liu Ji asked, puzzled.

"The Duke of Zhao, the Duke of Lu, and others are all former members of His Majesty's Tiance Mansion, holding extraordinary positions. For them, their wealth and status have reached their peak."

"Their unwillingness to get involved in the matter of establishing an heir is nothing more than a matter of self-preservation, and they don't want to take on even the slightest bit of trouble."

"Given the momentum Your Highness has generated at this gathering today, you are more than capable of proposing the establishment of an heir apparent at the court assembly!"

"What Lord Liu said is absolutely right."

Wei Ting, who was standing to the side, nodded in agreement.

Now in his fifties, with graying temples, he held the titles of Grand Master of the Palace and Attendant Gentleman of the Yellow Gate, and was in charge of the affairs of the Prince of Wei's residence. He was always the most composed and experienced strategist by Li Tai's side.

He tapped the table lightly with his fingertips and said in a deep voice, "In my opinion, Your Highness doesn't need to hold this gathering."

"With the Crown Prince deposed, Your Majesty has only two legitimate sons left. Prince Jin is young and weak, and not capable of great responsibility. Can Your Majesty really give the position of Crown Prince to Prince Jin? Haha."

He thought he had told a really funny joke and laughed a few times himself.

Then he continued, "Once His Majesty recovers from his headaches, he will naturally hand over the position of Crown Prince to Your Highness. Your Highness's efforts to collude with court officials seem premature."

"Although we have used the pretext of raising funds to repair the temple for the late Empress Wende as a cover, I am still afraid that it will displease His Majesty."

He stroked his long beard, a hint of worry on his face.

The King of Wei's expression froze. He recalled his father's attitude towards him since that day, but he had no way to express his bitterness.

Ever since that day when Li Xiang, that brat, directly rebuked him in the palace, Li Tai felt that his father Li Shimin's gaze towards him had changed.

They became strange, wary, and less trusting.

Li Tai was extremely afraid. He knew that Li Xiang and Li Chengqian had planted a seed of doubt deep in his father's heart!

They suspect that Li Tai is the mastermind behind forcing his elder brother to submit to the throne, or even plotting to harm him!

Li Tai wanted to defend himself, hoping to regain his father's favor as he had in the past.

However, whenever he wanted to do so, he would find that the words that Li Xiang, that brat, had once said would always come to mind:

"...Every day I snuggle in my father's arms and whine~"

When he wanted to whine and cry to Li Shimin that he had no such intention, those words, like a curse, would come to mind:

"...Waaaaah~"

When he tries to run into his father's arms, to evoke his father's love as usual, and to get through the difficult time, that even more disgusting curse comes to mind:

"...I'm afraid even you, Li Tai, would love to jump into his arms and kiss him a couple of times!"

He had seen his father's chest before.

It has a lot of hair on its head and is quite distinctive.

If I were to act like a child, lying on my father's body and suckling at his breast...

"vomit!!!"

Just thinking about it made Li Tai want to vomit! He wanted to go crazy! He wanted to roar!

That seemingly meaningless yet inexplicably vivid "aww" sound was like a mind-numbing curse, completely shutting down his usual, tried-and-true method of charming and endearing him.

His intuition told him that if he still did that...

The one who feels nauseous when he recalls these words is not Li Tai, but his father!

If even Father Emperor feels nauseous at the mere thought of Li Tai…

that……

Li Tai didn't even dare to think about it!