The Great Tang Dynasty's Trans-Dimensional Conference: Little Rhinoceros Arrives

"Sigh." Empress Zhangsun couldn't help but sigh, then raised her hand to wipe away the tears on Chang Le's face.

"Isn't Mother a dull person? If she still can't guess by now, then she's been sitting on the Empress's throne for nothing all these years."

Empress Zhangsun, as recorded in history, not only possessed political wisdom, but also had a kind and virtuous character, gentle talent, and served as a "wise wife" to help Li Shimin establish the Zhenguan era.

Moreover, she was able to restrain her relatives with her own virtue and correct the emperor's mistakes, leaving behind a near-perfect image in official history.

If someone like her couldn't understand the key clues presented to her, she wouldn't have received such high praise.

Chang Le shrugged gently. "Mother, Chang Le didn't mean to hide it, it's just that..."

Empress Zhangsun waved her hand to interrupt Chang Le, "Alright, Chang Le, you don't need to explain anymore. Your mother understands your thoughts."

Even if Chang Le didn't say it, she knew very well in her heart that she was just afraid that she couldn't bear the blow.

Thinking of this, Empress Zhangsun took a deep breath and slowly said, "So, now you can tell your mother what happened next?"

Upon hearing this, Chang Le immediately straightened up, raised her hand to wipe away the tears on her eyelashes, and looked earnestly at Empress Zhangsun, who was standing close to her.

"Mother, you must be mentally prepared before I speak. Brother Lin Fan also said that nothing has happened yet, and there are still many variables!"

Seeing Chang Le sitting so upright, Empress Zhangsun shook her head with a wry smile, "Don't worry, your mother has seen it all."

Empress Zhangsun had now shaken off her initial confusion and entanglement. After all, what Chang Le said earlier was quite right; there was still a chance for everything to change.

Thinking about this, Empress Zhangsun realized that she had been completely oblivious to the bigger picture.

Seeing that her mother had recovered considerably, Chang Le felt relieved and slowly began to recount what she had seen and heard.

"What? You mean Chenggan actually chose to rebel in the end!"

As Chang Le began to recount part of Li Chengqian's future deeds, Empress Zhangsun exclaimed in disbelief.

Empress Zhangsun could not believe it at this moment. You must know that Li Chenggan was the first child she had with Li Shimin when she was thirteen years old.

Compared to his status, he was not only her and Li Shimin's eldest son, but also the first core link for her to maintain the relationship between husband and wife and consolidate the order of legitimate and illegitimate children.

As her first child, Empress Zhangsun loved Li Chengqian far more than her other children, and she even personally participated in Li Chengqian's early education.

At this moment, she couldn't help but recall the scenes of her teaching Li Chengqian. How she wished that Li Chengqian could become a wise ruler like his father in the future.

For Empress Zhangsun, Li Chenggan was not only her son, but also the future of the vast Tang Dynasty.

However, Chang Le suddenly tells her that the Crown Prince of the Tang Dynasty, on whom she has placed great hopes, will rebel in the future!

Even though she thought she had made sufficient mental preparations, she still felt dizzy when faced with this situation.

"Mother, are you alright? It's all my fault, I shouldn't have told you all this." Chang Le noticed Empress Zhangsun's abnormality immediately and was filled with self-blame.

After a while, Chang Le was so anxious that she was about to go outside to call for help when Empress Zhangsun gradually came to her senses.

"It's alright, Chang Le, don't worry. Your mother is fine. It's just... she's just a little confused... He's already the Crown Prince of the Tang Dynasty, so why would he commit such a treasonous act!"

"Chang Le, tell me, what did your mother and father do wrong? Has he forgotten all the principles I taught him before?"

For Empress Zhangsun, the Xuanwu Gate Incident had only been a few years ago, and she never imagined that Li Chengqian would also follow this path in the future.

After all, Li Chengan's situation now is completely different from Li Shimin's back then. Li Shimin's choice to rebel can be said to be a helpless move. The three brothers had already reached the point of life and death.

But the Tang Dynasty was different now, as Li Shimin had already established his position as crown prince long ago.

At present, it is no exaggeration to say that Crown Prince Li Chengqian's position is extremely secure, and his brothers are also very friendly and respectful to each other.

No matter how intelligent Empress Zhangsun was, she simply couldn't understand what benefit Li Chenggan could gain from doing this.

Chang Le, standing to the side, also looked extremely embarrassed. She had chosen to get straight to the point without explaining the events that had transpired to Empress Zhangsun.

"Mother, actually... actually this is not your fault, and strictly speaking, the rebellion cannot be blamed on my brother either."

Empress Zhangsun turned her head upon hearing this, looking at her daughter with disbelief. "Chang Le, what... what are you saying? Could it be that someone forced him to rebel?"

As soon as she finished speaking, Empress Zhangsun saw Chang Le nod somewhat nervously. For a moment, she opened her mouth, completely unsure of what to say next.

After a long while, Empress Zhangsun, having regained her senses, continued to ask, "Is there some hidden story behind this?"

Thinking of this, Empress Zhangsun even felt a sudden sense of relief.

Seeing this, Chang Le didn't waste any time and directly told Lin Fan his opinion on Li Chenggan's rebellion.

"Mother, that's roughly how things went. I think Brother Lin Fan's analysis is quite accurate."

"So... I didn't expect that. Alas, you've suffered a lot, brother."

After hearing Chang Le's words, Empress Zhangsun realized that Li Chengqian's life had been so miserable since her death.

After thinking for a moment, Empress Zhangsun realized, "But even so, he shouldn't have given up on himself like this!"

The thought that Li Chengqian not only favored actors and neglected his studies, but also imitated Turkic customs is simply absurd. Has he forgotten the great humiliation of the Wei River Alliance caused by Li Shimin?

Moreover, considering that he had taught Li Chengqian to be frugal and thrifty since childhood, he never expected that Li Chengqian would later learn to be extravagant and wasteful, even going so far as to violate national policies.

Thinking about all these things, Empress Zhangsun, who had initially felt sorry for Li Chengqian, was now furious.

Chang Le felt a little embarrassed upon seeing this, realizing that her elder brother did indeed have quite a few flaws.

However, in order to comfort Empress Zhangsun, she thought for a moment and then said softly.

"Mother, actually... actually, brother had no choice but to do this. He probably wanted to get Father's attention, but the pressure was too great, so he had no choice but to give up on himself."

Although Empress Zhangsun felt gratified that Chang Le was defending Li Chenggan, she still couldn't shake the feeling of unease.

Shaking her head helplessly, Empress Zhangsun felt increasingly weary, but thinking of Li Chengqian's future, she had to pull herself together again.

"No, I absolutely will not allow these things to happen."

"Don't worry, Mother. These things haven't happened yet, so you don't need to worry too much. After all, your health is also very important."

"Yes, Chang Le, you're right. It's not too late. But thinking about it, the reason is also partly my fault. If I hadn't acted so hastily... I think... I think your brother wouldn't have ended up like this!"

At this moment, Empress Zhangsun seemed to have been injected with chicken blood, and her spirits were renewed.

Seeing her mother's reaction, Chang Le breathed a sigh of relief.

"By the way, Chang Le, in the original history, since your elder brother's rebellion failed, who ascended the throne later? Was it your second brother?"

Aside from Li Chenggan, Empress Zhangsun's attitude towards her second son, Li Tai, was actually somewhat complicated.

She admired Li Tai's intelligence and talent, but was also somewhat wary of his ambition.

This emotion not only reflects a mother's love, but also an empress's rational consideration for the stability of the Tang Dynasty.

Empress Zhangsun herself was well-versed in classics and history, and was particularly skilled in literature. It seemed that Prince Wei, Li Tai, was born to inherit her genes in this area.

However, in her heart, the order of seniority is an inviolable bottom line, and as a mother, she will not reduce her devotion to her son.

However, from beginning to end, she always favored Li Chengqian for the throne of the Tang Dynasty.

Upon hearing Empress Zhangsun's question, Chang Le shook her head. "Brother Li Tai, he... he ultimately failed in his bid for the throne... and was exiled by Father."

After saying this, Chang Le raised her head and carefully observed Empress Zhangsun's expression.

"Tai'er, did you fail to seize the throne?" Empress Zhangsun was completely puzzled.

She knew that Li Shimin also loved this second son very much, even more so than Li Chenggan.

Logically speaking, since Li Chenggan's rebellion failed, Li Tai should have been the last choice. However, Chang Le is now telling her that Li Tai also failed.

"Could it be that the throne was not ultimately passed down to the legitimate heir?" Before she could even think, Empress Zhangsun immediately voiced the question that had been nagging at her.

Chang Le shook her head again, "Mother is overthinking it. In the end, the one who received the throne from Father was actually Zhi Nu."

"Child slave?"

Empress Zhangsun completely ignored her youngest son from the beginning. Unexpectedly, the throne eventually fell to the most inconspicuous person at that moment.

............

Lin Fan appeared at Hanfeng Palace with two little princesses, carrying several large boxes of cakes, and several large trunks behind him.

At this moment, apart from Si Zi's two maids, there was no one else in Hanfeng Palace. Upon seeing the three of them appear, Mingyue and Qiuxia quickly stepped forward.

"Your Highnesses, young master, you're back."

Having gone through so much before, the sudden appearance of the three of them was not surprising at all.

Lin smiled and nodded to the two of them, asking, "Hmm, where's Chang Le? She hasn't come back at all?"

The two shook their heads. "Young master, Princess Chang Le has never come."

"Lin Fan, let's hurry and go find Mom!"

Looking at the cake Lin Fan was carrying, Xiao Sizi was already quite impatient, eager to go back to the Tang Dynasty and eat cake with her parents.

Lin Fan nodded and then looked at Mingyue, "We are going to the Lizheng Hall. Please lead the way."

Although he had gone there with Xiao Sizi before, they turned back halfway there, and Lin Fan couldn't find the place at all.

As for Xiao Sizi, there's no way she could walk such a long distance, right?

"Okay." Seeing that Lin Fan was holding something, Mingyue immediately went over, squatted down, and carried Xiao Sizi on her back.

Before long, the group arrived at the entrance of the Lizheng Hall, but as expected, they were stopped by the maids at the entrance.

Lin Fan was surprised to be stopped at the door on his first visit. Seeing that he was being stopped, the little ox on Mingyue's back became unhappy and quickly asked, "Where is Mother? Isn't she here?"

"This servant greets Your Highness Chengyang and Your Highness Jinyang. Her Highness and Your Highness Changle are currently discussing matters in the palace."

Upon hearing this, Xiao Sizi immediately dismounted from Mingyue's back and then boldly tried to walk inside.

"Your Highnesses, please wait a moment while I go and inform them."

Seeing this, the two maids were unsure whether to stop them or not. One of them, having no other choice, turned around and ran quickly into the palace.

She knew exactly what Empress Changsun and Chang Le were talking about, and with Lin Fan, an outsider, present, she dared not let them in.

Upon entering the palace, the maidservant saw Empress Zhangsun and Changle whispering to each other. She immediately called out from afar, "Your Majesty, Your Highness, the Princes of Chengyang and Jinyang have arrived, along with that young master."

Empress Zhangsun and Changle looked up abruptly. "Young Master is here, and Sizi is back too. Quickly, please invite them in."

Chang Le had already recounted everything she knew from the future, and the two were discussing a solution when Lin Fan and the others unexpectedly returned first.

With permission granted, Lin Fan followed Xiao Sizi and Chengyang into the palace, where Empress Zhangsun and Chang Le had already come out to greet them.

"Mother, I've tied this for you, it's so cute!"

Little Sizi ran quickly to Empress Zhangsun, hugged her leg, and looked up at her with her little face as she spoke.

Empress Zhangsun smiled as she saw Lin Fan and Xiao Sizi together, "Young master, welcome." Then she looked down at Xiao Sizi.

"My dear Sizi, I wonder what delicious treats you brought for your mother that makes you so happy?"

Although Empress Zhangsun did not know what Xiao Sizi had brought back, she was still very happy that Xiao Sizi had such filial piety.

"It's tanggao, it's so good!"

Little Sizi had no idea what cake tasted like, since she hadn't even taken a bite herself, yet she was praising it endlessly in front of Empress Zhangsun.

Without saying anything more, Xiao Sizi pulled Lin Fan directly to him.

"Your Majesty, this is the cake that Xiao Sizi and Chengyang bought especially for you. She hasn't even taken a bite yet."

Lin Fan's words immediately exposed what Xiao Sizi had just said. Empress Zhangsun nodded and patted Xiao Sizi's head again.

Lin Fan then placed the bag on the table, and Empress Zhangsun and Chang Le also came over, wanting to see what the cake was.