Tang Dynasty: Consort Wu? Your Majesty, please address her as the Crown Prince's Consort.

"Are you stupid? What good will it do you to stop His Highness the Crown Prince? What's wrong with him bringing his younger siblings back to the East Palace for one night?"

Moreover, I learned from General Cheng that the mountain lord we hunted in the autumn was actually killed by His Highness the Crown Prince alone. Do you think you could stop His Highness from leaving?

"His Highness the Crown Prince is the heir apparent and will most likely become emperor in the future. Do you really want to offend the future emperor?"

Upon hearing this, the soldiers nearby all widened their eyes in surprise.

"Is His Highness so powerful? I heard that mountain lord weighs four hundred kilograms! Even a reincarnated Overlord might not be able to defeat him!"

Seeing the astonished expressions on the faces of the soldiers around him, the garrison commander slowly stood up, dusted himself off, and said:

"Don't go back and tell me what I just said. Alright, alright, stop pretending and get up!"

As soon as the commander finished speaking, the soldiers instantly revived on the spot.

Just then, a soldier at the city gate lay motionless on the ground as if he hadn't heard him speak.

Upon seeing this, the garrison commander couldn't help but frown slightly and say:

"Hey you, you're acting pretty well! Alright! His Highness the Crown Prince is already far away, get up and patrol for me, don't slack off!"

However, after he finished speaking, the soldier lying at the door remained unmoved and ignored him.

A soldier standing to the side stepped forward, nudged him, and then looked at his general with a terrified expression, shouting:

"General... he seems to have really been knocked unconscious!"

The garrison commander: "..."

……

Ritsujeon Hall!

Li Shimin brewed another pot of tea and, while drinking it, complained to his wife about what had happened in court that day.

Just then, two maids rushed in and said:

"Your Majesty! Your Majesty! Something terrible has happened! His Highness the Crown Prince has taken Prince Jin and Princess Jinyang out of the palace!"

puff~

Upon hearing their words, Li Shimin couldn't help but spit out the mouthful of tea he had just drunk.

"What?! What kind of trouble has this rebellious son caused this time? He doesn't even have a palace exit pass, how could he possibly have brought the princess and the young servant out of the palace?"

Empress Zhangsun, standing to the side, frowned slightly upon hearing that Gao Ming had brought Zhinu and Sizi back to the East Palace, and then asked:

"Did the Crown Prince leave any message?"

Upon hearing this, the two maids dared not conceal their thoughts and immediately spoke up:

"Your Majesty, His Highness the Crown Prince will be taking the two young princes back to the Eastern Palace for a day. He will then bring them back on the way during tomorrow's morning court session!"

Upon hearing this, Empress Changsun immediately breathed a sigh of relief, then waved to the two of them and said:

"Alright! I understand. You may all leave now!"

"promise!"

……

After the two maids left, Li Shimin finally spoke slowly:

"Hiss~ That won't do! That rebellious son doesn't even have a palace exit permit. How could he possibly bring the prince and the young servant out of the palace? Does he think he can come and go as he pleases in my palace?"

This left Li Shimin completely baffled. Logically speaking, without a pass to leave the palace, that rebellious son should have been stopped. Why hasn't anyone come to report it yet?

However, seeing her second son's suspicious look, Changsun Wugou quickly activated purification... uh... to comfort him:

"Erlang, Gaoming is the crown prince, the future emperor of the Tang Dynasty. If the garrison commander stops him, wouldn't that offend Gaoming?"

Upon hearing his wife's words, Li Shimin immediately became displeased, and he said with a defiant expression:

"Who said that becoming the crown prince guarantees becoming the emperor? Am I being too lenient with him?"

From the Sui Dynasty to the present Zhenguan era, besides myself, has there been a crown prince in line to the throne?

When Li Shimin mentioned the words "succession by order of succession," his tone inexplicably became hesitant.

Hearing her husband's words, Empress Zhangsun couldn't help but roll her eyes at him, but she didn't say anything more!

……

The Eastern Palace!

"Hello, sister-in-law~"

"Sister-in-law is so beautiful~"

As soon as they returned to the East Palace, Xiao Sizi excitedly surrounded Wu Zetian, chattering incessantly.

Li Zhi, standing to the side, was completely stunned when he saw Wu Zetian.

He stared blankly at Wu Zetian and said:

"Sister-in-law is so beautiful! When I grow up, I want to marry her!"

Snapped!

Upon hearing this, Li Chengqian's eyes widened and he slapped Li Zhi on the back of the head.

"You bastard Li Zhi! You want to steal your elder brother's wife?"

Looking at the two adorable little ones before her, and then at Li Zhi's pitiful expression, Wu Zetian couldn't help but chuckle softly, and then gently advised him:

"Your Highness! Prince Jin is still young, and his words are innocent. Please don't take it to heart!"

Hearing his beloved Wu Zetian's words and looking at Li Zhi's silly and adorable face, Li Chengqian was speechless.

This little guy is really something. Historically, he and Wu Zetian were actually a couple, which makes me unable to help but be wary of him now.

But thinking about it, it makes sense. This kid hasn't even grown up yet, and with him around, Meiniang can never become empress again, and Zhinu will only ever be a prince of the Tang Dynasty.

He is not the Li Chengqian of the original history; he is determined to sit on the throne!

"Cough cough! Cough cough!"

Just then, the little girl, who had been hopping around, suddenly started coughing violently, and her rosy face began to turn visibly pale.

This startled Li Chengqian and Wu Zetian, who were standing nearby.

He rushed forward and hugged the little girl tightly, looking anxious as he said:

"Sizi! What happened? Don't scare your big brother!"

Then, he turned to Wu Zetian beside him and said:

"Quickly! Go and invite Sun Simiao!"

Upon hearing this, Wu Zetian nodded and, not daring to delay, headed straight for the door.

A moment later, Sun Simiao was seen walking hurriedly with his medicine box on his back.

Upon seeing Sun Simiao arrive, Li Chengqian quickly made way for him and said:

"Dr. Sun, please take a look at Sizi. He was fine just now, but suddenly he started coughing."

Seeing Li Chengqian's anxious expression, Sun Simiao quickly reassured him:

"Your Highness, rest assured, I will do my utmost!"

Without further ado, Sun Simiao placed his little finger on Xiao Sizi's pulse and began to feel it carefully.

As time ticked by, both Li Chengqian and Wu Zetian couldn't help but show expressions of worry.

Meanwhile, Li Zhi held Li Chengqian's hand, his big eyes fixed on the little girl, unwilling to leave her for even a moment.

After a while, Sun Simiao withdrew his hand and then couldn't help but let out a long breath.

Upon seeing this, Li Chengqian quickly stepped forward to inquire.

"How is it?"

Upon hearing Li Chengqian's question, Sun Simiao remained silent for a moment before speaking:

"Princess Jinyang suffers from a cough. She doesn't usually get sick from not exercising much, but she must have been too excited today, which caused her to cough."

Upon hearing the words "qi ji" (vital energy), Li Chengqian couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief.