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

Upon hearing this, Du He was stunned.

The one at Da'an Palace?

hiss~

Thinking of this, even he couldn't help but gasp.

Consort Wu was the daughter of Duke Ying, Wu Shihuo, and the relationship between the Emperor Emeritus and Wu Shihuo...

Upon realizing this, Du He's pupils dilated in shock.

If the Emperor Emeritus were to find out that the daughter of his former friend had been taken into the harem by His Majesty as a lowly concubine, the Emperor Emeritus would surely be furious, and even His Majesty would not be able to get away with it.

Although His Majesty ascended the throne through the Xuanwu Gate Incident, the Emperor Emeritus is still His Majesty's father. In this era where Confucianism is the orthodox ideology, the father-son relationship is highly valued.

Therefore, even if His Majesty wins, he still has to go to Da'an Palace to pay his respects during festivals.

If we don't do this, those scholars and intellectuals will seize the opportunity to criticize Your Majesty.

However, His Highness is different. His Highness is about the same age as Consort Wu and is also the eldest grandson of the Emperor Emeritus.

In the eyes of the retired emperor, such a match was a perfect pair, a match made in heaven. On one side was his friend's daughter, and on the other was his own grandson. The retired emperor would only be happy and supportive if he knew about His Highness's situation.

Moreover, the relationship between His Highness and the Emperor Emeritus is...

Upon realizing this, Du He suddenly understood, and then looked at his prince with a face full of shock.

I didn't expect Your Highness to have thought of this. As expected of the Crown Prince, you truly have a long-term vision.

Although he still didn't quite understand why His Highness insisted on bringing Consort Wu over, at least the crisis was over.

Du He immediately bowed to Li Chengqian and said:

"Your Highness is wise!"

"Hahaha, there's nothing brilliant about it, but I imagine my foolish younger brother is quite happy right now. I'm already looking forward to tomorrow's morning court session!"

As he spoke, Li Chengqian gave a mocking smile, then took out a letter from his pocket and handed it to Du He, saying:

"Send someone to Da'an Palace and deliver this letter to the Emperor."

Upon seeing the letter handed to her, Du He immediately nodded.

"Yes, Your Highness!"

Although the retired emperor rarely left the Da'an Palace, His Majesty did not issue an official order to imprison him. All the old ministers who had served the retired emperor were free to come and go as they pleased.

As for why it's like this, it's not that it's impossible, but rather that it's something they don't want to do or disdain.

Given His Majesty's current control over the Tang Dynasty, the retired emperor has no chance of restoring the throne.

However, the retired emperor still harbored resentment because of what happened back then, so he had been confined to the Da'an Palace. Even when His Majesty went to pay his respects, he was always lukewarm towards him.

This matter was not a secret; it was just that all the officials in the court knew about it but kept it to themselves.

……

Da'an Palace!

A thin old man lay on his side on the bed, resting with his eyes closed, while several graceful women massaged his back and shoulders beside him.

Although he is now old, he still exudes an aura of authority that commands respect without anger. This man is none other than Li Yuan, the founding emperor of the Tang Dynasty!

Just then, an old eunuch rushed in and said:

"Your Majesty! A messenger from the Crown Prince's Palace has sent a letter!"

Ok?

Hearing the noise, Li Yuan slowly opened his eyes, revealing a pair of somewhat cloudy pupils.

When he heard that it was a letter from the Crown Prince, a glint of light flashed in his previously somewhat cloudy eyes!

"Oh? Gao Ming sent a letter? That brat's probably gotten into trouble again and wants me to clean up his mess?!"

Although he said that, Li Yuan's aged face was full of smiles.

The old lady below, having overheard her emperor's words, quickly chimed in with a smile.

"His Highness the Crown Prince still cherishes your memory. Among His Majesty's many sons, only His Highness the Crown Prince possesses such filial piety."

Upon hearing this, Li Yuan did not refute it.

Ever since the Xuanwu Gate Incident, his grandsons have avoided him like the plague, fearing that getting too close to this old man would displease that rebellious son.

Only Gao Ming, that child, would occasionally bring food to visit his grandfather!

Thinking of this, Li Yuan immediately waved his hand and laughed, scolding:

"Alright, alright! Stop flattering me, you old fool. Your Crown Prince can't hear you. Quickly, bring the letter over!"

"Hehehe, this old servant has always been His Majesty's old servant. What do you mean by 'my Crown Prince'? That's nonsense!"

The old eunuch quickly smiled and explained, then respectfully presented the letter.

Upon receiving the letter, Li Yuan couldn't help but roll his eyes at him before opening and reading it.

However, when he read the contents of the letter, he was both amused and exasperated.

"Hahaha, this brat is getting bolder and bolder! But he handled it brilliantly!"

The contents of the letter were very simple.

[Grandfather, Wu Zetian, daughter of Wu Shihuo, was given the title of Cai Ren by our father, but I abducted her. I think it would be better to keep her as a concubine than to keep her as a Cai Ren.]

However, the matter couldn't be kept secret any longer. Someone will definitely cause trouble at tomorrow's morning court session. Grandfather, remember to come and bail me out!

"This unfilial son is really getting worse as he gets older. It's not a problem that he likes young girls, but Wu Zetian is, after all, the daughter of a Duke. It's really inappropriate for her to be a concubine. It would be more suitable for her to be Gao Ming's secondary consort."

As he spoke, Li Yuan couldn't help but reveal a lewd smile and mutter:

"Tsk tsk tsk! Gao Ming is quite lucky. I even saw Wu Zetian when she was little; she was a beauty from a young age!"

……

The next morning.

Outside the Taiji Hall.

All the civil and military officials were waiting here for the court session.

Standing in front, King Li Tai of Wei squinted his small eyes and looked around, as if searching for something!

Just then, Li Chengqian rushed over.

"Holy crap! I overslept! Which bastard set the time for the morning court session so early? Can't a person get any sleep?!"

Li Chengqian complained all the while running to the front and standing there.

The surrounding civil and military officials looked on with strange expressions. The atmosphere had changed completely with the arrival of the Crown Prince!

Despite their inner complaints, Li Chengqian was still the Crown Prince, and all the officials immediately bowed and shouted in his honor.

"Your Highness, we pay our respects!"

Seeing the bowing crowd, Li Chengqian waved his hand and said:

"Alright! Many of you here are my elders, there's no need for such formalities, please rise!"

"Thank you, Your Highness!"

Many of the faces in the crowd were familiar. Among the civil officials at the front were Fang Xuanling, Du Ruhui, Wei Zheng, Xiao Yu, Gao Shilian, Pei Ji, Wang Gui, and his old coin uncle, Changsun Wuji!

On the military side were Li Jing, Yuchi Gong, Cheng Yaojin, Li Ji, Hou Junji, and others.

Even after so many years, Li Chengqian still marvels at how lucky his old man is when he sees such a lineup.

While others rack their brains trying to come up with a good solution for governing a country, my own old man is constantly agonizing over whose solution to use.

Others carefully select a capable general to lead their troops in battle, but my old man has so many generals that he doesn't know who to choose. Anyone he randomly puts out is a great general who can stand alone.

Even in the later years of the Zhenguan era, one would be embarrassed to call oneself a military general if one did not have several merits in conquering a country.

Unlike a certain emperor in later generations, who had to endure five arduous northern expeditions!