"Mm." Li Xiangwei obediently nodded her head, and Li Ke felt an imnse sense of comfort watching from the side.
He thought to himself, at last, there was a person capable of taming this wild girl, and he also felt genuinely happy that Li Xiangwei had found a good ho.
Under Li Xiangwei’s reluctant gaze, you mounted your horse and headed straight back to Chang’an. Li Ke’s manor was not far from Chang’an City, and it took you just over half an hour to get ho. As a servant took the horse, Uncle Ding hurried up to you.
"Second Young Master, why have you only just returned?"
"What’s the matter, has sothing happened at ho?" Seeing Uncle Ding’s urgent tone, you quickly asked.
"This morning His Majesty issued an imperial decree, commanding you to enter the palace to see him as soon as you returned."
You nodded in response, went into the yard to wash up, and with Little Yue and the two other maids attending to you, you changed into a new set of clothes and rode out the door.
Of course, before leaving, it was essential to take liberties with the three maids. Watching Zhen Nan with her charming deanor, embracing Zi Yi’s slender waist, and caressing Little Yue’s adorable face, you felt even immortals couldn’t surpass such joy—of course, it would have been better if Wu Zhao were here too.
Upon entering the Imperial Palace, a eunuch led you to a side hall.
Initially thinking Li Shimin summoned you for state affairs, but after the eunuch’s report and entering the side hall, you found Li Shimin was rely dressed in casual clothes, with a little boy, no older than eleven or twelve, standing behind him. This boy had a clear and handso face, with red lips and white teeth, truly a fine figure.
"Greetings, Your Majesty, our Emperor..."
"No need for excessive formalities, just sit down and talk." Before you could finish your greeting, Li Shimin dismissed the eunuch, leaving only the little boy behind.
You naturally wouldn’t be awkward about it, and you sat down boldly. Seeing Li Shimin now, you felt his complexion was markedly worse than before, a trace of unusual paleness on his handso face.
"Your Majesty, may I ask why you have summoned ?" Now that you had power, you naturally wouldn’t speak with too much caution.
"I heard that a few days ago you took in a young concubine nad Zhen Nan?" Li Shimin asked with a slight smile on his face, but you sensed a bitter undertone to that smile and a hint of awkwardness in his deanor.
"Yes." You nodded.
"You also have another concubine at ho, do you not?" Li Shimin continued.
"Mm, Your Majesty, what is this about?"
"It’s like this. I’ve decided to betroth The Great Princess to you, but the condition is that you must dismiss both your concubines at ho." With that, Li Shimin turned his head slightly to glance at the little boy beside him.
You abruptly stood up, bowed to Li Shimin, and said, "Your Majesty, I absolutely cannot agree to this."
Upon hearing this, Li Shimin appeared quite calm, but the tension in the little boy’s expression tightened imdiately, soon revealing an impatient and even sinister look.
"Oh? Explain your reasons." Li Shimin took a sip of tea, still smiling at you.
"Reasons? There’s no need for any reasons."
"Impudence!"
The little boy beside Li Shimin scolded you, his originally handso face contorting sowhat fiercely, and his fiery gaze seed as if he wanted to kill you on the spot.
"Heh."
You simply laughed lightly, your laugh filled with deep disdain.
Li Shimin did not rebuke the little boy, still watching you intently. After a while, he slowly shook his head and said, "I can’t see through you. I consider myself well-versed in people, yet I’ve never encountered soone like you. Your gaze and actions have already inford that you would not concede for any offer I make, would you?"
"That’s correct. To speak frankly, even if Your Majesty offers the empire, I still would never accept your indecent proposal."
"How dare you, Luo Yun, guards, take this scoundrel out and behead him!"
That little boy seed to have lost his mind in anger, not even knowing who the master was now.
Li Shimin’s expression changed slightly as he frowned at the little boy next to him, who paid no heed to Li Shimin’s looks, and called out to the two guards who rushed in, repeatedly demanding your beheading. But, seeing that Li Shimin made no move, the two guards also very sensibly retreated.
Joking aside, who was Luo Yun?
He was the newly acclaid Great Tang war god, his fa in the military nearly rivaled that of his father Luo Cheng, and the Luo father and son had indeed beco the Tang Dynasty’s two spiritual defensive lines.
As for you, who in the entire Tang Dynasty didn’t know, didn’t understand?
Though the little boy was a prince, when even the Emperor had yet to speak, what could a brat like him do?
Still, he insisted on calling for your beheading, hmph, it remained to be seen who would be beheading whom. Now everyone knew Li Shimin was getting weaker by the day, and if your family caused a commotion, the entire Tang empire might change surnas.
However, you were not angry but couldn’t help finding the little boy rather amusing, thinking who was this foolish child? Barely grown and already clamoring to behead soone, he’d probably be so frightened at the sight of an actual beheading that he’d wet his pants at night.
"I want to hear your true thoughts." Li Shimin ignored the little boy, looking solemnly at you.
You knew that Li Shimin wouldn’t have called you over for nothing, and since the Emperor had spoken, you felt it inappropriate to feign ignorance.
With a low hum, you said, "Your Majesty, I confess I have no virtues, but I do maintain a sincere heart. To those who treat sincerely, I naturally respond with frankness. My concubines have all been true to , seeking neither wealth nor power, rely wishing to grow old with sincerely, and the only thing I can give them in return is my heartfelt sincerity. To be honest, I’m too lazy to hold an office; my nature is unfit for the bureaucracy. I can’t adapt to the right and wrong of the officialdom and judge everything with my own eyes without beating around the bush. Thus, Your Majesty, I humbly decline your generous offer, and I ask that you retract your command."
"Treasures are easy to find, but a man of sentint is rare indeed." Li Shimin stood up and gently patted your shoulder, "In that case, you may return ho now. Let think it over."
"Yes, I shall take my leave." You bowed and strode out.
"Imperial Father, please take my side." The little boy looked up at Li Shimin with a pleading face, "I only want Zhen Nan, I don’t want anyone else."
"Enough! Even if you were King of a Country, you can’t covet another’s wife and daughter! Now go back and reflect for seven days before returning to school."
"Imperial Father!"
"Get out!"
You naturally heard the voices from inside the hall as you stood at the doorway, and you didn’t walk away imdiately. In front of the two guards, you revealed a sinister cold smile, then turned and left.
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