The society in the early Tang Dynasty was different from that in the Ming and Qing Dynasties. In the Ming and Qing Dynasties, the status of princes was very high. No matter if you were the prime minister or the cabinet minister, you had to kneel when you saw the prince.
However, in the Tang Dynasty society, princes and dukes were both of the first rank. These meritorious officials all had the title of duke, so they only needed to bow when meeting each other. Besides, these people were Li Shimin's old brothers. Not to mention the emperor's grandson like Li Xiang, even the brothers Li Tai and Li Zhi had to salute when they met them.
Li Shimin's children and these meritorious officials usually played together without any regard for etiquette.
Only Li Chengqian, who became the crown prince, was different. However, he did not dare to accept the gifts from these dukes in public or in private.
"Lord Xiangguo."
Li Xiang also hurriedly returned the gift. If others saw Li Xiang standing still, it might be considered disrespectful to his elders, and he would sooner or later be pulled over by Li Shimin and scolded.
"Your Highness is the first among the descendants of the Tang Dynasty to establish a palace and government office. When the palace is completed, please invite me to have a drink."
Fang Xuanling usually doesn't talk much, so it's quite difficult for him to say such words. It's impossible for him to say anything else to Li Xiang in the hall, so he left after saying this.
During the Zhenguan period, he and Du Ruhui were known as Fangmou Duduan, and were considered Li Shimin's right-hand men and the most important ministers among the important ministers. He even came to show his goodwill to Li Xiang, which was also the first time during the Zhenguan period.
Other officials at all levels also came over. They were indeed saved by Li Xiang just now. If there was no strategy, who knows how many people would have been demoted to commoners. Their gratitude was also from the bottom of their hearts.
No matter how scared Li Chengqian was at this moment, he had to straighten his body and not tremble in front of the ministers.
Finally, most people went out. Li Chengqian looked at a person in the distance with some fear. That was his uncle Changsun Wuji.
It is said that the mother's uncle is the most important. After Empress Changsun passed away, Changsun Wuji remembered his sister's instructions and assisted his nephew wholeheartedly, even stricter than Li Shimin did to him. Who knew that Li Chengqian favored villains and kept away from wise ministers, and the uncle and nephew became strangers. As a last resort, Changsun Wuji began to choose between Prince of Wei Li Tai and Prince of Jin Li Zhi to support the new prince.
If Li Xiang had not appeared, Prince of Jin Li Zhi would have been chosen as the new crown prince of the Tang Dynasty, but now the appearance of Li Xiang has changed the candidate for the new crown prince.
"uncle."
"Uncle."
Facing Empress Changsun's brother, the father and son stood obediently. In this court, apart from Li Shimin, perhaps Changsun Wuji had the most right to speak about them.
"Reflect on your mistakes behind closed doors and don't cause any more trouble. Today's opportunity didn't come easily, you know that?"
Changsun Wuji's voice was not loud, but it was very stern. Looking at his eldest nephew, he felt very disappointed in him.
"I will follow my uncle's instructions."
Even if Li Chengqian acted recklessly, he had a close call today. Li Shimin did not pursue his conspiracy because of Li Xiang's consideration. If he continued to act recklessly, he would probably die, and after today, his East Palace would definitely be strictly controlled.
He also felt the change. In the past, his uncle never spoke to him. It could be said that he was extremely disappointed. People are just mean. In the past, when his uncle taught him a lesson harshly, Li Chengqian felt disgusted, but today he was actually a little touched, and he wished that his uncle would educate him more.
"Come to my house for dinner at noon tomorrow."
This sentence was naturally not said to Li Chengqian, but to Li Xiang. Everyone knows that Li Chengqian has been placed under house arrest by the emperor, and it is still unclear whether he can leave the Eastern Palace in the future!
"Father, let's go back."
Even though Li Chengqian was not a capable person, he was still the father of this body. Moreover, at the critical moment just now, Li Chengqian also wanted to help Li Xiang to defend himself. Unfortunately, he no longer had a say in the court and only had the empty title of a prince.
Li Chengqian was disabled and had a lame leg, making it difficult for him to walk. At this moment, he could only support Li Xiang's young body, and the father and son walked out little by little.
"You can't go back to the East Palace with me."
When walking out of the hall, Li Chengqian looked around and saw that there was no one around, and suddenly said this.
"What about me?"
If he doesn't go back to the Eastern Palace, where else can he go? Li Xiang has no place to live here.
"There is another garden in the city. Go there."
Li Chengqian's eyes flashed, and he immediately found a place for his son. The Eastern Palace was now an ominous place. His son had just started to make progress in the court. If he returned to the Eastern Palace with him, it would be a bad omen. Who would follow him in the future? The main thing was that he was worried that his own troubles would affect his son. He hadn't paid attention to this before, but now that his son had become successful, those ugly things naturally had to be covered up.
"Father, if I don't return to the East Palace now, disaster will befall me."
Normally, they should have distanced themselves from the Eastern Palace, but Li Shimin was shrewd. He was still watching from above. He had rewarded Li Xiang handsomely today. If Li Xiang turned around and cut ties with his father, he would be considered heartless and ungrateful. How could such a person be of great use? Li Shimin wanted a flesh-and-blood heir to avoid the tragedy of Xuanwu Gate.
If Li Xiang had not said anything after the new palace was built, it would be normal, after all, it was the emperor who gave the order. But now the new palace has not yet been built, and Li Xiang is not yet an adult, so he can only live in the East Palace.
In this era, people believe that there are no perfect parents. Even if your parents do something terrible, you cannot despise them. If you move away because you are afraid of being implicated, then Li Xiang's future will be over.
"But if you continue to live in the East Palace, everyone in the court will avoid you. How can you fight your second uncle? And your ninth uncle is no ordinary man either. Your third uncle, Prince Wu Li Ge, may have the blood of the previous dynasty, but he's deeply loved by my father and has the potential to become the crown prince. These people are beasts in disguise and have repeatedly put obstacles in my way over the years. If it weren't for them, would I be able to do this?"
Li Chengqian said aggrievedly. He also wanted to re-establish his status in front of his son and put all the blame on his brothers. However, seeing Li Xiang's unconvinced look, Li Chengqian didn't know how to convince his son for a moment. Alas, he had been so ridiculous these years. He hoped that the relationship between father and son could be improved in the future.
Li Xiang was looking at Li Chengqian at this moment. Everyone said that this prince was useless, but in fact he was quite capable. Prince of Jin Li Zhi was only a few years older than himself. To put it bluntly, he was just a little brat now, but Li Chengqian had already seen clearly that the little brat was not simple. Li Chengqian was also a capable person, but he just didn't use his talents in the right place. In the future, he had to think about giving his old father some real work and separate him from those trash.
Li Xiang certainly knew that Prince of Jin Li Zhi was not an easy person to deal with. If he was really as loyal as he appeared, how could he become the emperor?
Born in this royal family, who is a simple person? But it doesn't matter what kind of person you are now. From now on, this world will be ours, and the Tang Dynasty will become even more powerful. All the land under heaven belongs to the king, and all the people are his subjects.
Wherever the sun and moon shine, wherever the wind and rain blow, no one dares to disobey! I will become the greatest king in history.
Li Xiang finally returned to the Eastern Palace with the prince.
At the same time, two young eunuchs quietly went to the emperor's bedroom and reported everything they had just seen...