The Qinzheng Hall of the Imperial Palace.
Li Shimin squinted his eyes and listened to the eunuch's report. No one around him could tell what he was thinking. Even though he didn't say a word, everyone felt the pressure. Serving the emperor was like serving a tiger. A few days ago, a palace maid was beaten to death.
The test in the court has been passed, and now the first test outside the court has also been passed.
"What's the rank of his mother, Liu?"
It was only after a cup of tea that Li Shimin mentioned Li Xiang's mother, Liu. Although he did not say who it was, Wang De knew he was talking about Li Xiang.
"In reply to the emperor, I am a ninth-rank official."
Although Wang De had just been beaten, Li Shimin still couldn't do without him. For example, he could report the situation of these personnel immediately without even checking. This was also the main reason why he could be the general manager.
Liu was originally a maid in the Eastern Palace. Because she gave birth to Li Xiang, she was conferred the ninth-rank Fengyi, but she was also the lowest-ranking concubine in the Eastern Palace.
"Issue the decree: for your meritorious service in raising Li Xiang, you shall be promoted to the fifth rank of Liangyuan, and be awarded fifty strings of cash and a pair of jade ruyi."
Li Shimin casually appointed a fifth-rank concubine. You should know that this broke the rules. According to the current rules, such things must be promoted one level at a time. Li Shimin raised her rank four levels at once, which had never happened before.
In the past, the eunuch chief Wang De would have certainly warned him, but now he touched the burning half of his face and suppressed the words. Don't look for trouble, he doesn't want the other half of his face to be hit.
"How old is the Crown Prince's legitimate son?"
When Li Shimin said this, he realized that he had not paid attention to his eldest son for a long time, and he felt a rare sense of guilt in his heart.
"To answer your Majesty, I have just turned five."
Wang De said honestly.
"Confer the title of Prince of Guangling."
Li Shimin casually appointed another prince.
"Go and pass on the order, what are you standing there for?"
Wang De was still waiting here for Li Shimin to tell him what the reward was, but who knew there was nothing at all. Isn't this a bit against the rules? However, seeing Li Shimin's dark face, the old dog was so scared that he hurried to do his job.
When the emperor's grandson was first conferred the title of a prince, he had to be given some rewards, but it was definitely not to the level of Li Xiang. If calculated based on Li Xiang's level, not even a prince could catch up with him.
But it's not like there is nothing at all. They are both the Crown Prince's two sons, and the latter one is the legitimate son. The gap is too obvious.
As Wang De left the Qinzheng Hall, he suddenly realized something. He was envious of Li Xiang. He had never seen the emperor take such good care of someone before. Even His Royal Highness the Prince of Wei had never received such treatment.
Li Xiang is now the number one among the emperor's grandsons, but the current rewards are a bit too much, so the emperor appointed another prince to disperse Li Xiang's firepower, but did not give him any rewards. Others can also tell the importance of the two from this.
One was conferred in the court in front of all the officials, and was given several large carts of various rewards.
One was sealed casually after the court was dismissed, and there was nothing else except an imperial edict.
Although he is the legitimate son, the people in the Eastern Palace are very cunning. There is no need to say who he should follow in the future!
East Palace.
"Welcome, Your Highness."
The Crown Princess Hou and a group of beautiful girls have already taken up their positions at the palace gate.
"Everyone, get up and clean up Hongyuan Hall. We'll give it to Xiang'er to use from now on."
"ah?"
The Crown Princess didn't hear Li Chengqian's words clearly at first and thought she had misheard!
Hongyuan Hall is where the prince studies. Apart from the main hall of the Eastern Palace, it is the most important place in the entire Eastern Palace. Even if it is to be rewarded to a son, it should be given to the legitimate son Li Jue. How can it be given to the illegitimate son Li Xiang?
"Come with me to the study."
Li Chengqian didn't bother to care whether the Crown Princess heard it clearly or not, as long as Qian Ping, the chief eunuch of the Eastern Palace, heard it clearly, that was enough.
Li Chengqian never cared much about women's affairs, and he knew that the Crown Princess often bullied Li Xiang and his mother, but that was in the past. Now the entire Eastern Palace had to rely on Li Xiang. If similar things happened again, he would never let him off easily. So in front of everyone in the Eastern Palace, Li Chengqian had to give the Crown Princess a warning.
When the father and son passed by a palace in the East Palace, a ritual was being performed inside. Li Xiang frowned, and Li Chengqian also looked a little embarrassed.
The dead person had nothing to do with the Eastern Palace. He was just a playmate of Li Chengqian, Chengxin. This person was originally a boy in the Yuefu and lived and ate with Li Chengqian. After Li Shimin found out, he ordered him to be executed. This was also a sign of the deterioration of the relationship between Li Shimin and Li Chengqian.
Li Xiang really didn't know what to say about Li Chengqian. You already know why your father is annoyed with you, and you even set up a mourning hall here.
This was a death granted by the emperor, not an ordinary death due to old age, sickness or illness. You openly set up a mourning hall in the East Palace, and it has been set up for one or two years. Isn't this courting death?
"here……"
Facing his son who was almost as tall as him, Li Chengqian didn't know how to explain this matter. At this moment, he also knew that he was embarrassed.
"Hou Er."
Li Xiang knew that he couldn't stay here, but he had to have a reason, so he immediately called the steward of the East Palace. This man was also the Crown Princess's dowry and was from Hou Junji's mansion.
"Your Highness?"
If Li Xiang had called his name like that in front of Li Chengqian, the butler would have immediately given Li Xiang a hard time. Anyway, you and your son are not favored in the Eastern Palace, so it is too easy for us to find something wrong with you. Even in front of Li Chengqian, the etiquette would not be complete. After all, she is the dowry of the Crown Princess!
"The Eastern Palace has secretly set up a mourning hall. My father and I are unaware of this. How could you, as the Eastern Palace's chief steward, be unaware of this? Come, send this to the Dali Temple for a thorough investigation."
No one in the Eastern Palace expected that Li Xiang didn't even give Hou Er any time to react. He didn't even know what was going on and was sent to the Dali Temple in a daze.
In this era, the Dali Temple oversaw all major cases. If a noble sent a slave there, there would be no trial at all. The slave would be guilty of whatever crime the noble said he was guilty of.
He couldn't afford to bear the responsibility of setting up a mourning hall privately in the Eastern Palace. Not only would his life be at risk, but his entire family might also lose their lives.
"My Lady, my Lady, please save this old slave! This?"
When Hou Er heard this, he made another fatal mistake at the critical moment. The prince is standing here! You must beg your queen. Who is the most powerful person in this palace?
Sure enough, Li Chengqian also frowned. There were rumors outside that Li Chengqian had fallen out of favor, and the reason he was still in his current position was purely because of his father-in-law Hou Junji, otherwise he would have been deposed long ago. Although it was a rumor, it was still uncomfortable to hear. Now Hou Junji's words made Li Chengqian murderous.
"Your Highness, what's going on? Hou Er is loyal to our family and is someone my father trusts..."
The Crown Princess came over in a hurry. Hou Er was her confidant and knew many secrets. If he was sent to the Dali Temple, the consequences would be disastrous. In order to increase her bargaining chips to keep Hou Er, the Crown Princess brought out her father Hou Junji, not knowing that this was a fatal poison.
"What are you still standing there for? Don't you want to be an official anymore?"
When Qian Ping saw Li Chengqian's sharp eyes, he instantly understood what to do. The chief steward of the Eastern Palace, who was so glorious a moment ago, was now pressed to the ground by the eunuch chief steward Qian Ping. Originally, he should have been the chief steward of the Eastern Palace, but this Hou Er relied on the power of the Crown Princess to suppress him everywhere. Today, our master is going to punish you, haha, no one can stop him.