Three quarters before the second morning court
Li Chengqian looked at his son with some envy. Today was the grand court meeting. If it were in the past, Li Chengqian could also wear the bright yellow prince's costume and go to court happily, but now there is no chance. According to Li Shimin's imperial edict, he has to continue to study behind closed doors in the East Palace.
"Father, please rest assured. Your days here won't be long. I will find a way to make grandfather withdraw the imperial edict."
Li Xiang also knew very well what it felt like for a young man to be locked up here every day. Li Chengqian was not very old. If he was locked up for another two years, he would probably be beyond saving.
"Don't mess around. Your foundation is not stable yet, so don't bother your grandfather with my affairs. If you are implicated, we might end up staying here together. Now that one of us can get out, it's better than before. If neither of us can get out, your second uncle and his men will find a way to kill us."
Li Chengqian waved his hands quickly. Although he wanted to leave the East Palace and go out for a walk, it was definitely not the time at this stage. His son's axe skills were good, but it was far from being stable.
"Your Highness, the Left Vice Minister of Rites, Ma Tian, has arrived."
Li Xiang originally thought that he would see these people in the square of the main hall, but he didn't expect that some of them had actually come to the East Palace. Well, he would have to meet these people sooner or later anyway.
"What did you do last night?"
As soon as Li Chengqian heard the man's name, he knew that he came from the Five Surnames and Seven Noble Families. Although his surname was not among them, the Five Surnames and Seven Noble Families rarely let their direct descendants become officials. Even if they sent someone in, they would be descendants of the collateral branch. What they were best at was marrying their daughters and then pushing their sons-in-law to the court. Even if something happened, it would be the sons-in-law who died, and it had nothing to do with their core descendants.
This Lord Ma married the daughter of the Wang family of Langya. He had no previous contact with the Eastern Palace. Even when a large number of people came to give gifts a few days ago, Lord Ma did not express any reaction. What happened today? Did the sun rise from the west?
"I was sleeping in my yard last night. What else could I do? It's getting late. Father, please have breakfast. I'm going to court first and will talk to you when I come back."
Li Xiang put on an innocent look. Li Chengqian couldn't go out at the moment, and telling him would only make him worry more. It would be better for him to handle it himself.
"I'm telling you, don't mess around here. The Five Surnames and Seven Families are no joke. This kind of large family, which has been passed down for hundreds of years, has hidden strength that you can't imagine. Don't..."
Li Chengqian wanted to say something else, but Li Xiang had already turned and left.
Li Xiang also hated this despicable method, but sometimes you have to use it. If all the court officials reported him, then even if the emperor protected him, he would have to give everyone an explanation. Li Xiang had already handed over one million strings of cash, and he didn't want to bleed any more.
"Your Highness, my Highness..."
When Lord Ma saw Li Xiang, tears were almost on his face. Last night, they were having dinner at the Ma family's house when a servant suddenly came to report that a group of thieves had suddenly come to his concubine Huang's house, and Huang and Lord Ma's only son were missing.
At that time, Lord Ma was panicked. He had one wife and five concubines at home, who gave birth to a room full of daughters. However, he had an illegitimate child outside. If something happened to him, he would probably have no descendants in the future. It was precisely because he married the daughter of Wang of Langya that even if his wife outside had a son, he did not dare to bring the son back home. He had always been very safe. After all, he was not a minister in vain. But he did not expect that there would be a problem at this time.
"Master Ma, please be more respectful. I know something happened at your house, so you should go to the Chang'an County Government Office, not come to me, right?"
Lord Ma told Li Xiang what happened last night in a tearful voice, but Li Xiang said it had nothing to do with him.
"My Lord, I beg you, I only have this one son. If anything were to happen to him, I would die. There are many broken weapons in the yard, and the guards over there use swords that are one in a hundred. Apart from your men, no one else has such swords. Your Lordship, please tell me directly what you want to say, and I will do it."
When it comes to his only son, Lord Ma is usually calm, but at this moment he is panicking.
"What are you talking about, Master Ma? Are you suspecting me of being a thief?"
Li Xiang said with some dissatisfaction, and the Lord Ma next to him felt a pang in his heart. Huang and his son are in other people's hands. If something happens, you will have nowhere to cry.
"I am not very good at speaking, so please forgive me, Your Highness. I understand that I will keep my mouth shut and say nothing at this morning's court session."
Lord Ma suddenly realized that he couldn't just say empty words. Our eldest royal grandson is different from others. If you don't say something substantial, it will be difficult for him to get by.
"How can that be possible? The imperial court is a place where people can speak freely. If the emperor has something to ask you, you are receiving monthly salaries from the court. Are you supposed to go up there and not say anything?"
Li Xiang stopped and looked at Master Ma with a smile. "Do you think you can get away with it without saying anything? There's no such good thing in the world."
Lord Ma's face was filled with bitterness. On one side was His Royal Highness the Grandson, who controlled his wife and children, and on the other was the Langye Wang family, who had cultivated him for many years. He could remain impartial, which was already a betrayal of the Langye Wang family. But if he turned to one side, then some problems would arise...
For a moment, Master Ma didn't know how to choose...
"A gentleman is a man of his word. He has to make his own decisions. How can he be controlled by a woman? Lord Ma has reached his current position. Even if others want to help you get a higher position, I don't think they have the ability. We must adopt a new approach. You can't even bring your own son home. How can you live like this? I heard that Lord Ma's mother lives separately in the city. Lord Ma really loves Madam Ma!"
Li Xiang patted Master Ma on the shoulder and said, "The road has been pointed out to you, and the nail has been hammered into your heart. You have to know what to do next..."