Chapter 495 Fishing Air Force

Li Yuan was overjoyed and his confidence was inflated.

He deliberately went out in the middle of the night to wake his second son up, and then showed off the fishing rod that Chengqian had given him.

Seeing the jealous and sour expression on his face, she left with satisfaction and a carefree air.

He was all set to catch fish for his precious grandson and prepare a feast of all kinds of fish, but after making all those boasts, he discovered he hadn't caught a single fish.

a bolt from the blue!

From the palace to the outskirts of the capital, from estates to the wilderness, from ponds to streams. Even the fish that the palace servants had specially released into the ponds, which were now almost completely submerged, he couldn't catch a single one!

"Auntie is an air force pilot? That shouldn't be the case. What about the newbie protection period?"

"Brother, what is the Air Force?"

Li Tai stood beside Li Chengqian and asked curiously.

Li Chengqian was momentarily confused. "It means you can't catch any fish and your rod goes blank."

How did he come up with this word? Li Chengqian had just begun to have a little doubt when he thought about it again. As the number one playboy in the Tang Dynasty, it was normal for him to create some trendy new words.

Yes, that's right, he's a top-tier playboy.

Having successfully convinced himself, Li Chengqian confidently raised his head and explained to Li Tai what the "newbie protection period" meant.

"oh--"

Li Tai seemed to be deep in thought, then took a fishing rod from the servant, completely ignoring Li Yuan's resentful figure, and sat down next to him, casting the rod down.

"?" Li Yuan turned his head to look at the chubby boy.

Li Tai smiled at him, politely called him "Uncle," and then turned his head to stare intently at the water.

A moment later, Li Tai's pole moved, and he quickly pulled it up. The people serving by the pool also rushed forward to help, and soon a big fish was pulled out of the water.

Li Tai cheered, "Great! I really do have a newbie protection period! I'm not an air force pilot!"

Given the context, Li Yuan, who understood his meaning, was deeply hurt. Li Tai wouldn't let him off the hook, ordering someone to take the fish and patting him on the shoulder before leaving, saying, "Grandpa, you can continue. I only need one fish, I won't compete with you."

"..." Li Yuan gritted his teeth. The little fat boy was indeed Li Shimin's biological son, but he was all talk and no action!

"Brother, let's go back and eat fish!"

Behind him, Li Tai's voice continued to echo.

Li Chengqian gently refused him: "No rush, let's wait for Grandfather."

Li Yuan was almost moved to tears. Sure enough, Chengqian still believed in him. But he didn't want to lose face in front of Chengqian, since he hadn't gained anything for many days.

Li Yuan stiffly turned his head and advised, "It's alright, Chengqian, take your brother back first. The fish here are so-so. Next time, next time your grandfather will catch better fish for you to eat."

"Better fish are harder to catch, aren't they, old man..."

Before Li Tai could finish speaking, Li Chengqian covered his mouth, saying, "Then, Grandfather, we'll be going now."

"Okay, be careful on the road." Li Yuan forced a smile, pretending not to hear the chubby boy's words.

Watching the two figures gradually disappear into the distance, Li Yuan finally breathed a sigh of relief and turned back to continue his indomitable struggle with the fishing rod! He refused to believe that the dignified founding emperor couldn't catch a single fish!

Then, Li Yuan, full of fighting spirit, did not expect that the chubby Li Tai was just the beginning.

Next, he was greeted by Li Shimin, who said he would fish a fish for Chengqian to nourish him, and Li Jiancheng and Li Yuanji, who ostensibly came to pay their respects but actually occupied his fishing seat and even tried to seize his precious fishing rod!

Those wretched, unfilial sons! They all harbor ill intentions, wanting to see their old father make a fool of himself! But they all caught fish, while he caught none! None!

In the afternoon, Li Yuan pulled up the empty pole for the seventh time, and the bamboo basket was still empty.

He angrily put down his fishing rod and noticed that the eunuch who often stole fish from the pond was whispering to the head eunuch Li Zhong, their heads very close together, looking like two mice stealing rice.

Li Yuan asked casually, "What's wrong?"

Li Zhong hunched over and shuffled forward, his sleeves embroidered with gold cloud patterns hanging low: "Your Majesty, the eunuch in charge of the pond reports that there are quite a few fish missing."

"Were those rebellious kids fishing behind my back again? Was it that chubby kid again?"

Li Yuan blurted out his words, which were full of resentment towards those rebellious sons and grandsons.

Li Zhong lowered his head, pretending not to hear anything, and continued to report: "They said it didn't seem like it was done by humans, but rather like it was eaten by something."

"Oh," Li Yuan suddenly sat up straight, "Could it be that this is the reason I can't catch fish?"

Having finally found a reason, Li Yuan immediately ordered the palace servants to dredge the pond in an attempt to find the "culprit".

The commotion was so great that Li Shimin, along with Li Chengqian, rushed over out of curiosity.

Watching net after net of fish being hauled in, Li Shimin couldn't help but complain, "How many fish did you put in here, Father? You're fishing like this..."

Meeting Li Yuan's resentful gaze, Li Shimin silently fell silent, thinking, "Never mind, I can't let my old father get so angry."

After working hard for half a day and getting nothing in return, Li Shimin couldn't help but tease, "Father, next time you should come up with a better excuse."

Li Yuan was so angry he wanted to punch him, but fortunately Li Chengqian stepped in time to save his father from getting a beating. "It's alright, Grandfather, Chengqian isn't in a hurry to eat the fish."

Calmed down by his beloved grandson, Li Yuan glared at Li Shimin and came up with a new excuse: "It must be that the water in the palace is not good. Grandfather went fishing at the temporary palace, where the fish are delicious."

Without hesitation, Li Shimin did not stop the retired emperor, and his carriage sped off to the temporary palace.

The ministers were no longer as alarmed as they had been at the beginning. After all, the reputation of the retired emperor being unable to catch fish had been around for a long time, so it was just another time he was fishing in a different place.

The morning mist over the palace's green pool hadn't yet dissipated when Li Yuan's fishing rod sank into the water for the third time, leaving his fish basket empty. But Li Yuan felt his patience was growing stronger; so what if he hadn't caught anything yet? He'd definitely succeed next time!

"Um?"

Noticing the dark shadow underwater, Li Yuan leaned out in surprise. Li Zhong, who was beside him, approached with concern, "Your Majesty, what's wrong?"

Is that a turtle?

Li Yuan pointed at the huge phantom on the water, filled with astonishment and uncertainty.

Li Zhong, standing to the side, was even more astonished. He strained his eyes, looking again and again, but saw nothing.

Faced with Li Yuan's questioning gaze, he could only stammer in reply, "This servant is blind and did not see it."

Li Yuan looked down at the shadowy figure that hadn't left the water's surface, then at Li Zhong's sincere face. Incredulously, he reached out to call the others over, only to find that none of them could see it.

Was he obsessed with fishing? Was he hallucinating? But why a turtle? Was his subconscious starting to worry about his lifespan?

Confused, Li Yuan shook his head. Looking down again, he found the dark shadow underwater had disappeared, so he didn't think much of it and continued to devote himself to fishing.

In the following months, Li Yuan suffered repeated defeats in various waterways, yet he fought on despite these setbacks.

He didn't catch a single fish, but the dark shadow underwater became clearer and clearer. Its back resembled a tortoise, and its head a snake. It was clearly the appearance of the mythical beast Xuanwu, and it was a Xuanwu that only he could see!

Now, Li Yuan no longer believed it was an illusion. After traversing multiple waterways and confirming that the Xuanwu was indeed following him, he hurriedly returned to the palace and summoned Li Shimin.

"Father, what excuse have you found for not catching fish this time?"