Chapter 166 After Old Li finished cursing, Little Wei stepped in.

The Imperial Study.

Li Shimin diligently handled state affairs.

Wei Zheng is still recuperating at home, and he has been very busy these days.

"His Majesty."

A young eunuch suddenly stepped forward: "The Emperor Emeritus and Imperial Censor Wei request an audience."

Before Li Shimin could give his permission, Li Yuan, carrying a basket, barged in...

"Shimin, I hope my unannounced visit has not disturbed you?"

Could you please not disturb me?

But you are my father, what can I say?

"Your subject greets Your Majesty."

Li Shimin quickly stood up and bowed.

"We're family, don't be so polite."

Li Yuan warmly helped Li Shimin back to his original position, then placed the basket on the table...

"Look what I brought you!"

He lifted the basket lid, revealing several exquisite pastries: "These are gifts from the court officials to me."

A high-ranking official in the imperial court?

Li Shimin's gaze swept over Wei Shuyu.

"I wonder which minister is so thoughtful?" Li Shimin said casually.

"Who else could it be?"

Li Yuan said with a smile, "Your trusted and beloved minister, Fang Xuanling."

Fang Xuanling?

Li Shimin's expression immediately turned strange.

He would rather believe that pigs could fly than believe that Fang Xuanling had an affair with Li Yuan.

Isn't this just handing the knife to Li Yuan to chop?

"Here, have a taste."

Li Yuan picked up a piece and happily fed it to Li Shimin.

"Father, there's no need for that. I can do it myself."

Li Shimin rose in fear and accepted it.

It was just a pastry, but he always felt there was something fishy about it.

Li Yuan was simply too enthusiastic.

How does it taste?

Li Yuan watched with a smile as Li Shimin ate.

"Serve it well."

Li Shimin nodded.

"Right?"

Li Yuan continued, like a cunning old fox, "Since you ate their food, shouldn't you do them a favor?"

"What kind of help?"

Li Shimin's heart immediately jumped.

"Cough cough..."

Li Yuan coughed twice: "Isn't it because I see Fang Yi'ai as erudite, skilled in both literature and martial arts, learned beyond measure, and overflowing with talent..."

"Stop, stop, stop..."

Li Shimin couldn't stand Li Yuan's nonsense and quickly stopped him, saying, "Besides causing trouble, what else can he do?"

"Which of these things you're praising has anything to do with him?"

Li Yuan was taken aback.

That's an overstatement.

Don't panic, it's a minor incident.

We're experts at twisting concepts.

"Who said he has no merits?"

Li Yuan, his beard bristling and eyes wide, exclaimed, "His father is Fang Xuanling!"

"..."

I really can't find an excuse to refute this reason.

"Father, please stop beating around the bush. Can you just say what you want to say?" Li Shimin was quite speechless.

"It's because the Fang family has taken a liking to Gao Yang and wants to marry the princess," Li Yuan said directly.

Shang Gaoyang?

"Is this all the reason the Fang family would send you, sir, to act as their mediator?"

Li Shimin was at a loss for words.

It's such a small matter, Xuanling, why didn't you just bring it up directly?

Given our relationship, how could I possibly disagree?

Little did people know that there were several reasons why Fang Xuanling dared not mention it...

Firstly, the previous attempt to secure an official position for Fang Yi'ai resulted in Fang Yi'ai staging a farce that tricked the Crown Prince and the Prince of Wei, angering Li Shimin.

Secondly, the Wei family serves as a cautionary tale. Wei Zheng repeatedly pleaded for a princess for his son, but Li Shimin refused. The Fang family was also afraid of being rejected.

Thirdly, Fang Yi'ai himself had a bad reputation, skipping school all day and frequenting Wanhua Pavilion, so Fang Xuanling was too embarrassed to mention it.

For various reasons, Fang Xuanling decided to wait until his son had rendered meritorious service before making any decisions.

"Your son..."

Li Shimin was about to agree, but then he realized something was wrong.

It was the Fang family who wanted to marry the princess, not me who asked them to.

If she agrees so easily, wouldn't it make her seem like a royal princess who has lost her dignity?

"Father, I believe the two are still young and can wait a few years before discussing marriage," Li Shimin said slowly.

"You disagree?"

Li Yuan immediately lost his temper.

I've already promised Wei Shuyu, wouldn't it be embarrassing if I couldn't keep my promise?

"It's not that I disagree, it's just that it's too early for this matter, and the Fang family hasn't even made an appearance yet..."

Just as Li Shimin was about to explain, Li Yuan erupted.

"Isn't my intervention enough?"

"I came all this way to ask for your opinion, bringing you food and speaking kindly to you, and you still don't agree?"

"If I don't participate in court affairs, does that mean I can't even inquire about my own granddaughter's marriage?"

"What exactly do you mean?"

"Do you think I'm too old and an eyesore, and you wish I were dead...?"

Li Yuan unleashed a torrent of words, causing Li Shimin to break out in a cold sweat.

What's going on?

Why did they suddenly start criticizing me?

"Father, it's not that I disagree, it's just that I think it's too early..." Li Shimin quickly explained.

"Early what? Early what?"

Li Yuan angrily rebuked, "Does your decree to bestow Gaoyang upon Yi'ai improve the relationship between you as ruler and subject?"

"Look, the Fang family has even come to me. That shows how anxious they are."

"What if, in their panic, they turn to other officials and beg you for leniency?"

"As you interact more, you develop a friendship."

"If officials protect each other, how will you manage the court?"

Li Yuan didn't care whether he was right or wrong; he just spouted whatever came to mind.

Li Shimin should dare to talk back.

That would be even better.

Now I have another excuse to criticize.

“Father, even if this matter is to be settled, I must speak with Xuanling personally, right?” Li Shimin explained again.

"What are you talking about?"

Li Yuan tapped the basket: "They've even given us gifts, isn't that enough sincerity?"

"Do you expect to receive a betrothal gift when our royal family marries off a princess?"

Is this all the sincerity you've shown us with these few pastries?

If they don't even show up in person, can that be called sincerity?

Li Shimin sighed...

"Alright, Father, stop talking. I'll agree to this marriage, okay?"

Li Shimin had already concluded that Li Yuan was just bored and came to scold him to relax.

"Why didn't you say that earlier?"

Li Yuan snorted coldly: "You just have to provoke me to anger."

As he spoke, Li Yuan gave Wei Shuyu a smug look.

"Father, I also have some pastries made by Guanyinbi. Would you like to take some back and have some?"

Li Shimin waved his hand.

Wang De immediately came up carrying a basket.

"Remember, from now on you should handle state affairs properly. Look at what you're doing as emperor, you're so busy with just a few disasters that you can't even keep your feet on the ground."

"You've even ruined my palace with all that work, I don't even know what to say to you..."

Li Yuan began to ramble on and on about Li Shimin's faults.

Only after he was tired of spraying did he leisurely leave.

"Shuyu, stay here for a moment, I need to speak with you."

Just as Wei Shuyu was about to take his leave, Li Shimin kept him on.

"promise."

After the others left, Li Shimin looked at Wei Shuyu...

What did you say to your father today?

Everything about Li Yuan was under his surveillance.

Wei Shuyu and the retired emperor had a secret meeting in a room; such a thing could not be kept from him.

"Your Majesty, Mencius said: There are five things commonly referred to as unfilial piety..."

"I have forgotten the five points, but I remember one sentence very clearly."

"Disregarding the care of one's parents."

"I believe that Your Majesty's treatment of the retired emperor may invite criticism from others..."

Um?

Li Shimin was about to enjoy the pastries when his hand stopped.

Even though I've been scolded like this by my father, am I still considered unfilial?

Are you kidding me?

And why does your tone sound so familiar?

Raise your head...

A miniature version of Wei Zheng was facing him.