The arrival of the rhinoceros alleviated Li Shimin's melancholy considerably.

He led the little ox on a walk through the quiet inner court.

The tranquility of the inner court contrasted sharply with the bustling activity of the front hall, much like his current mood.

Birthday, birthday—it's just another year older!

"Sizi, if you go to Xianyang, you can't just be greedy for food. You also have to remember to urge your nephew to do his homework!"

"Okay!"

"Father, when will you be finished with your work?"

"Me..."

Li Shimin's birthday was relatively young, falling on the day of Wuxu in the twelfth month of the Kaihuang calendar. Not long after his birthday, the new year began.

Therefore, he has a lot of official business to handle and a lot of banquets to attend recently, so he really can't find the time.

"I'm afraid I won't have time before the new year..."

"well!"

Sizi was also very upset when she heard this, because she really wanted her whole family to spend the New Year together.

"Father, we can't just leave our nephew alone in Xianyang for the New Year, can we?"

"How pitiful, how desolate! It's heartbreaking to think about!"

"this……"

Li Shimin hesitated upon hearing this. Even if he brought the child over, where could he put him? He couldn't possibly let him live in the palace, could he?

"We'll see when the time comes!"

"In a couple of days, I will arrange for your Uncle Yuchi to go with you. At that time, your Uncle Yuchi will teach him martial arts, and you will teach him calligraphy!"

"good!"

After strolling around the inner court, Li Shimin composed himself and returned to the Taiji Hall to receive the congratulations from friends from various countries and the birthday wishes from all the civil and military officials.

Although the ceremony was tedious and even somewhat redundant, which annoyed him greatly, it was an essential part of ruling an empire. He had to give his subjects and people from beyond the borders a chance to show their filial piety.

Otherwise, they would harbor resentment and feel that he, the emperor, was heartless and inhuman.

Fortunately, for many things, he only needs to show his face, symbolically raise his glass, and maintain a cool and aloof demeanor.

Even so, after a busy day, Li Shimin still felt extremely irritable.

Firstly, there was the boredom and restlessness, and secondly, such a grand occasion was missing one of his favorite people.

If only his eldest grandson were here!

Thinking of this, Li Shimin immediately wrote an imperial edict to the Ministry of Works, ordering them to expedite the construction of the highway from Xianyang to Chang'an!

We can wait and see about other places, but this road must be repaired in the shortest possible time!

Once the road is repaired, he can visit his grandson anytime!

His Majesty the Emperor's birthday celebration usually lasts for a day and a night, except that the Crown Prince usually stands in for the Emperor to toast the officials in the evening.

After Li Zhi followed the instructions of the master of ceremonies and completed all the ceremonies, he finally found an opportunity to sit next to Changsun Wuji.

"Uncle, your nephew has brought a gift for Father Emperor. Does Father Emperor not like it?"

Changsun Wuji smiled indifferently upon hearing this.

"It's alright!"

"The Crown Prince's gift doesn't need to be expensive; it just needs to show filial piety..."

"Oh, thank you for clearing up my doubts, Uncle."

"Oh, right, there's one more thing. Last time I accompanied Father Emperor to Xianyang, I overheard him calling for his eldest grandson in his sleep..."

"Uncle, do you think the eldest grandson Father Emperor is referring to could be Li Xiang?"

"Li Xiang?"

"Yes!"

"Father recently bestowed titles upon my eldest brother and Li Xiang. Could it be that he intends to pass the throne to his eldest grandson?"

"this……"

Upon hearing this, Changsun Wuji fell into deep thought. In fact, he had always suspected Li Zhong's identity.

Although Li Zhong did not admit it and even lied, saying his name was Shi Dakai, Changsun Wuji still saw the shadows of His Majesty and his sister, Empress Changsun, in the child's eyes and brows.

This is definitely of the Li Tang bloodline, and it is very likely that he is Li Jue, the eldest grandson of the Tang Dynasty!

However, he couldn't quite figure out why Li Jue had come back to life and why he was in Chang'an.

"His Majesty may have been calling for someone else..."

"other people?"

"A person who should have died!"

Li Zhi wanted to ask more questions, but Changsun Wuji had already gotten up and left his seat.

"uncle!"

"No need to ask any more questions, your uncle will take care of this person for you!"

"oh oh……"

Upon hearing this, Li Zhi dared not ask any more questions, knowing that it would be no good for him to know too much about such matters.

After leaving the Taiji Hall, Changsun Wuji quickly summoned his close friend Chu Suiliang and recounted his suspicion that Li Zhong was actually the eldest grandson, Li Jue.

Chu Suiliang was greatly shocked upon hearing this and asked incredulously.

"Isn't he dead?"

"yes……"

"But now he's alive again, and His Majesty has even secretly bestowed upon him a title!"

"No wonder His Majesty suddenly bestowed a baronship upon someone no one had ever heard of. It turns out that the so-called Li Zhong and Li Zhong were all aliases, and even Li Dechong..."

As Chu Suiliang spoke, his eyes lit up.

"Lord Changsun, do you think Li Dechong might be Dou Jiande and Wang Shichong?"

Changsun Wuji's eyes lit up when he heard this. If it was understood this way, then everything would make sense.

"Very likely!"

"But His Majesty is currently very fond of this child, and I fear it may jeopardize the Crown Prince's position!"

Chu Suiliang shook his head upon hearing this.

"Is that unlikely?"

"Even if the eldest grandson were to come back to life, he would only be eight years old this year, a full eight years younger than His Highness the Crown Prince. Would His Majesty really choose a child as the heir apparent?"

"Moreover, Li Chengqian's rebellion failed, which is why he was deposed as crown prince."

"If Your Majesty wishes to establish Li Chengqian's son as the crown prince, you must first clear Li Chengqian of the charge of treason; otherwise, the eldest grandson will bear the stigma of being the son of a traitor!"

This chapter is not finished, please click the next page to continue reading!