190 Chapter 190
◎Look after the children.◎
As expected, Changsun did not blame anyone. She even advised Li Xiujing to go out and relax and have some fun. She didn't have to keep an eye on her younger sisters all the time because there were always people who would look after them.
As the legitimate mother, Changsun left a very good impression on the children. It was like spring breeze to get along with her, and they all liked talking to their legitimate mother.
Li Xiujin smiled and said, "I'm not a child anymore, why should I play?"
"Why aren't you a child?" Changsun smiled. "Play when you should. I think you're at the right age to play now."
Li Xiujin smiled and said, "Thank you, Your Highness."
After chatting for a while, Changsun said she was busy and asked them to go out and play.
Li Chengqian didn't say much from beginning to end, and he was silent when he left, but Li Xiujin could feel his good mood.
Li Xiujin asked tentatively, "Why doesn't the prince play with them?"
Li Chengqian smiled and said, "They are too noisy. I can't play with them."
Li Xiujin pursed her lips and smiled, "But I see the prince is not bothered by their quarrel."
Li Chengqian laughed and said, "It's fun to watch them making noise."
Li Xiujin looked puzzled. Li Chengqian was at a loss for words. After a moment's thought, he said, "Do you play chess? Sister, let's play chess together. It's not Go or Xiangqi, it's a new way of playing."
Li Xiujin asked curiously, "What is it?"
Li Chengqian had a chessboard set up in the corridor. When he saw some children getting too hot from playing, he asked someone to take off their thick outer clothes. He also instructed the wet nurse not to take off their clothes. If anyone felt hot, he would persuade them to sit down and rest for a while.
Because the eldest brother and sister wanted to play chess, the children who were tired of playing came over to watch them play this new game.
The new way of playing that Li Chengqian mentioned was very simple, it was Gobang. There was no need to learn it. After the rules were explained in a few words, they started to play.
After watching a few games, the children watching found it interesting and wanted to play too, but Li Chengqian couldn't move a chessboard from the corridor, so he asked them to line up in order, two people in a team, and each team played one game.
The children quickly formed teams of two and enthusiastically gave advice to each other while waiting.
Li Tai was impatient to wait, so he ordered someone to bring another chessboard. He sat there and only changed his opponent without taking a rotation himself.
Li Lizhi stamped her feet and said, "Fourth brother, you can't do this!"
Li Tai stuck out his tongue and laughed, "Just have someone bring you a chessboard."
"I don't want to!" Li Lizhi snorted, "Brother, look..."
Li Chengqian rubbed her head and said with a smile, "Whether Lizhi wants to play here or with Fourth Brother, you now have two choices. Isn't that great?"
It was Li Lizhi's turn now. Li Yuxiu was calling her, so she hurried over and sat down, forgetting about arguing with her fourth brother.
Li Chengqian was indifferent to Li Tai's behavior, and the rest of the children ran to play with him without any psychological burden. However, except for the two princes who were favored by the emperor and empress, and Li Lizhi who had no intention of playing a game by herself, the others did not dare to order him to move a new chessboard.
Even the youngest children can still feel their father's attitude, even if they don't quite understand the reason.
Li Chengqian watched Li Tai's chess game for a while. It was a simple game like Gobang, but the children soon became proficient in it. If there was only one chess piece missing, Li Tai's opponent would always let him win.
Li Chengqian's good mood was broken. There had never been any joy in the royal family. How could there be such a thing?
He originally wanted everyone to play something fun and relaxing, but it only added a burden to others.
When Li Shimin arrived at the Eastern Palace, he deliberately did not inform anyone. He asked the palace servants about the situation there today and nodded.
Cheng Qian behaves like an elder brother and crown prince. He takes good care of both his older sister and younger siblings.
As for Li Tai occupying the chessboard alone, Li Shimin thought it was no big deal. Qingque should be different from other children. He was not the crown prince, so there was no need to be too strict with him.
Thinking of this, Li Shimin walked over, patted Li Chengqian on the shoulder, and was about to praise him when he was interrupted by the sound of his children saluting.
Li Shimin called them up, took Li Chengqian with one hand and Li Tai with the other, asked the children a few questions in a gentle voice, and then let them go.
Li Chengqian asked someone to pack some snacks for each of them, and told them that they could play Gobang at will.
"Gobang, how did you come up with such a lazy way to play?" Li Shimin asked with a smile.
In order to prevent Tian Khan from grabbing his hand, Li Chengqian simply went to collect the chess pieces, saying, "Lazy people have lazy ways to play."
"You don't have to clean up..." Before Li Shimin could finish his words, Li Tai grabbed his hand and shouted, "Yeah, yeah, I won every round!"
"Qingque is so powerful!" Li Shimin laughed.
Li Lizhi and Li Yuxiu followed their eldest brother to play with the chess pieces. Li Lizhi chuckled quietly and said, "Fourth brother sometimes looks younger than Yuxiu and me."
Li Chengqian winked at her and said, "Don't speak ill of Fourth Brother in secret."
"Is this what you call bad words?" Li Lizhi pouted.
Li Chengqian asked with a smile, "Does Fourth Brother love you?"
Li Lizhi nodded: "It hurts. There are only two pieces of osmanthus cake left from last time. We all want to eat them, but Fourth Brother said he doesn't want any, so he gave them to Yuxiu and me."
"So, since Fourth Brother loves you so much, you are not allowed to make fun of him, okay?" Li Chengqian rubbed her head.
"Okay, okay." Li Lizhi smiled, "I was just joking."
Li Chengqian smiled and said, "Brother, you know that our Li Zhi is a very good girl."
No matter what the outcome of his and Li Tai's future is, it will not be involved with Li Zhi and her sisters.
Seeing that it was getting late, Li Chengqian said, "Father, please take them back. Please apologize to Mother for me. I won't go to greet her today. I'll go tomorrow morning."
"Look at these little monkeys. You must be exhausted today, aren't you?" Li Shimin said with a smile. "I still have something to say. Qingque, take your two sisters back first."
Li Tai muttered, "Ye Ye is whispering to big brother again."
The reason why Li Tai is liked by his father is obviously that his ability to read people's expressions is an important factor. He will definitely be obedient when his father shouldn't act willfully or spoiled.
So, had he said such deadly things in his past life? Li Chengqian thought about it. He and Li Tai had very little interaction afterwards, so he didn't really know the real him. But he was so abnormal at the time that he was almost crazy, and he guessed that Li Tai was not normal either - the throne was so close at hand that it could really make people lose their minds.
Li Chengqian thought to himself that this was a typical case of opening the bottle of champagne halfway through. He really thought that the throne belonged to him.
But considering the treatment given to him by Tian Khan, it was understandable that Li Tai thought that way.
Having been sworn enemies for most of their lives, Li Chengqian suddenly discovered today that he and Li Tai could actually be considered brothers in distress.
The culprit who brought misfortune to their brothers was standing in front of Li Chengqian, praising his good performance today.
"In the first month of the first year of Zhenguan, Luo Yi wanted to rebel." Li Chengqian said calmly.
Li Shimin's endless stream of praise paused, and he opened his mouth: "What did you say, Cheng Qian?"
"Luo Yi, now Li Yi, is planning a rebellion," Li Chengqian said, "because he feels he has offended you and is afraid you will retaliate."
Li Shimin frowned and said, "In the first month, which is next month, I need to make preparations in advance."
Luo Yi's rebellion did not cause any big stir, and he was quickly executed. However, the rebellion in the first month after the new emperor ascended the throne and changed the reign title obviously had a bad impact.
But this is not something Li Chengqian should worry about. After revealing the important information, he will just pat his butt and go away to have some free time.
Unexpectedly, Li Shimin suddenly asked, "Cheng Qian, what preparations do you think we should make first?"
Li Chengqian thought to himself, I only have experience in preparing for a rebellion but have no experience in resisting a rebellion. You asked the wrong person.
"Find evidence to convict him and kill him." Li Chengqian said, isn't this the standard procedure?
Li Shimin nodded and said, "That's right, Cheng Qian, you and Aye will handle this matter together."
Li Chengqian: "..."
Is a prince who is less than ten years old suitable to start governing the country? Are you kidding me?
But Tian Kehan looked very serious. Li Chengqian wiped his face and said flatly: "No."
Why join politics so early? So that when you rebel in the future, you can say that there has never been a prince for decades.
Forget it. Given his level of rebellion, he may not even get the chance to say this.
Li Shimin said, "Cheng Qian, you are the crown prince. You can't just hide in the East Palace. You have to get involved in the affairs of state."
"Did I hide?" Li Chengqian asked in confusion.
Li Shimin asked, "How many times have you spoken to your officials in the Eastern Palace? Have you ever asked them anything or given them any instructions?"
Li Chengqian is still a student, and the only officials of the Eastern Palace he can use are those who manage the palace's miscellaneous matters. He cannot use them to do serious work. Moreover, he only has two teachers, and the others have no time to get involved in other things.
Li Chengqian did not think that he did anything wrong, but in Li Shimin's view, his eldest son was too passive as the crown prince, and he must cultivate his sensitivity and sense of government affairs.
"I'll give the order," Li Chengqian said. "I'm going to have half of the garden dug up so we can plant garlic next year."
Li Shimin: “…”
The Crown Prince wants to plant garlic in the East Palace?
"What's the point of planting garlic?" Li Shimin asked in confusion.
"You'll know later. By the way, I'm planning to find some people to research glass." Li Chengqian added, "As for its specific uses, you'll know when the time comes."
Thanking Fusu and Liu Ju for their generous help, Li Chengqian said silently that there are so many good things in life in the later years.
Li Shimin: “…”
"It sounds like you are still very busy." Li Shimin hesitated to speak. When did the prince become busier than the emperor?
Li Chengqian nodded repeatedly: "Yes, yes, I'm very busy! If you give me more work, father, if I get sick from exhaustion, you won't be able to explain to mother."
Li Shimin laughed: "You dare to threaten me with your mother?"
Li Chengqian shrugged: "Just tell me if it works or not."
Li Shimin rubbed his forehead and smiled helplessly: "It works, you keep busy and don't tire yourself out."
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