Chapter 250 Visit
In addition to announcing the birth of a newborn child to the world, Li Er also hosted a banquet in the palace to entertain officials above the fifth rank in the East Palace.
The civil and military ministers who received the notice came to the East Palace one after another to attend the royal banquet.
The ministers who arrived early gathered with their colleagues who had a good relationship to chat about gossip and private matters, and their laughter could be heard from time to time.
"Your Majesty has arrived! His Royal Highness the Crown Prince has arrived!" At this time, the eunuchs' shouts came from outside the palace.
Everyone then returned to their seats and stood up to welcome the emperor's holy carriage.
"Your Majesty! I have seen the Crown Prince!" The ministers saluted.
Li Er walked to the main seat and sat down, and the Crown Prince sat next to Li Er.
"No need to be polite, my dear ministers!" Li Er said.
"Thank you, Your Majesty!" The ministers thanked.
"Is there anyone else who hasn't come?" Li Er originally wanted to say something auspicious, but he found that someone was absent, and judging from the arrangement of the seats, he was also a high-ranking and powerful person.
Li Er looked around and found that Zhangsun Wuji's uncle Gao Shilian did not attend today's banquet. He wondered why he didn't come.
"Reporting to Your Majesty! The Prince's Tutor and Duke of Shen Gao Shilian is ill at home and cannot come to the banquet." A minister stood up and said.
Li Er felt a little depressed when he heard this. Gao Shilian was not just a minister to Li Er, but also a relative by marriage.
Gao Shilian was not only the maternal uncle of Empress Zhangsun Wen, but also the in-law of Li Er's children. The relationship between relatives in the Sui and Tang dynasties was always complicated. Gao Shilian
was also a great contributor to the Xuanwu Gate Incident. The relationship between the monarch and the minister was extraordinary.
"Didn't Wenmin say that Lord Gao is in good health and can walk around? I wanted to invite Lord Gao to the banquet to share in the good fortune and prolong his life, but how come he is bedridden again? What happened?" Li Er asked, with some anger in his tone!
Wenmin is Gao Shilian's eldest son Gao Luxing. His courtesy name is Wenmin. He is the cousin of Changsun Wuji and Changsun Empress, and Li Er's son-in-law.
In fact, Gao Shilian was ill long before this! It was only some time ago that Gao Luxing reported that Gao Shilian's condition had improved, and Li Er was relieved.
Who knew that now he was suddenly told that his condition had worsened to the point where he was bedridden and unable to move.
Li Er felt that Gao Luxing had deceived him, which made Li Er very angry.
"Your Majesty! This is the news I learned when I passed by the Duke of Song's mansion. Today, the prince was blessed with a son. Wenmin was afraid of disturbing your majesty's interest, so he temporarily suppressed the matter and did not report it to the palace!" said the minister.
"Okay! Let the banquet begin!" Li Er waved his hand. The banquet had already begun. Although he was in a hurry to see Gao Shilian, it was not good to leave like this.
Li Er looked a little depressed. He did not enjoy the banquet.
After the banquet ended hastily, Li Er sent Wang Yuan to Gao Shilian's mansion to inquire about Gao Shilian's situation. Li Er did not know that Gao Shilian might not have much time left!
Wang Yuan was ordered to visit Gao Shilian at Gao's mansion, but he never thought that he would meet the prince. As soon
as the banquet ended, Li Chengqian and Wang Yuan came to Gao Shilian's mansion one after another.
"Young Master! His Royal Highness the Crown Prince has arrived!" The servant reported to Gao Luxing.
"What? Big Brother is here?" Princess Dongyang said. Wang Yuan on the side was also very surprised!
"What are you still standing there for! Hurry up and get ready to receive the carriage!" Gao Luxing said.
Gao Shilian's sons were also surprised why the Crown Prince would come to visit their old father in person. No matter what, it was a great honor for them that the future emperor could come to Gao's house in person.
Everyone hurried to the gate to receive the carriage.
"Welcome to His Royal Highness the Crown Prince!" Gao Luxing and others saw Li Chengqian getting off the carriage and hurriedly saluted.
"No need to be polite!" Li Chengqian stretched out his hand to support him.
"Thank you, Your Highness!" Everyone stood up and said.
"Eunuch Wang is here too!" Li Chengqian looked at Wang Yuandao. He knew that Li Er was worried about Gao Shilian and thought that Li Er would go to Gao's house in person.
He, Li Chengqian, came to Gao's house to express his condolences, more for show, to let the world know his benevolence.
Even if he does not become an emperor who expands the territory in the future, he must become a benevolent emperor who is successful in defending the territory and is benevolent.
"This old servant has seen you, my lord! Everyone is worried about Duke Shen, so they specially ordered this old servant to bring the imperial physician to visit him and let the imperial physician diagnose and treat Duke Shen." Wang Yuan said. "
Wenmin, how is the Taifu now? I heard that the Taifu is seriously ill, and I am very worried! I came here specially to visit him so that I can feel at ease." Li Chengqian turned around and asked Gao Lufa, walking inside as he spoke.
Looking at Gao Luxing in front of him, Li Chengqian had an indescribable feeling in his heart. In terms of seniority, he should be his uncle, but he happened to be his brother-in-law.
"Thank you for your concern, my father is fine!" Gao Luxing said.
Gao Shilian's condition has been controlled now.
Li Chengqian knew in his heart that this was only temporary. Gao Shilian was already at the end of his rope and could die at any time.
But Li Chengqian couldn't say it out loud, because people who didn't know would think he had ulterior motives.
Li Chengqian pretended to be relieved and said, "In this case, I'm relieved!"
As they were talking, everyone came to Gao Shilian's bedroom to visit Gao Shilian.
"Grandmaster!" Looking at Gao Shilian lying in bed in front of him, Li Chengqian stepped forward and saluted.
"This old minister has seen the prince! This old minister is ill! I cannot stand up to pay respects to His Highness! I hope Your Highness will forgive me!" Gao Shilian said.
"The health of the Grand Tutor is very important. You don't have to care so much about these empty formalities!" Li Chengqian said, "Does the Grand Tutor feel better?"
"This old minister feels much better!" Gao Shilian said. He knew that he was afraid that he would not have much time left.
After Li Chengqian and Gao Shilian talked for a few words, he walked out of the bedroom. He did not disturb Gao Shilian too much. After all, Gao Shilian needed to rest.
Wang Yuan had already returned to the palace to report the situation to Li Er when Li Chengqian and Gao Shilian were talking. Wang Yuan
told Li Er the diagnosis of the imperial physician, and even told Li Er everything about meeting the prince at Gao Shilian's house.
"Wenmin! Please take good care of the Grand Tutor. If you need anything, just tell me. I and my father will satisfy you."
"The Grand Tutor is my teacher. He has worked hard to assist me in handling court affairs. Now he is seriously ill! I feel sad." Li Chengqian said.
"Your Highness, please take care of yourself and don't hurt your body!" Gao Luxing said.
"Okay! Now the Grand Tutor needs your care, so you don't have to accompany me. I am relieved to see that the Grand Tutor is getting better!" "
I will not disturb you to take care of the Grand Tutor. I will return to the palace now. I hope you can send the Grand Tutor's condition to the East Palace at any time so that I can know it at any time." Li Chengqian said.
"I understand! I will definitely let someone report my father's condition to Your Highness every day!" Gao Luxing said.
Li Chengqian patted Gao Luxing on the shoulder, turned around and got on the carriage, and returned to the East Palace under the escort of the guards.