Li Jing looked at Li Jue, who had been awakened by him, and laughed triumphantly.
"Your Majesty, the eldest grandson has awakened!"
Looking at his flustered grandson, Li Shimin felt no resentment, only deep heartache.
This child has borne a responsibility that he shouldn't have had to bear, and I'm still doubting his filial piety. I deserve to die!
"Grandson, you're lying to me, Li Weng. There's no emergency report from the border anywhere!"
Upon hearing this, Li Jue immediately glared angrily at Li Jing, who was grinning maliciously.
"Master Li, why are you acting like a child, making such a silly joke!"
When Li Jing heard Li Jue call him a "child," his face was filled with surprise and amusement.
"Your Majesty, did you hear that? The eldest grandson called me a child, hahaha!"
Li Shimin rolled his eyes at Li Jing.
"Did my eldest grandson do something wrong?"
"There's a saying among the people: the old are like children, and the young are like children. I think you're just a child, hahaha!"
Li Shimin's words sealed Li Jing's fate, leaving him no chance to object and forcing him to accept the nickname "old child."
However, just as Li Shimin wanted to catch up with his grandson, he saw Li Jue yawning and slamming the imperial seal onto the table.
"Grandpa, now that you're back, I'm going back to sleep, ha~ yawn..."
Seeing this, Li Shimin complained with a pained expression.
"Be gentle!"
"This is my imperial seal! It will break if you drop it like this!"
Li Jue didn't care. He threw down the imperial seal and ran away yawning, pretending not to hear Li Shimin calling him.
"stop!"
"You brat, you don't even listen to me anymore, do you?"
Li Shimin watched Li Jue walk further and further away, a helpless bitter smile on his face.
"This unfilial grandson is becoming more and more lawless!"
When the people around heard Li Shimin complaining like this, they all stepped forward to explain on Li Jue's behalf.
"Your Majesty, this is really not the eldest grandson's fault. During the time you were away, the eldest grandson didn't get a full night's sleep!"
"Yes, yes, yes!"
"The eldest grandson of the legitimate wife stays in the Ganlu Palace all day long, fearing that something big might happen in the court and among the people!"
"Now that he sees you're back, he's relaxed and has no desire to stay here anymore."
When Li Shimin heard so many people pleading for Li Jue, and even his own uncle Gao Shilian said a few good words about Li Jue, he felt as sweet as if he had eaten honey.
"Is my eldest grandson up to no good?"
Upon hearing this, Yuchi Jingde immediately thumped his chest loudly.
"No!"
"This old minister dares to swear on his life that his eldest grandson has not made a single mistake during this period, let alone caused any trouble!"
Li Shimin completely ignored Yuchi Jingde's words and turned his gaze directly to Fang Xuanling.
"Minister Fang, tell me, what do you think of my eldest grandson?"
Upon hearing this, Fang Xuanling stepped forward and said.
"Your Majesty, the eldest grandson is capable and decisive, much like you!"
Upon hearing this, Li Shimin immediately burst into laughter.
"You flatter me, Mr. Fang!"
"When have I ever been like him, so frightened by trivial matters of the court that I can't sleep?"
"This grandson is far inferior to me, hahaha!"
Although Li Shimin verbally denied it, the smile on his face betrayed his true thoughts. Seeing Li Er's arrogant smile, those around him knew exactly what the emperor was thinking, and so they took turns praising Li Jue.
Of course, firstly, Li Juede had something to boast about.
Otherwise, these veteran officials would never have risked their lifelong reputation to praise a mere, callous grandson of the emperor.
"Your Majesty, Chancellor Fang is being too conservative. In my opinion, the eldest grandson of the legitimate wife has the bearing of a sage emperor!"
Gao Shilian frowned slightly upon hearing this. In truth, he quite admired Li Jue's performance recently. However, he felt a great deal of disgust towards someone like Yuchi Jingde, who immediately addressed him as "Holy Emperor."
After all, Li Zhi had not made any mistakes, and it was impossible to depose Li Zhi from his position as crown prince on the grounds that Li Jue was wise.
"Your Majesty, Yuchi Jingde is mistaken!"
"The eldest grandson's behavior is indeed commendable, but he is still far inferior to the ancient sage emperors!"
Li Shimin snorted coldly upon hearing this, thinking to himself, "Don't I know that Yuchi Jingde is flattering me?"
But everyone else is flattering him, so why should you stand out and pretend to be clear-headed?
"Prime Minister Gao, how has the Crown Prince been behaving lately?"
Gao Shilian was stunned upon hearing this, and stammered for a long time without being able to utter a single word.
Because His Highness the Crown Prince showed no signs of illness, he kept the East Palace closed all day, forbidding anyone from entering or leaving. Even rice, flour, and cooking oil had to be brought in by ropes, for fear that the epidemic outside the palace would spread to the East Palace.
But if these things were revealed, wouldn't it make Li Zhi appear utterly useless?
However, just because Gao Shilian was too embarrassed to say it doesn't mean that others were too embarrassed.
Fang Xuanling was the one who undermined Li Zhi, and immediately recounted all of Li Zhi's various behaviors.
"Your Majesty, His Highness the Crown Prince is extremely cautious in his actions and has never ventured into dangerous places. He truly embodies the principle of a wise man who avoids dangerous situations!"
Upon hearing this, Gao Shilian glared fiercely at Fang Xuanling. If Li Shimin hadn't been there, he would have kicked the gossipy man.
"Your Majesty, His Highness the Crown Prince's actions are also an act of filial piety!"
"filial piety?"
"right!"
"For a child, not causing their parents worry is true filial piety!"
"His Highness the Crown Prince was able to protect himself during the city-wide epidemic, so as not to worry the people or His Majesty. He is truly a model heir!"
Li Shimin sneered when he heard this.
"If the young servant is considered a model heir apparent, then what about my eldest grandson?"
"The eldest grandson first assisted Master Sun in treating the epidemic in Xianyang, and then took charge of the state in Chang'an to manage the epidemic there."
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