There was the sound of footsteps in the corridor, and a palace maid brought a golden invitation: "Your Majesty, the chief secretary said that General Zhao and his men have reserved the Miaoyin Pavilion and are waiting for you!"

Li Zhongqian came to his senses and accepted the invitation.

Yao Ying grinned.

Li Zhongqian was a man who loved to enjoy life in the moment. He would go to the imperial palace and hire smiles at great expense. In addition, he had not yet married a wife, so when he was not fighting outside, he would often feast with his subordinates all night long.

All the men in the Li family are energetic.

After the army's triumphant return, Li Zhongqian had to attend many social events.

Yao Ying warned her brother: "Brother, don't drink on an empty stomach. Eat some soup cakes before drinking. Also, drink less alcohol. Drinking too much is harmful to your health."

He would drink thousands of cups of wine and get drunk every time.

Li Zhongqian followed her instructions, bent his fingers, and scratched the tip of her nose with a smile.

"Remember that, housekeeper."

Yaoying sent him out.

Li Zhongqian pushed her into the inner hall and said, "Don't worry about me. You've been tired all day. Go to bed early. Tomorrow I'll bring you your favorite mutton pancakes from Chongrenfang."

Yao Ying rolled her eyes and took the opportunity to lie on his shoulder and make a request, saying coquettishly: "I also want the thousand-layer pastry made by Grandma Zhang from the fruit shop opposite his house."

Li Zhongqian said without thinking: "Okay."

Yao Ying's voice became even softer and sweeter: "Brother, please buy me another bottle of Green Ant Wine. I love turbid wine."

Li Zhongqian raised his eyebrows.

Yao Ying shook his arm and stretched out her voice: "Brother, please!"

Li Zhongqian lowered his head and pinched her nose: "Don't even think about it!"

Yao Ying curled her lips.

Li Zhongqian was very obedient to her and gave her whatever she wanted, but he was very strict about this matter. Even the guards were warned by him to keep an eye on her and not allow her to drink.

The last time we had a drink was last year.

Let's drink while we can. Who knows how long they can live? What's wrong with drinking some wine to their heart's content?

He drank wine as if it were water, but he didn't allow her to drink any.

Yao Ying angrily let go of Li Zhongqian's sleeve and turned to walk inside.

Just after she took two steps, she heard a chuckle in her ear, and Li Zhongqian's strong arms hooked over and gently held her waist.

He was used to using double hammers and was as strong as an ox. Yao Ying was dragged around and hit head-on on the thin armor on his chest.

Li Zhongqian helped Yaoying steady and touched the little head on his chest.

"You've grown taller."

It used to only reach the height of the tiger head carved on his breastplate, but now it is almost up to his shoulders.

Yaoying's anger immediately turned into joy.

The Li family of Wei County is a family of military generals. The sons are tall and strong, and the daughters are tall and plump.

Her elder brother Li Zhongqian was eight feet tall, and Li Xuanzhen was also in good shape. She had hoped to grow taller since she was a child, and every time Li Zhongqian came back from the war, she would pull him to measure her height.

Yao Ying stretched out her hand and compared the place from the top of her head to Li Zhongqian's breastplate. She smiled with satisfaction and stood on tiptoe to continue to compare upwards: "I can still grow a little longer."

Li Zhongqian had a joking look on his face. He stretched out two fingers and waved them in front of her eyes, then pressed her shoulders down and told her to stand still.

"If you want to grow taller, listen to the doctor, take medicine on time, and don't drink alcohol."

Yao Ying waved her hands proudly: "If you don't want to touch it, then don't touch it."

She knew that Li Zhongqian was doing this for her own good.

Li Zhongqian watched her go in with a smile, then turned and left the palace.

It was curfew time, and lights were on in every house. The night was dim, like the silver moonlight shining on the silent long street. Above the magnificent palace walls with different heights, there was an endless night sky.

The stars are shining, as if inlaid with thousands of silver scales.

The Chief Secretary had been waiting outside the palace gate for a long time. Hearing the rapid sound of horses' hooves and neighing amid the chilly night watch, he rode his horse forward.

Li Zhongqian, wearing a white robe on his shoulders, rode out on horseback.

The chief secretary followed him and reported several important matters, saying, "Your Majesty, Xu Biao just asked to see you, but I sent him away."

In the darkness, Li Zhongqian's sharp features looked like they were cut by a knife: "What did he do to me?"

Yaoying had already told him what happened during the day.

The chief secretary said, "He came to apologize for his crime."

Li Zhongqian sneered: "What crime?"

The chief secretary replied: "Xu Biao said that he broke the law knowingly and robbed a good girl. This is the first reason. Second, he frightened the princess."

The Seventh Princess cannot stand the sight of blood.

Li Zhongqian twitched his lips slightly: "He broke two fingers, did he have any complaints?"

The chief historian smiled and replied, "No, after Xu Biao sobered up, he not only had no complaints, but also laughed several times, saying that the Seventh Princess was indeed your sister, and he was convinced. Xu Biao had issued a military warrant, and if the princess had not shown mercy, he would have cut off her head instead of her fingers. Although he was a rough man, he still knew his limits."

Li Zhongqian hummed calmly and said, "He knows physiognomy."

The chief historian understood that Xu Biao's life was saved.

If Xu Biao had complained to the princess after breaking two fingers, Li Zhongqian would never have left this disaster behind.

Several personal soldiers holding lanterns were walking far behind, and the sounds of singing, dancing and laughter could be heard faintly from deep within the dark walls.

The chief secretary continued, "Your Majesty, the women who were abducted have been sent back home. The princess has also ordered a thorough investigation of the palace and the army to see if there are any officers who have violated the ban and harassed the people..."

He paused, hesitating to speak.

Li Zhongqian said impatiently, "Just say it if you have something to say."

The chief historian sighed and said earnestly, "Your Majesty, the people under your command, such as Xu Biao, Lu Heng, and Sun Ziyi, are all unruly people who can't read a word. They are unruly, rude, and often openly violate the ban, which is detrimental to your reputation. Why don't you take this opportunity to rectify the military discipline? Use the incident of Xu Biao to shock them and make them restrain themselves a little?"

Changshi has wanted to say these words for a long time.

…

The Xie family has been in charge of Jingnan for generations, with three dukes in four generations, and a family of scholars and scholars. Talents abound in the family, and the sons and daughters are all talented people. Some become prime ministers, and some become generals, and they are both good at civil and military affairs.

In the previous dynasty, the country was torn apart by warlords, many heroes emerged, Chang'an changed hands several times, and the Guanzhong Plain was devastated.

In order to drive the fierce and brutal foreign races out of the Central Plains, several major forces in the Central Plains formed a short-lived alliance.

Jingnan was safe at the time, but the Xie family's grandfather, considering the overall situation, resolutely led the clan members to the north to fight the enemy.

At that time, all three generations of the clan, old, strong and young, went to the battlefield without hesitation, even the young boys were no exception.

The descendants of the Xie family have been like this for generations.

They valued both civil and military skills. They learned poetry and calligraphy while practicing martial arts since childhood. At the age of eleven or twelve, they followed their fathers and brothers to fight on the battlefield, defending their country and protecting their families.

The fame of the Xie family was not earned by playing political games, but by the generations of Xie family members who fought in the battlefields and died on the battlefield!

In times of peace, the Xie family retreated to Jingnan to protect the people.

If there is a time of chaos, the sons of the Xie family will rush to the battlefield without hesitation.

We will not give up an inch of our beautiful land!

When Old Lady Xie left, she took away all the outstanding children and elite troops of the Xie family, leaving only the family generals to guard Jingnan.

One hundred thousand people.

From an old man, a general, a young master, to the eleven-year-old Xie Shibalang, from a veteran who has experienced many hardships, to a young soldier who has just joined the army.

Gone and never returned.

One hundred thousand heroic souls are buried in a foreign land.

That tragic decisive battle saved Chang'an and allowed the Zhu family to occupy several of the most strategic states in Guanzhong.

Afterwards, Zhu proclaimed himself emperor and Guanzhong was peaceful, but other local forces had already declared themselves kings and the situation became turbulent.

When the last emperor of the Zhu family ascended the throne, the world was in chaos.

In the turbulent times, the declining Xie family lost the support of the army, and the widows in the family were helpless and their power was reduced to the size of a county.

By the time of Xie Wuliang's generation, only he and his sister Xie Manyan were left from the direct line of descent, living side by side.

Xie Wuliang wanted to emulate his ancestors and gallop to the battlefield to recover the lost territory. However, he had been weak and sickly since childhood and could not draw a bow or ride a horse.

Thank you. It's another girl.

Xie Wuliang found a new way and vigorously developed the Xie family's industry. Relying on the well-developed water system and major forces in Jingnan to conduct trade, he quickly helped the Xie family accumulate wealth that was rich enough to rival a country, and also stockpiled a large amount of food in the chaotic world.

At this time, General Li of Wei County, who had conquered twenty-one cities in thirty battles, came into Xie Wuliang's sight.

The Xie family had money, reputation, and food, but they lacked generals and soldiers.

The Li family had generals and soldiers, but they lacked food, money, and reputation.

The Li and Xie families married, and Li Zhongqian was born.

Xie Wuliang knew that his sister Xie Manyan was simple and innocent, so he took his nephew Li Zhongqian to live with him and raised him personally.

As a child, Li Zhongqian was smart, clever, polite, and had extraordinary demeanor at a young age. He could speak eloquently and lift a 100-jin golden hammer.

Who among the Li clan does not praise Li Zhongqian?

It was precisely because Li Zhongqian was extremely talented and was loved by the elders of the Li family that there was a dispute over the position of crown prince.

At that time, even Li De could not make a choice between Li Xuanzhen and Li Zhongqian, and could only delay the enthronement of the crown prince.

Later, Tang died, and Li Dechu appointed Li Xuanzhen as the crown prince.

Xie Wuliang was far-sighted and immediately took away Li Zhongqian's pair of golden hammers. He forbade him to practice martial arts anymore and asked him to concentrate on studying poetry and become a wise official who was loyal to the king and cared for the people.

"Tiger slave, please remember what your uncle said. You are born with a fierce and violent nature. If you concentrate on studying poetry, you may live to old age in peace. But if you turn to martial arts, I'm afraid you won't live past the age of thirty."

"Tiger slave, remember this: you are not allowed to practice martial arts!"

Li Zhongqian made a solemn vow.

Three years later, the Xie family was wiped out.

Li Zhongqian followed Xie Wuliang's last wish and continued to study hard.

When Li Yaoying was five years old, he was forced to break the oath he made in front of his uncle and give up literature and take up military action.

Even though he knew the price would be not living past the age of thirty.

…

The Chief Secretary watched Li Zhongqian grow up.

He watched Li Deshu appoint Li Xuanzhen as the crown prince. The six-year-old second son just smiled and buried his head in studying poetry.

After seeing the prosperity of the Xie family, the nine-year-old second son wiped away his tears, returned to the Li family, and personally took care of his younger sister Li Yaoying who could not walk.

Then he watched the eleven-year-old Second Young Master's eyes turn bloodshot as he gritted his teeth to smash open the heavy locks, and with his bloodied hands he grabbed the pair of golden hammers that were destined to bring him misfortune.

People all say that Li Zhongqian killed many people and lived a dissolute life.

He was despised by the noble families, hated by the common people, scorned by his peers, and ridiculed by the prince's subordinates.

The soldiers who joined him were all from all walks of life, people whom the prince looked down upon.

Even a strategist of humble origin like Du Sinan dared to publicly declare: Li Jia Erlang is a fool, I don't want to associate with him.

The chief secretary felt so angry that his heart ached.

How could they understand that the Second Prince had so many books in his childhood and was personally taught by the unparalleled talent Xie Wuliang, so how could he be a rude person who knew nothing?

Why is the second prince unwilling to reorganize military affairs?

Why indulge in alcohol and sex?

Why don't you care about your reputation at all?

The night breeze is cool and the sky is full of stars.

The tall and handsome horse moved slowly in the faint moonlight. Li Zhongqian lowered his eyes, patted the horse nonchalantly, and said nothing.

The chief historian said sadly: "Your Majesty, although the Xie family has lost its bloodline, its character still exists. You are a disciple of the Xie family, so you must not bring disgrace to the Xie family's reputation!"

Li Zhongqian turned his head suddenly.

His eyes are as sharp as a knife.

"Don't thank your family in front of me!"

The chief historian shuddered with fear.

"What does Huber think I should do?"

Li Zhongqian's narrow eyes were full of violence, but his voice was calm.

"Should I be like the Crown Prince, reorganizing the military, recruiting talented people, visiting famous scholars, treating the wise with courtesy, treating the soldiers well, winning the hearts of the people, and becoming a wise king praised by the world?"

The Chief Secretary agreed in his heart but did not dare to speak out.

Li Zhongqian smiled and said, "Uncle Hu, don't forget that I almost became the crown prince."

Changshi was stunned.

After a moment, Changshi came to his senses and felt horrified.

Li Zhongqian said calmly: "If I really did that, I would only die sooner and faster."

He almost became the crown prince, and he was the grandson of the Xie family. Just based on this fact, Li Xuanzhen would not let go of this threat.

What's more, Tang's death was also involved between them.

And there is their father, the emperor who was decisive, unpredictable, and rational to the point of being ruthless.

If the identities were reversed, he would do the same.

From the moment the Xie family was destroyed, Li Zhongqian knew that he would not live long.

Why fear death?

He is not afraid of death.

I’m just afraid that my death won’t be heroic enough.

I don't know when the crescent moon disappeared into the clouds, and the dim starlight shone down lightly.

Li Zhongqian raised his face, and the twinkling starlight fell into his eyes.

He thought of the jade box he gave to Yaoying, and the corners of his mouth slowly curled up, and he couldn't help but want to smile.

I have no place to go when I am alive, and I have no fear of death.

But he died, what should Xiaoqi do?

Li Zhongqian was scared.

Therefore, he had to find someone who could protect Xiao Qi as soon as possible before that day came.

Li Zhongqian calmed down and rode his horse faster.

He did not leave the palace to seek pleasure, because Prime Minister Zheng was waiting for him in Miaoyin Pavilion.

Only when Xiaoqi's marriage is arranged as soon as possible can he go to the battlefield with peace of mind.

The chief secretary followed closely behind Li Zhongqian, tears streaming down his face.

He has figured out the trick.

The second prince knew that he was going to die, so he was careless and gave up on himself.

The chief historian is unwilling to accept this!

The Xie family has been loyal and brave for generations. Their descendants have fought in the battlefields and sacrificed their lives for the country. The last direct descendant of the Xie family, Xie Wuliang, died defending the city. Before his death, he asked his subordinates to cut off his head and hand it over to the enemy, just to protect the people.

A century of character, worthy of the king, worthy of the people under his rule.

Even more worthy of the Li family!

But in the end it ended up like that.

If the Xie family were still around, how could the Saint dare to treat the noble concubine and the second prince like this?

The author has something to say: I will take a day off tomorrow and will not update. I will update at 9 am the day after tomorrow, Thursday~