Changsun Manor, Chang'an, Great Tang.
The steward rushed into the study, holding a telegram, and found Changsun Wuji reading a book.
"Master, a telegram from Australia!"
"Who sent it?"
Changsun Wuji asked without lifting his head.
"It's jointly written by Duke Fang and Duke Du."
Hearing the steward, he casually took it and glanced at it.
Those two old fellows, they've only been gone a few days, why are they sending him a telegram?
A marriage proposal?
A co-wife?
Fang Anzhi?
Damn it all!
"Crash..."
He sprang to his feet, his movement so abrupt that the Grand Tutor chair behind him was knocked over.
His hands trembled like a sieve, and his mouth quivered.
"Fang, Fang, Fang Anzhi, that beast, wants Ling'er to marry him as a co-wife?"
"And they've slept together?"
"Damn it!"
"Good! Good! Good! I've been waiting for this day for a long time!"
"Quick, quick, go and inform Duke Lu, Duke Yi, Duke Wei, Duke Zou..."
"Send telegrams to everyone! Spread this news for me!"
"You son of a bitch, I finally won one!"
"Oh right, still the Emperor, forget it, I'll go myself!"
"Hahahahaha..."
With that, he threw down the telegram and rushed out of the study like a madman, laughing maniacally as he went.
The most correct thing the Changsun family had done was to have Wugou marry Li Er and become Empress!
Now, that Fang Anzhi is far stronger than Li Er was back then!
More than a thousand times, even ten thousand times!
With his strength, who in the Great Tang could snatch the glory from the Fang family?
The steward was left standing foolishly in the study. He accidentally saw the content of the telegram and was stunned. He quickly chased after him.
"Mas, Master, this, this is too much bullying!"
"How can Madam Ling'er be a co-wife? She is a dignified Princess!"
Changsun Wuji stopped, staring at him unhappily.
"What about being a Princess?"
"Don't forget, Chang Le is also a co-wife!"
"Ling'er marrying over is not a loss!"
Frightened by his gaze, the steward quickly added,
"But, but, but how has there ever been a case of marrying two co-wives? This is against the law!"
"Nonsense! Whoever dares to bring this up, I'll tear down their house!"
"You scoundrel, quickly spread this news for me!"
"I want this Chang'an, I want this world, I want everyone to know that the Changsun family has formed an alliance with the Fang family!"
"Hmph!"
With that, Changsun Wuji was about to leave, but after taking two steps, he turned back and took the telegram with him.
It was already late autumn, but the imperial palace's rear garden was still lush and green.
The Tang Dynasty was in the hottest period of average temperature in Chinese history, the opposite of the Little Ice Age of the Ming Dynasty.
Even among the flowers, butterflies could be seen fluttering their wings, playing among the blossoms.
Gaoyang, barefoot, was dragging Haha by its tail, being dragged across the grass, giggling.
Li Shimin, Empress Changsun, and Consorts Yin and Yang were gathered around a stone table, sipping tea and watching the child, enjoying a moment of family bliss.
"Reporting to His Majesty, the Duke of Zhao requests an audience!"
Deng Dengjie ran in from outside, bowed, and said.
"Hmm?"
"Let him in!"
Li Shimin frowned and waved his hand.
The situation was so chaotic, why was he running to the palace instead of staying home to avoid suspicion?
Regarding the political reforms, there were all sorts of opinions from top to bottom, and several ministers had already been attacked for supporting the reforms.
Cheng Yaojin was ambushed after work, his head covered with a sack from behind.
Yuchi Jingde was ambushed in a small alley.
Chai Shao's family's well was poisoned.
An old man, Yu Shinan, had a torch thrown into his sedan chair, burning off his beard...
The attackers were all assassins. After being captured, they committed suicide by poisoning themselves immediately, so no one knew who was behind it!
Could his brother-in-law's visit now mean something important?
"Your Majesty, your concubine shall take her leave!"
Consorts Yin and Yang, who were by his side, wisely stood up and retreated. Haha's eyes darted around, as if sensing something.
Turning around, it picked up Gaoyang's diaper from her waist and followed them out.
Not long after they left, Deng Dengjie led Changsun Wuji in. After bowing, he turned and left.
Changsun Wuji bowed and cupped his fists, "Your servant greets Your Majesty and Your Empress!"
"Come, come, sit and talk. Aren't you afraid of being ambushed yourself by coming here now?"
Li Shimin smiled, pointed to the stone bench beside him, and poured him a cup of tea.
"Your servant is here for my daughter's marriage!"
Changsun Wuji did not sit down. He took out the telegram and respectfully presented it to Li Shimin.
"What? That girl Ling'er has someone she fancies?"
Empress Changsun's face lit up upon hearing this and she asked.
Li Shimin, however, had already seen the contents of the telegram.
"Changsun old bastard! Your daughter was slept with by Fang the second. That kid asked us two to propose marriage, so quickly prepare your daughter's dowry and let her marry into the Fang family as a co-wife – Fang, Du."
The content on it left him speechless. When Fang and Du, the two prime ministers, spoke in court, their words were always circuitous and incredibly subtle!
How could they have become so...
Vulgar after going to Australia?
"I..."
"I am utterly speechless!"
"Guanyin Bi, you take a look."
He then pushed the telegram to Empress Changsun.
Empress Changsun, bewildered, took it and glanced at it, then froze on the spot.
"This, this, this..."
After "this" for a long time, she couldn't finish her sentence!
Fortunately, the Tang Dynasty was an open era, and trial marriages were not uncommon. If this were the Song or Ming dynasties, the Changsun family would have had no face to show.
What troubled her was that this matter had come too suddenly!
And it was for a co-wife, which violated ancestral precedents!
Li Shimin rubbed his face, somewhat unable to fathom Changsun Wuji's intentions.
"Fuji, speak, what are your thoughts? Do you agree or not?"
"Your servant naturally agrees. However, I only have this one daughter. I have come here this time specifically to seek a reward for her."
Changsun Wuji said without hesitation.
The main wife of the Fang family was from the old Chai dog's family and had been granted the title of Princess.
Another who was waiting to enter as a co-wife was a current Princess.
In comparison, his own daughter was only a County Princess, and her status was a bit too humble...
Empress Changsun, standing by, began to intercede for her niece.
"Er Lang, that girl Ling'er has been studying medicine with Old Sun at the Shenyang Hospital for so long, and she has saved countless lives."
"With such achievements made as a woman, a reward is indeed deserved."
Li Shimin nodded slightly, pondered for a moment, and made a decision.
"Notify the court, tomorrow there will be a grand audience!"
"The matter of reform has been stalled for so many days, and it's time for me to offer a few heads as a sacrifice!"
"Using this matter as an excuse, I want to see who will jump out!"