Chapter 22 I really have a good son!
The atmosphere at today's court meeting was somewhat tense.

When Li Chengqian walked into the hall, he felt cold all over.

I always feel that... these ministers have some bad intentions?

He was not wrong in his guess. The imperial censors were sharpening their knives, ready to attack him, the crown prince.

The whip was blasted three times, the worship was over, and after the Ministry of Civil Affairs and the Ministry of Personnel had finished their reports respectively, the hall fell into silence for a moment.

Before Wang De shouted that he had something to report, the censors knew that the time had come. At Li Tai's hint, a young censor stood up and started to challenge Li Chengqian.

"I have a report. The other day, Your Majesty agreed that the Crown Prince could spend the national treasury at will. However, the Crown Prince was extravagant and spent a huge amount of money on the renovation of the East Palace. The national treasury has limited money and the Crown Prince's desires are insatiable. How can such extravagance last? I hope Your Majesty will understand!"

"Prince, what do you have to say?"

Li Shimin looked at Li Chengqian. Even though he knew that Li Chengqian had built it for Li Xiang and his two children, since he had made a report to the emperor, he had to put on an act.

"The East Palace has been in disrepair for a long time, and the palace is decaying. I cannot bear to see my son suffer, so I have used some of the money and food. I hope the saint will understand."

Li Chengqian used the same words that Li Xiang used to deal with Zhang Xuansu.

If you don't think too deeply about it, it actually makes sense.

However, the censor was here for him, so how could he not investigate further? The censor immediately asked, "Can the place that the prince repaired include the Lizheng Hall?"

"Of course." Li Chengqian could only tell the truth.

"If it includes the Lizheng Palace, why does the prince say with such certainty that he is renovating the Eastern Palace for his son?" the censor asked again.

Although Lizheng Hall and Lizheng Hall have the same pronunciation, they are not the same place. Lizheng Hall is located in the East Palace and is where the crown prince lives.

"Uh……"

Li Chengqian was stumped by the question.

"The money and grain spent on repairing the Eastern Palace should have been recorded in an account book. Why didn't the prince hand it over to the Ministry of Revenue?" the censor asked again.

"It's not finished yet." Li Chengqian replied.

"Is it not finished, or the accounts have not been settled?" another censor asked.

"It's not finished yet!" Li Chengqian was already a little angry, "Why do you keep harping on this?"

"So the prince thinks that the Eastern Palace should not be restricted by the court?" The third censor suddenly launched a critical attack.

Li Chengqian took a deep breath and suppressed his anger.

Seeing Li Chengqian being caught in a dilemma and in an awkward position, Li Tai couldn't help but secretly mock him.

Haha, what a dish.

At the same time, he was also very annoyed. Why could Li Chengqian still be the crown prince when he was in such a state? Was it because he was the eldest son?

"Okay, the East Palace's accounts are still being settled. Once they are finished, we will know the result!"

Li Shimin, who was sitting at the top, spoke up to Li Chengqian to help him out.

After all, he was his crown prince and one of his most beloved sons. Li Shimin couldn't bear to see him make a fool of himself.

Li Chengqian, who temporarily escaped impeachment, breathed a sigh of relief, and an idea suddenly popped into his mind.

After returning, I must quickly go to Xiang'er to ask him how to deal with today...

Eh?
Thinking of this, he couldn't help but feel a little dazed.

According to his usual temper, he should be thinking about how to deal with these imperial censors...

Li Chengqian couldn't help but feel somewhat dependent on Li Xiang again, but he didn't realize it.

Ha, I really have a good son!

But Li Xiang, whom he is counting on now, also has his own difficulties.

Facing Li Mingda who was still wiping tears, Li Xiang scratched his hair, not knowing where to start to comfort him.

In my previous life, I was a Sigma man all my life and never coaxed a girl.

In this life? He never thought about it. With my status, shouldn't women be the ones to coax me?

You have to coax women before becoming the emperor's grandson, and you still have to coax women after becoming the emperor's grandson. Then, isn't it a waste to be the emperor's grandson?
But - Princess Jinyang is different, Li Xiang comforted himself in his heart, this is a shortcut to improve Li Shimin's favor!

He had just mustered up the courage to tell Li Mingda a fairy tale to distract her, but Li Mingda spoke first. "Don't worry, Xiang'er. Auntie won't let you get punished by Aye."

She wiped the tears from her face and gave a forced smile.

Li Xiang sighed endlessly. Even though he was still sad, the first thing this aunt thought of was to prevent him from getting implicated...

"Brother, you can't stay in the palace forever. You have to marry, have children and have your own family. If you are separated for a long time, there will be a gap and the friendship of childhood will no longer exist..."

Li Mingda smiled faintly, but his bright eyes were filled with sadness.

"Today... I am crying more because of the friendship between me and my brother that is drifting away..."

At this point, Li Mingda's tears began to fall again.

"Don't cry, auntie. At least I am here with you now."

Li Xiang sat next to Li Mingda and comforted him softly.

Li Mingda shook his head: "Xiang'er will eventually leave this palace, marry and have children. Rather than suffer in the future, why not today..."

"Will not!"

Li Xiang suddenly spoke loudly. He stood up and interrupted Princess Jinyang's self-pity.

For my aunt's favorability and my throne! I'll fight!

"I promise! I will never alienate my aunt for any reason in the future!"

"Then will you always stay with me?"

Li Mingda raised his little face with broken hope.

"can you……?"

"Of course!" Li Xiang knocked his chest.

"If I break this oath..."

Li Xiang put his hands together and swore an oath in a solemn tone.

"Heaven hates it!"

"If I break this oath..."

"All people have abandoned it!"

Damn it, I have learned Zhu Houcong's oath, aunt, you should be happy...

I don't want your father to come back and skin me alive!

Li Xiang couldn't believe the integrity of Li Shimin, a daughter slave. Who knows if he would still cry for his daughter and make up for his grandson's childhood?

Hearing Li Xiang's clumsy words of comfort, Li Mingda couldn't help but burst into laughter.

This little nephew really doesn’t know how to coax girls.

She stretched out her little hand, pooh-poohed three times, and pressed it on Li Xiang's mouth.

"Children's words are fearless, but they are blown away by the wind!"

"Isn't my aunt also a child..." Li Xiang retorted subconsciously.

"I'm your aunt!"

Li Mingda raised his head, tears were still sparkling in the corners of his eyes, but there was a smile at the corners of his lips.

"I am your elder in front of you~"

Li Xiang curled his lips. He found Li Mingda's efforts to act like an elder really adorable.

"Okay, okay, then you must be strong in front of your nephew. After all, no elder would cry in front of the younger generation."

After Li Xiang finished speaking, he made up his mind. He propped up his nose with his thumb, stuck out his tongue and made a weird face.

Seeing his funny and playful look, Li Mingda couldn't help but cover his lips with his hands and smile.

(End of this chapter)