Chapter 300 Return to Chang'an

In fact, Katsuragi and others had no room to refuse Li Xiang's request.

Are you kidding? Your life is in their hands, how can you resist?

A fight to the death? Do you have the strength to do so?
"Your Highness, please give us your orders. We will serve you till our death!" Katsuragi replied sincerely.

After Katsuragi expressed his stance first, Yamagi and Soga no Iruka also followed suit.

"Don't be in a hurry. When we need you, we will let you know what it is." Li Xiang looked down at the three people and said, "Retreat. We will go to Chang'an in a few days. You should learn some etiquette from the people in the Ministry of Rites first. Don't act like barbarians who don't understand the king's ways after you arrive in Chang'an."

"We will follow your highness's instructions!" the three said in unison.

The king and his ministers of Silla were standing nearby. Seeing the Japanese treating Li Xiang so humbly, they looked at each other and their hearts tightened again.

Even the Japanese, who had always been regarded as a serious threat to them, were completely subdued by the Tang Dynasty, let alone Silla?

A few people who originally had some complaints now dare not think of anything.

This Ministry of Rites official arranged by the imperial court was originally intended for the Silla monarch and his ministers to teach them the basic etiquette of the Tang Dynasty. However, unexpectedly, he also happened to be learned by the Japanese.

When they learned that it was the usually unrestrained Prince Shu who led the army to pacify Japan, and that he raided the capital of Japan with only more than 2,000 people, captured the Japanese royal family and important ministers, while only seven people on their side were injured - two of whom were unlucky enough to sprain their ankles while walking, how could people not look at him with admiration?
It is indeed time to go back. Pei Xueqing has been pregnant for more than eight months and will give birth soon.

If I don't go back, it would be a bit unreasonable to miss the birth of my first child.

Since there was nothing to do in the north now, Li Xiang handed over the work to Xu Jingzong and Li Jingren, and arranged for Quan Wanji, who had rushed to Youzhou some time ago, to be responsible for the work in Youzhou and Wuqing together.

After more than half a year of development, Wuqing has achieved initial results.

This place already has a locational advantage. Now Li Xiang has brought advanced fishing boats to Wuqing and also tilted policies towards Wuqing and Youzhou. Youzhou has begun to develop rapidly at a speed visible to the naked eye.

After Xu Jingzong's harsh crackdown, any local tyrants who dared to show up were ruthlessly uprooted and dealt with in accordance with the most severe measures in accordance with the law.

In Li Xiang's words, Youzhou is in a state of thriving vitality and all things are competing to develop. If there are villains who dare to hinder the development of Dengzhou and want to take advantage of it, don't blame the court for using the most severe means to crack down on them.

After severely punishing the fourteen powerful families, the situation in Youzhou gradually became stable.

Killing a chicken to scare the monkey is still effective. If it is just a warning, there will still be those speculators who don't believe in evil.

Li Shiji took the Japanese and Silla people back to Chang'an first, while Li Xiang stayed in Youzhou until the end of October before starting his return journey.

It is already December in the Gregorian calendar at the end of October in the lunar calendar, and the temperature has dropped below zero. It was really cold along the way.

Fortunately, Li Xiang had people prepare some heating items early on, so it wasn't too uncomfortable.

He felt a little regretful. If he had known it was so cold, he would have rushed to Chang'an earlier.

After being on the road for half a month, Li Xiang finally returned to Chang'an.

The first thing Li Xiang did after entering Chang'an was to go to Lizheng Hall to visit his grandfather.

This time he came back, he didn't even send a letter, it was completely a surprise for Lao Li.

Old Li was originally admiring the snow in the yard, with his hands behind his back, not saying a word, pretending to be an expert, and it seemed that he was brewing some words.

Li Xiang tiptoed up and suddenly stretched out his hands to cover Li Shimin's eyes.

"Aunt, guess who I am?"

Old Li was stunned for a moment, then looked back in surprise.

"Xiang'er? Why didn't you tell me you were coming back?"

Then he reached out and rubbed Li Xiang's head, "Yes, I was wondering why the recent correspondence was so fast. It turns out that you have been on the road all the time! No wonder I always felt something was wrong."

As he spoke, Old Li stretched out his hand to pinch Li Xiang's shoulder, then looked him up and down and said with emotion: "It's been almost a year since I left, and he's almost taller than Grandpa."

"What you said is just like the saying that a disciple is better than his master, and the waves of Honghu Lake are one after another, each one stronger than the last." Li Xiang said with a smile.

"Yes." Li Shimin patted his arm, looking somewhat emotional.

"Throw Aung on the beach." Li Xiang said with a chuckle.

When Li Shimin heard this, he choked and said, "Good boy, I knew that what followed you was not good."

However, this also diluted the sad atmosphere a little. Li Shimin said with a smile: "Go quickly, first go to the East Palace to report your father and mother's safety, and then go to Daji Palace to see your aunt."

"Okay, old man." Li Xiang replied.

"Don't forget to come back to Wude Hall..." Halfway through his speech, Li Shimin suddenly remembered that this grandson was just like him, and he also loved his wife, so he said with a smile: "Forget it, even if I don't say it, you can't forget to see Xueqing - remember to come to Lizheng Hall in the evening, and we will have a reunion dinner as a family. I have been away for more than half a year, and I am really a little..."

"Somewhat?" Li Xiang asked with a smile, "Aunt missed me?"

"Why would I miss you, little bastard?" Li Shimin said angrily.

"You really don't miss me?" Li Xiang opened his eyes wide.

"Go, go, go to the East Palace." Li Shimin shook his sleeves and said, "You are so old, but you don't even behave properly in a day."

"Okay, old man, I'll go first." Li Xiang smiled and turned around and ran away.

Seeing the back of Haoda Sun jumping away, Lao Li was stunned for a while, and suddenly laughed out loud.

It’s good to be back, it’s good to be back.

Although the East Palace is next to the Wude Hall, there is no door between the East Palace and the Wude Hall.

Therefore, Li Xiang could not go to the Eastern Palace from Lizheng Hall via Daji Hall and Wude Hall. He could only go through Qianhua Gate first, exit from Hongwenguan, go through Gongli Gate, then walk east, enter the Eastern Palace through Tongxun Gate, and then go through Youyongfu Gate and Chongjiao Gate to enter the Eastern Palace.

In the Eastern Palace, Li Chengqian was playing football with his two younger brothers in a large square in front of the Chongjiao Hall.

This was the flat ground that Li Chengqian had specially cleared so that he could take his two brothers to do sports.

Since Li Chengqian had his back to the gate, he did not notice Li Xiang.

Instead, Li Tai, who had just come back with the ball, noticed Li Xiang walking over first, and the ball in his hand fell to the ground with a thud.

Li Chengqian picked up the ball that fell beside him, looked at Li Tai and said with a smile: "What happened to Qingque? How come he can't even hold the earth?"

According to his usual temperament, Li Tai would have retorted by now.

However, to Li Chengqian's surprise, Li Tai did not refute at all, but pointed behind him.

Li Chengqian saw Li Tai pointing behind him, so he turned around with the ball in his arms, and just in time saw Li Xiang waving at him with his white teeth bared.

Seeing that Haodaer finally returned to Chang'an, the ball in Li Chengqian's hand fell to the ground with a plop.

"Brother, what's wrong with you? How come you can't even hold the earth?" Li Tai also replied to Li Chengqian with the same words. Hearing Li Tai's words, Li Chengqian didn't care at all.

Just say a few words, fat greenbird, say whatever you want.

"Yeah! Second uncle, youngest uncle!" Li Xiang waved and greeted the three of them.

Li Chengqian's eyes became moist.

Then he kicked the ball to Li Xiang.

"Come, let's play football together."

"Aye, go ahead and kick it. I still have to see A Niang." Li Xiang kicked the ball back to Li Chengqian. Then he waved his hand, called Fu Bao over from behind, and took out the gifts he had prepared for Li Chengqian and the other two.

It’s considered a specialty, a walnut bracelet.

"Come, one each. They are all local specialties." Li Xiang said this with a bit of guilt. Since when did Youzhou start producing walnuts?

But it doesn't matter. After all, this place will eventually be authentic. How can it be authentic without some purple-red walnut bracelets?

"Yes, he looks very happy." Li Chengqian sniffed and patted Li Xiang on the shoulder. "Go, your mother and Juer miss you very much, go see them quickly."

As he was talking, Li Chengqian suddenly remembered something and asked, "Wait, what gift did you prepare for your mother? Did you use this walnut bracelet to fool her like the three of us did?"

"How could that be?" Li Xiang looked at Li Chengqian in confusion, and then took out a small box from Fubao's hand, "Here, this is it."

Li Chengqian put the bracelet on his wrist, took the small box and opened it. The treasure was facing the sunlight, and the refracted light almost blinded him.

Upon closer inspection, it was a box of very large pearls, which looked as big as fingernails.

"It's actually pearl?" Li Chengqian stood in awe.

"This is also a specialty of Youzhou." Li Xiang said with a grin.

"So you're just trying to fool the three of us with this broken walnut?" Li Chengqian asked with a gloomy face.

Li Xiang: No, hehe.

"Hey, Aye, do you really have to compete with women?" Li Xiang began to divert his attention: "Stop talking about A Niang and Aye. If Aye wanted this pearl, would she not give it to him given the relationship between A Niang and Aye?"

Li Chengqian really wanted to say that women are like dragons in their love for gold, silver and jewelry and would never let go, but... now he is in a dilemma.

If she says she will give it to him, Pearl still hasn't asked for it yet; if she says she won't, it seems like the relationship between husband and wife is not good enough.

Now he is so stubborn that he is blocked at both ends.

"Go quickly!" Li Chengqian waved his hands helplessly: "Don't make your mother wait anxiously, you should keep this pearl carefully."

"Okay, yeah." Li Xiang looked at Li Tai and Li Zhi again. The two of them raised their bracelets towards him, which meant that Li Xiang also saw it and was very satisfied.

"Don't worry, Uncle Two and Uncle Three, Aunt Two and Aunt Three have big pearls to give you as gifts--" Li Xiang said loudly.

Hearing this, Li Tai and Li Zhi were even happier.

After that, Li Xiang chuckled again and whispered to Li Chengqian, "Don't worry, Father. I asked Fu Bao to keep a bigger box. It's all yours. You can keep it or give it as a reward. It will also be a respectable thing for our Eastern Palace."

Hearing this, Li Chengqian's eyes became moist.

This is a great boy, and he is thoughtful after all.

"Go." Li Chengqian patted Li Xiang's shoulder with emotion.

Li Xiang smiled brilliantly, turned around and walked towards Yi Qiu Palace.

Seeing Li Xiang leaving, Li Tai and Li Zhi shifted their gaze away from Li Xiang's back and prepared to continue playing football.

However, Li Chengqian was seen looking at the sky at a 45-degree angle with a deep look on his face.

"Brother, what's wrong?" Li Zhi asked with concern.

"What else can I do? I'm just squeezing cat urine." Li Tai was always harsh with Li Chengqian and didn't give him any face when he criticized him.

Li Chengqian didn't say anything, still standing there pretending to be an expert.

Seeing him like this, Li Tai felt something was wrong. He moved closer and twisted his body at a flexible angle, looking up at Li Chengqian: "Are you really crying?"

Li Chengqian:......

You fat bluebird, if I don’t expose your elder brother, I will die, right?

"No, the wind is a bit strong." Li Chengqian sniffed, "Come on, let's continue playing football."

"Why are you still playing? Get ready to go to Lizheng Hall." Li Tai said helplessly, "Xiang'er is back. Do you think that Aye, who has always regarded him as his top student, can't hold a family dinner? If you have a ball, go to Lizheng Hall to play. It's a good opportunity to add Aye and exercise together."

"That's fine." Li Chengqian nodded: "It's a good opportunity to see what treasure Xiang'er gave to Aye."

"It should be very good. After all, we three uncles and fathers can be fooled, but Aye, the grandfather, cannot be fooled." Li Tai said firmly: "Let's go and see what the treasure is."

"I think it can't be bad." Li Zhi was also imagining: "Wuqing is close to the sea. Could it be that... Xiang'er got a big pearl and gave it to Aye?"

"Pearls?" Li Chengqian became interested when he heard 3D say that. "How big is a pearl? It must be bigger than our walnuts. Could it be that Aye's bracelet is also made of pearls? It's very possible!"

"What are you waiting for? Whoever sees it gets it!" Li Tai shouted, "Father loves me the most. I must trick... coax this pearl bracelet out of me!"

Li Chengqian and Li Zhi looked at each other and then at Li Tai: "Did you speak out what was in your heart?"

"You heard wrong." Li Tai said seriously, "Let's go, I still want to go and see the pearl bracelets!"

In line with the principle of physical exercise, the three brothers did not call for a sedan chair, but walked all the way to the Lizheng Hall.

In the Lizheng Hall, Old Li was still admiring the snow. Hearing the voices of the three brothers getting closer, he turned around and looked at the three grown-up sons with a smile on his face.

Now that the three sons are becoming more and more friendly and respectful to each other, his long-standing worries have also dissipated.

What more could one ask for when the children are so harmonious?
Then he saw the identical bracelets on the wrists of the three brothers, and asked curiously, "Gao Ming, Qing Que, Zhi Nu, what are you wearing?"

"Oh, this is a gift that Xiang'er brought back for us. He said it is a local specialty." Li Chengqian replied: "Ah? Didn't Xiang'er bring one for you, Aye?"

Hearing Li Chengqian's words, Li Shimin's face turned visibly red.

(Ask for monthly ticket)

(End of this chapter)