After organizing his thoughts, Fang Er walked to the table, laid out various Tang histories, and pointed to the books.
"Father, do you think the Great Tang today still resembles the one in these histories?"
Li Shimin knew the answer to this question without thinking. Tanks, helicopters, firearms, cannons – these were things the Tang described in history books did not possess.
However, the matter of the Crown Prince rebelling was something he could not let go of.
Seeing his silence, Fang Er continued.
"Father, Mother, let's not discuss how Chengqian is portrayed in these books for now. Let's just talk about the Chengqian who is currently sleeping soundly in the Eastern Palace. In the past two years, during his several regencies, have there been any problems?"
What a person will do in the future is greatly influenced by their past experiences and their environment.
Today, the Great Tang is peaceful, with everyone united in building a prosperous era.
In the history books, Hou Junji, who instigated the Crown Prince's rebellion, has already been beheaded.
Du He, the second son of Duke Du, also did not have the opportunity to befriend the Crown Prince due to your previous adjustments to the imperial guards.
These external factors can completely be disregarded.
The internal factors are the Crown Prince himself and your attitudes.
Currently, with the heavy responsibility of regency on his shoulders, the Crown Prince has no time for those frivolous matters.
For instance, the eunuch Cheng Xin, mentioned in the book, has he appeared now?
Hearing this name, Li Shimin's heart stirred. He indeed had not heard of this name.
Empress Zhangsun also quickly said, "Er Lang, An Zhi is right. I am familiar with the palace attendants around Chengqian, and there is no such person."
Not only had Cheng Xin not appeared, but the Taoist priests Qin Ying and Wei Lingfu, who in the history books were said to have misled Li Chengqian, had also not appeared.
The key was time.
The period in history when these three entered the Eastern Palace was precisely the time when Li Chengqian was studying in Fang Family Village in this Great Tang.
When the Crown Prince was not in the palace, who would this person be given to?
Seeing Li Shimin nod slightly, Fang Er continued.
"Another point, in the history books, the Crown Prince developed a leg ailment after falling from a horse, which caused him to become decadent, believing that a person with a leg disability could not inherit the throne, thus leading him down the wrong path.
However, the current Chengqian has no physical problems whatsoever. He is diligent in state affairs and benevolent in character.
Therefore, you really have no need to go against the history books. After all, what is recorded there is the Great Tang of another world.
In the beginning, man is naturally good. No one is born wanting to kill their own father. It all depends on who guides them in which direction.
Father, what do you think?"
Li Shimin was too involved in the situation, projecting himself into the history books and thus getting stuck in a rut.
Empress Zhangsun, on the other hand, was worried about her son, and her concern clouded her judgment, preventing her from seeing clearly.
After hearing Fang Er's words, both of them began to look at the matter from a different perspective.
Ultimately, the Great Tang in the book was not the Great Tang of the present.
After pondering for a moment, Empress Zhangsun embraced Li Shimin's arm and advised,
"An Zhi makes sense. Er Lang, I believe our Chengqian would never do such a thing."
Li Shimin remained silent for a long time, then finally uttered a sentence.
"I understand."
With that, he stood up and walked towards the palace gate, calling for Deng Dengjie, who was standing guard at a distance.
"It's late. Take An Zhi to the Princess's Courtyard to rest."
Hearing this, Fang Er's head buzzed. He quickly said, "Father, I can go to Zuixian Tower. The Princess's Courtyard is where all the princesses live. How can it be appropriate for me to go there?"
During the Tang Dynasty, princesses lived in the Princess's Courtyard before marriage. After the construction of Daming Palace, the princesses moved to Fengyang Pavilion.
The Princess's Courtyard now housed not only Li Lizhi but also her sisters. Fang Er, a grown man, going there to spend the night – if this got out, wouldn't he be ambushed in the middle of the night?
Li Shimin glared at him and waved his hand, "The curfew is in effect. Why are you running around?"
Fang Er was speechless. When he was summoned late at night just now, why wasn't the curfew mentioned?
Upon hearing this, Deng Dengjie looked at Fang Er with extreme admiration. "Lord is truly amazing!
Not only is he with the Emperor, but he can also stay overnight in the palace, and to the Princess Changle's place.
Comparing oneself to others leads to death!"
In the end, Fang Er could not refuse Li Shimin and was taken away by Deng Dengjie.
Watching his retreating back, Empress Zhangsun chided, "Er Lang, aren't you afraid of gossip?"
Li Shimin's prior concerns had been addressed by Fang Er. Hearing this, he smiled sinisterly, "Gossip will definitely spread~
However, before others can spread it, I will arrange it myself!"
As for whether Fang Er would cause trouble in the Princess's Courtyard, it was not within Li Shimin's considerations. In fact, he was somewhat looking forward to it.
Fang Er followed Deng Dengjie, winding through many twists and turns until they arrived outside the Princess's Courtyard.
Calling it a courtyard was perhaps an understatement; it was more like a palace complex, with many independent smaller courtyards, each princess receiving one.
When Deng Dengjie knocked on Changle's courtyard gate and explained their purpose to the palace maid, the maid looked at Fang Er with astonishment before hurrying inside.
Shortly after, Changle emerged, wearing a silk sleeping robe. Upon seeing Fang Er, she called out with great surprise,
"Brother-in-law~"
Deng Dengjie, being perceptive, bowed and excused himself. Knowing too much could lead to one being silenced.
Fang Er rubbed his nose and awkwardly said to Changle, "The Emperor wants me to stay here tonight. Do you have a place for me to sleep?"
If it were anyone else, there certainly wouldn't be a place, but for her brother-in-law, there definitely would be.
Changle happily hugged Fang Er's arm and led him into the courtyard.
It was already very hot in the fifth month of the lunar calendar. Changle, wearing her almost transparent silk sleeping robe, did not feel cold at all.
Her developing body pressed against Fang Er, exuding the subtle fragrance of a maiden.
Upon entering the room, she pointed to the large bed and said, "Brother-in-law, do you think my bed is big enough?"
Fang Er: ...
"So, you said there was a place to stay, and you meant for me to sleep here?"
The bed was draped with pale yellow curtains embroidered with phoenixes. It was clearly Changle's own bed.
Changle blinked her large eyes and extended her delicate hands. She did not answer Fang Er's question but instead asked for something.
"Brother-in-law, do you have any lollipops? Mother hasn't let Changle eat them for a long time. I'm craving them!"
Although it was late at night, her slightly aggrieved expression made Fang Er unable to refuse. He casually took out a lollipop and handed it to her, reminding her.
"Remember to rinse your mouth after eating, or your teeth will rot."
"Hehe, brother-in-law is the best~ I remember~"
Changle skillfully peeled off the transparent wrapper, stuck out her pink tongue to lick it, and closed her eyes in a state of blissful enjoyment.
Fang Er helplessly walked to the bedside, picked up a quilt, spread it on the floor, and lay down fully clothed.
I've been out for two months, and I'm feeling amorous. I can't look, I can't look~~~