hsntnovel Chapter 2754 Wanting to be Emperor Again?
Chapter 2754 Wanting to be Emperor Again?
When Li Shen heard the voice above him, he shuddered, and his expression immediately changed. He was no longer arrogant and domineering, but instead had a fawning look on his face.
Li Shen raised his head, revealing a big smile, and spoke to the people on the city wall:
"I have met Father. Father is very busy, yet he still came out to greet me. I am truly flattered."
"Hmph, if I hadn't come, I'm afraid my Vermilion Bird Gate would have been taken home by you, Prince Ji, to burn as fuel, wouldn't it?"
Li Shimin looked down at Li Shen from his high vantage point and snorted coldly.
He was just drinking tea and playing chess when a general from the gate guards came to report that Prince Ji was causing trouble at the gate of the imperial city again.
Li Shimin was furious and rushed over. What kind of place was the Vermilion Bird Gate? It was the main gate of the imperial city, with countless people passing through; it was the face of the royal family.
How dare Li Shen act so presumptuously at the gates of the imperial city? Isn't this a disgrace to the royal family?
It had only been a short time since the fight began, and this scoundrel had already relapsed, which truly infuriated Li Shimin.
"Hehe, look at what Father is saying. I was just joking. How could I dare to really tear down the Vermilion Bird Gate?"
Father, you don't know, those guards at the gate deliberately made things difficult for me and wouldn't let me into the palace.
They've already checked my son's house, but they still won't open the door for him. My son's life is so hard.
As a prince, he doesn't even respect the gatekeepers.
As Li Shen spoke, he began to play the victim, accusing the guards at the palace gate of preventing him from entering. When he got to the point of being emotional, Li Shen even wiped away tears that didn't actually fall from the corners of his eyes with his sleeve.
"Your Majesty, I did not, I only..." Upon hearing Li Shen's accusations, the captain below immediately tried to explain to Li Shimin.
However, Li Shimin waved his hand to stop the captain, knowing better than anyone what kind of person his son was.
The general guarding the gate had already informed him.
Looking at Li Shen below, Li Shimin pretended to be unaware and said:
"Oh? Is that so? They actually won't open the door for you?"
"Yes, yes, they just won't open the door for my son." Li Shen nodded quickly after hearing this, a smug look on his face.
It's still my own father who loves me the most. When he sees his son being bullied, he immediately wants to stand up for him.
"Oh, then why won't they open the gate for you?" Li Shimin's lips curled into a playful smile, but unfortunately, Li Shen, standing below the city wall, couldn't see his father's expression.
Otherwise, he would have known this was a prelude to anger, and at this moment, Li Shen was still performing:
“Father, they say my things are of unknown origin and cannot enter the palace. But this is a birthday gift I prepared for you, Father. How can it be called of unknown origin?”
Li Shen pointed to the long row of carriages behind him and continued his accusations.
Li Shimin glanced over; he had noticed earlier that there was a row of carriages behind Li Shen, all covered with cloth, and he didn't know what was inside.
"Then tell me, which gate do you want to open?" Li Shimin withdrew his gaze.
"Of course it's the Vermilion Bird Gate," Li Shen replied matter-of-factly.
"You insolent brat, do you think you can just walk through the Vermilion Bird Gate? As a prince, don't you even know these basic rules?"
Before Li Shen could even feel happy, Li Shimin stood on the city wall and roared angrily.
The gate that Li Shen was referring to was the main gate in the very center, commonly known as the Imperial Road, which was the passage exclusively used by the emperor, empress, and crown prince.
The Zhuque Gate of Chang'an City has five gate openings, with the middle one being the largest and the two on the sides being smaller.
Apart from the central doorway, the other four doorways are used for entry according to rank.
Li Shen was a first-rank prince, and according to regulations, he could use the first gate on the east side of the imperial road. This gate was reserved for princes of the imperial clan and civil and military officials of the third rank or above. They could ride horses or carriages.
This is already the highest standard, and the one Li Shen was referring to is not something Li Shen can use.
"What? Do you want to be the emperor, or the crown prince?"
Before Li Shen could explain, Li Shimin had already questioned him in a deep voice.
The Tang Dynasty was a land of etiquette, and everyone should follow the rules of etiquette. Only with a strict hierarchy could it be well managed.
In particular, the imperial power is inviolable. If Li Shen drives away the imperial road today, he might dare to defecate in the imperial garden tomorrow, and he might dare to rob the imperial treasury the day after. His crimes are heinous and unforgivable.
In Li Shimin's view, Li Shen's crime of robbing the imperial treasury was not as serious as his plot to rebel.
"Father, I'm innocent! These things can only be entered through the Vermilion Bird Gate; they can't be entered through any other gate."
Li Shen quickly protested his innocence, saying he didn't want to do it either, and could only blame himself for not explaining things clearly to Wang Hongfu beforehand.
He had forgotten about the size of the doorway, and only when he arrived did he realize that the carriage couldn't fit through.
That's why this happened.
Li Shen knew that the middle door was his father's private door, but he didn't really think much of it; it was just a small door for a carriage to pass through.
When you come out, you can use the door next to you.
Who knew my dad would react so strongly, even accusing me of something? Is this really my father?
Upon hearing this, Li Shimin's expression softened considerably. He looked closely and, sure enough, there was something unidentified placed behind each carriage.
The width exceeds that of the small door below.
"Why don't you have someone carry him in upright?" Although it's not wide enough, he could definitely get in upright.
“Father, this cannot be shown to others easily. This is a surprise for you.”
Li Shen still wanted to maintain some mystery. If he revealed it now, wouldn't the readers already know? How could he let them guess so easily?
Upon hearing Li Shen's words, Li Shimin's curiosity was piqued. After pondering for a moment, he whispered a few instructions to Wang De.
Wang De quickly nodded and descended the city wall.
"Hmph, if you don't make some noise, do you feel uncomfortable?"
Li Shimin spoke first.
"Hehe, look at what Father is saying, isn't there no outsider here?"
Li Shen chuckled. The area had been cleared of people because of him. Sometimes, being a privileged class really has its advantages; you don't have to worry about others seeing you make a fool of yourself.
"Hmph!" Li Shimin snorted upon hearing this, ignored Li Shen, and turned to leave the city wall.
Knowing that things had gone well, Li Shen obediently waited where he was.
A short while later, there was a loud bang, followed by the heavy sound of the front door opening.
The central gate was slowly pushed open by several gatekeepers.
A group of eunuchs filed out, led by Wang De.
Wang De approached Li Shen and bowed.
"I have met His Highness Prince Ji."
"Hmm, what's going on, Old Wang?" Li Shen nodded and gestured with his chin towards the eunuchs.
"Your Highness, please let us take these carriages in. Your Highness can still use the other gate, so that it won't be considered an overstepping of your bounds."
Wang De said with a smile.
"Hmm... that's fine then. You guys can carry it down later. But those craftsmen will have to come in with them."
Li Shen thought for a moment and nodded. Eunuchs weren't normal people; once they were gone, that was that. He would just go through his own gate.
My own father is still pretty smart, isn't he?
(The Vermilion Bird Gate originally had five archways, but the current Vermilion Bird Gate is a replica with four. The first one on the east side was originally for officials of the third rank or above and princes.)
This will be on the test.