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The Empress originally wanted Ye Qingmei's son to die, just like Li Yunrui.
However, Li Chengqian analyzed the benefits of befriending Fan Xian from the perspective of maintaining his own position as heir apparent.
Although the Empress was heartbroken by Li Chengqian's cold-heartedness, she had no choice but to accept reality.
Despite these two incidents, and even though Li Chang'an's reputation was growing and putting a lot of pressure on Li Chengqian, the Crown Prince was still in a good mood.
After all, whether or not one can participate in the struggle for the throne is up to His Majesty.
Throughout history, no emperor has ever voluntarily passed the throne to his brother.
Based on the Crown Prince's understanding of Emperor Qing, this father emperor is definitely not such a magnanimous person!
Li Chengze squatted barefoot on a futon, listening contentedly to the arguments outside the city.
Only the young third prince paced back and forth anxiously.
"Crown Prince, Second Brother, aren't you going to try and persuade them?"
Li Chengze said lazily, "With His Highness the Crown Prince here, it's not my place to step forward."
The Crown Prince glanced at the sun and said, "What's the rush? Didn't you hear my brother and Fan Xian discussing something?"
"Perhaps we'll be able to come up with a set of rules soon."
"If I go out now, they'll both lose face!"
The third prince scratched his head, feeling that the crown prince's words made sense, but there seemed to be something wrong with the reasoning.
Li Chengze scoffed. "Only by making his appearance when both sides are about to fight can the Crown Prince's majesty and status be truly displayed!"
Just then, a sandstorm suddenly swept across the city gates!
The howling of the hurricane could be heard clearly even by those waiting inside the city gates!
The already deadlocked delegation and the Crown Prince's forces were thrown into chaos!
People kept shouting, "The horse is startled! The horse is startled!"
When the sandstorm subsided, several warhorses on both sides fell down.
The situation was chaotic just now, with sandstorms obscuring vision. After the horses were startled, someone wielded a knife and killed one of them, which was understandable.
At this moment, Li Chengru stood with his sword drawn, glaring angrily!
"Fan Xian! How dare you!"
"Return from the campaign, slay my warhorse!"
"I have been leading troops in the field for many years, and I never expected the imperial court to welcome us home like this!"
The Crown Prince straightened his collar at the city gate. It was time for the Crown Prince to make his grand entrance!
Li Chengqian put on a kind smile, assuring everyone that as long as the Crown Prince intervenes, Li Chengru and Fan Xian will have to give him face and reconcile!
At that time, he will have an envoy on his left and a prince on his right, and the whole family will enter the city in harmony.
Just then, an angry shout suddenly came from outside the city gate.
"Li Chengru! You've really grown up!"
"What do you mean? The court has mistreated you, so you're going to rebel?!"
The crown prince knew something was wrong when he heard that sound!
Uncle Yong has returned, and I'm a step too late again!
Sure enough, after the sandstorm subsided, Li Chang'an's convoy slowly drove over.
The convoy stopped several dozen feet away from the city gate. Li Chang'an rode forward and came to Li Chengru and Fan Xian.
Name: Li Chengru
Age: 22 years old
Realm: Peak of the Eighth Rank
Talents: Commander (Rank 8), Martial Arts (Rank 7), Military Strategy (Rank 5)
Abilities: Commander (Rank 8), Military Strategist (Rank 7)
Emotion: 80
Li Chengru, who was originally stern and imposing, became much more subdued upon hearing Li Chang'an's voice.
Li Chang'an was the first to be granted the title of king, and he had a bad reputation since childhood, so he suppressed his nephews to some extent due to their blood ties.
Even though Li Chengru was three years older and the two hadn't seen each other for many years, he still felt a little uneasy when he saw Li Chang'an.
Seeing Li Chang'an's unfriendly expression, Li Chengru immediately dismounted.
"This humble nephew greets Prince Yong! I pay my respects to Prince Yong!"
"What I said just now was merely a moment of anger, and I have no intention of harboring any dissatisfaction. Please forgive me, Uncle Yong."
Seeing that Li Chengru was so sensible, Li Chang'an also dismounted and slowly walked to Li Chengru's side.
"Fan Xian is here on behalf of the Qing Kingdom, not on behalf of the Qing Kingdom to receive you. Why are you arguing with him?"
Fan Xian bowed respectfully upon seeing Li Chang'an, saying, "Your subject greets Your Highness Prince Yong!"
Li Chang'an said, "I thought you would also call him Uncle Yong."
Fan Xian quickly explained, "Those are all unverified rumors and shouldn't be taken seriously."
As long as His Majesty doesn't publicly acknowledge this, Fan Xian is not a prince.
Li Chang'an glanced at Fan Xian and said, "It's just a rumor. I thought you were pretty arrogant, but it turns out it hasn't been confirmed yet."
Fan Xian hurriedly said, "Your Highness is right. It was just a coincidence that we met at the city gate today."
Li Chang'an shouted towards the city gate, "Li Chengqian, you've really gotten capable!"
"You're just watching your own brothers fight without stepping in to mediate? Are you trying to watch the show?"
Li Chang'an's shout stunned both Li Chengru and Fan Xian!
The crown prince is the heir apparent to the throne!
Even a prince should bow and address him as "Your Highness the Crown Prince"!
Li Chang'an addressed him by his given name and even shouted at him!
This is the first time in all these years that Li Chang'an has done something like this.
Since breaking through to the Grandmaster level, Li Chang'an has stopped pretending. He can still greet Emperor Qing with a respectful bow, since Emperor Qing is also a Grandmaster.
As for Li Chengqian, if you give him face, he's the crown prince; if you don't, he's just a nephew.
The three people inside the city gate also stared wide-eyed, especially Crown Prince Li Chengqian, who didn't know whether he should agree or not.
Apart from his father and mother, no one in the entire Qing Kingdom dared to call him that!
At this moment, Li Chengqian really wanted to shout, "Please call me Crown Prince!"
However, he ultimately didn't dare.
Because Li Chang'an shouted again, "Li Chengqian, if you're not dead, come out now!"
"Uncle Yong, I've arrived! Hehehe!"
The crown prince, with a simple, honest smile, came out from the city gate to greet them.
Given Li Chang'an's current influence in the Qing Kingdom, Li Chengqian really doesn't dare to take him seriously.
If things really get unpleasant and escalate to His Majesty's ears, at most His Majesty will give both sides a slap on the wrist.
His authority as the crown prince is significantly diminished.
After the Crown Prince left in a cheerful mood, Li Chengze squatted on the prayer mat and talked with Li Chengping.
Li Chengping asked in confusion, "Second Brother, are we going out?"
Li Chengze casually said, "We're here to pick people up, not to break up a fight..."
Just then, Li Chang'an's voice came in again.
"Li Chengze, Li Chengping!"
Upon hearing the sound, Li Chengze immediately jumped up, slipped on his shoes, and ran out.
Li Chengping quickly followed, calling out as he ran, "Second Brother, weren't you not going out?"
Li Chengze turned around and said, "If we don't go out now, it won't look good if Uncle Yong kicks our butts in public."
Before long, the four nephews and Fan Xian, the five of them, stood neatly in front of Li Chang'an.
Li Chang'an frowned and said, "That's more like it! A family should be together all the time!"
"Li Chengqian, you will lead the eldest brother and Fan Xian into the city in a little while."
"We must not mistreat either the heroes of the nation or the dignity of the nation!"
After Li Chang'an finished speaking, he mounted his horse again and led the caravan slowly into the city.
Li Chengqian felt very uncomfortable, because Li Chang'an hadn't bowed to the Crown Prince from beginning to end.
Could the rumors be true? Is Prince Yong really interested in the position of Crown Prince?