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The two younger ones consciously stood behind Yang Xuangan, listening to the suggestions from the crowd. With the crown prince in decline, no one wanted to fall behind.
Li Jian Cheng was quite straightforward; he had already obtained what he desired. From now on, he would simply follow orders and, barring any special circumstances, would not take the initiative to stand out. At this moment, trying to achieve merit would be akin to snatching food from his colleagues' mouths.
After a moment of consultation, Yang Su took the initiative to say, "Tomorrow, I will visit His Majesty."
Yang Guang responded cheerfully, "Thank you for your hard work, Yang Gong."
Yuwen Shu's expression was somewhat displeased, but there was little he could do. He had never been favored in front of the emperor, and as the emperor's temper grew increasingly volatile, the number of people he trusted dwindled.
Yang Su seemed to recall something and said, "It would be best if Jian Cheng accompanied me. The empress also needs to put in some effort to ensure everything goes smoothly."
Everyone's gaze turned to Li Jian Cheng. Yang Guang smiled and said, "Great! Yang Gong has the trust of Father Emperor, and Jian Cheng has the empress's favor. Together, they will surely succeed in this matter."
As Yang Guang set the tone, regardless of their inner thoughts, everyone began to praise Yang Su and Li Jian Cheng. The compliments directed at Yang Su were typical, while those aimed at Li Jian Cheng carried a hint of backhanded flattery.
The accolades for the Li family—Qilin, Wuchuan noble son, excelling in both civil and military affairs, virtuous and talented—came pouring in.
This was also why he had been so well-behaved lately; his reputation weighed heavily on him.
Not to mention that peers like Yang Jishan and Yuan Shibin had begun to distance themselves from him. Occasionally, their words hinted at sarcasm, showing that even when aware of the truth, they still couldn't overlook it.
Li Jian Cheng approached with a beaming smile, happily listening to others' praises. He vaguely heard a cold snort from behind him that seemed to come from Yang Jishan.
…………
As he left Jin Wangfu, others chatted in pairs or threes while he rode alone back to his residence.
Yang Xuangan stood with his brother watching Li Jian Cheng's retreating figure and whispered, "With such a reputation, I wonder if he will be crushed by it."
Yang Jishan sneered and said, "Does Brother not know what kind of person Li Jian Cheng is? He’s been getting carried away lately; it seems he looks down on us all. Despite being the youngest, he’s trying to act like the big brother now."
Yang Xuangan sighed and replied, "If he gets crushed, it might be for the best. Prince Jin holds him in high regard; if the Li family rises again after having fallen so hard, it won’t benefit anyone."
Li Jian Cheng felt a bit more relaxed after returning home, rubbing his tired eyes. The pressure of fame was immense, but as long as he wasn't crushed by it, he could still enjoy the tangible benefits of his reputation. In the future, when circumstances changed dramatically, the difference between those with fame and those without would be stark.
As he walked into the inner courtyard's sleeping hall, the Dou Family was waiting for him to have dinner together. Seeing their son arrive, they looked at him with concern and said, "Your father has gone to stay at Out-of-City Villa today. He'll bring your grandmother back to the residence tomorrow."
Li Jian Cheng's already troubled mood worsened. He had enough on his plate, and now he had to deal with his father—the very same father who had been summoned back to the capital under imperial orders and reprimanded.
In hindsight, it seemed that most of the accusations against Li Yan came from Prince Jin's faction, likely with some ulterior motive regarding Li Yan.
Yang Guang's influence was somewhat chaotic. The Southern Aristocracy had long been in decline, with only a few scattered families from Shandong Gentry remaining, alongside a significant presence from Guanlong Aristocrat, particularly due to Yang Suyuwenshu's involvement.
This situation made Yang Guang uneasy; the Southern Aristocracy was the foundation he had built over many years. They relied solely on him for support. Although they lacked military power, their governance was essential for ruling the realm.
The Shandong Gentry had been suppressed by the Guanlong Aristocrat, holding prestige without real power. The internal dynamics of Guanlong were extremely exclusive. Yang Guang likely wanted to use the Li Family to maintain a balance of power; at the very least, he absolutely did not want to hand over military authority at Chang'an Palace to Yang Su.
After this incident, Yang Su's influence had already left Yang Guang feeling apprehensive. How could he trust his safety in Yang Su's hands? Handing control over to Yuwen Shu would not be easy either; only someone with a smaller influence within his control could gain everyone's acceptance.
The Dou Family had the dishes served and said to their son, "A calf fell and died at Field Manor, so we had the kitchen prepare an Ox Head Dish for you as a supplement."
Having eaten lamb, pork, chicken, duck, and fish frequently but rarely beef, Li Jian Cheng felt his appetite awaken at these words.
The Ox Head Dish involved using a young calf's head with smooth skin and tender meat. First, it was roasted over fire to remove its hair, then scalded in boiling water until all remnants were cleaned off. In a pot filled with wine, fermented black beans, scallions, and ginger, the head was boiled until cooked through. The meat was then stripped off and cut into palm-sized pieces, seasoned with ghee, Sichuan peppercorns, and sour lime before being packed into jars sealed with clay.
Finally, the jars were buried in a fire pit and slowly heated over low flames to develop flavor. The meat became tender and flavorful—so delicious that one might wish to swallow their tongue along with it.
Accompanied by rice, he finished three large bowls before finally putting down his chopsticks with a light sheen of sweat on his forehead.
"Mother, has Wang Fuxian been sent off?"
"Yes," she replied. "I had someone take him to a villa in Yangzhou. He won't be free until Prince Jin becomes crown prince."
The Dou Family expressed some concern: "In recent days when I've gathered with several familiar ladies, I've heard many praises about you. There are even some who have gone so far as to fabricate stories about you..."
Li Jian Cheng comforted, "I have already found a way to let Prince Jin know that this was Yang Su's doing."
The Dou Family fell silent for a moment before responding, "We can't just stand by. Yang Su has a son, and Yang Xuangan is quite well-known as well. Let's support them together."
Li Jian Cheng did not object; it was indeed a plan, though the Li Family's current influence was limited.
...
The next day, upon hearing the news that the Empress Dowager was speaking at Yong'an Palace, Li Jian Cheng visited under the pretense of presenting a Tiger Skin Blanket. Yang Su, on the other hand, waited a while longer before sending someone to announce his visit.
After entering the palace, Yang Su reported some news regarding the Turkic people and then deliberately steered the conversation toward the Crown Prince. Although Yang Jian had heard about the Crown Prince's reckless behavior, he had never heard such detailed accounts.
The more he listened, the angrier he became, commanding Yang Su to reprimand Yang Yong. Dugu Qialo had already sensed some underlying schemes but was now solely focused on supporting Yang Guang's ascension to power, disregarding everything else. She then ordered Li Jian Cheng to accompany them as well.
After receiving their orders, the two headed straight for the Eastern Palace, making a grand show of announcing that His Majesty had sent someone to inquire. Naturally, upon receiving this news, the Crown Prince hurriedly tidied himself up and changed into his formal attire to wait.
However, Yang Su and Li Jian Cheng did not rush in; instead, they leisurely wandered outside the Eastern Palace, leaving Yang Yong anxiously waiting without seeing anyone.
Yang Yong was inherently shallow in character, easily displaying his emotions. As thoughts raced through his mind, he became increasingly furious, tearing at his collar and tossing aside his crown as he paced restlessly in the courtyard.
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