Chapter 394 On New Year's Eve, the Emperor's Wrath (Part 1)

The first year of the Zhaowu reign of the Tang Dynasty, the eighth day of the twelfth lunar month, was the Laba Festival.

Today is the day when Chen Longxiang, the first prince of the Tang Dynasty stationed on the Goguryeo Peninsula, along with Chen Qingzhi, the Duke of Han, Pang Xianchu, the Duke of Qin, and Qi Jiguang, the Duke of Dingguo, are ordered to return to the capital to report to the emperor.

Early in the morning, the "one king and three dukes" of the Tang Dynasty, accompanied by the young Tang Dynasty vassal king, Chen Lingwu, the king of Goryeo, went to the military camp outside the capital Pyongyang to reward the three armies and ordered the kitchen to cook plenty of Laba porridge for the soldiers to enjoy.

After rewarding the three armies, the princes and dukes who were returning to the capital to report on their mission rode off towards Nanpu Port, the base of the Tang Dynasty's naval fleet outside the capital, with the reluctant farewell of Chen Lingwu, the vassal king who remained to guard the Goguryeo Peninsula, and the deputy general in charge of the garrison.

It is worth mentioning that, in addition to the personal guards escorting Prince Chen Longxiang of Jin, there were also several carriages accompanying him.

More importantly, these carriages were not like the "open-top" carriages used to transport gold and silver, but rather the kind of carriages that were fully equipped with sidecars.

On the way, Duke Qi Jiguang joked with Chen Longxiang, asking if the young prince was "keeping a mistress in a golden house" in the carriage. Although the latter denied it repeatedly, it still made everyone laugh.

However, this joke by Duke Qi Jiguang made Duke Chen Qingzhi of Han suspicious.

On the way to Nanpu Port, the Duke of Han personally rode up to Prince Chen Longxiang's entourage, called Chen Longxiang aside, and asked in a low voice, "Your Highness, tell me the truth, have you really dealt with the matter of the former Empress Dowager Su Wan'er that I asked you to handle?"

Um!

Chen Longxiang nodded without hesitation and replied without thinking, "Vice Marshal, I certainly wouldn't dare to delay in carrying out your orders."

"Well, Su Wan'er is currently recuperating in the deep palace."

Upon hearing this, Chen Qingzhi nodded, recalling that he hadn't seen Su Wan'er appear in public recently. His spies in the palace had also sent back intelligence that the former Empress Dowager Su Wan'er had indeed summoned the imperial physician and prescribed Chinese medicine for abortion some time ago.

Chen Qingzhi patted Chen Longxiang on the shoulder and said, "That's excellent!"

After thinking for a moment, he added, "Your Highness, I have already entrusted the Duke of Wei in the capital to find you a suitable marriage."

"The other party is a princess from the household of Du Bo, the Prince of Jiujiang in the previous dynasty. She is about the same age as Your Highness, and is proficient in all arts, including music, chess, calligraphy, painting, poetry, singing, and dancing. She and Your Highness are a match made in heaven, an exceptionally perfect couple."

"As for her appearance, the Duke of Wei assured me that she is no less beautiful than the former Empress Dowager Su Wan'er. Your Highness can rest assured, haha!"

As he spoke, Chen Qingzhi smiled meaningfully and said, "I have already submitted a report to the Emperor on this matter. We are just waiting for Your Highness to return to the capital before arranging a meeting between Your Highness and the Princess of Jiujiang."

"As for the wedding date, His Majesty's preference is for the Lantern Festival on the fifteenth day of the first lunar month, and I agree. A true man should settle down and start a family before building a career."

"Your Majesty, we await the wedding feast! Hahaha!"

After saying that, Chen Qingzhi ignored Chen Longxiang, who was standing there stunned with a tearful expression, and immediately spurred his horse forward.

call--

Although Chen Qingzhi's words upset Chen Longxiang;

However, after dealing with the naturally suspicious Chen Qing, Chen Longxiang finally couldn't help but let out a long sigh of relief.

Out of the corner of his eye, he subconsciously looked toward the direction of the third carriage in his entourage.

Giddy up, giddy up, giddy up!

Sigh—

The next moment, Chen Qingzhi, who had already ridden away, suddenly turned around and rushed to Chen Longxiang's side, bypassing him and heading straight for the accompanying caravan.

After passing Chen Longxiang, he couldn't help but say with a smile, "Your Highness, that Duke Dingguo, Qi Jiguang, insisted on making a bet with me, saying that you're hiding a beauty in your carriage."

"I can't do it myself, so I'll just come and see for myself, hahaha!"

Before Chen Longxiang could recover from his shock, Chen Qingzhi had already spurred his horse to the carriage, stopped the driver, and then drew his sword to lift the curtain of the carriage.

What came into view were the faces of two young and stunningly beautiful girls.

ah--

The next moment, the two young women in the carriage screamed in fright.

"Vice Marshal—"

Only then did Chen Longxiang recover from his shock and hurriedly rode his horse to Chen Qingzhi's side.

He glanced at the two panicked young women in the carriage, then at Chen Qingzhi on horseback, whose face held a mixture of surprise and amusement. He subconsciously scratched his nose, chuckling awkwardly as he explained, "Vice Marshal, these two are ladies-in-waiting I selected from the Goguryeo capital."

"Yes, it is a gift I brought to my elder brother upon my return to the capital!"

Cough cough cough!

Upon hearing this, Chen Qingzhi coughed twice, hurriedly lowered the curtain again, and said somewhat awkwardly, "Hehe, the Duke of Dingguo was right after all."

"Since these two were both selected ladies sent to the palace by His Highness, it can't be considered as keeping them as concubines in a golden house. I haven't lost the bet with the Duke of Dingguo, haha!"

"only--"

Then, Chen Qingzhi changed the subject, smiling meaningfully, and said, "Your Highness must be discreet about this. What if the Empress and the Imperial Concubine find out?"

"I'm afraid Your Highness will have to endure a lot of nagging. If it gets to the Empress Dowager's ears, well, Your Highness, you'd better pray for good fortune!"

"Your Highness, farewell!"

After saying that, Chen Qingzhi once again spurred his horse and rode away.

This time, Chen Longxiang stood guard in front of the accompanying carriage until the figure of Duke Chen Qingzhi of Han Dynasty completely disappeared from sight. Only then did he relax his tense nerves and stand there, panting heavily.

If Chen Qingzhi had insisted on lifting the curtains of every carriage to inspect them, Chen Longxiang really wouldn't know how to explain things to Han Guogong today.

Because sitting in that third carriage was none other than Su Wan'er, the former Empress Dowager and now the Prince of Jin's new favorite.

Shen Shi Shi Fen.

The main camp of the Tang Dynasty's naval fleet, inside Nanpu Port.

Several warships waiting to return home had already set sail, ready to depart at a moment's notice and head straight for Jinling, the capital of the Tang Dynasty.

The Duke of Han, Chen Qingzhi; the Duke of Qin, Wang Jian; the Duke of Dingguo, Qi Jiguang; and the young Prince of Jin, Chen Longxiang, each had their own private treasure ship.

Prince Chen Longxiang of Jin inherited the treasure ship "Destroy the Japanese Pirates" from his elder brother Chen Huai'an.

At this time, the three dukes had already boarded the warship, while Prince Chen Longxiang of Jin was deliberately dragging out the pace, still ordering his personal guards to slowly carry things onto the Miewo warship.

Woo-woo-woo!

Until, horns sounded from the warships of the three dukes, signaling that their ships were about to set sail.

These tall warships had just left the port. Only after Chen Longxiang was sure that even if the other party was standing on the deck at the bow of the ship, they could not see clearly what was happening on the dock, did he personally help the heavily pregnant former Empress Dowager Su Wan'er down from the carriage.

Then, together with the two women he had chosen for his elder brother Chen Huai'an in the Goguryeo capital, they walked step by step toward the suspended ladder of the ship that would destroy the Japanese pirates.

Finally, just as they were about to ascend the suspended stairs, Su Wan'er suddenly stopped, her face filled with worry and lingering fear. She said, "Your Highness, do I really have to return to the capital with you? And do I still have to meet the Emperor and the Empress Dowager?"

"Just now, the way that Duke Han came and lifted the carriage curtain almost scared me to death!"

"I'm afraid, afraid that this trip to the capital won't go so smoothly!"

As she spoke, Su Wan'er looked at Chen Longxiang with a pitiful expression and timidly continued, "Your Highness, perhaps... perhaps this servant should wait here in the Goguryeo capital, awaiting the good news of Your Highness's return to the capital?"

"Wan'er, didn't we already agree on this?"

Seeing that Su Wan'er seemed to be having second thoughts and was showing signs of backing down, Chen Longxiang quickly grabbed her hands and said with sincere eyes and a firm tone, "Wan'er, don't worry, I've taken care of everything. There won't be any unexpected problems."

"I assure you, no matter what happens, I will protect you and the child in your womb!"

"Wan'er, believe me!"