"Father."
After entering the hall, Li Changqing immediately saw the gentle and elegant Zhangsun Wugou.
Women in this era developed very early. Even though Zhangsun Wugou was only fifteen years old this year, he developed like a woman in her twenties in the future. He did not look young.
"My name is Zhangsun Wugou. Greetings, Heavenly Strategy General.”
When Li Changqing walked in, Zhangsun Wugou immediately stood up and took light steps to bow.
When Li Changqing heard that she called herself Zhangsun Wugou, the idea of directly passing by her disappeared. He stopped and looked at her a few more times. He was very curious about this virtuous empress in history.
Sensing Li Changqing's gaze, Zhangsun Wugou nodded slightly, feeling a little nervous.
Realizing that his actions were a little abrupt, Li Changqing nodded at her and looked away. Then, he looked at Li Yuan and said,"Imperial Father, your son…"
Before he could finish his sentence, Li Yuan raised his hand and interrupted him. He pointed at Zhangsun Wugou and said,"Changqing, this is Zhangsun Wugou, the niece of Gao Shilian, the head of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Her nickname is Guanyin Maid.”
"She's elegant and beautiful, and she's a national beauty."”
Hearing Li Changqing's evaluation, Zhangsun Wugou was delighted. He looked at him with even more shyness.
Li Yuan continued," The Guanyin maid is a member of the royal family of the Northern Wei Dynasty. She is fifteen years old, well-educated, virtuous, and virtuous. She can be a good match for you." I want to betroth Guanyin to you as my wife. What do you think?”
Li Changqing was shocked. He had never expected that the wife Li Yuan had arranged for him was actually Zhangsun Wugou!
However, his heart had long been occupied by Li Xiu Ning, and he could no longer tolerate other women.
"Father, your son has the ambition of Huo Qubing." It is too early for your son to get married and have children. After your son pacified the Turks, exterminated the Tubo, and returned peace to the borders of our Great Tang, it wouldn't be too late to discuss marriage.”
Zhangsun Wugou's originally rosy face turned pale in an instant.
She had been in love with Li Changqing for two years.
When she learned that Li Yuan wanted to betroth her to Li Changqing, she was overjoyed.
In the end, what awaited her was bad news.
"Nonsense!" Li Yuan frowned. How can you not get married at the age of seventeen?”
"Father!" Li Changqing said. When the Great Tang was pacified, the Turks frequently invaded the border, and Tubo was eyeing them covetously. At this moment, your son only wants to pacify the world and has no intention of getting married!”
"You can't refuse this marriage today!”
"Imperial Father, no matter what, your son's heart will not change!”
Li Changqing kept finding excuses to refuse, which made Li Yuan furious." Get out! Kneel outside the hall and get up whenever you agree!”
Li Changqing didn't say anything else. He turned around and walked out of the hall without hesitation. He knelt on the steps.
After Li Changqing went to kneel outside the hall, Li Yuan said to Zhangsun Wugou,""Guanyin maid, wait here. Today, no matter what, I must make him agree to this marriage.”
Zhangsun Wugou's face was bitter, and his heart was filled with sorrow.
……
Outside Taiji Palace, Li Changqing knelt on the ground.
The eunuchs and serving girls who passed by did not even dare to walk straight.
When they passed by him, they all knelt down and walked on their knees.
Not only was the Heavenly Strategy General famous in the army, but he was also well-known in the ears of the common people and the eunuchs and serving girls.
The noon sun was so hot that it made people dizzy. Li Changqing did not drink a drop of water and ate rice. He was still kneeling upright under the scorching sun.
As time passed, the sun slowly set and the moon rose from the clouds.
Li Changqing had been kneeling from morning to night.
During this period, Li Yuan came out to ask him three times, and the reply he received was the same. He was so angry that he was furious.
In the hall, Zhangsun Wugou was worried about Li Changqing and peeked at him through the cracks in the door and windows.
The person she had secretly admired for two years would rather kneel than marry her.
She felt very wronged and sad for a moment. Tears rolled down her cheeks like pearls.
When Li Yuan asked Li Changqing for the fourth time and received another rejection, he returned to Taiji Palace angrily and cursed,"I have so many sons, but he's the only one who has been disobeying my wishes! Unfilial son, this unfilial son!"
Although he was angry that Li Changqing was disobedient, it was still the anger of a father towards his son. He had never felt the anger of an imperial power being provoked.
……
On the west side of Taiji Palace, at the corner of the palace wall.
Li Shi Min and Li Xiu Ning stood there, looking at Li Changqing from afar.
"Third Sister, time really flies." I still clearly remember that year when it was snowing heavily, you, who was only four years old, carried a baby back from the snow. In the blink of an eye, seventeen years had passed. The baby from back then had also grown into the Heavenly Strategy General that terrified all the dukes in Guanzhong.”
Li Xiu Ning's eyes were blurred as if she was immersed in her childhood memories.
Li Shiming continued," Sixth Brother has been close to you since he was young. Every time Yuan Ba wants to play with you, he will chase after you and beat you up. He is too possessive of you."”
"The feelings between you and Sixth Brother, we brothers have long been aware of. But now, you are the Eldest Princess of the Great Tang, and he is the powerful and awe-inspiring Heavenly Strategy General. It is absolutely impossible between the two of you.”
"If this matter of siblings incestuous is spread, you will be cursed and ridiculed by the entire world. At that time, the royal family's face would be completely damaged and the country would be shaken!”
The expression on Li Xiu Ning's face became more and more desolate, and her eyes were already filled with tears.
"Third Sister, Sixth Brother is too stubborn. Other than you, he won't listen to anyone. For his reputation, for his future, and for the face of the royal family, go and persuade him. You've seen Zhangsun Wugou before. He's virtuous, gentle, and elegant. He's from the Northern Wei Imperial Clan and is a good match.”
With every word that Li Shiming said, the tears in Li Xiu Ning's eyes increased.
She looked at Li Changqing from afar and silently shed tears.
"Second brother, you're right. I don't care about the opinions of the secular world, nor do I care about the insults of the entire world, but I can't let Changqing bear these with me. He's still young, and he's the illustrious Heavenly Strategy General of the Great Tang. He still has a bright future ahead of him, and I can't ruin his reputation.”
Li Xiu Ning's voice was choked with sobs, but her expression was very strong. He wiped his tears and walked towards Li Changqing.
She and Li Shiming were siblings. One of them was willing to give up his beloved woman for the sake of the country and even took the initiative to send her to another man.
For the sake of the reputation of the person he loved, he actually wanted to personally persuade him to marry another woman.
If he had not been born into the royal family of the Li Tang Empire, he would not have had to go through such pain.
There were also many times when the royal family had no choice.
This book is provided by FunNovel Novel Book | Fan Fiction Novel [Beautiful Free Novel Book]