In the third year of Zhenguan, the summer night breeze blew into Taiji Palace. In the brightly lit hall, there were no palace maids or eunuchs, only four people.
Li Shi Min, who was in his prime, sat on the dragon throne, his eyes shining. Beside Li Shi Min stood a gentle young woman with bright eyes. This woman was the Empress of the Tang Empire, Empress Zhangsun.
Beside the steps, a tall eunuch with a lowered brow narrowed his eyes as if he was dozing off. A guard in black with a cold expression was kneeling below the hall.
At this moment, the guard lowered his head and said," Your Majesty, Imperial Consort Wan has been coming to Chang 'an's Lantian County to offer incense every month. For more than ten years, she has never stopped!"”
Li Shimin, who was sitting on the dragon throne, frowned."Wan Taifei believes in Buddhism, so there's nothing wrong with that!”
"Reporting to Your Majesty, that Imperial Consort Wan is going to the Reclining Buddha Temple on the surface to offer incense, but in reality, she only stays at the Reclining Buddha Temple for less than an hour. The rest of the time, she stays in a manor outside Lantian County.”
"Oh?" "Is there anything wrong with that manor?" Empress Zhangsun asked curiously.”
"Reporting to the Empress, this manor belongs to a young man named Wan Kuan. This Wan Kuan was only sixteen years old. The villagers only knew that his parents had died young and that he had moved to Lantian more than two years ago!”
"Where was Wan Kuan two years ago?”Li Shi Min asked.
"Your Majesty, Wan Kuan was raised in a courtyard in Chang 'an two years ago. That courtyard is owned by the Wan family. According to my inquiries, Wan Kuan was placed in a foster care home around the age of one!”
"Wan Kuan?" Li Shiming thought about this name, and his mind couldn't help but go back to more than ten years ago.
Back when Retired Emperor Li Yuan raised an army in Jinyang, his second son Li Shimin followed closely behind Li Yuan, while the other sons were still in their hometown in the east of the river.
Other than his third son, Li Xuanba, who died early, his eldest son, Li Jiancheng, fourth son, Li Yuanji, and fifth son, Li Zhiyun, all rushed to Guanzhong to join Li Yuan's main force.
However, at that time, the Sui Dynasty had not completely fallen apart, and the Sui generals in the east of the river captured Li Yuan's relatives. The dangers were unknown. They only knew that Li Jiancheng and Li Yuanji fled to Chang 'an, while Li Zhiyun was captured and beheaded by the Sui generals.
Li Yuan gave birth to a total of five sons at that time. Other than the third son who died early, the eldest son, second son, and fourth son were all born to Empress Dou. Only the fifth son, Li Zhiyun, was born to Imperial Concubine Wan. When Li Zhiyun died, Imperial Concubine Wan was heartbroken.
After Retired Emperor Li Yuan proclaimed himself emperor in Chang 'an, Li Shimin happened to give birth to a pair of twins. Li Yuan had made the decision to take one of Li Shimin's two sons and adopt him as Li Zhiyun's son. It was also a way for Imperial Concubine Wan to have a grandson.
This adopted grandson was given the name Li Kuan, which meant that he was broad-minded and healthy. However, the name didn't come true. Li Kuan died of an acute illness before he was even a year old.
From birth to death, Li Shimin and Empress Zhangsun had never seen their son. At this moment, Empress Zhangsun was already brimming with tears.
At this moment, Li Shi Min's eyes were wandering. The old eunuch who had been silent all this while suddenly waved his hand, telling the black-clothed guard to leave first, and then he quietly left.
Only Li Shiming and Empress Zhangsun were left in the hall. They looked at each other and saw the surprise and excitement in each other's eyes.
"Erlang, do you think our Kuan 'er is still alive?”Empress Zhangsun was a little excited.
"Guanyin maid, don't panic. I've sent people to investigate for three months. It seems that this Wan Kuan is our Kuan 'er from back then!”Li Shi Min clenched his fists, his veins bulging.
"But why did that Imperial Consort Wan hide Kuan-er's identity? And why did she replace him?”
Li Shi Min's eyes lit up when he heard that."Back then, Big Brother was so overbearing that all the officials in the court submitted to Big Brother. This Kuan-er is Zhen's son. When Eldest Brother really ascends to the throne, I'm afraid he won't be able to live. That's why Imperial Consort Wan would secretly replace him!”
At this moment, Empress Zhangsun could no longer control herself. Tears welled up in her eyes."Erlang, I want to see my Kuan-er!”
"Guanyin maid, now is not the time!”"Kuan 'er is just a commoner now. How can you meet him?" Li Shiming asked in a deep voice. Moreover, if the officials in the court really knew that Kuan 'er was still alive, there would be another storm of blood.”
Empress Zhangsun had also regained her composure."That's right. His Majesty has already appointed a crown prince. If he makes Kuan 'er public now, I'm afraid the court will be unstable!”
At this moment, Li Shi Min's face was a little gloomy."Guanyin maid, who was born first, Chengqian or Kuan-er?”
Empress Zhangsun smiled bitterly." At that time, I was about to give birth. I was surrounded by imperial physicians, and His Majesty was out on a campaign. I didn't even get to see Kuan-er before I was sent by the Retired Emperor to where Imperial Consort Wan was. How would I know who would come first?”
"Sigh! My child is actually wandering among the people. It's really hateful!”Li Shi Min slammed the armrest of the throne heavily.
"Your Majesty, please don't blame Wan Taifei. Back then, she had good intentions and wanted to save Kuan 'er's life!”
"This zhen knows. Moreover, at the Black Tortoise Sect, Imperial Consort Wan even informed this zhen, so this zhen naturally won't blame her.”
At this moment, Empress Zhangsun held Li Shimin's hand.""Erlang, are we going to leave Kuan 'er in the common people for the rest of his life?”
"I, Li Shi Min, have the destiny of a true dragon.”"I'll let Xuanling meet this Wan Kuan first and find out more about him. Then, we'll talk about him!" Li Shiming's eyes narrowed.”
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