The Bullied Li Shimin

With the support of Fang Xuanling and the others, Li Shimin finally made up his mind.

He spoke, "In that case, let Chinu be appointed as the Imperial Commissioner of Lingnan Circuit, with full authority over all military and political affairs in Lingnan."

Li Zhi bowed and said, "Your will be done!"

Li Shimin pondered for a moment and continued, "This expedition focuses primarily on development and construction, so the Ministry of Works and the Court of Judicial Review must dispatch additional personnel to provide assistance."

Duan Lun and Zhang Ru also hurriedly stepped forward to receive the decree.

Li Shimin said to Li Zhi, "You may arrange the schedule for reinforcing the Dragon Cavalry yourself, trying your best not to place undue pressure on the treasury."

After Li Zhi received the decree once more, Li Shimin told him, "For now, before the Dragon Cavalry returns, you should spend a few more days with your mother."

Li Shimin's words carried a deep reluctance to part.

Li Zhi was not only intelligent and quick-witted, but also possessed a profound sense of filial piety.

Over the years, he had long grown accustomed to meeting with Li Zhi every single day in the Lizheng Palace.

Now, knowing that before long Li Zhi would be heading off to that untamed frontier to strive and build for the country, Li Shimin was genuinely worried about his health.

After the court session dismissed, Li Shimin personally took Li Zhi by his little hand and walked toward the Lizheng Palace.

Since he was the one sending Li Zhi to Lingnan, he had to have Li Zhi accompany him to explain the matter, or else Empress Zhangsun would surely fall out with him.

And that was only one hurdle.

Later on, he would also have to personally go to the Da'an Palace to report to the Grand Emperor, seeing as Li Zhi was also the apple of the Grand Emperor's eye.

As they walked, Li Shimin cast downward glances at Li Zhi from time to time.

Only now did he realize that Li Zhi's height had already surpassed his waist.

Among children of the same age, this could already be considered quite tall.

Yet Li Zhi's frame still seemed somewhat lean and slender.

Li Shimin was extremely curious as to whom Li Zhi's personality actually resembled.

When handling matters, he was methodical, calm, and decisive—in this regard, he was somewhat like himself.

Yet in ordinary dealings, he was smooth and tactful in all directions, capable of winning the affection of every single relative.

This was something he himself had never managed to achieve in the past.

Li Shimin clearly remembered that back then, precisely because he was not favored by his imperial father's concubines, those consorts had constantly fabricated complaints and criticism against him.

In the end, it had required Empress Zhangsun herself to go into the palace and curry favor with those concubines just to make his life a little easier.

Father and son conversed with each other intermittently as they walked.

Zhang An'an, following closely behind the two, found himself inexplicably saddened by this sight.

Li Zhi was always exceptionally kind to the palace servants.

Not only did he never bully the palace maids and eunuchs himself, but he also frequently stopped the other imperial princes from bullying them.

Li Zhi was quite an anomaly within the deep palace.

It seemed that in his eyes, all people were equal regardless of status or rank.

Of course, Li Zhi had no idea what Li Shimin and Zhang An'an were thinking.

At this moment, he was pondering how to comfort Empress Zhangsun shortly.

Inside Lizheng Palace, Empress Zhangsun had initially been quite delighted to see the father and son appear here at this hour.

However, the moment she finished listening to Li Shimin's account, her expression changed drastically.

Looking at Li Shimin, Empress Zhangsun demanded, "Your Majesty has always boasted to me that all the heroes of the realm are already within Your Majesty's grasp—why, then, must you burden Chinu with such a colossal responsibility?"

Li Shimin awkwardly grinned and parted his lips, just about to offer an explanation when he saw tears well up in Empress Zhangsun's eyes.

He hurriedly pulled out his silk handkerchief, intending to wipe them away for her.

To his surprise, Empress Zhangsun fiercely batted his arm away.

She jerked her body around and turned her back to him.

Then, she continued, "Chinu is still so young, yet you actually had the heart to dispatch him to such a barren wasteland—could it be that you no longer want this son?"

Li Shimin scrambled to move back around into Empress Zhangsun's field of vision.

Anxious, he blurted out, "Guanyinbi, listen to me explain; things are not the way you think."

Empress Zhangsun retorted, "Then how else are they? With over six hundred officials in this capital city, is there truly no one else who can resolve this matter in Chinu's place?"

Li Shimin opened his mouth to speak, but Empress Zhangsun cut him off again, "Even if that were so, why couldn't Your Majesty wait a few more years, letting Chinu grow older before sending him?"

Left entirely speechless by the onslaught, Li Shimin could only stand there stunned with his mouth agape.

Quickly stepping in, Li Zhi spoke up from the side, "Mother, do not blame Father; it was this son who initiated the idea and requested to go."

Empress Zhangsun snapped, "You need not open your mouth to cover for your heartless father. He is merely taking advantage of your youth to deceive you."

Hearing this, Li Shimin's eyes widened in sheer disbelief.

How on earth am I heartless? How have I deceived Chinu?

Do you think I am willing to let Chinu leave, easily?

Besides, who decreed that being young automatically makes someone easy to trick?

This son of yours is already shrewd to the absolute limit, alright!

Li Zhi hastily spoke again, "Please, Mother, patiently listen to this son's explanation. It truly is not what you imagine."

Without waiting for Empress Zhangsun to reply, Li Zhi hurriedly laid out his reasoning.

Empress Zhangsun originally had no desire to listen, but Li Zhi's little mouth chattered on and on without stopping.

Left with no choice, she could only listen helplessly to his explanation.

Li Zhi spoke continuously for a good half-hour.

Finally, he concluded, "Mother, this matter is of the utmost gravity. Neither the development of Lingnan nor the expanded Dragon Cavalry can be casually entrusted to the hands of others."

Having heard Li Zhi's explanation, although more than half of her anger had dissipated, Empress Zhangsun still could not comprehend why this matter had to be carried out with such urgency.

She therefore asked, "Even so, why could we not wait a couple of years, until you are a bit older, to handle it?"

Li Zhi answered, "Mother, these southern lands are the fundamental foundation for the enduring prosperity of our Great Tang. The earlier they are developed, the more it will strengthen the national power of our Great Tang!"

Upon hearing these words, large tears streamed down Empress Zhangsun's face in a continuous patter.

She pulled Li Zhi directly into her embrace, continuously stroking and patting his head.

Sobbing, she murmured, "You are so young, yet you must journey far away from home—how can your mother bear to let you go?"

Hugging against Empress Zhangsun's shoulder, Li Zhi said, "Mother need not worry about this son; I have already grown up and know how to take care of myself."

Beholding the poignant scene of mother and son clinging to each other, Li Shimin could not help but think of his own mother.

Back then, his mother had cherished him with that exact same depth of love.

What a pity that she had departed from this world before she could ever live to see him ascend the throne.

At this thought, hot tears welled up and spilled from Li Shimin's own eyes.

Quietly, he slipped away from Lizheng Palace and headed toward the Da'an Palace alone.

He still had to explain today's arrangements to his stubborn, aging father.

Yet no sooner had he begun to speak of his decision to send Li Zhi to Lingnan than Li Yuan's eyes bulged with fury.

Before Li Shimin could even offer an explanation, the old emperor grabbed his walking cane from close at hand.

Cursing fiercely, Li Yuan roared, "I will beat you to death, you muddle-headed, unfilial wretch! How could you bear to banish Chinu to such a wild and desolate wasteland?"

With that, Li Yuan swung the cane in his grip and lashed out fiercely at Li Shimin.