Chapter Thirty-Two: Finally at Odds

As Li Kong waved his hand, not two, but three sets of tables and chairs were promptly delivered—not only for Li Chengqian and Li Lizhi, but also for Empress Zhangsun. They were all of the imperial family, and in this age where the heavens ranked first and the emperor second, Li Kong’s gestures could be seen as flattery, but it would not affect the uncompromising stance he intended to maintain.

Though he felt a pang of regret, the thrill inside him soon overshadowed it when Li Lizhi, after returning to the palace, came out again with renewed energy.

“Brrr, it’s so cold! Aren’t you cold, Brother Kong?” On the streets of the Western Market, Li Lizhi rubbed her small hands together, looking at Li Kong with curiosity.

She wore a specially tailored fur coat and a soft mink hat atop her head, yet still felt the piercing chill. In contrast, Li Kong wore only a fur overcoat, appearing otherwise quite lightly dressed, which made Li Lizhi a little envious.

With one hand behind his back, Li Kong instinctively patted the top of Li Lizhi’s head with the other and smiled, “I’m fine. Maybe it’s because I’m in good health. If you’re interested, you could learn some basic swordsmanship. Even if you’re not fighting, it’s good for your body.”

Li Kong’s gesture made Li Lizhi’s cheeks flush a deep red. It was too embarrassing. Only after speaking did Li Kong realize his behavior was inappropriate. It would be nothing with an ordinary person, but before him stood the eldest princess of the Tang, Li Shimin’s most beloved daughter. Li Kong couldn’t help but wonder if Li Shimin would chop off his hand if he learned of this.

Surely… that wouldn’t happen?

“Brother Kong, men and women shouldn’t touch each other!” she whispered shyly, her tone sending a thrill through Li Kong.

“My mistake. It won’t happen again,” he replied.

Li Lizhi breathed a sigh of relief, but for some reason, she felt a pang of disappointment, as if she had said the wrong thing. Recalling the gentle touch of his hand, her heart quickened once more.

While the two exchanged lingering glances, three little boys suddenly dashed toward them from the front. The one leading the charge, with anger written all over his face, stopped right in front of Li Kong and shouted, “Li Kong, you scoundrel, I challenge you to a duel!”

Before the words had fully left his mouth, a tiny fist, no larger than a kitten’s paw, flew at Li Kong’s face. Li Kong easily caught it with one hand and, with a gentle tug, sent the boy sprawling to the ground in a clumsy heap, his scream echoing skyward.

It was only then that Li Kong realized the boy before him was Changsun Chong, son of Zhangsun Wuji. The two boys behind him were also familiar faces: Du He, second son of Du Ruhui, and Li Tai, fourth son of Li Shimin.

However, Li Tai at this age was still an innocent, mischievous little chubby boy, not yet given to schemes and intrigue. Remembering the impression Li Kong had previously left on him—a somewhat fearsome one—Li Tai’s first instinct upon seeing Li Kong was not to fight, but to turn and flee.

“Xiao Tai, have you finished your studies?” Li Kong’s voice reached him just as he turned away.

Li Tai’s face fell, turning pale as he slowly turned back, head bowed, hoping to avoid Li Kong’s gaze.

At that moment, Li Kong’s mind wandered to the history he remembered from his former life: in the sixth year of the Zhenguan era, Li Tai moved out of the palace to reside in the Prince of Wei’s manor, beyond Li Shimin’s direct control. With the encouragement of Cen Wenben and others, his ambitions for the throne grew rapidly, eventually leading to his family’s ruin.

Taking a deep breath, Li Kong was about to step forward when Changsun Chong, having picked himself up, suddenly charged into Li Kong’s legs in a fury, shouting, “Li Kong, you bastard! Who gave you the right to be with Changle? I’m going to kill you today!”

Li Kong’s heart sank. In one swift movement, the strength he had honed on the battlefield sent Changsun Chong flying. Had he not held back, that single move might have crippled the boy.

“Changsun Chong, since when is it your place to decide who I spend time with? Who do you think you are—the Emperor? The Empress?”

Changsun Chong shivered, but forced himself to retort, “I can’t control you, but you can’t be with Changle! She’s not someone you can aspire to!”

Both Li Kong and Li Lizhi were infuriated by his words. Li Lizhi snapped, “Changsun Chong, what right do you have to meddle in my affairs? I can spend time with whomever I choose!”

Changsun Chong was dumbfounded. He had always thought Changle liked him; otherwise, why would he have shamelessly followed her around all this time? But today, one of life’s great delusions was mercilessly shattered by Li Lizhi herself.

“You… Changle… I…”

Before Changsun Chong could finish, Li Kong strode over to Du He, towering over the nine-year-old boy. “Where are you all going?”

Du He was one of the most timid and lackluster ‘second-generation officials’ of the Zhenguan era—second only to Fang Yi’ai. Naturally cowardly, indecisive, and always bullied by the strong, he was the very picture of one who preys on the weak and fears the powerful.

At this moment, Li Kong’s presence was overwhelming, and Du He blurted out without thinking, “Cuixiang Brothel!”

What the—!

Hearing Du He’s response, Li Kong felt as if a thunderbolt had struck him from above.

Could anyone imagine a group of eight- and nine-year-old children heading to a brothel? Were they even capable in that way? Were they not afraid of being drained by the courtesans?

Li Lizhi looked at Li Kong and Du He with curiosity and asked, “Brother Kong, what kind of place is the Cuixiang Brothel? Why are you so… surprised?”

Li Kong’s mouth twitched. He walked over to Li Lizhi, gave Changsun Chong—who had just gotten up—a look of contempt, then pointed to a nearby building. There, a row of flamboyantly dressed women were flirting shamelessly with passersby. Above them, the three characters marking ‘Cuixiang Brothel’ stood out in bold relief.

Though Li Lizhi was young, children matured early in this era. Even if she had never set foot inside, she knew what such a place was. In the next instant, the princess, though still a child, stormed over to Changsun Chong and kicked at him with her little leg, shouting, “Cousin! I! Will! Tell! Father!”

Changsun Chong was stunned. Tell Li Shimin? How would he ever get to have any more fun?

Though visiting brothels was not unusual in these times, it all depended on who you were. For a commoner, it was nothing. But if you were a prince consort caught frequenting such places, would the emperor not beat you to a pulp?