Now I really have to marry the princess.

Chapter 31 Chongren Ward, or Pingkang Ward?

Li Er stepped forward and helped Yang Zhengdao up, saying, "My nephew, don't be afraid! My nephew, don't be afraid!"

Since Li Er had agreed to this arrangement, Yang Zhengdao naturally wanted to take advantage of it. He grabbed Li Er's sleeve, looking aggrieved, and said, "Uncle, I'm really suffering!"

He choked up and continued:

"I often hear my grandmother say that when Father was alive... Emperor Yang sent eunuchs to spy on him. If they were happy, they suspected something was amiss; if they were worried, they feared he was plotting something. Father and son were so suspicious of each other. Whenever I think about this, I feel a chill in my heart."

These words struck a nerve with Li Er. The Xuanwu Gate Incident was precisely caused by the distrust between father and son, and brothers.

At that time, he was like Yang Jian, the Prince of Qi, Yang Zhengdao's father. If he did not fight back, he would also die and be forgotten like Yang Jian.

Thinking of this, Li Er felt a deep sense of empathy. His eyes were moved, and he subconsciously placed his hand on Yang Zhengdao's shoulder.

Yang Zhengdao felt Li Er's hand on his shoulder and was secretly delighted.

He continued, choking back tears, "The past events of the previous dynasty are like hidden wounds and ailments to me; touching them causes pain, and thinking about them causes injury. That is why I am so fearful and out of control."

Li Er sighed softly, gently patting Yang Zhengdao's back: "With your uncle here, my nephew, do not grieve!"

Steady!

With Li Er's words in mind, things are settled.

Yang Zhengdao caught a glimpse of the Imperial Diarist writing on paper, and naturally had to say something that Li Er would like to hear.

He composed himself and raised his head again, his expression a mixture of sorrow and joy: "I am not sad, I am very comforted. My uncle's kindness to me today far surpasses that of Emperor Yang to my father."

Upon hearing this, Li Er immediately smiled.

That brat knows how to talk.

Just now, Yang Zhengdao was so frightened that he lost his composure. Li Er was still worried that if he left a mark in the daily records, he would inevitably be criticized for being harsh on his juniors and making things difficult for the orphans.

Now that Yang Zhengdao has said this, he will surely leave behind a beautiful story of caring for his relatives and nephews and showing kindness and benevolence in his daily records.

"When the emperor heard about the political situation and the events involving Emperor Yang and his son, he felt both sorrow and comfort." After writing this sentence, Yan Xiangshi couldn't help but sigh in his heart.

He held his pen above the paper, pondered for a moment, and then wrote down Yang Zhengdao's last sentence verbatim.

Just then, the timekeeping board in the inner court sounded, and the evening drum of Chengtian Gate could be faintly heard.

It's finally over!

Yang Zhengdao seemed to hear the school bell ringing, and breathed a sigh of relief.

Li Er glanced at the sky outside the palace and then remembered the important matter that had brought Yang Zhengdao here today.

"Dusk has fallen, so I will not keep you any longer. I have already handed over your registration to the Northern Army. You will enter the Martial Virtue Hall to learn martial arts in three days. Go back and prepare yourself, and do not disappoint my expectations."

What's going on?

The Northern Garrison was short for the Inspectorate of the Northern Gate Camp, which included the Hundred Cavalry Division and the Seven Camps of the Northern Garrison. It was Li Er's private army and the imperial guards protecting the palace.

Yang Zhengdao was overjoyed. Was he about to be granted an official position?

Among the second-generation meritorious officials in Chang'an, all of them first entered the Northern Court, obtained a minor official position, and then were granted a formal official post.

He quickly bowed and said loudly, "Yes, sir."

Li Er smiled and waved his hand. Yang Zhengdao bowed and took his leave, while Yan Xiangshi also prepared to pack up his writing materials.

Just as Yang Zhengdao was about to turn around and step out of the main hall, he was stopped by Li Er.

Not over yet?! Are you going to go overtime?!

Yang Zhengdao was inwardly groaning, but could only turn around and bow with his hands clasped.

"Before entering the Wude Hall, remember to write a policy proposal and submit it to me. The title should be: 'I wish to undertake construction projects without exhausting the people, what do you think?'"

Is this homework?!

The college student immediately thought of the shadow of being tormented by his graduation thesis.

He forced a smile, bowed, and agreed.

As soon as you leave the Liangyi Hall, you can hear the sound of drums coming from the direction of Chengtian Gate.

After four hundred drumbeats, the palace gates and imperial city gates will be locked in turn, and after six hundred drumbeats, the gates of the 108 wards will be closed, and the curfew will officially begin in Chang'an.

The eunuch Cao, who was waiting outside, came forward and reminded him, "Young master, do we need to obtain an imperial edict?"

Should he return to the Liangyi Hall and obtain an imperial edict from Li Er?

Li Er might set more exam questions or assign more homework.

terrible!

Yang Zhengdao thought about it and decided to forget about it. He figured it wouldn't be a problem to get back to Xingdaofang before curfew.

"Young master, come with me quickly." After saying this, Eunuch Cao turned around and stepped forward to lead the way.

Yang Zhengdao followed the eunuch Cao, and they traveled at a rapid pace once again.

When the two hundred drumbeats ceased, the palace gates began to close, the hinges creaking as the guards pushed them shut.

Yang Zhengdao squeezed out of Chang Le Gate just before the palace gates closed.

"Big Brother, you've finally come out!" Tan Feng said, handing the reins of "Black Shadow" to Yang Zhengdao.

The two mounted their horses and hurried out of the imperial city through Yanxi Gate.

By this time, the streets were almost deserted, and the Wuhou, who was in charge of night patrol, had begun his patrol.

The distance from Yanxi Gate to Xingdaofang is less than three kilometers, so there was plenty of time.

To Yang Zhengdao's surprise, something went wrong on this journey of less than three kilometers.

The two rode quickly to the crossroads where Chongrenfang and Pingkangfang meet.

Just as Yang Zhengdao was about to turn his horse westward and rush back to Xingdaofang, suddenly, two staggering figures burst out from the side of the street and rushed straight towards Yang Zhengdao's horse.

Yang Zhengdao pulled hard on the reins, and "Wuying" reared up, letting out a long neigh, its front hooves barely avoiding the two men.

Yang Zhengdao swayed, and only by pressing down on the saddle could he regain his balance. Looking up, he saw that the two men were dressed in narrow-sleeved, left-fastening clothing, with their hair tied up on top of their heads. They reeked of alcohol and were clearly drunk.

They turned out to be two Japanese envoys sent to Tang China.

One of them, supporting his companion, squinted at Yang Zhengdao on horseback, muttering Japanese in a low voice.

Yang Zhengdao's expression immediately changed. Although the man's speech was slurred due to drunkenness, the word "baka" was particularly jarring.

"Tan Feng, teach these two bastards a lesson!"

Tan Feng dismounted in response, and with a swift movement, kicked one of the men straight in the chest, knocking him to the ground.

Just as the other person was about to retaliate, Tan Feng easily dodged him, then grabbed the man's wrist and threw him away.

Tan Feng was nearly seven feet tall; for him to fight a five-foot-tall Japanese man was simply bullying a child.

Yang Zhengdao, still disgusted and not satisfied, added, "Give each of them ten slaps!"

Tan Feng hesitated for a moment. Da Lang had always been kind, and he had never seen Da Lang so irritable, nor had he ever heard of Da Lang having any grudges with the Japanese.

However, since the eldest brother has spoken, these ten slaps are definitely not to be missed.

Tan Feng grabbed the two Japanese men by the collar and slapped each of them ten times cleanly before throwing them to the ground.

Yang Zhengdao felt relieved, but this caused a delay.

At that moment, the sound of the clapperboard of the Wuhou patrol came from afar.

Then Zhuge Liang shouted, "Who is making such a commotion here? Curfew is approaching, go home immediately!"

Yang Zhengdao felt a chill run down his spine, regretting that he hadn't asked Li Er to issue the imperial edict.

It's too late to go back to Xingdao Ward now; the only option is to enter the nearest ward to avoid being questioned by the Martial Lord.

Should we go to Chongrenfang? Or Pingkangfang?

Going to Empress Xiao's place in Chongrenfang would inevitably cause her worry.

Having made his decision, Yang Zhengdao turned his horse around: "Tan Feng, let's go to Pingkang Ward!"