Changsun Yan stood in front of the gate of Zhao Guogong's mansion. He was given the important task of welcoming guests and entertaining old friends. This made him very proud, and even his waist, which was usually slumped, straightened up.
Although it was raining, it could not dampen the boiling blood in his heart.
He has always been an invisible man and has become a rather unpopular one among the many brothers. When the eldest brother Sun Chong was here, he not only had His Majesty's holy family, but also his father's favor. It can be said that he was shining brightly. Thousands of dotes on one person, and the rest of the brothers can only be reduced to foils.
When Changsun Chong committed the crime of treason and fled to the end of the world, the second son Changsun Jun stood out and was regarded as the heir to the position of the head of the family. Later, for unknown reasons, Changsun Jun lost his father's favor, while the eldest son Changsun Huan accepted it many times. He was even recognized by his father as the next head of the family.
Changsun Yan is self-aware. In terms of status, he is not as good as Changsun Chong, who is both a direct descendant but his elder brother. Changsun Jun, in terms of ability, is far inferior to even Changsun Huan, the eldest son of the common concubine. The position of the head of the family will not fall to him no matter what. On his head.
Since you can't even be ranked among the top three in the order of heirs, what else do you need to think about?
Just be obedient and be your own dandy, keep a low profile, don't annoy your father, let alone make your brothers aware of any threats to you, and live a life of wealth and splendor, that's fine too.
It's always good to be content, Changsun Yan has always been a smart man.
However, who would have thought that fate would take him in a big circle and make a big joke...
Changsun Chong committed a serious crime of rebellion and fled to the end of the world. Although his father said privately that he had asked for grace from His Majesty, allowing him to perform meritorious service as a convict in Goguryeo. Afterwards, he could offset the death penalty with his meritorious service and return to Chang'an, but there was absolutely no way he could inherit the position of head of the family. .
Changsun Jun suddenly lost his father's favor and trust for some unknown reason. Now Changsun Huan has caused a huge disaster and committed suicide in front of the mansion...
After counting, wouldn't I become the most qualified candidate among the brothers to succeed as the head of the family?
He is the direct descendant, and now he is the eldest among the brothers who is qualified to succeed the head of the family. Although he has not made many achievements, he is not idle and useless. No matter from which aspect, the person he succeeds is Hope the best.
Moreover, his father's ability to entrust him with the important task of receiving guests has obviously acquiesced in the fact that he will be his successor...
Even though he had never coveted the position of the head of the family, one day suddenly this big pie fell on his head. Changsun Yan was still a little dizzy and almost overjoyed.
That is the position of the head of the family!
The head of the eldest grandson family, who is famous in the world and has a flourishing branch, has the whole family to obey his orders, and has the hereditary title of Duke Zhao... He is a height that countless people can hardly reach in their lifetime. For him, everything seems to be within easy reach.
Changsun Yan's heart was burning, but he had to put on a sad look on his face. He frequently greeted the guests who came to express condolences, with a kind attitude and thorough etiquette. He was meticulous in every word and deed, and worked hard to create a new image of himself.
They had just welcomed a guest into the door. When they came out, they saw a sudden commotion from the carriage parked on the long street in front of the mansion. There was a faint noise. Changsun Yan frowned and felt unhappy. Today was the Changsun family's funeral. Who is so ignorant of etiquette that he dares to cause trouble?
This is really unreasonable!
He suppressed his anger and ordered the servants beside him: "Go over and see what's going on. If anyone gets into trouble, I'll beat him with sticks and get out!"
"Here!"
The servant took the order, but before he could walk down the steps, he saw a group of vigorous cavalry coming from the other end of the long street. They were wearing the armor uniforms of the Prince's Sixth Army, surrounded by a carriage and driving forward slowly.
Come, all the carriages blocking the way will give way, which is the source of the commotion.
Changsun Yan took a closer look, his expression suddenly changed, he quickly held down the servant, and ran down the steps quickly.
At this time, the team of cavalry had passed through the layers of carriages and arrived in front of the door. Changsun Yan took three steps and two steps at a time, grabbed the carriage surrounded by cavalry, bent down and saluted, and said respectfully: "I am a humble minister, Changsun Yan."
, I have met His Royal Highness the Crown Prince!"
The door of the carriage opened, and a chamberlain got out of the carriage first, lifting the curtain, and then Prince Li Chengqian, who was dressed in plain clothes and straight clothes, stepped out of the carriage.
In the past two years, Li Chengqian has paid great attention to his diet. He has banned greasy food and exercised regularly. His originally fat figure has lost a lot of weight and he looks much more energetic. Even his lame foot seems to be better than before.
With a little more convenience, he walked up to Changsun Yan, put his hand on his shoulders and helped him up. He said warmly: "This is not a court, so my cousin doesn't need to be polite."
Changsun Huan was excited and said hurriedly: "The etiquette cannot be discarded. Your Highness, please!"
Turning slightly sideways, he led Li Chengqian up the steps and entered the mansion.
The cry of "cousin" made Changsun Yan's heart surge, and he almost couldn't help himself. The Li Tang royal family and Changsun's family were related by marriage, and his aunt was the mother of His Highness the Crown Prince. "Cousin, kiss me, break your bones."
"Connected to the tendons" is a folk proverb, which shows that cousins are indeed the closest relatives in the world.
But Changsunyan's sense of existence has always been too low. He has been shrouded in the light of several brothers. He can even count a few words with the prince, and the relationship is even more indifferent. He has never been called "Express" by the prince.
younger brother"?
It can be seen that even the prince feels that no one can assume the position of head of the Changsun family except himself. Otherwise, with the prince's dignity, why should he be so polite to him?
Suppressing the excitement in his heart, Changsun Yan ordered the middle door to be opened wide, and then he led Prince Li Chengqian to the back house with his body bowed.
Li Chengqian first went to the mourning hall to burn a stick of incense. Looking at the mourning hall filled with incense and the corpse of Changsun Huan covered with a brocade quilt behind the memorial table, he couldn't help but sigh.
He and Changsun Chong are similar in age, and among the Changsun family members, Changsun Chong is the one who has entered the palace the most. The two have always had a good relationship, but who would have known that he accidentally caused Changsun Chong to become disabled and inhumane, and Changsun Chong was even more so.
Therefore, he harbored resentment and designed the prince to accidentally fall off a horse and break his leg. He almost lost his position as crown prince because of this. Changsun Chong is now in exile with a family and cannot return...
The eldest grandson Dan and the eldest grandson Huan passed away successively due to various reasons. This made Li Chengqian feel a strange emotion in his heart. Could it be that the eldest grandson's family, which was once famous in the world, had suffered some kind of vicious curse?
?
Otherwise, how can we explain that such a family has gradually come to this point, and its outstanding children have been abandoned and died one after another. How can the remaining people with mediocre qualifications, such as Changsun Yan, be able to maintain their position in a situation surrounded by jackals?
How about keeping the family property?
I'm afraid that once the eldest grandson Wuji passes away in the future, the eldest grandson's family will fall into the abyss and never regain the glory of their ancestors...
However, Li Chengqian didn't have much friendship with Changsun Huan. After feeling deeply, he packed up his mood and left the mourning hall, following Changsun Yan all the way to where Changsun Wuji lived.
"Your Highness, my father fell seriously ill this morning. He cannot leave the cave at this moment and cannot go out to greet him. Please forgive me, Your Highness."
When they arrived at the back house, Changsun Huan repeatedly confessed.
Li Chengqian waved his hand, shook his head and said: "Zhao Guogong is Gu's uncle and an elder by blood. When your mansion sent someone to the palace in the morning to invite the imperial doctor, Gu planned to come to visit his uncle, but he didn't want to show up just a little late.
Such tragic events...Don't worry about my cousin, we are all a family, so why should we be polite? Just lead the way and go to see my uncle alone."
His gentle words made Changsun Yan feel more and more relaxed.
This is the crown prince of the country, and to be so polite and kind to me is obviously very optimistic about my future succession as the head of the family, so he has been trying to win over me early. Although my father has never been very fond of seeing the prince, he has also tried to admonish your majesty several times.
After deposing the prince, if he can win over himself more, after a hundred years from his father, the eldest son's family will be able to stand in the prince's camp, and their strength will be greatly increased...
Chang Sunyan led Li Chengqian to the back house with brisk steps, but his heart was already trembling.
It's just that a brother died, and his situation has undergone earth-shaking changes without even realizing it. It's clear that he should be miserable at this moment, but he can't help but feel a trace of joy rising up in his heart...
What a sin.
When the family members at the door of Changsun Wuji's residence saw His Royal Highness the Crown Prince arriving, they quickly became rude and stepped aside. Li Chengqian nodded slowly and walked into the hall with a solemn expression.
As soon as one foot stepped over the threshold, he heard a cry of grief in his ears, which made Li Chengqian tremble in fright.
"Your Highness! This old minister has been wronged! I implore Your Highness to make the decision for this old minister and avenge this injustice, so as to comfort my son's spirit in heaven..."