Datang: Just been appointed as the crown prince, the counterattack system is here

Chapter 332 Li Er Spits Blood in Anger? A Burden of Debts is No Burden! [Seeking Monthly Tickets]

"Your Highness! What are you trying to do?!"

When Li Shimin saw Li Tai being forcibly taken away by the Embroidered Uniform Guard, he could no longer suppress his anger.

Because Li Chengqian's actions were not merely a challenge to his imperial authority, but rather a direct elevation of himself above the emperor.

Furthermore, as a father, being disobeyed by his son in front of so many people was a fact that Li Shimin absolutely could not accept.

Since he launched the Xuanwu Gate Incident, he has paid special attention to the relationship between father and son, and thus he has shown his fatherly love to the extreme.

The goal is to instill in children a strong sense of family, fostering harmony among siblings and friendship among relatives.

However, Li Chengqian's actions were utterly humiliating.

But Li Chengqian looked at him calmly and indifferently, and said slowly, "Does Father Emperor believe that I am an evil spirit?"

"This"

Li Shimin's heart sank, and he subconsciously looked at everyone around him.

Does he dare to answer this question?

It's obvious they don't dare.

If he says he believes Li Chengqian is an evil spirit, then his conflict with Li Chengqian will be completely public.

Moreover, Li Chengqian's position as crown prince will certainly be shaken.

This was unacceptable to both him and the Tang Empire.

But the scroll that Li Tai gave him did indeed make him doubt Li Chengqian's identity.

After all, Li Chengqian's rise to power was truly bizarre.

It's like he changed into a completely different person overnight.

However, even though his suspicions about Li Chengqian deepened, he would not openly say that Li Chengqian was an evil spirit.

So he immediately changed the subject, saying, "I'm asking you, why did you treat Qingque like that! Isn't he your brother? Tell me, why!?"

"Your Majesty, I am telling you why!"

Li Chengqian looked directly at Li Shimin and said calmly and indifferently, "Your subject has been the Crown Prince for five years, five years!"

"May I ask, Father, have I done anything that has brought disaster to the country and its people in these past five years?"

"This"

Li Shimin hesitated for a moment, then turned to look at the civil and military officials present, finally saying reluctantly, "There shouldn't be."

"In these past five years, have I harbored any ill intentions towards my parents, elders, brothers and sisters, relatives and friends, or those around me?"

"That's exactly what I was talking about!"

Li Shimin glared at him: "You have no affection or loyalty to Qingque, to Ke'er, or even to me!"

"Then I would like to ask Father, do you have the affection and loyalty that a father should have for his son?"

Li Chengqian calmly countered, "Or rather, do Qingque and Li Ke have any brotherly affection for their elder brother, me?"

How could I not have the affection of a father for you?

Li Shimin immediately retorted, "Haven't I been good enough to you? You act recklessly, and I have tolerated you time and time again. You have repeatedly defied me, and I have tolerated you time and time again. What more do you want from me?"

"Hahaha!"

Upon hearing Li Shimin's words, Li Chengqian suddenly couldn't help but throw his head back and burst into laughter.

To be honest, Li Shimin was a really good actor.

Even his every word and action perfectly embodies the image of a pushover.

But would someone who fought his way out of a mountain of corpses and a sea of ​​blood, murdered his brothers, and forced his father to abdicate really be like that?
Even if historical records clearly state that Li Shimin was severely reprimanded by Wei Zheng and wept several times, Li Chengqian believed it was nothing more than a carefully orchestrated drama by Li Shimin and his ministers.

Because Li Shimin's idol was Emperor Wen of Han, the first emperor in history known for his pure and innocent nature!
What is an idol? It's someone whose words and actions you endorse, who you take as your guiding principle, and who you even start imitating yourself.

It can be said that many of Li Shimin's imperial strategies were exactly the same as those of Emperor Wen of Han.

Emperor Wen of Han's most famous act was forcing his uncle, Bo Zhao, to commit suicide.

Then Emperor Jing of Han learned this trick and used it to force his crown prince Liu Rong to commit suicide.

So why did Li Shimin treat the cripple so badly in history? Because he realized that the cripple's abilities might not be as good as Li Tai's, and thus he considered changing the crown prince.

It must be admitted that although there are few historical accounts of Li Tai, he was indeed a capable person, and more importantly, his abilities were definitely superior to those of the cripple.

As for Li Shimin, as long as the son he had with Empress Zhangsun was the one who would inherit the throne, he would not have failed Empress Zhangsun.

It was precisely for this reason that Empress Zhangsun, who knew Li Shimin best, pleaded with him on her deathbed to be cautious about deposing the crown prince.

Originally, Li Shimin's idea of ​​changing the crown prince was not yet firm. After all, he seized the throne by launching the Xuanwu Gate Incident, and the next emperor must be chosen according to the order of seniority, with the eldest son of the legitimate wife passing the throne.

But Li Chengqian actually plotted a rebellion in the seventeenth year of the Zhenguan era.

This directly solidified Li Shimin's determination to depose the crown prince.

Of course, another important reason is that there has never been a lame emperor in history.

How could he, the heir to the mighty Heavenly Khan, be a crippled emperor?
Wouldn't this make Li Shimin and the Tang Dynasty a laughing stock in the eyes of the world and future generations?

For this reason, starting from the thirteenth year of Zhenguan, he openly and secretly supported Li Tai, allowing him to gradually pressure the cripple, and even hoped that the cripple would voluntarily relinquish the position of crown prince. Then, whether for his own reputation or out of brotherly affection, Li Tai would treat the cripple well.

It has to be said that Li Shimin's ideas were far too optimistic.

Not only did things not go as he hoped, but he also ruined both of his sons.

It is true that one can escape the calamities of Heaven, but one cannot escape the calamities of one's own making.

He didn't learn any of the true essence of Emperor Wen of Han's "pure and innocent" character; he only grasped the superficial aspects and became a crybaby who always got bullied.

"why are you laughing!?"

Li Shimin's face darkened, and he clenched his fists tightly.

But Li Chengqian stopped laughing and looked at him with a mocking expression, saying in a low voice, "Does Father Emperor think that I am heartless and unfilial, and that the changes I have undergone in the past five years have nothing to do with you?"

"So, from what you're saying, it's my fault that you've become like this?"

Li Shimin sneered, "I shouldn't have given you the status of a member of the imperial family, I shouldn't have made you the crown prince, I shouldn't have made you second only to the emperor, right?"

"in the case of"

At this point, he narrowed his eyes: "You don't have to!"

"His Majesty--!"

Upon hearing this, Fang Xuanling, Changsun Wuji, and the others' expressions changed drastically, and they all stepped forward to try and dissuade Li Shimin.

But Li Shimin ignored them and said to himself, "You're right, I should treat all my sons equally. If you don't want them, plenty of others will!"

"Your Majesty!!"

As soon as Li Shimin finished speaking, the civil and military officials around him knelt down on the ground once again.

But none of the local people or students dared to stand up.

What happened today was simply too shocking for them.

They are all now afraid that they will be killed to silence them afterward.

But Li Chengqian said dismissively, "Father, you misunderstand. I'm not talking about status or position, I'm talking about reality!"

"What reality?" Li Shimin asked, frowning.

Li Chengqian glanced at him, then gestured to Pei Xingjian beside him.

Pei Xingjian quickly understood his meaning and immediately ordered the Jinyiwei guards around him to drive away all the people, students, researchers from the Academy of Sciences, and scholars from the Yuewen Academy from the scene.

None of those who were driven away felt regret, because they understood perfectly well that what they were about to hear meant certain death.

As for the civil and military officials around Li Shimin, they were not afraid of being killed to silence them, but they were afraid that the father and son would cause trouble that would get out of control.

It's important to understand that the Li Chengqian of today is not the same Li Chengqian of five years ago; back then, he was the crown prince, whose every move could have far-reaching consequences.

If the father and son were to have a disagreement and start a bloodbath, the Tang Dynasty might repeat the mistakes of the Sui Dynasty and perish after only two generations.

Changsun Wuji and Fang Xuanling exchanged a glance, and the latter immediately understood. Then, without making a sound, he looked at Cheng Yaojin, Yuchi Gong, and the others.

Although these two old rascals often appeared unreliable in front of others, Fang Xuanling knew better than anyone that these two old rascals were probably the most reliable people in the Tang Dynasty.

Especially Yuchi Gong, who was a ruthless man who single-handedly carried the heads of Li Jiancheng and Li Yuanji to see Li Yuan.

He exchanged a glance with Cheng Yaojin, then discreetly hid behind him. With a serpentine movement, he slipped out of the ranks of civil and military officials and ran towards the outer perimeter. However, just as he was about to bypass the Imperial Guards and run towards the barracks, several Imperial Guards swiftly blocked his way.

"General Yuchi, where are you going?" Pei Xingjian seemed to have noticed the commotion among the civil and military officials long ago, and then walked up with a smile.

But Yuchi Gong said without batting an eye, "I need to urinate and want to find a place to relieve myself. Is that not allowed?"

"Of course! Someone, accompany General Yuchi to the restroom!"

"What do you mean by this, young Pei? Am I not allowed to use the restroom alone?"

"Isn't this because I'm worried about General Yuchi's safety?"

Pei Xingjian smiled and winked, saying, "More people means more help."

"Screw you! This can add extra hands?!"

Yuchi Gong glared at Pei Xingjian with annoyance, wanting to force his way through.

But the next moment, several dark gun barrels were instantly pointed at him, causing his pupils to shrink sharply.

But then Pei Xingjian said with a half-smile, "General Yuchi, why don't you go back? Don't make things difficult for me. After all, bullets don't have eyes. You've handled firearms before, haven't you?"

"you!"

Yuchi Gong was speechless.

He knew that this must be Li Chengqian's order, and that the father and son would probably have to settle things today.

"Father, the changes I've undergone in these past five years are no secret, nor have I ever deliberately concealed them. Even when some suspected I was a reincarnated immortal, I haven't denied it; how much less so a mere evil spirit?"

Li Chengqian suddenly said something, then slowly took out a picture book and said to Li Shimin, "This should be the Tui Bei Tu that Father Emperor asked Yuan Tiangang and Li Chunfeng to make, right?"

"Since Father Emperor is superstitious about metaphysics and destiny, he must have also learned about the Tui Bei Tu, right?"

"what do you want to say in the end?"

Li Shimin asked in return with a gloomy expression.

He did know the meaning of the Tui Bei Tu, but he didn't believe that the diagrams were related to Li Chengqian.

Because none of these pictures contain any prophecy about the crown prince.

But Li Chengqian interjected, "Father asked me what I really want to do. To be honest, I have only been doing one thing all these years, and that is not to follow in Father's footsteps!"

"After all, I could never do something like killing my own brother!"

"What did you say!?"

Upon hearing this, Li Shimin flew into a rage.

The expressions of the civil and military officials around him also changed drastically.

He thought to himself, "Has the Crown Prince gone mad?!"
How dare he say such a thing!

Li Shimin roared furiously at the tongueless servant beside him, "Bring me my riding whip!"

"Outrageous! Utterly lawless!"

"Your Majesty, please calm down! Your Majesty, please calm down!"

Wu She dared not take the horsewhip and immediately knelt down before Li Shimin.

But this only further enraged Li Shimin: "Calm down! How can I calm down? This rebellious son actually used that incident from back then to provoke me. What does he take me for?"

After saying this, he kicked Wu She aside, drew his sword from Yun Duan's waist, and charged at Li Chengqian with a ferocious expression: "You say I murdered my brothers! Very well! Today I will even kill my own son!"

"Your Majesty! Your Majesty mustn't be killed!"

In an instant, Li Shimin's legs were grabbed by Changsun Wuji and Fang Xuanling, while his hands were restrained by Qin Qiong and Cheng Yaojin.

"Let them go! Let them all go!"

Li Shimin was now consumed by rage: "Do you want to rebel? I will kill this rebellious son today!"

"okay!"

Before Li Shimin could break free of his restraints, Li Chengqian impatiently said, "Are you ever going to stop? Father, you won't even let your son finish speaking before you start shouting and killing! Don't you even know whose people are here?!"

Upon hearing this, Li Shimin and his ministers instinctively looked around and suddenly realized that they seemed to be surrounded by Li Chengqian's Imperial Guards.

"You unfilial son! This unfilial son has rebelled! He has rebelled!"

Li Shimin roared angrily.

Li Chengqian retorted, "Yes! Your son is a rebellious son! Then I would like to ask Father, have you ever considered my feelings when you dote on the Prince of Wei so much? What merits has he made to be granted twenty-nine prefectures?"

"It's my business how many states I want to grant titles to; what's it to you?"

Li Shimin was so angered by Li Chengqian that he no longer resembled a father or emperor, but rather a shrew: "As a father, is it wrong for me to treat my son better and give him more gifts?"

"You are the Crown Prince, yet I have granted you twenty-eight prefectures. Think about all the Crown Princes throughout history; which one has received such honors? How dare you be jealous of Qingque?!"

Li Shimin became more and more agitated and aggrieved as he spoke, and even the civil and military officials around him felt that Li Shimin had been very fair.

But Li Chengqian replied coldly, "Does Father Emperor think I am jealous of Qingque?"

"Isn't that so? You've repeatedly targeted Qingque because Qingque is more filial than you and more favored by me!"

"Has Father Emperor ever considered that the more you reward him, the more you are actually harming him!"

"Absurd! I am the Emperor of the Great Tang Dynasty, possessing the entire world and the wealth of the nine provinces."

Have you forgotten how you got to where you are today?

Before Li Shimin could finish speaking, Li Chengqian interrupted him, saying, "When you were the Prince of Qin, how many titles did you have? I couldn't even count them all on my fingers and toes! And what was the final result? Don't you understand?"

"The tragedy of the Prince of Xi is still fresh in our minds. Does Your Majesty intend for me to become the next Prince of Xi? Or is it that Father is grooming the Prince of Wei as himself? Does he want him to one day personally kill his elder brother?!"

"I...I didn't."

Li Shimin was completely stunned when he heard Li Chengqian's words.

The civil and military officials around them couldn't help but look at each other in bewilderment.

Upon careful reflection, it seems that His Highness the Crown Prince's words make sense!

Your Majesty's reward to the Prince of Wei is indeed a bit excessive.

But then Li Chengqian gave a cold laugh: "Does Father really think there isn't?"

"Why do you think Qingque dared to call me an evil spirit in front of so many people? Why do you think Qingque wanted to enter the cabinet? Why do you think Qingque developed the Yuewen Academy? It's because he's relying on your favor to plot against his elder brother, me, for the position of Crown Prince!"

"Once I, the eldest brother, fall from power, he can rightfully ascend to the throne, just like you did back then."

"You didn't kill Bo Ren, but Bo Ren died because of you. That's reality!"

He paused, glanced at Li Shimin with disdain, turned his back to him, and said as he walked away, "You still blame my imperial grandfather, thinking that he favors Prince Xi and the others. Now it seems that you are not even half as good as my imperial grandfather! Because my imperial grandfather had no precedent to follow, you don't even care about the precedents!"

"You think you're qualified to teach me about father-son or brotherly love? What a joke!"

Boom!

Upon hearing this, Li Shimin was struck dumb.

"puff--"

Li Shimin let out a muffled groan and spat out a mouthful of blood. Immediately afterward, he couldn't stand up straight.

"His Majesty!"

Wu She was startled and quickly stepped forward to help Li Shimin.

Fang Xuanling, Changsun Wuji, and others quickly knelt down to steady Li Shimin, looking at him with worried expressions, hesitant to speak.

At this moment, almost all the civil and military officials began to sympathize with the father and son.

One is a pitiful person struggling between his father and his brothers, and the other is also a pitiful person struggling between his father and his brothers.

Why are the lives of this father and son so miserable?
They are clearly among the most powerful and respected figures in the world!
Logically speaking, they should be the happiest people in the world!
To be honest, not only could they not understand it, but even the father and son themselves found it difficult to explain.

After a long while, Li Shimin calmed himself down and composed his emotions. He seemed to have aged ten years in an instant. Looking at Li Chengqian's back, he said with a complicated expression, "Perhaps you are right, I am not a qualified father, but do you know that you are also wrong today?"

"Qingque's departure from the capital means that all your brothers, and the forces behind them, must also leave the capital. And you, who caused all this, will be resented by many and become the target of everyone's hatred."

"I know, but I am already burdened with too many debts. For the stability of the Crown Prince's Palace, to avoid repeating His Majesty's mistakes, and for the sake of the Tang Dynasty, I must do this!"

Li Chengqian paused, calmly uttered these words, and then waved his hand: "Guards! Escort His Majesty back to the palace—!"

(End of this chapter)