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

Chapter 396 Killing Brothers, Inheriting the Father's Business? [Seeking Monthly Tickets]

"Grandpa Huang!"

After settling matters in Empress Zhangsun's palace, Li Chengqian rushed to Li Yuan's residence without stopping.

Fortunately, no evil spirits came to cause trouble at Li Yuan's residence. Even if they did, Li Yuan probably wouldn't have been as worried as Empress Zhangsun.

After all, what storms hasn't Lao Li weathered?

The Xuanwu Gate alone was opened twice, once passively and once actively, which can be considered the pinnacle of his life.

"Hahaha! My dear grandson, you're finally back!"

When Old Li saw Young Li, he was incredibly affectionate. He didn't even bother to drink the wine that was offered to him. Instead, he staggered to his feet, rushed to Li Chengqian's side, who was covered in blood, and gave him a bear hug without any hesitation.

Li Chengqian hugged him with a smile and asked with concern, "Grandpa, are you alright?"

"Good! Good! Good!"

Old Li said "good" three times in a row, then opened Li Chengqian's arms and looked him up and down, as if Li Chengqian had flowers on his face. Li Chengqian was a little embarrassed by the look, and then Old Li said with emotion, "Hmm! You've grown taller and more handsome. You look like a prince now!"

"Hehe, Your Majesty is joking. His Highness the Crown Prince is the Crown Prince after all!" Du Caigan, who was standing to the side, couldn't help but walk up with a smile.

"General Du, are you alright?"

"Good, good! We're all fine!"

Before Du Caigan could respond to Li Chengqian, Li Yuan interrupted him, then grabbed Li Chengqian's hand tightly, while shooing away the dancers and musicians around him, and beckoning to the palace maids and eunuchs standing by: "Quickly! Bring up all the best food and drinks from the palace!"

"promise!"

The palace maids and eunuchs responded and immediately brought out various delicacies and wines as Li Yuan had instructed.

Li Chengqian didn't stand on ceremony and started eating and drinking right away.

Although he wasn't hungry, he knew how much Li Yuan felt for him.

He wanted to stay with his partner like they did back in Jiangling, relying on each other for survival.

After all, since Li Chengqian returned to Chang'an, the father and son had spent less and less time together.

The elderly have no other desires but to have their loved ones by their side and enjoy the happiness of family life.

Especially loved ones and family members you cherish.

"Chengqian, your return this time must be significant, right?"

Seeing that Li Chengqian had almost finished eating, Li Yuan picked up his wine cup and asked with a smile.

In fact, both grandfather and grandson knew the truth, but some things are better said than kept silent.

But then Li Chengqian said in a deep voice, "I intend to take advantage of this turmoil to reshape the organizational structure of my Great Tang Dynasty!"

"What are your plans for Erlang?" Li Yuan asked noncommittally.

Li Chengqian thought for a moment and said, "If I kill Li Ke and his brother, it's inevitable that I'll turn against him. So, I might as well go all the way and replace the court with him!"

"Ha, what a bold move! But aren't you afraid he'll turn against you and fight you to the death?"

"What can we do if we're afraid? Should we not do it just because we're afraid?"

Li Chengqian scoffed, "Besides, I did nothing wrong. Brother Li Ke deserved to die. It would be truly foolish not to do it because of concerns about reputation!"

"Besides, didn't my father do it too? I'm just following in his footsteps!"

"Hahaha!"

Upon hearing this, Li Yuan couldn't help but throw his head back and laugh loudly: "What kind of son inheriting his father's business is this!"

"But Grandfather..."

Li Chengqian ignored Li Yuan's laughter and winked, saying, "You should be on my side, right?"

“I think you should be concerned about something else rather than this.”

Li Yuan glanced at him sideways, then said indifferently, "Your father recently issued an imperial decree ordering the Three Departments to investigate you. Are you aware of that?"

"The three judicial departments are investigating me?"

Li Chengqian was slightly taken aback, then shook his head and said, "I don't know! Why is that?"

"As far as I know, it seems that because of Li You's assassination attempt, someone has accused you of being the assassin you sent!"

"Ridiculous! I'm not crazy, why would I send someone to assassinate Li You? Oh right, how is Li You? He's not dead, is he?"

"He's not dead, but he suffered serious injuries."

Li Yuan sighed, "Our Tang Dynasty royal family is truly plagued by misfortune!"

"Misfortune? Not so bad, it's just that power blinds you!"

Li Chengqian pursed his lips and said, "Actually, I think it's better for an empire to have some problems at the beginning. If no problems arise, it often indicates that a big problem is about to occur. And this big problem may be the main reason for the collapse of the empire."

"For example, the Qin and Sui dynasties were generally fine at the beginning, but once problems arose, they perished after only two generations!"

"Hmm, what you're saying makes some sense. But how do you plan to handle the joint trial by the three judicial departments?"

Upon hearing this, Li Chengqian pondered for a moment before thoughtfully saying, "If it were up to my temperament, I definitely wouldn't care if I didn't do it, but according to my plan, I think I should go to jail!"

"Oh?" Li Yuan raised an eyebrow with a hint of curiosity and asked, "You're going to jail?"

"Yes! That's right! I want him in jail, and I want all the people behind Li Ke to come out!"

Li Chengqian nodded and said, "That's why I didn't go looking for trouble with Li Ke right away. If it were just about killing Li Ke, I could arrest him now, but the people behind Li Ke would hide like startled mice. They'd come out again once we were gone, and I don't want that to happen at any time, nor do I have the energy to deal with them!"

"After all, my goal has always been overseas. Grandfather should know that Hilde's ocean-going ships have already begun construction!"

"Too!"

Li Yuan nodded in agreement, saying, "There's really no need to keep going through all this trouble with these stinking rats. It would be best to wipe them out in one fell swoop. Even if we can't get rid of them all, we should at least make sure they don't pose a significant threat."

But then Li Chengqian said with a half-smile, "Then, could my grandfather lend me a hand?"

"Ok?"

Li Yuan was slightly taken aback, then said irritably, "What can an old man like me, with no power or influence, do to help you!"

"Hehe, Grandfather, stop pretending. To be able to secretly deploy a group of men in black in the palace, your abilities are not as bad as the history books say!"

"History books? What history books?"

"None of that matters. What matters is whether Grandfather can help me?"

"You brat, aren't you just asking the obvious?"

Li Yuan rolled his eyes at Li Chengqian, then glanced at Du Caigan, frowning as he asked, "How do you want me to help you?"

"With your words of comfort, Grandfather, I am relieved!"

Having received a satisfactory answer, Li Chengqian rose to take his leave, saying, "Grandfather, take care. When I come to visit you next time, everything will be settled!"

"Ha! Go! I hope you can lead my Great Tang Dynasty to new heights!"

Li Yuan waved his hand with amusement and said, "Putting everything else aside, you must be better than Erlang!"

"for sure!"

Li Chengqian gave a strange laugh and immediately took his leave.

Li Yuan, who watched him leave, sighed and then turned to Du Caigan, who had remained silent, and asked, "What do you think?"

"What do you mean by 'Emperor Emeritus'?" Du Cai asked with a dry laugh.

Li Yuan smacked his lips and said casually, "How about three emperors ruling together?"

"Uh, well, that should be fine, but His Majesty might have a hard time accepting it."

"Difficult to accept?"

Li Yuan scoffed: "Wasn't it hard for me to accept it back then? I was emperor for nine years! And I was still overthrown!"

"But His Majesty has only been in power for five years."

"Ok?"

Li Yuan was taken aback again, then burst into loud laughter: "Hahaha—only five years!!"

On the other side, at the Shu King's Palace.

Li Ke suddenly woke up from his coma, his whole body soaked, as if he had just been pulled out of the water.

A sharp pain shot through the places where the flying needles had pierced him. He instinctively touched the spot where the Gu worms had entered, and apart from a scar, there was nothing else unusual. "Wu Wu Bing," he groaned hoarsely, his throat dry, overwhelmed by immense humiliation and fear.

He, the dignified King of Shu, had been treated like an animal, with this wicked thing planted in his own residence by his ally whom he had relied on.

"You ruthless guards and soldiers!"

He gritted his teeth, his nails digging deep into his palms until blood seeped out.

His physical weakness and the psychological trauma caused by the Gu worm left him bedridden and unable to move.

Just then, a series of hurried footsteps and a faint commotion came from inside the mansion.

"Your Highness! Your Highness, something terrible has happened!"

A trusted guard stumbled in, his face deathly pale: "The Crown Prince... the Crown Prince has forced his way into the city! His Highness Prince Liang has been... captured on the spot by the Crown Prince and imprisoned in the Imperial Prison! Many people have died at the city gate! The Crown Prince, with the Imperial Guards, is... heading straight for the palace!"

"What?!" Li Ke was struck dumb, his vision went black, and he almost fainted again.

Li Yin arrested? City gates breached? Li Chengqian's ruthless methods show no regard for public sentiment?

He struggled to hold onto the bed, a metallic sweetness rising in his throat, which he swallowed hard.

It's over. The situation that I had meticulously planned for more than two months was torn to shreds by Li Chengqian in the most ruthless and direct way!

"Where is the plague doctor?! Where is the plague doctor?!"

Li Ke roared, his voice filled with despair and a last shred of desperate hope.

"General Lang... General Lang, he..."

Before the guard could finish speaking, the door to the secret room was pushed open.

The plague doctor's sallow face appeared at the door, his eyes still unfathomable, yet carrying a hint of barely perceptible solemnity.

"His Highness the Prince of Shu has awakened?"

The plague doctor's voice was still hoarse. He strode closer, his sharp gaze sweeping over Li Ke's neck: "It seems the martial arts skills are still a bit rough. However, the Gu worms have been planted. How does Your Highness feel?"

"How do you feel?!"

Li Ke suddenly looked up, his eyes bloodshot, like a wounded beast: "How dare you treat me like this! Li Chengqian has already entered the city! He has captured Yindi! Is this how you guards cooperate?!"

The plague doctor frowned slightly, clearly the upheavals outside the city had exceeded his expectations.

Li Chengqian's ruthlessness and decisiveness made him feel truly threatened.

"Your Highness, please calm down."

The plague doctor's voice lowered: "Li Chengqian's entry into the city may not be a bad thing. His entry into this plague-ridden prison has given us the opportunity to trap him like a turtle in a jar!"

A glint of venomous coldness flashed in his eyes: "Your Highness knows the efficacy of 'Plague-Clearing Powder.' Although those ignorant people were temporarily intimidated by his power, their fear and dependence on the 'miracle drug' have not disappeared!"

"As soon as the enhanced version of the 'miracle drug' comes out, hehe, Your Highness, do you think those lowly commoners who were just trembling under the Crown Prince's powerful force will once again pounce on him like mad dogs to tear him apart in order to save their lives?"

Upon hearing this, Li Ke's chaotic mind calmed down slightly, but the fact that he had been poisoned by a curse made him feel uneasy again.

He stared intently at the plague doctor: "Will he let us continue distributing that enhanced version of the 'miracle drug'?"

"His people have taken back the medical school, but that's okay. We have other secret drug manufacturing facilities. Even if he stops us from distributing drugs openly, we can still do it secretly, and it will happen tonight at midnight!"

The plague doctor scoffed, "At that time, Your Highness just needs to hold on and cooperate with us to put on a good show. Let the people of Chang'an believe that only you, and only the Shu Prince's miraculous medicine, can lead them out of their suffering!"

"And the Crown Prince is the evil spirit that brings disaster and prevents the divine medicine from descending!"

"Once the people's hearts are completely boiling, will Li Chengqian be able to kill all the people of Chang'an?"

"this."

Li Ke hesitated for a moment, then seemed to remember something and frowned, saying, "I heard from the soldiers that the Garrison Commander will personally deal with Li Chengqian?"

"Yes, I've heard about it too, but it's not certain yet! However, we don't need to wait for the Garrison Commander to take action; we still have ways to deal with Li Chengqian!"

The plague doctor laughed and said, "You've forgotten, Li Chengqian is still carrying the case of assassinating Prince Yan, Li You. As long as we inform the cabinet and have them reopen the joint trial by the three judicial departments, we can restrict Li Chengqian's freedom. Unless he dares to completely break with His Majesty, he will never dare to openly defy the imperial decree!"

Upon hearing this, Li Ke's eyes lit up, and he thought to himself, "That's right! No wonder Wu Bing supported Yin Zhihong's plan to assassinate Li You; he was waiting for Li Chengqian here!"

It seems that the garrison commander had already made the worst-case scenario plan: if the assassination attempt on Li Chengqian failed on his way back, he would let him return to Chang'an to deal with him!
"Guardian," Li Ke murmured, a complex light flashing in his eyes, a mixture of fear and a morbid expectation.

He touched his neck, recalling his previous experience of being poisoned, then with a desperate resolve, he suddenly looked up, his eyes turning unusually sinister: "Fine! I will cooperate with you! But remember, if anything happens to me, all of your arrangements in Chang'an will be uprooted and exposed to the public before I die!"

The plague doctor forced a stiff smile onto his sallow face: "Your Highness, rest assured, even after you have been cursed, we will always be on your side."

At the same time, in the Prince’s Mansion.

After returning from Li Yuan's palace, Li Chengqian did not do anything extra, but went directly back to the Crown Prince's residence.

"Your Highness, I pay my respects to His Majesty the Crown Prince!"

As soon as Li Chengqian returned to his residence, Ma Zhou and the others bowed to him in unison.

Li Chengqian waved his hand at them and said, "Sit down and talk!"

"Yes!"

Everyone responded and immediately returned to their seats.

Pei Xingjian spoke first: "Your Highness, the chaos in Chang'an has been quelled by Hu Deli and Xi Junmai. It's just a pity that the physicians from the Prince of Shu's residence all fled beforehand. I have already ordered the Embroidered Uniform Guard to search the entire city!"

"Hmm, how is Dr. Sun doing? Has anyone been in trouble or injured?"

Li Chengqian nodded and pressed for an answer.

Pei Xingjian spoke again, "The physicians of the Shu Prince's Mansion, though strange, did not kill anyone from the Medical Academy. After all, their numbers are limited, and manufacturing 'Qingwen Powder' requires a large number of physicians. As for injuries, that was unavoidable!"

"Well, as long as everyone is alright, that's good. What did Doctor Sun say about 'Qingwen Powder'?"

"Poison! Doctor Sun scoffed at 'Qingwen Powder'! And he was quite certain it was poison, treating the symptoms but not the root cause!"

"It looks like what I thought."

Li Chengqian nodded and asked, "What about Yang Nannan? Is there any news yet?"

"Yes! I've already sent someone to contact Yang Nannan, and she said they've selected suitable smallpox vaccines for her, and they can currently vaccinate over 300 people!"

"Only three hundred people?"

"This is just the first batch; the next batch could be ten times larger!"

"Ten times is three thousand people, that's not bad!"

Li Chengqian nodded in satisfaction, then looked at Ma Zhou and the others and asked, "Do you have anything to say?"

Ma Zhou and the others exchanged glances, and then Cen Wenben spoke first: "May I ask Your Highness, why have you not made any move regarding the Prince of Shu? Shouldn't you have sent someone to arrest him, just like you did with the Prince of Liang?"

Li Chengqian laughed: "Do you think I arrested the Prince of Liang because he stirred up trouble in Chang'an?"

"What does His Highness mean?"

"Although I don't care about the people's hearts or the military tally in Li Yin's hands, on the surface, both Li Ke and Li Yin are on the side of righteousness. Even if I can ignore righteousness, I cannot disregard the rules."

If I don't follow the rules, don't expect anyone else to follow them. That's the meaning of the law; violence alone cannot solve problems.

"The reason I can arrest Li Yin but not Li Ke is because what Li Yin did at the city gate was blatant treason, and there's nothing wrong with me arresting him!"

"But what about Li Ke? You say he caused chaos in Chang'an, where is your evidence? The epidemic prevention regulations were approved by both the cabinet and the empress! The military tally was also given to him by Fang Xuanling and his men to suppress the riots!"

You said 'Qingwen Powder' is poison, and all the people of Chang'an acknowledge the Shu Prince's divine physician and consider Li Ke their savior. Do you understand? Some things aren't that simple. Besides, I have other plans and can't touch Li Ke for the time being!

"this."

Upon hearing this, Cen Wenben and the others exchanged bewildered glances.

But then Liu Rengui suddenly realized and said, "We didn't think this through. May I ask, Your Highness, what is your next plan?"

"Lock him up in jail!"

Li Chengqian smiled and said three words.

Before anyone could react, a report came from outside the door: "Your Highness, people from the Court of Judicial Review, the Ministry of Justice, and the Censorate have arrived. They say they wish to invite you to the yamen to ask you some questions!"

"Ah!"

Li Chengqian laughed and said, "You've arrived quite quickly! It seems my dear younger brother can't wait any longer."

"Your Highness, this is..."

"Li You was assassinated, and the mastermind was none other than his own elder brother!"

(End of this chapter)