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

Chapter 405 Killing Brothers and Clans, Li Er, I've Learned It! [Seeking Monthly Tickets]

"Brother Madam, are you really going to kill us?"

Looking at Li Chengqian's face, which wasn't much older than his own, Li Yin felt an extreme fear in his heart, and even his voice trembled.

Li Ke looked at Li Chengqian with a complicated expression, his face pale.

Although Li Chengqian had already told him at the Prince of Shu's residence that he would be killed, he still couldn't believe that Li Chengqian would do such a thing.

If it were him, and if he were in the position of crown prince, he would absolutely not do something like killing his brothers.

Because the crime was too serious; even with a legitimate reason, even their father, the emperor, could not bear such a charge.

It can be said that killing one's brothers is absolutely unacceptable and will be condemned in a society that prides itself on benevolence and morality.

However, when Li Chengqian heard Li Yin's question, he smiled faintly and said, "No rush, I have plenty of time. Let's talk slowly, and after we're done, I'll send you on your way."

At this point, she smiled and looked at Li Ke: "So, where shall we begin?"

Li Ke: "."

"Well, it seems that our father, the 'heroic and decisive' King of Shu, is still clueless."

Li Chengqian spread his hands and said, "Since that's the case, then let me speak first!"

"Actually, you, Li Ke, have been my target from the very beginning. Back then, I cooperated with my grandfather and returned to the position of Crown Prince. It can be said that this was a path of no return."

"As for why I chose this path of no return, I'm sorry, I can't tell you. But I did choose you from the very beginning!"

Li Chengqian's voice was calm, as if he were the only one in the space talking to himself.

The Li brothers looked at each other, at a loss for what to do.

But their thoughts were no longer of any importance to Li Chengqian, because in his eyes, they were already dead men.

But then Li Chengqian continued, talking to himself, "So, you must be wondering why I chose you, and what my purpose is in choosing you?"

"This is a bit cruel to say, but I have to, because I don't want to kill someone whose identity is unclear, or rather, to make you a confused ghost!"

Li Ke: "."

"Alright, I'm sure you're getting impatient with this. I'm not going to keep you in suspense any longer, so I'll just tell you directly! Because you are the only brother who can help me ascend the throne!"

"What!?"

Upon hearing this, Li Ke and Li Yin were greatly surprised.

I wondered what was going on.
Li Chengqian actually said that Li Ke, his elder brother, could help him ascend the throne!?
At this moment, Li Ke and his brother felt like their brains weren't working properly.

This is incredible!
It’s so unimaginable!

but
Judging from Li Chengqian's expression, he didn't seem to be joking.

Li Chengqian calmly and indifferently said, "I said before that the path I've chosen is a path of no return. What is a path of no return? It's a path from which there is no turning back!"

"Ever since I cooperated with my grandfather and returned to the position of Crown Prince, the father-son relationship between me and my father has almost disappeared."

"I'm sure you all know this already. I won't go into details here."

"In that case, my father and I can only maintain a superficial harmony, while undercurrents are already surging!"

"Father has begun to be wary of me, target me, and even plot against me! Because he is afraid that I will follow his example and overthrow him like my grandfather did!"

"But I didn't have that strength back then!"

"Therefore, I can only go to Jiangling to lie low and endure."

At this point, Li Chengqian couldn't help but sigh, then said solemnly, "I have always been a person who is mindful of potential dangers even in times of peace!"

"I know that my father will not let me ascend the throne easily. In fact, in the coming decades, he will continue to use his power to suppress and weaken me!"

"So, do you understand now? My father and I will have a battle sooner or later! Because I am not one to admit defeat! Even if I am facing my father, even if I am facing General Tian Ce!"

"I remain fearless!"

Upon hearing these words, the Li brothers looked at Li Chengqian with extremely complex expressions.

Perhaps the Li Chengqian they knew before was just a facade.

This is the real Li Chengqian: a ruthless and cold-blooded prince, a cunning and calculating prince, and an arrogant and audacious crown prince!

"Since I and Father Emperor are bound to fight sooner or later, how should I challenge Father Emperor? Or, how should Father Emperor challenge me?"

Li Chengqian continued rambling on, "Don't doubt it, Father Emperor is also looking for a way to deal with me, but he hasn't succeeded yet and has been waiting for that opportunity!"

"Don't be fooled by the fact that Father Emperor is in Liaodong and I am in Tuyuhun. In truth, my father and I have never stopped scheming. Even a victory or a cart of provisions is a calculated move!"

"This"

Upon hearing this, Li Ke and his brother were completely stunned.

Especially Li Ke.

He was Li Shimin's logistics minister; he was responsible for procuring and mobilizing almost all the provisions for the Liaodong battlefield.

Therefore, as soon as Li Chengqian mentioned "a cartload of grain," he understood why Li Shimin would request grain so frequently. On the one hand, it was naturally because Liaodong consumed a large amount of grain, and on the other hand, it was probably to delay Li Chengqian's progress in conquering the country.

Because not a single cartload of grain from Sichuan was delivered to Tuyuhun, Xueyantuo, or other places.

"Heh, it seems you've figured it out?"

Seeing Li Ke's eyelashes flutter slightly, Li Chengqian couldn't help but sneer, then said in a deep voice, "In fact, the emperor and the crown prince are born enemies; there is no such thing as father-son affection between them!"

"Whether it's you or Li Tai, you both want to fight for this position, but have you really considered becoming enemies with the Emperor?"

"I"

Li Ke opened his mouth, but hesitated to speak.

But Li Yin couldn't help but ask, "Then why did you say my elder brother could help you ascend the throne? Aren't you enemies?"

"That's right! We are enemies, but this enemy relationship was actually created by me!"

"What!?"

The Li brothers were utterly shocked by Li Chengqian's words, their eyes nearly popping out of their sockets.

"how?"

Li Chengqian raised an eyebrow: "You don't believe me?"

"Since that's the case, then I'll help you recall. It seems to have started around the time Lu Dongzan and his group came to Chang'an to propose marriage, right? You colluded with Lu Dongzan and the Shouzhuo Lang to try and scheme against me. In the end, I successfully thwarted their plan. Do you remember?"

"You mean, you've been plotting against me since then?" Li Ke asked incredulously, yet urgently.

Li Chengqian shook his head and said, "No! If we're talking about scheming against you, I've already said that I've been scheming against you ever since I returned to the position of Crown Prince."

"Why?!"

Li Ke suddenly became very angry and said, "Why are you doing this to me?!"

Li Chengqian thought for a moment, then calmly said, "Because you deserve to die!"

Li Ke: "."

Li Yin: "."

"Don't misunderstand, I'm not targeting you, but you truly deserve to die. Your bloodline, your 'Heroic Spirit,' has long destined you to die!"

"Of course!"

Li Chengqian paused, then continued, "The reason I killed you is naturally not because of these things. Rather, killing you would make me turn against my father!"

"????"

The Li brothers could no longer keep up with Li Chengqian's thought process.

They just felt that Li Chengqian was a madman.

But Li Chengqian said with amusement, "As I just said, my father and I have been looking for an opportunity to deal with the other side. In fact, the perfect opportunity is you, Li Ke!"

"Why.?"

Li Ke was numb; he didn't even have the strength to speak.

If it weren't for his last bit of stubbornness holding him together, he would have collapsed to the ground.

Because it's so damn infuriating, so damn hopeless.

All the effort I put into doing turned out to be someone else's pawn.

But then Li Chengqian continued, "Because killing Li Tai would not get me past Empress Zhangsun, killing you would have two reasons: first, it would provoke my father to do whatever it takes to deal with me; second, it would give me a chance to retaliate against my father and thus rightfully seize his throne!"

"After all, he struck first."

Boom!

Li Ke and his brother were struck dumb, and their bodies went limp instantly!
What is truly ruthless and vicious!

What is ruthlessness and cruelty!

At this moment, Li Chengqian perfectly embodied all of this!
No wonder Li Chengqian acted as if nothing had happened after he schemed against him in Chang'an, letting him leave unscathed. No wonder he drove Li Tai away; he wanted to make room for his two brothers.

No wonder he left Chang'an at the same time Li Shimin left.

No wonder he knew the smallpox plague was ravaging Chang'an and only returned at the last moment.
All of this was a meticulously planned scheme!
Moreover, this scheme began four years ago.
"Oh, right!"

As if remembering something, Li Chengqian slapped his forehead again and added, "Actually, I should thank you. If it weren't for your collusion with the Shouzhulang and the completion of such a perfect plan, I probably wouldn't have received the third benefit."

"What, what third benefit?" Li Yin looked up at Li Chengqian in a daze.

Li Chengqian grinned and said, "Naturally, it's to use your crimes as a pretext to purge Father Emperor's faction!"

"You should know that while you were committing all sorts of evil deeds in Chang'an, many of Father Emperor's ministers stood by and watched, waiting to see the show!"

"Then, can I assume that they are your accomplices, aiding and abetting evil?"

"you!"

Li Yin's mouth dropped open; he was too shocked to speak.

But Li Chengqian had lost the will to continue.

He slowly walked towards Li Yin and extended his hand.
"No! Don't kill me! Brother Crown Prince! We're brothers! Please don't kill me! I don't want to die! I'll listen to you! I'll keep the secret! I will!"

Before Li Yin could finish struggling, Li Chengqian's hand was already on his neck. Facing his terrified expression and the despair of trying to struggle but being powerless, he said calmly:

"I've said all this only so that you can die without regrets. As for brotherhood, let's talk about that in the next life. After all, even Father Emperor killed his own brothers, so why can't I?"

"Do not--!"

"Crack!"

Li Yin's neck was snapped in an instant, as easily as crushing a chick.

Li Ke was so frightened that he felt weak all over and could only watch helplessly as his younger brother died in front of him.

He wanted to roar!

He wanted to yell!

He wanted to rush forward regardless of everything and fight Li Chengqian to the death!

but!

He can't do it!
Desperate fear had rendered him incapable of moving!
"Hehehe"

He laughed, a very miserable laugh, perhaps knowing he had brought it upon himself, or perhaps knowing the end was already sealed. After the great panic, his laugh became increasingly calm.

"Li Chengqian, from the day you woke up, you were no longer my elder brother, the Crown Prince, were you?"

For some reason, on his deathbed, he suddenly asked the question that had been weighing on his mind for so long.

It was as if he would die with regrets if he didn't ask that question.

When Li Chengqian heard his question, he was slightly taken aback, then threw away Li Yin's corpse as if it were trash, and looked at him incredulously: "How did you figure that out?"

"Oh, it's true."

Li Ke smiled, a genuine smile, a smile of relief.

But then he said earnestly, "Can you tell me who you are? A dead man can keep secrets."

"To be honest, no!"

Li Chengqian said expressionlessly, "But I can tell you, there is a second possible outcome for you: if I don't ascend the throne!"

"You didn't ascend the throne?"

Li Ke exclaimed in surprise, "How is this possible?!"

"Anything is possible! Nothing is impossible!"

"Does that mean Li Zhi became emperor?"

"Heh, why don't you mention Li Tai? My father likes him very much, and he likes you very much too!" Li Chengqian said jokingly.

But Li Ke scoffed, "That idiot Li Tai! He'll never be able to sit on the throne! Of the three of you brothers, only you and Zhi Nu have that chance!"

"You see things quite clearly, no wonder Father calls you 'a man of exceptional talent and wisdom'!"

Li Chengqian said admiringly, then slowly walked to his side, lifted him up with one hand, and said indifferently, "Is there anything else you want to say?"

"Woo."

Li Ke's neck was being choked, his cheeks flushed red. He tried to breathe but couldn't. He looked at Li Chengqian with despair, pain, and hatred in his eyes, and said haltingly, "You haven't told me about the other ending."

"Do you really want to know?"

Li Chengqian's lips curled up, then he slowly exerted force: "Your other ending is to die unjustly, separated from your wife and children, with your family destroyed."

With each word Li Chengqian uttered, the pressure on his hands increased.

Li Ke, filled with disbelief and utter despair, gradually suffocated until his last words were uttered: "The man who killed you was also your brother, named Li Zhi."

Boom!

These words were like a fatal blow before death!
It completely crushed Li Ke's will to live!

Li Ke struggled his whole life, facing two possible endings, but he couldn't escape the fate of being killed by his own brother!

Is it pathetic? Is it lamentable? Is it hateful?
All those emotions vanished with a snap.

Li Chengqian coldly stared at Li Ke's corpse, muttering, "Li Er, I've learned how to kill your brothers. Now, I invite you to ascend to the throne as Emperor Emeritus!"

Meanwhile, in Liaodong, at the main camp outside Anshi City.

Li Shimin is holding a military conference.

"Your Majesty! Our provisions are almost gone, and the King of Shu has not yet sent us any more. What's going on? If we don't get more supplies soon, how can we continue this war?" Li Xiaogong said first, with a hint of complaint.

Li Daozong chimed in, "Yes, Your Majesty! Why don't you issue an order to urge them on? The siege is about to begin, and we don't want to run out of supplies halfway through! Otherwise, all our previous efforts will be in vain!"

Upon hearing the two princes speak in succession, Li Shimin's brows furrowed into a deep frown.

Although what the two princes said was true, for some reason, he couldn't concentrate on the matter.

Because he always felt that something bad was about to happen.

Changsun Wuji, who was standing to the side, seemed to notice that Yang Shidao was in a bad mood, and then exchanged a glance with him.

But Yang Shidao immediately chimed in with a smile, "His Majesty has considered the concerns of the two princes! The main problem is that the epidemic in Chang'an is severe right now, and His Majesty is concerned about Chang'an, so he is reluctant to urge His Highness the Prince of Shu."

"not to mention."

He paused, then glanced at the sand table map in front of him, and said, "We don't have a good way to take down Anshi City right now! And the city lord of Anshi City is like a coward, always fortifying the city and hiding in the sand! In addition, Anshi City is exceptionally strong, easy to defend and difficult to attack. Your Majesty would like to study it more before considering attacking the city!"

“Even if we’re doing research, we need food. Are you expecting us to conduct research on an empty stomach?” Li Xiaogong complained.

At this moment, Changsun Wuji finally couldn't help but speak up: "Prince Rencheng, let's discuss this matter later. I think His Majesty is not feeling well. You may all leave now!"

"this."

The ministers exchanged glances, then looked at Li Er, who remained silent, sighed in frustration, and quietly left.

When only Changsun Wuji and Yang Shidao remained in the conference room, Yang Shidao softly called out, "Your Majesty?"

"Yes, I can hear you. I've always heard you. I will immediately send someone to Chang'an regarding what Prince Rencheng and the others are saying."

Li Shimin said in a heavy tone, then looked up at Changsun Wuji with a dejected look in his eyes, "Wuji, I feel a little uneasy, but I don't know why. Do you know why?"

"I"

Changsun Wuji opened his mouth, then looked at Li Shimin's bloodshot eyes, hesitated, and finally looked at Yang Shidao.

The latter immediately understood, and then silently bowed and left.

Once only Changsun Wuji and Li Shimin remained in the conference room, Changsun Wuji tentatively asked, "Is Your Majesty worried about the Crown Prince?"

"Ah."

Although it was just a single 'hmm', it conveyed all of Li Shimin's emotions.

But then Changsun Wuji said, "Is Your Majesty afraid that the Crown Prince will cause trouble in Chang'an?"

"no!"

Li Shimin shook his head and said, "I'm worried that he might harm Ke'er!"

"Why?" Changsun Wuji asked, somewhat surprised.

Li Shimin looked up at him, his hands pressing on the edge of the sand table map, his knuckles turning white, and said, "I don't know if it's just my imagination, but Li Ke's early departure to Shu to be enfeoffed was orchestrated by Chengqian. And it seems there's a secret between him and Chengqian that I don't know about."

"To be honest, I regret it. I shouldn't have summoned them back to Chang'an at the same time."

At this point, his eyes narrowed, and he abruptly turned to look at Changsun Wuji, his voice dry and trembling slightly: "Do you think... Chengqian... will kill Ke'er?"

(End of this chapter)