The rebellious grandson of Emperor Zhenguan of the Tang Dynasty: Please, Your Majesty, be called Cro

Chapter 119 Li Tai: I shall kill my son and pass the throne to the Prince of Jin!

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"If so, I will make you emperor."

"How would you treat Chengqian and Zhinu?"

Li Shimin forcefully suppressed the palpitations and turbulent emotions stirred up by Li Xin's rebellious and absurd words and Li Xiang's past curses. His gaze was sharp as an eagle's, fixed on Li Tai without blinking, refusing to miss even the slightest change in his expression.

Li Tai's breathing suddenly quickened as he rapidly considered how to answer this question, which could be a decisive opportunity or it could completely jeopardize his chance to become the crown prince.

He forced himself to suppress his excitement and forced himself to show an absolutely sincere expression as he looked back at Li Shimin's burning gaze.

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"Reporting to Father Emperor."

"Your subject will treat Chengqian well, providing him with food and drink throughout the year, ensuring his peaceful old age, and will never mistreat him."

"Teach the young slave well, so that he may become a wise and virtuous king, and then send him to his fiefdom."

Li Shimin squeezed Li Tai's hand—such a conventional answer could not break his nightmare of Li Xiang's curse.

He continued to stare at Li Tai without blinking, and pressed on, "If so, Zhinu also wants this throne."

'

What should you do?

Zhinu? Li Tai frowned, recalling that timid, young figure, hunched over, and utterly harmless.

Although Li Er has recently been keeping Li Zhi by his side and has been testing him frequently.

However, as an adult prince with immense power, Li Tai still did not take Li Zhi too seriously.

Li Zhi was ranked after Li Tai in terms of seniority, had no power in the court, and his demeanor showed no signs of being a ruler. Logically and emotionally, he was not a suitable candidate for crown prince.

His threat was less than a single hair on the head of his elder brother Li Chengqian, who was imprisoned in Longqingfang.

Why did Father Emperor bring up Zhinu at this time?

After a moment's thought, Li Tai suddenly remembered Li Shimin's disappointment and reprimand of Li Xin earlier.

Oh, so Father Emperor was worried that Xin'er was useless. If I were to become Emperor, after my death, with a weak nephew and a strong uncle, Xin'er would be unable to command respect and would cause turmoil in the empire.

Upon realizing this, Li Tai immediately had an explanation.

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"Xin'er is unruly and incorrigible. For the sake of the country and its people, on the day of my death, I shall painfully kill my son and pass the throne to Zhinu."

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"To ensure the eternal reign of my Tang Dynasty!"

Li Shimin's pupils suddenly dilated, and his body swayed slightly. Fortunately, he was leaning against the dragon throne and managed to steady himself.

After finally catching his breath, Li Shimin slowly straightened his back, his eyes filled with astonishment and disbelief, and asked Li Tai, "Who doesn't love their son? For the sake of this empire, you're actually willing to kill your own son?"

Seeing his father's moved expression, Li Tai assumed that his words had struck a chord with the emperor.

He simply crawled to the throne, buried his head in Li Shimin's arms, and said earnestly, "Your subject has been taught by Your Majesty's words and deeds, and naturally understands that the country and the nation are far more important than personal feelings between family members."

"Hahaha—hahahaha, leading by example, leading by example!"

Li Shimin looked at the back of Prince Wei, Li Tai's, head adorned with a golden crown, and then at the dragon throne beside him, symbolizing the supreme throne.

Standing before the imperial steps and the jade seal, I recalled Li Tai's slanderous words to Chengqian; I recalled Li Tai's collusion with powerful families; I recalled the arrow I personally aimed at my elder brother's heart at Xuanwu Gate that day; and I also recalled that brat's curses and rebukes in the Golden Hall, which terrified everyone.

What is more important, the throne or the so-called nation and the world?

"I pity you so much, I pity you so much!"

Li Shimin struggled to raise his trembling right hand, his fingertips quivering, yet he tried as always to gently stroke the back of Li Tai's head.

Li Tai snuggled against Li Shimin's chest, his heart filled with joy!

But he didn't see that Li Shimin's face, as he said "I pity him so much," was full of frost!

With the tinkling of bells and the clatter of hooves, the carriage stopped on the main street in front of the Wubenfang government office.

Fang Xuanling lifted the carriage curtain. Outside the mansion gate, the steward had been waiting for a long time. Upon seeing the carriage arrive, he hurriedly took the horse-drawn carriage and went forward to help Fang Xuanling alight.

"My lord, you've returned from your duty. You must have had a hard day at court."

Fang Xuanling waved his hand, interrupting the steward's pleasantries. He went straight to the point and asked, "Second Brother said he accompanied the Prince of Wei's heir to a banquet, but has he returned to his residence yet?"

The steward paused, then, seeing Fang Xuanling's stern expression, quickly replied, "Reporting to you, young master, the second young master has already returned to the manor."

"—Has something happened?"

"That brat." Fang Xuanling, supported by the steward, entered the mansion. After the gate was locked, he whispered to the steward, "That brat can no longer be allowed to continue associating with the Prince of Wei."

"Your Majesty—I fear you have no interest in the Prince of Wei!"

The steward was an old man born into the Fang family. Back in the late Sui Dynasty, when Fang Xuanling was studying, the steward was his page; later, when Fang Xuanling had his own business, the steward became the steward.

Fang Xuanling devised strategies for the Prince of Qin and the Emperor, and his steward was always by his side. Through this constant exposure, the steward gained a perspective far superior to that of ordinary court officials. Over time, the steward also became a trusted advisor who could consult with Fang Xuanling.

Therefore, upon hearing Fang Xuanling's solemn whisper, the steward immediately realized what was happening, his face turning pale: "This—the Crown Prince has just been deposed, and the Prince of Wei is at the height of his power, how could this be?"

"When the cunning rabbit dies, the hunting dog follows—" Fang Xuanling didn't continue speaking, but instead let out a long sigh.

He followed Li Shimin for twenty-six years, from the former Tian Ce Mansion to the present Emperor of Tang. Fang Xuanling was always Li Shimin's most trusted and relied-upon strategist.

In terms of strategy, Fang Xuanling was even superior to Changsun Wuji and Wei Zheng.

Fang Xuanling knew early on that Prince Qin, Li Shimin, was no ordinary man and would surely ascend to the throne, so he followed him wholeheartedly and never betrayed him.

But he also knew just how much Emperor Li Shimin valued his throne. Even if a blood relative harbored ambitions for it, that was unacceptable!

The Prince of Wei was once the emperor's sole favorite. While the emperor's favoritism towards this son was certainly a factor, the greater reason was that the emperor subconsciously disliked the crown prince, who could replace him at any time. Under the guise of training, the emperor deliberately promoted his four sons, who were at odds with the crown prince. Subconsciously, the emperor used imperial tactics to control and suppress the Eastern Palace. This made the Prince of Wei powerful, and left the vast Eastern Palace devoid of any truly trusted and capable advisors by the crown prince's side.

Today, the crown prince has been deposed, and the King of Wei is more powerful than the crown prince of the past.

However, King Wei did not reflect on his actions and instead intensified his efforts, associating with powerful families and winning over the court officials, intending to consolidate his position and ascend to the throne in one fell swoop.

His Majesty has already begun to fear the officials and powerful families. This reform of the imperial examination system, which aims to completely sever the influence of officials and powerful families, is a sign of this.

Just now, when I left the palace, I heard that His Majesty severely reprimanded Prince Li Xin for associating with sons of noble families. This is yet another example.

This subtle clue reveals a deeper problem: the Prince of Wei's association with powerful families has already made His Majesty wary of them. Since the Prince of Wei is opposing His Majesty, how can he possibly ascend to the throne?

If the King of Wei does not reflect on his actions, given time, Your Majesty's dislike for him will only grow stronger.

"If the King of Wei is not destined to be the crown prince, then who is? Could it be the deposed crown prince? My lord, why don't we plan ahead and—" the steward said.

"Alas. If not the Crown Prince, it must be—where is that brat?"

"Report to Alang, he is in the main hall."

Fang Xuanling shook his head. The deposed crown prince had committed treason. Unless His Majesty was willing to admit his mistake, there was little chance of leniency for the deposed crown prince.

Compared to the deposed crown prince, it was actually the Prince of Jin who was overlooked by everyone —

Fang Xuanling still remembered the day he entered the palace with Changsun Wuji and others, the time Prince Li Zhi of Jin fell down, and the words he said to Changsun Wuji.

"Without my uncle's help, I wouldn't even be able to stand up straight."

With this in mind, would Changsun Wuji do his utmost to support the Prince of Jin?

With Changsun Wuji's support, the Prince of Jin would instantly have a group of powerful clans from Guanzhong as his backing.

The powerful clans of Guanzhong were the foundation of the Li Tang emperors. They were in no way inferior to the Prince of Wei!

However, Fang Xuanling could not stand on the same side as Changsun Wuji.

Fang Xuanling, formerly the chief strategist of the Tiance Mansion, devoted himself to serving the Prince of Qin and recommended many talented individuals to the Tiance Mansion. Most of these people later became powerful ministers during the Zhenguan era.

Before he knew it, Fang Xuanling had countless students and became the recommender of many powerful ministers in the court.

He had long sensed that the emperor was wary of the power behind him. Especially after Du Ruhui's early death, Fang Xuanling had become the only one who stood out.

Changsun Wuji was the person the emperor put forward to suppress Fang Xuanling: in terms of seniority, Changsun Wuji was also an old man of the Tiance Mansion; in terms of status, Changsun Wuji was a relative of the royal family; in terms of power, Changsun Wuji was the head of the Guanlong aristocratic families.

Each and every one of these actions perfectly suppressed Fang Xuanling.

If Fang Xuanling were to collude with Changsun Wuji, His Majesty would likely have a sleepless night. Tomorrow, the entire Fang household, numbering over a hundred, would be beheaded!

Therefore, in the struggle for the throne, Fang Xuanling always remained neutral and rarely uttered a word.

Unfortunately, no matter how cautious and careful he was, his second son, who had been spoiled by his wife since childhood, spent his days fooling around with the Wei King's faction, who was known for his literary talent, in order to please the princess!

As a result, his Fang family, unbeknownst to outsiders, became part of the Wei King's faction.

Now that the King of Wei may be on the verge of collapse, and both Your Majesty and Changsun Wuji have long been wary of the Fang family. Even if Your Majesty does not take action, when the Prince of Jin ascends the throne, Changsun Wuji will surely purge the Fang family to eliminate any future trouble from the King of Wei's faction.

Although the Fang family is currently enjoying great prosperity, in Fang Xuanling's view, they have already reached the brink of extinction!

"It's all because of that brat Erlang—"

Fang Xuanling sighed and pushed open the door, pondering how to break the deadlock.

Then he saw his second son, Fang Yi'ai, standing by the window, looking out at something, with a copper kettle in his hand.

"Erlang?" Fang Xuanling was taken aback when he saw the enormous bronze kettle. "What are you doing?"

"Oh, darling!"

When Fang Yi'ai saw Fang Xuanling step into the room, he was about to get up to greet him, but when his gaze fell on the copper pot in his hand, he suddenly had an idea and immediately stopped himself from getting up.

He deliberately lowered his voice, and mimicking someone else's expression, he curled his lip into a mischievous smile, like a child eager to show off a new and interesting toy. He looked up at Fang Xuanling and asked, "Father, do you know why the rainbow in the sky is formed?"