The Bad Guys: Playing the Fake Li Xingyun at the Beginning

And Li Maozhen's return means that the identity of the Queen Qi Wang may change, because someone will make trouble. This person may be Li Siyuan, or Yuan Tiangang, or someone from aristocratic families.

For the empress, Li Maozhen was her biological brother who had disappeared for sixteen years. When the brother and sister meet, they must have a lot to talk about, which may involve the identity of King Qi.

For Su Ming, he is now Li Xingyun. Back then, Li Maozhen not only betrayed Emperor Zhaozong who trusted him, but also marched to Luoyang many times and threatened the court. This incident happened only more than 20 years ago, so it is not so easy to forget.

The empress is the empress, and Li Maozhen is Li Maozhen, they cannot be confused.

Being the Empress of Qi and being Li Maozhen of Qi are even more different. Different people with the same identity, one of them has to be out and give in.

In the original drama, as soon as Li Maozhen came back, the empress retired behind the scenes, gave the Kingdom of Qi to Li Maozhen, and became a real empress, no longer being the Queen of Qi.

At the moment when Su Ming brushed up her long black hair, the empress looked up, her eyes revealing undisguised worry and fear. She was afraid that her brother would act recklessly and come into conflict with his beloved, thus destroying this hard-earned situation and making them inseparable.

She was even more afraid that Su Ming would reject or even deal with Li Maozhen, leaving her caught between her lover and her relatives.

Suddenly, Su Ming showed a comforting smile and took her into his arms, "Don't worry, I know my limits. He can't do anything to me. You don't have to be embarrassed. This is a matter between us men. How can I let you worry about it?"

Hearing these words, the worry on the empress's face gradually disappeared, and she leaned in his arms, enjoying the little peace she had.

Chapter 167 Do I Have Any Choice?

On the isolated island, the sea breeze was rushing, and the salty and humid smell filled his mouth and nose. Li Xingyun's eyes were blank, like an empty shell, and he fell into confusion.

Intuitively, he felt that what Yuan Tiangang said was right, but he couldn't accept this fact in his heart. The world had been suffering for long enough, and he thought of himself as just a pawn. At most, he had special blood and was given such a difficult mission.

Li Xingyun was afraid, terrified, and even repulsed!

Reviving the Tang Dynasty, what a sacred and dazzling goal!

But, can I take on this responsibility?

A long time ago, Li Xingyun put a question mark in his heart, and it even turned into a cross in the end. He felt that he was not capable of it and didn't want to do it.

But today, Yuan Tiangang suddenly said that the revival of the Tang Dynasty was to reduce the number of deaths in the world and save all people from dire straits. This sentence made him hesitate.

He has been studying medicine since he was young and has a kind and compassionate heart. He doesn't mind saving some people if he can. But now someone suddenly told him that there was an opportunity to save the people of the world and asked him if he was willing to seize this opportunity. He couldn't make a decision for a moment.

The wind grew louder and louder, the waves crashed against the rocks, and the two people on the cliff fell silent at the same time.

Yuan Tiangang was waiting for the answer he wanted.

Li Xingyun was hesitating, wondering whether to agree.

Suddenly, Li Xingyun thought of a key point, "Why does it have to be the Tang Dynasty? The Tang Dynasty has been destroyed, and the world is full of warlords. Why not find someone from among them to dominate the world? Wouldn't that be easier for you?"

After saying that, he stared at Yuan Tiangang's eyes, trying to see something from them.

Unfortunately, all Li Xingyun could see was darkness, without any ripples.

"Haha." Yuan Tiangang chuckled at first, with an inexplicable hint of meaning in his eyes, "After not seeing you for a year, Your Highness has indeed made progress."

At this time, Yuan Tiangang changed his words and no longer called him by his name, but called him "Your Highness".

He raised his head and looked at the twinkling stars in the night sky, his thoughts drifting far away, "Your Highness is right. As long as I am willing, it is not difficult to support a prince, and even to help him unify the world. But what happens after unifying the world?"

"When the birds are gone, the good bows are put away; when the cunning rabbit dies, the running dog is cooked; when the enemy country is defeated, the counselors are dead. After unifying the world, I am afraid that the first person those people will eliminate is me, right?"

"Since we are destined to fall out, why should I support those with evil ambitions and make wedding clothes for them? Peace is the way to go, but it will cost me my life and the lives of all the bad people. If it were you, would you agree?"

Do I agree?

Li Xingyun asked himself and denied it immediately. Although he was kind-hearted, he was not the kind of person who would sacrifice his life for justice. He knew that there were righteous people in this world who were willing to sacrifice themselves for their beliefs, but he was not one of them.

He had just gotten married and hadn’t lived enough.

"It seems that Your Highness has already got the answer in his mind. The Bad People are an organization of the Tang Dynasty, and His Majesty Zhaozong has given them the mission of reviving the Tang Dynasty. If Your Highness is willing, you can always make a call to rebuild the Tang Dynasty. We can do the rest slowly."

"When the world is unified in the future, Your Majesty can take Ji Ruxue to the imperial city and rule the world. At that time, I will retire like Fan Li, sailing on the sea, free and easy. Three hundred years, I am tired."

Li Xingyun heard a deep sense of fatigue in Yuan Tiangang's words. He suddenly realized that the person in front of him was an old monster who had lived for more than three hundred years.

He followed Yuan Tiangang's words and said, "Since you are tired, why don't you give up? Isn't it foolish to do something when you know it is impossible?"

He looked at Li Xingyun deeply, with many complicated meanings in his eyes, "Your Highness, you don't understand. In order to revive the Tang Dynasty, I have been busy all my life. His Majesty Taizong ordered me to guard the Tang Dynasty, but during the Wu Zhao period, the hens crowed at dawn, and the world was turned upside down. I was forced to stay away from the court and wander around the world."

"I have worked hard for more than ten years and planned for many years. Finally, under His Majesty Xuanzong, the chaos was restored and the prosperous Tang Dynasty was rebuilt. Unfortunately, the An-Shi Rebellion shattered the Tang Dynasty's dream. The drums of Yuyang shook the earth and broke the colorful clothes and feathered robes."

"After His Majesty Xuanzong, the Tang Dynasty lost its prosperity and has come to its current situation. I have no choice but to plan a way to escape and make a comeback."

"In my lifetime, I have personally witnessed the prosperity of the Tang Dynasty, and I have also seen its decline. Some things are simply impossible to give up, just like the blood flowing in your body, they are engraved in your bones."

Yuan Tiangang's revelation of his true feelings shocked Li Xingyun greatly. He had not expected that someone as powerful as Yuan Tiangang would also have experienced wandering around the world.

At this moment, Yuan Tiangang was not as strong as before. He showed his weak side in front of Li Xingyun, which gave him a different feeling.

In the past, Yuan Tiangang was strong and overbearing, and he never changed his mind. But now, standing in front of him, he was like an elder who was giving advice patiently and tirelessly.

But even so, Li Xingyun still didn't give in. Instead, he felt sorry for him. "Dynasties rise and fall, and the world changes. The Tang Dynasty has existed for three hundred years. There is no dynasty that lasts forever. Even the Han Dynasty only lasted four hundred years. Yuan Tiangang, you have done enough. Why do you have to trap yourself in a rut?"

However, when he said this, Yuan Tiangang's eyes changed immediately. His originally dark eyes became even deeper. All the weakness and memories disappeared, leaving only a heart tempered into steel.

"So, Your Highness is still unwilling?"

It was the same tone as before, but when Li Xingyun heard it, a chill ran down his spine and he shuddered all over.

He said subconsciously, "I haven't thought about it yet. I need to think about it again."

Yuan Tiangang's aura suddenly changed, and an invisible pressure was overwhelming, pressing towards Li Xingyun. "I have made it very clear, Your Highness, what else do you need to consider?"

Instantly, Li Xingyun almost suffocated. That kind of overbearing implication was really frightening. A trace of fear flashed in his eyes, and he forced himself to answer, "What? If I don't agree to your request, I'm going to use force? This seems to be different from what you said!"

Yuan Tiangang sneered, "You are indecisive and stubborn. You are worthy of being the offspring of Emperor Zhaozong. You are exactly like him. Today, you must give me an answer!"

Li Xingyun sighed and said faintly, "Do I have any choice? Ever since you came here, the ending has been determined."

"It's been a year since we last met. Your Highness's progress is truly impressive. Now that I'm here, you have no choice. The only difference is whether you are forced to do it by me or do it voluntarily."

Chapter 168: Awakening in the Sea of ​​Blood and Corpses

"Finally you've revealed your true colors. I'm more used to this." Li Xingyun smiled bleakly, and decided to go all out. "Yuan Tiangang, I know what you just said is true, but this can't cover up your selfishness."

"The fall of the Tang Dynasty is a foregone conclusion. What disappears should disappear. Its comeback will be just a flash in the pan like the Shu Han. The future is not in your hands, nor can it be decided by me. It is in the hands of all the people of the world."

"In the past, the world could produce a Huang Chao, Li Keyong, Zhu Wen, Li Maozhen, and many more. Once the seeds of ambition are planted, no one can suppress them. You can kill one person, but can you kill everyone in the world?"

"The world is already in such a mess. We don't need a Li Xingyun like me, nor do we need a Yuan Tiangang like you. If you really want to revive the Tang Dynasty, why do you have to use me as a puppet? Why don't you fight for supremacy yourself and rebuild a prosperous Tang Dynasty?"

These words are undoubtedly Li Xingyun's inner voice and his true thoughts all along. No one wants to be a puppet in name only, gaining nothing and being dragged into the center of the vortex, with the people around him also implicated.

If Li Xingyun was the only one who went down the mountain, the result might not be like this now, but now, it's too late to say anything.

These words pierced Yuan Tiangang's lungs and were even heartbreaking. It's not that he didn't understand these principles, he just didn't bother to think about them.

It would be really funny if a person who has lived for three hundred years could be bound by these thoughts.

"Since you know you have no choice, you might as well listen to me. Once you get the Longquan treasure, you can retire to the mountains with Ji Ruxue and live a free and easy life. Someone will take care of the rest!" Yuan Tiangang looked away and looked at him again.

Li Xingyun knew that he had no way out and no choice, but he still wanted to persuade Yuan Tiangang, but ultimately failed.

"Okay, I promise to help you fight for the Longquan treasure." At this point, he suddenly changed his mind and said, "But before that, you should also tell me what my substitute has done in the past year and what the current situation in the world is like."

Unexpectedly, when he finished speaking, Yuan Tiangang looked at him with a half-smile, "Since you want to know, then it's as you wish."

Then, Yuan Tiangang told Li Xingyun everything Su Ming had done in the past year, including the formation of the Jinyiwei, the significance behind the imperial examination, and so on.

These things were very complicated and there were many of them, but Yuan Tiangang kept talking about them patiently, and Li Xingyun had no objection and listened attentively.

After a long time, the atmosphere became quiet again.

Yuan Tiangang didn't say anything, but observed Li Xingyun. He said this not for scientific explanation, but to stimulate Li Xingyun. Just imagine that someone with the same appearance as him has done what he has not done.

He was the emperor in Luoyang, while he was on an isolated island enjoying the sea breeze. Most people would be mentally unbalanced and jealous, but all this should have been his.

However, Yuan Tiangang was disappointed. He did not find jealousy on Li Xingyun's face, but instead saw relaxation and relief.

Although Li Xingyun is not as shrewd as Yuan Tiangang, he has one greatest advantage, which is self-knowledge. He has never thought about becoming an emperor, and he knows that he is not a good emperor, and he cannot suppress those ambitious people.

But what Su Ming is doing is something he will never be able to do. It has nothing to do with wisdom, but only with breadth of mind and vision. He has no pressure to survive, unlike Su Ming who is urged by Yuan Tiangang's invisible pressure and has to try his best to do his best.

Of course he envied Su Ming, envied him for having a harem, envied him for getting to where he is today, but he already had Ji Ruxue, and for the rest of his life, he would only love her.

If it were in the past, he might still be confused, but now, he just wants to retire to the mountains with his beloved, have a few children, live a peaceful life, away from conspiracies, court struggles, and the turmoil in the martial arts world.

It has not been easy for him along the way. All he has experienced are setbacks and hardships that he has never experienced in the past ten years.

Fortunately, he survived and found someone to spend his life with.

He had only blessings for the substitute who was far away in Luoyang, hoping that he could complete the mission of restoring the Tang Dynasty on his behalf.

After a moment, Li Xingyun asked another question, "So, this Longquan treasure was fought for him?"

Yuan Tiangang nodded and said meaningfully, "He did a good job in Luoyang, but it is far from enough to restore the Tang Dynasty. The governors of various places pretended to obey the orders but secretly disobeyed the imperial court's money and grain. Without money and grain, he cannot strengthen the imperial court's power."

"And buried in the Longquan treasure is a fortune that is rich enough to rival a country, which is enough to complete the last link of this plan. After doing this, you will be free. From now on, no matter what you want to do, I will not interfere."

Here, Yuan Tiangang lied.

In his eyes, the difference between legitimate and illegitimate children is clear. Although the substitute did a good job, he could not escape the control of Yuan Tiangang. It was simply wishful thinking for Li Xingyun to want to escape his fate.

Once they are out of the isolated island, he will take Li Xingyun to Luoyang, get the Longquan Sword and the Longquan Treasure Box, and then force Li Maozhen and Li Siyuan to surrender, and get the imperial seal in the Longquan treasure to prove his legitimacy.

By then, the so-called substitute will be useless.

He didn't believe that at that time, Li Xingyun would still have a way out!

The Tianshi Mansion where Zhang Zifan is located, the Khitan in Mobei, and Li Siyuan and Li Maozhen in the court will not allow him to give in. Once he gives in, war will break out again in the world, and countless people will be dragged into the war, resulting in heavy casualties.

It's a good idea to want to quit the business, but anyone who makes a decision has to pay a price.

So, are you, Li Xingyun, prepared to cause a sea of ​​blood and bloodshed for this idea?

You can certainly just walk away, but the mess left behind will be borne by the people of the world. Can you just watch this price fall on others?

If Li Xingyun still wants to give in at this point, Yuan Tiangang will have nothing to say, and it will be futile to think of other solutions. At that time, Li Xingyun will be free.

But the question is, can he bear to do this?

Would he be tempted by the throne that is within his reach and the power to rule the world?

Even the well-planned Yuan Tiangang could not have predicted this move, just as he could not have imagined that Li Xingyun would refuse to ascend the throne and become emperor when they were in Bianliang.

If Li Xingyun had ascended the throne and become emperor at that time, he would have been chased everywhere like he was later, and even his woman would have almost died.

With this precedent, would he give a different answer when faced with the same choice?

Chapter 169 Li Maozhen Enters Luoyang

In order to revive the Tang Dynasty, Yuan Tiangang spared no expense, using people all over the world as pawns, opening the cage of ambition with his own hands, causing the Central Plains to be involved in successive wars and causing mountains of corpses and seas of blood.