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

Seeing that the empress was in a bad mood, Su Ming did not rush to comfort her. What she needed now was not words of comfort, but a reassurance.

Then, Su Ming continued, "I can't guess what Li Maozhen is thinking, but I can guess a little about Li Siyuan's thoughts. This time, he invited your brother to his house, and what he wanted to do most was to form an alliance with him and work together to undermine me, the emperor."

"If the alliance fails, Li Siyuan will step aside and promise to help Li Maozhen regain the position of King Qi and return to the center of power. In this way, the situation in the court will be divided, King Qi's position will be unstable, and the Secretariat will also be in chaos."

The empress quickly recovered and calmed down. She had been the Queen of Qi for sixteen years and had experienced countless storms. If Li Maozhen's actions had not hurt her heart, she would not have lost her mind and panicked for a moment.

There was sadness in her eyes. "My brother has been gone for sixteen years. I don't know what he has been through in these years. I don't know if he has changed. I couldn't guess what he was thinking back then, let alone now."

"I just hope he can think of the relationship between brother and sister and not cooperate with Li Siyuan."

Su Ming nodded, his words were filled with comfort, "Don't worry, it hasn't come to that yet. Li Siyuan wants to support him to fight with us, and the fisherman will benefit. How could Li Maozhen not see it?"

"The most critical issue now is not Li Maozhen and Li Siyuan, but whether Li Maozhen and I can reach an agreement. If we can't reach an agreement, the situation will collapse. If we can reach an agreement, no matter how great the benefits Li Siyuan offers, he won't be shaken."

The empress looked up at Su Ming, hope in her eyes, "Really?"

Su Ming gently put his arm around her shoulders and said, "Don't forget, he is Li Maozhen who conquered Qi State. How could he be easily controlled by Li Siyuan? You are too concerned. Leave the rest to me."

The empress nodded lightly, leaned in his arms, closed her eyes, her eyelashes trembling, "I really don't want to see you two being hostile." Her voice was choked and barely perceptible.

"Don't worry, nothing will happen."

……

"There's no need for such trivial things as welcoming guests. It's been many years and all the old friends are gone. What's the point of welcoming guests? Forget the pleasantries and just get straight to the point." Li Maozhen was too lazy to play Tai Chi with him and went straight into the middle door.

Li Siyuan's face froze, he laughed dryly, and said in a deep voice, "I am overjoyed that King Qi has returned to the court. In the future, when we serve in the same court, I hope King Qi can help me and work together for the great cause."

Li Maozhen's eyes narrowed, with a chill in them, "What great cause? Your great cause?"

Li Siyuan narrowed his eyes and said coldly, "Prince Qi, I respect you as a senior, but please also respect me. Let's not beat around the bush. The current emperor is very capable, and Yuan Tiangang is behind the scenes. If you and I don't cooperate, I'm afraid it will be difficult to resist the court in the future."

"Don't forget that you betrayed the trust of His Majesty Zhaozong, seized Fengxiang Prefecture, and marched to Luoyang several times to threaten the emperor. And now the one sitting on that throne is his own son. Do you think he will come after you?"

"Li Siyuan, are you qualified to negotiate with me? A mere kid can force you into a corner. It's really a disgrace to Li Keyong!" Li Maozhen smiled coldly, not giving him any face at all.

"Hmph, wait until you become the King of Qi before you tell me this. I still mean the same thing. Do you want to cooperate? Let's deal with the emperor together?" Li Siyuan was angry in his heart, but he did not get angry.

He only dared to say that he would deal with the emperor, but did not dare to say that he would deal with Yuan Tiangang.

In the past, although the various vassal states were fighting among themselves, they were secretly and subconsciously suppressing the power of the imperial court and preventing them from growing stronger.

"There's no rush for this matter. It's too early to talk about it now." Li Maozhen did not refuse on the spot, but he did not agree either.

Li Siyuan nodded and said nothing more. This answer was unexpected yet reasonable.

As vassal states, they had a tacit understanding with each other. As long as they were ambitious, the more powerful the imperial court was, the more afraid they would be. A weak imperial court that was only in name only would be in their interests.

……

"I have sent someone to wait in front of the Prince Jin's mansion. As soon as he comes out, invite him into the palace."

"Is he willing to come?" the empress said uneasily.

Su Ming nodded firmly, "He will definitely come. Otherwise, why would he come to Luoyang? Without our concession, he can't become the King of Qi. Even if Li Siyuan helps him, he can't help him take the throne."

"There is no place for him in the court now. If he becomes the King of Qi, the Secretariat will collapse in an instant."

"We'll just wait for him here. You don't have to tell him about the court. The friendship between brothers and sisters should be pure, without too many interests mixed in. I don't want to embarrass you."

"I will take care of the rest. You don't have to interfere."

"Ah."

……

After saying what needed to be said, Li Maozhen and Li Siyuan had no intention of continuing the conversation. Li Siyuan had already achieved his goal, and all he had to do now was watch the show.

Whether Li Maozhen entered the court or there was a conflict and falling out between Li Maozhen and the empress, he could reap the benefits and be as stable as a rock.

At the gate of Prince Jin's Mansion, Li Siyuan, with a smile on his face, personally saw Li Maozhen off.

Unexpectedly, at the moment when Li Maozhen stepped down the stairs, a carriage drove up from a distance, and a eunuch jumped out of it, "Your Highness Prince Qi, His Majesty summons you to the palace."

The emperor’s men?

Li Siyuan narrowed his eyes subconsciously, with a subtle expression, and no one knew what he was thinking.

Li Maozhen's eyes swept over the eunuch. The heavy pressure frightened him so much that he trembled and got directly into the carriage.

"Lead the way."

It was not until his voice was heard from the carriage that the eunuch woke up from his dream and hurriedly drove away.

However, after Li Maozhen left, the smile on Li Siyuan's face disappeared. He flicked his sleeves and turned to enter the palace. When he returned to the hall, Li Cunzhi was already waiting there.

"Brother, Li Maozhen is gone?"

Li Siyuan replied expressionlessly, "Yes, he went to the palace to see the emperor."

"Brother, how do you know he went to the palace? Doesn't he have to wait for the emperor to summon him?" Li Cunzhi asked in surprise.

"I saw him get on the carriage sent by the emperor, right in front of the palace."

Li Cunzhi smiled and said flatteringly, "Thanks to my elder brother for having people keep a close eye on us all the way. Otherwise, the emperor would have sent someone to take Li Maozhen away as soon as he entered the city, and we would have been in a passive position then."

"Even if Li Maozhen doesn't agree to cooperate with me, I can plant the seeds of suspicion between him and the emperor, making it impossible for them to trust each other. Besides, with the example of the previous emperor, it is still unclear whether the emperor would dare to use Li Siyuan."

Chapter 172 Brother and sister meet

"Brother is really a man of foresight. In my opinion, Li Maozhen and the emperor will definitely not be able to reach an agreement in the end. When they fight among themselves, we can take advantage of the opportunity and reap the benefits." Li Cunzhi analyzed the situation with a wise gleam in his eyes.

Li Siyuan, who was sitting on the upper floor, picked up the teacup and took a sip slowly. "Well, the emperor is not a simple person, and Li Maozhen is even more powerful and overbearing. When these two people meet, the situation will definitely be very interesting. I just don't know why Li Maozhen suddenly came back after disappearing for more than ten years?"

"Moreover, I sensed a very dangerous aura from Li Maozhen. The feeling was vague, but it made my heart numb and I dared not act rashly. Otherwise, how could he walk out of Prince Jin's Mansion so easily today?" When he said this, a hint of doubt appeared in his eyes.

He, Li Siyuan, is also a great celestial master. Not only has he cultivated the Supreme Saint Qiankun Art to its peak, he has also learned an incomplete Five Thunders Heart Art. There are few rivals in the world. Unless Li Maozhen is stronger than him, he would not have this feeling.

This made him curious about Li Maozhen's experiences over the years. "Go get someone to check where Li Maozhen came from. As long as a person walks through the world, it is impossible for him to leave no trace. There must be something wrong with his origins." Li Siyuan stroked the teacup, feeling angry.

"Okay, I'll arrange someone to check it out right away. However, it may take a long time to find out the truth." Li Cunzhi accepted the order without thinking too much.

Li Siyuan showed a look of confidence, relaxed and comfortable, "It's okay, I have plenty of time, I'll play with him, I want to see how capable this Li Maozhen is!"

……

As the palace gate opened, the carriage slowly drove into the imperial city. Li Maozhen lifted the curtain and looked around the imperial city. He saw red walls and green tiles, and scattered palaces. Although some places were dilapidated, they were well renovated and clean, and one could vaguely see some imperial atmosphere.

Soon, the carriage reached a place and could not go any further.

"Your Highness, we can't go any further. Please get off the car and walk." The voice of the eunuch came from outside the car.

Li Maozhen didn't waste any words or put on airs. He got off the car directly. He had been here more than 20 years ago. At that time, the imperial city was much more dilapidated and desolate than it is now, a scene of the end of a dynasty.

Now that he is revisiting the old place, Li Maozhen feels a little bit of anticipation.

The imperial city of Luoyang would have been in ruins if Li Cunxu had not carried out extensive construction after he ascended the throne. No matter how luxurious a palace is, if it is uninhabited and unpopular, it will soon fall into disrepair.

The imperial court during Emperor Zhaozong's reign was running into deficit and could not afford to support the palace maids, so all the palace maids were dismissed. Even Emperor Zhaozong himself was abducted by Han Jian, leaving the Luoyang Imperial Palace empty and deserted.

With the death of Emperor Zhaozong, the Luoyang Imperial Palace was abandoned. Zhu Wen conquered Luoyang, killed Emperor Zhaozong, and set up a puppet, but he was soon killed by him.

They looted the palace and then returned to Bianliang. From then on, the Luoyang Palace was uninhabited.

The army stationed here only sent soldiers to guard it and did not dare to live in it. This is the imperial palace, and living in it would be an act of usurpation. How could a small general dare to risk the wrath of the world?

Of course, they only sent soldiers to guard the palace to prevent thieves and civilians from entering. Repairs were impossible. Their own military pay was not enough to spend, so how could they use the money to repair the palace?

It was not until Li Cunxu conquered the Liang State and ascended the throne in Luoyang that this place once again became the center of the world. After he ascended the throne, the imperial city revived and was renovated, and it had some dynastic atmosphere.

Su Ming had not taken any money from the court to repair the palace in the past year since he ascended the throne, but there were many palace maids left over from the time of Li Cunxu in the palace, and after some repairs, the palace was almost enough.

After all, he had just ascended the throne and had no concubines in the harem.

Under the guidance of the eunuch, Li Maozhen walked slowly along the imperial road. He strolled leisurely in the majestic imperial city without any fear or panic.

Qianqiu Palace.

The empress knelt on the couch, a look of panic on her beautiful face, her hands nervously twisted together, and she felt at a loss.

Seeing her hesitant look, Su Ming sighed, "I'll step aside for a while. You two siblings haven't seen each other for a long time. You must have a lot to talk about. It's not appropriate for me to be here."

The empress opened her mouth, wanting him to stay but she was hesitant, and her beautiful eyes no longer had the firmness they had before.

Su Ming left the hall leisurely without waiting for her answer.

A moment later, the eunuch came forward to report, and the empress hurriedly came to her senses and signaled the palace maids to leave.

Finally, the familiar sound of footsteps approached from afar, awakening the empress's dormant memory. Sixteen years ago, his steps were so steady and firm.

Sixteen years later, it's still the same.

Familiar figures, familiar clothes, familiar faces, kept coming to her mind. Gradually, the empress's eyes blurred. The family affection that originated from the depths of her blood could not be eroded by time and revived at this moment.

Looking at the empress in front of him, Li Maozhen's eyes were slightly red. He had thousands of words in his heart that he wanted to say, but he couldn't say them. In the end, he only condensed them into one sentence, "Sister, I'm back."

Hearing this familiar voice, the empress burst into tears on the spot, and the crystal tears slid down her face, so beautiful and sad, "It's really you!"

After sixteen years, the brother and sister finally met again. The figure that only appeared in her dreams in the past stood in front of her. The empress felt as if she was dreaming, something unreal.

Li Maozhen walked up to the empress and wiped away the tears on her face. His two eyes, one gold and one red, showed a deep tenderness. "Sister, of course it's me. I haven't seen you for sixteen years. You have changed a lot. You have grown up and become more mature."

"Brother Prince, have you really found the legendary Twelve Caves in these years?" The empress stopped crying, her voice choked with sobs.

"I will tell you about the Twelve Caves later. Have you been living well these years?" Li Maozhen lowered his eyes subconsciously, avoiding the topic and instead cared about the empress.

Hearing this answer, the empress felt a pain in her heart and showed a bitter smile on her face, "Okay, why not? Sixteen years is enough for a carefree girl to grow into a cold-blooded prince. This is all thanks to you."

This answer is not surprising.

He left for sixteen years, leaving the huge country of Qi on the shoulders of a young girl, carrying responsibilities that she should not have borne. It would be an accident if she had no resentment.

Fortunately, the situation was much better than Li Maozhen had expected. At least, she didn't fight as soon as they met.

"I understand. I owe you a lot over the years, but all of this is to end the fate of our Li family, put an end to the chaos, and bring peace to the world."

However, before he could finish his words, he was interrupted by the empress, "The fate of the Li family? Brother Wang, don't forget that the blood flowing in our bodies is not the blood of the Li family at all, and neither you nor I originally had the last name Li!"

Chapter 173 The Emperor Meets the King

Seeing the empress's cold eyes, Li Maozhen smiled bitterly and said, "That being said, I did this for Qi. If I don't care, what will happen to Qi? The people of Qi..."

"Qi Country is doing well. It's the same whether you are here or not..." The empress turned around, closed her eyes, with a hint of reluctance on her face, but it eventually turned into determination.

Li Maozhen sighed inwardly, his sister has matured and it is not easy to fool her anymore.

"Sixteen years ago, you abandoned Qi, its people, and me for the Longquan treasure. I don't believe you haven't thought about what will happen to Qi after you leave."