Returning to the Chengqing Hall and seeing Li Tai kneeling in the hall, Li Shimin couldn't help but cursed in his heart: This evil beast still has some wisdom. He knows that the things in the hall are not over yet, so he is kneeling here to apologize.

Changsun Wuji, who was accompanying the emperor, also lowered his head, waiting for the emperor's instructions.

"Li Tai, you seem to be very unconvinced? Do you think I have harmed the face of your King Wei in front of all the civil and military officials?"

Li Tai was clever, and of course he knew that his father was really angry. He quickly leaned over and said in fear: "How dare you, my son, to be so rebellious! In short, it is my son who is unfilial and has made my father angry."

Fatty knows very well that no matter how much trouble he caused in the past, no matter how angry his father was, as long as he sincerely admitted his mistakes, his father would always be able to spare him and show mercy outside the law.

But this time, his plan was wrong. Li Shimin not only failed to relieve his anger, but also didn't even have the intention to let him get up. Li Tai's waist and abdomen were huge, and people would tremble if he leaned down for a long time.

After taking a sip of the tea brought by Wang Decheng, Li Shimin said coldly: "You still know that you are unfilial? I only have eyes for you!"

"Serving the king with sincerity, you just contradicted the prince in front of all the civil and military officials. Where did your etiquette and tutoring go? All your books were read like a dog's belly?"

Li Shimin really loved this son. When Li Tai was nine years old, he was granted the title of Governor of Yangzhou and the governor of sixteen states. However, Li Ke was granted the title of only six states, making him the crown prince and the crown prince among the kings.

More than his uncles.

At the age of twelve, he was awarded the title of General Zuo Wuhou, with the title of Xu Bu. At the age of thirteen, five governors of Xia, Sheng, Beifu, Beining, and Beikai were added. The remaining officers remained the same, but they were still without title.

In the 10th year of Zhenguan, he was granted the title of King of Wei. He led the military governors of Xiangzhou, Duxiang, Wei, Li, Wei, Ming, Xing, and Bei in the seven states. The remaining officials remained the same, and the fiefdoms increased year after year. Those who should have gone to fiefdoms

Li Tai, or because of his favor, Xu Liujingyuan took over the fiefdom.

Li Shimin's love for Li Tai reached the point of doting on him. He often took him around for pleasure. Even if he couldn't see him for just one day, he would send his own white falcon named "General" to deliver messages.

, the swan geese make several trips back and forth in one day.

Because Li Tai was too fat, he was worried that it would be difficult for him to go to the court to pay homage, so he was allowed to ride in a small sedan to the court, which was a treatment only given to the prince.

When the palace was opened, 90% of the land in Yankangfang was expanded into the Palace of the Prince of Wei. The etiquette exceeded the system, which had never happened since the founding of the country.

Li Shimin even once wanted Li Tai to move into the Wude Palace. When Wei Zheng remonstrated: "Today the Wude Palace is close to the Queen of Chu" and "to the west of the East Palace"... Li Shimin even scolded him.

Wei Zheng said: "If there is no prince, then the mother and the younger brother will take over", implying that Li Tai can replace Li Chengqian.

But Wei Zheng immediately expressed his disapproval and said: "The people of Yin value Zhi and have the righteousness of brother to brother. Since the Zhou Dynasty, direct descendants have been established to make them elders, so they can eliminate the evil of common people and stop the source of disaster. It is suitable for the country.

Be careful."

This is the principle of succession to the throne. Although Li Shimin verbally agreed at the time, he believed it in his heart and always felt that Li Tai was stronger than Li Chengqian.

Even not long ago, because he failed to live in the Wude Palace, he set up a trap to "steal the bride of the King of Wei" to humiliate Wei Zheng, causing Wei Zheng to still claim to be ill at home. Li Shimin also felt that it was just a temporary mood and did not think of the worst.

.

But today, with this incident in the court, Li Tai insulted Du Jing, which made Li Shimin feel very uncomfortable. It's not that Li Shimin didn't know about the conflict between them. Even if he didn't know Du Jing's identity, he shouldn't treat someone who serves the country

The general who died added insult to injury.

Li Tai's mind and magnanimity were both too narrow and could not tolerate others. He really failed Li Shimin's years of cultivation and favor in him.

Li Tai was so yelled at by these two voices that he was sweating profusely and trembling. He didn't even dare to reply. Li Shimin didn't want to say too much to him anymore. He just ordered him to go to Zheng Guogong's mansion after leaving the palace and give it to Wei Zheng.

Just apologize.

After Li Taicheng withdrew in fear, Li Shimin couldn't help but lamented: "Retribution! I killed Jiancheng and Yuanji. My sons also hate each other. This is all my fault."

"Erlang! Erlang was frail since he was a child, but he was nursed back to health by Guanshi maid with a medicine spoon in her mouth. He lived in the rivers and lakes when he was young, and spent the rest of his life in hundreds of battles. He finally managed to save his life, but he died in battle at a young age, me!"

The last time I saw the emperor's hands trembling was when Empress Wende passed away. Changsun Wuji knew that his majesty felt guilty for Du Jing. His miserable childhood was caused by the game between Li Shimin and the late emperor, and he became a victim.<

/p>

The original plan was to tame his wild nature, cure his stubborn diseases, let him develop his talents, become a sect king like Xiaogong and Daozong, and protect the country of the Tang Dynasty. But now, it is too late!

Seeing that the emperor was so sad that he couldn't speak, he just lost his mind. Changsun Wuji sighed, cupped his hands and said: "Your Majesty, I express my condolences. Erlang is a man with a cold face and a warm heart. Your Majesty is so sad, he should go."

I feel uneasy."

The pain of losing a child is like ripping out flesh and heart, no matter how much it is said, it is undoubtedly true. Just when Changsun Wuji was not sure what to say next, Li Lizhi walked in from the palace door, and he couldn't help but shout "Thank God" in his heart.
p>

Before going to court, he specifically told Changsun Chong that he must invite the princess. Except for the words of his eldest daughter, His Majesty at this time was afraid that he would not listen to anyone else's words.

After giving the princess and daughter-in-law a look, Changsun Wuji bowed his hands to the saint and quietly exited the Chengqing Hall.

Seeing that his father's eyes were empty and he was lost in thought, he knelt down at Li Shimin's feet, took out a handkerchief package from his sleeve, and carefully opened the handkerchief. Inside was a palm-sized wood carving.

Putting it in his father's hands, Li Lizhi, with red eyes, sobbed: "I went to my second brother's house this morning. My second brother is frugal and there are no permanent things in the house, so I only found this."

This wood carving is either a precious wood like nanmu, or a very common poplar wood. The only thing worth noting is that its shape is carved in the likeness of Queen Wende.

From the blackening of the wood grain on it and the stains of blood seeping into it, it can be seen that this object has been around for some years and is a personal belonging of Du Jing.

"Although the second brother is not at home these years, he still has his mother and this family in his heart. He really doesn't blame you, he just cannot express it because he is ill."

Li Shimin looked at the wood carving in his hand, his eye circles turned red, and he nodded angrily. He wiped his eyes with his sleeve and sighed: "Your mother and Erlang are the mother and son who caused the mistake."

When Du gave birth, there was a plague in the capital. With so many people coming and going from the Qin Palace every day, Du was not spared.

After Du Jing was born, Du died due to the epidemic and dystocia, and her body was incinerated. However, because the concubines in the mansion had children of their own, no one wanted to have a child with the epidemic.

Empress Changsun was kind-hearted and wanted to help Li Shimin win over Du Ruhui and Jingzhao Du family, so she handed over Cheng Qian to Concubine Zheng Xian who had nothing to do and took care of Du Jing personally.

"It's strange to say that your second brother cries whenever anyone hugs him, but in your mother's arms, he doesn't cry or fuss, and sleeps soundly."

"I remember your mother said that Erlang and his concubine are the mother and son destined by fate."

Yes! Just as Empress Changsun said, she and Du Jing are indeed mother and son destined by fate, and the relationship between the aunt and the concubine is no different from that of a biological mother and son.

Touching the wood carving in his hand, Li Shimin sighed: "Your second brother is different from all my sons. His life is not easy!"

Being plotted by his own grandfather, he grew up in a childhood of not having enough to eat, not having enough clothes to cover his body, being looked down upon, and a disgusting war.

After countless fierce battles, struggling in mountains of corpses and rivers of blood, suffering from vicious diseases, suffering day and night, he finally died in a borderland.

He always resisted the unfair fate and persisted in getting through it. In the end, he did more good things than bad things.

This is the sacrifice Erlang made for the foundation of the Tang Dynasty for generations to come. It is also the price we have to bear, do you understand?

After finishing speaking, Li Shimin stopped talking and just rubbed the wood carving with his fingers. The palms and backs of his hands were all flesh. Li Chengqian and Li Tai recommended him as the chief and deputy manager of Mi Dao. They all had reasons to harm Erlang.

If we dig deeper, we may have to bury him with him, but I have already lost a son and don’t want to add another one. I won’t investigate or ask anymore. I would rather believe that they are innocent.

"Ever since he came back, Erchen has been thinking about what kind of person his second brother is. Erchen has never met anyone like him in his life."

He is said to be smart, but sometimes he is horribly stupid. For the sake of his comrades, he will not hesitate to take the dignity of a prince and take revenge with his life. He is the kind of person who would rather get himself covered with bruises for others. For the sake of truth and justice, he will sacrifice his life.<

/p>

The second brother once said that what he hates most in his life is heroes, especially not like his father, who carries a heavy burden and carries forward. But now, he has become such a person, but Li Lizhi can't understand it.

.

Seeing this woodcut, she understood that the second brother lived for an obsession, and he followed his heart until his death. Although his life was short, it was wonderful. He cried, laughed, and came.

Yes, that's enough.

She quietly looked at her father who had aged much overnight, and two wrinkles seemed to have appeared in the corners of her eyes, and Li Lizhi's heart felt like needles pricking her.

The ministers and servants of the foreign dynasties all said: Your Majesty wears armor and personally walks on the front lines of the army. His military clothes are stained with horse sweat and his horses are infested with lice. He flattens the area and saves lives. In a few years, Ningyan is the best place in the world.

Talent.
Chapter completed!