Princess Li Xiuning of Pingyang left Tongguan and rode all the way to Chang'an, feeling extremely anxious.

Not long ago, she received an urgent message from Chang'an. Her father, Li Yuan, suddenly suffered a stroke and was paralyzed. His life was on the verge of death. It was like a thunderbolt on a sunny day. Li Xiuning almost fainted to the ground. It was easy to recover, and he immediately left Tongguan with his family general Ma Sanbao and a group of women's troops, rushing to Chang'an. Although Chai Shao also wanted to follow his wife back to see his father-in-law for the last time, he was the chief guarding the pass and now the enemy was At present, how can I leave my post without permission? So I can only reluctantly watch my wife leave.

Chi Chi…

Li Xiuning whipped his mount desperately, wishing he could fly back to Chang'an with wings. The family general Ma Sanbao followed behind without saying a word, but there was clearly a hint of worry in his brows.

Although Ma Sanbao is not good at words, he is a very smart and intelligent person, and he is also good at martial arts. He was originally Chai Shao's servant. Later, he was favored by Princess Pingyang Li Xiuning and put him in a good position. At that time, Princess Pingyang raised troops in Guanzhong to respond to her father Li Yuan. Ma Sanbao was an effective general under Princess Pingyang and had made great contributions. Li Yuan appointed him Doctor Zuo Guanglu, but he refused and continued to stay with Princess Pingyang as an unknown general.

Although the Supreme Emperor Li Yuan was sixty years old, his health was always good. At this time, he suddenly suffered a stroke. Ma Sanbao inevitably had some speculations, so he was a little worried. The princess was already heartbroken by the death of the Crown Prince and King Qi. If the Supreme Emperor suddenly suffered a stroke, The emperor also appointed someone to do it. The princess might not be able to bear it anymore and end up doing something stupid.

Although the Supreme Emperor has abdicated, his influence is still very great. In addition, the current situation is unfavorable and undercurrents are surging in the court. In order to stabilize the throne, it is not impossible for the Emperor to be cruel and cruel to kill the Supreme Emperor. The struggle for imperial power is so cruel. It is not uncommon for fathers and sons to fight each other.

Tongguan is less than three hundred miles away from Chang'an, so Li Xiuning rushed there that evening. However, when she rushed to the imperial city, the death knell was ringing in the palace, and the cries were loud!

Li Xiuning's pretty face turned pale, and she fell limply at the entrance of the palace. It took a long time before she let out a mournful cry: "Father - the Emperor!"

Li Xiuning hurriedly hurriedly hurried, but in the end she came back late. The moment she entered the city, Li Yuan died and was unable to see her for the last time.

"Father—Emperor!" Li Xiuning stumbled into the Tai Chi Palace. In the courtyard outside the palace, all Li Yuan's concubines and children were kneeling on the ground. The maids, eunuchs, and guards were kneeling all over the courtyard, and their cries shook the heaven and the earth.

Li Xiuning couldn't help but feel sad. She threw herself on her father Li Yuan and cried so hard that her heart was broken. Li Shimin's eyes were red and swollen and he hesitated to speak. Li Xuanba coughed a few times and stood up to persuade him: "There is no resurrection after death. My condolences to my sister, my father will not be able to live peacefully under Jiuquan like this."

Li Shimin was silent for a while: "Xuanba, are we really twins?"

When Li Shimin heard this, his eyes gradually lit up, as if two beams of flame were burning, echoing the flames in Li Xuanba's eyes, which was very strange.

Li Shimin frowned and said, "Why did Li Yuan and Mr. Dou never mention it to me?"

Li Xiuning's heart warmed and she saluted, "Xiuning is here to see you, Your Majesty."

Li Xiuning nodded and said sadly: "Today is the seventh day of my father's reign."

Just as Li Xiuning looked at the jade pendant in his hand with a changeable expression, a voice came from behind.

"Don't think too much. Now that we are facing a powerful enemy, Shimin, you should focus on dealing with Gao Qi. I will also give you my full help. We brothers work together and can defeat Gao Changqing with our sharpness. By then, not only will

With the country in hand, Guanyin will come back to you." Li Xuanba stared at Li Shimin and said.

At this time, a figure flashed in quietly, walked to the coffin, lit three sticks of incense, and then knelt down next to Li Shimin, but did not kowtow.

Li Shimin hesitated for a moment, then nodded and said, "That's fine, we siblings haven't talked for a long time."

Li Xiuning recognized this jade pendant because she also had such a jade pendant. The eldest brother Jiancheng, the second brother Shimin, the third brother Xuanba and the fourth brother Yuanji all had such a jade pendant. This was made by their mother Dou during her lifetime.

They are all engraved with the names of several brothers and sisters. To prevent the children from being too naughty and damaging or losing them, Mr. Dou made a few spare ones for each of them.

"They never followed me, but our father found me later, and I learned all my kung fu from him." Li Xuanba said calmly.

Li Xuanba's eyes became brighter and brighter, like two burning candles. Li Shimin's eyes met with the former's, his expression gradually became a little confused, and finally he nodded and said: "I believe it."

Li Xuanba nodded calmly, and Li Shimin gritted his teeth and said, "Why?"

Li Xiuning burst into the study of Baoxia Pavilion with tears streaming down her face. She saw Li Yuan lying silently on the bed. Li Shimin and Li Xuanba knelt down in front of the bed and cried bitterly. The former was dusty and had obviously just returned from outside.

Hearing this, Li Xiuning lowered her head and wiped away tears, but there was a subtle strange color flashing in her eyes.

Li Xuanba nodded and said: "Of course, our biological mother is Yu Wen Ruyu, the third princess of Emperor Wu of the Northern Zhou Dynasty, and our father's surname is Pei Mingju. Li Yuan and Dou are just our adoptive parents. In terms of kinship, Dou

Just our cousin."

Li Xuanba put his hand on Li Shimin's shoulder, sighed and said: "Shimin, what we are fighting for is the country, not just three melons and two dates. The reality is so cruel. If you hadn't struck first to gain advantage, now I'm afraid

The bones are already cold, including your wife, children and everyone under your command."

"Third sister, there is no need to be polite. Are you here late at night to pay homage to my father?" Li Shimin asked.

"Then why does our father only look for you and not me?"

Li Shimin frowned and said, "Xuanba, father, was it you who did this?"

Li Shimin sighed and said softly: "Third sister is interested in showing off her clothes late at night, so go back and rest early."

Li Xiuning shook his head and said, "I can't sleep. Could your Majesty come with me for a walk?"

"Shimin, even if you kneel and die here, Li Yuan won't be able to come back to life." Li Xuanba coughed lightly.

Li Xuanba said calmly: "Li Yuan convened the ministers for a court meeting to plan for restoration."

After kowtowing, Li Xiuning stood up, turned around, lowered her head and looked silently at her left palm. Under the moonlight, she could see a jade pendant lying on the center of her left hand. The quality and workmanship were of top quality.

Li Xuanba shook his head sadly and said: "My father suddenly fell ill. When Xuanba arrived, my father was already paralyzed and unable to speak. He didn't leave a single word."

The Supreme Emperor passed away, and the next step was to mourn him. He was temporarily kept in the Ancestral Temple and buried in the Xianling Mausoleum on a later date. He was given the temple name of Gaozu and his posthumous title of Emperor Taiwu.

Li Shimin turned around, still staring blankly at his father Li Yuan's coffin, as if he didn't even notice the arrival.

Li Xuanba frowned and said, "Because you used to be impulsive and couldn't hide things. My father was worried that you wouldn't be able to hide things after knowing the truth, which would affect your development. Shimin, if you ask this, do you mean you don't believe me?"

"Third sister!"

"Father!" Li Xiuning rushed to the bed with messy steps. She saw her father Li Yuan's eyes were closed tightly and he was no longer breathing. The corners of his mouth were crooked, his left hand was clenched, his right hand was bent, and his fingers were spread out like chicken claws.

Li Xuanba frowned and said: "What nonsense are you talking about? Li Yuan is not our biological father. We are descendants of the Yuwen family of the Northern Zhou Dynasty. My father and I worked hard to help Li Yuan conquer the country, and also worked hard to help him ascend to the throne. The purpose

It’s just to get back the Yuwen family’s empire, how can we give it back to Li Yuan?”

"But my father and mother have been kind to us in raising us, and they have also sought out famous doctors to treat you. My father should not have ended up like this." Li Shimin said painfully.

Li Shimin frowned and said displeasedly: "The sky has unpredictable events, and people have misfortunes and blessings all day long. Birth, old age, illness and death are all human nature. By asking this, is it possible that the third sister is doubting me?"

Li Shimin took advantage of the darkness to enter the Ancestral Temple, went to the place where Li Yuan's body was laid, burned three sticks of incense, kowtowed three times respectfully, and then knelt there in a daze.

"Then let him be restored. The country belongs to him."

Princess Li Xiuning of Pingyang came outside the Taimiao Temple. She did not go in because according to the rules, women were not allowed to enter the Taimiao Temple, so she just knelt down and kowtowed outside the temple gate.

On July 14th, the Ghost Festival, commonly known as the Ghost Festival, is also the seventh day of Li Yuan's life. A bright moon hangs high in the sky, and the bright and cold moonlight spreads all over the ground.

Li Shimin also stood up to comfort him, and finally managed to persuade Li Xiuning. The latter wiped his tears and asked: "When did the emperor come back? Have you seen your father?"

The two of them walked forward under the moonlight, but neither of them spoke. After a long time, Li Xiuning finally couldn't help but said: "My father has always been in good health, why did he suddenly suffer a stroke?"

…………

Li Xiuning trembled slightly, hurriedly clenched her palms and turned around, only to see Li Shimin walking in from the Ancestral Temple alone, his eyes were red, as if he had just cried.

Li Shimin shook his head sadly and said: "I was a little earlier than you, but I didn't get to see my father for the last time, but Xuanba has always been by his side."

Li Xiuning couldn't help but cry, and asked Li Xuanba: "Xuanba, do you have any last words for your father?"

When Li Yuan died, his left hand was clenched into a fist, and his right hand was bent into the shape of a chicken's claw, and this jade pendant was held in his left hand. Li Xiuning lay on Li Yuan's body and cried bitterly that day. She accidentally discovered that her father seemed to be holding something in his left hand. He had always been careful.

She didn't say anything, but later took advantage of the opportunity to sort out her father's remains and took off the thing that her father was holding, which was the jade pendant in front of her.

Li Xiuning shook his head and said bluntly: "I did doubt Fang Xuanling, but he died earlier than his father."

"Third Sister Daqing is here to investigate tonight." Li Shimin said bitterly.

Li Xiuning hesitated for a moment, then handed the jade pendant in his hand to Li Shimin and said, "Your Majesty, look at this. My father has been holding this in his left hand since he died."

Li Shimin took the jade pendant and took a look, his expression suddenly changed slightly. The word "Xuan Ba" was clearly engraved on the jade pendant.
Chapter completed!