The tea and cakes were put aside. The two highnesses who had risen early and had not eaten breakfast had no intention of eating or drinking. They drove the servants out. The two sat in the flower hall with sad faces and sighs.
The two brothers are both smart people. Although they have not expressed their feelings to each other, they already know tacitly that the other is thinking about the same thing as themselves, and they are worried about the same thing...
Although there are many doubts about that incident, we still don’t know who actually did it, but what if it happens?
The father indeed loved them far more than the prince. Compared to other concubine brothers, Li Ke, who was the most valued at the beginning, was sent to Silla to be a grass-headed king... but both of them were talented.
The talented and intelligent people are more familiar with history books and understand the meaning of a king putting the world first. In the eyes of a king, nothing is more important than the splendid country and the supreme power. Fathers, sons, and brothers must be put behind.
The father is naturally no exception, otherwise he would not try to rely on "pretending to be dead" and other methods that are destined to damage his reputation to stimulate the ambitious people in the court, thus setting off a trend of easy transfer, and he would not care about the prince, the eldest son.
Together with the life and death of the family members in the East Palace.
At this point, the death of a son is used to force the implementation of Yi Chu. Even die-hard Dong Palace loyalists such as Fang Junna have to stand aside and stay away. Otherwise, they are "helping the emperor to do evil". Do you really think that your father will not kill people?
In this way, the dead son is equivalent to "duizi" deposing the crown prince, leaving only a legitimate son who can naturally become the crown prince. Not only is his name justifiable, but he also cuts off the threat to the throne in the future. The imperial power is stable and the government is stable...killing two birds with one stone.
Therefore, this situation is very likely to occur. In addition to the previous poisoning in the Youtunwei camp... my father may not have no motive for taking action.
If this is really a plan, the one who survives will naturally win and win the battle for the throne, but neither Li Tai nor Li Zhi dare to believe that they are the one their father wants to be the heir apparent.
Li Tai felt that the pheasant slave had been raised by his father and lived with him since he was a child, and his mother had warned her before her death. The relationship between father and son was far greater than that of the other brothers. How could he get over it?
Li Zhi felt that the elders and young children were in order, the prince was deposed, and it was natural for Brother Qingque to succeed him as the reserve. Moreover, Brother Qingque had outstanding literary ability, which was not only praised by both the government and the public, but also his father repeatedly expressed his appreciation...
Both brothers have a chance, but they are not confident of winning, but neither one dares to bet.
After all, although the victory is soaring, the loser will immediately lose his life. Therefore, before the arrival of the father, the two of them exchanged glances and reached a consensus: the crown prince's position should be the crown prince's brother. We are not worthy...
…
His Majesty Li Er went to the back hall to change into a set of regular clothes, and then came to the flower hall to see his two sons.
"My son has met my father."
The two royal highnesses stood up and saluted. His Majesty Li Er smiled kindly and had a warm demeanor. He took the hand of one of his sons with his left and right hands respectively and sat down in front of the mat. He looked left and right, his concern was beyond words: "This mutiny,
The two of you must be frightened. Even though your father is thousands of miles away, you are worried about him and have trouble sleeping at night. Fortunately, God has blessed you and made you unscathed. Otherwise, you would be unworthy of your mother!"
The two brothers were so moved that their eyes turned red. Li Tai held His Majesty Li Er's hand tightly and cried: "My father is the proud son of heaven, a peerless hero. He is first the emperor of the empire and then the father of his children."
, so as long as my father’s great achievements last for thousands of years, my children’s wishes will be fulfilled, and personal safety, honor and disgrace are not worth mentioning compared with my father’s great achievements for thousands of years.”
Li Zhi also stood close to His Majesty Li Er and choked: "We are not only the sons of our father, but also our ministers. If because of us, our father sleeps day and night and hurts the body of the dragon, it is really a crime." Extremely big!"
The words of the two sons sounded general and clear, and every word put their father and the empire at the top of the list... But if you smack them carefully, you can also hear the complaints and dissatisfaction in them.
You "pretended to be dead" for the sake of Yi Chu's great cause and allowed the rebels to ravage Chang'an. But we were trembling under the rebels' swords and guns, and we lost our lives if we were not careful!
His Majesty Li Er was a little embarrassed, but not too annoyed. He could understand the mood of his two sons.
When the Guanlong army captured Chang'an, both of them were under the control of Changsun Wuji. When Changsun Wuji came forward to invite the two to succeed him, they were rejected by the two. That was the most dangerous moment. If Changsun Wuji If you are more ruthless and lawless, you should kill the two of them, and then try your best to support Qi Wang Li You to ascend the throne and eliminate future troubles forever.
Fortunately, both of them are not stupid and can remain calm in the face of overwhelming interests. Otherwise, as long as one of them agrees to become the crown prince, the other will be killed by Changsun Wuji - there are three legitimate sons in the dynasty, and the prince will die after the East Palace is defeated. , one was killed, and only one was left sitting in the position of the prince. Even if the Eastern Expedition army counterattacked Chang'an and the Guanlong army was defeated, they could only support the remaining new prince to ascend the throne as the emperor...
In fact, how could His Majesty Li Er not consider this when he was "playing dead" in the army and letting the Guanlong army wreak havoc?
But he still pursued his plan and sat back and watched all this happen. What he was thinking in his heart was even difficult for him to face...
Sighing softly, he comforted: "Changsun Wuji has been disobedient for a long time. My father had to take advantage of the Eastern Expedition to deliberately create an opportunity for him. At first, the situation in Chang'an seemed dangerous, but everything was under my father's control." Under the circumstances, you will also have the protective forces arranged for your father in advance, so nothing will happen. But if your father does not do this, and allows Changsun Wuji's disobedient heart to continue to brew, when it breaks out in the future, the color of the world will inevitably change, and everything will happen. But I can resist, and I hope you can understand my father’s good intentions.”
The two brothers looked in admiration and admiration: "Father, the Emperor's candle shines thousands of miles away, and he is truly the greatest hero in ancient and modern times!"
He said flattering words in his mouth, but in his heart he couldn't help but sneer: Are you lying? Your so-called protective force is the dead soldiers under Wang Shoushi's command, right? Whether it can ensure our safety is unknown, because Li Jun was killed before he showed up. Xian Yiwang caught them all...
Because of the "poisoning" incident in Youtun Guard, the two clever princes inevitably had doubts in their minds. Naturally, listening to His Majesty Li Er's words, they felt that there were loopholes everywhere...
Li Tai obediently poured tea for His Majesty Li Er, while Li Tai hesitated for a moment and said cautiously: "Why does the emperor have to be easy to save? Although the emperor's character is a bit weak, he is kind-hearted. After the Guanlong rebellion, His performance in the palace was also extremely outstanding, and both his ministers and pheasant slaves admired him and felt that the prince might not be a qualified heir apparent."
His Majesty Li Er took a sip from his tea cup, his face sinking like water.
Li Tai's heart skipped a beat and he didn't dare to say anything anymore, so he winked at Li Zhi who was standing beside him.
Li Zhi lowered his eyebrows and turned a blind eye to his brother's eyes. Are you kidding? You can just mention this matter, why should I have to advocate it again?
When Li Tai saw that he was silent and asking for his father's welfare with a sweet smile on his face, he was furious: I'll tell you what your father doesn't like to hear, but you do the pretense? I've been tricked by this kid...
…
As expected, His Majesty Li Er showed anger. He glared at him and said displeasedly: "How can you interfere with the Crown Prince's affairs? Just follow your father's instructions and there is no need to say more."
"Here!"
Li Tai trembled with fright and quickly obeyed his orders.
His Majesty Li Er drank tea and looked at his two sons beside him. He felt very sad. Throughout the ages, the battle for the throne has been a huge crisis that every dynasty has tried its best to avoid but cannot avoid. The supreme imperial power in the world has an unparalleled temptation.
, can make father and son turn against each other, and even make brothers and sisters kill each other. Every emperor must guard against this.
But why is it that he is now trying his best to promote Yichu, and his two sons, who are most likely to make a profit, are trying their best to shirk it and dismiss it?
If his father taught him too well, these two boys were eyeing the reserve position...
What happened in Chang'an City during the Eastern Expedition that made these two people avoid the reserve like a snake and a scorpion?
I can't figure it out...
*****
Zhongshu Provincial Government Office is one of the relatively well-preserved buildings in Taiji Palace. After Cen Wenzi returned from Wude Palace, he plunged into his own room.
Liu Jie followed closely behind and met in the check-in room.
The clerk offered the tea and was dismissed by Liu Ji with a wave of his hand. When there was no one else in the room, Liu Ji said with a bitter look on his face: "Sir, don't be upset. It's not because I'm a subordinate who turned against me in battle. It was actually your Majesty who sent someone into the house last night."
, I was told that I must cooperate, how can I dare to refuse?"
In the Hall of Wude, he cooperated with His Majesty Guo to seize the military power of Fang Jun, which obviously touched the interests of the powerful families in Jiangnan and Shandong. As a result, Cen Wenwen, who had already aloof from political affairs, angrily and directly opposed His Majesty's intention to appoint the King of Jin as Minister of War. This shows his
The anger in my heart.
At this moment, Cen Wenwen didn't have much anger. He had been in high and low positions throughout his life. What kind of things had he not seen before?
He held the tea cup in his hand and took a sip, then nodded calmly: "It is a matter of being loyal to the emperor and being loyal to the emperor. The servant is upright, so why do you need to explain to others?"
The words were not tainted with fireworks, but the sarcasm in them was overwhelming.
Liu Ji lamented, rubbed his face, and said dejectedly: "I know that my husband will regard me as a betrayal, but I can't help myself. I don't dare to disobey His Majesty's will. But please don't worry, sir, I am just cooperating to suppress Fang Jun."
, it will never involve anything else, this matter is over, and I will clarify my position to the outside world."
The trust and trust from His Majesty has always been the ladder to the sky that he strives to pursue, but Cen Wenwen's political legacy is also the cornerstone for his further advancement in the civil service hierarchy. How can he care about one and lose the other?
Moreover, what he said is right. His Majesty Li Er's heart is as solid as stone. If he dares to reject his plan to seize Fang Jun's military power at this time, who knows if he, Liu Ji, will be included in the Eastern Palace, and then
Completely suppressed, the position of servant that I had just held for a short time had to be thrown away...
So he also has some resentment in his heart. Why can't you, Cen Wenwen, understand me?