Chapter 43

'Damn it all, this kid is crazier than me. There are some things I can say, but can you?'

Li Chengqian was almost scared to death; if Li You died, where would he find another person?

"That's enough! Don't say any more!"

Li Chengqian whispered in Li You's ear, then turned his gaze toward Li Shimin:

"Father, Fifth Brother is just a brainless idiot; don't lower yourself to his level."

Li Shimin did not look at Li Chengqian, but stared fixedly at Li You:

"If it weren't for the fact that you are still filial to Yin Fei, I would not spare you."

"The death penalty may be avoided, but the living penalty is inescapable. Go to the Zongmiao and kneel for three days and three nights."

"You might as well kill me!"

"Do you think I dare not?"

Li Shimin's anger rose steadily, his face turning bright red:

"If you dare to say one more word, I will execute you today, you unfilial son who defies your sovereign and father."

"I..."

"Slap!"

Li You still wanted to continue speaking, but Li Chengqian slapped him directly across the mouth, then shouted in a low voice:

"Shut up! If you speak again, I'll strip you naked and throw you into Pingkang Fang."

After finishing, Li Chengqian bowed to Li Shimin:

"Father, if we cannot make Fifth Brother realize that everything does not come out of thin air, he won't realize his mistake even if he kneels for a lifetime."

"I suggest letting Fifth Brother serve as a laborer in the Jiangzuojian for three months. Only by knowing the hardships of the common people will he know that even being a weed requires a price."

Once these words were spoken, Li Shimin calmed down instantly, looking Li Chengqian up and down with doubt in his eyes:

"Gaoming, you want an Imperial Prince to work as a laborer? Do you know the consequences?"

"Why care what others think? Some will feel the Imperial family has no dignity, while others will feel the Imperial Prince is being raised with strict discipline."

"Fifth Brother can no longer affect the political situation. Why doesn't Father temporarily forget your status as Emperor and his status as an Imperial Prince, and educate him the way an ordinary commoner would educate his own son?"

"Prince of Qi, are you willing as well?"

Li You nodded repeatedly: "I am willing! I am willing with all my heart!"

Li Shimin closed his eyes and took a deep breath, then spoke loudly:

"Issue an edict: Prince of Qi, You, has not respected the law; he is sentenced to three months of labor."

"Thank you, Father!"

"Get out!"

Li Shimin waved his hand; he really did not want to see Li You anymore:

"Gaoming, you stay!"

Li Chengqian, who was about to turn and leave, stopped and looked up at Li Shimin:

"Does Father have something to say?"

"How do you plan to arrange the Prince of Qi?"

"He will become a great talent who seeks welfare for the people; he will not bring shame to the Li Clan."

Li Shimin rolled up the memorial on the desk, his tone exceptionally calm:

"Hou Junji has been doing strange things lately. Was it at your instruction?"

"Yes! I ask Father to help cover for him a little."

"Li Jue is also getting older. How do you plan to teach Li Xiang and Li Jue?"

Li Chengqian sighed in his heart; Erfeng really regretted it, otherwise he wouldn't have asked this question.

Without the slightest concealment, he stated his thoughts one by one:

"Er-lang is mostly taken care of by Da-lang; I only teach them to fight together and take beatings together."

"The struggle for the throne cannot be avoided just by saying 'brotherly love'!"

"Naturally, it cannot!"

Li Chengqian's eyes showed determination: "If I choose Er-lang, then I will have Li Xiang go to his fief as soon as possible; I will not give him even the slightest chance."

"Father, I have said it before: what happened in the past is no longer important."

"I haven't taken it to heart, and you shouldn't either. I have already arranged a way out for Qingque; he will leave his name in history, so you need not worry."

"Hehe!"

Li Shimin's brow gradually relaxed: "Why do you think you will definitely become Emperor? Are you being too arrogant?"

"Because Qingque and Zhinu still don't know how to protect me, but I have already protected Qingque. Zhinu only needs to wait for an opportunity, and then I can start making arrangements."

"Father, I actually don't care who you hand the throne to. No matter who you give it to, I will snatch it back."

"Even if I become a commoner, I have the ability to make myself Emperor."

"You are threatening me!"

"No! I just want to tell you that in order to fulfill my ambitions, I will spare no cost."

Having said that, Li Chengqian bowed and turned to leave.

"What is your ambition?"

Li Chengqian did not look back, but his firm voice was clearly transmitted into Li Shimin's mind:

"To return the world to the people of the world, to ensure no one in the Great Tang dies of hunger or cold, and to make everyone within the Great Tang one family."

"A moderately prosperous society is not enough; I want the Great Unity!"

Watching Li Chengqian's departing back, Li Shimin's eyes were exceptionally complex; he discovered that he had never understood Li Chengqian, and knew nothing about this son of his.

He knew Li Chengqian was smart, and he was also afraid that Li Chengqian would be like Emperor Yang of Sui, fond of grandiosity.

He also knew that Li Chengqian sought out the Turkic people to destroy the Western Turkic in the future, not because he loved military formations.

It was precisely because of this that he was afraid. Although the Great Tang had rested and recuperated for so many years, the hearts of the people had not fully submitted.

The common people in various places mostly relied on the major aristocratic clans; it was too normal for them to know the clans but not the Emperor.

One careless move, and it could very well lead to chaos under heaven; this was something Li Shimin did not want to see.

A sharp light flashed in Li Shimin's eyes:

'Gaoming, don't blame Father for not giving you a chance. As long as you can seize the right to speak, and can protect Qingque and Zhinu...'

At this time, Li Chengqian had just walked to the Jiafumen, the gate of the Eastern Palace, and saw Li You waiting there, not knowing for how long.

"Big Brother, Big Brother, how was it? Did Father scold you?"

Li Chengqian's eyes narrowed slightly, a gentle smile appeared on the corner of his mouth, and then he raised his right hand and slapped Li You on the head:

"Bang!"

"Ah... Big Brother, why are you hitting me?"

"For angering Father, not for stabbing him in the heart! Who were you just trying to talk about? Great Uncle or Yang Yong?"

"Slap, slap!"

"Can those words be said? Who do you think you are? And who is Father?"

"Ah! Didn't you say it too? Why are you hitting me?"

"Slap, slap, slap!"

"I'll beat you to death, you stupid pig! Different times, different positions, different things to say; don't you even know such a simple principle?"

"I was about to die, so it was understandable to say some presumptuous words to save my life. You are living perfectly well, yet you say these things; are you tired of living?"

"Slap, slap, slap..."

"Ah ah ah, Big Brother, stop hitting me, I know I was wrong!"

"Hmph! Remember what I said: when doing things and speaking, you must look at the time and place; don't just say whatever you want."

"Otherwise, you won't even know when you die. If you want to be carefree, go stay in the mountains and forests alone; where there are people, you can never be carefree."

Li You hung his head and began to mutter: "I know, Big Brother. Didn't I just say whatever came to mind?"

"Father is so broad-minded, and he's fine. He was even scolded to his face by Wei Zheng back then, and he was fine."

"Hiding in the mountains is fake freedom; true freedom is among the crowd."

"I just haven't cultivated enough. After I cultivate for a while longer, I definitely won't get angry again."

"Big Brother, I've been reading Liezi recently. I want to learn from Liezi and keep my mouth shut for five years. What do you think?"

"I think it's possible..."

"Big Brother, don't walk so fast, wait for me, I still want to ask you about the book Liezi."

"Big Brother, where do you say Lieguya Mountain is? Are there really immortals on it?"

"..."

Li Chengqian's footsteps became faster and faster; he now hated Li You and wished he could sew Li You's mouth shut with a needle.