Chapter 90

"I think it is better to promote the eastern expedition so that people in the world know the literary and martial achievements of the Great Tang."

Zhangsun Wuji nodded and agreed with Li Tai's words:

"The Prince of Wei is right. It is indeed not suitable to promote the 'Wude Encyclopedia.' The eastern expedition has not yet had any reports of victory, so it is not suitable either."

"In my opinion, it is better to promote the Prince of Wei's benevolent and filial heart. This time the Prince of Wei is going to Zhaoling, also because he misses the Empress. In this way, all the people in the world can follow suit and be filial to their mothers."

A rare look of wariness flashed in Li Chengqian's eyes. He couldn't understand Zhangsun Wuji's operation.

In his view, Zhangsun Wuji couldn't shoot without a target. Proposing to promote Li Tai's filial piety at this time must have his purpose.

Li Chengqian was waiting, waiting for Li Tai or other ministers to speak out in opposition, so he could take the opportunity to test Zhangsun Wuji.

However, facing Zhangsun Wuji's suggestion, Li Tai and a group of ministers had no objections and agreed unanimously.

Seeing this situation, Li Chengqian could only suppress the doubts in his heart and said lightly:

"Since you have no objections, then do as Uncle said."

"That's all for today. You can submit memorials if you have anything."

"This subject and others retire."

Li Chengqian returned to his seat, picked up the tea with a calm face and drank it in one gulp, then frowned:

"A good Pu'er tea was brewed like this, it's really a waste of heaven's gifts."

"Qingque, don't drink that cup. Big Brother will suffer for you."

"Get out!"

Li Tai picked up the tea and glared at Li Chengqian fiercely:

"Are you shameless? You even want to snatch a bowl of tea. Can't you ask the attendant to bring it up again?"

"Come here, bring a cup for the Crown Prince—no, bring a pot up and drink him to death."

"Life is so beautiful, but you are so irritable. Qingque, you should go practice Buddhism and Taoism."

"I haven't drawn my sword to hack you, which is already very cultivated!"

Li Tai had a cold face: "It was you who suggested it to Father, right! Go to Longxi to sacrifice to ancestors, you really thought of it."

"Qingque, is there a possibility that it really wasn't me?"

"Hehe! Guess if I believe it!"

Li Chengqian sighed, looking earnest:

"Qingque! You say that when ordinary people sacrifice to their ancestors, who usually goes?"

"Father takes his son to go together."

"What if Father is not there?"

"The eldest son takes his younger brothers to go together."

Li Chengqian hung his head:

"That's it! It was originally my responsibility as the eldest son, but Father insisted on letting you go. What do you think Father means?"

Li Tai's breathing was rapid, thinking of the etiquette of ancestral temple sacrifice, his eyes gradually brightened:

"Big Brother means..."

"That's what it means. Can't you understand Father's thoughts yet?"

"Something is wrong! Something is wrong!"

Li Tai shook his head repeatedly: "Your reaction is wrong. You have done so many things, you can't just give up like this."

"Then what can I do? Can I really rebel?"

Li Chengqian looked helpless: "Rebelling against anyone is fine, but rebelling against someone who has succeeded in rebelling twice—isn't that looking for death?"

"I..."

"Cough cough cough!"

Before he finished speaking, the coughing sounds of Fang Xuanling and Zhangsun Wuji sounded, and Zhangsun Wuji directly stopped him:

"Your Highness the Crown Prince, we are still here, and the attendants are also here."

"You don't let people tell the truth? You can't see such an exciting scene a few times in a lifetime. You can steal the joy if you can watch it at close range, and you still want to stop me. You are really old and confused."

"Your Highness the Crown Prince, this subject hasn't lived enough, so please spare me."

"Then you just pretend you didn't hear it."

After speaking, regardless of Zhangsun Wuji's reaction, he continued to Li Tai:

"The Xuancheng Division was given to Xiao Yu, and Xiao Yu was made the Crown Prince's Grand Tutor. Do you understand what this means?"

"No!"

"If the Xuancheng Department has merit, it is Xiao Yu's. If there is a mistake, I will carry it. You hide in the dark and nothing will happen."

Li Tai was so scared that he fell off the stool:

"Big Brother! Don't scare me, and don't teach me anymore, I'm afraid!"

"Are you afraid of me? Or are you afraid of Father? Or are you scared by the power struggle?"

"You can choose to be a gentleman, but you must also understand the way of the petty person, otherwise you will only be bullied by others."

Speaking of this, Li Chengqian's expression was serious: "Qingque, after becoming the Crown Prince, you can't trust anyone, even Father."

"Since ancient times, how many people have successfully ascended the throne as Crown Prince? If you do well, the Emperor will be wary of you. If you don't do well, the Emperor will think about changing the Crown Prince, and the ministers will not obey you."

"There are many brothers who have been watching you make mistakes. The Crown Prince is harder to be than the Emperor."

"Telling you so much, Big Brother only wants one promise from you. As long as you promise Big Brother, after you become the regent, Big Brother will make mistakes himself and let Father abolish me."

After thinking for a long while, Li Tai sat back in his seat, his face becoming calm:

"Do you think I will be fooled again? Tell you, I have already seen through you."

"Once I promise you, I will definitely fall into your trap again. Don't think I don't know."

Li Chengqian's seductive voice sounded again:

"Don't you really believe it? It's just a step away! Don't you want to give yourself a chance, give Big Brother a chance?"

"Instead of fighting Big Brother to the death and letting Zhinu benefit, why not listen to Big Brother's request?"

"Whether you agree or not is up to you. The initiative has always been in your hands. After listening, you can go back and find someone to discuss it."

"That is the position of Crown Prince, the future Emperor. Under the whole heaven, is it not the king's land? On the shore of the land, is it not the king's minister."

"Don't you want the Turkic King to dance in front of you? Don't you want to play a 'Qin King Breaking the Array' song? Don't you want to learn from Emperor Xuan of Han to become a perfect emperor?"

"The governance of the Three Dynasties, Yao, Shun, Yu, and Tang—it's just a step away from you. Do you really not want it?"

"Shut up!"

Li Tai's face was red, and he glared: "You petty person who bewitches people, don't think you can seduce me."

"However, as a younger brother, I still have to listen to what Big Brother has to say. This is etiquette."

"Pfft..."

Fang Xuanling sprayed a mouthful of tea and looked at Li Tai in astonishment. Is this power-hungry? There are people who will be fooled by such simple means of bewitching people?

"Prince of Wei..."

Before he finished speaking, Li Chengqian interrupted coldly: "Fang Gong, it is very impolite to interrupt others' conversation."

"Qingque, you don't need to do anything else. I just need you to write an article in the gazette discussing Confucian benevolence, filial piety, and the concealment of relatives."

"You also know the end of the eldest uncle. Big Brother is really afraid! As long as you discuss the concealment of relatives and promise all the people in the world that you will act with filial piety and brotherly love."

"After Father returns to Chang'an, I will immediately take people to the Literature Pavilion to destroy the 'Wude Encyclopedia'."

Fang Xuanling really wanted to remind Li Tai, but he was afraid that Li Chengqian would take action against Fang Jun. Li Chengqian's actions were getting faster and faster. At this time, he was not sure he could protect Fang Jun.

He knew that Li Shimin also wanted to take action against Buddhism, which was the reason he was truly wary.

"Duke of Zhao, Doctor Chu has been gone for a long time. I don't know if he can persuade the Buddhist temples and Taoist monasteries?"

"Duke of Liang, don't worry. Doing good and accumulating virtue is the purpose of the Buddhist and Taoist religions."

Li Chengqian also echoed unexpectedly: "Indeed, don't worry."

"If Duke of Liang is afraid that Doctor Chu's ability is insufficient, why not let Fang Jun go too."

"The father of the Spirit Child plus half a year of practicing to the light of self-nature, with Fang Jun there, are you still afraid that the Buddhist sect will not open the temple gate?"

Hearing Li Chengqian's warning, Fang Xuanling sighed secretly in his heart:

'Emperor, you underestimate the Crown Prince and overestimate the Prince of Wei. Once this gazette comes out, the Confucian scholars of the world will follow the Prince of Wei's lead.'

Just thinking of this, Fang Xuanling heard Li Chengqian's words of confusing people:

"Qingque, this request is not difficult, right! Have you been thinking for so long because you really want to kill Big Brother?"

"If Big Brother dies of old age, then Big Brother is one of the few abolished crown princes in history."