Chapter 1063

Li Er's hand trembled.

For the past year, Du Ru's health had not been very good, but he still forced himself to handle government affairs.

It was precisely because he was there that Li Er and Fang Xuanling could go on a mission to Great Qin with peace of mind.

Although Li Er was mentally prepared, he still couldn't help but feel a pang of fear.

There weren't many loyal and capable officials left in the Great Tang who could help him.

And right now, it was the time to have a showdown with the aristocratic families.

Yet Du Ru's body could no longer hold up.

"Xuanling, have you been to see him?

Is his condition really that grave?"

Fang Xuanling nodded gently.

"It is very grave. The famous doctors in the capital are helpless and all say he has at most one month of life left, and have asked the family to prepare for the funeral."

Fang's schemes and Du's decisions.

Fang Xuanling was good at planning, and Du Ru had decisiveness.

The two had always been Li Er's right-hand men, and their private relationship was also very good.

Now that Du Ru was about to pass away first, Fang Xuanling also felt very uncomfortable in his heart.

"Your Majesty, if you have time, go and see him.

Du Ru was loyal to the monarch his whole life, working without complaint; if he could receive a personal visit from Your Majesty, this would also be a tremendous honor for the Du family." Li Er really wanted to go.

But at the last moment, he hesitated.

Du Ru was also a little different from Fang Xuanling.

The Du family of Changancheng, although not among the four great aristocratic families, was also a powerful clan in Guanzhong second only to the four great families.

Li Er had never wanted Du Ru to participate in the conflict between the imperial court and the aristocratic families.

It was just that he wasn't sure which side he would stand on.

At this moment, Li Er had many thoughts in his mind.

If he went, would Du Ru try to persuade him on his deathbed not to take action against the aristocratic families?

Should he agree or not?

If Du Ru's wife, taking advantage of his critical illness, secretly colluded with her maiden family...

And took a desperate risk to capture him, the Emperor, in the residence.

Then the excellent situation against the aristocratic families would be instantly reversed.

As long as the aristocratic families caught him, the Emperor, by surprise, they could immediately raise an army and overthrow the Li Tang dynasty.

This risk could not be taken!

"Xuanling, have you sent anyone to seek out the divine physician Sun Simiao?"

Li Er decisively changed the subject.

After all, he was an Emperor; being suspicious was inevitable.

Fang Xuanling was also a shrewd person; hearing Li Er change the subject, he immediately understood that the Emperor did not want to visit Du Ru.

Right-hand men, to put it bluntly, were nothing more than hunting hawks and running dogs.

"Your Majesty, it is said that Sun Simiao is living in seclusion in the bustling streets of Changancheng, and it is impossible to invite him over at this moment. Sigh..."

Fang Xuanling's sigh was on the surface lamenting that Sun Simiao could not be invited to prolong Du Ru's life.

In reality, he was sighing at the heartlessness of the Emperor Li Er.

When they first raised their army, it was just the two of them, Fang and Du, who were always by Li Er's side, with the greatest merit.

But now, it had only been a few years.

When Du Ru was no longer useful, the Emperor's attitude immediately became distant.

It inevitably made Fang Xuanling feel cold in his heart.

Li Er heard that Sun Simiao was living in seclusion in Changancheng and started to get angry again.

"Why do all people with a little ability like to run to Changancheng?

Is Changancheng really that good?"

Fang Xuanling didn't know if he was deliberately angering Li Er or answering Li Er's question seriously, but he said.

"Your Majesty, Great Qin has raised the status of artisans.

Not only that, but for things like medicine, divination, and astrology, anyone with a skill can take an exam for a position in the corresponding association.

The Great Qin Academy of Sciences gives Sun Simiao money every month and also helps him open a medical clinic.

Living in Changancheng, he has no worries at all...

I think this is the reason why they like Changancheng."

Once these words were spoken, Li Er was angered half to death!

Right in front of him, he was talking about the good of Great Qin.

What was even more infuriating was that the Great Tang had indeed done nothing in these areas!

It was no wonder that all the talent had been attracted to Great Qin.

"Xuanling, what do you think Qin Mu is thinking about all day?

Is he deliberately making things difficult for me?

Why does it feel like he never considers proper business?"

Fang Xuanling was speechless.

Judging from the current results, it was hard to say who was not considering proper business.

Perhaps the things Qin Mu considered were what an Emperor should truly consider.

Perhaps all the monarchs in history were wrong!

It was just that this conclusion was too shocking, and Fang Xuanling dared not say it in front of Li Er.

"Your Majesty, Minister Du Ru is critically ill and may not last until tomorrow.

Let's think about how to show some gesture to the Du family.

We cannot let former meritorious officials feel cold-hearted."

Fang Xuanling brought the topic back to Du Ru.

It wasn't just Du Ru; among the meritorious officials who followed Li Er to conquer the world, how many were still by his side now?

And among these people, how many had no complaints against Li Er?

In the few short years since Li Er ascended the throne, Luo Yi and Li Xiaochang had successively rebelled.

Even the Crown Prince Li Chengqian had openly rebelled.

These things were not without reason.

Fang Xuanling wanted to persuade Li Er to reflect on his own actions as well.

Therefore, he pointed out the key point of meritorious officials feeling cold-hearted.

Li Er had become abnormally sensitive due to being provoked.

Hearing Fang Xuanling talk about meritorious officials feeling cold-hearted.

He jumped up from his chair with a start.

"Who have I treated unfairly?

It is they who are all ungrateful, alright!

Take Du Ru for example; I treated you and him as my trusted confidants, discussing everything with you two.

But look at his Du family; do they have me in their eyes at all?"

Li Er grumbled for a while.

Fang Xuanling also knew a little about this matter.

Du Ru was indeed loyal to the monarch, but his family members were not so obedient.

Du Ru's two sons were both good-for-nothing playboys.

They had also said disrespectful things about the Emperor, which Li Er had kept in mind.