Chapter 28

The morning assembly ended with this donation!

In this era of war and turmoil, one could say that the people standing in the imperial court were the wealthiest in the entire Tang Dynasty. With Li Er and Li Jiancheng setting a good example, the ministers generously opened their wallets.

However, each minister was unhappy, harboring resentment towards the Crown Prince who proposed this idea. How could their brothers' affairs involve them? The scales in their hearts began to adjust once again.

Fortunately, Prince Qi Li Yuanji had no spare money, as most of his funds were used to bribe certain people in the palace. Otherwise, how could this minor prince, who was not favored by Li Yuan, obtain first-hand information about Li Er? In his view, any cost was acceptable to deal with this great enemy in his heart.

So, this time, he only donated a meager one thousand taels, which provided a step down for other court officials: Didn't His Highness Prince Qi only donate one thousand taels? If they donated more, wouldn't it exceed their status and position?

Therefore, each minister donated a few hundred taels, but the small amounts added up due to the large number of people! There were not many, but not few, about several dozen ministers qualified to attend the court, and together they raised nearly one hundred thousand taels.

The imperial princes and ministers donated 350,000 taels of silver for disaster relief in Hebei. This number surprised Li Yuan, who never expected that these people around him, who usually kept a low profile, were all wealthy! It seemed that these aristocratic families had become tumors, and once the country was pacified, they would need to be thoroughly reformed!

Li Yuan made his decision in his heart, but his face showed no emotion. After the last minister wrote down his donation of five hundred taels, the eunuch announced the end of the assembly.

After the assembly, Li Yuan called Li Er to stay, as he had some words to say to him privately.

Just as Li Yuan called Li Er, Li Jiancheng and Li Yuanji exchanged a glance, a flash of ruthlessness in their eyes.

"I called you to talk to you properly!" Li Yuan and Li Er walked along a path in the imperial garden, Li Er half a step behind, respectfully following Li Yuan. Hearing Li Yuan's words, he felt a bit puzzled.

"Why, can't I talk to you? We haven't had a heartfelt conversation like this for six whole years!" A father knows his son best, and Li Yuan knew Li Er would be puzzled about why he was called for a private talk. After the founding of the Tang Dynasty, this had always been Li Jiancheng's privilege.

"I dare not!" Li Er did not dare to speculate further, knowing that Li Yuan would reveal the reason.

"I called you to ask what you really think. The way you and your two brothers have been fighting pains me deeply. You are all brothers from the same mother, so how did it come to this? Is it because of the Dragon Throne I sit on?" Li Yuan's words made Li Er's face change.

"What do you mean, Your Majesty? I have never had any disloyal thoughts!" How could Li Er dare to say he wanted to sit on the throne? That would be courting death! So he immediately denied it, bowing repeatedly.

"Enough, everyone knows what's going on! Most of this empire was won by you, so you feel you deserve to sit on this throne. Jiancheng, being the eldest, was made Crown Prince! I know all of this!"

"But he is your elder brother and the Crown Prince I personally appointed, so there are some things I haven't given you, and you can't take them yourself!" Li Yuan's words were heavy and decisive. He knew his second son would do anything, having once dared to attack Wang Shichong's camp with just a hundred cavalry. Now, with a strong army, how could he not have the courage to do something? But this was precisely what Li Yuan feared.

These three sons were all born to Dou Shi and were his most accomplished children. The eldest was mature and steady, an excellent administrator; the second had extraordinary political and military talents, a genius; the third, though ugly, was very brave, but his cunning and depth were far inferior to his two brothers.

"Your Majesty, I truly have no disloyal thoughts. It's just that my elder brother and younger brother can't let go!" Li Er would never admit to wanting the throne, so he said the Crown Prince was wary of him.

"Is that so! I also know that since the founding of the Tang Dynasty, you have been increasingly suspicious of each other. I never thought it would come to this, where you are determined to destroy each other! I am heartbroken and don't know how to face your mother in the afterlife!" Li Yuan's real intention in calling Li Er was to make him yield. So he mentioned Dou Shi, their mother.

"Your Majesty, there's no need to be sad. I believe my elder brother, with his intelligence, will understand!" Li Er still pretended to be ignorant. He would never give up. This empire was won with the blood and sweat of him and his brothers. How could Li Jiancheng sit on the throne? Moreover, even if he had no desire for the throne, would those two let him go? At this moment, Li Er also felt a bit resentful towards Li Yuan.

"Why are you all like this? Previously, Jiancheng said you wouldn't let go of your military power, that you were resentful and thought I was unfair, and that he had no ill will towards you. Are you really preparing to fight each other to the death? Are you trying to kill me with worry?" Li Yuan was also angry. These boys had grown up and were no longer obedient.

"Your Majesty, I am not attached to military power. The brothers under me have followed me through many battles, and we have deep bonds. I can't bear to part with them! Moreover, I dare not give up my military power because there are always no less than five hundred men ready to act around my residence. I can't give up this last line of defense!" Li Er hinted that if he lost his military power, his head might end up on someone's desk the next day.

This was a direct confrontation. Li Er was never one to drag his feet. Once he set a goal, he would bet everything on it, even if there was only a sixty percent chance. In the previous assembly, he had confirmed that those two were determined to kill him. So he decided to confront them directly. Continuing to hide behind the last shred of dignity would only invite ridicule. It was better to cut the Gordian knot.

"Do you mean Jiancheng is determined to kill you?" Li Yuan, though he could know anything in the palace, had never thought his sons would come to blows in the imperial city. So there were no spies near their residences, only informants in their mansions to know their general movements.

"I dare not speak rashly! Five hundred archers are always on standby, hidden in the surrounding houses of the Qin王府." Li Er was very sure, as the aura of soldiers was familiar to him. When he returned home yesterday, he felt the faint but sharp and deadly aura from the surrounding houses, which was definitely from archers, not close-combat soldiers.

"What a ridiculous emperor I am! I never thought my son would try to kill his brother right under my nose! Is there no law? Do they really think I don't exist?" Li Yuan began to roar, an angry lion ready to tear apart the young lions who dared to defy him.

"Your Majesty, calm down! I really..." Li Er took the opportunity to pour oil on the fire, feeling that Li Yuan's anger was not yet at its peak. Otherwise, the next move would not have the greatest impact. He wanted Li Jiancheng and the others to bear the full brunt of the old lion's wrath. Since they were enemies, he would not hold back. He could be merciful, but only after thoroughly subduing his enemies. Li Er had not yet made up his mind, still struggling with his emotions.

It was not his feelings for Li Jiancheng and Li Yuanji, but his feelings for Li Yuan and Dou Shi. He feared that killing those two would destroy the father-son relationship with Li Yuan. In the end, Li Er was still a filial son!

After roaring for a while, Li Yuan directly ordered an investigation into what Li Er had said, and the two fell into a long silence.

Soon, a eunuch came to report, and Li Yuan's face grew increasingly grim. The results of the investigation clearly angered and pained him. He panted heavily, his eyes glaring as if he wanted to eat the person behind it.

But Li Yuan, as an emperor, only lost his composure because there was no one else around. After a while, he calmed down, and his gaze softened when he looked at Li Er: "I never thought power could make people so ruthless. Go away! Go far away. I'll give you half of the Tang Empire, let you establish your own kingdom, as long as you never return to Chang'an! I know those two together are no match for you, so to avoid the worst-case scenario, go away!" Li Yuan closed his eyes, exhausted. The situation he did not want to see was becoming a reality, and the things he did not want to happen were happening one by one. This made him begin to hate the empire he had built!

"Your Majesty, I will not go! I still want to serve you and see the Tang Dynasty unify the world, not split in two. This empire was built by you and me, by all of us, so it cannot be divided. Moreover, we rebelled because the wars made life hard for the people, to give them a peaceful world. If we split the empire, it will only repeat the tragedy, leaving the people homeless and the land desolate!" Li Er had no intention of leaving. Who would willingly give up half of the empire they had fought for? At least he would not!