Tang Dynasty

In October, the summer heat is gone, and the autumn weather is slightly cooler.Li Shimin stood by the window with his coat on, staring at the falling red leaves in the courtyard without saying a word.

It has been nearly a month since I returned to my mansion, and under recuperation, my body has recovered bit by bit.

However, during this period, Li Jiancheng never came.

In fact, this was not too unexpected. Although Li Shimin had never really seen what he was thinking, he understood his decision.

Since he was able to abandon himself so simply at that time, he would never look back in the future.

Thinking of this, Li Shimin smiled silently, with bitterness and unwillingness in his smile, as well as a trace of ungraspable hatred.He knew that the matter had come to this point, and he could no longer deceive himself or deny anything.

At this moment, Du Ruhui walked in slowly without being pushed back from the outside, cupped his hands and said, "Your Highness."

Li Shimin put away his emotions, looked at him calmly and said, "What's the matter, sir?"

Du Ruhui said: "Your Highness, there is a battle report from Henan, King Qi's crusade against Liu Heita... and he returned in defeat."

"Defeated?" Li Shimin raised his eyebrows slightly, and said with a sneer, "I don't want Liu Heikai's rebel party to make a comeback this time, but he really has some strength to survive?"

Hearing his joking words, Du Ruhui, who has always been mature and prudent, remained unmoved, and said solemnly: "According to the news from the middle of Beijing, His Majesty is also troubled by this matter. According to my minister, Liu Heita is not fair. Henan is uncertain, and it will not be too long before we send people to attack again."

Li Shimin had already heard the meaning of his words, so he asked along the way: "Sir, who do you think the father will send this time? Me, or the crown prince?"

"Among the ministers, His Majesty is still hesitating at this time. If someone asks for a fight first, maybe it will be a matter of course." Du Ruhui paused for a while, and said, "It's just that I think that although His Majesty is not aware of His Highness's serious injury for the time being, His Highness is seriously injured after all. Not yet healed, the matter of marching and fighting, I'm afraid..."

"What do you mean, sir... to hand over this opportunity to the crown prince?" Li Shimin smiled nonchalantly, but he got up and walked to the table, spreading out a pen and paper, "Mr. It turns out that my father's trust in me is not as good as before. If I still sit like this and wait to die, I don't know when I will end up in a situation where I will be slaughtered."

Knowing that what Li Shimin said was very true, Du Ruhui could only be silent for a while when he heard the words, and then said: "Your Highness, please put your body first."

Li Shimin was writing frantically on the paper, without raising his head, he said: "When I was fighting everywhere, what kind of suffering did I not experience? How could I be afraid of such a small injury?" After writing, he sealed the letter. , Passed it to Du Ruhui and said, "Mr. Troubled, send someone to Beijing to present it to the emperor."

"I would like to send it in person." Du Ruhui took it respectfully, "I have no special skills, but this good tongue may help His Highness."

Li Shimin looked at him and smiled, and said, "Forget it, I'll trouble Mr. to go there myself."

He entrusted him with a few words, but before he finished speaking, he heard a servant come to report: "Your Highness, the crown prince is here to visit."

Li Shimin's expression changed slightly, but it quickly became calm.He said to the servant, "Let the prince come in quickly", then turned to Du Ruhui and said, "Sir, don't delay, let's go right now."

Du Ruhui bowed his hands and left. When he went out, he saw Li Jiancheng walking in from the door, so he hurriedly saluted and said, "I have seen His Royal Highness the Crown Prince."

Li Jiancheng looked at him and paused for a moment.Then he nodded with a smile, and stepped into the door.

The door was closed, Li Shimin leaned against the window, looked up at Li Jiancheng and said, "After all these days, elder brother is finally willing to come."

Li Jiancheng didn't answer him, but walked up to him and asked, "Has the injury ever gotten better?"

"Of course it's better." Li Shimin stretched out his hands to press his injured waist, lowered his head and smiled, and said, "It's just that my elder brother didn't come here for this reason."

Li Jiancheng was startled for a moment, then returned to his smile, and said, "Then according to the people of the world, why did the elder brother come here?"

Li Shimin still kept his head bowed, and said slowly: "Yuan Ji's campaign against Liu Heita was defeated, and the first campaign has been defeated, so there will be a second campaign. But I don't know, who does the emperor mean by this?"

In fact, both of them knew very well that the opportunity to go out not only means that they have the military power, but also helps to spread their influence there after victory.Once upon a time, Li Shimin himself established his power in the local area and in the court step by step in this way, and he naturally knew that Li Jiancheng at this time would no longer let it go.

Since the words fell, he didn't wait for Li Jiancheng to speak, and said on his own: "Brother, this time, did you come here on purpose to ask the people of the world not to go out to fight while the injury is not healed?"

Li Jiancheng looked at him quietly, his eyes turned slightly cold after hearing this.After a moment of silence, he said slowly, "Exactly."

Li Shimin sneered lowly, but didn't say anything.

As if Li Jiancheng hadn't seen him, he looked past him and looked out the window, saying: "There has been no movement from the Turks during this month. Thinking that the cold winter is coming, they have no intention of fighting. But Yuanji has been defeated, and the emperor's intention is to call you and me." One of the two will conquer Liu Heita." Xu Xu withdrew his gaze and looked at Li Shimin again, "You stay here."

"Is this an order to me? Is it the authority of the eldest brother, or... the order of the prince?" Li Shimin raised his eyes and looked at him, with a self-deprecating smile still on his lips, " But big brother, don't you forget that except for the emperor, the Tiance Mansion doesn't need to be controlled by anyone in the court?"

Faced with the obvious provocation in the other party's words, Li Jiancheng did not respond, but walked over a few steps and stood almost in front of Li Shimin.

Li Shimin leaned against the window, motionless, looking down at him without saying a word.

Li Jiancheng suddenly stretched out his hand, and slowly clasped the other side's skirt, pulling him a little closer.Unexpectedly, Li Shimin leaned forward following the strength of the opponent, as if he was about to welcome a kiss.

However, when the breaths of the two of them were close to each other, the force on the skirt stopped abruptly.

It was a kissing gesture, but after all, there was a distance between them.

Li Jiancheng looked at Li Shimin very closely, and the breath of the words fell on his lips familiarly and clearly.

"Shimin, let it go." The voices that only the two of them could hear clearly were soft and low, like a kind of comfort, but more like bewitching, "It's still too late to stop now."

After finishing speaking, he let go of his hand, intending to take a step back and return to the original distance between the two.However, before he let go, a force came from the back of his neck, forcing him to lean forward again.

Immediately afterwards, Li Shimin's kiss came suddenly.The strength holding back the stamina is domineering, but the entanglement between the lips and teeth is lingering.

The short kiss ended under Li Shimin's active stop.As if waking up suddenly, he clasped Li Jiancheng's shoulders and pushed him away, leaned back against the window, lowered his head and smiled, "Brother, you are trying to seduce me."

Li Jiancheng stood still in the same place and slowly recovered his calm.He looked at Li Shimin, and repeated what he said just now: "Shimin, let's stop before it's too late."

Li Shimin understood that what he was referring to was not Liu Heitai's expedition this time, but the entire battle between the two of them, a battle that was so long that there was no end in sight.

"Give it up?" A moment later, he smiled very lightly, looked up at the other party, and said slowly, "Brother, I'll let it go, with your nature, will you let someone who once endangered you go?" Without waiting for the other party's answer, he said to himself, "Brother, although I admire you with all my heart, it's not like I was back then. I would like to put myself on the chopping block and let me be a mermaid."

Li Jiancheng looked at him and said slowly, "You... really think this way?"

Li Shimin laughed, noncommittal, and said: "At least, even though you hate me at this time...you can't touch me after all."

"Shimin, what you said is true." Li Jiancheng also smiled suddenly, and said, "You really understand elder brother."

Li Shimin stopped talking, just watched Li Jiancheng turn and leave, and then laughed at himself.

——Brother, if I really understand you, why are you like this?

At the same time, Li Jiancheng returned to the mansion, summoned Wei Ting and said, "The letter to Emperor Father has been sent."

"Don't dare to delay," Wei Ting replied, "The general will send someone to send it out quickly."

Li Jiancheng nodded when he heard the words, lowered his head and pondered for a moment, and said, "The King of Qin has also asked for a letter of war, and sent Du Ruhui to send it to the emperor." The general will quickly send someone to stop him, any means will do."

Wei Ting deeply understood his meaning and immediately took the order to leave.

Li Jiancheng's eyes stayed in the direction he left, and slowly became deep.

----

In November, the imperial decree was issued from Chang'an to Yanmen.Li Yuan ordered his prince Li Jiancheng to conquer Liu Heita and return to Chang'an immediately without delay.Qin Wang Li Shimin was still stationed at Yanmen to defend the Turks.

On the day Li Jiancheng left, Li Shimin did not go to see him off.But he received another piece of news: Du Ruhui, who was carrying the secret letter, fell off his horse and died on the way, and all his subordinates disappeared.

Standing at the top of the city, watching Li Jiancheng's troops go away, Li Shimin suddenly punched the stone pile, bleeding profusely from the back of his fingers.

----

It was already a month later when Li Jiancheng led his army to join Li Yuanji in Lechang.

On that day, there was snow falling in the sky, Li Yuanji personally opened the city and waited. When he saw a cluster of fiery red cloaks not far away, he hurriedly rode his horse to catch up and greeted him: "Yuanji has been waiting in the city for several days. coming!"

After leaving for a few months, he seemed to be a bit taller again, Li Jiancheng nodded slightly to him, and said with a smile: "I have been in Yanmen for a long time, and I have been entrusted by my father to return to Beijing this time, so it will inevitably take some time." After a pause, he stretched out his hand to brush off the snow that fell on his long eyelashes.

Seeing this, Li Yuanji hurriedly said: "It's cold at this time, brother, go back to the city with Yuanji."

Li Jiancheng nodded, then walked side by side with him and entered the city gate.

Li Yuanji approached for a few minutes, and said in a low voice: "Brother, Yuanji is not talented, if you can break that Liu Hei door by yourself, you don't have to bother elder brother to come here in person."

"Yuanji doesn't need to blame himself," Li Jiancheng said with a slight smile, "Liu Heitai's comeback this time can be described as menacing. Huaiyang King died at his hands, and Lujiang King was forced to abandon the city, which shows that he is definitely not an easy person. Deal with Liu Heitai , cannot be attacked by force, can only be outsmarted.”

Li Yuanji pondered: "When I confronted his men and horses, I heard some rumors. It is said that Liu Heita's remnants raised troops again, but in fact it was because the King of Qin slaughtered them too much after Mingshui's defeat."

"Oh?" Li Jiancheng raised his eyebrows when he heard the words, "Is this really the case?"

"That's right." Li Yuanji said, "Take what the prisoners of war have said. At that time, after the King Qin's men and horses won a great victory, they killed and looted wantonly. The remnants were filled with resentment, that's why they raised the flag of rebellion together with Liu Heita, who had fled to the Turks."

Hearing this, Li Jiancheng was silent for a long time, and said: "Maybe this matter can be made into a fuss."

Li Yuanji saw that he stopped talking here, so it was inconvenient to ask further questions, and suddenly remembered something, and said: "I heard that the father decided on the candidate for the commander because of a letter of invitation from the eldest brother. This matter is a bit unexpected for Yuanji. , I thought he would definitely move between the eldest brother and the second brother."

"Shimin's prestige in the court is becoming more and more prominent, and there is a tendency for the ruler to take power. I am afraid that the trust of the emperor in him may not be as good as before." Li Jiancheng said with a chuckle, "If it is not the case, why would he hesitate? It’s time to order him to be the commander. Sending me here is probably just a matter of hesitation, seeing the smooth flow of the letter of war.”

Li Yuanji wondered: "Could it be that the second brother never wrote a book and went to Beijing?"

"Of course he won't let go of such an opportunity," Li Jiancheng said calmly, looking at the road ahead, "It's just that I won't let him get what he wants."

Li Yuanji seemed to understand something, and after a moment of silence, he said: "To the second brother... what will happen to the eldest brother in the future?"

Hearing this, Li Jiancheng looked back at him, paused, and asked instead, "Yuan Ji thought, what should I do?"

"Yuanji thinks... Eldest brother shouldn't have too much concern," Li Yuanji said slowly, "Those who achieve great things don't care about small details, not to mention, in this deep palace, there are everywhere people who do not achieve their goals by any means."

Although his words were cryptic, the meaning in them couldn't be more obvious.After Li Jiancheng listened, he still didn't answer, just smiled slightly: "You seem to see these truths more clearly than I do."

"In terms of intelligence, Yuanji is far inferior to elder brother, but he knows the truth that 'the authorities are obsessed, but the bystanders are clear'." Li Yuanji looked at him and said, "I hope elder brother thinks twice."

"Naturally." Li Jiancheng suddenly raised the rein and stopped.He looked up at the broken snow falling from the middle of the sky, his expression became a little dazed, "This matter... If elder brother forgets for a while, I hope Yuan Ji will remember to remind him all the time."

----

At the same time, in Yanmen City, Li Shimin unfolded a letter sent from Chang'an, muttering in his mouth: "Why do you think this letter from Deyi told me that Du Yan wanted to defect to the prince? It was because he was Du Ruhui. Uncle?"

Standing in front of him, Fang Xuanling replied: "I think that Feng Deyi's move should be for His Highness's benefit. This person is smooth, and between the Crown Prince and His Highness, naturally no one wants to offend."

Li Shimin nodded slowly, then raised his eyes to look at him and said: "And the master came to Yanmen himself, just because of this?"

"Exactly." Fang Xuanling cupped his hands, with a humble attitude, "I think that although Du Yan is not a big conspiracy, he has small tricks. If he really joins the prince's side, it may be disadvantageous to His Royal Highness. Therefore, at this time , Your Highness must pay attention to it."

"Oh?" Li Shimin raised his eyebrows slightly, "Then Mr. thinks that I should take this opportunity to bring him under my command?"

Fang Xuanling nodded and said: "Even if it's useless at this time, maybe he can help His Majesty in the future. Besides, he is Du Langzhong's uncle, and His Highness spared his life under Du Langzhong's various requests. If you go out, you will be able to persuade him to surrender."

Li Shimin was silent for a moment when he heard the words, and said: "To tell the truth, Du Ruhui is dead." In the past few months, Li Shimin has been pressing this matter, except for his trusted people, no one else knows.

In fact, it was only because he felt ashamed in his heart and didn't know how to face his family, so he had to suppress it for a while.

Fang Xuanling was obviously shocked when he heard the words, but he quickly calmed down. Seeing that Li Shimin's words stopped there, he didn't ask any more questions, but said: "If Du Langzhong is dead, I would like to be this lobbyist."

Li Shimin slowly nodded, and said to Fang Xuanling: "Then I will trouble you to go through this, and you can tell Du Yan that if you abandon the prince and follow me, the position of Cao Canjun, a soldier of Tiance Mansion, and a bachelor of the Literature Museum will be taken immediately." his."