NCCnovel Chapter 1009: I just don’t want the tragedy to happen again
Chapter 1009: I just don’t want the tragedy to happen again
"You seem to have a lot of complaints about me?" After everyone else left, on the hillside, Emperor Li II looked at his son carefully and said, "You've had a hard time along the way."
"Hey..." His Royal Highness Prince Chu smiled when he heard this: "It's not hard."
After two questions and one answer, Emperor Li II knew that his secret hope had been dashed.
"Tell me, what reward do you want?" Since there was no way to ease the relationship, His Majesty Li II did not intend to further deepen the misunderstanding: "I can give you both Baekje and Silla."
"That's not necessary." His Royal Highness the Prince of Chu waved his hand upon hearing this: "I don't want to continue to be suspected. But... I have to gain something from this trip, right? How about this, Your Majesty, you give me Jinzhou City, Weili City, and Wugut City. I can use them when I fight against Japan in the future."
"..." His Majesty Li II was extremely pleased with his son's ambitions, but when he thought of the way he was talking to him now, he couldn't help but feel a little upset: "Can't you talk to your father properly?"
"No..." His Royal Highness the Prince of Chu was a little surprised when he heard this: "When did Your Majesty become so sentimental? Or are you unwilling to give these cities?"
"In addition to these three cities, I will also grant you Dengzhou later." His Majesty Li II couldn't tell what he felt at the moment. He was not disappointed, but he did feel a little lost. "In addition, all the treasures in the Baekje treasury belong to you. After all, you played a great role in this battle, and this is what you deserve."
"..." After His Majesty Li II finished speaking, His Royal Highness the Prince of Chu suddenly felt a little sorry for his previous generosity.
But then, he thought about it carefully, and then slowly said: "The reason why I rushed here overnight is not because I am worried that you can't defeat Quan Gaisu Wen, but because I don't want too many soldiers to be killed or injured.
Besides, although the Tang Dynasty today has a strong financial foundation, it is not solid either.
So, I thought that I could settle the matter in one battle, and solve all the problems at once, so that the people can pay less taxes next year."
"..." His Majesty Li II could tell that what Li Kuan said this time was from the heart.
But he didn't like to hear such sincere words.
"Kuan'er, it was me before..." Thinking of this, Emperor Li II decided to say something to ease the relationship between them as father and son.
"——Alas! Your Majesty, you are right." Although His Royal Highness the Prince of Chu did not know what the other party was going to say next, he was too lazy to listen to it: "As the emperor, you are the supreme ruler. There is no need to say something that is not in line with your status. Anyway, I won't believe you even if you say it, just like me saying that I will not rebel."
"Are you planning to keep being angry with me?" His Majesty Li II frowned upon hearing this: "Li Kuan! Are you done yet?!"
"What's going on?!" His Royal Highness the Prince of Chu raised his eyebrows upon hearing this: "You still expect that a few words will allow us to resolve our differences and cry together? Are you okay?"
Even though it is the season when plums are ripe, His Royal Highness the Prince of Chu has no interest in tasting the tooth-sour flavor.
"You... I..." His Majesty Li II felt that his patience had reached its limit: "I am not an unreasonable person!"
"You are reasonable, you are the most reasonable." His Royal Highness the Prince of Chu felt that he had to quarrel today even if he didn't want to: "Then let's start the story from the beginning - Father! Can you recall for your son when he became what he is today?"
"..." Upon hearing this, His Majesty Li Er was silent for a moment, then said: "You have always been a rebellious person since you were a child..."
“Yes.” His Royal Highness the Prince of Chu rolled his eyes upon hearing this: “When I first came to Chang’an, was I like this?
I was more obedient than a quail at that time! But what happened? Li Chengzong and Li Chengze, those two little turtle bastards, brought their brothers to bully my eldest brother and Qingque - you were not in Chang'an at that time, but even if you were not in Chang'an, I couldn't just stand there and let my brothers be humiliated, right?! So I took action. That was the first time I risked my life against someone.
But what was my fate in the end? "When His Royal Highness the Prince of Chu saw this, he fixed his eyes on His Majesty Li Er's face and said, "I was taken to the Zongzheng Temple and locked up for seven days!"
"This punishment is considered light." His Majesty Li Er pursed his lips when he heard this: "I pleaded for you at that time."
"Yes, you just pleaded for me, but didn't think of standing up for us brothers." His Royal Highness the King of Chu retracted his gaze and looked at the setting sun in the sky, saying listlessly: "You have your own plans..."
"At that time, Li Jiancheng and Li Yuanji joined forces to suppress me, and your royal grandfather just sat back and watched. What could I do? A little intolerance can ruin a big plan!" His Majesty Li II's emotions also fluctuated at this time: "Do you want me to vent my anger for a while..."
"So you are right." His Royal Highness the King of Chu sighed upon hearing this: "And I have since understood what is most important to you.
So, I had to change myself to adapt to a father like you... a wise and brave father with good plans and strategies.
In your heart, you must sit on the emperor's throne.
Because only in this way can you provide absolute security to your family and subordinates.
So, I know clearly from the beginning what you desire most.
At the same time, I understand better what you fear most after you launch the Xuanwu Gate Incident and become the emperor. "When His Royal Highness the Prince of Chu said this, he saw that His Majesty Li II had become silent at this moment, and he couldn't help but sigh slightly: "So... Dad, how could I be so naive... to think that in your eyes, there is something more important than the throne?"
"Kuan'er..." His Majesty Li Er's voice was a little hoarse at this moment: "Dad didn't mean that..."
"The most irreconcilable contradiction in the world is that from the perspective of both parties in the conflict, neither of them is wrong." After saying this, His Royal Highness the King of Chu stood up and came to his father's side: "So... I have always been tolerant of suspicion before, but even so, you have always been forcing me.
The person who doesn't care about the relationship between father and son is you.
But even so, I still think that it is a blessing for the people of the world that the Tang Dynasty has an emperor like you." Li Kuan could never forget the village where the entire village was massacred by the Turkic cavalry when he was on his way to Shuofang.
He couldn't let the tragedy happen again.
When he thought of this, he couldn't help but say, "And a barbarian king like me also has a place for me to use my skills."
"..." After hearing his son's words, Emperor Li II had no choice but to remain silent.
When the King of Chu saw his father standing beside him like a sculpture, he couldn't help but shook his head.
It’s not that the other party doesn’t want to refute, but that he can’t refute.