Traveling through the Gaowu Tang Dynasty, Li Kuan and Li Shimin became the second sons of the Prince

"I didn't ask you about the carriage, I asked why the white jade ring appeared on the hand of my mother!" - His Majesty Li II, who always thought he was in control of the situation, began to show panic in front of others for the first time.

"General Xue, please take this painting and wait for me outside with your brother." Wang Gui did not find it strange to see Emperor Li II getting angry, but what he was going to say next was obviously not suitable for someone to listen.

"Then... Lord Wang, Wan Che and I will be waiting for you outside." - After Xue Wan Che took the scroll from Wang Gui, he put it away carefully, and then took Xue Wan Che out of the hall.

His Majesty Li II just watched it all silently from beginning to end and did not say anything to stop it.

A moment later, as Xue Wanche closed the palace door, only Emperor Li II and Wang Gui were left in the palace.

Wang Gui did not let His Majesty Li Er wait too long. He pursed his lips, and then, under the fierce gaze of His Majesty Li Er, he told the origin of the ring: "Your Majesty, in fact, the ring that symbolizes the power and status of the head of the Li family has never played any role in the hands of the emperor.

The father of the Retired Emperor, Emperor Yuan (posthumously awarded), died when the Retired Emperor was eight years old. This ring was left by him to Empress Yuanzhen, your grandmother, Dugu Mantuo, before his death. "When Wang Gui said this, he suddenly took a deep look at His Majesty Li II, and then continued: "That is to say, since the Retired Emperor inherited the title, this ring has been in the hands of his mother, Empress Yuanzhen. Empress Yuanzhen has always been frail and sickly, especially because the Retired Emperor was young, and she had been in charge of the Li family's foundation for a long time, so she became more and more sick in her old age.

At that time, Empress Yuanzhen's other daughters-in-law refused to serve her because of her harsh temperament. As for the retired emperor... maybe he was also afraid of Empress Yuanzhen - anyway, who was the person who finally stepped forward and took the trouble to take care of Empress Yuanzhen on the sickbed, even often without taking off his clothes... I don't think I need to say more, right?"

After Wang Gui finished speaking, the hall fell into silence for a long time.

After a long while, His Majesty Li II, who was in the shadows, spoke again with difficulty: "So... why did that ring end up in the hands of my father?"

“After the Xuanwu Gate Incident, the old Taoist priest personally went to the palace and handed this white jade ring to the retired emperor. This represents the old lady’s intention.” Wang Gui sighed lightly upon hearing this: “The retired emperor saw His Royal Highness the Prince of Chu kneeling outside his palace and reciting the Petition to the Emperor aloud, and then he saw this white jade ring. At that time... the retired emperor was probably feeling guilty, and he knew that with the support of Empress Taimu, his situation was hopeless, so he simply let go and fulfilled your wish.

Otherwise…” Wang Gui felt that only the old Taoist priest could say this: “According to the old Taoist priest, as long as the emperor does not give in and does not back down, who will be the one who is really in trouble? I believe Your Majesty should know this…”

"So..." His Majesty Li Er found that his voice had become unusually hoarse without him noticing: "I still have to remember the kindness of my mother? Did I benefit from that bastard?!"

"You have never thought of the old lady's kindness, and you certainly don't think you have benefited from His Royal Highness the King of Chu." Wang Gui's eyes turned cold when he heard this: "Otherwise, I wouldn't have to appear here today and say such disgusting words."

"Where is the old Heavenly Master? I want to see him!" Emperor Li II was eager to ask the old Heavenly Master to verify the authenticity of Wang Gui's words.

"The old Taoist priest won't see you." Wang Gui found that the bread that the old Taoist priest handed to him when he fled was really... difficult to accept: "He said that he was afraid that he would not be able to hold back..."

"Am I so disliked?!" His Majesty Li II was completely defeated at this moment: "My name was originally given by the old Heavenly Master, who said it meant 'saving the world and pacifying the people'. Now... even the old Heavenly Master has disliked me..."

"Your Majesty, no one wants to come to this point today." Wang Gui sighed slightly after hearing this: "Whether it's me or the Xue brothers outside, no one is willing to stand against your Majesty. But in the final analysis... our identities are Dou's family servants. The only request of the old lady before her death was that we protect His Royal Highness the King of Chu. So, Your Majesty, we were not the first to cross the line."

"..." His Majesty Li II looked at Wang Gui below, and he suddenly felt a mixture of laughter and tears - he really was... bringing it upon himself...

"Wang Gui, when did you become a retainer of the Dou family?" After a long silence, Emperor Li II spoke again, not knowing why he suddenly asked this question.

"I am originally from Fufeng County. I am not unfamiliar with the Fufeng Dou family." Wang Gui thought for a moment when he saw His Majesty Li II asking questions. Then he said, "In the fourth year of Chengsheng, my grandfather Wang Sengbian was killed. The reason why my father was able to survive at that time was that he was secretly helped by Dou Yi, the father of the old lady, who was the leader of one of the 'three ancestral branches' of the Fufeng Dou family. (Note 1)

But for General Dou at that time, this matter was just a piece of cake, and he didn't take it seriously. But my father dared not forget such a great favor. He kept telling me to remember to repay this life-saving grace until his death.

Later, in the 13th year of Kaihuang, I entered the official career. However, I was young and hot-tempered at that time. I didn't know the ins and outs of officialdom. I spoke and acted according to my heart, which offended many people. Later, because my uncle Wang Yu participated in the rebellion, I was implicated and convicted.

In order to avoid disaster, I had no choice but to flee to Mount Zhongnan. But… I was a scholar at the time, and although I learned riding and shooting, I could not survive in the wild beast-ridden Mount Zhongnan. It was at that time that I was rescued from the siege of wolves by the old Taoist priest. After that, I followed the old Taoist priest to practice Taoism for more than ten years, until the emperor entered Guanzhong. I was recommended by my good friend Li Gang and finally came to work for Prince Yin…” Wang Gui said this and suddenly sneered: “To be honest… Your Majesty, if Li Jiancheng had not committed suicide and planned to frame Princess Pingyang Zhao with Prince Qi Li Yuanji, Your Majesty would not have had any chance from beginning to end…”

"..." At this time, after listening to what Wang Gui said, Emperor Li II was still in shock and...panic.

“Your Majesty, do you think there is something wrong with what I said?” Wang Gui saw that His Majesty Li II did not speak, so he continued to challenge him: “Your Majesty, in order to ensure the safety of you, your brothers, and Princess Pingyang Zhao, the old lady secretly sent many people to protect you. Unfortunately... perhaps because she was afraid that you would misunderstand, she strictly ordered these people not to pry into your privacy at will... But... But who knew that your privacy... would actually be a quarrel between brothers, tit for tat..."