Tang Dynasty

When the army entered the imperial city, the bureaucrats and common people in Guanzhong lined the road to greet each other, and they all expressed their joy and attachment.Li Yuan was overjoyed when he saw this, and among the various forces who came to meet him, he entered the Changchun Palace in a mighty manner.

After several days of recuperation and supplies, Li Yuan convened a meeting to discuss the next move of the army.At that time, most of Li Jiancheng's injuries had recovered. After recuperating for many days, he also came to the meeting hall with the crowd that day.

Li Shimin looked up and saw that he had changed into a rare black long gown today, with the gold-rimmed front front showing a bit of luxury, slightly diluting the residual sickness on his face.

In fact, after a few days of recuperation, Li Jiancheng's complexion has recovered a lot.It's just that whenever he recalled his pale and haggard appearance when he returned to the camp that day, Li Shimin's heart would always feel a little tugged, and it was difficult to let go.

Seeing him walking in, Li Shimin immediately walked over.Almost instinctively, he wanted to reach out and hold the other's arm.

However, Li Jiancheng just evaded without a trace, went straight to Li Yuan, saluted and greeted him, and smiled at the big and small officials who were sitting again, and then found the superior seat and sat down.

Li Shimin stood there a little bit disappointed, but quickly walked back to sit beside him.

The discussion this time is nothing more than a strategy to go west to Chang'an.Everyone said a few words, but their opinions were unified: Li Yuan stayed in Chaoyi; sent a team to garrison Yongfeng warehouse and guard Tongguan in case Qu Tutong attacked from the east; Wugong, Yuwu, Huxian, detour to Chang'an.

Li Yuan intends to let Li Shimin lead the army westward, Liu Wenjing is stationed in Yongfeng warehouse, Li Jiancheng is the eldest son, and secondly he is recovering from a serious injury, so he wants him to stay with him in Chaoyi to garrison.However, Li Jiancheng, who had been silent all this time, suddenly stood up and said, "Jiancheng, please order to garrison Yongfeng warehouse."

As soon as this remark came out, Li Shimin stood up and said: "Shimin thinks it's wrong!"

Li Jiancheng glanced at him indifferently, did not answer, but turned to look at Li Yuan.Li Yuan said: "Jiangcheng, you are the eldest son, you don't have to do everything yourself."

"Father," Li Jiancheng took a step forward, walked to the hall and said, "I don't need to do anything else, but this matter... I ask my father to do it."

Seeing that his eyes were extremely firm, Li Yuan suddenly said for a long time: "Jiangcheng, that Qu Tutong plotted against you the day before yesterday, you want to..."

"Father's words are wrong. Jian Jiancheng is still young, but he is not willing to spend all day in the room to cultivate because of a small injury." Li Jiancheng smiled lightly, as if he knew what Li Yuan was going to say, and said again, " I just hope that my father can rest assured that Jian Jian's injury has healed, and I only want to do my part for the whole army, and I will never act recklessly." After saying that, he gave another long bow, "I hope my father will be successful."

Li Yuan was silent for a long time after hearing the words, and then said: "You have always been a person with your own opinions. As a father, I know that you will never mess up the overall situation because of your own selfishness. Since you have made up your mind... let's go together with Mr. Liu. Let's go to Yongfeng warehouse."

"Father..." Li Shimin wanted to persuade him again, but before he could say anything, Li Jiancheng stepped forward and said, "Thank you, father."

After the crowd dispersed, Li Shimin hurriedly caught up with Li Jiancheng and said, "Brother, Shimin will give you the head of Qu Tutong one day, so why do you go there in person?"

"I've made up my mind, Shimin don't need to persuade me any more." Li Jiancheng kept walking and looked very calm.

Li Shimin hates him in his heart for not knowing how worried and longing he is elsewhere every time he is in danger alone.But after a few steps to catch up, he opened his mouth, but he didn't know what to say.

However, Li Jiancheng suddenly stopped at this moment.He turned his head to look at Li Shimin, and said: "Shimin, you will lead the army westward. Even if I don't go to Yongfeng warehouse, I will stay in Chaoyi." After a pause, he smiled lightly and alienated, "You and I One day we will part ways, Shimin, you should be clear about this."

Li Shimin was struck by lightning when he heard the words, and watched Li Jiancheng turn and leave, but couldn't say another word.

----

It's night, the wind is blowing, and the moon is in the sky.Li Shimin sat at the stone table in the courtyard, drinking a pot of sake alone.

Even though he knew what Li Jiancheng said was true, but for some reason, he couldn't accept it in his heart.He understood that the desire in his heart was almost a kind of greed before he knew it.She wished she could monopolize her elder brother, wished she could not leave her at every step, only by her side, and only protected by herself.

But it's just a delusion.With a self-deprecating laugh, Li Shimin lowered his head, looked at the shivering crescent moon in the cup, raised his head up and drank it down.

Just at this moment, a burst of humming came from afar.Even though it is soft, it is very clear when everything is silent.

Li Shimin suddenly followed the prestige, but quickly shook his head, looked back at the cup, and chuckled, "It's you."

"It's me and not the son, Shimin is disappointed?" Liu Wenjing walked to sit opposite him, with a smile that was not a smile.

Li Shimin picked up his wine glass and said with a helpless smile: "Zhao Renxiu is going to make fun of me." The two have always been on good terms, and they are used to dropping their titles in private, and they only refer to each other by this surname.

Liu Wenjing didn't say a word, just picked up the flagon and filled the empty glass in front of her.After a pause, he smiled lightly and said, "The wine glasses are also prepared in pairs, and you said you are waiting for someone?"

Li Shimin put down his wine glass and said, "Zhaoren came today, did he come here to make fun of me?"

Liu Wenjing smiled when she heard the words, and said: "In today's conference hall, the people of the world are devoted to the son. Everyone has seen this move, so why do I need to make fun of it?"

Li Shimin was slightly taken aback, and looked up at him.After a pause, he lowered his eyes again and said, "Even if everyone knows, what's wrong?" When she spoke, her voice was already a little lower, and there seemed to be a bit of sarcasm in it. After talking, the smile gradually disappeared on his face.He looked up at Li Shimin, shook his head and sighed: "Shimin, who do you think Shizi is? Have you ever thought that with his ability, he really needs your protection everywhere?"

"Zhaoren...what do you mean by that?" Li Shimin was taken aback at first when he heard this suddenly, then gradually raised his eyebrows.

"Shimin, I'm afraid you have underestimated your elder brother." Liu Wenjing looked as usual, raised the wine glass in her hand and shook it slightly, and then continued, "Shizi looks gentle on the outside, but in fact he is very hard. You have been with him for so many years, how can you not see it?"

Li Shimin looked at him, and many messy and intertwined images appeared in his mind, and he didn't know how to interface for a while.

Seeing this, Liu Wenjing asked again: "My army has been supported all the way through the customs. Why do you think this is? The Turkic faction invaded Taiyuan, but the prince agreed to form an alliance alone. Why do you think?"

Li Shimin shook his head, not knowing how to answer.

Liu Wenjing stood up, looked up at the sky, slowly walked away and said: "Back then, he went to Turkic alone to negotiate peace, but now he has the Turkic Pillar Kingdom to help him; the day before yesterday he entered Guanzhong first, and now all the officials and commoners bow their heads and bow their heads..." Speaking of this , paused, turned around and looked at Li Shimin and said, "Shimin, have you ever thought that if there is one or two in the future, what they recognize in their eyes is not the Duke of the state, but the son of the prince..."

Hearing this, Li Shimin stood up and said coldly, "Zhao Ren, what do you mean by that?"

"Seeing that the army is about to march westward to Chang'an, the Duke of the Kingdom proclaiming himself emperor is only in sight. It's time to enshrine the heir, and the current son will be the future prince, until the emperor." Liu Wenjing's expression remained unchanged, turning her head to look at Li Shimin, slowly Slowly said, "Since ancient times, masters with great achievements have always been tabooed by kings...Men, have you ever thought that maybe one day you will not be tolerated by him?"

"Zhaoren!" Li Shimin suppressed his anger and said, "I have always respected you as my best friend, and now I don't know what you are saying so provocatively. But if you bring up this matter again in the future, don't blame me, Li Shimin, for not being sympathetic! "

He spoke so harshly, but Liu Wenjing was unmoved at all. He bowed to Li Shimin and said, "I've finished speaking, so I don't want to stay any longer, so... I will leave." After a pause, he went back again. He raised his eyes and looked at Li Shimin and said, "It's just these years that what I said just now is false or true. I think Shimin should have a steelyard in his heart. So... I just hope Shimin think twice. .”

Li Shimin was startled when he heard the words, but saw that he had already turned and left.He sat down on the stone bench dejectedly, feeling extremely annoyed in his heart.Why didn't he understand that what Liu Wenjing said was true, but... how did he teach him to admit that he was worthless to Li Jiancheng?

"You and I will part ways one day, Shimin, you should understand this." It was just like what Li Jiancheng said to him today.It is clearly a fact, but it teaches people how to refuse to admit it.

It's just that when I think about it now, I finally understand the meaning of these words.

Brother, probably I really don't need myself.Even if I never worried about him, never defended him from arrows, never braved the rain to save him...he still has a way to come back whole.

Li Shimin smiled wryly, picked up the jug on the stone table, and took a few mouthfuls indiscriminately.Shaking off the flagon, stood up, and ran out of the courtyard.

Either there is no result at all, or nothing happens.Compared to such endless torment, it would be better to use the power of alcohol to make everything clear.

----

At this time, there were already visitors in the back garden of Li Jiancheng's mansion.

Agbi put down the teacup in his hand, and raised his eyes to look at the person sitting opposite.After a long time, he smiled slowly and said, "Looking at Jian Jiancheng's complexion, the injury from the day before yesterday should be fine."

"I'm sorry, brother." Li Jiancheng twitched his lips slightly when he heard the words. At this time, the lights in the courtyard were dim, and most of his face was hidden in the night, and even his smile was blurred a bit.The voice fell silent for a while, before he smiled again, "Speaking of which, Brother Meng rescued me that day, but I owe him a favor."

"Where is it built?" Duo Bi laughed, and his voice sank a bit, "You know that I didn't save you to ask for favors, so why do you have to be so clear?"

Li Jiancheng didn't say a word, he just picked up the teacup on the table, put it to his lips and took a sip.His fingers were slender and pale, but his joints were well defined, and even such an ordinary movement of serving tea became much more elegant.

Duo Bi looked at Mo Ran for a moment, looked away, and then picked up the previous conversation: "Actually... If you are the only one who came back, half of the credit is due to Li Shimin."

"Really?" A half-smile flashed on Li Jiancheng's face, but it quickly disappeared, "This matter... I naturally know."

He Bi seemed to hesitate for a long time, before he said again: "Jiang Jian, Li Shimin is a god-given general, besides, he treats you wholeheartedly, if he can make good use of it, he will become a humerus in the future."

Hearing this, Li Jiancheng put down his teacup and said with a chuckle, "The people of the world are like a sharp knife. If you use it well, you can kill all directions; otherwise, maybe...you will hurt yourself..."

Hearing the second half of the sentence, he was clearly taken aback.Li Jiancheng shook his head, smiling very calmly, "People have no long-term concerns, and there must be near-term worries. Jiancheng only worries occasionally, and maybe he will die under this sharp knife one day."

"Then why didn't you kill him right now?" Duo Bi disapproved, and laughed.

However, Li Jiancheng just laughed when he heard the words, but didn't say anything.

This reaction was quite unexpected.He paused for a moment, then came back to his senses, and said seriously: "Jiancheng, if you had seen the look in his eyes when he looked for you that day, you would not have said that. From my point of view, his blade is pointing straight at you. I myself will never fall towards you."

Li Jiancheng was silent for a long time, and suddenly laughed again.He looked aggressively and said, "Brother, why did you keep talking about Shimin's well-being in front of me today?"

Agbi was taken aback for a moment, as if he had just realized his slip of the tongue.He lowered his eyes and was silent for a moment before he said again: "I probably know that there is someone protecting you. Even if I go back to Turkic, I can feel at ease."

The night was too dark, and the other party's expression was hidden in it and could not be seen.After a short period of silence, he heard Li Jiancheng say: "Chengcheng owes big brother too much, but I don't know what I can do for big brother? If big brother needs something, please don't refuse, so that Jiancheng can slightly relieve the guilt in his heart." meaning."

"Jiancheng, you are afraid that if I go away, if swords and soldiers meet each other in the future, I will take out this promise to fulfill and put you in a dilemma." Duo Bi shook his head and sighed, "But why are you in such a hurry to fight with me?" Clear up the grievances and grievances? You and I have known each other for many years, how can you not know what I am?"

"If there is such a day," Li Jiancheng did not deny it, but said calmly, "If it were Jiancheng, he might use any means."

He knew that if he was really as unrighteous as he said, then he would just refuse to accept the debt, so why rush to repay the favor.In the end...it was because he didn't want to break the promise between the two of them.

It's just that even if this promise is kept, it will be nothing more than the result of fighting in the future.They all understood in their hearts that the alliance between the Li family and the Turks was only for mutual benefit, and when Li Yuan really entered Chang'an and established himself as emperor, the alliance would also collapse.That's why, he chose to leave at that time.

In fact, all of this... just as he has always known, there will be no results.Duo Bi thinks that he has always had a clear heart, so he thinks that he has never messed up, and has always hidden those thoughts in his heart very well, never showing the slightest...

only……

He looked up at Li Jiancheng, and Fang Zheng was also looking at him.Looking at each other, Duo Bi only felt that he had never understood him after all.

The expression seemed sincere, but it never let people see through his mind; although the words did not deceive, they still concealed too much.Whether he really believed in himself, or in other words, in anyone, is impossible to guess.

He stood up, walked to Li Jiancheng and stood still.Then he stretched out his hand, and slowly stroked his side face, his fingertips slid down along the jade-like cheek until it stopped at his lips.

"Jiancheng, if you want to return my favor, then return it..." He looked down at the person in front of him, and slowly bent down.

Li Jiancheng didn't move, just kept looking up at him.His eyes are a kind of hazy, seemingly clear, calm and seductive, sincere but alienated.

Duobi lowered his eyes, smiled lightly, and finally changed his posture the moment he was about to touch.

Spreading his arms, he gently embraced the person in his arms.

"Then give brother a hug..."