Tang Dynasty

"Your Majesty, King Qin asks to see you."

"King Qin is back?" In the imperial study, Li Yuan put down the memorial, a trace of surprise flashed across his expression.After a pause, he glanced at Pei Ji who was at the side, but then smiled helplessly, "I'm back soon."

Seeing this, Li Yuan stood up, as if he had something to say.But Li Yuan stretched out his hand to block it slightly, and only said to the palace man who reported: "Go and tell King Qin, I just know that I feel a little unwell today, and I will announce him in another day."

When the palace people retreated in response, Pei Ji had already walked to Li Yuan, cupped his hands and said, "Your Majesty is wise."

"But within a day, he returned to Chang'an. Presumably he heard the news, so he returned alone." Li Yuan sighed, "The people of the world are still young, and this is a time of impulsiveness. It is useless to say anything. Let him dry."

"Your Majesty is very worried." Pei Ji lowered his hands and said slowly, "The King of Qin values ​​love and righteousness, and also has a close relationship with Liu Wenjing, so he will not be able to calm down at this moment. However, with King Qin's intelligence, he will be able to understand His Majesty's intentions after he calms down. "

"What Pei Jian said is always in line with what I want." Li Yuan smiled, and was about to say something, but saw the palace man come up to the hall again.

"Your Majesty, the King of Qin refused to leave, but knelt outside the palace." The palace man showed a worried expression, paused slightly, and said, "If His Majesty doesn't see you, he won't leave."

Hearing this, Li Yuan immediately looked out the window.Crushed snow fell rustlingly in the yard, even though the momentum was not strong, layers of plain white had already accumulated on the ground.And the ruined branches shaking with the cold wind clearly showed the severe cold state of this winter.

Without revealing the hesitation in his heart, Li Yuan withdrew his gaze, looked at the palace man waving his hands, and said calmly: "Then let him kneel."

The palace man looked a little surprised, but he quickly took the order and left.

Li Yuan supported his forehead with his hands, leaned against the imperial case, and sighed softly.

Pei Ji observed his words and expressions, hesitated again and again, but finally did not speak.

----

Li Shimin knelt silently in front of the hall.The snow continued to fall, and with the cold wind like a knife cutting, layers of plain white formed on his dark clothes and black hair.The snow in front of the knees also melted without a trace because of the long kneeling, exposing the frozen bluestone ground below.However, he seemed to be unconscious, just knelt with his head bowed, and did not move for two hours, only a piece of cloth and five fingers were clenched in his sleeve, but he was exerting more force.

During these two hours, Li Shimin repeatedly recalled the scene of Liu Wenjing's departure yesterday, recalled all the things he pretended to be open-minded but actually full of worries, recalled what he said when he invited him to drink, recalled his The calmness when I saw the special envoy, recalling the words and deeds that deliberately dispelled my doubts before leaving...

Li Shimin wanted to pick a wry smile at the corner of his mouth, but the wind and frost blew on his face, but it seemed to freeze all the expressions on his face, so that people could only stare blankly at the snow in front of them, unable to vent their emotions , only to flow back into my heart, full of bitterness.

Looking back at this moment, I realized that he... should have expected it a long time ago.

But Li Shimin couldn't understand why all this happened.The word "conspiracy" passed down from mouth to mouth is by no means the answer to him.

How loyal Liu Wenjing is, no one knows better than herself, and no one is more qualified to judge.This "conspiracy" pretense can silence Youyou's mouths, but it can never convince him.

Thinking of this morning, when the cloth of the blood book was delivered to him along with the bad news, there was a loud noise in his mind, and before he had time to think, he got on the horse and galloped back.However, after driving all the way, the shock, indignation, and grief have gradually been covered by the wind and snow. Now he is kneeling in the snow, just for an answer, an answer that he can convince himself.

Before that, teach him how to go back with peace of mind?

Unknowingly, it was dusk, and the setting sun was dim, shining on the vast snowy ground, but it was particularly glaring.Li Shimin lowered his head to avoid it, and once again clenched the cloth in his hand, feeling the footsteps of pedestrians coming and going around him, but his expression became more and more calm.

And under the ancient tree not far behind him, two figures stood in the snow for some time.

Wei Zheng's robe is loose, and his hair on the temples is slightly messy, quite dusty.At this moment, he withdrew his gaze, looked at the people on the side, and said with a smile: "Your Highness, do you regret it?"

Wrapped in snow-white fox fur, Li Jiancheng was extremely noble, as if his whole body was about to melt into the snow, he didn't look away when he heard the words, he just smiled lightly: "Sir, I need to ask more."

"I heard that the King of Qin ran back single-handedly, and came here to see His Majesty before he even returned to the mansion." Wei Zheng raised the corners of his lips, looked there again, and sighed, "I passed by here an hour ago, and I saw King Qin like this." Kneeling, it seems that the emperor is really determined not to see King Qin."

"Miansheng at this time, there is no guarantee that he will not say the following offensive words, it is better to wait for him to calm down for a few days." Li Jiancheng lowered his eyes slightly, and smiled, "Father may not be thinking about him."

Wei Zheng looked at him in the blink of an eye, and after a moment of silence, he said, "If King Qin knows the truth in the future..."

"He won't know." Li Jiancheng closed his mouth and interrupted lightly.

"Whether King Qin will know about it in the future, Liu Wenjing will definitely not be allowed to stay. If you don't kill Liu Wenjing today, I'm afraid His Highness will kill... King Qin in the future." Wei Zheng smiled, and said slowly, "Your Highness...or not? I wish to move the King of Qin."

Li Jiancheng's complexion suddenly sank when he heard the words, but soon he changed into a smile, and said: "Since you are probing, I am afraid that you are not sure in your heart."

"Your Highness is Your Highness, it really is unfathomable." Wei Zheng bowed his hands calmly, "Wei Zheng talked nonsense, please forgive me, Your Highness."

Since he said this, he was sure that he would not be punished.Thinking of this, Li Jiancheng smiled a little, and said, "Mr. is good at everything, but he doesn't know Zangfeng."

"If it wasn't for Your Highness, how would I dare to be so open-minded?" Wei Zheng quietly erased the topic just now, and said, "I know that with Your Highness's heart, I will not care about it."

Li Jiancheng smiled and did not answer, but just raised his eyes and looked at the person in the snow again.The figure is straight, like a pine in the snow.

"The snow seems to be getting bigger and bigger." Wei Zheng looked at him, and then looked up at the snow falling all over the sky. "It's windy and cold outside, Your Highness should hurry back to the palace."

Li Jiancheng gave a low "hmm" and turned around, only to hear a muffled sound behind him.He was slightly taken aback, and turned his head to look at the sound.

"Your Highness, King Qin..." Wei Zheng turned around and glanced, but when he raised his eyes to meet Li Jiancheng's gaze, he was also startled, and stopped talking abruptly.

The sudden silence in his ear brought Li Jiancheng back to his senses. He saw many palace people rushing over and helped the fainted Li Shimin to his feet.Li Shimin seemed to wake up again in a flash, pushed away the crowd, and struggled to get up on his knees again.

"Your Highness..." Wei Zheng withdrew his gaze and landed on Li Jiancheng.

"Let's go." Li Jiancheng lowered his eyes, and there was not much emotion in his expression.The voice fell, and he was the first to turn around and leave.

Wei Zheng didn't care about the commotion in the original place anymore, he just stared at the place where Li Jiancheng had just stood.

Before the scattered footprints in the snow, there was a step, which was extremely deep and heavy.Wei Zheng knew that it was a step that Li Jian could have taken when he turned around and saw Li Shimin collapsed just now.

It should have been almost... just walked over.

Going over to erase the footprints, Wei Zheng gave a low wry smile, but he didn't know why he did that.

It's just that one glance just now, plus this one step... I know that I don't need to try any more.

——Your Highness, I only sigh that you are not a cruel person.

Wei Zheng shook his head, and finally turned around and left.

----

When Li Jiancheng pushed the door and entered, he felt a warm feeling in the room.Li Shimin lay on the bed, saw Li Jiancheng, slightly surprised and said: "Brother."

Li Jiancheng took off the fox fur and handed it to the servants, walked to his bed and sat down.When the servant closed the door and came out, he said: "I heard that you knelt until night yesterday, until you lost consciousness, and were sent back to the mansion by the palace servants. For Liu Wenjing, don't you even want your knee?"

"I only know that Liu Wenjing has absolutely no intention of treason." Li Shimin smiled wryly when he heard the words, lowered his eyes, and said, "To me, he is both a subject and a friend, and all his schemes and worries are for my own sake, so why would he? Do you have any heart?"

That's why he couldn't stay.Li Jiancheng thought to himself, but with a calm expression on his face, he pulled up the quilt for him with his own hands, and said: "Father does not see you, there is a reason for it. Maybe in a few days, he will call you into the palace. "

Li Shimin grabbed his hand, seeing the other's fingertips were cold, he held it even harder.After a pause, he said, "Brother, do you know a thing or two about the reason?"

Li Jiancheng let him hold it, and said with a faint smile, "Your heart is unpredictable, how can others guess it?"

Li Shimin's eyes dimmed slightly, he stopped talking, but stretched out his hand again, and hugged his eldest brother lazily.

Li Jiancheng stroked his back lightly and said, "It's good to rest these few days."

"Yes." Li Shimin buried his head in his neck and nodded very slowly.I don't know if it's because the cold air on my body has not subsided, but my whole body is trembling slightly.

----

When Li Jiancheng came out of Qin Wang's mansion, he met Pei Ji just outside the door.

"Your Highness." Pei Ji saluted, raised his eyes to look behind him, and said, "Is King Qin all right?"

Li Jiancheng replied: "There is no serious problem at all. After a few days of rest, I will be able to return to normal."

"That's good." Pei Ji nodded slowly, and said, "Your Majesty sent the minister to send some herbs to the King of Qin. The minister thought about it, and he joined Liu Wenjing himself. At this time, the King of Qin will definitely hate him. This thing... should be entrusted to someone How about sending it?"

Li Jiancheng heard his implication, and immediately retreated from the others, respectfully said: "Speaking of this matter, I still need to thank you sir."

"Your Highness, don't be too polite." Pei Ji said with a leisurely smile, "Your Majesty knows everything, if he doesn't have the heart to get rid of Liu Wenjing, how can he be able to speak with his three-inch tongue?"

Li Jiancheng raised his eyebrows slightly, and said, "Father, he..."

Pei Ji lowered his voice slightly, and said: "Although His Majesty favors the King of Qin, he is not so private as to abolish the Duke. This matter... I hope the Crown Prince will learn from him."

Li Jiancheng paused for a moment when he heard the words, but quickly smiled, and bowed his hands: "Thank you for your advice, my lord."

Pei Ji smiled and said: "The minister will take his leave first."

----

Three days later, Li Yuan did not summon Li Shimin, but came to the Prince's Mansion in person.

At that time Li Shimin was already able to walk freely, now he was looking at the files sent by Changchun Palace, and suddenly saw Li Yuan pushing the door in, he couldn't help being startled, he quickly got up and said: "I have seen my father."

Li Yuan signaled him to be excused, walked over and asked, "Has Shimin's knee injury ever healed?"

Li Shimin said in a low voice, "It's still recovering."

Li Yuan sighed: "Is it to blame that the emperor didn't want to see you that day?"

Li Shimin lowered his eyes and said, "I dare not."

Hearing some resentment in his voice, Li Yuan smiled and said, "What did you want to say and ask, but it's okay to say it now."

Li Shimin was silent for a moment when he heard the words, and then said: "Dare to ask my father, why did Liu Wenjing die?"

Li Yuan said indifferently: "Because of what he did in the past."

Li Shimin raised his eyebrows and said, "What do you think Father said?"

Li Yuan smiled instead, and said: "What did Liu Wenjing say to you on weekdays, and what is the reason why he tried his best to promote the Changchun Palace in your town this time, don't think that I don't know anything about it."

Li Shimin was startled, and suddenly understood.

After a long time, he finally said: "My son has absolutely no such intentions, and I hope my father and emperor will learn from me."

"Of course I understand. If you really have this heart, I will not allow you to go to Chaoyi." Li Yuan said slowly, "It's just that Liu Wenjing is by your side, but it will become a disaster for a long time."

Li Shimin said: "Liu Wenjing was only thinking of his son and minister, and was a bit arbitrary for a while."

"For your sake, I want you to monopolize the power and fight against the crown prince?" Li Yuan's voice suddenly became a little more serious, "How can I keep such a person? Is there anything wrong with convicting him of treason?"

Li Shimin was suddenly silent when he heard the words. After a long time, he raised his eyes to look at Li Yuan, hesitated for a long time, and finally asked: "Father, this is a big matter...how much does the crown prince know?"

Li Yuan paused for a while, but said: "You should know, people of the world, what I am most concerned about when you are born in a heavenly family is that your three brothers can work together, and don't want to stage a fight between the same room."

He pointed it out so clearly, Li Shimin had nothing to answer, he just said: "My son understands, father doesn't need to worry."

Li Yuan's expression softened a little, he stretched out his hand to pat him on the shoulder, and said: "Shimin, you are a person who understands the general situation, let him pass this matter."

Li Shimin didn't say anything, just nodded, and then sent Li Yuan out.

Back in the room, he took out a sandalwood box from the wooden cabinet, put it on the table and opened it.What was folded in the box was Liu Wenjing's last letter written in blood.

Li Shimin took it out carefully, and slowly unfolded it in front of his eyes.

Due to several dips in the heavy snow, the crimson blood stains on it have been smudged and blurred.However, Liu Wenjing's familiar handwriting, stroke by stroke, is still clearly recognizable.

The eloquent five-element characters have tried their tricks, and some of the prefaces do not match the afterwords.

However, if one reads obliquely from the first word of the first line, it is a clear sentence.

Five bloody words, connected into a sentence——

"The one who kills me, Prince."