xymnovel Chapter 43 The Magnanimous Li Yuan
Chapter 43 The Magnanimous Li Yuan
Chapter 43 The Magnanimous Li Yuan
"Father, this is the detailed account of what happened! It's not that I'm unwilling to tell you, but this matter is simply too bizarre for ordinary people to accept!"
"Oh, so you mean I'm just an ordinary person?" Li Yuan glanced at Li Shimin, but there was no displeasure in his eyes.
"That's not what I meant. I was afraid..."
97
"Are you afraid that I, the old man, am ignorant of right and wrong and will make trouble unreasonably, or are you afraid that I am shallow in knowledge and will take this opportunity to cause trouble?"
"Father, you jest! I had no such thoughts!"
Li Yuan's direct interruption of Li Shimin was actually a self-deprecating remark; he never considered that this was indeed Li Shimin's true thought.
"Grandpa, what I meant was that you are getting on in years, and I was afraid this matter would disturb you!"
Li Shimin was surprised that Li Chengqian would actually cover for him for the first time, and he felt a little touched.
"As expected of my son! He still knows how to protect his father in this critical moment!" Li Shimin was thinking to himself when Li Yuan suddenly spoke up.
"Oh, is that what Chengqian said?"
Li Yuan looked at Li Shimin with great interest, his cloudy eyes revealing a hint of shrewdness.
"Father, it is indeed as Chengqian said!"
Li Yuan nodded upon hearing this. How could he not know what Li Shimin was thinking? It was just that there were some things he didn't want to say out loud. He had always seen Li Shimin's hard work and efforts over the years as emperor.
Although the Xuanwu Gate Incident caused him to lose his son in his old age and was forced to abdicate the throne, he also knew that neither he nor the former Crown Prince Jianwen could have done better than Li Shimin.
Moreover, he is living a very comfortable life now. Just the fact that he drinks and makes merry all day long, with beautiful wives and concubines by his side, makes him happier than Emperor Li Shimin.
"Alright, no need to say more. I've lived for decades, what haven't I seen! Cough...cough cough." At this point, Li Yuan's face turned pale and he suddenly coughed violently.
Upon seeing this, Li Shimin and his son rushed forward: "Father, what's wrong? Quickly summon the imperial physician!"
After catching his breath, Li Yuan waved his hand, and his expression quickly returned to normal.
"It's nothing! It's just an old ailment I've had for years!"
"Grandpa, you absolutely mustn't get hurt!" Li Chengqian also came closer, looking at Li Yuan with concern.
"It's alright, that's how it is with age. Besides, I've already lived for over sixty years! How many people in the world can be like me!"
Throughout history, every emperor and supreme ruler has desired to live a long life, but Li Yuan now rarely has such thoughts. His life experiences are already legendary. Perhaps ten years ago he still had some ambitions, but now he sees things more clearly than anyone else!
"Your Majesty, I naturally hope that Your Majesty is in good health!" Li Shimin looked at the old man in front of him whose face was getting older and older, and his heart ached for a moment.
"Alright, enough of that, my son. You must pay close attention to the matter of Little Jinyang! What Chengqian said to you just now wasn't entirely unreasonable! You should be extra vigilant! But if there truly is a calamity, I also hope that Little Jinyang can overcome it safely!"
Li Yuan, a shrewd and experienced man, could easily understand these issues after hearing Li Shimin's explanation. He also knew that if that person truly harbored ill intentions towards Xiao Sizi, there was not much they could do about it.
Listening to Li Yuan's instructions, Li Shimin nodded repeatedly. Xiao Sizi was the intermediary who had made his relationship with Li Yuan so harmonious.
"Father, please rest assured, I cherish Little Sizi as my most precious treasure, and I will absolutely not let anything happen to her!"
"Yes, and also, although you and your son may have occasional disagreements, you must remember not to let any rift develop between you. What our Great Tang needs is for fathers, sons, rulers, and ministers to work together with one heart and one mind!" Li Yuan said, and then tightly grasped the hands of Li Shimin and Li Chengqian.
"Your son will humbly follow your father's teachings!" "Your grandson will humbly follow your grandfather's teachings!"
Li Yuan glanced at the two men with satisfaction, feeling that his impulsive decision to come out for a walk today was well worth it!
"Alright, it's getting late, I should head back to the palace. Those girls and boys are probably missing me terribly!"
Li Yuan rose to leave, but Li Shimin quickly interjected, "Father, since you have some free time, why don't the three of us—father, son, grandfather, and grandson—have a meal together today?"
"Yes, Grandpa, it's been a long time since your grandson has dined with you!"
"Let's leave it for today. I was planning to visit Xiao Jinyang, but since she's not here, I'll save it for next time!"
"Even though Sizi is gone, there are still grandsons, aren't there? Could it be that Grandfather only loves Sizi and not his grandsons?" Li Chengqian said with a feigned jealousy.
"Chengqian, don't talk nonsense!" Li Shimin quickly shouted to stop him.
"Haha, it's alright, Chengqian. You peed your first time in my arms, kid. If you miss your grandfather, just come to Da'an Palace to see me anytime!"
"Very well, grandson obeys!"
"By the way! Shimin, the food you sent today tasted quite good; it was very thoughtful of you!" Li Yuan said, then got up and walked out of the hall.
"If Father Emperor likes it, I will send some more to you next time I have the chance!" Li Shimin said quickly when he heard Li Yuan mention the food that Xiao Sizi had brought back.
"Haha, I don't need it. Let Xiao Jinyang keep it for himself!"
"Your subject respectfully sees off Your Majesty!"
"Grandson respectfully sees Grandfather off!"
Li Shimin and his companion escorted Li Yuan all the way to the palace gate, until they watched his figure completely disappear.
As dusk approached, Li Chengqian prepared to return to the Eastern Palace: "Father, since we cannot find any trace of Xiao Sizi for the time being, I will return to the palace now!"
"What? Is Chengqian still angry with Father?"
After being persuaded by Li Yuan, Li Shimin realized some of his own problems, and his tone softened.
"Your Majesty, I wouldn't dare. I was just too worried about Little Sizi, which is why I spoke out of turn. Please don't take it to heart!"
Although Li Chengqian's tone contained a hint of fear, it also carried a trace of estrangement.
Whether intentionally or unintentionally, Li Shimin deliberately ignored Li Chengqian's tone and instead spoke earnestly.
"Chengqian, I know your worries and understand them, but you must know that you and Sizi are both my own flesh and blood, as are your other younger brothers and sisters. I hope that you can always be safe and sound, free from disaster and hardship!"
Li Shimin's heartfelt words also moved Li Chengqian, almost bringing him to tears.
"Your Majesty, I understand your good intentions. It was indeed my fault just now!"
"Well, in that case, you may go back now. I will send someone to inform you of any news about the prince!" Li Shimin waved his hand.
"Yes, Your Majesty, I take my leave!" Li Chengqian turned and left the main hall, his head bowed, seemingly lost in thought.
As darkness fell, Li Shimin was left alone in the hall once again, a sense of loneliness and exhaustion washing over him.
In Hanfeng Palace, Li Chengqian's guards had already sent someone to inform the guards here to release Mingyue and Qiuxia.
"Waaah, Sister Mingyue, you really scared me to death just now! I thought... I thought we wouldn't survive the day!"
Qiuxia hugged Mingyue and wept softly. In the past few days, they had been on the verge of death several times. Most people would have collapsed long ago.
"Stop crying. What good will crying do? The important thing is that we pray for the young prince's safe return, otherwise..." Although Mingyue didn't finish her sentence, Qiuxia already understood what she meant.
"Sigh, I wonder when His Highness will be back!" Just as Qiu Xia finished speaking, a childish voice came from behind.
"Hey, what's wrong with you guys? Why are you crying?"