The film and television world begins with the battle for the throne in Kowloon

Chapter 966: Killing the Son to Seek the Position

Li Shimin felt that he had overestimated his current condition. In his current situation, it was impossible for him to meet all the princes in one day. It would be better for him to meet only one prince a day in the future, otherwise he might faint again.

Just wanting to get rid of Li Tai and rest quickly, Li Shimin didn't beat around the bush and asked directly: "Qingque, who do you think is the most suitable among the princes to be the heir now?"

Li Tai did not expect Li Shimin to be so straightforward. After a brief thought, he straightened his back with a determined look on his face, as if he wanted Li Shimin to feel that his shoulders could carry the country of the Tang Dynasty: "If your Majesty makes me the crown prince, I will continue your ambition."

"We should promote various reforms internally to ensure that the people can live and work in peace and contentment; we should expand our territory externally and eliminate powerful enemies, so that all the land under heaven will be the territory of the Tang Dynasty, and all the guests of the land will be the subjects of the Tang Dynasty. Wherever the sun shines, it will be the territory of the Great Tang Dynasty."

At this point, Li Tai changed the subject and said, "Of course, if my father appoints another brother as the heir, I will also use my talents and knowledge to assist the new emperor and carry on the legacy passed down by my grandfather and father to govern the Tang Dynasty peacefully for thousands of years."

Li Tai's speech was passionate and powerful, showing the responsibility of a prince and considering various situations. Compared with Li Ke's cautiousness and innuendo, he seemed more domineering and courageous.

Although he showed a desire for the throne, he was not annoying.

Li Shimin smiled with satisfaction. Qingque was cute, intelligent, gentle and elegant, courteous and respectful, and his reputation spread far and wide. If Li Ke was the most like him, then Li Tai was the perfect image in Li Shimin's mind.

Yes, although Li Shimin was a wise ruler in the eyes of others, he was not satisfied. In his heart, his image as a military man was still too strong.

He was a gentleman of elegance and suaveness, wearing a feather fan and a royal scarf, and he was able to plan and direct the country's affairs. While chatting and laughing, the enemy was wiped out thousands of miles away.

This was the impression that Li Shimin longed for when he was young, and Li Tai most perfectly replicated his ideal.

Looking at this child that I love the most, I feel even more intimate with him.

After thinking for a while, Li Shimin increased the difficulty and asked: "Qingque, now the most popular people in the court are you and Li Xiang. One of you is uncle and the other is nephew. I really can't choose. What do you think I should do?"

"How difficult is this? I have a plan that can take into account your father's wishes."

"Oh, my son, let me try."

Li Tai was so excited that he raised his hand and swore, "Xiang'er is still young and I am afraid he cannot control the court. If the emperor passes the throne to me, I will know that I only have one son."

"I would like to kill this boy and adopt Li Xiang as my heir. When I succeed to the throne, Li Xiang can legitimately become the crown prince. After a hundred years, I can pass the throne to him. Isn't that the best of both worlds?"

After hearing his father's statement, Li Tai felt that he was only a stone's throw away from the throne. He was so excited that he didn't know what to do. To show his determination, he had to kill his son to vent his inner desire for the throne and express his sincerity to his father.

At the same time, they also made mistakes that will go down in history.

The smile on Li Shimin's face froze slightly, but his heart felt as if it had been stabbed with a knife. Looking at his son in front of him with an eager face, it was as if he saw a devilish cold-blooded soul inside the chubby smiling face. The lovely image of the past disappeared in an instant.

Li Tai's true character revealed in the face of the greatest benefit in the world, the throne, gave Li Shimin a great shock.

His exhausted spirit could no longer sustain him, and Li Shimin's neck tilted and he fainted again.

"Father, Father"

Li Tai was startled and ran out yelling. Seeing Wang De and Ma Xuanliang at the door, he shouted, "Call the doctor quickly, my father has fainted."

Wang De rushed in in a panic. Ma Xuanliang firmly guarded the palace door and stopped the excited ministers who wanted to go in to visit him: "Everyone, the emperor is in poor health. If you rush in in such a noisy manner, it will not only be useless, but will also affect the safety of the emperor."

"If something happens to the emperor, can you afford it?"

"Yes, General Ma is right. No one can go in and disturb Father."

Li Ke stepped forward and helped Ma Xuanliang calm everyone down. Then he turned around, looking furious, and grabbed Li Tai's collar, angrily saying, "Li Tai, Father was fine just now, why did he faint as soon as you came in?"

"What did you say?"

"Did the emperor tell you that he was going to make me the crown prince, and you were unwilling to do so, so you forced the emperor to the point that he could not hold on and fainted. I understand that you want to take my crown prince position, but if you have the guts, come at me and force me."

"The emperor is in poor health. As a son, you are so disregarding his health. You only have the throne in your eyes. You are worse than a beast!"

Li Tai was barraged with Li Ke's attacks, which were interspersed with a lot of slanderous words, and Li Tai was almost in the sight of the ministers' questioning looks.

Seeing this situation, Li Tai could no longer care about it. He could not bear the blame, so he said angrily: "Li Ke, don't flatter yourself. Father never said that he wanted you to be the crown prince." "I only said a few words to father when I went in. Father fainted because of exhaustion. Don't think of slandering me. On the contrary, father is very optimistic about me and wants to make me the crown prince."

Li Tai was filled with hatred that Li Tai had taken the lead.

He was extremely intelligent and knew that if he turned against Li Tai at this moment, he would be at a disadvantage and would be considered as taking revenge, so he just made excuses and did not put a big blame on his opponent like Li Ke did.

“Hahaha, Li Tai, before it was clear that the father belonged to me, and now you say that the father has high hopes for you.”

Li Ke looked as if he had expected it. "How can the emperor give his daughter to two families? If you want to find an excuse, you can find someone else. Why do you have to learn from me?"

"Humph"

Li Tai could no longer care about anything else at this time, and explained to the ministers in front of him: "My father told me that the emperor's eldest grandson and I have the highest popularity in the court. He is in a dilemma. Considering that the eldest grandson is young and the country depends on the eldest prince, he is discussing with me."

"I proposed to my father that since my elder brother is gone, I would like to adopt Xiang'er as my son. Then, my father would make me the crown prince and Xiang'er the crown prince. After a hundred years, Xiang'er would inherit the throne. Wouldn't this take both sides into consideration?"

"Father was so surprised that he fainted."

Li Tai's words immediately shocked the ministers and they began to discuss it. They had not thought of this strategy before and were thinking about the pros and cons in their minds.

The Donggong faction and the Wei Wang faction have the greatest power in the court now.

If the two factions could join hands with this strategy, the other princes would be excluded and there would be no possibility of competing for the throne.

Ministers like Fang Xuanling, Ma Zhou, and Chu Suiliang who stood on the side of fairness were all worried. They were well-educated and familiar with classics and history, so they naturally knew that in ancient times, when the inheritance system was chaotic, many countries had used this method.

During the Zhou Dynasty, many states existed, and many princes passed the throne to their brothers, nephews, and nephews. However, all of these led to turmoil in the court, fratricide, long-term disasters, and unrest for generations. There were even many cases where the country was destroyed and the race was exterminated because of this.

Fang Xuanling asked hurriedly, "King Wei, passing on the throne in this way is a recipe for disaster. I dare to ask, does the emperor agree with this proposal?"

Li Tai looked at Fang Xuanling unhappily. He himself was well-educated and of course knew the disadvantages of this kind of succession. Such a proposal was just a stopgap measure for him to sit on the throne first, as for Li Xiang.

When I become emperor, I will have plenty of opportunities to deal with it.

But Li Tai was smart, and the others were not stupid either. Most of the ministers present knew exactly what he was planning.

Even if you try to hide the truth, others will try to steal your support.

Seeing Fang Xuanling's firm opposition, Li Tai was also a little unhappy, and said: "This is just my suggestion. Father has not yet expressed his opinion on it, so I don't know whether the emperor agrees or opposes it?"

Li Tai didn't dare to say anything wrong. Li Shimin had just fainted, not died.

He was talking nonsense, and when Li Shimin woke up, he would definitely punish him for falsely conveying the imperial edict. Therefore, Li Tai was just vague in his words just now, trying to lead the rhythm and give people a specious reverie, without leaving any excuse.

However, Fang Xuanling was too shrewd. He forced him into a corner and asked him the core question, which made his plan fail.

Hearing this, the court officials all breathed a sigh of relief, and then began to blame: "King Wei, you are also a person who is familiar with history books. How could you give the emperor such a ridiculous idea? Isn't this leaving endless hidden dangers for future generations?"

"Humph, my father loves me and his eldest grandson, and he can't decide between the prince and the grandson. I just want to comfort him out of filial piety."

Li Tai said calmly: "If you can persuade my father to make up his mind quickly, I won't have to say anything more."

After saying that, Li Tai turned and left. He was already dissatisfied with the fact that important central officials such as Fang Xuanling and Ma Zhou did not clearly support him. In addition, Li Shimin had fainted and would not wake up for several days, so the empress would not allow anyone else to disturb him.

So I left first.

As soon as Li Tai left, the other princes and ministers also gradually dispersed.
This time, Li Shimin did not sleep for too long. He woke up the next day and continued to meet with the princes, one every day, from oldest to youngest. The fifth son, Prince of Qi Li You, the sixth son, Prince of Shu Li Yin, the seventh son, Prince of Jiang Li Yun, and the eighth son, Prince of Yue Li Zhen.

At this time in the original drama, Li Chengqian had already been deposed and died, and the King of Qi was also executed for rebellion. In this life, with Li Chengqian's early disappearance, the King of Qi had no excuse, so he did not raise an army and is still alive and well.

(End of this chapter)