The Ming Dynasty's Five Hundred Years

Chapter 202 The Incense of Divine Intervention Breaks the Knot in the Heart
“Xianmu”.

Zhu Gaochi chased after her from the palace. His body had become increasingly obese, and he was panting heavily as he clutched his belt. "My aunt is not well. The other day, the Crown Prince's Palace obtained a thousand-year-old ginseng. I haven't seen my aunt for a long time. Let's go to the Princess's residence together."

“Your Highness, there’s really no need for this. This matter is detrimental to your reputation.” Li Xianmu wasn’t stupid; he could see that visiting his mother was just an excuse, and Zhu Gaochi was trying to show off his status to everyone.

Among the civil officials, Zhu Gaochi's influence was greater than that of Zhu Di. The power of the Crown Prince's faction was no joke. It is no exaggeration to say that just one trip like this could make many people hesitate.

Moreover, if it were only the emperor who wanted to protect someone, many officials would be willing to take the lead, especially an aging emperor. But if the crown prince also held the same attitude as the emperor, then he would have to think twice about the future.

Zhu Gaochi patted Li Xianmu on the shoulder and said, "Xianmu, if we talk about intelligence and wisdom in the whole world, no one can compare to you, and I am far inferior to you."

I've been wondering why my uncle chose me back then. Was it just because I was the eldest son? But my uncle clearly passed the Li family line to you. I don't think my uncle was that kind of pedantic scholar.

Over the years, many people have come and gone in my life, including steadfast individuals like you, Yang Shiqi, and Yang Rong. They have always said that I will definitely be a good emperor in the future.

After much thought, I realized that besides benevolence, perhaps my only strength lies in uniting people's hearts.

Unite people's hearts.

A smile played in Li Xianmu's eyes, and Zhu Gaochi laughed as well. "I won't travel alone on this journey, and neither will you. We'll accompany each other, each contributing our abilities. What difficulties could possibly stop us?"

What does a monarch need most?
Decisiveness and personal charisma are qualities that Zhu Gaochi possesses, making him a man who can win people's hearts. Naturally, he would be a good emperor.

……

Princess Lin'an's Residence.

When the Crown Prince arrived, the entire princess's household naturally came out to greet him. Li Xianmu helped the Crown Prince down from the carriage, and this scene would surely spread throughout the capital in a short time.

When Lin'an heard that the Crown Prince had brought Li Xianmu back, he was overjoyed, and even his anxiety subsided somewhat. Since both the Emperor and the Crown Prince had expressed their support, Li Xianmu could at least be assured that nothing bad would happen to him.

"Your Highness, I have failed to greet you properly."

"Aunt, please don't be so polite. I am sorry to bother you, elder."

Princess Lin'an waved her hand, signaling all the maids and servants to disperse, and Zhu Gaochi sat down in the hall.

Li Xianmu helped his mother sit opposite Zhu Gaochi, leaving the head seat empty. Lin'an held tightly to Li Xianmu's arm, and Li Xianmu comforted her softly, but did not leave.

Zhu Gaochi knew that Princess Lin'an was most worried about Li Xianmu, so he immediately said, "Aunt, there is no need to worry about Xianmu. Father said that even if things are hopeless, at most Xianmu will be demoted to Sichuan and recalled in two years. Besides, there is your nephew here, so Xianmu will not be allowed to get into trouble."

Princess Lin'an then slowly released her grip on Li Xianmu's arm, saying, "It is Xianmu who has caused trouble for my brother and the Crown Prince."

“Aunt is too kind. Xianmu is loyal to the country and all his actions are to suffer for Father. If something were to happen to Xianmu, how could Father and nephew face the world?” Zhu Gaochi said solemnly, “From any perspective, Father and I will not let anything happen to Xianmu. Such a talented and loyal minister should shine in the world and be above all others.”

loyalty.

This is the evaluation of Li Xianmu by Zhu Di and Zhu Gaochi, two generations of emperors. Why did Zhu Di show no anger at all this time?

Although Li Xianmu's inspection tour of Shandong caused a major blunder, his unwavering stance, loyalty to the emperor, and loyalty to the Ming Dynasty were all first-rate.

There's even a sense of tragic heroism in it, a willingness to sacrifice everything.

No emperor would dislike such a minister, so even before Li Xianmu returned, Zhu Di had already made up his mind to protect Li Xianmu no matter what, and at worst, he would compensate the Duke of Yansheng's mansion more.

Zhu Gaochi stayed a little longer, having already put on a show, before getting up to leave so as not to disturb Li Xianmu's family reunion. Li Xianmu personally escorted Zhu Gaochi out of the mansion, putting on another show of brotherly affection for others at the gate, before leaving with a smile.

After returning to his residence, Li Xianmu knelt directly before his mother and said in a deep voice, "I have caused you worry, Mother. Please punish me."

Princess Lin'an smiled and helped him up, saying, "What mother would bear to hit such an outstanding son? Your personality is becoming more and more like your father's."

Your loyalty to the Ming Dynasty is something your mother has done right by, as well as by the late Emperor, His Majesty, and your father. I am overjoyed and have no reason to blame you.

I just don't know how much longer I can cover for you.

However, now that you enjoy the Emperor's favor, perhaps you no longer need your mother's help.

“Mother.” Li Xianmu knelt on the ground again, tears streaming down his face.

“You did a great job in Shandong. Even if your father were here, he would probably do the same thing.”

"Mother, your son would like to go to the ancestral hall to offer incense to Father."

After bidding farewell to his mother, Li Xianmu headed towards the ancestral hall. Upon entering, he closed the door, knelt on a prayer mat, took out incense from his robes, inhaled deeply, and then lit it.

Li Qi awoke from his slumber. This time, instead of summoning Li Xianmu directly to the heavens, he placed him in an environment filled with white clouds and mist, where he could save a lot of incense points and achievement points.

“Xianmu”.

The voices came from all directions towards Li Xianmu, startling him from his confusion. He then came to his senses and, somewhat bewildered, bowed respectfully. "Father, I have some questions and wish to ask you for clarification in person." "Are you referring to this trip to Shandong?"

Li Xianmu nodded, then said in a deep voice, "Father, sometimes I feel that for the sake of the family's future, there are some things that I shouldn't do, but when the time comes, I can't help myself. Please enlighten me, Father, is my behavior correct?"

Li Qi answered almost without hesitation: "Is what you mean by 'for the sake of the family's future' the same thing that those ancient noble families did?"

"Exactly."

"In this world, no family has a longer lineage than the Confucius family of Qufu. But if the Li family ever becomes like that, I will personally bring down divine punishment and grind their unworthy descendants into dust."

Li Qi made his stance clear without leaving any room for negotiation.

"I left my descendants in this chaotic world because there is always darkness in this world and ugliness in human nature."

A sage once said that history progresses in a spiral, and before each ascent, there is a period of decline and darkness, like the darkness before dawn. Only by passing through this period of darkness can the world move towards a brighter future.

But no one knows how long the dark period will last; it might be a generation, or even three generations' entire lives.

Li Qi recalled the past history, those changes, those painful periods of transformation, which could be a person's youth. A small mistake could be a mountain of pressure for an individual or even a generation.

"I hope my descendants will be the light of this world, standing at the forefront of everyone, inheriting and developing the civilization of our ancestors, and then guarding our glorious civilization, just like the ancient sage emperors, leading the whole world toward a state of great harmony."

The Seven Grievances are my hopes for the world.

If one day my descendants degenerate into those who oppress the good, I will kill them myself.

If one day my descendants become those who are obsessed with profit, I will kill them myself.

If one day my descendants no longer honor the promise I made, let them disappear.

Without any attempt to conceal anything, Li Qi revealed for the first time his expectations of his family: "You did very well in Shandong; even I couldn't have done better."

Go and manage the family well. You need more helpers. In this era, there is no better choice than your family members.

I will be watching over our family from heaven, and at the right time, I will help you and the future head of the family. My descendants will forever be blessed.

When Li Xianmu heard his father utter the word "help," he felt a chill run down his spine. This "help" didn't sound like help at all; it sounded more like a death warrant.

Li Qi dared to say these words because he was confident. With the development of the Li family, especially after the last system update, the incense points have increased, and he has been able to effectively control every member of the Li family with his bloodline, including Li Fang and Li Mao's lineage.

While we can't directly control life and death now, we can put them into a nightmare-like state. This is an ability that directly affects the soul, and if it happens a few times, no one can withstand it.

With this ability, Li Qi can say that he can guarantee that the Li family will not fall into depravity in the future.

"My son understands!"

Li Xianmu felt relieved and his heart was filled with a sense of peace. Before leaving, he asked one last question, "Father, what should we do if the family is destroyed because of this one day?"

White clouds drifted leisurely all around.

After a long while, Li Xianmu heard his father's voice coming from the clouds and the wind, filled with endless emotion: "Then let it collapse."

Is there anything in this world that is immortal?
Even the sun in the sky will go out in five billion years.

In the universe, only matter is indestructible.

Once upon a time, the greatest man of all time said that he was prepared to be shattered. What then are you, me, and every member of the Li family?

If that day ever comes, I will be the one to bring down my family.

If that day ever comes, I will definitely do it without hesitation.

Li Xianmu heard the words of a sage from his father twice today. He did not remember such a sage in history, but he did not ask. His father often said such things.

To say that the sun will go out in five billion years is like a fantasy.

To say that the universe started as a single point, or that time doesn't actually exist but is merely a measure of the movement of matter.

When he said these things, his father always sounded lonely.

He didn't understand, so he closed his eyes, and the white clouds, white mist, and wind all disappeared.

He is still in the ancestral hall.

(End of this chapter)