My father, Li Shimin, requests Your Majesty to become the Retired Emperor.

When Li Chengan arrived at the gate of the Duke of Yi's mansion, he was surprised to see a large number of imperial guards there, with both sides on the verge of a major battle.

Qin Ying called out loudly, "His Highness has arrived!"

Chang He glanced around and, sure enough, it was Li Chengan who had arrived.

Chang He quickly came over and bowed: "This humble general greets Your Highness."

Li Chengan looked at him with his hands behind his back and asked, "General Chang, what's going on? Why are you surrounding the Duke of Yi's residence?"

"Your Highness, Gongsun Wuda is pursuing the rebel Luo Cheng."

Because some of Luo Cheng's men saw him escape into the Duke of Yi's mansion and not come out.

Strangely, after Gongsun Wuda entered the Duke of Yi's mansion, he did not find Luo Cheng, but he did find Luo Cheng's jade pendant in Qin Qiong's study.

This shows that Qin Qiong was lying.

Qin Qiong hid Luo Cheng, therefore, I have personally led the troops to capture Luo Cheng.

"I never expected that the Imperial Son-in-Law Qin Huaiyu would dare to organize his servants to oppose us. He is truly audacious!"

As Chang He finished speaking, he took the jade pendant out of his pocket and handed it to Li Chenggan.

Li Chengan took it in his hand and examined it carefully. He saw that Luo Cheng's name was indeed engraved on it.

Logically speaking, this constitutes a chain of evidence; with this jade pendant, it is sufficient to prove that Luo Cheng had been here.

"Was this jade pendant worn by Luo Cheng?"

"Is there any need to say more? It's obvious."

There is no doubt that this jade pendant belongs to Luo Cheng.

Li Chengan nodded slightly: "But how did this jade pendant end up here?"

Further verification is needed.

"What's there to investigate? It just means Luo Cheng was here." Chang He said dismissively.

"No, no, no, this is just your deduction. I will go in and ask the Duke of Yi. We will talk after I have found out the truth. Before I come out, you must not take any action." Li Chengqian's tone left no room for argument.

"Alright, once you're inside, make it quick and come out soon."

Chang He knew that Li Chenggan was not someone to be trifled with, and he didn't want to make things too tense.

"Also, who said Luo Cheng is a traitor to the court? Did Father Emperor say so?"

No, not at all.

"If Father didn't say, then who did?"

Luo Cheng once made great contributions to our Tang Dynasty and even saved the life of the emperor. How can we easily say that he was a traitor to the court?

If Luo Cheng is innocent, do you realize the serious consequences this will bring?

Upon hearing this, Chang He blinked and asked, "Didn't Luo Yi rebel?"

Luo Yi committed suicide out of fear of punishment, so his rebellious son must be a little rebel.

"Nonsense! Luo Yi's death is still a miscarriage of justice, and the case is still under further investigation."

Some say that Luo Yi did not commit suicide out of fear of punishment, but was killed by Su Dingfang.

Because of a past conflict between the two, it remains inconclusive whether Luo Yi plotted a rebellion.

Upon hearing this, Chang He thought to himself that he hadn't expected there to be so many twists and turns involved.

"Furthermore, according to the regulations of the imperial court, a search of the Duke of Yi's mansion requires the Emperor's decree."

It should be noted that Duke Yi was no ordinary person. When his father, the emperor, was pacifying the country, Duke Yi repeatedly made military achievements, especially in the battles against Song Jingang, Dou Jiande, and Liu Heita.

Whenever the emperor encountered a fierce general from the enemy camp, he would send the Duke of Yi to challenge him to a duel.

Every time, the Duke of Yi manages to return victorious. Think about it.

What contributions did he make to the imperial court?

"How many fewer Tang soldiers will die?" Li Chengan fully affirmed Qin Qiong's military achievements back then.

Upon hearing this, Chang He patted his head, realizing that what Li Chenggan said was true.

Because he had fought alongside Qin Qiong in the past, and Qin Qiong was indeed incredibly brave and unmatched.

Li Chengan said to Chang He, "This is not a battlefield; we are all on the same side. You should retreat."

Rong Gu went in to see the Duke of Yi, inquired about the details, and then made a decision.

Chang He thought about it. Li Chengqian's prestige was extremely high now, and the five-nation allied forces all listened to him. There were also more than 100,000 Turkic troops outside Chang'an. As long as Li Chengqian gave the order, those people would roar and charge into Chang'an.

After hearing Li Chengqian's words, Chang He also felt that it was a bit rash for him to lead his troops to besiege the Duke of Yi's mansion. Moreover, since they had not yet received the imperial edict, they might as well take this opportunity to send someone back to request the edict. Once the edict arrived, they would have nothing to say.

So Chang He nodded in agreement: "Your Highness, since you have given the order, then we shall do as you say."

Brothers, retreat three hundred paces.

This distance is well beyond the range of a crossbow bolt.

Seeing that Chang He was still giving him face, Li Chengan turned to Qin Ying and said, "You two stay here and guard the place, but whatever you do, don't get into a conflict with them. I'll go in and talk to your grandfather."

"I know. With me here guarding this place, I'd like to see which of these bastards dares to make a move," Qin Ying said sternly.

Upon hearing this, Chang He thought to himself, "Qin Ying is really cunning. He's insulting me too."

So, Li Chengan stepped into the Duke of Yi's mansion.

Upon seeing this, Qin Huaiyu quickly stepped forward and bowed, saying, "Qin Huaiyu greets Your Highness."

Li Chengan waved his hand: "Prince Consort, we're all family, no need for formalities. Where's your father?"

"My father is in his study. I'll take you to see him now."

"Okay," Li Chengan nodded, and as he walked inside, he said to Qin Huaiyu, "Wait a moment, quickly send someone to find Cheng Yaojin to find a way to get out of this predicament."

"promise!"

Upon hearing this, Qin Huaiyu thought to himself, "That's right! At this crucial moment, I've become confused and forgotten about Cheng Yaojin. Back then, the relationship between Qin Qiong and Cheng Yaojin was extraordinary."

Li Chengan had long heard that Qin Qiong was seriously ill and his health was deteriorating day by day, so he had even stopped attending the morning court session.

I have been too busy with official duties and trivial matters to visit Duke Yi until today.

However, when Li Chenggan entered the study, he was taken aback.

It turned out that Qin Qiong had changed into a military uniform. He was in high spirits, radiant, with white teeth and red lips. His white beard flowed down his chest. He was strong and upright, and his imposing manner was as good as ever. There was no sign of illness at all.

Qin Qiong was wiping the bronze double maces with a cloth, making them shine brightly.

Li Chengan was also stunned, wondering what Qin Qiong was up to.

"Father, the Crown Prince has come to see you," Qin Huaiyu said as he entered the room.

Upon hearing this, Qin Qiong quickly put away his bronze double maces, then emerged from behind the desk to pay his respects to Li Chengan with great ceremony: "Greetings, Your Highness."

Li Chengan quickly stopped him: "Duke Yi, you mustn't!"

Li Chengan and Qin Qiong took their seats as host and guest, respectively.

Qin Huaiyu poured a cup of hot tea for Li Chengan and Qin Qiong, then bowed and left, closing the door behind him.

Qin Huaiyu was worried about Qin Ying.

He knew that kid was pretty reckless.

What if he fights with the Imperial Guards and someone dies? How will that end?

At this moment, only Qin Qiong and Li Chengan remained in the room.

Li Chengan smiled: "I heard that you were not feeling well and were unable to attend the morning court, so I asked my father for sick leave. I have been quite worried about you ever since."

But today you look so energetic and radiant; you don't seem sick at all.

Upon hearing this, Qin Qiong thought to himself that Li Chengqian was indeed no ordinary person; on the surface, he was very concerned and polite.

In fact, his words were laced with sarcasm, and if taken seriously, they could be considered a crime of deceiving the emperor, which would be enough to get him into serious trouble.

Qin Qiong seemed somewhat uneasy: "Your Highness, to be honest, I'm not sick at all."

"Oh, if you're not sick, why do you say you are?"

Qin Qiong sighed: "I, Qin, have spent my life on the battlefield and experienced far too much. I've come to terms with many things."

I've reached this age; fame and fortune are all fleeting.

Think of those famous generals in ancient times, who made great contributions to the court, but later met a tragic end with their heads separated from their bodies. There are countless examples of them.

For example, the four great generals of the Warring States period, Li Mu and Bai Qi, Han Xin, the great general under Liu Bang, and Zhou Yafu, the Grand Commandant during the reign of Emperor Jing of Han, each made contributions that were enough to make them outstanding and unparalleled.

During the Spring and Autumn and Warring States periods, the State of Zhao was the only state that could rival the State of Qin. When Li Mu was stationed on the border, he fought on two fronts: against the Xiongnu in the north and against the Qin army in the west.

However, he was able to prevent the Xiongnu and Qin armies from crossing the line, which gave them a great headache, but they couldn't do anything about him.

It can be said that Li Mu was the Great Wall of the Zhao State.

However, the treacherous Guo Kai accepted bribes from the Qin people and repeatedly spoke ill of Li Mu in front of the King of Zhao. In the end, the King of Zhao became suspicious and stripped Li Mu of his military power, imprisoning him. Thus, a famous general died in obscurity.

Bai Qi of Qin was also extremely capable. He fought countless battles for Qin. It is said that he alone killed millions of soldiers from the other six states. In the Battle of Changping alone, he buried alive 45 Zhao soldiers. Such a record is unprecedented in history.

However, he was ostracized by Chancellor Fan Ju, and became depressed and frustrated.

After the Battle of Changping, if they had listened to Bai Qi and pressed their advantage, they could have captured Handan, the capital of Zhao.

However, Fan Ju worried that Bai Qi's achievements were too great and that he might surpass him in status in the future.

Therefore, he persuaded King Zhaoxiang of Qin to withdraw his troops. King Zhaoxiang listened to Fan Ju's advice and ordered Bai Qi to withdraw his troops.

Bai Qi naturally saw through Fan Ju's intentions, and he was furious.

Later, on several occasions, war broke out again.

King Zhaoxiang of Qin wanted Bai Qi to lead the army into battle, but Bai Qi feigned illness and refused to go.

Fan Ju then took this opportunity to slander Bai Qi in front of King Zhaoxiang of Qin.

King Zhaoxiang of Qin, unable to distinguish the truth from the falsehood, in a fit of rage bestowed a precious sword upon Bai Qi, and Bai Qi thus committed suicide.

Then there's General Han Xin. It can be said that Han Xin was the one who largely helped Liu Bang establish his empire.

Han Xin first led his troops from Guanzhong and pacified the Three Qin regions. This battle may seem easy, but in reality, the difficulty was unimaginable.

Despite his immense abilities, Zhuge Liang attempted to emulate Han Xin by launching a surprise attack on Luoyang from Guanzhong, but he failed.

This shows that Han Xin's military tactics were unpredictable and unpredictable, achieving victory through surprise attacks, a skill unmatched by anyone.

He attacked the State of Wei and destroyed Wei Bao. Immediately afterwards, he used a small force to attack the State of Zhao's army of more than 200,000.

In the Battle of Jingxing, Han Xin inflicted a crushing defeat on the Zhao army, and his general Chen Yu was killed in battle.

Later, Han Xin followed Li Zuoche's advice and forced the Yan state to surrender with a single letter.

Following this, Han Xin led his troops to conquer the Qi territory, expanding his army to over 30.

At that time, Han Xin was fully capable of dividing the world into three kingdoms with Liu Bang and Xiang Yu.

However, Han Xin was a man of deep emotions.

His advisor, Kuai Che, strongly urged him to leave Liu Bang, but he did not do so.

He said that when he was in his most difficult time, Liu Bang gave him food and clothes, so how could he do anything to betray Liu Bang?

Han Xin was enfeoffed as the King of Chu. He found the woman who had given him food and rewarded her with a thousand pieces of gold.

He also found the person who had humiliated him by crawling between his legs.

Han Xin did not retaliate against him, but instead recommended him for an official position.

Therefore, Han Xin was a grateful and magnanimous person.

In the Battle of Gaixia, Han Xin devised an ambush from ten sides, routing Xiang Yu and forcing him to commit suicide at the Wujiang River. Only then did Liu Bang gain control of the empire.

Imagine if Liu Bang hadn't had Han Xin, could he have become the founding emperor of the Western Han Dynasty? Dream on!

However, even so, Empress Lü had Han Xin killed in Weiyang Palace on trumped-up charges, claiming that Han Xin was plotting a rebellion.

I, for one, don't believe it. Back when Han Xin occupied the Qi region and commanded 30 troops, didn't he rebel?

Later, he was demoted to Marquis of Huaiyin and handed over his military power, yet he plotted a rebellion, which is illogical.

Grand Commandant Zhou Yafu was the son of Zhou Bo and was extremely loyal to the Han Dynasty.

Back then, the Rebellion of the Seven States broke out because Chao Cuo advocated for reducing the power of the regional military governors.

Emperor Jing of Han was so frightened that he was at a loss for what to do.

Left with no other choice, he followed Yuan Ang's advice and killed his mentor, Chao Cuo.

Why did Emperor Jing of Han do this?

"Because the slogan of the Seven Kingdoms Alliance was 'Purge the court of corrupt officials and execute Chao Cuo,' Emperor Jing of Han thought that if Chao Cuo was killed, the Seven Kingdoms Alliance would withdraw its troops."

However, he was wrong. By killing Chao Cuo, he exposed the weaknesses and vulnerabilities of the imperial court.

Upon hearing this, Li Chengan sighed, "No wonder Emperor Jing of Han doesn't have a very good reputation in history. This incident has a lot to do with it. It shows that Emperor Jing of Han didn't see things very clearly, and he was too cruel to his mentor."

"Yes, when people are panicked to a certain extent, they are more likely to make wrong decisions."

The Seven Kingdoms Alliance launched an even more ferocious attack, and Chang'an was on the verge of collapse. In this critical moment, Zhou Yafu stepped up and meticulously devised a plan to annihilate the Seven Kingdoms Alliance.

Zhou Yafu truly deserves to be called a renowned general; he was incredibly composed.

When the allied forces of the seven kingdoms launched a fierce attack on Suiyang, King Liu Wu of Liang repeatedly appealed to Zhou Yafu for help. Considering the overall situation, Zhou Yafu resolutely implemented the established plan and remained inactive.

Even when Emperor Jing of Han ordered him to send troops to support Liu Wu, he refused, risking offending the King of Liang.

As it turned out, Zhou Yafu's plan was correct.

Only a true general can remain as immovable as a mountain, or not make a move at all, but when he does, he defeats the enemy decisively.

In the end, Zhou Yafu quelled the rebellion of the Seven States in just three months.

Such merit is probably unmatched by many in history.

Some people say that Zhou Yafu made such great contributions that it wouldn't be too much to ask him to be enshrined in the Imperial Ancestral Temple and have his family serve as officials for generations, because without Zhou Yafu, there would be no Han Dynasty.

However, later, due to a few minor incidents, Emperor Jing of Han and Zhou Yafu became unhappy and their relationship soured.

Zhou Yafu was merely saying it in anger, that he wanted to resign from his official post.

Emperor Jing of Han didn't even try to persuade him to stay; instead, he actually took the opportunity to confiscate his official seal.

Zhou Yafu's son merely purchased 500 pieces of armor, intending to use them as burial goods after Zhou Yafu's death.

Emperor Jing of Han made a mountain out of a molehill, claiming that Zhou Yafu was plotting a rebellion, which was utterly ridiculous.

Emperor Jing of Han then imprisoned Zhou Yafu and ordered a minor official to interrogate him. Zhou Yafu was a famous general who had commanded a million soldiers on the battlefield. How could he suffer such a humiliation?

Zhou Yafu fasted for five days, then vomited blood and died.

Li Chengan sighed upon hearing this. To be honest, he also felt that Emperor Jing of Han had gone too far. How could he treat such a great general and a loyal minister so harshly?

Qin Qiong sighed deeply: "History is like a mirror, vividly clear before my eyes. I am already so old, I'm afraid I won't live much longer."

However, I have to think about my descendants.

If I fight my whole life and end up like Li Mu, Bai Qi, Han Xin, or Zhou Yafu, then it would be a great loss.

After listening to Qin Qiong's words, Li Chengan had heard about the experiences of the four famous generals Qin Qiong had just mentioned: Li Mu, Bai Qi, Han Xin, and Zhou Yafu. Indeed, each of them had made great contributions.

It could even be said that without them, there would be no country.

It is rare for Qin Qiong, a famous general, to have such a clear understanding, unlike some people who are extremely greedy and cannot let go of fame and fortune.

For example, Wen Zhong and Huo Guang were both very greedy.

Putting aside everything else, even someone as intelligent as Fang Xuanling couldn't see things clearly.

Fang Xuanling himself became the Grand Secretary, but he was not satisfied. He also hoped that his children and grandchildren could occupy the same position.

Qin Qiong wasn't like that; he only wished for his descendants to live in peace and safety.

Thinking of this, Li Chengan comforted him, saying, "Duke Yi, you are overthinking it."

Your martial arts skills are superb, you are courageous and resourceful, and your achievements are evident to all.

You suffered many injuries for the sake of the Tang Dynasty, and Father Emperor has mentioned this in public on many occasions.

Father is very grateful to you.

"But don't worry, my father is different from ordinary emperors. He can be called a wise ruler, and he would never indiscriminately kill meritorious officials."

Qin Qiong gave a wry smile: "You're right, the current emperor is indeed a wise and benevolent ruler."

But who can guarantee that a wise ruler will not kill his meritorious officials?

Does this mean that King Zhaoxiang of Qin, Emperor Gaozu of Han, and Emperor Jing of Han were not wise rulers?

Some say that the most important reason why Qin Shi Huang was able to unify the six kingdoms was that King Zhaoxiang of Qin laid a solid foundation for him.

King Zhaoxiang of Qin reigned for over 50 years and made many contributions. Besides weakening the state of Zhao at the Battle of Changping, he won numerous other battles, essentially establishing Qin's hegemony among the seven states.

That is why Qin Shi Huang had the power to eliminate the other six states;

Liu Bang, the founder of the Western Han Dynasty, rose from a minor official to become the emperor of the Western Han Dynasty. He was ambitious, indomitable, and persevered despite repeated setbacks.

At a banquet, he once summarized the fundamental reasons for Xiang Yu's defeat and his own victory.

He said that Xiang Yu only had one Fan Zeng, but he couldn't utilize him, while he himself united Zhang Liang, Xiao He, and Han Xin around him, allowing them to fully utilize their strengths and work for him. This was the fundamental reason why he was able to seize the world.

This shows that Liu Bang's summary was very accurate.

Therefore, Liu Bang was also a rare wise ruler;

As for Emperor Jing of Han, he and his father, Emperor Wen of Han, together ushered in the prosperous reign of Wen and Jing.

This is why Emperor Wu of Han dared to launch a counterattack against the Xiongnu.

If Emperor Jing of Han hadn't laid the foundation, would Emperor Wu of Han have dared to do that?

In my opinion, that's highly unlikely.

Therefore, King Zhaoxiang of Qin, Emperor Gaozu of Han, and Emperor Jing of Han were all wise rulers.

But even wise rulers kill meritorious officials. Your father was a wise ruler too.

Who can guarantee he won't kill meritorious officials?

Upon hearing this, Li Chengan thought to himself that Qin Qiong was a wise man, and it was already very rare for him to have such awareness and consciousness.

Li Chenggan, with his hands tucked into his sleeves, said, "Since Father Emperor ascended the throne, he has not killed any meritorious officials so far, why do you need to worry?"

Qin Qiong picked up his teacup, took a small sip, and then gently placed the teacup back on the table: "You're right, your father is indeed not a bloodthirsty person."

However, Luo Yi's death made all the civil and military officials in the court feel insecure.

Back then, Luo Yi was the Prince of Beiping during the Sui Dynasty. I'm not speaking up for him because he's my uncle, but because Luo Yi truly made many military contributions to the Tang Dynasty.

Unfortunately, he was Li Jiancheng's subordinate at the time.

It seems the imperial court is now intentionally or unintentionally purging Li Jiancheng's former subordinates.

Upon hearing this, Li Chengan felt that Qin Qiong's words might represent the thoughts of some officials, which was no small matter and their concerns had to be dispelled.

Li Chenggan waved his hand: "You're wrong. Father Emperor didn't do that. Weren't Wei Zheng and Xue Wanche also Li Jiancheng's subordinates?"

"The Emperor has treated them very well, so how can there be any talk of settling scores?"

"Your Highness, no matter what, Luo Yi's death is no simple matter. It will cause a huge uproar in the court, which is one of the reasons why I am unwilling to attend court."

To be honest, I'm already quite disheartened.

In times of war, military generals like us might still be of some use, but now that the Tang Dynasty has unified the world, people like us seem somewhat superfluous, and have only made your father feel uneasy.

At this point, Li Chengan gradually realized that Luo Yi's death was not a simple incident and would involve many people.

After Han Xin was killed, all the meritorious officials and veteran generals under Liu Bang were in danger.

This led to the rebellions of Peng Yue and Ying Bu. The root cause was their deep fear and distrust of the imperial court.

Li Chenggan thought to himself that he had to minimize the negative effects of this matter, otherwise, who knew what kind of trouble might arise.

At this moment, Li Chengqian looked at Qin Qiong and changed the subject: "Then, I would like to ask, has Duke Luo Cheng of Yue ever been here?"

Qin Qiong quickly shook his head: "No, Luo Cheng has never been here from beginning to end. I have never seen him."

Is this really true?

"It's true." Qin Qiong's tone was very certain.

At this moment, Li Chengan took the jade pendant out of his pocket and handed it to Qin Qiong: "Please take a look, do you recognize this jade pendant?"

Qin Qiong took the jade pendant in his hand, examined it carefully under the lamplight, and his expression changed slightly.

He naturally knew that this was the jade pendant that Luo Cheng always carried with him.

Qin Qiong couldn't help but ask, "Your Highness, how did this jade pendant end up in your hands?"

Li Chengan crossed his arms and said, "To be honest, Gongsun Wuda found this in your study."

Upon hearing this, Qin Qiong understood that the jade pendant must have fallen from Luo Cheng's body.

At that moment, they heard a "thud," and it seemed like something fell from Luo Cheng's clothes, but after searching for a long time, they couldn't find it.

Due to the urgency of the situation, Luo Cheng crawled into a tunnel.

Unexpectedly, Gongsun Wuda picked up the jade pendant. No wonder Chang He led so many imperial guards to surround the Duke of Yi's mansion. It turns out that this jade pendant caused the trouble.

Qin Qiong asked Li Chengan, "What does this jade pendant prove?"

"The presence of this jade pendant proves that Duke Luo Cheng of Yue once came here. How can you say you've never seen him?" Li Chenggan retorted.

To everyone's surprise, Qin Qiong laughed and said, "You're wrong. It's not as you imagine."

"Oh, what happened?"

"When I was young, I committed a crime and was exiled to Luo Yi in Zhuojun. I happened to run into my aunt, and Luo Yi released me."

At that time, Luo Cheng was still very young.

My aunt had us exchange tokens, meaning that from now on we would be like brothers, sharing both good times and bad.

I gave him a copper lock, and he gave me this jade pendant in return.

In the future, if my brothers and I are separated, we can recognize each other with this token, so I have always carried this jade pendant with me.

Last night, I drank a couple too many drinks, and my jade pendant accidentally fell off. I searched for it for ages but couldn't find it, and unexpectedly, that scoundrel Gongsun Wuda picked it up.

Li Chengan chuckled to himself, thinking that Qin Qiong was lying through his teeth. The two of you weren't betrothed as a boy and a girl, so what kind of tokens were you exchanging? It was utter nonsense!

However, in front of Qin Shubao, Li Chengan had no need to expose his lie, so this explanation was barely plausible.

Upon hearing this, Li Chengan smiled slightly: "I've never heard of cousins ​​exchanging tokens before. It seems your customs are different from ours."

Qin Qiong could tell that Li Chengan didn't believe what he was saying, but he still stubbornly insisted, "Anyway, I've already explained it to you. Whether you believe it or not, it's all the same."

"I believe what you say."

"They went too far by making such a fuss over a mere jade pendant, even planning to storm my Duke Yi's mansion. Are they taking advantage of my old age?"

Is Chang He still alive?

I'm going to go out and fight him for three hundred rounds to see who's stronger, him or me!

When Li Chengan saw Qin Qiong, he realized that although Qin Qiong was a few years old, he still had a fiery temper.

"Back then, you often took the head of a general from among a million soldiers. All the military officers in the court admired you for that. You were truly remarkable."

Qin Qiong was quite pleased to hear Li Chengan say this, after all, it was the proudest part of his life. Even though he was sometimes seriously injured, he had survived no matter what.

Qin Qiong looked at Li Chengan and praised him, "Your Highness, I watched you grow up. When you were young, you were a little weak and often fell ill."

At the time, I was a little worried, thinking that when you grow up, will you be a little frail?

As a military general, I naturally hoped you would grow up strong and healthy. I never expected you to be so robust and wise. This is a blessing for the Tang Dynasty!

"Duke Yi, you flatter me." Li Chengqian rubbed his right hand back and forth on his knee.

"Lately, has my unruly grandson Qin Ying been following you around quite a bit?"

Li Chengan nodded and said, "Yes."

"When Qin Ying was young, he wasn't in good health, so I sent him to the Shaolin Temple to learn martial arts, hoping that he would have a healthy body when he grew up."

However, when he returned from Shaolin Temple, I felt that he hadn't read enough books and hoped he could read more.

However, he became obsessed with a book called "Water Margin," and whenever he had time, he would talk to me about Wu Song and Lu Zhishen, whom I had never even heard of.

Li Chengan found it amusing, but he could sense from Qin Qiong's words that he deeply loved Qin Ying.

"No matter what, this child respects you very much and admires you to the point of worship. However, there are a few things I need to make clear to your face."

"Speak freely."

"Your father and mother are blessed to have so many children."

Moreover, they are all very capable, such as you, Li Tai, and Li Zhi, the three brothers, each more outstanding than the last.

However, this also presents a problem. Just like when Cao Cao was choosing his heir, his sons Cao Pi, Cao Zhi, Cao Zhang, and Cao Chong were all outstanding, which gave Cao Cao a headache. Who should he choose to succeed him?

I'm a very straightforward person, so please don't take offense.

Although you have been publicly designated as the crown prince

However, both Emperor Yang of Sui and your father set a bad precedent.

At that time, both Yang Yong and Li Jiancheng were crown princes.

However, the ending was tragic; both Yang Yong and Li Jiancheng died, let alone inherit the throne.

Therefore, this made the other princes think that they had a chance to inherit the throne like Yang Guang and your father.

They haven't given up.

As a result, the court officials were divided into several factions:

One faction supports you as the crown prince, such as Wei Zheng and Hou Junji;

One faction supported Li Tai as the crown prince, including figures such as Fang Xuanling, Fang Yi'ai and his son, Cen Wenzi, and Wei Ting;

A faction gradually formed, intending to support Li Zhi as the crown prince. Representatives included your uncle, Changsun Wuji, and the top scholar in the imperial examination, Chu Suiliang.

I've also heard that some people are planning to support Li Yuanjing in his bid for the crown prince position." Qin Qiong spoke candidly, without hiding anything.

Li Chenggan felt very sad when he heard this. In particular, when he heard Qin Qiong say that his uncle, Changsun Wuji, wanted to support Li Zhi as the crown prince, his heart felt like it was being stabbed with a knife. Even his own uncle did not support him. Was he a complete failure?

As for Li Yuanjing's ambition to vie for the position of Crown Prince, Li Chenggan found it rather novel. In his memory, his uncle Li Yuanjing had always sought immortality and medicine, and was somewhat similar to Li Chunfeng when he was refining elixirs on Zhongnan Mountain. How could he be someone who wanted to vie for the position of Crown Prince?

However, things in this world rarely happen without reason.

Since Qin Qiong said that, he must have his reasons. People his age generally don't speak carelessly.

"Are you saying that Li Yuanjing also wants to compete for the position of crown prince?"

"yes."

"So, do you know who his supporters are?"

"I'm not too sure about that, but I've heard that Princess Gaoyang, Li Ke, and Li Yuanjing have a very close relationship."

Li Chenggan immediately realized that the situation was more serious, more complicated, and involved more people.

However, he cannot draw conclusions lightly without solid evidence.

Qin Qiong said earnestly to Li Chengan, "That's why I want to discuss something with you."

"What do you want to say?"

"Qin Ying is young and ignorant, and doesn't know the ways of the world. So, I want the Crown Prince to return Qin Ying to me, so that he can stay by my side day and night."

Li Chengan was incredibly intelligent and immediately understood. He asked, "You mean you want Qin Ying to return to your side and stop following me?"

Qin Qiong nodded: "That's roughly the idea. Our Qin family isn't very large. Qin Ying is a lively and energetic boy, and I like him a lot. I miss him if I don't see him for three days. I also don't want him to get involved in your struggle for the crown prince position."

Actually, I don't want him to become an official in the future; I just want him to live a good life.

Qin Qiong's words couldn't have been more straightforward.

He doesn't crave fame or officialdom; he just wants his family to live in peace and safety.

This is already the bare minimum; how could I possibly disagree?

Although Qin Ying was now Li Chengqian's right-hand man, at this point, Li Chengqian had no choice but to reluctantly part with her.

Li Chengan nodded: "I promise you, from now on, Qin Ying will return to your side."

Upon hearing this, Qin Qiong stood up and bowed deeply to Li Chengan: "Your Highness, thank you so much. I hope you won't take offense."

Li Chengan gave a wry smile: "How could that be? Everyone has their own ambitions, and you can't force them."

Qin Qiong felt a little embarrassed: "Your Highness, if one day you really inherit the throne, and at that time you still want Qin Ying to help you, then we can talk about it."

Li Chengan thought about it and realized that Qin Qiong's considerations were not without merit; he was thinking about the safety of his descendants.

Supporting someone as the crown prince and their future succession to the throne is an extremely risky matter. Choosing the wrong side could jeopardize the fate of your entire family.

Therefore, Li Chengan fully understood Qin Shubao's feelings and did not blame him.

Just then, Qin Huaiyu hurriedly helped Qin Ying in from outside: "Father, something terrible has happened."

Qin Qiong was taken aback and asked, "What happened?"

"You should take a look at Qin Ying."

"What's wrong with him?"

"He can't lift his left arm."

"What? How could this happen?" Qin Qiong, heartbroken for his grandson, rushed over to check on him. He saw Qin Ying with his eyes tightly closed, his teeth clenched, and beads of sweat the size of soybeans rolling down his forehead.

"Qin Ying, quickly tell Grandpa, who hit you? Was it Chang He?"

Qin Ying opened her eyes and shook her head: "Grandpa, Your Highness, it's not Chang He."

"Who was that? Why did they attack so viciously?" Qin Qiong asked again.

"That person's name seems to be Qibi Heli."

Upon hearing this, Li Chengan remembered that in the martial arts arena, Qibi Heli had punched him in the chest. If he hadn't been wearing crocodile armor, Qibi Heli would have pierced his chest. That was a fierce general.

Qin Qiong was furious when he saw that his beloved grandson Qin Ying's arm had been broken.

He gave Qin Huaiyu a good scolding: "Where were you just now? Didn't I tell you to stay outside and watch over him?"

"Oh dear, Father, I was watching him, but I couldn't stop him."

When Qibi Heli arrived at the gate, he was arrogant and domineering, and his words were incredibly offensive.

Qin Ying couldn't hold back and fought him, resulting in her being injured.

"Where did this Qibi Heli come from? Who does he think he is, beating my grandson like this!"

"Let's go, I'll go and meet him!" Qin Qiong was furious.

Qin Huaiyu quickly stopped Qin Qiong: "Father, you can't go! You're so old. What if something happens to you? Your lifelong reputation will be ruined. What will we do then?"

"When has our Qin family ever suffered such humiliation? Get out of the way!" Qin Qiong ignored Qin Huaiyu's advice, picked up his bronze double maces, and strode to the gate of the mansion.

Qin Huaiyu instructed his men to keep a close watch on Qin Ying and to find a physician to treat her.

Then, Qin Huaiyu and Li Chengan arrived at the gate of the mansion together.

When Li Chengan arrived at the gate of the mansion, he indeed saw Qibi Heli.

The young man, his chest exposed, was still cursing and swearing at the door, his mouth full of vulgarities: "What kind of Duke Yi's mansion is this? It's just a den of thieves!"

"Get the traitor Luo Cheng out of here quickly, or I'm going to storm in."

Li Chengan frowned upon seeing this, wondering what was going on with this Qibi Heli.

What right does he have to shout like that?

Li Chengan then asked Qibi Heli, "Are you here to compete in martial arts, or to cause trouble?"

When Qibi Heli saw Li Chengan, he chuckled and said, "Li Chengan, you're really lucky to be alive."

You took my punch, and it didn't even pierce your chest.

Do you want to take another punch?

When Li Chengan saw this kid, he thought to himself that even if he was beaten to death by him, he would not be scared to death by him.

Li Chengan was a man with a temper.

Immediately, Li Chenggan rolled up his sleeves and said, "Since you want to spar, then come on! I'll gladly oblige."

Unexpectedly, Qin Qiong stopped Li Chengan: "Your Highness, you are a guest here today."

Besides, why use a sledgehammer to crack a nut?

"Allow me to meet him."

Li Chengan had long heard that the Duke of Yi was a master of martial arts, and that his bronze double maces were unmatched on both sides of the Yellow River.

Since Qin Qiong is going to participate, that's fine. Let him show Qibi Heli his power.

Learn from the side by yourself.

Qin Qiong took two steps forward: "Qibi Heli, have you ever heard of my name, Qin?"

Qibi Heli saw an old general appear before him. He was tall, strong, and vigorous, fully armed, as if he were about to go to war.

"Could you be Qin Qiong, Qin Shubao?" Qibi Heli seemed somewhat excited.

"Since you know my name, and you still dare to cause trouble here, breaking my grandson Qin Ying's arm, you really have a lot of nerve!"

Upon hearing that the person before him was indeed Qin Qiong, Qibi Heli couldn't help but take two steps back.

This is called a person's name, a tree's shadow.

Because Qin Qiong's reputation was so great back then, those generals and fierce warriors from various countries were not afraid of Yuchi Gong or Cheng Yaojin, but they were afraid of Qin Qiong.

Because they feared Qin Qiong would storm into their army and take their heads.

Qibi Heli glared at Qin Qiong: "Back in the day, you, Qin Qiong, were quite the hero, majestic and awe-inspiring, with outstanding military achievements, defeating many famous generals. But now you're old, your beard has turned white."

"How dare you say I'm old! Let's have a match then!" Qin Qiong hated it most when someone called him old.

Qibi Heli thought to himself, Qin Qiong's most famous weapon is his double mace made of bronze.

Qibi Heli rolled his eyes: "I know your bronze double maces are very powerful, but I never use weapons in a fight, only my fists. This doesn't seem fair to me."

"Could you put away your bronze double maces? Let's have another go."

Upon hearing this, Li Chengan thought to himself that Qibi Heli was truly cunning; this was a classic case of avoiding the strong and attacking the weak.

Qin Qiong glanced at Chang He, who was standing to the side.

Chang He didn't say anything. He also felt a little guilty, after all, Qin Ying was injured, and it wouldn't sound good to bully someone who was weak.

However, this matter cannot be entirely blamed on Chang He, because Qibi Heli was not summoned by Chang He.

Li Tai sent him.

Li Tai had long disliked Qin Ying and always wanted to find an opportunity to beat him up.

Li Taiyi thought to himself, "Today, this opportunity has finally arrived."

Even if we can't defeat Li Chenggan, wouldn't it be a victory to teach those around him a lesson?

Qin Qiong heard Qibi Heli tell him to put away his double maces.

Qin Qiong laughed and handed the double maces to Qin Huaiyu.

"Father, will this work?" Qin Huaiyu was worried. After all, his father was getting old. If he took off his weapon, how would he win?

Qin Qiong replied, "What's there to worry about? What storms haven't I weathered?"

Li Chengan watched from the side and secretly praised him, thinking that such boldness was something that ordinary people could not match. No wonder only Qin Qiong could often charge into the enemy ranks alone to take the head of a general. Without extremely high martial arts skills and courage, no one would dare to do such a thing.

Qibi Heli was relieved. He thought that since he had joined Li Tai, he should make some contribution, otherwise people would say that he was a useless person who only talked big. He could take this opportunity to show them his divine fist.