A thousand-year-old family begins with one fighting against ten thousand.

Now, apart from the Western Regions, the Tang Dynasty has unified all of China. The Western Regions are home to another powerful empire with a garrison of over a million troops, which cannot be pacified in a short time.

However, this powerful empire had a fatal problem: no crown prince had been appointed.

Among the wars that unified the Tang Dynasty, Li Jiancheng, Li Shimin, and Princess Pingyang Li Xiuning made the greatest contributions.

Princess Pingyang was a woman, so there was no need to consider that.

Both Li Jiancheng and Li Shimin were legitimate sons, and theoretically, they both had the right to inherit the throne.

In the wars to unify the world, they all built their own factions and gained a group of supporters.

At this point, even if Li Jiancheng didn't want to fight, it would be difficult for him not to, because he represented the interests of countless people behind him.

Only if he ascends the throne can he secure enough benefits for these people, allowing them to claim credit for their service in supporting the emperor.

If Li Shimin were to ascend to the throne, he would naturally value those under his command more, while his own people would be marginalized or even squeezed out of the inner circle.

Even though Li Jiancheng didn't want to compete, and he wanted to go to Yanzhou to continue learning from his teacher, he was still pushed forward.

Li Shimin, needless to say, had always been told by Li Jiancheng that he had no interest in the throne and preferred to immerse himself in the ocean of science.

In addition, he fought in many battles, and nearly half of the Tang Dynasty's territory was conquered by him. He always regarded the position of crown prince as his own.

Faced with Li Jiancheng's challenge, Li Shimin felt betrayed.

Didn't we agree not to argue? They're all liars!

Li Shimin found it hard to accept that his closest brother, who had taken the best care of him since childhood, had deceived him and was now vying with him for the position of crown prince.

Especially under Li Yuanji's instigation, he spoke ill of Li Jiancheng in front of Li Shimin, and spoke ill of Li Shimin in front of Li Jiancheng.

This caused the relationship between the two to deteriorate rapidly.

Li Yuanji stirred up trouble among the people, causing those who supported Li Jiancheng and Li Shimin to turn against each other, resulting in chaos.

Eventually, the matter escalated to the point that it reached Li Yuan, who summoned both Li Shimin and Li Jiancheng to the palace and reprimanded them.

He's not even dead yet, and his two sons are already fighting like this over the position of crown prince. If he really dies, won't his two sons turn the world upside down over the throne?

As the two of them were leaving the palace, they ran into Li Yuanji.

Li Yuanji walked up to the two men with a sarcastic tone, "Big brother, second brother, how could you do this?"

"The position of Crown Prince was conferred by the Emperor. It is yours only if the Emperor gives it to you. If the Emperor doesn't give it to you, you cannot force it."

"We're all brothers, why make things so unpleasant over a position?"

Li Jiancheng and Li Shimin stared at Li Yuanji, both revealing a cold smile.

"I think Yuanji is right, second brother, what do you think?"

Li Jiancheng asked Li Shimin.

"That makes a lot of sense, and I think so too."

Li Shimin chuckled.

"Fourth brother sees things clearly. I thank you for your guidance."

Li Shimin didn't just say it; he actually bowed slightly to Li Yuanji.

Li Jiancheng slapped his forehead, annoyed, and said, "Second brother is absolutely right."

"I would also like to express my gratitude to my fourth brother here."

Li Yuanji looked at Li Jiancheng and Li Shimin somewhat awkwardly. Why are you two reacting like this? Shouldn't you be furious?

Could it be that his scheme was simply too flawless? Li Jiancheng and Li Shimin still haven't seen through his disguise?

He's actually a genius at scheming?!

No wonder he wasn't good at leading troops in battle; it turns out his talent lay here!

Li Yuanji mentally gave himself a thumbs up.

Perhaps Li Yuanji was not good at managing his expressions, because both Li Shimin and Li Jiancheng could see the slight upturn of his lips.

He curled his lip in disdain, and the two exchanged a glance; neither of them took him seriously.

Li Yuanji is not worthy to be their opponent.

"How about coming over to my place for a bit?"

Li Jiancheng extended an invitation to Li Shimin.

Li Shimin nodded; he hadn't visited Li Jiancheng's residence for some time now.

Li Yuanji was startled. What were these two people about to talk about?

Will his flawless plan be exposed?

Li Yuanji forced a smile, which looked rather comical on his obese body.

"Big brother, second brother, what do you want to talk about? Why didn't you invite your little brother?"

Li Yuanji said with a smirk.

"If Fourth Brother wishes to come, I would naturally welcome him."

Li Jiancheng smiled lightly. In his eyes, Li Yuanji's behavior was nothing more than that of a clown. However, he was still his younger brother. Although their relationship was not deep, blood ties were still there, and he was willing to guide his younger brother onto the right path.

Seeing that Li Jiancheng agreed so readily, Li Yuanji looked somewhat suspicious.

"Then I'll have to trouble you two brothers."

Li Yuanji followed Li Shimin and Li Jiancheng to Li Jiancheng's Prince Qi residence, where Li Jiancheng had already ordered people to prepare wine and dishes in the pavilion in the middle of the lake.

"Second brother, fourth brother, it's been a long time since we've sat together so quietly, hasn't it?"

Li Jiancheng took a sip of wine, his eyes filled with a touch of emotion. The last time they sat together so relaxed seemed to have been several years ago, or even nearly ten years ago.

At that time, they were still in Taiyuan. They had not yet raised an army, Yang Guang was still alive, and the world was not yet in complete chaos.

"Yes, ever since my brother and I returned to Taiyuan from Yanzhou, we've rarely had the chance to sit together."

Moved by the scene, Li Shimin also felt some emotion and nostalgia.

Only Li Yuanji felt sour. He was still young at the time and wanted to rely on his father and two older brothers to study under the Prince of Yan, but he failed the entrance test and was decisively rejected.

Therefore, he did not spend much time with Li Shimin and Li Jiancheng from a young age. As he grew older, he took advantage of Li Shimin and Li Jiancheng's status, as well as Li Yuan's status as Duke of Tang and the controller of Taiyuan, and acted tyrannically in Taiyuan. He was flattered everywhere and developed a spoiled and selfish personality from a young age.

The rejection he received when he tried to become an apprentice dealt him a heavy blow. However, his personality, which he had developed since childhood, prevented him from looking for the cause within himself. Instead, he attributed the blame to Li Yuan, Li Shimin, Li Jiancheng, and Prince Yan, Wei Cheng.

He resented Li Yuan for not paying the price to let him become a disciple; otherwise, why could his elder brothers do it, but he couldn't?

He hated Li Shimin and Li Jiancheng, feeling that they had stolen his opportunity. He believed that if it weren't for them, he should have been the one accepted as a personal disciple by the Prince of Yan.

He hated Prince Yan, Wei Cheng. He was so outstanding, why didn't Prince Yan, Wei Cheng, accept him as a disciple?

He even hated his sister, Princess Pingyang. He suffered defeat after defeat on the battlefield, while Princess Pingyang, a mere woman, was able to shine on the battlefield!

All of these should be his! They should all be his!