Martial Arts: I am in the Ming Cult and I am building a dynasty

Li Shimin was also shocked, and looked at Li Jiancheng with a guilty look. When he was discovered by Li Jiancheng, he hesitated and said, "No, I didn't. Don't talk nonsense, third brother."

"Brother, believe me, I have absolutely no intention of competing with you for power. It's just that since father is not here, all the big and small things in the family are on your shoulders. I just want to share some of the pressure with you."

The more Li Shimin spoke, the more suspicious Li Jiancheng became.

Soon, Li Jiancheng smiled and said, "Don't panic, second brother. I know what you mean. But what you said makes sense. Xiuning's marriage will be arranged by me personally. You have an old grudge with Yang Zhao, so you should not show up for the time being."

Li Yuanji also said with a smug look on his face: "Big brother is right. As the saying goes, king against king, general against general, the negotiation and communication with Yang Zhao still needs to be presided over by big brother."

"Brother, how about I help you communicate with the noble families in the city so that Second Brother doesn't have to work so hard?"

Li Jiancheng felt very happy about Li Yuanji's support.

Moreover, Li Yuanji's overt and covert suppression of Li Shimin made Li Jiancheng trust him even more.

Then, Li Jiancheng said, "It's settled over there. Second brother, you stay at home for a few days, and let third brother handle the communication with the noble families in the city."

"When Yang Zhao relaxes his vigilance and Xiuning whispers something in his ear, I will definitely compensate you after we return to Taiyuan."

Chapter 422 Li Xiuning: Li Shimin, you have no heart

Since ancient times, the true feelings have not been retained, and only the routines have won the hearts of the people.

Li Yuanji's instigation and Li Jiancheng's hypocrisy were all within Li Shimin's expectations.

Li Shimin sneered in his heart, but on the surface he showed a hint of indignation, and he was willing to compromise and said, "In this case, I would like to thank you for your understanding. I have been feeling unwell these days, so I will not get involved in family affairs. Goodbye."

After saying this, Li Shimin left the table in anger. His acting skills were comparable to those of an Oscar winner.

After Li Shimin left in anger, Mrs. Dou felt a little helpless when she saw this scene. She gave Li Jiancheng and Li Yuanji a few words and then took Li Xiuning away.

Before leaving, Li Xiuning turned his head and glanced at Li Jiancheng who looked confident and Li Yuanji who looked excited, but in the end he said nothing and left silently.

The third brother is really smart. After all, the eldest brother underestimated the second brother.

Forget it. What’s the point of reminding me now? I won’t be a member of the Li family soon anyway.

I just hope that my eldest brother and third brother won't be beaten to death or disabled by my second brother in the future.

"Brother, isn't my performance this time very exciting? Is it smart?"

"Third brother is sharp-minded and has good ideas."

"That's just being a human being. Big brother, I'm not bragging to you. In the past, I just acted a little bit carefree. In fact, I just didn't bother to show off. As for the little tricks of second brother, I can't hide them from you at all."

"Very good, very good. From now on, I will rely on you, my third brother, for more help."

"No problem, my brother and I are the closest..."

The words of Li Jiancheng and Li Yuanji were still faintly echoing in Li Xiuning's ears.

After returning to her own show building, Li Xiuning talked with Madam Dou for a while, quickly sent her away, and then looked towards the courtyard on the side of the small building.

Not long after, Li Xiuning saw Li Shimin, dressed in gorgeous clothes, behind a rockery in the side yard.

"Sister!"

"kindness!"

When the two met, there was a moment of silence.

Li Shimin immediately realized that Li Xiuning had seen through all his plans. After a little thought, he changed his strategy again.

For smart people, they cannot be won over by mere words and worthless affection.

We must start from both sincerity and personal interests.

After a brief thought, Li Shimin revealed a long-hidden deep thought, like a hidden dragon in the abyss, and said, "Sister, I know you must have resentment towards Shimin in your heart, but I can only say, sister, this is the best choice for my Li family at the moment."

"Now Chang'an and Guanzhong are in Yang Zhao's hands. With Yang Zhao's understanding of our Li family, he will definitely adopt a strategy of loosening the exterior and tightening the interior, and keep a close eye on our Li family's every move."

"My eldest brother is a magnanimous person, but he lacks the ability to control his subordinates and is shallow-minded. My third brother is so smart..."

"Well, let's not talk about it."

Li Xiuning watched Li Shiming's performance in silence, her eyes as calm as a lake.

Li Shimin raised his eyebrows and continued, "Sister, you know me. I am not the kind of person who is afraid to take responsibility. But you also know that the Sui Dynasty is in turmoil now. My Li family's foundation of hundreds of years is on the edge of a cliff. I can't let the Li family's foundation be destroyed in the hands of my eldest brother and third brother."

At this moment, Li Shimin was sincere and genuine, and indeed showed some of his true feelings.

Li Xiuning was slightly moved, and finally spoke: "What about your plan for mother?"

Li Shimin's heart trembled, and he said expressionlessly: "Although I don't want to admit it, Yang Zhao is indeed a hero. With his vision and mind, at most he would confine my mother to Chang'an, and he would not be rude to her."

"In fact, I pushed my second sister to marry Yang Zhao, and I also wanted to take care of my mother."

Li Xiuning frowned slightly, revealing a hint of bitterness, and said, "So, the final victim from beginning to end was only me, right?"

Faced with Li Xiuning's accusation which sounded almost like mumbling to himself.

Li Shimin soon revealed an expression of indignation, sorrow and sadness, veins bulged on his forehead, and he looked extremely painful.

Li Xiuning had empty eyes and turned a blind eye to it.

Li Shimin was furious, and without using his true Qi, he simply bit his tongue and spat out a mouthful of blood. He looked like he had a serious illness, and said, "Sister, I don't want to, I have no choice, I just have no choice!"

"Sister, do you still remember when we were little? My eldest brother didn't like my limelight, so he teamed up with my third brother and often isolated me. Only sister..."

Li Shimin's voice first sounded like the roar of a wounded beast, and then became hoarse and torn.

Anyone who saw it could see the pain that Li Shimin was feeling deep in his bones.

Even though Li Xiuning was extremely intelligent and knew in her heart that the other party was 70% acting, she still couldn't help being moved and kept deceiving herself.

Noticed Li Xiuning's emotional fluctuations.

Li Shimin suddenly raised his head, his eyes red, and said, "Sister, my Li family has been accumulating strength for hundreds of years, and has long been a thorn in the side of the Sui and Yang imperial families. From Emperor Wen of Sui, to Yang Guang, and then to Yang Zhao, they have all been extremely wary of my Li family. Whenever possible, they will push my Li family into the abyss and exterminate the entire family."

"But you and I must admit that Yang Zhao is a great man of his time, and he is quite affectionate and kind to women. Otherwise, even if I die, I will never push my sister to marry Yang Zhao."

"When aristocratic families quarrel, there is no real difference between life and death."

"Sister's marriage to Yang Zhao is also a way out for our Li family. No matter who wins or loses in the future, Sister will be in the middle and can play a key role."

Li Xiuning suppressed all his emotions, looked at Li Shimin, and said, "Are you using me as a spy?"

Li Xiuning was too smart. Even though her emotions were greatly affected, she was able to perceive Li Shimin's intentions and schemes at the first moment.

Li Shimin lowered his head slightly, then suddenly raised it, revealing a domineering look, and said: "Sister, you must remember that you are the legitimate daughter of the Li family. You shoulder the lives of the entire Li family and hundreds of years of inheritance."

"If you believe me, when I conquer the Sui and Yang world, I will spare Yang Zhao's life for my sister's sake, and let him live a prosperous life from now on."

"But if Yang Zhao wins, can you guarantee that Yang Zhao will spare the lives of all members of my Li family?"

Looking at Li Shimin's domineering temperament and listening to his words.

Li Xiuning laughed for no reason. The sweeter the smile, the more bitter her heart was. She said, "Erlang, you have grown up. Just as Taoist Yuan said before, you are a natural emperor. You have no heart."

Chapter 423: Imperial Persuasion

The emperor is ruthless and has no sincerity.

No matter how well Li Shimin's performance was, no matter how moving and sympathetic it was, once his true intentions were revealed, his ruthless decision would chill people to the bone.

Li Shimin not only wanted to treat Li Xiuning as a sacrifice, but also wanted to squeeze out all her value.

There is no doubt that as long as Li Xiuning can really marry into Yang Zhao's mansion, with Li Xiuning's ability, she will be able to collect many secrets of Yang Zhao's side, more or less.

The beauty trap is old-fashioned, but it has always been effective from ancient times to the present.

This is an eternal conspiracy that directly targets people's desires.

But Li Shimin never thought about whether Li Xiuning would fall in love with Yang Zhao after marrying him, or whether she would be criticized or treated coldly.

If Li Xiuning had fallen in love with Yang Zhao, then every time she sold out information about Yang Zhao's side, she would be stabbing him in the heart and would be a betrayal of Yang Zhao.

If Li Xiuning had not been attracted to Yang Zhao, she would not have dared to imagine what kind of dirty, dark, pitiful and tragic female spy she would have become.

"Think about it carefully. Everything you have was given by the Li family, including your life."

"Without the Li family, you will just be a lonely ghost."

"All men in the world are the same, especially a tyrant like Yang Zhao. You don't think that after you get married, he will give you his true heart, do you?"

"Women have always been men's vassals since ancient times."

"But if you are the daughter of the Li family, it will be different. As long as you conquer the world, you will be one of the most noble women in the world, and you will have thousands of choices..."

"Do you think I have no affection for my sister? No, I just have no choice..."

Li Shimin's coming and going did not alarm anyone.

Only words like devilish sound piercing the ears were left, lingering in Li Xiuning's mind.

The Li family's backyard soon became quiet again.

Within two days, a piece of news that shocked the entire Chang'an City and even the entire Guanzhong area began to spread rapidly.

On the second day after Wei Wentong, Zuo Tiancheng, Shang Shitu, Song Laosheng, Qu Tutong and others returned to Beijing to report on their work, Li Jiancheng, the eldest son of the Li family, one of the four major families of the Sui Dynasty, went to the Sui Palace to meet Yang Zhao in a grand manner.

Then, that afternoon, the news of Yang Zhao's marriage to Li Xiuning, the eldest daughter of the Li family, spread throughout the city.

After learning the news, people like Zhangsun Wuji, Yin Shishi, Gao Ying, Dugu Feng, Yuan Shu, and Wei Yuanzhao were invited to a banquet by Yang Zhao that night.

In fact, Changsun Wuji, Yin Shishi and others were already very anxious.

The Sui Imperial Palace, night.

The deep-sea fish oil in the glazed lampshade flickered continuously, illuminating the entire Wenhua Hall.

When entering the palace, eating is not the purpose.

Changsun Wuji, Yin Shishi, Gao Ying and others were more afraid that Yang Zhao would be deceived by the Li family and make a wrong decision.

You know, the situation under Yang Zhao is very good at this stage.

The city of Chang'an has been completely put in order and is quite stable. If it were not for the need to guard against unusual movements by the powerful families in the city, the entire capital would not even need too many troops to guard it.

At the same time, after Wei Wentong, Zuo Tiancheng, Shang Shitu, Song Laosheng, Qu Tutong and others surrendered the fortress defense line, the entire Guanzhong was as stable as a mountain. With 100,000 Great Snow Dragon Cavalry, 100,000 Zuo Yiwei troops, and more than 100,000 defenders in the four border areas, they could completely withstand Yang Guang's million-strong army.

If something happened to Yang Zhao at this time, it would be enough to make everyone cry to death on the spot.

Beauty traps and beautiful women being the root of troubles have happened in history.

Li Xiuning's beauty and intelligence are extremely famous throughout the entire Chang'an City, not to mention the Li family behind her, who have never been a good family.

Changsun Wuji, Yin Shishi and others were really scared, in case Yang Zhao had already made plans.

That scene is simply unimaginable.

Just when Changsun Wuji, Yin Shishi and others were feeling uneasy, Yang Zhao finally came to the Wenhua Palace with a large group of beautiful girls.

"It's Concubine Yuan, and the Prince of Zhongxiao, the Duke of Qi, and the Duke of Song."

"Oh my God, didn't Prince Zhongxiao and his men already..."

"Don't talk nonsense. I will come forward to welcome you."

Yang Zhao's confidants, such as Zhangsun Wuji, Yin Shishi, Gao Ying, Dugu Feng, Yuan Shu and others, are talented, have good family backgrounds and abilities, but if compared with the nine elders who founded the Sui Dynasty, they are really nothing.

With the appearance of King Zhongxiao Wu Jianzhang, Duke of Qi Gao Zuo, and Duke of Song He Ruobi, Changsun Wuji and others even forgot the purpose of their trip for a moment.

On the contrary, Yang Zhao's mother, Yuanshi, as the former Crown Princess, was not allowed to approach, and was served by Zhangsun Wugou, Yin Xiaoniang, Wanwan, Song Yuhua and others.

There was a lively exchange of greetings.

After three rounds of wine and five dishes, even Yuanshi left with the escort of Changsun Wuji, Yin Xiaoniang and others. Only then did Changsun Wuji and others remember the purpose of their trip.

"Your Highness, today the Princess Yuan and Prince Zhongxiao have returned. We should not have given advice at this time, but the Li family is treacherous. They took the initiative to form a marriage alliance this time. There must be some conspiracy. We must be on guard."

"Yes, Your Highness, everyone knows what the Li family is up to. Please think twice."

"Your Highness, the daughter of the Li family cannot be trusted. If Your Highness needs anything, my Dugu family's Fenghuang'er is no worse than the daughter of the Li family."

"Damn, Dugu Feng, are you sure you came here to advise me? How dare you sneak away?"

After Changsun Wuji, Yin Shishi and the others remembered the purpose of their trip, they quickly spoke up together and tried to persuade Yang Zhao in various ways.

Regarding the Li family and Li Xiuning, everyone present had a highly unified opinion.

Sincerity is not credible.

After everyone had been talking for a while, Yang Zhao raised his hand to silence everyone and said, "I know what you are thinking. Please rest assured that I am not confused at all and am quite clear-headed."