Li Ke had lunch in Penglai Palace, and was about to return to the Shu Palace, when he just left the palace gate, he saw the housekeeper of the Ganlu Hall trotting forward.

As soon as Xiao Fang approached, he was still panting, so he saluted and said, "King Shu, I can find you." ”

"Xiao Fang, what's the matter? This day is so poisonous, you run like this. Aunt Yue on the side asked.

"It's Your Majesty who wants to see the King of Shu. Xiao Fang said breathlessly.

"Isn't Your Majesty discussing matters in the Ganlu Palace?" Li Ke frowned, he was unwilling to participate in this matter, and his father should understand. At this time, what do you mean by looking for him?

"Back to the King of Shu, Your Majesty is discussing in the Ganlu Palace. Xiao Fang was still panting.

Qingyun on the side handed over a large cup of tea, and Xiao Fang took a big sip. Concubine Yang Shu's heart also became nervous, she was afraid that His Majesty would let Li Ke go to investigate the affairs of Jiannan Dao, so she couldn't care about Ping Suli's low-key, and hurriedly asked: "Xiao Fang, do you know what to let the King of Shu do?"

"Back to Niangniang, Your Majesty's thoughts, how can the slave and maid know?" Xiao Fang said embarrassedly.

"Then Your Majesty is announcing that I will go to the Manna Palace?" Li Ke asked.

Xiao Fang shook his head and said, "Your Majesty asked the slave maid to find the King of Shu, and asked the King of Shu to go to the East Palace to wait for him to have lunch together." The slave maid thought that the king of Shu had returned to the palace of the king of Shu, and went to run away, and the housekeeper said that the king of Shu did not go back, either went to the Yang family's six-room mansion to visit the nine girls, or went to the palace to see the mother. ”

Li Ke understood this, and said: "Xiao Fang, this was originally my mistake, you don't have to worry about blaming." ”

"What did the King of Shu say? It was a mistake by the slave and maid, and they didn't send anyone to inquire in advance, so they went to the Shu Wangfu in vain. Xiao Fang's breath is evenly proportioned at this moment.

"Xiao Fang, if you are running around like this, maybe Your Majesty has gone to the East Palace. Qingyun said with a smile.

"Exactly. Just now Xiao Peng said that His Majesty had set off for the East Palace. Today, Your Majesty is not happy, and the slave and maid can't do this trivial matter, and you have to annoy Your Majesty. He also invited the king of Shu to go to the East Palace with the slave maid. Xiao Fang bowed.

"Okay. Li Ke waved his hand, and then walked out of Penglai Hall with Xiao Fang.

Xiao Fang originally sent someone to put the soft sedan outside, Li Ke smiled and said: "I'm not a princess, Niangniang's, do you still need a soft sedan chair?" Xiao Fang, let's walk over, you have to keep up with my footsteps." ”

"No. As soon as Xiao Fang's words fell, he saw that the King of Shu had walked far away.

He trotted to keep up, but he couldn't keep up. The King of Shu was obviously just walking, and he trotted a long distance. He couldn't help but admire in his heart: This Shu King's kung fu is really good.

Penglai Hall and the East Palace are not very far away, Li Ke's feet are very fast, and after a while, he arrived at the gate of the East Palace. Xiao Fang trotted all the way, and was already too tired to speak.

The steward of the East Palace came out to greet Li Ke. Li Ke asked, "Has Your Majesty arrived?"

"Your Majesty has just arrived, and you are playing chess with the crown prince. The steward replied.

Li Ke nodded, looked at Xiao Fang on the side again, and said to the person in charge: "I'm afraid that Xiao Fang Sheren is tired today, and you are so entertained." ”

"It's nature. The steward nodded repeatedly.

Li Ke didn't say anything more, and went straight to the main hall. The main hall was quiet, and there was no one in sight. He was stunned for a moment, and then thought that Li Chengqian and Ping Suri stayed in the study in the East Palace. That study is really his world. It's just that he didn't expect him to receive his father in the study.

"King Shu, the prince and His Majesty are playing chess in the study. The steward panted and said. He was the steward of the East Palace, and he also had some skills, but he found that he was only a little delayed, and the King of Shu arrived in the main hall.

"Well, I'll go for myself, you go and get busy. Li Ke waved at him.

How dare the steward really take care of himself, he hurriedly shook his head and said, "The prince ordered the little one to wait for His Highness at the door, and it was a small dereliction of duty." ”

"It's okay, you lead the way. Li Ke's tone was calm and gentle.

The steward received the order and said yes again and again. Li Ke didn't care, and just followed him to the prince's study. The Prince's study is in a separate quadripartite courtyard. The courtyard is surrounded by towering trees and birds chirping, but the surroundings seem quite quiet.

Under the trees are low shrubs and flowers, but the varieties are less flowering than Penglai Palace. The guards were outside the quadrangular courtyard of the study, guarding.

The steward walked in front of Li Ke to lead the way, and saw that the emperor's personal attendant sitting at the door was also short and saluted. The chamberlain hurriedly stood up, saluted the steward of the East Palace, and then saluted Li Ke solemnly, and said with a smile: "King Shu, Your Majesty has been waiting for a long time. ”

Li Ke just nodded to him, and then entered the door of the study of the East Palace. Li Chengqian made this independent quadrangular courtyard a place for him to study and study. This courtyard is also set up with a gate and two gates. Pingsuri, it is his personal guards guarding the gate and the second gate, and they are responsible for the cleaning and sprinkling of the academy.

After entering the gate, passing the second gate, and crossing the high threshold, there is the courtyard of the study. There is a tall laurel tree in the courtyard, a tall pomegranate tree full of flower bones, and there are several large vats in the courtyard, in which the lotus leaves are green, and there are koi swimming in it.

Under the eaves of the verandah in the four directions, there are a lot of mats, a few cases for reading, and a few for eating tea, which is quite chic. This time, as soon as Li Ke stepped through the second gate, he saw his father and the prince setting up a table under the laurel tree, and they were sitting in a game.

Watching chess without saying a word, a true gentleman!

Li Ke didn't dare to disturb the two, so he walked over slowly, stood still on the side, and did not disturb the two.

On the chessboard, you come and go, and most of it has been played. On the chess table, Li Chengqian has been besieged and forced to retreat. Li Shimin pinched a sunspot and waited for Li Chengqian to fall in his spare time.

Li Chengqian had no distractions, and after thinking for a long time, he left a son. The whole chessboard came alive again, and the situation on the chessboard was reversed in an instant.

Li Shimin laughed: "Chengqian's chess skills have improved a lot.

"It's my father's order. Li Chengqian said very respectfully.

Li Shimin threw aside the sunspot in his hand and said, "Since Ke'er is here, I won't go down today, and the three of us will talk together." ”

"Yes. Li Chengqian stood up respectfully.

Li Ke immediately stepped forward and saluted his father and brother.

"My father and son don't need to be polite. Li Shimin waved his hand very casually, looked at the sky, and said, "The weather is good today, and my father and son are sitting here." ”

"Yes. Li Chengqian and Li Ke replied in unison, and then brought a mat and sat respectfully in front of Li Shimin.

Li Shimin asked Li Ke if he could eat, and he was hungry when he came to the East Palace, so he didn't wait for him, and went straight to eat with the prince. Li Ke hurriedly replied that he had just gone to Penglai Hall to see his mother, and he had already used it.

Li Shimin nodded, and in this courtyard, he cut directly to the topic very seriously and said, "Ke'er, your eldest brother told me about you and your eldest brother." ”

Li Ke couldn't help but look at the prince, Li Chengqian nodded with a smile, and said: "In the past, we hid it because we were afraid that our father would be distracted; But after you were impeached and labeled as a rebel, my brother felt that I should tell my father about what happened between us. Don't let your father bother, and at the critical moment, your father trusts you and trusts me in order to keep you and me. ”

"The eldest brother has considered it carefully and is very grateful to my younger brother. Li Ke gave up his hand to Li Chengqian.

"Third brother, don't say such things. Since childhood, we have been like-minded and have guarded our families side by side. Now, although I am the crown prince, I am still your eldest brother, and at all times, it is necessary to protect my younger brother. Li Chengqian said very sincerely.

"Thank you, big brother. Li Ke looked at Li Chengqian's sincere eyes, and his heart fluctuated.

In his previous life, he was not close to Li Chengqian. didn't have too much friendship, because of Gao Yang, he knew a thing or two about Li Chengqian in his previous life, but he only knew that he had a perverse personality. And in this life, everything is different.

First of all, Li Chengqian was not born in the Chengqian Hall like in his previous life, let alone born during the Wude period. Just as his birth date was advanced, even Li Chengqian was born before the official birth of the Tang Dynasty. At that time, his grandfather had not yet raised the army, his grandfather was still an emperor, and his mother was still a princess of the Sui Dynasty. Li Chengqian was born in a small house in Taiyuan, and soon after, about the fifteenth year of the Great Cause, he was also born.

At that time, the Sui Dynasty was already in jeopardy. Her mother foresaw the defeat of the Sui Dynasty and received instructions from her grandmother, implying that she had nothing to do with the Yang family, and that it was best for her to serve her husband wholeheartedly. So, the mother sincerely worshiped the Buddha and was willing to hand over the position of the main wife to the eldest grandson. But no matter what life the eldest grandson is, he is a generous and kind person, and treats his mother and him very well.

Cheng Qian is a child taught by the eldest grandson. Unlike in the previous life, Cheng Qian in this life was not born as the son of King Qin from the beginning, but only counted as the eldest son of a rich and noble family. Sanfang has been bullied by other rooms, he is sensible early, and he has truly inherited the goodness of the eldest grandson. He often regarded himself as an elder brother, and when he encountered danger, he stood in front of his family as soon as possible.

Li Ke was assassinated and pushed into the pond, and after he became seriously ill, Li Chengqian paid special attention to whether someone had assassinated him. There were several times when I met Li Jiancheng's children to provoke. Li Chengqian directly blocked in front of him and comforted him: "Third brother, don't be afraid, there is an eldest brother to protect you." ”

There have been many times like this, and Li Ke's heart has softened a little, thinking that this life is different. In his previous life, Li Chengqian's fate was tragic. Now, he is so good to himself, he voted for me with papaya, and repaid him with Qiongju. Now that you know where his fate is going, let's help him.

In this way, when facing the provocation and bullying of his cousins again, Li Ke stood by his side and fought side by side with him. Over time, the relationship between the brothers became deeper and deeper, and Li Ke also intentionally or unintentionally dialed it to pave the way for him.

At that time, he thought: As long as he finds Ah Zi. On the other hand, he wants to keep his family, and he also wants to protect Li Chengqian, the prince of the Tang Dynasty, and make him the undisputed emperor of the world.

He respected Li Chengqian and secretly protected him. Li Chengqian also treated him very well. What's even more commendable is that even if he becomes the crown prince, he has been thinking about keeping him.

Therefore, seeing Li Chengqian's sincere eyes and expression, the "thank you, big brother" was really heartfelt.

"Third brother, don't see outside. Li Chengqian was a little unhappy.

Li Shimin looked at the pair of children from the side, and often breathed a sigh of relief. The palms and backs of these hands are full of meat.

In the past, he often worried that the two children he liked would follow his own path because of power.

Therefore, he often beat Li Ke, intentionally or unintentionally testing Li Ke, thinking that if he found a sign, he would kill him as soon as possible, so as to protect him; for Cheng Qian, he consciously or unintentionally emphasized that he was a man at home, the eldest son, and he should protect his family and younger brothers and sisters, and that he would be the prince of the world and the future son of heaven outside and protect the people of the Tang Dynasty.

Now, he found that his worries were unwarranted. Looking at the child I love so much, I feel really comfortable.

"Obey the will of the eldest brother. Li Ke still saluted.

Li Chengqian waved his hand and said with a smile: "Third child, don't pretend." I've told my father all about your. You're not usually like that with me. ”

Li Ke obviously didn't expect Li Chengqian to say so carefully, and he also let out an "ah" in surprise, and looked at his father very embarrassed. Li Shimin laughed and said, "You two brothers, it's very interesting." ”

"Father. Li Ke drooped his head, and didn't forget to stare at Li Chengqian secretly, meaning why didn't you tell me about this earlier.

"What is the father of the emperor, just call the father here. Li Shimin was very relieved and in a good mood.

"Yes, father. Li Ke shouted.

Li Shimin didn't say anything else, and said directly: "Ke'er, I asked you to come here today because I wanted to hear the opinions of your two brothers. ”

"Yes. When the two brothers heard this, they knew that their father had something important to discuss, and they couldn't help but sit upright.

Li Shimin looked at the expressions and gestures of the two, nodded approvingly, and then said: "Gao Shilian collected the evidence, asked Wei Zheng to bring it in, and participated in a book, involving large and small military officers of Jiannan Province and Shannan Province. This time there was a wide range of things that I didn't expect. If this matter is not handled properly, it is afraid of causing a mutiny in Shuzhong. But this matter is actually an opportunity, just to clean up the army and officialdom in Shuzhong. ”

"Exactly. Li Chengqian nodded, and Li Ke also nodded in agreement.

"It's just that I don't know what my father's plans are, and who will be sent to investigate and sort it out?" asked Li Chengqian.

"This matter is Wei Zheng's substitution for Gao Shilian, and the person in charge of the investigation must have Wei Zheng. Secondly, since it is the army and officialdom, there must be officials from the Ministry of Officials and the Ministry of War. Tuyuhun has not moved his troops recently, and I want to send Chai Shao over to guard the town and let the old general Cheng Zhijie participate in investigating this matter. The old general Cheng Zhijie is jealous and hateful, not afraid of power, but careful. With him, the people around him dare not make a mistake. In addition, Dali Temple should also intervene. Li Shimin first talked about the regular candidates.

"Father was thoughtful. These people are all important ministers of the court, and most of them are leading the army, and they have a high prestige in the army. With them to deal with it, we will definitely be able to stabilize the morale of the army and thoroughly investigate the matter. Li Chengqian hurriedly nodded in approval.

Li Shimin did not answer Li Chengqian, but continued: "Chengqian, although this matter is risky, it is also an excellent opportunity for experience. After thinking twice for my father, I feel that this time the investigation will be led by you. ”