In the middle of the night, Li Ke was in the king's tent.

Qin Mubai and Li Ke sat opposite each other and played a game of chess. Between raising his hands and feet, Li Ke is very much like Li Shimin. Obviously, there was something in his heart that was disturbing, but there was no trace of joy and anger in his expression. Calm and calm, his face is as heavy as water, and even his eyes are as clear as water, as if he is simply investing in a game of chess.

Qin Mubai often thinks that Li Ke is not very old, and he is in his early twenties. How can it be so mature and steady? Perhaps, it also has a lot to do with the environment in which he grew up.

I once remembered hearing a saying that it only takes one night for a girl to become a woman, and she must succeed; And for a boy to become a man, it needs a thousand times of encouragement.

Li Ke is a concubine who grew up in the palace and has experienced all kinds of troubles and struggles since he was a child. Therefore, at only in his early twenties, he has mature traits that his peers do not have. If it weren't for Qin Mubai's thirty-year-old heart, I'm afraid it would be difficult to communicate with him.

"It's late, Mu Bai, are you sleepy?" Li Ke lightly cast a finger and asked.

Qin Mubai looked at the chessboard and saw that he had already lost. At the end of the chess game, his chess skills have never been as good as Li Ke. And Li Ke has always been very focused in chess, never releasing water or making fakes, which is no different from him doing other serious things.

"If Your Highness is sleepy, I will retire first." Qin Mubai said.

"Nope. Talk to me, just stop playing chess. Li Ke stood up and stretched his limbs, and said, "I never thought that the trip to Jiangzhou would be so eventful. We still underestimate our father, and every move he makes is quite profound. Mu Bai, we are very dangerous at the moment, do you know? ”

"Yes." Qin Mubai said, "If Chen Yan really kills Zhang Tianci...... Then we will ruin the overall situation of Emperor Bu. Disaster is coming. ”

"Yes! Maybe my father will think that we killed Zhang Tianci in order to shirk responsibility and avoid trouble, or that the prince is killing people in order to protect himself, that is also our ineffective work and ruining my father's layout. In short, no matter what, as long as Zhang Tianci dies now, we will be in trouble. Li Ke said, "This chaotic minister and thief is now more precious than anyone else's." ”

Qin Mubai was silent for a moment and said, "Your Highness, there is actually something I have been hiding from you. Originally, I didn't want to tell you, but now in order to reduce your pressure, I'll tell you! ”

"What?" Li Ke asked a little surprised.

Qin Mubai smiled to himself, and told Li Ke about the matter of Cheng Ji. At this point, there is nothing to hide. After all, Li Ke is the person who bears the most pressure, and telling him this kind of thing can reduce his pressure, which is good for his own camp.

Li Ke was stunned for a long time after hearing this, and suddenly stroked his palm and praised: "Wonderful! The prince made a stupid move, but he just completed your wonderful move! Mu Bai, you have done this thing so beautifully, it is simply a stroke of genius! If it were me, it would be really tricky and I didn't know how to deal with this dry foundation! ”

"He must die. When he dies, the crown prince should wake up to the fact that it is now the emperor who is arranging it, and his intention may be aimed at him. If he didn't want to sit back, he should take the initiative to clarify to the emperor that he had nothing to do with the case, or kick Shengnanhou away from him as soon as possible. Qin Mubai said, "In this way, the pressure on His Highness will be much less." The emperor investigated the case of Jiangzhou in order to target the crown prince, but he used His Royal Highness and I as guns, which made us feel quite stressed. Now that the crown prince himself took the initiative to run out and block between the emperor and His Royal Highness, then we will be much easier. ”

"Yes, exactly!" Li Ke took a long breath and slapped his slap and laughed, "You're absolutely right, now I suddenly feel much more relaxed!" In this way, it doesn't matter whether Zhang Tianci is dead or alive! ”

"Not necessarily." Qin Mubai said, "I always feel that there is something wrong with this Chen Yan, it's not as simple as an ordinary revenge for her husband." Since she is so painstakingly trying to kill Zhang Tianci, I am afraid that she has ulterior motives. Has His Highness ever thought that if Zhang Tianci died at this time, who would benefit the most? ”

"This ......" Li Ke twisted his brows slightly, and suddenly his eyes lit up, "You mean to say that behind Zhang Tianci, in addition to the prince, there are other big fish?" ”

"It's hard to say." Qin Mubai said, "Your Highness, think about it, although the crown prince is an extremely hard backstage, he is far away in the capital after all, and he usually doesn't have much time to take care of a small Shengnanhou, although Zhang Tianci is the younger brother of his nurse, and the two are also called uncles." But this relationship has neither blood nor interests as a guarantee, and the distance between the two is one foot apart, that is, they are alienated by a million miles. So I've always suspected that in addition to Zhang Tianci's relationship with the prince on the surface, he also has another backstage to support him! ”

"I am very justified in hearing you say that." Li Ke nodded and said, "A mere marquis, who has neither soldiers nor real power, can be so rampant in Jiangzhou?" Even Cheng Songnian and Ma Kun became famous officials after they took refuge in him. I have to suspect that this person does have some means. ”

"So I have more reason to suspect that Chen Yan wants to kill people. Its purpose is to cover the big fish behind Sheng Nanhou. Qin Mubai frowned lightly and said, "Perhaps, what the emperor really wants to deal with...... Exactly that person? ”

"Oh?!" Li Ke was shocked, and was suddenly a little speechless, and fell into deep thought!

Qin Mubai's heart lit up slightly: Looking at Li Ke's expression, he probably thought of some "important" person, and he already had a clue in his heart. What is worthy of Li Shimin's twists and turns to deal with is definitely not an ordinary person, either a royal family relative or an important minister of the country.

Although it is said that the monarch wants the ministers to die, but to really do it, the emperor also needs a reasonable excuse to cover the mouths of the people. And seeing that Li Shimin's behavior is so secretive, if it is really aimed at a certain courtier, then he probably just wants to take this opportunity to teach a lesson, and he does not really mean to put people to death.

"Mu Bai, it seems that the matter in Jiangzhou will get bigger and bigger......" Li Ke took a long breath and slowly exhaled, shook his head, and said, "I knew this was the case, I might as well have been idle at home and be an idle person." ”

"Your Highness, it seems that you have come up with some clues." Qin Mubai said, "Could it be that behind Sheng Nanhou, there is really another backstage?" ”

"It's just speculation, can't be sure." Li Ke said softly, "If that person is really him...... Well, I really don't want to go any further. ”

"Why?" Qin Mubai asked in surprise. The person who can make Li Ke have such thoughts must be extraordinary.

"Because...... If it was really him, I would rather go to my father and be scolded and punished than shake him out. Li Ke said.

Qin Mubai was speechless for a long time. He never knew who Li Ke respected, who he had the best relationship with, or who was more important in his heart than himself.

"Your Highness, please forgive me for being rude...... Can I know who this person you guess is? Qin Mubai asked.

Li Ke raised his head and looked at the roof of the king's tent in the dim light of the oil lamp, and said leisurely: "The governor of the prefecture, the secretary of the school and the Ministry of Rites, the king of Jiangxia County - my imperial uncle, Li Daozong!" ”

"What?! How can it be! Qin Mubai was really taken aback!

Li Daozong, Li Shimin's cousin, one of the founding fathers of the Tang Dynasty in the Li royal family, is admired by the people of the world for his outstanding military achievements, and even Li Shimin is quite close, trusting and protecting his cousin. A few years ago, in order to cut expenses and accumulate political power in his own hands, Li Shimin greatly reduced the princes of the clan, but instead added food to Li Daozong, the king of Jiangxia.

In the first year of Tang Gaozu Wude, nineteen-year-old Li Daozong became the prince of Luoyang County, and started Zuo Qianniu to prepare himself. In the second year of Wude, the twenty-year-old Li Daozong followed Li Shimin to resist Liu Wuzhou. It was from that battle that Li Daozong began to exert his unparalleled genius in military affairs and became famous in the first battle. He assisted Li Shimin, defeated Song Jingang and Liu Wuyong, recovered Hedong and stabilized Guanzhong, and personally persuaded Chi Jingde, a general under Liu Wuzhou.

After that, Li Daozong and Li Shimin worked together to eliminate the separatist forces of Chi Wang Shichong and Dou Jiande. He came from the Guanlong military aristocratic group, since he was a child, he was skilled in bowing and brave and brave and not afraid of death, and often took the lead with Li Shimin and took the lead in blood, in addition to blood kinship, more is the deep feelings condensed by blood on the battlefield.

In the fifth year of Wude, Tang Gaozu granted Li Daozong the post of head of the Lingzhou Dao march, and finally began to defend the northern half of the Tang Dynasty. At this time, Liang Shidu seized Xiazhou and colluded with the Turks, so that his brother Liang Luoren surrounded Lingzhou where Li Daozong was located with tens of thousands of Turkic soldiers.

In that year, the young Li Daozong was named the king of Rencheng, and since then he has become a famous young hero in the world!

Since then, Li Daozong has been guarding the northern Xinjiang area of Lingzhou all the year round, and has shined in the war with the Turks. A few years ago, together with Li Jing, he pacified the Northern Turks and captured the Jieli Khan, and shined in the war of Tuyuhun in Xiding, marching more than 2,000 miles in the uninhabited bitter cold land with the tactics of light cavalry raids, and catching up with Tuyuhun Fuyun Khan in Wuhai, breaking his crowd......

Regarding Li Daozong's great military exploits, everyone in the Tang Dynasty knows about it. Just this year, Li Daozong had just been renamed the king of Jiangxia County for his merits, awarded the governor of Jinzhou, inspected the school and the Ministry of Rites, and added the seal of Shiyi. Among the royal relatives of the Li family, the prince who is most supported and loved by the people is Li Daozong!

Among all the heroes of the founding fathers of the Tang Dynasty, Li Daozong's reputation and status are also unmatched! If the eldest grandson Wuji is because of nepotism and the special role of the Xuanwu Gate change, he loves Li Shimin's trust and respect the most; Then Li Daozong, the king of Jiangxia, relied on his own strength to win the absolute trust of Li Shimin and the love and support of the subjects of the Tang Dynasty!

……

If the big backstage behind Shengnanhou is the governor of Jinju, Lee Dojong...... Then it's no wonder that Li Ke is so undecided!

"I understand His Highness's feelings." Qin Mubai's mood also became a little solemn, "If it is really the King of Jiangxia, then I am not willing to investigate this case further." Then, I hope that Chen Yan can kill Zhang Tianci's muddy ball tonight, and it's a hundred. ”

"Zhang Tianci, you still can't ......die," Li Ke frowned with a sad face, and said, "Jinzhou is very close to here, and the king of Jiangxia was appointed as the governor of Jinzhou, and he actually controlled all the soldiers and horses in the northern capital Taiyuan. With his fame, qualifications and real power, he can indeed say nothing in this area. If Zhang Tianci suddenly died violently at this time, of course, he would be dead without proof and could not be investigated. But this will only make my father more suspicious, and it is not the best policy. ”

"Your Highness has a point." Qin Mubai nodded. Li Ke's words were vague, in fact, the meaning of his words was that Li Daozong was born in the royal family and had the merit of being a dragon, coupled with his outstanding achievements in battle, and he had a very high reputation among the ministers and the people, Li Shimin, as a king, was afraid of him. If the misunderstanding and suspicion between the two of them are deepened, it will definitely be a huge political disaster.

"My imperial uncle is good at everything else, except for a shortcoming that makes people laugh and cry, everything else is simply perfect." Li Ke said suddenly.

"What is it?"

"Greedy for money." Li Ke shook his head and said, "His greed for money is different from others. Others are greedy for money, just for enjoyment, or to buy a house to marry a wife and concubine, or to buy antiques, treasures, knives and horses. But he didn't do anything, he just liked money. In fact, his life has always been very simple, and it can even be said that he is a little stingy, but he saves all the money as much as possible and does not spend it. ”

"That's a quirk!" Qin Mubai couldn't help laughing and said, "It stands to reason that with his fame and status, he has received a lot of rewards and fiefdoms, plus high-ranking officials and Houlu, there is absolutely no shortage of money to spend." In this way, it has become a hobby like some people who like to collect calligraphy, painting and porcelain. ”

"Not bad. That's what he has with quirks. Li Ke said, "A generation of famous generals and founding fathers have such strange hobbies, and it is really ridiculous to say it." That's why I suddenly thought of him. First of all, the king of Jiangxia can say nothing about the Jinzhou area, and then Jinzhou is so close to Jiangzhou, the third is that he loves money, Zhang Tianci and others are also greedy for money, and the fourth is that Zhang Tianci has a relationship with the prince, which is very convenient to make friends with the royal family...... Mu Bai, if Zhang Tianci's backstage is really the king of Jiangxia, then let's stop there? took down Zhang Tianci by thunderous means, and convicted him of a corrupt king to slaughter officials, first cut and then play. It just so happened that my father also gave me the right to arbitrarily make decisions on the spot. It is far better to kill him with my hand than Zhang Tianci's inexplicable violent death. ”

Qin Mubai was silent for a moment and nodded: "Since Your Highness is so determined, I have nothing to say." It's just that these are just our speculations now, why don't we wait until Chen Yan implements them, and then make a decision? ”

"It's good!"

After a long time, the hundred horsemen who had been sent out to run errands came back.

"Report to His Highness, General, Chen Yan has already brought!"

"Where are the people? Is it dead or alive? Li Ke and Qin Mubai got up together and asked at the same time.

"Alive! It's in the abandoned house in the woods three miles outside Juntun! This woman is fierce and domineering, and refuses to come with us. Out of desperation, we will use force to take it down. The pawn replied.

"Good, great!" Qin Mubai turned his head to Li Ke and said, "Your Highness, don't be impatient, see that I have gone to judge this Chen Yan, everything will naturally be understood!" ”

Li Ke's expression was also a little anxious, and it seemed that he wanted to go. After thinking about it, he pressed it down, nodded and said, "Okay, I'll leave it to you!" ”