Tai Chi Palace.

Li Zhi took small light steps and quietly walked into the Manna Palace.

Li Shimin was lying on the bed in the side hall, with a square scarf on his head, his face was haggard, and his eyes were deep. His Majesty the Heavenly Khan, who was high-spirited and fierce at the beginning, has now become an old man who has run out of oil and dried up.

Li Zhi looked at Li Shimin's appearance, his eyes couldn't help but turn red, but he forced out a smile and knelt down in front of Li Shimin.

"The son visits his father."

Li Shimin opened his eyes with great difficulty, and when he saw that it was Li Zhi, he couldn't help but smile.

"The pheasant slave is here, get up quickly, and sit down beside me......"

Chang Tu, who was waiting on the side of the bed, hurriedly stretched out his hand, helped Li Shimin up, and made him half-lying.

Li Zhi looked at his father, and said in a choked voice: "Father...... Are you feeling better? ”

Li Shimin smiled and sighed: "I'm afraid it won't work, illness is like a mountain, even if I am the Son of Heaven, it is difficult to disobey the will of heaven to reincarnate." ”

"My father was not worried, he was in a cheerful mood, and the illness went quickly. Erchen heard today that Sun Simiao and Sun Lao Immortal had returned from a wandering, and Erchen had sent someone to take him into the palace to diagnose his father's condition. ”

Li Shimin said with a smile: "My illness, the imperial doctors have already seen it many times, and the imperial doctor has ordered Liu Shenwei to be the descendant disciple of Sun Lao Immortal, and even he has no way, even if Sun Lao Immortal comes in person, I am afraid it will be in vain." ”

Li Zhi cried: "No, Sun Simiao is a fairy-like figure, the disciple has no way, the master must have a way......"

Li Shimin sighed: "Medicine doctors don't die of disease, my body, I know it myself, why lie to myself again, it's not ridiculous...... Don't talk about this, after I returned from the Eastern Crusade, I can't afford to take care of political affairs, and the internal and external affairs of the country are handed over to you and the princes of the three provinces, how is the pheasant slave handling political affairs these days? Is there any hesitation? ”

Li Zhi shook his head and choked up: "Uncle Eldest Sun and Fang Xiang, Chu Xiang, they all do their best to help their sons, even if they don't understand something, they will patiently explain, explain for their sons, and discuss the future together." ”

Li Shimin listened carefully, and then smiled with relief: "They are all important ministers of the auxiliary government left to you by me, the pheasant slaves should treat them well in the future, don't make them unkind, and cool the heart of the loyal ministers, and don't reward too much, and make the courtiers have a contemptuous heart, which is proportionate, you should take care of it, how to control the subordinates, this is also a university question, the pheasant slave is still young, you have a lifetime to slowly explore, maybe you will make mistakes, maybe you will make mistakes in the handling of state decrees, and even maybe you will kill the virtuous by mistake, these don't matter, As long as the bones of the society are not touched, any mistakes made by the emperor will have a chance to make up for it, and it will still be full of praise in the future history. ”

Li Zhi looked solemn and wrote down Li Shimin's words one by one.

After a period of silence, Li Zhi said again: "Father, Fang Xiang also reported illness a few days ago, I heard that he was seriously ill, Erchen personally went to visit Fang Fu yesterday, Fang Xiang was lying on the sickbed, it was difficult to get up, and after coming back, the imperial doctor said to Erchen, Fang Xiang's illness, I am afraid ...... It's hard to heal either. ”

Li Shimin's expression was sad, his eyes gradually filled with tears, and he said, "Xuan Ling is also ...... Alas, he has worked hard all his life, and I have his help to have this rule of chastity, and the old brothers of the past have left me one after another, and I am almost ......"

Closing his eyes sadly, Li Shimin's lips trembled, and he muttered: "The things before and after death, the name after death, the name of a generation is buried in the loess, the history can be full of paper and incense, Xuanling does not live up to me, does not live up to the world, does not live up to this life, and is good." ”

Li Zhi cried and said: "Father, take care of yourself, don't worry too much, you are His Majesty the Heavenly Khan respected by all nations, your sons are still young, you don't understand anything, and you still expect your father to teach you more, you must get better soon......"

Li Shimin smiled bitterly: "I don't want to die young, I still have many unfulfilled wishes, Goguryeo, Tubo, Nanzhao, and the six tribes of the Yan Dynasty who have formed a mortal enmity with me...... There are too many enemies for me to conquer them, too many battles for me to wave the banner, but after all, destiny will not be violated......"

Looking at Li Zhi deeply, Li Shimin said slowly: "What I left to you are loyal ministers and good looks, the eldest grandson Wuji, Chu Suiliang, Kong Yingda and others, their political opinions are often inconsistent with me, but I trust them more, for the monarch, you can't act according to your own likes and dislikes, the court must tolerate different opinions, not only to give the world a broad-minded imperial reputation, but more importantly, they can think of many places that they can't think of, with them in the court, they can always remind the king to be cautious in words and deeds, and fill in the gaps for the emperor, When Wei Zheng was alive, he couldn't give me ten thousand advices, even if he often made me angry half to death, and killed him more than a hundred times, but I didn't move him after all, the reason is because I knew that they were all loyal ministers, and they went to the rebellious letter not for their own promotion, but for the world, for our Li surname Jiangshan, they are an important force restricting the monarchy......"

"After the pheasant slave ascends the throne in the future, the court will also promote a group of ministers like Wei Zheng who are not afraid of the monarch's authority, you must treat them as guests, not to be contemptuous, even if the courtiers are unpleasant, you will be angry in your heart, and you must not easily punish the crime because of your words, otherwise it will hurt the hearts of the courtiers and scholars in the world, and there will be more crimes, and slowly no one will dare to advise you, so countless pairs of eyes will look at you like this, even if you make a big mistake, they will not speak out again, and in the long run, the country will perish."

Li Zhi lowered his head and said respectfully: "Erchen remember the teachings of his father. ”

After talking for a while, Li Shimin's expression was a little tired, and his breathing became short.

Li Zhi stepped forward to rub Li Shimin's chest lightly, and said: "Father and Emperor are unwell, let's rest first, and when Father and Emperor are better, my son will come to ask for advice on governing the country." ”

Li Shimin closed his eyes and said, "The pheasant slave came today, do you have something to say?" ”

Li Zhi was silent for a moment and said, "The son is indeed in trouble, but your body is ...... father."

"It's okay, tell me, what's wrong with you?"

Li Zhi said in a low voice: "It's about Li Su." ”

"What's wrong with Li Su?" The corners of Li Shimin's mouth hooked, and he said, "Could it be that he is in trouble again?" ”

Li Zhi also smiled and said, "It's a disaster, but this disaster was broken down as early as the ninth year of Zhenguan, and today is over." ”

Li Shimin seemed to be aware of it, his eyes suddenly opened, and a sharp light flashed in his haggard and tired eyes.

"Tell me more."

Li Zhi hesitated for a moment, and said: "Li Su led Erchen to Chang'an East City today, saying that he wanted to give Erchen a gift, on the street of Dongshi, Li Su asked Erchen to mention a few things that he wanted to know but couldn't know, and Erchen mentioned it, and everything was answered within an hour of incense......

Li Zhi told the story of what happened in Dongshi today, and Li Shimin listened silently, and his expression became more and more complicated.

After Li Zhi finished speaking, Li Shimin still didn't say a word, and his expression was unpredictable.

Li Zhi looked at his expression worriedly, and said cautiously: "Listen to Li Su, Father, you ...... You should know about this, right? ”

Li Shimin nodded: "I do know, I already knew it when Zhenguan was ten years old. ”

"This matter is indeed Li Su's mistake, but Erchen thinks that Li Su secretly cultivated such a force, its original intention was not to target the imperial court, but for the sake of Dongyang Imperial Sister, he purely wanted to protect himself, hoping that this force could help him and the imperial sister get a good result, and it had nothing to do with the imperial army, in fact, he did not use this force in his hands to interfere in state affairs......"

Li Shimin snorted and said, "His original intention, I naturally know it, otherwise do you think I will allow the existence of his force and be indifferent?" If he had shown the slightest revolt, I would have put him to death! ”

Li Zhi said with a smile: "Father is wise, in fact, this force is finally quietly in the hands of his father, and his father has placed people in it, and Li Su also knows that he has completely abandoned it in the past few years, and has never used it again, and Li Su cultivated it at the beginning, which can only be regarded as a young and frivolous and ignorant move......"

Li Shimin turned his head to look at him and said, "The pheasant slave has done too obviously to explain Li Su back and forth. ”

Li Zhi's face turned red and said with a smile: "Even if the son doesn't excuse him, his father asks himself if he is willing to kill him?" Li Su is a capable minister with a belly of mysterious and unpredictable ability, and his son will reuse him in the future, and ask his father to leave a show for his son, don't pursue Li Su's crime, okay? ”

Li Shimin said meaningfully: "If there is one, there are two, do you dare to guarantee that Li Su will not hide from you in the future to create another force?" There is such a force under the nose of the Son of Heaven that is not controlled by the emperor, do you know what the consequences will be? ”

Li Zhi said with a serious expression: "Erchen can guarantee that Li Su will not make the same mistake again." ”

"Why? What can you vouch for? By your friendship with him? ”

"With his Li Su is not an ambitious person, his father was willing to reuse him at the beginning, and made an exception to promote him to the county prince at a young age, doesn't he also value his lack of ambition? A person without ambition, no matter what emperor will be happy to reuse, in fact, Li Su has never disappointed his father, and Erchen believes that Li Su in the future will not disappoint Erchen, since he is a national scholar, Erchen should be treated as a national scholar. ”

Li Shimin closed his eyes and sighed: "Pheasant slave, first of all, regardless of friendship, only about the monarch and ministers, from the perspective of the monarch and ministers, you plead for a friend today, and put the safety of the society second, this is very unwise, such a mistake, you are only allowed to make this once, I don't want to hear you intercede for anyone in the future, even if you plead, you should stand in the perspective of the pros and cons of the family and the country, not friendship, understand?" ”

Li Zhi should be awe-inspiring.

Li Shimin pondered for a moment and said: "Li Su is a talent, and he is very smart, from the fact that he gave this force to you completely and unreservedly, it can be seen that this sub-committee really knows how to seek good fortune and avoid evil, such a talent, no matter what adversity he is in, must have full ability to protect himself." …… That's it, I have been tacitly with him in the past few years, and he solved this matter in this way, which can be regarded as perfect, I will forgive him for this experience, he has made so many contributions to my Tang Dynasty, so let him make this mistake......"

Li Shimin said, his eyes suddenly opened, his extremely sharp gaze stared at Li Zhi, and said slowly: "But pheasant slave, you have to remember that such a mistake can only be allowed to make this once, only once!" And this time, he has used up the quota, if he hides from you in the future, no matter what his original intentions are, no matter whether he threatens the imperial power or not, you must kill him! Because if the same mistake is made the second time, such a person is no longer worthy of trust, nor is it worth reusing, and there will be misfortune in using it, and only by removing it will be forever in the future, pheasant slave, remember my words, only this once! ”

"Sheji and friends, sometimes you can only choose one of them, if you don't want to be a dead country, you don't want me to be blind under the nine springs, no matter how deep your friends are, you still have to kill when you should kill the killer, the words 'lonely and widowed' are not unreasonable, three or five years later, the pheasant slave will be able to understand the meaning of these four words, at that time, you don't need others to remind you of anything, you yourself know how to be a wise and good emperor."

Li Zhi nodded again and again, and his expression was serious.

Li Shimin sighed lightly and said: "Li Su is just one person, and I don't have to worry about it, what I am most worried about now is the courtiers of the full palace that the pheasant slave will face after he ascends the throne in the future, and ...... Guanlongmen valve and Shandong Shi clan. These are the big troubles of Datang Sheji! ”

Li Zhi raised his head in confusion and said, "Erchen knows that my father has deliberately suppressed the Guanlongmen valve over the years, but the Shandong Shi clan ...... Didn't my father always use the Shandong Shi clan to balance the Guanlongmen valve? Why have even they become a big trouble for Datang? ”

Li Shimin smiled bitterly: "Supporting the Shandong Shi clan to check and balance the Guanlong Gate Valve, is a temporary measure that I have to do, whether it is the Gate Valve or the Shi Clan, they are all cannibals, if the Gate Valve declines in the future, and the Shi Clan rises up, aren't those Shi Clans the second Guanlong Gate Valve?" These gatekeepers and nobles were powerful in the local area. The people only know the clan of the gate lords, but they don't know that there is a court, such a powerful family, as the emperor, can you rest assured? Only by suppressing and weakening them one by one, whether it is the gate valve or the scholars, we must let them be honest and let the people of the world know that this country is our surname Li has the final say, so that our imperial power can be considered stable. ”

Li Zhi was puzzled: "But...... How can we weaken the power and influence of the gate lords and the nobles? ”

Li Shimin said slowly: "There is only one way, and that is the imperial examination." Pheasant slave, you must be in the future to promote the imperial examination, the court should be selected from the poor households, so as to completely avoid the influence of the gate lord clan on the court, the cold men of the scholars into the court to participate in politics, the interests of the Tang Dynasty are their interests, not the interests of the family in the first place, in this way, the country can be prosperous, and the prosperity can be expected. ”

Li Shimin sighed gloomily and said: "These measures are the methods that I have thought about for many years to come up with, but I am no longer able to implement them, and the next thing depends on your means, most of the courtiers are from the gate valve or the scholar clan, so they can only be cut slowly, and gradually reuse some of the poor scholars who do not have the background of the gate valve clan, and slowly eliminate those old ministers who are branded as door valves, and at the same time, we must also prevent those poor scholars from forming a friend party after entering the court, otherwise it will be a big trouble, in short, the emperor's mental trick is nothing more than ' Check and balance', grasp the balance in the court, there will be no crisis in the country, and after decades or even hundreds of years, the gate valve and the scholar clan may disappear in the court. ”

"Yes, Erchen remembered."

Li Shimin hesitated for a moment, and then said: "In fact, those old ministers I left to you, such as your uncle and grandson Wuji, as well as Chu Suiliang, Kong Yingda and others, they also have a deep gate valve brand, which can be used, but they must be used with reservations, I am worried that in the future, the old ministers will bully you when you are young and despise you, if it is more serious, it may be empty of you, if there is really that day, you still have to start when you should start, you don't have to care about any family and old friendship, when you become an emperor, as long as you care about one thing in your heart, that is, the imperial power is in hand, and the imperial power is the most important, The rest can be thrown. ”

Li Zhi looked up in surprise and looked at Li Shimin blankly, obviously this cold and ruthless words made him very uncomfortable.

Li Shimin smiled self-deprecatingly: "It's cruel, right?" But this is the reality, that's why the emperor is called a lonely man, the layout of the future court, I have probably laid the foundation for you, there are both experienced old ministers, and outstanding young courtiers, such as Li Su, so Li Su made such a big mistake, but I still don't punish him, this is the reason, in the layout of the court in the future, Li Su is a very important chess piece, and you, to make good use of this chess piece, weaken the power of the gate lord clan, or balance the power of the old ministers, Li Su is very important in this chess game, Fortunately, Li Sushu has no ambition, so I dare to make such a layout, but I also have to be wary of Li Su, you can't be unreserved, remember my words, if the emperor has unreserved trust in a certain courtier, then he will not be far from death. ”

Li Zhi hesitated for a moment and nodded.

Li Shimin said a lot of words today, and he was already too tired to do anything, and as he spoke, Li Shimin gradually dozed off, and after a while, a slight snoring sounded.

Li Zhi knelt quietly in front of him, looking at Li Shimin's sleeping face, the face that used to be high-spirited and staring at everything, now full of sickness and haggard, Li Zhi's tears slowly flowed, pursed his lips and didn't dare to cry, stood up and waved at Li Shimin, and quietly withdrew from the hall.

…………

East Palace.

A gentle breeze enters the room, and the candle flame flickers.

Li Zhi knelt in the side hall, lit the lamp to review the music, the brush hovered above the song, and did not fall for a long time, looking stunned, I don't know what I was thinking.

Wu sat on one side, quietly grinding ink for him, Li Zhi did not move for a long time, Wu looked up curiously, seeing Li Zhi was stunned, full of worries, Wu couldn't help but call softly: "Your Highness, Your Highness......"

Li Zhi was called back to his senses and looked at her with a blank gaze.

Wu frowned lightly and said worriedly: "Does Your Highness have something on your mind?" ”

Li Zhichang sighed: "When I entered the palace today, my father said a lot to me......"

Seeing that Li Zhi wanted to speak and stopped, Wu said: "Your Highness has something on your mind to say frankly to the slave maid, perhaps, the slave and maid can share the worries of His Highness." ”

Li Zhi hesitated for a while and said, "What did my father say...... I couldn't resolve it for a while, and I became more and more confused about the court and the world. ”

Wu Sakura pursed her lips and looked at him quietly.

Li Zhi sighed: "Miss Wu, you say...... Is there really no perfect friendship in this world? Why did all the friendships and feelings in the world become conspiracies in the eyes of my father? ”

Wu lowered his head and pondered, then looked up at him, and said: "Your Highness, don't blame the slave maid for speaking ugly, the court is a place full of intrigues, and the slave maid thinks that what His Majesty said is right." ”