Chapter Forty-Three: The Past
"I want to pacify the border war, for many years, I have stayed in the border fortress, far away from Chang'an, but in exchange for the distrust of the eldest brother and the father, one is worried that my high achievements will rise up to rebel, and the other is worried that I am plotting to seize the position of the crown prince with bad intentions, my sincere heart, in exchange for this result."
"You say, how can I not be disappointed, but I have no choice, and my conscience does not allow me to do anything to betray my father and eldest brother, I have been so peaceful and self-contained, I don't know how many steps back, but the eldest brother still refuses to forgive, I am forced to be helpless! I don't want that either! ”
"Shut up! You are clearly quibbling and excusing yourself! Liubin rudely interrupted Li Shimin's words, and Liuning pulled Liubin's sleeve, signaling him to be calm and let Li Shimin continue.
Li Shimin's voice couldn't help but rise, with an undeniable power: "I don't want to be like this, do you think I am willing to carry my brother's back to the wall and kill my father and brother?" ”
"Back then, I had retreated everywhere, after basically stabilizing the border, I returned the military power to my father, almost at home, the eldest brother led the troops to the battle, but was besieged at the border, and lost several generals in a row, my father asked me to lead the troops to rescue, which saved the lives of the eldest brother and the third brother."
"But for their birth and death, there were rumors in the court, saying that I colluded with the border guards, secretly transmitted the war situation, instructed them to encircle and suppress the prince, and intended to rebel, and they even found the surrendered guards to testify, I was speechless, almost slaughtered, and then I really understood that if I didn't treat people sincerely, others would treat me sincerely."
"The eldest brother and the third brother framed me in front, but they pretended to be pitiful in front of my father and asked me to enter the palace to confront me face to face, but I didn't expect that they actually set a trap in advance at the Xuanwu Gate, intending to take my life. Fortunately, my military advisor and subordinates have already seen through the tricks of the eldest brother and the third brother. ”
"But they didn't inform me in advance, almost when the eldest brother killed me, they only appeared at the last moment, the praying mantis catching cicada and yellow finch behind, this is something that none of our three brothers expected, at that time, my mind was blank, I don't know what kind of mood I was in at that time."
"I'm happy because I don't have to die, but I'm even more sad, because I know that they won't let my eldest brother and third brother go, and I don't even know if I should be happy for their loyalty, I froze, I watched my eldest brother and third brother fall, it all happened so fast that I didn't even have time to stop it, but until now, I remember the bloody scene."
"I don't kill Boren, but Boren died because of me, at that time, I knelt in front of my father, and even wanted to apologize with death, but my father said that he only had one son left, if there was no me, the foundation of the Tang Dynasty would be ruined, I knew that in front of the country, my father could sacrifice everything, but I didn't expect that he gave me an order to let me personally go to the home of the eldest brother and the third brother, and I couldn't leave a single mouth."
"I can't agree at all, and I can't believe that this is an order from my father, I don't believe that my father will be so ruthless, I went to beg my father, begging him to let go of the family of the eldest brother and the third brother, but my father didn't allow it, my father told me that if I want to become an emperor, my heart must be hard, and nothing can affect my judgment, after all, what the emperor holds in his hands is the power of life and death in the whole world."
"I don't know what kind of mood I had when I went to the mansion of the eldest brother and the third brother, in fact, I have always known about the existence of Liuning and Liubin, their mother committed suicide after giving birth to them, you may not believe it, for so many years, I have always wanted to find their mother and son and give them some compensation, but, for so many years, all I found was their mother's body."
Speaking of this, Li Junzhi snorted disdainfully, looked at Li Shimin, looked quite disdainful, and said: "You don't talk nonsense here, do you really want to find your eldest brother's widow?" When I first met them, I knew that they were the children of the first prince. ”
"Liubin's eyes are exactly the same as your eldest brother's, Liuning's eyebrows and eyes are exactly the same as her mother's, which is my sister's, can't you see these? Or did you never pay attention to them at all, and you have long forgotten what they look like, but I, I haven't forgotten them for a moment! ”
Li Shimin sighed and said: "Alas, what happened back then, that's it, I have already told you all the details, believe it or not, it's your business, but to say, I don't kill Boren, but Boren died because of me, for so many years, I have never forgotten, and I dare not forget, the eldest brother and the third brother and so many warriors shed blood for the Tang Dynasty." ”
"I have worked hard for so many years, I have never lacked an early dynasty, I have never been tired of a book, I have deprived myself of joys, sorrows, and sorrows, and dedicated everything to this emperor's throne, in order to live up to the eldest brother and third brother, and live up to the entrustment of my father.
"You will come back like this, you will surround me like this, you want to take my life, such a scene has appeared in my dreams many times, every time I wake up from such a nightmare, I will be very frightened, but today, when this day finally comes, I am extraordinarily calm, I have long expected such consequences, now what you want, just come and take it."
Li Shimin's face was unwavering, he was ready to die, Datang has come to this day, he has no regrets, he can go to see the father and mother in heaven with peace of mind, and face his eldest brother and third brother with peace of mind, he can already hand over a satisfactory answer to the burden of responsibility they left behind.
Li Shimin's gaze was calm, he stared closely at Li Junzhi under the hall, Li Junzhi also looked at him, the sword in his hand was held tightly, at this time, Li Shimin spoke lightly again: "Li Junzhi, if I remember correctly, you are my eldest brother's cronies, you have followed him since you were a child, and you were his scholar, once upon a time, your surname was Lu, not Li." ”
When Li Junzhi heard this, he seemed to suddenly become vigilant, staring at Li Shimin's eyes tightly, as if he was burning red with anger. He hated Li Shimin, not only because of his hatred in the past, but also because of his indifferent posture now.
Why, it doesn't matter what he Li Shimin can do.