Half in the river wind, half in the clouds

Chapter 141 Fighting

Princess Taiping once said to Jiang Feng that you can't avoid anything, and you have to strike back at those who bully you in order to succeed.

Perhaps, that was the bloody experience gained from surviving the struggle for royal power.

That year, Tubo came to the court with a skilled polo team. They won battle after battle, leaving the Tang Dynasty humiliated.

At that time, the brothers Ji and Ye were still teenagers. Seeing that the country's prestige was damaged, they ignored their father's objections and mounted their horses to fight.

This improvised imperial polo team was both strategic and brave, and eventually defeated Tubo. Emperor Wu was delighted and rewarded them generously.

I originally thought that I could win the favor of my grandmother, but I didn't expect that I would attract trouble because I was too eye-catching.

The Wu family took advantage of the opportunity and did their best to sow discord.

Coupled with the Queen's suspicion, Ji and Ye's mother finally died tragically.

After the polo match, the empress summoned Concubine Dou De and Concubine Wang De to Jiayu Hall. They were the mothers of Li Longji and Li Longye respectively.

This trip is like going to hell!

Emperor Wu ordered his warriors to pull out the tongues of the two men, and then slowly cut them into twenty or thirty pieces. The pieces were thrown onto the grass in the garden to be eaten by birds, and the remaining bones were thrown into the dog pen, leaving no trace of the two men.

When the news came, the two brothers Jiye were sad in their hearts but appeared calm on the surface.

"My mother died tragically, but someone said, 'Third and Fifth Brothers are both brave and resourceful, they are definitely not ordinary people! The Li family's dynasty will have successors.' Although she did not kill me and my third brother, she brutally killed our mother!" Many years have passed since this happened, but when Li Longye mentioned it, he still gnashed his teeth and tears welled up in his eyes.

"From then on, my father became even more cautious and strictly ordered us five brothers not to show off. In order to avoid suspicion, we brothers tried every possible means. My eldest brother sent his only daughter to be raised by my aunt, just because Ji'an's eyes looked a lot like Uncle Xue; my second brother drank and ate meat all the time, and now he has become a fat man who has difficulty walking; my fourth brother indulged in music and dance, and my third brother and I kept a room full of concubines, most of whom were awarded by the empress or given by Wu. They were called concubines, but in fact they were nails placed around my brothers. At that time, my grandmother was the only one who was not on guard against my aunt, and my aunt married Wu Youji, and she suddenly became the umbrella of protection for the whole family! During those difficult days, she was the only one who mediated and protected my father and me."

Jiang Feng also knew that they did not have a smooth life when they were young, but he never thought it would be so difficult.

Seeing that Li Longye was still sad, he hurriedly comforted him, "The past was unbearable, but now it is finally better."

Li Longye smiled bitterly: "Is it easy? If it was easy, why would there be such a robbery and murder?"

"Your Highness, do you know who the assassin is?" Jiang Feng asked.

She just hoped it wasn't Princess Taiping.

"In today's Chang'an City, there are very few people who dare to assassinate us two brothers and escape unscathed." Li Longye said.

The topic was too sensitive, Jiang Feng did not dare to respond, and the air was silent for a moment. Li Longye looked at the girl again and said, "We were able to stick together when we were in trouble, but now that we are in power, we still can't escape fighting among ourselves."

Jiang Feng thought about it, and finally expressed his doubts: "Since Your Majesty has appointed the prince as the heir, you must entrust the country to the prince. But now, why do you rely so much on the princess in political affairs? If you pity and thank your sister, why not directly promise her fiefdom, wealth and honor, and noble descendants? Now Your Majesty intends to let the princess contain Your Highness, so that the princess can compete with the prince in the court, and hinder him everywhere, but now she is assassinated in the street! Your Highness the prince has lofty ambitions but a kind heart. He must inherit the great unity and develop his ambitions while avoiding conflicts with his own roots. So we must figure out what the emperor is worried about?"

Li Longye knew that Jiang Feng's opinions were no less than those of other men, so it was not surprising that he pointed out the crux of the matter - his aunt's power was all the work of his father.

Li Longye smiled and said, "Although you are smart, you are kind-hearted, so you can only see this situation but can't guess the reason. From the day when my father became the father and my third brother became the crown prince, they were first the emperor and the minister, and then the father and the son. My father was the most kind and generous. He never punished a servant in his palace for decades. Now that he is the emperor, he also rules the world with benevolence. But since he was a child, he heard about the Xuanwu Gate Incident, saw Emperor Gaozu killing all his brothers for treason, and personally experienced his two brothers being killed by their biological mother..."

Li Longye clenched his hand into a fist again.

Jiang Feng once again felt his deep hatred for Wu Zetian.

"So, father is worried! Although killing Wei stabilized the country, it also made father more wary of my two brothers - his decisiveness in killing turned into ruthlessness and cold-bloodedness! My eldest brother is the eldest son and has rare talent. Father had high hopes for him and said he would be a capable person. In the dispute over the succession to the throne, the third brother made contributions and the eldest brother was right. The eldest brother personally resigned, and all officials supported the third brother, but father was still hesitant. During this period, father gave power to my aunt and favor to my eldest brother, and gradually rumors spread, saying things like 'the crown prince is neither the eldest nor the legitimate son, so Prince Ning should be made the crown prince'. Father also blindly sought political balance, and now it has caused instability in the Eastern Palace. My eldest brother's intention to compete for the succession has long been obvious." Li Longye said.

"Your Majesty's original intention was to protect the princes, but the succession to the crown prince is a serious matter! If the two sides continue to confront each other for a long time, and the various forces are entrenched in the struggle, one day they will lose control, and there is a fear that there will be another disaster of brothers fighting each other!" Jiang Feng said nervously.

There is definitely a bloodthirsty gene in the blood of the Li Dynasty. Taizong killed his two brothers at Xuanwu Gate. After Emperor Gaozong, who was always respectful and benevolent, ascended the throne, he also showed no mercy when killing his brothers!

"That's the truth! To be honest, if my eldest brother ascends the throne one day, will he spare my third brother and me? My father only understands the worries of my aunt and eldest brother, but he doesn't think about the difficulties we brothers are facing!" Li Longye added.

"Shut up! This is the imperial palace!" Jiang Feng said hurriedly.

Li Longye smiled and said, "I am not talented, but I still have a say in this courtyard."

Jiang Feng also felt that he was worrying too much. After thinking for a while, he finally asked in a low voice: "Was it the princess or Ning who assassinated him last night?"

If it were Ning... Shen Guxing had just married his daughter. If he was defeated one day, could he get away with it?

"You have such a big mouth that even ten heads wouldn't be enough to chop off!" Li Longye laughed.

Jiang Feng just made a face and waited for his answer expectantly.

Li Longye suddenly thought of the scene at Jiuyue Tower in Liangzhou, when she had carefully probed him about the situation.

"Is there any difference?" This was Li Longye's answer.

The implication is that Li Chengqi and Princess Taiping have already formed an alliance?