Li Jing was both moved and frightened upon hearing Li Shimin's words.

What moved me was that His Majesty the Emperor dared to entrust me with such an important matter, asking me to help the new emperor ascend the throne.

The reasons for their fear were rather complicated. Firstly, they worried that this was a test from His Majesty, and secondly, they worried that they would not be able to control the other senior officials.

After a moment's thought, Li Jing respectfully closed the imperial edict and knelt before Li Shimin.

"Your Majesty, please choose another virtuous minister; I am willing to serve as your advisor!"

Li Shimin had long anticipated Li Jing's attitude, after all, when he himself rebelled, Li Jing was unwilling to get involved.

"Lord Wei, you need not be afraid. I am not testing you. I truly wish to entrust my son to you!"

"Your Majesty, you are in the prime of your life and have at least several decades to live. Is there any need for you to entrust your son to someone else?"

Li Shimin also hoped to live for several more decades, but life is unpredictable, and who knows when he will die.

Therefore, he left this imperial edict only as a precaution.

Even if I were to die in Liaodong, the throne of the Tang Dynasty could still be passed on smoothly.

"Your Majesty, how about I lead the expedition against Goguryeo in your stead?"

In truth, given Li Jing's current physical condition, he could no longer withstand a long journey. However, considering the Emperor's safety, he felt it was more appropriate for him to take the risk himself.

After all, the Tang Dynasty could do without Li Jing, but it absolutely could not do without Li Shimin!

Li Shimin was deeply moved when he saw Li Jing volunteering for the mission.

"Lord Wei, please rise!"

"Actually, I don't take those useless people from Goguryeo seriously. I left this imperial edict just in case. If something happens to me, the Tang Dynasty will have an excellent successor!"

Upon hearing this, Li Jing's eyes darted around, and he tentatively asked.

"May I ask Your Majesty, is Li Zhi not good enough?"

Upon hearing this, Li Shimin snorted coldly and retorted with a question.

Do you think he's a good person?

Seeing this, Li Jing chuckled awkwardly.

"Well..."

"If judged by the standards of a ruler who maintains the status quo, His Highness Prince Jin is not bad. But compared to a wise and powerful emperor like His Majesty, none of His Majesty's sons can compare."

Li Shimin laughed heartily upon hearing this; it was the first time Li Jing had praised him so frankly.

"To receive praise from Duke Wei, my life has not been in vain!"

"Come on, let's not talk about what will happen after our deaths today. Let's figure out how to deal with those useless Goguryeo people!"

"promise!"

While Li Shimin and Li Jing were discussing the war strategy against Goguryeo, Changsun Wuji sneaked off to Gao Shilian's residence.

"Is Uncle asleep?"

"Reporting to Lord Changsun, my master took a nap after dinner and should still be asleep..."

"Oh, okay... I'll wait in the study then. Remember to wake me when Uncle wakes up!"

"promise!"

Gao Shilian was old and his physical and mental health were failing. If Li Shimin hadn't forced him to stay in the court, he would have retired long ago.

Gao Shilian was dazed for a moment when he suddenly heard light footsteps outside the door. He immediately spoke up in displeasure.

Who is wandering around outside?

"Your Majesty, Lord Changsun requests an audience..."

"Is it Wuji who has arrived?"

"yes……"

"Please come in quickly, I haven't seen him for quite some time!"

Before long, Changsun Wuji arrived at Gao Shilian's bedroom. Before Gao Shilian could get up, Changsun Wuji stepped forward, held Gao Shilian's hand tightly, and then pulled him to sit on the bed together.

How has your uncle been feeling lately?

"It's alright..."

"I just didn't have a good appetite, and I only had a bowl of millet porridge for dinner."

"Uncle, you should take better care of your health... Oh, by the way, I heard that Doctor Sun is in Xianyang. I'll go there myself tomorrow and ask him to take a look at you."

Gao Shilian smiled bitterly upon hearing this.

"I'm already so old, what's the point of me getting checked out?"

"No matter how miraculous Sun Simiao was, he could only cure diseases, not change fate!"

"On the contrary, your hair has turned quite gray, which shows that you have been working too hard on state affairs and expending too much energy. You should ask Doctor Sun to prescribe some medicine for you to recuperate properly!"

"Thank you for your concern, Uncle!"

"Uncle, I've heard that Li Jue intends to replace the officials in the Ministry of Personnel and those you recommended?"

"oh?"

Upon hearing this, Gao Shilian raised an eyebrow, a hint of displeasure on his face.

"I also heard that Li Jue intends to promote people from poor families to replace those from aristocratic families in official positions."

Upon hearing this, Gao Shilian could no longer contain himself and immediately slammed his hand heavily on the bed.

"Nonsense!"

"The officials who are about to be promoted this time were all carefully selected by me and Fang Xiang. How dare he change them at will?"

"What did His Majesty say?"

Upon hearing this, Changsun Wuji sighed sadly.

"His Majesty was quite angry at first, but after listening to what Li Jue said, he changed his mind."

"What did you say?"

"It's nothing, just some excuses for those from poor families, saying that it's not easy for them to be officials, and that even if they make small mistakes, they can be forgiven..."

Gao Shilian was so angry when he heard this that he started blowing his beard.

"What kind of talk is that?"

"Children from poor families are all a bunch of paupers. When they enter officialdom, they only have one thought in mind: to get promoted and make a fortune!"

"Can a group of people who only think about making money govern a country and manage its people well?"

Changsun Wuji echoed this sentiment.

"Who can argue with that? His Majesty said so too, but Li Jue still insists on his own opinion and insists on giving important positions to those from humble backgrounds..."

Upon hearing this, Gao Shilian suddenly became alert and gave his nephew a meaningful look.

"Wuji, do you have a prejudice against the eldest grandson?"

"this……"

"To be honest, Uncle, I do prefer Zhi Nu a bit more..."

Seeing that Changsun Wuji made no attempt to conceal his thoughts, Gao Shilian couldn't help but feel a little melancholy.

“Zhi Nu… Zhi Nu is a good child, worthy of your help.”

"But Li Jue is also His Majesty's grandson, and Chengqian's only legitimate son. You must not favor one over the other, and you must treat them equally!"

Upon hearing this, Changsun Wuji quickly nodded in agreement.

"Your nephew will remember your teachings, Uncle!"

"I dare not hide it from my uncle. I do have some selfish motives towards Li Jue and Zhi Nu, and I favor Zhi Nu a little more."

"But my nephew is doing this for the sake of the country, for the sake of the Tang Dynasty!"

"I don't deny that Li Jue is very smart, but what the Tang Dynasty lacks right now is not a smart emperor, but a ruler who can safeguard the ancestral foundation and continue the reign of Zhenguan!"

"If Your Majesty were to depose and install Li Jue as the crown prince again, I truly don't know whether it would be a blessing or a curse for the Tang Dynasty!"

Upon hearing this, Gao Shilian's face also showed worry, which was also the reason why he looked down on Li Jue.

"Perhaps I should go to the palace another day and offer some advice to His Majesty?"

Upon hearing this, Changsun Wuji quickly tried to dissuade him.

"No, no, no..."

"Uncle, it's best not to mention this matter in front of His Majesty, lest it offend him."

Gao Shilian replied with an indifferent expression.

"Hi!"

"I'm already quite old, so what if His Majesty dislikes me?"

"I'll go and try to persuade him; we can't let His Majesty depose and reinstate the crown prince again..."