206 Chapter 206
◎Honest.◎
"Then...then..." Li Tai already realized that he was in the wrong, but he still felt unconvinced. "Then you can't give it to Li Ke either."
"First of all, Li Ke is also your brother. Secondly, I can give my things to whoever I want."
Li Chengqian pointed to the door and said, "Now, get out immediately."
Li Tai always thought that his elder brother was just like Aye, who would let him do whatever he wanted.
He didn't care about such a small matter as not following his elder brother's rules when eating snacks.
When he approached him and said he wanted more favor from his father, Li Tai thought he was angry, but he didn't complain to his father, and he didn't say anything afterward. Instead, he resented his father's words and unilaterally lost his temper and refused to pay attention to him. He even sent someone to ask him to pick up his things.
Li Tai thought that his elder brother would not be angry.
But today he realized that he was wrong. Not only did his elder brother get angry, but he also got angry with a cold face, which was more frightening than yelling.
Li Tai pursed his lips. Even though his attitude was a little bad and there were some minor problems between them, his elder brother shouldn't be angry with him for Li Ke. This was regardless of their relationship.
He didn't leave, and Li Chengqian didn't urge him. He just took the book and continued reading.
Li Tai felt wronged and angry, but was afraid of his cold face and dared not say anything.
Just as they were at a stalemate, the voice of a palace maid greeting the empress could be heard from outside. Li Chengqian stood up to greet her, "Mother, why are you here?"
Turning the screen, he saw a little palace maid leaning against the door, panting. Li Chengqian recognized her. She was someone close to his mother and must have just come back to report the news.
Chang Sun came over and took his hand, saying, "Alright, it was me who asked them to watch. If you want to blame someone, blame your mother."
Li Chengqian said, "I just don't want my mother to worry."
"If Mother doesn't worry about you, who else will she worry about?" Chang Sun said, waving towards Li Tai. "Qingque, come here and tell Mother what's going on."
Hearing this, Li Tai felt more confident. He walked a few steps to his mother's side, glanced at Li Chengqian, and said, "It's just a small matter, mother."
Chang Sun sat down on the armchair and asked, "What's a small matter? Can't you tell my mother?"
"I gave my third brother a small ornament he didn't want, and he was unhappy." Li Chengqian tried to make light of the matter. "It's really not a big deal, Mother. This thing has been mass-produced. I can just ask Li Ying to bring in a few more."
Seeing him speak first, Li Tai quickly added, "That's not what I'm unhappy about, Mother. It's not like my eldest brother hasn't given things to Li... Third Brother before. When have I ever been unhappy? But this only belongs to my eldest brother, Li Zhi, and Yu Xiu. Giving one to Li Ke, what am I? Mother, it's clear that my eldest brother and I are brothers from the same mother. Why is he siding with someone else?"
After hearing these words, Li Chengqian laughed meaningfully. Not only Li Tai felt puzzled, but Changsun also frowned slightly.
But Changsun Shi didn't speak to the eldest son right away. She first said to the fourth son, "Qingque, I want to tell you something. Regardless of whether you were born from the same mother or not, you and your two brothers are biological brothers. Since we are brothers, there is no room for others to say what they mean. Do you understand?"
Li Tai's face was filled with dissatisfaction. It was obvious that he did not agree with his mother's words: "Mother, I know, that's what I said, but..."
"No buts." Changsun said decisively.
Li Tai could only reluctantly say, "Yes, mother, I understand."
Changsun sighed, took Li Tai's hand, and said slowly, "Qingque, you've been studying for a few years and are no longer a child. Tell me, do you understand these principles?"
Li Tai was silent for a moment. This time, his face was no longer filled with dissatisfaction. He nodded honestly, "I understand, Mother, but..." Seeing that his mother didn't interrupt him this time, Li Tai continued, "These principles are for outsiders to hear. Grandpa has always done this, and my eldest brother did the same before him. We were raised by Mother, and we are different from others... others."
Li Chengqian laughed again.
Li Tai turned his head to look at his half-smile, and asked with a bit of embarrassment, "Brother, what are you laughing at?"
"You are very smart, Qingque, you are very smart." Li Chengqian nodded with a smile.
Children raised by the queen are naturally different from those raised by other concubines. Li Tai understands this very well and is very good at using this to benefit himself.
But it turns out that he has understood this since this age.
To Li Tai, these words did not sound like a compliment. Instead, they were irritating to him, because it was clear that Li Chengqian was the child whose father liked more because of his ability.
Changsun Shi continued, "Qingque, you said before that my elder brother always treated you and Lizhi differently from other sisters and brothers, right?"
Li Tai nodded affirmatively.
Whenever the eldest brother got something good or received a reward from Aye, the three of them would pick it out before it was the turn of others.
Except for the crane ornaments this time.
Chang Sunshi continued, "You were the first one to refuse this crane, so your elder brother gave it to Li Ke, right?"
This was a fact, and Li Tai could only nod.
"Can your elder brother dispose of his things as he pleases?" Changsun asked again.
"Mother, that's not it. That's not what I want to say," Li Tai said. "Brother gave it to Li Ke. Doesn't it seem to others that Brother treats Li Ke better than me? We are brothers. Brother...isn't he not distinguishing between relatives?"
Changsun rubbed her brows with a headache. Just as she was about to speak, Li Chengqian spoke first: "If you want to hear this, then I tell you, Li Tai, to me, all brothers are the same, regardless of whether they are born of the same mother or not."
"I'm not partial to you. You're the one who benefits from Li Zhi and Yu Xiu. We're both in Li Zheng Palace together, so I can't leave you alone and make Mother sad. But since we've come to this point today, I might as well just get it out of the way so Mother can get used to it sooner."
Since we can see that we will fall out sooner or later, there is no point in hiding it anymore. Mother will find out eventually.
Chang Sun was surprised and said, "Cheng Qian..."
"Mother, I'm sorry." Li Chengqian lowered his head and said, "These are all true."
Li Tai was even more shocked. He was speechless. It was true that his elder brother did not treat him as well as Lizhi and her sister. But he always thought that it was just because they were close in age and brothers, so there was no need for them to be so affectionate. Lizhi and the others were younger sisters, so naturally he would be more soft-hearted towards them. But he did not expect the fact to be like this!
My elder brother actually didn’t like me all along!
"Mother, I'll take you back." Li Chengqian came over and helped his mother up, then ordered the palace servants, "Take the King of Yue back."
…
When Li Shimin returned in the evening, he heard only silence in the bedroom. He asked the palace servants standing outside, "Are the children making a fuss in front of the queen?"
The palace servant said, "Your Majesty, only two princesses came to play for a while today."
Li Shimin nodded, and as he stepped over the threshold, he casually asked, "What did the Queen do today?"
The palace servant replied, "Your Majesty, Your Highness has been in a daze since the Crown Prince brought him back in the afternoon."
Li Shimin paused, stunned? Cheng Qian sent it back? Could something have happened?
Li Shimin hurried into the inner hall, but saw Changsun leaning against the head of the bed reading a book. He was stunned for a moment, and when he got closer he found that she was just holding a book, her eyes not on the book at all, and she was indeed in a daze.
Li Shimin sat down gently on the couch and asked softly, "Guanyinbi, what's wrong?"
Zhangsun was startled and the book in her hand fell to her knees. Li Shimin hurriedly hugged her and comforted her, "It's nothing, it's nothing..."
Zhang Sun let out a long sigh: "Erlang, you're back..."
"You are so absent-minded, what are you thinking about?" Li Shimin patted her back and asked softly.
Zhang Sun sighed and said, "Cheng Qian and Qing Que had some trouble today... and it wasn't very good."
Li Shimin subconsciously thought: "Is it about losing weight?"
"What?" Chang Sun was startled. She had completely forgotten about this matter. "It's not this, it's something else."
Li Shimin nodded slowly and said, "Well, take your time."
Changsun then recounted how she received the news from the palace maid, rushed to Chengqian's bedroom, and recounted every word they said.
Li Shimin frowned after hearing this. It was obviously beyond his expectation that the incident would reach this level. However, he patted his wife's hand and said, "It's okay. It's just a small matter. I'll go see Cheng Qian."
Changsun held him back, a look of uneasiness between her brows: "Erlang, if... if it can't be avoided, at least don't let the two children really reach that point. It's better to be brothers who are neither too close nor too distant. At least they can both be fine."
Li Shimin felt a pain in his heart. Neither too close nor too far, neither too intimate nor too distant, the relationship between the monarch and his subjects was a harmonious one, which was indeed much better than fighting with swords.
Can……
"Guanyinbi, it's nothing." Li Shimin tried hard to comfort her, "The children are still young after all. We will teach them slowly and they will grow up."
Chang Sun shook her head and said, "I've thought about this for a long time, Erlang. Perhaps this is the best outcome."
Li Shimin pressed her hand, not knowing whether he was comforting his wife or himself: "Don't let your imagination run wild..."
"Go talk to Cheng Qian first," said Changsun. "Don't delay dinner. You haven't had much of an appetite these past two days."
Li Shimin nodded: "Yes."
When Li Shimin arrived, Li Chengqian was burning a stack of paper. Li Shimin asked, "What are you burning?"
"Rebellion plan." Li Chengqian said.
Li Shimin choked, but smiled: "Okay, do you want me to show you? I have experience in rebellion. It was me who urged your father-in-law to start the rebellion in Jinyang."
This time it was Li Chengqian who choked. After a while, he found his voice again: "How is my mother? Have you persuaded her?"
Li Shimin asked, "Since you knew your mother would be sad, why did you say such words in front of her?"
Li Chengqian covered the incense burner and said succinctly, "Mother will be sad sooner or later."
"I know you believe in yourself." Li Chengqian looked up at Tian Khan. "That's perfect. We can wait a few years, or even a dozen years. We'll know for ourselves who's right."
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