Chapter 503 Suspicion
After several days of investigation, Li Ke had already made some progress, and he decided to report the matter to Li Chengqian.
"Everyone! Wu Wang Li Ke wants to see you!" the eunuch reported to Li Chengqian.
"Let him in!" Li Chengqian said.
The eunuch withdrew and called Li Ke to the palace for an audience.
"Your humble servant pays respect to your brother." Li Ke saluted with his hands crossed.
"You came to see me, but what is the progress of Li Xiang's assassination?" Li Chengqian asked.
"Yes!" Li Ke said.
"Tell me quickly, what is the assassination of Li Xiang, and what is their purpose?" Li Chengqian asked hurriedly.
"I have checked the origins of the weapons made in the Armory. In addition to the weapons used by the Sixteen Guards, the Eastern Palace recently transferred a batch of weapons, including crossbows."
"Moreover, I have carefully investigated. When the King of Wei was assassinated, the weapons in the hands of the assassin were the ones transferred in the name of the Eastern Palace." Li Ke said.
"What do you mean? Are you saying that Li Xiang's assassination is related to the Crown Prince? Why did the Crown Prince want to harm the King of Wei? Could it be that the Crown Prince can't tolerate his brother?"
"Normally, the King of Wei and the Crown Prince have no hatred, and it's not because of the matter of usurping the throne. The King of Wei will not threaten the Crown Prince at all. Why would the Crown Prince want to harm the King of Wei?" Li Chengqian said.
He didn't believe that this matter had anything to do with the Crown Prince. From any angle, it was unlikely that the Crown Prince did it.
But Li Chengqian had a little doubt in his heart. Why was it so coincidental that when the Eastern Palace took away a batch of weapons, Prince Wei was assassinated, and the weapons all matched.
Li Chengqian didn't believe that it had nothing to do with the Crown Prince. Could it be that the Crown Prince really did it? But why did the Eastern Palace want this batch of weapons?
Could it be that the Crown Prince was planning to rebel and force him to abdicate through an armed coup? Was the Crown Prince so anxious?
"I have checked. The Crown Prince did not order the Arms Inspectorate to mobilize weapons. Instead, a senior military officer of the Eastern Palace did it in the name of the Eastern Palace."
"Afterwards, such a senior military officer mysteriously disappeared and could not be found again. It was as if he had evaporated from the face of the earth."
"Even so, the Crown Prince still cannot get rid of suspicion. The Crown Prince is still the most suspicious, but other possibilities cannot be ruled out." Li Ke said.
All the evidence pointed to the Crown Prince. It was the Crown Prince and the Prince of Wei who were fighting against each other, but there were many doubts. The Crown Prince had no motive, and there was no conflict between the two sides.
"In other words, there are other suspects?" Li Chengqian said.
"Yes, all of the Emperor's sons are suspects, even the assassinated Prince of Wei is a suspect." Li Ke said.
"What do you mean? Are you saying that all this was most likely directed and acted by Li Xiang himself? Then why did he do this?" Li Chengqian asked.
"Power, supreme power. As long as the crown prince falls, Li Xiang and other princes will have the opportunity to compete for the crown prince." Li Ke said.
"You are saying that they may have done this for the position of crown prince, is it possible?" Li Chengqian said.
"Your Majesty may not believe it, but this is an indisputable fact. As long as the crown prince is deposed, whether it is Li Xiang or Li Sujie, they all have the opportunity to become the crown prince."
"Have you forgotten how our father, Emperor Taizong Wen, got the throne? Have you forgotten how Qingque coveted your throne?"
"There are precedents. They know in their hearts that the Tang Dynasty can be obtained through means. As long as they can succeed, they can have everything." Li Ke said.
They all know in their hearts that since Li Er seized the throne after the Xuanwu Gate Incident, he has set an example for future generations.
The imperial power of the Tang Dynasty can be seized by force. What kind of fratricide is nothing but commonplace in the eyes of the Li Tang royal family.
"I have already established the crown prince and sent them to their fiefdoms. Isn't this enough to prevent the brothers from fighting each other?" Li Chengqian roared.
"Since you don't want to see the brothers fighting each other, why do you call them back to Chang'an? This will give them the illusion that they have a chance to become the crown prince."
"You shouldn't have issued an edict to let them come back, and this wouldn't have happened. You didn't let them come back in the past. What happened this year? Why did you suddenly think of letting them come back?" Li Ke said.
"I am getting older and older. I am fifty now. I can still live for a few more years. I thought I would call them back while I am still alive." Li Chengqian said.
As a fifty-year-old man, he just missed his sons and asked them to go home to visit his old father. What's wrong with that?
"You said that this was probably planned by Li Xiang himself to frame the prince. Why did he do this? I didn't hint anything to him." Li Chengqian was puzzled.
"You suddenly conferred him the title of Wei Wang, increased the number of households, and gave his youngest son a name. Is there any hidden meaning in this? What will others think, even if you don't mean it?" "
It's hard to guarantee that others don't have this intention. I'm afraid that others will say something to Li Xiang. The speaker is unintentional, but the listener is intentional." Li Ke said.
Perhaps, this is just a casual reward from Li Chengqian, but for most people, it is not the case. They will speculate on the meaning of it.
Especially the people of the Crown Prince's faction, they would speculate even more, they were worried whether the Emperor had some opinion about the Crown Prince, and wanted to support another force to suppress the Crown Prince,
or even replace him. The Crown Prince did not dare to take the risk, so he could only take the risk and resolve the threat of the King of Wei.
Li Chengqian said, "What about the others? Why did Li Sujie, Li Wu, Li Wen and the others want to frame the prince? What benefits will it bring to them?"
"Of course, as long as Li Xiang dies, all the blame will be directed at the prince. The prince will not be able to find evidence to prove his innocence, and it will only be a matter of time before he is deposed."
"If the prince is deposed and Prince Wei dies, the position of the prince will fall into their hands. You will have to choose a suitable successor from among them."
"So, they are also the vested interests in the assassination of Prince Wei this time. Any of them may be the mastermind of everything." Li Ke said.
As long as Prince Wei and the prince fall, Li Sujie will gain the most benefits among them, because if Prince Wei and the prince fall, Li Sujie is most likely to become the prince.
"Don't make this public. Let me think about how to deal with it. You go back first!" Li Chengqian said.
"I'm leaving!" Li Ke bowed and left.
The case of the assassination of Prince Wei was finally suppressed and hastily closed.
After the Lantern Festival, Li Chengqian allowed Li Sujie and others to return to their fiefdoms. As for Li Xiang, since he was seriously injured, Li Chengqian allowed him to recuperate in Chang'an and send him back to his fiefdom after he recovered.