Li Shimin was devastated when he heard Li Jue's words. He had only had a few sons in his life, and it turned out that they had all been killed.
At this moment, he abandoned all notions of being a Heavenly Khan and his great achievements.
He had only one thought: to keep his sons alive!
"Grandson, where did you hear that?"
“From there…”
Just as Li Jue was pondering how to explain to Old Li, Old Li's next words directly provided him with a reason.
"Did the old sage tell you that in your dream?"
"Oh right, right, right, it was the old sage who told me that!"
Upon hearing this, Li Shimin finally understood why Li Jue had always wanted to escape the Tang Dynasty, even going so far as to become a savage in the Turkic Khaganate in order to leave the Tang.
It turns out the old immortal had told him long ago that staying in the Tang Dynasty would mean certain death!
But is what the old sage said reliable?
How could such a gentle child like Zhinu be so ruthless as to kill his own brothers?
Li Shimin found it impossible no matter how he thought about it. He would believe that Zhinu would indulge in debauchery, and he wouldn't be surprised if Zhinu were to bring about the downfall of the country. But the thought that Zhinu would turn against his own brothers filled Li Shimin with a million questions.
No way!
Does Zhi Nu have the guts to do that?
After Li Shimin finished questioning Zhi Nu, he looked at Li Jue again. This time, however, his gaze held a hint of scrutiny and suspicion. Could this brat have already guessed his identity and was deliberately playing tricks on him?
If that's the case, this grandson is incredibly cunning!
But Li Shimin only doubted it slightly before shaking his head, because this grandson had never hidden his resentment towards "Li Er" in front of him, and even refused to address him as "Your Majesty the Emperor".
If he guessed his own identity, he would definitely pay attention. He would not only sing praises of his great achievements from time to time, but he would also not use names like Li Er or Lao Deng!
"Grandson, do you believe what the old sage says?"
Upon hearing this, Li Jue hesitated slightly, then shook his head.
You don't believe me?
"I have no idea……"
"I'm not sure if I'll die, but I know some people definitely will!"
"Who are they?"
"What I just said..."
"Uh..."
Li Shimin was speechless for a moment after hearing this, then put Li Jue down and patted his head hard.
"Remember, you are not allowed to say these words to anyone today!"
Upon hearing this, Li Jue stuck out his tongue guiltily.
"I also want to tell you, please don't go around saying anything!"
"If you hadn't pushed me to the limit today, I wouldn't have said these things."
"Just pretend I'm talking in my sleep, please don't take it seriously, and please don't tell your master Li Er!"
"If you rush to tell him, Li Er will not only not reward you, but will kill you to silence you!"
"At that point, I'll have to run away alone!"
Li Shimin smiled indifferently upon hearing this.
"I'm not stupid, I won't tell anyone."
"Go back to sleep first. If something really happens, I will send someone to pick you up!"
"Oh oh oh!"
Li Jue watched Old Li leave, his heart filled with worry. He thought, "This old man must not tell Li Er, or we'll both die!"
However, the Turkic envoy arrived at just the right time. Even if Old Li sold him out, he could still run away with the Turkic envoy!
Li Shimin returned to Taiji Palace that night, and then he found himself unable to sleep.
Although he repeatedly warned himself not to believe Li Jue's words, he couldn't help but let his mind wander. Every time he closed his eyes, he seemed to see his sons holding bloodied heads, weeping and pleading with him...
Li Shimin tossed and turned in bed more than ten times before finally unable to bear it any longer and got up to go outside the main hall.
The night view of Taiji Palace is not beautiful; it is even somewhat desolate and cold.
Zhang Anan had already noticed His Majesty's movements and thought to himself that His Majesty must be too frightened to sleep.
"Your Majesty, you're still awake!"
Li Shimin smiled bitterly upon hearing this.
"How am I supposed to sleep!"
"Ananda, do you think what that grandson said could be true?"
Zhang Anan shook his head upon hearing this.
"have no idea!"
"But based on my understanding of the eldest grandson these past few days, what the eldest grandson says is still somewhat credible."
"this……"
"Childhood slave is so filial, how could that be..."
Upon hearing this, Zhang Anan immediately shut up. He had never wanted to get involved in the royal succession process, and now that he saw His Majesty still showing such paternal affection for the Crown Prince, he was even less inclined to pay any attention to this old man.
Why aren't you saying anything?
"Your Majesty, what do you want me to say?"
"What do you think of Zhinu, this child?"
“Zhi Nu… Didn’t His Majesty just say that His Highness the Crown Prince is extremely filial…”
Li Shimin naturally sensed the displeasure in those words and immediately frowned and asked.
"Did I say something wrong?"
Upon hearing this, Zhang Anan quickly shook his head.
"That's right!"
"Your Majesty is absolutely right!"
"But Your Majesty, please consider how His Highness the Crown Prince has treated the servants, wet nurses, and other brothers and sisters who have served him since childhood?"
"this……"
Li Shimin was stunned when he heard this. He was busy dealing with state affairs all day long, how would he know about these trivial matters?
"Ananda, we've been brothers for decades. Why can't you speak frankly? Why do you have to beat around the bush with me?"
"Your Majesty, it's not that I don't want to speak frankly, but there are some things that are not suitable for me to say!"
When Li Shimin heard Zhang Anan say this, he immediately pulled him to sit down next to him, and the two sat side by side on the steps outside the Ganlu Hall.
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