"Your Highness, this humble subject pays respects!"
"Uncle, we're all family, there's no need for such formalities!"
"Your Highness, you must have encountered some trouble to come to our door in person?"
"yes!"
"My father just summoned me and gave me a good scolding!"
"Why?"
"Because of the repairs to the Eastern Palace!"
"His Majesty accused me of wasting money and resources, saying that the common people only spend twenty strings of cash a year, and that one hundred thousand strings of cash would be enough for five thousand families to live on for a year..."
"My uncle knows that the last major renovation of the Eastern Palace was during the Wude era."
"It's been almost twenty years now, and there are signs of leaks and damage in many places. It's impossible to live here without repairs!"
"this……"
Changsun Wuji was also puzzled upon hearing this. Logically speaking, His Majesty had always treated the Crown Prince well, and even if he was angry, he wouldn't get angry over such a trivial matter as repairing the Eastern Palace.
Could it be that His Majesty is taking his anger out on His Highness the Crown Prince because the construction of the imperial road has been slow recently?
"Your Highness, please don't panic. His Majesty is probably still angry with the court officials, not because of you..."
“I guessed that too, but I’m still very afraid. I’m afraid of angering my father and ending up like my elder brother.”
Upon hearing this, Changsun Wuji shook his head and smiled bitterly.
"Your Highness, rest assured, such a thing will never happen. His Majesty has already lost a beloved son; how could he allow you to follow in the footsteps of the former Crown Prince?"
Li Zhi felt a chill run down his spine whenever he thought of his elder brother. He was never one to be ambitious; becoming the crown prince was an accident, and he had no courage to face his future career as crown prince.
"Uncle, I don't want to be the crown prince anymore. Why don't you talk to Father and have my fourth brother recalled to be the crown prince instead?"
"My fourth brother is more talented than me and is also more favored by the Emperor. I'd rather be a carefree prince."
Upon hearing this, Changsun Wuji was immediately enraged. He had gone to great lengths to help this child ascend to the position of Crown Prince, and yet this child dared to abandon him!
What unrealistic dreams are you having?
"Throughout history, which prince who stepped down from the position of crown prince has ever had a good ending?"
"Moreover, the struggle for the crown prince is a one-way street; retreat means certain death!"
"That's not right. My elder brother was deposed for treason and nothing happened to him, let alone me, who voluntarily resigned from the position of crown prince..."
"You think everything's really alright?"
"Then tell me, why did your elder brother die less than a year after being crippled?"
"Uh..."
"Didn't my elder brother die of illness?"
Changsun Wuji sneered upon hearing this.
Do you really think Li Chengqian died of illness?
"Could it be..."
Changsun Wuji did not answer the question, but said firmly.
"You don't need to know how your older brother died."
"All you need to know is that your older brother has to die!"
Li Zhi's heart skipped a beat when he heard this. His uncle's words had a hidden meaning. Why did his elder brother have to die?
Could it be that my elder brother's death was related to my uncle?
"If Li Chengqian hadn't died, could you have held onto your position as crown prince? Would the other members of the imperial clan have been convinced of your worth?"
"Therefore, Li Chengqian must die!"
Upon hearing this, Li Zhi felt a surge of turmoil in his heart, as if his once kind uncle had suddenly become repulsive.
Although Changsun Wuji did not admit to killing his elder brother, his tone of voice and his unquestionable attitude made him suspicious.
It turns out that my older brother was murdered, and the person who killed him was none other than my own uncle!
"Uncle, what about my sister-in-law and my nephew Li Jue..."
"Former Crown Princess Su knows too much; she must die too!"
"But the situation with Li Jue is unclear; it might really have just been an accident..."
Li Zhi secretly breathed a sigh of relief upon hearing this. If Changsun Wuji really didn't even spare children, then he should really consider how to get along with him in the future.
"Thank you, Uncle, for your wise counsel..."
"polite!"
"We're family, so let's not stand on ceremony..."
In the past, Li Zhi would have been deeply moved to hear these words.
But now, when he hears those words again, he only feels a sense of irony.
His elder brother was also his own nephew, and they were family. How could he bear to kill his elder brother?
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
