Chapter 355: Playing Chess against the Retired Emperor
Hongyi Palace.
Li Shimin dismissed his attendants and played chess alone with the retired emperor Li Yuan.
Under the candlelight, Li Yuan was wearing a cloak and coughing from time to time. His messy and dry white hair fluttered slightly, and his hands holding the chess piece trembled slightly. It was not because of fear, but just the helplessness of old age.
Li Shimin looked at his father, and in the candlelight, he suddenly realized that his father, who was once young and energetic, had become so old.
Li Yuan is already 62 years old this year, and he looks old and frail. In addition, he has been drinking and indulging in sex all day long, and his spirit is depressed and his health is getting worse day by day.
Perhaps that heroic founding emperor had already died on the day when the Xuanwu Gate was soaked in blood.
"Father, your chess skills have declined."
After Li Shimin left behind a son, he gradually took control of the entire situation and defeated Li Yuan step by step.
His attack was extremely fierce, like thunder, and his style of play was vigorous and domineering.
There was still some sleepiness in Li Yuan's eyes. He was woken up from his sleep. He didn't want to play chess, but Li Shimin placed the chessboard directly on his bed.
Li Yuan left behind a son and held on tenaciously, but he could not stop the trend of retreat and could only fight desperately.
There was a trace of loneliness in his eyes, and he sighed: "I used to like playing chess with others because I always won, but now I don't like it anymore because I always lose."
He laughed at himself and said, "Later I realized that people were not playing chess with me, but with the seat under my butt."
Li Shimin killed another son, and his attack became even more fierce, like a sharp sword piercing straight into the heart.
"Father, has the Minister of Revenue Xiao Jian ever come to play chess with you?"
Li Yuan's hand holding the chess piece paused slightly.
"Xiao Jian... I remember that he was an old official of the Three Hus. He is a man of nostalgia, a man of character, and outstanding in talent. Now that you have forgiven the past and entrusted him with important tasks, he must be grateful and willing to die for you."
Sanhu was the nickname of Prince of Qi Li Yuanji, who died in the Xuanwu Gate Incident.
Afterwards, Li Shimin did not kill his staff. Instead, he entrusted the talented ones among them with important positions. Xiao Jian was one of them, and now he has even held the high position of Vice Minister of the Ministry of Revenue.
"Father, I'm asking, has he ever played chess with you?"
Li Shimin pressed again, staring closely into Li Yuan's eyes.
Li Yuan dropped a piece, and tried to hold on to defeat, and asked, "Who has ever come to play chess with me? Don't you know better than me?"
This is an implicit criticism of Li Shimin, who is surrounded by people who are monitoring him.
Li Shimin remained calm, placed another move, and asked, "Since we have never played chess, why did he give you a maid?"
Li Yuan smiled and said, "I am trapped...living in this palace, I can't do anything. My only hobbies are fine wine and beautiful women. Maybe he wants to please me, the emperor?"
"No, no, no, he's trying to please you."
Li Yuan suddenly sneered: "Because the more I indulge in wine and sex, the more relieved you will be, right?"
The candlelight flickered, as if it sensed some invisible murderous aura.
Li Shimin glanced out the window, and the invisible murderous aura gradually dissipated.
Li Yuan remained unmoved and continued playing chess, saying, "By the way, didn't you transfer that maid away? What's wrong with her?"
Li Shimin raised his head and placed the last piece, ending the game.
"That maid wants my life."
Li Shimin's eyes became exceptionally sharp, like a sword drawn from its sheath.
Li Yuan admitted defeat and sighed, "Really? It's a pity that you are still alive, which means she failed. As expected, no one is better than you at assassination."
Li Shimin stopped talking and his eyes were very cold.
Li Yuan didn't care about the emperor's opinion at all, and didn't even worry about his own life. Perhaps his heart had already died, and death might not be a relief for him.
Li Shimin suddenly laughed, and his murderous intent instantly melted like ice and snow.
This laughter made Li Yuan slightly stunned.
"Father, I understand. You are deliberately trying to provoke me to kill you so that I will bear the infamy of being unfilial for all eternity. This may be the only way you can resist now."
"But don't worry, not only will I not kill you, I will also take good care of you and let you live a long life."
Li Shimin opened his arms, as if he wanted to embrace this beautiful land.
"I can conquer the world on horseback, and I can rule the world on the throne. I will let you see an unprecedented prosperity, a prosperity that belongs to the Li Tang Dynasty!"
"As for those who want my head, let them come!"
"I will wait for them with sword in hand."
Li Yuan's eyes were filled with emotions. He looked at his heroic son in silence.
After a long time, his lips trembled slightly, as if he wanted to say something.
Li Shimin's voice sounded again.
"Father, it's late, go and get some rest."
…
Li Shimin walked out of Hongyi Palace and said to the chief eunuch Gao Quan : "Pass on my oral order. Take 300 Jinwu guards immediately to arrest Xiao Jian. Everyone in the Xiao mansion, including the servants, will be imprisoned and kept pending trial."
"promise!"
When Li Shimin returned to Ganlu Palace, he found that Li Chunfeng and Li Daoxuan had been waiting outside the palace for a long time.
He showed a bright smile, stretched out his hands to pull up the sleeves of the two men, and walked into the hall together, saying with a smile: "I have Chunfeng to plan and win the battle thousands of miles away, and Taichong has invincible magical powers. Under the Yangshen, there is no need to worry about the demons not being eliminated and the world not being stable."
Three people entered the hall.
Li Shimin did not let any servants in. He pulled the two of them to sit on the ground, looking very casual and without any panic or fear of encountering an assassin.
This magnanimity and courage made Li Daoxuan nod secretly.
"Your Majesty, this...I am so disrespectful!"
Li Chunfeng was a little uncomfortable.
Li Shimin waved his hand and smiled, "In the second year of Wude, I led the army to attack Song Jingang. At that time, I only brought one horse to the front line to inquire about the military situation. I didn't expect that we were too tired and fell asleep directly on the grass. If a mouse hadn't woken us up, I'm afraid I would have been beheaded by Song Jingang."
When talking about the past, there was a hint of nostalgia in his eyes and a smile on his lips.
"I'm not afraid of you laughing at me, but I prefer the grassland back then to the cold throne."
Li Daoxuan smiled and said, "Your Majesty can go on a private visit when you have time to understand the people's sentiments. Perhaps you will see a lot of interesting things, and perhaps you can sleep on the same grass again."
Li Shimin's eyes lit up slightly, as if he was thinking about something.
Li Chunfeng's expression froze slightly . As a person with a mysophobia, he didn't want to sleep on the grass. Even sitting on the floor of Ganlu Palace made him feel uncomfortable.
"Your Majesty, that maid is the murderer of the missing eye case. This person practices evil magic and has been seriously injured by Master Li. He is hiding in the capital. I believe that we will be able to find him in less than three days!"
Li Shimin smiled and said, "In less than three days, perhaps tonight, we will make a big discovery."
Li Daoxuan's eyes moved, and he said, "Your Majesty, if my guess is correct, is it related to the Ministry of Revenue?"
Li Shimin nodded and said, "Taichong, you told me before that the murderer of the missing eye case was related to an official from the Ministry of Revenue. It is indeed true. The maid that the black-robed man transformed into was from the residence of Xiao Jian, the assistant minister of the Ministry of Revenue."
He sneered and said, "So far, the truth has almost been revealed. Xiao Jian sent the maid disguised as the black-robed man into the palace, waiting for an opportunity to murder me. At the same time, he used the power of the Ministry of Revenue to find out the people in Chang'an who have the Yin-Yang Eyes, so that he could dig out their eyes and practice."
"This Xiao Jian has really wasted my trust in him!"
Li Chunfeng said: "Xiao Jian is definitely not the mastermind behind this. He is just a small minister of the Ministry of Revenue. How could he have such a big hand? But as long as we catch him, we can follow the clues and find out the real mastermind!"
Li Daoxuan seemed to be thinking about something. Perhaps he could also learn more about the Moro Religion from Xiao Jian.
This must have been done by the Moro Cult!
Just then, Gao Quan ran over in a hurry, his face somewhat pale.
"Your Majesty, this is bad!"
Li Shimin frowned and asked, "Why are you so panicked? Has Xiao Jian been captured?"
Gao Quan's voice trembled as he said, "Xiao Jian... is dead. All 42 people in the Xiao Mansion... were burned to death!"
