Chapter 22: Could It Be That There Were So Many Foolish Emperors in the Great Tang Dynasty?

Chapter 22: Could It Be That Our Great Tang Has So Many Fools on the Throne?

Because of a minor quarrel years ago with his elder and third brothers, Li Shimin had never been able to fully let go of the grievance. It wasn’t guilt over having outmaneuvered the two brothers, but fear that it might cause lasting damage to his descendants.

Looking across the entire Tang dynasty, it seemed that it had set a bad precedent. The number of crown princes who successfully ascended the throne could be counted on one hand.

So now, with Li Chengqian and Li Ke getting along as brothers should, Old Li felt genuine joy. After all, no parent wishes for their children to repeat their own mistakes—unless those mistakes had led to success.

Though the path Old Li had taken was indeed successful, it had come at a heavy cost.

After dinner, Li Shimin sent the children who had not yet left the palace back to their respective mothers. Those with established households were told to return home. Only Li Mingda and Li Zhi remained in a side hall to rest. Then, he found Li Qing sitting in a chair, playing on his phone.

Regarding Li Qing’s earlier remark to Li Ke—that “learning to manage state affairs is useful”—Old Li expressed his doubts.

“Could it be that Brother Li truly expects your sons to live idle lives as idle princes for their entire lives?” Li Qing asked.

“What good is it not to be an idle prince? There is only one throne,” Li Shimin sighed deeply. As a father, he never wished his children to lead mediocre lives. But such was the cruel reality: being born into the royal family was both their greatest blessing and their greatest curse.

A talented child from an ordinary family could enter the court and fulfill ambitions, but within the royal family, even the crown prince was subject to suspicion—let alone among brothers. Was it not clear how Li Shimin himself became a thorn in Li Jiancheng’s side?

As Zhu Gaoxu, the Prince of Han during the Ming dynasty, lamented: if the old man had not waged the Jingnan Campaign, he and Zhu Gaochi might have been the best of brothers.

If Li Yuan had not become emperor and remained the Duke of Tang, surely Li Jiancheng and Li Shimin would have loved and supported each other as a family.

“Who says there is only one throne?” Li Qing said, pointing at his head in frustration. “Brother Li, think carefully—what is it we are supposed to do?”

“You mean…?” Li Shimin’s eyes lit up as he suddenly understood the goal of ‘there being only one Great Tang in the world.’

“You mean when our Great Tang conquers those continents, we’ll enfeoff Qingque and the others there?” he asked.

“Excellent idea,” Li Shimin mused, “to grant overseas lands to sons who cannot inherit the throne—what better solution to a dilemma!”

He began to imagine conquering the continent his brother mentioned—no, that name wouldn’t do. Since it was settled by Shang immigrants, it should be called Yin Continent instead of the harsh-sounding America.

After conquering Yin Continent, Qingque… no, he couldn’t bear to send that plump boy so far away. Better to send the third son, Li Ke.

Li Ke: “So love will disappear, won’t it, Father?”

“What a lousy idea... what about Chengqian’s sons?” Li Qing cut off his daydream mercilessly, casting a glance at Old Li. “Let the world of the Zhenguan era be theirs; don’t make things difficult for future generations, Brother Li.”

This left Li Shimin puzzled. If not by granting overseas fiefs, then where else could they be enfeoffed?

“Brother, stop beating around the bush—just say it.”

“Do you remember what happened in the sixth year of Yonghui?” Li Qing asked with a smile.

“Of course I do.” Just mentioning it raised Li Shimin’s blood pressure again. He had almost forgotten the incident where his son secretly took from his father without being considered a thief, only for painful memories to creep back.

His hands itched; it seemed only Li Zhi could soothe the irritation.

“There have been twenty emperors of the Great Tang. If you’re unhappy with any of them, just replace them. After all, you are Emperor Taizong of Tang—the founding ancestor.”

Li Qing’s words were not without merit. Although Li Yuan was the founding emperor in name, it was Li Shimin who actually conquered the realm, a truly unusual arrangement among founding monarchs.

A case of the son rising thanks to the father.

“Well…” Li Shimin instinctively felt it was improper to suddenly replace emperors who were doing well.

“There are twenty emperors; inevitably, some are fools. Rather than let them continue to ruin the Tang dynasty, why not have them abdicate for the wise?” Li Qing said, looking at Li Shimin with a touch of sympathy. “Brother Li, a hard truth: since halfway through Emperor Xuanzong’s reign, the quality of the emperors has been rather low… conservatively speaking, your sons aren’t quite up to par.”

“What?” Li Shimin’s composure collapsed. “Could it be that our Great Tang has so many fools on the throne?”

“Or perhaps, if we look at it differently, it’s because you have so few capable sons.” Li Qing’s tone was tinged with schadenfreude—after all, they weren’t his sons, so why should he worry?

“Brother, are you trying to comfort me, or provoke me?” Li Shimin asked suspiciously.

“How could I? You’re my dear Brother Li.” Li Qing clapped him on the shoulder like close brothers.

Seeing the few hundred emotional points he’d just gained, his mood improved further.

Brother Li was still Brother Li—so generous.

Seeing Li Qing like this, Li Shimin felt ashamed of his earlier suspicion. Indeed, this was his beloved younger brother; how could he intentionally upset him?

“Blame those unworthy descendants!” Li Shimin thought fiercely. “Don’t let me catch any of you, or I’ll skin you alive!”

“I was wrong to suspect you, dear brother,” Li Shimin admitted promptly.

“Oh, it’s nothing.” Feeling a bit guilty himself, Li Qing quickly changed the subject. “I’ve been tied up on the road these past days, but today I have time. How about a trip back to the sixth year of Yonghui?”

Seeing his depleted emotional points, Li Qing felt he had to replenish them somehow.

Since Li Zhi had shown off the tablet computer, he would start with him.

This time, he would definitely take Li Zhi back there to witness the light of love.

Admittedly, some pure-hearted warriors would never give up until they had seen the Minotaur for themselves.

Though Li Zhi was no pure-hearted warrior, at least during the sixth year of Yonghui, his feelings for Wu Meiniang were sincere.

At least he harbored no ill intentions toward Wu Shun or Helan Minyue.

“Just as I thought.” Mentioning the sixth year of Yonghui, Li Shimin sneered. “I want to see if that brat dares to challenge me to a duel!”

Thinking of Li Zhi’s numerous misdeeds, Li Qing solemnly mourned for him and shook his head. “Hard to say.”

(The End of This Chapter)