I Can Control My Ancestors

Chapter 537 - 52: Sudden Awakening, Father and Son (Part 2)

He was rendered speechless.

In the past, he could still deceive himself, but with this scene before him, how could he avoid it any longer?

The favoritism he has shown towards Prince Wei over the years... it was indeed excessive and significant!

This was an undeniable fact, beyond dispute.

Li Chengqian’s lips curved into a bitter arc, slowly shaking his head.

The colossal burden long pressed upon his heart thunderously lifted, bringing an unprecedented relief; those words deeply buried, tormented day and night, today... finally could be spoken.

"Between you and me as father and son, between me and Prince Wei as brothers."

"To have reached this day..."

"Is it my fault? Or is it Prince Wei’s fault?"

"Or perhaps... is it you, Father, who is truly at fault?!"

He stared directly at the throne, hurling this final question.

Having spoken, he hesitated no longer, nor performed any further courtesies; Li Chengqian decisively turned around, limping toward the hall’s door.

"Chengqian——!! Do not force me!!"

Li Shimin’s eyes were blood-red, desperately grasping his son’s receding figure, roaring hoarsely, his voice carrying an almost imperceptible tremor.

"Force you?"

Li Chengqian’s steps suddenly halted; he slowly turned half his body, a sneer of utmost coldness playing on his lips: "Is it I, your son... forcing you, Father?!"

"Father does not know son, son does not know father..."

Li Chengqian softly repeated this fateful verdict, his voice suddenly rising, full of utter fatigue and release: "I am tired!!"

"Of this play in the Eastern Palace, I... have performed enough!!!"

"I shall now return to the Eastern Palace to await my fate—be it three feet of white silk, a cup of poisoned wine, or exile a thousand miles, I... quietly await your decision!"

"The Eastern Palace has but a mere few dozen people," he pointed fiercely towards the direction of the Eastern Palace outside the hall, his gaze burning intensely: "Father, you may open your eyes and see clearly—"

"See how this Crown Prince, whom you claim lacks virtue, truly treats those around him!!"

As if to pour out all the repressed emotions of the past twenty-one years.

At this point, Li Chengqian seemed completely resigned, suddenly spinning around to point at the supreme dragon throne, each word sharp as a blade, ringing with finality:

"As for this seat—Father!"

"You hold it fast, wear it through! Be sure... not to leave it for such an unworthy person like me!!!"

Having said this,

Li Chengqian no longer looked back, decisively walking out of the hall.

Inside the hall, there was a deathly silence.

Watching his son’s diminishing back, Li Shimin’s tears silently fell; his body trembled violently, uncontrollably, yet he could only force himself to remain upright.

He sat alone in the hall, only regaining his breath after a long while, then commanded someone to summon Li Tai.

The entire Imperial Palace was shrouded in a heavy silence. Li Tai, guided by the palace eunuchs, entered the grand hall and, upon entry, immediately knelt with a "thud," his voice trembling and tearful:

"Father! Your son knows his wrongs!"

——In stark contrast, worlds apart.

In the past, Li Shimin would have regarded this as obedience, but now it seemed utterly unsatisfactory.

"You....."

He remained silent for a long time before speaking: "Where did you get such audacity?"

"Father, your son knows his wrongs."

Li Tai buried his head deeply on the ground, crying as he spoke: "I was beguiled by others; it was those ministers who advised me to do so!"

"They said, considering the favor I receive from Father."

"When the Crown Prince ascends the throne in the future, he would not spare me....."

"Your son was beguiled by them!"

His body could not stop trembling.

In front of this father who had achieved heaven-like feats, Li Tai had no courage to face him directly.

He feared losing all he currently possessed.

Not only Li Shimin’s favor but also his own status.

A scholar is still just a scholar.

Li Tai exemplified the scholar’s disposition.

Faced with Li Shimin, he simply could not, like Li Chengqian, confront everything openly and express all his grievances.

Li Shimin just looked at Li Tai.

At this moment, he seemed to have lost the heart to ask further.

But thinking of all that this son had done in the past, after a long silence, he couldn’t help but utter a sentence: "If you were the Crown Prince, how would you rule the world, how would you treat your brothers?"

Upon hearing this, Li Tai was momentarily stunned.

He never expected Li Shimin to say such a thing.

Though he did not fully grasp what had happened.

Yet he gazed into Li Shimin’s profound eyes and hesitated before finally speaking: "If... if I were the Crown Prince."

"I would follow Father’s methods of ruling the country."

"Implement benevolent governance, lighten corvée and reduce taxes, allowing the people to recuperate; open wide the channels for advice, accept remonstrations like a stream, emulating the magnanimity of the Emperor Father;"

"....."

Li Tai still replied as he usually did to please Li Shimin, "As for the future affairs..."

"Before my death, I will surely kill my offspring and pass the throne to Zhi Nu."

He, too, understood very well that "Xuanwu Gate" was a deep-seated worry for Li Shimin, who wanted to see harmony among his descendants.

Such words, if spoken in the past.

Li Shimin would undoubtedly sigh at Li Tai’s filial piety.

But now it is entirely different.

——Kill the son to pass the throne to the brother!

Li Shimin’s brows furrowed instantly.

Not to mention how much this would harm human relations, just based on Li Tai’s actions this time, Li Shimin couldn’t possibly believe these words.

In an instant, his expression turned even more somber.

Thinking of Li Chengqian just now, and then thinking of the current Li Tai.

Regret sprouted in his heart.

Regret for what has been done over the years.

But what use is regret?

Li Chengqian’s character has now fully formed, and Li Tai has also reached this point, and it is too late for regret.

Continue letting Li Chengqian be the Crown Prince?

Not to mention whether he can become a wise ruler, Li Tai will certainly die.

With Li Chengqian’s temperament, there is absolutely no way he can spare Li Tai.

And the future of the Great Tang will inevitably be influenced by this.

The struggle between brothers will be endless.

Everything began with him!

This thought exploded like thunder in Li Shimin’s mind, instantly flooding him with countless reflections, and his expression grew increasingly complex and indistinguishable.

"Father?"

Seeing Li Shimin’s silence, a sudden gleam of eagerness flashed in Li Tai’s eyes.

He thought this was a hint regarding the succession.

"Leave!"

Li Shimin, without wasting a word, simply waved his hand, his voice firm and unyielding.

"Father..." Li Tai looked as if struck by thunder, frozen in place, utterly confused.

But facing Li Shimin’s suddenly sharp, icy gaze, his heart trembled and he dared not speak further, hastily kowtowing, and retreated in embarrassment.

Within the great hall, there was a deathly silence, pressing heavily, making it hard to breathe.

Li Shimin sat solemnly on the dragon throne, tears silently flowing down his cheeks, line after line.

"Come!"

After who knows how long, he finally spoke hoarsely: "Summon the Grand Tutor immediately—"

Yet his voice abruptly stopped.

As if thinking of something, he shook his head directly, murmuring to himself: "Forget it."

Saying this, Li Shimin slowly rose, his steps heavy, and walked straight towards the Lingyan Pavilion.

How could summoning Gu Jing help?

Gu Jing was never Gu Quan.

Gu Jing could not and would not involve himself in matters concerning the state foundation.

He was the pillar Li Shimin left for the future ruler, and Li Shimin was unwilling to drag him into this.

Lingyan Pavilion.

In that solemn hall, Li Shimin walked slowly to the deepest part, finally stopping before Gu Quan’s portrait, then, as he once did, casually sat on the ground.

"Ziyuan—"

"If you were still here, how could everything have fallen to this state?"

He looked at Gu Quan’s portrait and murmured.

Gu Quan could unconditionally calm him down.

And as long as he could calm down, maybe all this wouldn’t have evolved into this situation today.

But that’s just self-consolation.

Gu Quan had actually said many times that he was too harsh on the Crown Prince, but Li Shimin never cared before.

The relationship between this father and son was beyond anyone’s power to change completely.

Ever since Empress Zhangsun’s passing and the moment Li Chengqian became lame, everything had been destined to be this way.

Before everything evolved to the end, a proud and confident person like Li Shimin would never think himself wrong.

Just as it is today!...

...

(Ps: Bowing in request for monthly votes and recommendation tickets, pleading for the brothers’ support, Yu is immensely grateful.)