Chapter 499: Chapter 39: Father and Son, Suining in the Western Regions

The rest are just for nodding.

Nonetheless, Li Shimin is somewhat discontent with this matter.

Zezhou State.

With a snap, Li Shimin slapped the letter onto the desk, showing anger on his face: "The Crown Prince truly disappoints me!"

It wasn’t because Li Chengqian was overstepping.

Li Shimin didn’t care about these things.

In today’s Great Tang, no one can escape his control.

The real reason for his anger was that he felt this was Li Chengqian’s own idea, as Li Chengqian inherently liked luxury.

Raising the salaries of officials wasn’t just about the officials.

It also included those dukes....

And the specifications for the Crown Prince’s Eastern Palace naturally had to rise as well.

People are sometimes like this; Li Shimin was already somewhat displeased with Li Chengqian’s actions, and now it had erupted.

"Why is Your Majesty so angry?" Gu Quan looked at Li Shimin and asked.

He had also been brought by Li Shimin.

Li Shimin didn’t say much, only handed the letter to Gu Quan, frowning, "This Chengqian, with his extravagance, I have spoken about this long ago."

"Yet he still hasn’t changed after repeated admonitions."

Saying this, he changed the subject, looking seriously at Gu Quan: "Ziyuan, among the sons, who do you think resembles me?"

— Although not explicitly stated, his meaning was already very clear.

If it were before,

Gu Quan would have been impossible to answer such a question, but now he spoke directly: "The Crown Prince."

"The Crown Prince?"

Li Shimin immediately frowned, his anger slightly easing, "Why?"

"This minister has seen the Crown Prince study in the mansion; his seriousness far surpasses others..." Gu Quan didn’t hold back, responding seriously, "And the Crown Prince is most benevolent—"

"Each time when leaving, he solemnly salutes his cousins.... showing his sincerity."

"Most filial—"

"I heard the Crown Prince still holds monthly memorials for Empress Wen De."

"Most resolute—"

"The Crown Prince has handled state affairs without errors to this day...."

He seriously explained his reasons to Li Shimin, finally smiling, "In this minister’s view, the Crown Prince resembles Your Majesty in your early years."

"Even if not as Your Majesty, he could still be a wise ruler of the ages."

"As for extravagance....."

"Your Majesty should understand that what the Great Tang fears now is not imperial luxury, but inability."

Gu Quan’s words were indeed effective.

The anger on Li Shimin’s face completely dissipated; after a moment of silence, he couldn’t help but nod, "What you said isn’t wrong."

His expression was somewhat complex.

After pondering for a bit, he continued, "But his foot ailment... if he becomes a monarch one day, would this not make envoys from all directions look down on him?"

In fact, Li Shimin had been thinking about this for a long time, but he had no one to confide in.

Even a confidant was impossible.

He could only speak these words with Gu Quan now.

"What harm can a foot ailment do?" Gu Quan smiled, then seriously said, "Your Majesty should know the Barbarians fear power but do not cherish virtue, offering small respect but lacking righteousness."

"The Emperor is not a general."

"As long as our Great Tang remains strong, who among the Barbarians dares to offend?"

"According to you, I should reward the Crown Prince?" Li Shimin looked at Gu Quan and suddenly smiled.

And Gu Quan nodded affirmatively, "Your Majesty has indeed been too harsh with the Crown Prince, and lately, the rumors in the court, Your Majesty should be aware of them."

This time, Gu Quan didn’t say much.

Li Shimin was naturally aware.

Allowing Li Tai to have aspirations of recruiting talents was indeed too sensitive, but this time Li Shimin didn’t pay much attention to it.

The reason was likewise straightforward.

He indeed liked Li Tai and also considered him a trial for Li Chengqian.

— No!

Perhaps it shouldn’t be called a trial, but a knock.

He didn’t like Li Chengqian’s extravagant ways, but it hadn’t reached the point of deposing the Crown Prince, he just wanted to use this to make Li Chengqian restrain himself.

But Gu Quan’s words today also resonated within him.

Li Shimin once again fell silent for a moment, then nodded, his expression returning to normal, "Forget it, forget it, what Ziyuan said is indeed reasonable."

He personally wrote an imperial decree of praise, but also reminded Li Chengqian that he should not only think of the ministers but also the people of the empire.

Then he sent it back to Chang’an.

This was the second time since Li Shimin ascended the throne that he openly praised Li Chengqian.

The first time, it was Gu Lei who fought for Li Chengqian.

At that time, Li Chengqian was still very fragile, young, and sheltered by Consort Zhangsun from the storm, which made him somewhat gentle and unable to withstand Li Shimin’s high pressure.

And this time, it was Gu Quan who fought for him.

This was what he deserved.

...

Regarding the dialogue between the ruler and minister in Zezhou, the ministers naturally had no way of knowing.

However, Li Shimin’s imperial edict finally set everyone’s hearts at ease, including the atmosphere gradually rising in the court which also dissipated somewhat.

But, in the end, someone was displeased by this matter.

Prince Wei’s Mansion.

"Father issued an imperial edict praising the Crown Prince?" Li Tai’s eyes showed a clear disbelief.

But he saw Wei Ting and Du Chuke, his two confidants, both nodding.

The next moment, he couldn’t help but slump into his chair, his face full of despair, "What does Father mean by this?"

"Is he telling me to give up?"

Unlike Li Chengqian,

perhaps also because he was still young, Li Tai suddenly felt a little scared.

His current position is indeed very awkward.

Although nothing has started yet, Li Tai doesn’t think that when Li Chengqian ascends to the throne in the future, he will be spared. This taste of death makes him feel terrified.

"Your Highness, do not worry." Du Chuke immediately cupped his hands and said.

As the Minister of Works in the current dynasty, Du Chuke was still very experienced, "Who doesn’t know of His Majesty’s affection for the Prince?"