Long live Emperor Wu!

Chapter 104 Why Do You Trust Me?
Prince Li Shan raised his eyes, glanced at them, and said casually:
"Let's go in first, it's very cold outside."

After saying that, he raised his feet and went inside.

His cold temperament carried the majesty of a superior, so even with his gentle and easy-going tone, Li Zhen unconsciously made way for him and turned sideways to let him in.

There was a huge charcoal basin burning in the middle of the hall. There was no smoke and it was red. Four people took their cloaks outside and formed a circle. They sat facing the charcoal basin. Apart from their clothes, there seemed to be no hierarchy.

Just four brothers from an ordinary family.

Li Shan stretched out his hand, roasted it in the firelight, and said with lowered eyebrows:
"Since the death of my eldest brother, my father's health has become worse than before."

He paused for a moment, as if there was a lingering sadness and sadness in his brows, and then continued to say gently:

"He began to think about the things behind him, worried about the future of Datang, and worried that I would not be qualified... Sometimes he would get angry and scold me bloody."

In the firelight, Yue Wang Li Zhen tilted his body, raised his eyebrows as if he was not convinced, and muttered:

"Father is really...since he is worried, why not find someone who convinces him? Hasn't he always been trustworthy in employing people?"

"Ba Ge... stop talking." King Ji Li Shen quickly reminded him.

Li Shan didn't raise his eyes and continued:
"Who else would he not be worried about? ... No one else would worry about such a big thing. After all, none of us are as good as our father."

As soon as these words came out, everyone was silent.

No one can refute this. Among their brothers, whoever becomes the prince may be dissatisfied with the rest.

But in the face of the emperor's achievements, they could not match them. No one dared to say that they would be better than him as emperor.

"One person may not be as safe as my father, but we brothers will be better off together." Prince Li Shan's face turned red in the firelight, and his calm eyebrows were like a statue looking down on the world, and he said:

"I know that I am not outstanding in terms of my talents in civil and military affairs, and I am still young. It is indeed difficult to convince the public as a prince. But there is one thing that I firmly believe I can do well, and that is that I will never be jealous of the talented. Root out dissidents.”

He glanced at them, his eyes slowly passed across the faces of the brothers, and said sincerely:

"As long as it is for the good of the Tang Dynasty, whether it is a position of power or an opportunity to display my ambitions, I will never be stingy. I hope you can sincerely help me."

King Wu Li Ke's eyes were shining brightly, as if he was thinking about something intensely.

Li Shen next to him said loudly:
"Prince...does my father know you think so? A hundred years from now, my father will definitely appoint an auxiliary minister. He has ministers that he believes in. I'm afraid he won't be able to let you reuse us."

He looked very worried and said:
"Besides, if you want to look for me, you should also look for my fourth brother. You, the same mother, are closer than us."

Li Shan heard this and smiled and said:
"King Ji doesn't believe me anymore. The reason why my father called you back is for this matter. I have always been filial and obedient. If there is something he doesn't want me to do, I will never do it.

Besides...it's really a joke to reuse the fourth brother. It's not like you don't know about the life-and-death fight between him and the eldest brother.To be honest, even though he is of compatriot blood, I don't believe him. "

Wu Wangke asked directly at this time:
"Then you trust us?"

Li Shan looked at him and said sincerely:
"To be honest, I can't talk about trust right now. I think trust also needs to be cultivated and see the truth in things. What I believe now is that the three of them must have a heart to contribute to the Tang Dynasty. As long as this purpose is consistent, I don’t care about trivial matters.”

King Li Zhen of Yue smiled, raised his eyebrows and said:

"Prince...I believe you are sincere when you say this, but it's a pity that you see things too simply, a trivial matter? What is a trivial matter? If you say a wrong sentence today, it can be a trivial slip of the tongue, or it can cost someone's life, right? Really?" Prince Li Shan thought for a while and replied seriously:
"I will not."

Li Zhen's smile became even wider, and she tilted her body to the other side and asked:
"Your Highness, have you ever felt dangerous or scared?"

Li Shan was silent for a while and responded sincerely:

"Never."

Indeed, he had not. He had been sad, sad, and even resentful, but he had never been afraid.

The smile on Li Zhen's face gradually became smaller and he said:

"That's your problem. No matter how peaceful and tolerant a person is, when he senses danger, he will draw his sword. Why do you think the emperors of all dynasties were so suspicious and vicious?
It's not that they are like this by nature, but they are in that high position where they are alone, and they are all enemies at a glance, because they are afraid of being rebelled, taken away from the throne, or killed.Therefore, he chose to kill his wife, his children, his loyal officials, and at every turn he barbarized three tribes and destroyed nine tribes. "

Li Zhen looked at Prince Li Shan with the most sincere expression on his face in a long time and said:
"It's not that I don't trust you, it's human nature that I don't trust. Even a man like my father, who has a broad mind and is united as king and minister, did not show any mercy when killing Fifth Brother."

He stretched out his hand to pull each other and said:
"This is still father and son... How is the relationship between our brothers? How confident are you in your ability to win people's hearts?

Even if I say today that I sincerely follow His Highness the Crown Prince and work together to build the future of the Tang Dynasty, if someone falsely accuses me of treason tomorrow, can you guarantee that you will completely believe me? "

Li Shan looked at him, his lips moved but he didn't speak.

He really couldn't guarantee it.

His trust is not based on wind and strength, it must have some basis.

Li Shen next to him nodded in agreement, then sighed, stretched out his hand to warm the fire and said:
"My requirements are not high, I just hope to stay in the feudal territory and be a governor, governor or something like that.

Not being close to the center of power, and not making the emperor feel threatened, it would be nice to live a peaceful life as an ordinary prince. "

Li Zhen, the king of Yue, echoed:
"Who says it's not the case? If you can live a good life, why risk your own life? Isn't our current glory and wealth enough?"

Li Shan didn't have much hope for the two of them, so he turned to look at Wu King Li Ke and asked expectantly:

"Third Brother, what about you?"

Li Ke asked directly:
"How do you want me to help you?"

Li Shan's eyes flashed with surprise and said:
"Stay in Chang'an and become an auxiliary minister."

Li Ke's eyes were particularly bright in the firelight, staring straight at his brother and said:
"Do you know what my father said to me when I left Chang'an?

He said that although we are father and son, if I have the intention to rebel, I will be the enemy of Datang. When it is time to kill me, he will never show mercy.

Even my father doesn’t trust me, why can you trust me?Why? "

As he spoke, there were tears in his eyes again. His eyes were astonishingly bright, and his questioning voice was so loud that he didn't know who he was competing with.

(End of this chapter)