Reborn Tang Emperor Li Chengqian

Chapter 463 Suspicion
After a few days of investigation, Li Ke already had some clues, and he decided to report the matter to Li Chengqian.

"Everyone! King Wu, Li Ke, please see me!" The eunuch reported to Li Chengqian.

"Let him in!" Li Chengqian said.

The eunuch retreated and called Li Ke into the palace to have an audience.

"My brother sees the emperor." Li Ke crossed his hands and saluted.

"You came to see me, but what is the clue about Li Xiang's assassination?" Li Chengqian asked.

"Yes!" Li Ke said.

"Quickly tell me, who assassinated Li Xiang, and what is their purpose?" Li Chengqian asked hastily.

"My brother has checked the source of the weapons made in the Military Weapons Supervision. Except for the weapons used by the Sixteen Guards, a batch of weapons have been transferred from the Eastern Palace recently, including bows and crossbows."

"Furthermore, I have investigated carefully. King Wei was assassinated that day, and the weapons in the assassin's hands were the ones transferred in the name of the East Palace." Li Ke said.

"What do you mean? You mean that Li Xiang's assassination was related to the crown prince? Why did the crown prince want to kill King Wei? Could it be that the crown prince can't tolerate his brother so much?"

"On weekdays, King Wei and the prince have no enmity, nor because of the matter of seizing the heir. King Wei will never threaten the prince at all. Why does the prince want to kill King Wei?" Li Chengqian said.

He didn't believe that this matter would have anything to do with the prince, and from any point of view, it was unlikely that the prince would do it.

But Li Chengqian had a doubt in his heart, why it happened so coincidentally, the East Palace was leaving a batch of weapons, and King Wei was assassinated, and the weapons were all matched.

If it has nothing to do with the prince, Li Chengqian doesn't believe it. Could it be that the prince really couldn't do it?But why does Donggong want these weapons?

Could it be that the crown prince is planning to rebel against him and force him to abdicate through an armed coup, is the crown prince in such a hurry?

"My brother has checked, and the crown prince did not order to go to the Military Weapons Supervisor to mobilize weapons, but a senior military officer of the Eastern Palace did it in the name of the Eastern Palace."

"Afterwards, such a high-ranking military officer disappeared mysteriously, and this person was never found again, as if he had evaporated from the world."

"Even so, the prince still cannot get rid of the suspicion. The prince's suspicion is still the biggest, but other possibilities cannot be ruled out." Li Ke said.

A lot of evidence points to the prince. It is the prince and King Wei who fight in the same room, but there are many doubts. The prince has no motive, and there is no conflict between the two sides.

"That is to say, there are other suspects?" Li Chengqian said.

"Yes, all the sons of Brother Huang are suspected, even King Wei who was assassinated." Li Ke said.

"What do you mean? Are you saying that Li Xiang probably directed and acted all of this? Then why did he do this?" Li Chengqian asked.

"Right, the supreme right, as long as the prince falls, Li Xiang and other princes will have a chance to compete for the prince." Li Ke said.

"You mean they might have done such a thing because of the crown prince, is it possible?" Li Chengqian said.

"Your Majesty may not believe it, but this is an indisputable fact. As long as the crown prince is abolished, no matter whether it is Li Xiang, Li Sujie or others, there is a chance to become the crown prince."

"Did you forget the first emperor, Emperor Taizong Wen, how our father got the throne? Did the emperor forget how Qingque coveted your throne back then?"

"There is a lesson from the past. They know in their hearts that Datang's country can be obtained through means. As long as they can succeed, they can have everything." Li Ke said.

They all knew in their hearts that ever since Li Er passed the Xuanwumen Incident and seized the throne, he had set an example for future generations.

The imperial power of the Tang Dynasty can be seized by force. In the eyes of Li Tang's royal family, it is just a common occurrence.

"I have established the crown prince and let them all go to the fief, so can't this prevent their brothers from fighting each other?" Li Chengqian roared.

"Since you don't want to see their brothers fighting each other, why did you recall them to Chang'an? This will give them the illusion that they have a chance to become the prince."

"You shouldn't have issued an edict to let them come back, so nothing like this will happen. You haven't let them come back in the past. What happened this year? Why did you suddenly think of letting them come back?" Li Ke said.

"I'm getting older and older. I'm fifty now, and I still have a few more years to live. I just want to call them all back to have a look while I'm still alive." Li Chengqian said.

What's wrong with being a 50 year old man who just misses his sons and makes them come home to see their old dad.

"You said, it's very likely that Li Xiang planned the assassination himself to frame the prince. Why did he do this? I didn't imply anything to him?" Li Chengqian was puzzled.

"You Duanduan suddenly named him King of Wei, added real accounts, and even named his youngest son. Is there any deep meaning hidden in it, and what will others think, even if you don't mean it."

"It's hard to guarantee that other people won't have such meanings. I'm afraid that what others say to Li Xiang, the speaker has no intentions, but the listener has intentions." Li Ke said.

Perhaps, this is just a random reward from Li Chengqian, but for most people, it is not the case, and they will speculate on the meaning of it.

Especially those from the prince's lineage are more likely to speculate. They are worried whether the emperor has any opinion on the prince and want to support another force to suppress the prince.

Even instead, the prince and the others dared not gamble, so they could only take the risk and solve the threat of King Wei.

Li Chengqian said: "What about the others? Li Sujie, Li Wu, and Li Wen, why did they frame the crown prince? What good is it for them?"

"Of course there is. As long as Li Xiang dies, if all the blame is directed at the crown prince, the crown prince will not be able to find any evidence to prove his innocence, and it will only be a matter of time before he is deposed."

"If the crown prince is abolished and King Wei dies, then the position of crown prince will fall into their hands. You have to choose a suitable heir among them, right?"

"So, they are also the vested interests in the assassination of King Wei, and any of them may lead all of this." Li Ke said.

As long as King Wei and the crown prince fall, among them, Li Sujie will benefit the most, because if King Wei and the crown prince fall, Li Sujie is most likely to become the crown prince.

"Don't say anything about this matter, let me think about how to deal with it, you go back first!" Li Chengqian said.

"Your brother, leave!" Li Ke bowed and withdrew.

As for the assassination case of King Wei, it was finally suppressed and closed hastily.

After the Shangyuan Festival, Li Chengqian asked Li Sujie and others to return to the fief. As for Li Xiang, he was seriously injured. Considering this reason, Li Chengqian allowed him to recuperate in Chang'an and send him back to the fief after he recovered.
(End of this chapter)