Chapter 108:

Chapter 108:

Everyone has their own bias, who doesn’t? Li Er is the same. His 2 older children he personally brought up and now that they are adults, one does all the right things and the other is rebellious. So who would he prefer? Of course the one who does things he approves off.

Now that Li Yuanying is growing up and is actually a smart kid who does the things he put his heart to and respects his elder brother very much. He even dares to share things to him that no one else would and is willing to share his experiences sincerely. Li Er thinks that this is a good kid that he likes too.

This incident, someone made the mistake of making it too obvious and the Emperor is no longer able to pretend to turn a blind eye to it.

Although Li Yuanying out-rightly said that he doesn’t need any explanation, the Emperor cannot just do as he wishes. This younger brother of his has been living his life wildly and is not a cry baby. No one dares to offend him or wrong this little prince anyway. The last time Li Er has seen him crying so badly was when he snuck into his palace and saw the Emperor lying in bed sick.

This time the child really do feel wronged.

Li Er stayed at the Academy to console his younger brother before making a move.

Hearing his older brother’s promises, Yuanying became a happy child again. No matter how people praises him in the future, he doesn’t need to worry anymore. Brother promised to make it known to him personally if he starts to doubt his loyalty. That shadow figure pulling string in the dark do not have ammunition to do so anymore!

The Emperor’s current trip to the Academy was seen by many.

Mei Niang and the girls were the first to arrive. Seeing Yuanying’s red eyes she questioned if the Emperor gave him a scolding.

“If Lord Brother doesn’t scold me then I’ll be worried.” He assured Mei Niang and Wei Shu. “All is good, Lord brother will not be suspicious about me or Chengqian!”

But why not? (Mei Niang)

Yuanying shared the Emperor’s promise to him to the girls.

Mei Niang became quiet after hearing this. She didn’t expect the boy to play “tell me if you doubt me” card.

But can the Emperor’s words be trusted? She personally doubt so. But seeing the boy happy she didn’t want to pour cold water on him. Perhaps people who are direct has their advantages too, that way no one would second guess their intentions since everything is said outright and there isn’t much room for people to twist your words. Thinking about this on another level, those who has real skills perhaps the Emperor already has thoughts about them!

It didn’t matter how serious the outward situation is because in Li Yuanying’s heart this is a settled matter. As long as his Lord brother doesn’t believe the rumors, how others perceive him doesn’t matter. What others think, don’t bother him, let them think whatever they want!

The Imperial Academy returned to a calm state but Chang’an City had much action. It started with some aristocratic children being moved around, including Fang Jun who was moved from the Imperial Academy to the Royal Military for training. Based on hearsay, Old Man Fang had a troubled expression when he attended court session lately and look a few years older.

The biggest news of all is that Prince Wei really is leaving to his own lands.

Most incidences are link, when a carrot is being pulled from the ground, it brings up dirt with it. Per Li Tai’s preferred way of acting, he does most things in the shadows and rarely goes public. Therefore, his secret intentions to battle with the Crown Prince has been kept very much confidential.

This round Li Tai has been so furious with Li Yuanying that he almost fainted. He has already managed to keep his footing in Chang’an through his wife’s pregnancy and just needed to lay low for a few months. But Li Yuanying went ahead and confess to him that it was his idea to the Emperor to move Li Tai away and so he became the most hated person to Li Tai ahead of Li Chengqian.

All these years, Li Tai has never treated Li Changqian with respect. In his eyes, Chengqian is just lucky to be born a year earlier. Comparing their education and talent, Chenqian cannot compare to himself. If you compare reputation, he is also better. If you compare father’s love, he is winning too. Why is Li Chengqian the Crown Prince and not himself?

Being in a bad mood is just a feeling, he still had to get to work. Quan Wanji made up his mind to pay close attention to Prince Wei and will not allow him to make any mistake. More than that, he needs to remove any ambition he had to compete with the Crown Prince for the throne. The Emperor Li Er had already created such a history, his sons shouldn’t learn to do the same.

If Li Tai really did commit any wrongs that he is not suppose to, the first person to be found guilty would be him, the advisor to Prince Wei!

To keep himself safe from troubles, he needs to make sure Prince Wei behaves.

Li Chenqian being the Crown Prince had to personally send off his younger brother. Both siblings had not spoken in a long time. At the outer gate, Li Tai stood next to his carriage staring at Li Chengqian.

Chenqian stood silently for awhile: “Have a safe journey.”

Li Tai had a smirk: “I envy that you were born a year earlier.”

Being born 1 year earlier made everything the Crown Prince do legit, which unlike him despite working hard everything amounts to nothing.

“I also envy that you were born a year later.” (Li Chengqian)

Born 1 year late and allowed to live freely: cry whenever, play whenever. It didn’t matter if it was grandfather or mother, everyone loved him. The amount of conversation father had with Li Tai in a day is more than a month that he spoke to Li Chengqian. If he was given a choice, why would he choose to be the Crown Prince? He would rather be like Li Yuanying, doing whatever he wanted and achieving whatever he puts his heart to. There is no high expectation to meet and life is easy and free.

Li Tai did not answer to Li Chengqian’s statement but climbed onto his carriage.

The first night away from Chang’an, Li Tai had a dream. He dreamed that they were still children living in the palace. The atmosphere in the palace suddenly became tense and everyone’s faces were covered with tension and solemnity. Both brothers sensed that something was wrong but mother comforted them saying all is okay. Go back to sleep and all would be fine when they wake up. Sure enough, when they woke up, everything has changed.

Cousins who they often played with all disappear.

They found out the reason their cousins had gone missing from servants who let news accidentally slip.

They were all dead.

Papa is now King.

Therefore, being the Crown Prince can also mean death.

Li Tai open his eyes in shock.

The sky has turned white.

Its daybreak.

It was also on this day that Li Er ordered an edict to restore the late Prince Ying as crown prince, and to make Li Yuanji Prince of Chao.