Li Shimin faked his death? Then I will be powerful enough to conquer the world!

Chapter 256 Li 2's Request

Li Shimin looked at Li Chengqian with deep eyes, and was the first to break the silence, slowly saying: "Gao Ming, are you going back to Chang'an tomorrow?"

His voice was a little uneasy and vicissitudes of life.

Li Chengqian stood tall and straight, nodded slightly, and responded, "Yes, Father, I will set off to return to Chang'an tomorrow."

"I've been so busy this year, and with the New Year approaching, I'm sure many officials will come to pay their respects. It's going to be hard for me to get away."

There was helplessness in his eyes, but he also had the responsibility of being an emperor.

Upon hearing this, Li Shimin lowered his eyes slightly and fell silent for a short time.

After a moment, he raised his head again and said solemnly, "Gao Ming, I have two things I want to discuss with you."

There was a hint of pleading in that tone.

Li Chengqian quickly bowed and said sincerely, "Father, please feel free to speak. I will listen attentively."

Li Shimin raised his head slightly, lost in deep recollection, his tone becoming distant. "Gao Ming, my old comrades who once fought alongside me on the battlefield and strategized side by side in the court, they have spent their lives accompanying me through countless storms."

"Now, I want to leave a significant mark in history for them and bestow upon them a name that will endure through the ages."

Having said this, he paused for a moment, his eyes full of determination.

"I want you to help me establish the Lingyan Pavilion of Twenty-Four Heroes to commemorate their great achievements."

"This action will also help you consolidate the Tang Dynasty's political power in the future and set an admirable example for the people of the world."

Li Chengqian noticed the hesitation in Li Shimin's words. The corners of his mouth curled up slightly, revealing a meaningful smile. He asked softly, "Father, I guess Zhangsun Wuji is among them, right?"

"Are you worried that telling this to me might upset me?"

His eyes were fixed on Li Shimin, as if he wanted to see through his inner thoughts.

Seeing Li Chengqian bring this up himself, Li Shimin's slight worry dissipated. He sighed softly, his sigh filled with mixed emotions: "Although Fu Ji has committed the crime of treason, he is still your uncle, and the closest brother to your mother in this world."

"Looking back to those days, if I had wanted to achieve the hegemony of the Tang Dynasty, it would have been almost impossible without his wisdom and full support."

"Therefore, no matter what crimes he committed, deep in my heart, he will always be the most meritorious official of the Tang Dynasty. This status cannot be easily shaken by anyone."

"Of course, Gao Ming, if you have any qualms about this, Aye will not force you in the slightest. After all, what he did..."

Li Chengqian extended his hand to Li Shimin without waiting for him to finish. This sudden move made Li Shimin startled, his eyes full of confusion: "What's wrong? Gao Ming?"

Li Chengqian playfully raised his eyebrows at Li Shimin, his words revealing a carefree attitude: "Old Li, where is that carefully drawn up list?"

"I know in my heart that you must have made all the preparations."

"You can rest assured that your son is not such a petty person."

"Aye, just hand over the list to me. Once I return to Chang'an, I will immediately arrange for personnel to properly handle all matters."

"Their portraits will be hung in the Lingyan Pavilion, making them role models admired by generations to come in the Great Tang Dynasty."

Li Shimin gazed at Li Chengqian quietly, a gratified smile gradually appearing on his face. He slowly raised his hand and gently stroked his neatly trimmed beard, praising him sincerely, "Chengqian, now you are increasingly showing the demeanor and bearing of an emperor."

Li Chengqian pretended to be angry and rolled his eyes at Li Shimin, with a bit of youthful recklessness and

He said confidently, "I am the Emperor of the Tang Dynasty. I was born with the imperial bearing."

Li Shimin chuckled at his expression, then carefully took out the list filled with names from his pocket, handed it solemnly to Li Chengqian, and said, "It's all here."

Li Chengqian took it steadily with both hands, nodded slightly, and put it in his arms without even looking at it. He then asked, "Father, what was the second thing you mentioned just now?"

Li Shimin's expression suddenly became hesitant, his lips slightly opened, but he seemed unable to speak: "Cheng Qian, I am... I just want to ask you..." His hesitant look made the air full of tension and mystery.

Li Chengqian sighed helplessly at Li Shimin's agonizing expression. He stepped forward, put his arm around Li Shimin's shoulders affectionately, and said earnestly, "Old Li, you and I are blood relatives, father and son. Is there anything in this world that we can't be honest with each other about?"

"Are you still going to hide things from me, your son, and hold back?"

Li Shimin was slightly shocked when he heard Li Chengqian's words. After thinking about it carefully, he felt that this was indeed not the right thing to do. So he mustered up his courage and poured out all the confusion and worries in his heart: "Chengqian, where is Ke'er now?"

"I've said before that Ke'er's courage and bravery are quite similar to mine. But you also know what Aye is thinking. Qingque and Ke'er, one a scholar and the other a warrior, are both outstanding talents of the Tang Dynasty. However, you have always been the unique candidate for the crown prince in my mind, and this has never changed."

"But now, I have no idea about Ke'er's current situation, and I can't help but feel uneasy."

"Aye knows that you are definitely not the kind of person who would kill your own brothers, so I came to ask you."

Seeing that Li Shimin asked so frankly, Li Chengqian decided not to hide it anymore. He quietly approached Li Shimin's ear, lowered his voice, and told him everything about Li Ke's recent situation.

When Li Shimin heard this, his eyes widened with disbelief, as if he had heard some fairy tale. He stood there in a daze, unable to come back to his senses for a long time.