I am Li Shen and Li Shimin, the free kings of the Tang Dynasty

“What Father says is quite right, but I think that when you are young and impetuous, you should be proud when you should be proud.”

Wouldn't that boost my brother's confidence?

Li Shen's pride was palpable; he believed that victory should be accompanied by arrogance, and that history was written by the victors.

Li Shimin, seeing this, did not get angry, but calmly asked:

"Do you think you have completely defeated Changsun Wuji today?"

"Otherwise what?" Li Shen smiled. Victory is victory; there's no such thing as complete or incomplete victory.

Seeing Li Shen's expression, Li Shimin thought for a moment and then, as if he had made a decision, said:

"What if you really say you haven't completely won?"

Li Shen and Li Chengqian were taken aback when they heard Li Shimin's words:

"What do you mean by that, Father?" Li Shen couldn't help but ask.

Didn't they say they defeated Changsun Wuji? That's what Dad himself said. He was just praising them both. How come he's changed his mind now?

"Alas, I originally did not want to talk to you about this, but I think you have done enough today."

But since you, Tenth Prince, are so arrogant and complacent, I have no choice but to speak to you all.

Li Shimin let out a final sigh.

"Please enlighten me, Father." Li Chengqian bowed and asked for guidance. Was there really a hidden story behind this?

Li Shen stared wide-eyed, his face full of curiosity.

"Do you know who Han Yuan is?" Li Shimin asked.

"Isn't he Han Zhongliang's son?" Li Shen replied, knowing that he already knew.

"That's right, but you may not know that Han Yuan married Changsun Cao's eldest daughter."

"What?"

Li Shen's expression froze upon hearing Li Shimin's words. He truly had no idea that Han Yuan was the son-in-law of the Changsun family.

He turned to look at Li Chengqian and noticed that Li Chengqian's expression was also not good.

"Brother, you don't know either?" Li Shen asked immediately.

"I...I know. But...but..." Li Chengqian hesitated for a long time. He recommended Han Yuan, so he definitely needed to investigate. He knew that Han Yuan's wife was from the Changsun family.

However, Han Yuan didn't usually have much contact with the Changsun family, so he didn't think about it in that direction.

Han Yuan is indeed a talented person, and Li Chengqian intends to cultivate him.

"You knew but didn't tell me?" Li Shen shouted. What a terrible teammate, Li Shen cursed inwardly.

"I didn't consider that at the time. Han Yuan herself wasn't affiliated with any other faction, and she was young and talented."

"I was only thinking about training him..." Li Chengqian couldn't continue, realizing he had overlooked something.

"You should have told me! I never expected we'd be outmaneuvered by Changsun Wuji." Li Shen was also somewhat annoyed.

I thought I had won a game, but I didn't expect that I was still in their calculations.

Just as the two brothers were filled with regret, Li Shimin spoke again:

"Do they know who Zhao Cihao, whom the Dugu family has recommended, is?"

"Could it also be related to Changsun Wuji?" Li Shen guessed.

"Hmph, of course, Zhao Cihao's wife is Changsun Cao's second daughter."

"Holy shit!!" Li Shen cursed inwardly.

As expected, it was related to Changsun Wuji. Suddenly, Li Shen was taken aback:

"Father, that means Han Yuan, Yang Hongli, and Zhao Cihao are all from their faction, and the aristocratic families recommend one person."

There were four candidates in total, three of whom belonged to the Guanlong aristocratic faction.

"That's right. Now you know why I said you haven't achieved a complete victory. Han Yuan was recommended by Gao Ming. Although he is related to the Changsun family by marriage, Gao Ming has shown him great favor."

But in the end, someone was promoted for the Changsun family, so you only won half the battle.

The only variable here is the tenth prince; otherwise, I would have chosen Han Yuan.

Li Shimin nodded. His two sons were still too young and were far inferior to an old fox like Changsun Wuji.

However, it was already quite good that the two of them were able to force Changsun Wuji to compromise today, because Changsun Wuji's choice was Yang Hongli, a member of the Guanzhong School with impeccable lineage.

Li Chengqian looked somewhat dejected after hearing this; the person he had chosen had ended up benefiting someone else.

“Gao Ming, you don’t need to be so disappointed. Actually, you’ve done a great job and completely disrupted their plans.”

I didn't actually want to tell you this, but I'm saying it now so you know that your uncle is a hundred times more powerful than you imagine.

Seeing Li Chengqian's state, Li Shimin offered words of comfort.

“That’s right, brother, it’s nothing. At least Han Yuan will remember your kindness.”

Not all noble families are willing to collude with them.

You should talk to him then, explain the pros and cons, and I believe Han Yuan is a smart man.

Li Shen also joined in, offering words of advice.

"Thank you for your teachings, Father. I will remember them." Li Chengqian bowed after hearing this.

"Alright, you can go back now." Li Shimin nodded.

"Yes, we'll take our leave." Li Shen and Li Chengqian immediately bowed and withdrew.

On the way out of the palace, neither Li Shen nor Li Chengqian spoke. Li Shen felt somewhat aggrieved, never expecting that the old fox Changsun Wuji to be so shrewd.

They were just putting on an act in front of me, and I was feeling quite smug about it for a while. I never expected that they actually made up three-quarters of the crowd.

As long as the powerful clans and aristocratic families are suppressed, any of the three can be chosen.

"Damn, how insidious!" Li Shen cursed inwardly.

"Tenth Brother, how many more pieces of dirt on Changsun Wuji do you have on him?"

Suddenly, Li Chengqian asked, "You're not even addressing me as Duke of Zhao anymore."

"Well... if we don't count the salt and iron, we can threaten him a couple more times. But if you want revenge, we can start with his son, who would be easier to deal with."

He has several sons; finding something to use against him wouldn't be difficult at all. Even if there isn't any evidence, his younger brother can create one.

Just like Changsun Huan, kill them.

Li Shen said through gritted teeth.

"No need, two items are enough. After all, Mother is still here, so we can't go too far."

Tenth brother, just as Father said, you shouldn't provoke Changsun Wuji for now. He's a great help to me.

At least for now, he's still loyal to me.

Li Chengqian shook his head and said to Li Shen that his mother was still alive, and if he were to treat her so cruelly as Li Shen had done, his mother would be heartbroken.

He wouldn't know how to explain it to his mother then.

Secondly, Changsun Wuji was indeed useful to him, as he could give him a voice in the court and check the power of aristocratic families.

"Hmm...okay, but we underestimated him. We didn't expect that everything was within his calculations."

Li Shen thought for a moment and nodded in agreement, but he was still somewhat unwilling, as he had suffered a loss this time.

"Hehe, don't worry, just wait, we'll have our chance."

Li Chengqian smiled.

(I've had too much to drink, I don't even know what I wrote. I'll revise it tomorrow, time is running out.)