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

The late spring rain, wrapped in a chill, slanted across the double eaves of the Liangyi Palace like thousands of silver needles, making the gilded gargoyles shine.

The copper bells on the eaves swayed violently in the wind, making a chaotic sound that intertwined with the intermittent coughing sounds in the hall.

Li Chengqian was half leaning on the armchair, with the heavy brocade cloak hanging loosely on his shoulders. It not only failed to hide his thin figure, but made him look even more emaciated.

When Li Tai finished speaking, Li Chengqian suddenly started coughing violently. He covered his mouth with a shark silk handkerchief. The coughs came one after another, shaking the table beside the couch slightly.

It took him a while to catch his breath. He raised his head and looked straight at Li Zhi. There was both expectation and pleading in his eyes.

"What about you, Zhinu? Your two brothers both say they can't do it. Tell me what you think."

The end of Li Chengqian's voice still carried the tremor of a lingering cough.

Hearing this sudden question, Li Zhi was shocked and subconsciously raised his hand to touch his hot face.

He leaned forward unconsciously, as if he couldn't believe his ears.

"Brother, are you talking about me?"

His voice trembled slightly, filled with panic, and his eyes wandered over Li Chengqian's face. "Do you think I can do this?"

When he said this, his Adam's apple rolled up and down, revealing his inner uneasiness.

Li Chengqian looked at him quietly, a glimmer of expectation flashing in his cloudy eyes.

He slowly sat up straight, but the excessive movement triggered an even more violent coughing fit, and it took him a long time to catch his breath.

He looked at Li Zhi.

"Zhi Nu, everyone here is your brother. Blood is thicker than water. Do you still want to hide your thoughts?"

He paused, wiped the corner of his mouth with a handkerchief, and continued, "If you have anything to say, just say it directly. Now is different from the past. You know what Big Brother thinks."

"My Tang Dynasty has no successor. I cannot carry this burden, so I can only wait for you to shoulder it."

"If you all evade your responsibilities, what will become of this country and its people?"

At the end of his speech, his voice suddenly rose, with a hint of anxiety.

His fingers unconsciously stroked the armrest.

"I still remember what you said to me when you were young."

"Brother Ke once said he wanted to be a general who would expand the territory."

The corners of his mouth curled up slightly, as if he saw his young and frivolous brother wielding a sword in the martial arts field again, and a warm memory flashed in his eyes.

"Father said you have more character than I do."

His eyes swept over Li Tai. Li Tai's jaw suddenly tensed, and a hint of unnaturalness flashed in his eyes, as if the most secret past deep in his heart was touched.

"Qingque's Comprehensive Geography is renowned throughout the world, and Zhinu handles government affairs in a methodical and orderly manner, much like my father's meticulousness."

His tone was full of admiration, yet also tinged with emotion. "You are all good, all amazing. I'm not suspicious of you, and we're not like other royal heirs. Everything that happened before is in the past."

"This isn't about power or anything else. I just want to ask you younger brothers, who is willing to take on this challenge for your eldest brother?"

Li Chengqian's voice gradually choked and tears welled up in his eyes.

"Don't think too much about it. There's no ruler or minister here. We're just a bunch of parentsless children sitting here huddled together for warmth, okay?"

There was loneliness in his eyes.

"Your eldest brother's wife passed away, his son died, and his ministers also left one after another."

"Besides Yi'er, you are the only ones left among my descendants, connected to me by blood."

"If you all don't tell me the truth, then who else in this world can talk to me?"

"Qingque, haven't you always wanted to sit in this seat? Why, you don't want to sit in this seat anymore?"

At this point, his voice became intermittent and tears rolled down his cheeks.

Li Tai looked at the haggard Li Chengqian in front of him, his nose felt sore and his eyes instantly turned red.

"Brother, that was because I was young and ignorant. I'm sorry, big brother."

There was a cry in his voice.

"Brother, don't say that. We are a family, and we don't have to talk behind each other's backs. Now that Mom and Dad are gone, I know that you have too much on your shoulders. Not only do you have to deal with state affairs, but you also have to take care of us brothers and sisters."

Li Tai wiped the tears from his face, his face full of regret.

"I know better than anyone that you have done so much to protect us. But, brother, I now know that I am not cut out for it. Even if I have to handle Tokyo's affairs, I would be powerless without Zhinu's help."

"I am not cut out to sit on the throne, big brother. I'm used to being comfortable under your umbrella. If you ask me to be that umbrella and protect my brothers, I'm afraid I can't do it."

"I can't even take care of myself. I think Zhinu can."

Hearing Li Tai's words, Li Ke also nodded silently.

"Chinu has a gentle personality and is capable. At least, many of Tokyo's affairs were handled by Zhinu alone."

"He has the ability and the responsibility."

Li Chengqian's gaze fell on Li Zhi again, his eyes full of anticipation.

"Child slave, what do you say?"

His voice was soft, for fear of scaring the hesitant brother in front of him. His outstretched hand trembled slightly, as if he wanted to grab something, but it fell down weakly.

Li Zhi met Li Chengqian's expectant eyes, feeling mixed emotions.

Memories of the past came flooding back like a tide. He remembered when he was a child, in the garden of the East Palace, his brother taught him horse riding and archery step by step, and the sunlight shone on his brother's smiling face, warm and bright.

He remembered that when he was sick, his brother stayed by his bedside all night, testing medicine and feeding him soup, and his warm hands gently stroked his forehead.

He remembered how his brother patiently explained things to him every time he encountered a problem. Looking at his brother's haggard appearance now, with his temples gray and his face full of traces of illness, he really couldn't bear to refuse.

"Royal brother...I'm afraid I can't do it well."

His voice was hesitant, but he mustered up the courage to speak.

Hearing that Li Zhi had given in, everyone in the hall breathed a sigh of relief.

At least, the Tang Dynasty will no longer be without a successor.

Li Chengqian even smiled, although there was a hint of bitterness in that smile, as well as an unconcealable sense of relief.

He slowly took out a roll of yellow silk from his chest, which was covered with dense handwriting.

"This is the imperial edict I drafted to pass on the throne..."

His voice was weak, but every word carried great weight. "Child slave, accept my order."

Li Zhi fell to his knees and took the imperial edict with both hands, feeling the coldness of his brother's palms.

"Brother, what's wrong with you?"

Li Chengqian smiled and said, "I expected it."

"If I ever pass away, Zhinu, you will immediately take the throne before my spirit. You two, please help Zhinu!"

"We are all brothers!"

The edict glowed dark yellow under the candlelight. "Brother..." Li Zhi burst into tears. The moment the edict was unfolded, a tear happened to fall on the cinnabar characters "Li Zhi, Emperor of the Tang Dynasty", staining the ink even brighter red.

Li Chengqian turned to look at his three younger brothers, then looked outside where the spring rain was still falling.

The raindrops glowed dimly under the illumination of the palace lanterns, shrouding the distant palace in mist.

"Spring has come, but I'm afraid I won't be able to get through my winter."