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

The late autumn wind in Chang'an carried dead leaves and swept across the red steps of the Liangyi Palace.

The copper bells on the eaves swayed violently in the strong wind, making intermittent sounds, as if telling the rise and fall and impermanence of the dynasty.

Li Ke half-closed his eyes and leaned lazily on the armchair, his knuckles unconsciously stroking the dragon pattern carved on the armrest.

The lifelike dragon pattern was painted by his brother Li Chengqian himself. Now the paint has peeled off, revealing the dark red wood underneath.

Outside the palace, the palace maids' footsteps came closer and closer, but stopped abruptly when they touched the heavy vermilion lacquered door.

Li Ke raised his eyes slightly, and his gaze fell on Wu Meiniang who was kneeling on the blue bricks like an eagle.

Time has left deep marks on this woman.

The talented man who used to keep his head down and be cautious has now changed into a phoenix robe embroidered with gold thread, looking luxurious and majestic.

The nine-phoenix hairpin holding a pearl in her hair swayed gently with her breathing, shining brightly. But when she met Li Ke's cold gaze, her fingertips trembled slightly uncontrollably, revealing the uneasiness deep in her heart.

"When my brother placed you in the secret party, you were just an insignificant pawn."

Li Ke suddenly spoke, his voice hoarse, as if it was being squeezed out with great difficulty from the depths of his memories.

He paused, a complex look flashing in his eyes, "Who could have imagined that this tiny chess piece could so change the situation and stir up such a storm in the court?"

As he spoke, he recalled the great purge three years ago that shocked the government and the country, and almost completely reshuffled the court.

Countless powerful old officials fell overnight, and new elites emerged like mushrooms after rain.

Behind all these seemingly chaotic and disorderly changes, there are the looming shadows of Wu Meiniang and Li Zhi.

Wu Meiniang lowered her eyes, and her long eyelashes cast fine shadows under her eyes, completely concealing the emotions in her eyes.

Her voice was respectful: "General, please understand. I am only following the late emperor's will and doing my best for the Tang Dynasty."

"Do your best?"

Li Ke sneered and stood up suddenly. His dark cloak swept across the table like a dark cloud, bringing down the celadon teacup.

The teacup fell to the ground, instantly exploding into a piece of snow-white porcelain fragments. The crisp shattering sound was particularly harsh in the silent hall.

"The Crown Prince is plotting rebellion, the new Emperor is a coward, and half the officials in the court are your people! Is this what you call loyalty?"

His voice was full of doubt and his eyes pierced Wu Meiniang like a sharp blade.

The air in the hall suddenly froze, and it was so oppressive that it made people breathless.

Wu Meiniang rested her forehead against the cold floor tiles and could clearly hear her own violent heartbeat, as if it was about to burst through her chest.

She recalled the scene when Li Xian was escorted out of Chang'an City. That frail figure gradually shrank in the twilight, like a dying candle, lonely and desolate.

And now, kneeling in front of Li Ke, I am like a dancer hanging on the edge of a knife. If I am not careful, I will be doomed.

Whether to dethrone or establish someone else depends on a single word from the person in front of you.

"To be honest, my idea is to kill."

Li Ke walked slowly in front of her, his black boots stopping just three inches away from her fingertips.

The distance was so close that it seemed as if she could be crushed at any time.

"But before my brother passed away, when he handed me this will, he said that you are the one who can make the Tang Dynasty more prosperous."

He pulled a bright yellow scroll from his sleeve.

Wu Meiniang looked up suddenly, and tears instantly blurred her vision.

That familiar handwriting, that imperial handwriting that was so powerful that it could be seen through the back of the paper, was clearly from the Qianwu Emperor Li Chengqian who had passed away many years ago!

"I have heard that Yin and Yang are in harmony, Heaven and Earth are in harmony..."

Li Ke began to read the imperial edict, his voice echoing in the empty hall with a solemn power.

Wu Mei Niang seemed to have returned to the spring day when she first became an official, with bright sunshine and blooming flowers.

Standing in front of the Taiji Hall, he watched the young emperor vigorously directing the country's affairs, his eyes full of longing and admiration.

At that time, she never thought that one day she would walk to the center of the vortex of power, become the focus of everyone's attention, and become a thorn in the eyes and flesh of many people.

When she read the words "select virtuous daughters to study as officials, and establish girls' schools to teach the six arts", Wu Meiniang dug her fingertips deeply into her palms, her nails almost piercing her skin.

Over the years, the female official system she secretly supported and the charity school she established in Luoyang, weren't they the continuation of the late emperor's wishes?

It turned out that all his plans were under the watchful eyes of those eyes that had long been closed.

She was both moved and shocked by the late emperor's foresight.

"I hope you will perform your duties conscientiously and diligently, and do not let me down."

Li Ke finished reading the last sentence and threw the imperial edict in front of Wu Meiniang. The scroll spread out on the ground, and the imperial seal at the end, "Cheng Qian", was as red as blood, as if to show the sacredness and majesty of this will.

Wu Meiniang held the imperial edict with trembling hands, and tears fell uncontrollably on the silk cloth, leaving tiny water marks.

"Your Majesty... Your Majesty..." She choked with sobs, a mixture of emotions in her heart. At this moment, she finally understood why, no matter how many obstacles she encountered over the years, there was always an invisible force secretly helping her.

It turns out that the late emperor had already calculated this day, calculated that she would reach the pinnacle of power, and also calculated that Li Ke would become the person who would check and balance her.

The late emperor's layout is so interconnected that one cannot help but admire him.

Li Ke looked at Wu Meiniang crying bitterly, feeling mixed emotions.

How could he not understand his brother's painstaking efforts? Wu Meiniang was indeed a talent for governing a country. Her methods and strategies were rarely matched by anyone in the court.

But her ambition was like wildfire. Once it started, it would burn down the entire Li Tang dynasty if she wasn't careful.

"Chang'an is my Li family's Chang'an."

He suddenly spoke, his tone cold and hard, interrupting Wu Meiniang's sobs, "If you want to ascend to the throne, you can only do so in Luoyang."

Wu Meiniang looked up suddenly and her eyes met Li Ke's.

There was no murderous intent in those eyes, but there was a warning colder than murderous intent, as if telling her that there were certain bottom lines that must never be crossed.

Three months later, the Hanyuan Hall was solemn and dignified, yet there was a strange silence.

The golden throne was empty, as if waiting for a new owner.

Wu Meiniang was wearing a robe with twelve emblems. The oriental pearls on the phoenix crown reflected a cold light, making her face look even more stern.

His Majesty and his ministers knelt and shouted "Long live His Majesty!" Only Di Renjie remained upright with his head held high, his eyes determined: "Your Majesty, this action will make you a sinner for all eternity!"

"Dismiss from office." Wu Meiniang's voice was calm, as if she had already anticipated all this.

Her eyes swept across the empty dragon throne, remembering Li Ke's back as he left, and every word in the late emperor's will.

Perhaps this is her fate. From the day she entered the palace at the age of fourteen, she was destined to blaze an unprecedented path in this vortex of power, even if this path was paved with thorns and blood.

The next day, when the first ray of sunlight shone on the Yingtian Gate of Luoyang City, Wu Meiniang took off her phoenix crown, changed into plain casual clothes, and put off the heavy majesty and glory.

On the desk lay a secret letter sent by Li Ke, which ended with only eight words: "Although Luoyang is far away, Chang'an has not been forgotten."

She stared at the eight words for a long time, then picked up her pen and wrote her reply.

Before the ink had dried, the sound of bells announcing the dethronement of the new emperor came from afar.

The morning mist in Luoyang City gradually dissipated, and Wu Zhao stood on the Tianmen Gate, looking at the Luo River flowing eastward.

The river flows endlessly, carrying away the grievances and glory of the past.