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

In the first month of the first year of the Qianyuan reign, the cold wind from Fanyang, wrapped in snow particles, hit the gilded bronze door of the Prince of Yan's Mansion hard.

An Lushan sat on the soft couch in his bedroom, his left arm hanging limply at his side, his fingertips twitching slightly due to the severe pain - ever since he was hit in the shoulder blade by a stray arrow during the attack on Tongguan last year, the wound has been festering repeatedly, and recently he has even lost the strength to hold the sword.

The best ambergris was burning in the hall, but it couldn't suppress the smell of medicine and a faint smell of blood in the air.

"Your Majesty, it's time to drink medicine."

Eunuch Li Zhu'er entered, carrying a bowl of dark brown medicine. As his knees touched the ground, An Lushan kicked the bowl over. The bowl shattered, the liquid splattering his robes. An Lushan's voice, hoarse as if rubbed by sandpaper, rasped, "I've been drinking this lousy medicine for three months, and it's completely useless! My arm still hurts, you useless bunch!"

Li Zhuer lay on the ground, shaking like a sieve.

He was originally a Khitan slave. Ten years ago, he was castrated by An Lushan and sent to the royal palace. Although he gained some trust over the years, he was often whipped because of An Lushan's brutality.

Seeing the murderous look in An Lushan's eyes, he didn't even have the courage to look up. He only heard a burst of rapid coughing from the couch, mixed with vague curses.

At this time, the curtain was suddenly lifted, and the Imperial Censor Yan Zhuang walked in with a cold air, followed by An Lushan's second son An Qingxu.

Yan Zhuang bent down to pick up the broken pieces of the medicine bowl from the ground. His tone was calm, almost indifferent. "Your Majesty, although the medicine is bitter, it can temporarily relieve the pain. Now the Tang army, led by Guo Ziyi, is approaching Luoyang. If Your Majesty is not well, the morale of the army will be shaken."

An Lushan glared at him fiercely, then gasped in pain. "Morale? My army's morale was shattered long ago by that scoundrel Li Guangbi! In the Battle of Taiyuan, Shi Siming lost many soldiers and generals, and 30% of my elite troops were also lost! If I hadn't been blind, how could I have let that villain Shi Siming take charge of the army?"

An Qingxu stood behind Yan Zhuang, his eyes lowered, his fingers tightly gripping the dagger in his sleeve.

He just turned twenty this year. Since his elder brother An Qingzong was killed by the Tang army, he was the natural heir. However, An Lushan recently mentioned that he wanted to make his youngest son An Qingen the crown prince - he was born to his favorite wife, Madam Duan, and was only five years old.

Every time he thought of this, An Qingxu's heart felt like it was on fire. He hated his father's favoritism, but was also afraid that he would end up like his brother.

"Your Majesty, please calm down. Although Shi Siming was defeated, his base in Fanyang remains."

Yan Zhuang placed the fragments on the table, his eyes sweeping over An Qingxu before turning to An Lushan. "However, the Tang army is currently powerful. If Your Majesty cannot lead the army in person, you must quickly appoint a crown prince to reassure the court and the people. Otherwise, civil unrest may ensue."

"Crown Prince?" An Lushan sneered and struggled to sit up, but it agitated his wound and caused cold sweat to break out on his forehead due to the pain.

"I'm not dead yet, why would I appoint a crown prince? Although An Qing'en is young, he is Madam Duan's son. My kingdom should naturally be passed on to my most beloved son!"

These words were like a sharp knife, piercing An Qingxu's heart.

He raised his head suddenly, a fierce look flashed in his eyes, but he quickly lowered his head and pretended to be submissive.

Seeing this, Yan Zhuang coughed lightly and said to Li Zhuer, "Go down first and boil another bowl of medicine. Remember to add more poppy shells for pain relief."

Li Zhuer felt as if he had been pardoned. He quickly got up and stumbled out of the bedroom.

Only three people remained in the hall, and the air instantly grew stagnant. An Lushan leaned back on the couch, his breathing becoming increasingly heavy. The pain from his wounds made him a little drowsy, but he still stared at An Qingxu intently. "What are you staring at? Are you trying to steal your brother's place? I'm telling you, An Qingxu, if your brother hadn't died, you wouldn't even be breathing before me!"

An Qingxu's teeth were clattering, his nails digging into his flesh. Yan Zhuang stepped forward and lowered his voice, "Your Majesty, I recently received news that Lingwu has sent an envoy to Shu, saying that the Emperor has revoked the decree granting military power. Guo Ziyi's army will soon launch an all-out attack on Luoyang."

"If another internal dispute breaks out in Yan State at this moment, I'm afraid..."

"What are you afraid of?" An Lushan interrupted him, but his tone was a little weaker. "I still have 100,000 soldiers and horses in Fanyang. Even if the Tang army comes, I can hold it!"

Having said that, he felt dizzy and his eyelids grew heavier. The anger he had just felt had exhausted his last bit of strength, and the pain from the wound was gradually replaced by numbness.

Seeing that his eyes were distracted, Yan Zhuang secretly gave An Qingxu a wink.

An Qingxu took a deep breath, slowly pulled out the dagger from his sleeve, and walked step by step to the couch.

An Lushan sensed something was wrong and tried to raise his hand to stop him, but found that his left arm could not move at all. He could only shout hoarsely: "You...what do you want to do? An Qingxu, how dare you kill your father?"

"Father?" An Qingxu sneered, tears suddenly welling up in his eyes. "Are you worthy of calling me father? When my brother was killed by the Tang army, you were drinking and having fun with Madam Duan. I was defending Fanyang for you, and yet you were thinking of passing the throne to a five-year-old child!"

"Today I am killing you, not to kill my father, but to establish a new king for Yan State and to protect this country!"

Before he finished speaking, he suddenly stabbed the dagger into An Lushan's abdomen.

An Lushan's eyes widened instantly, and a "ho ho" sound came from his throat. Blood gushed out from the corner of his mouth and splashed on An Qingxu's robe.

He struggled to grab the sword on the table, but Yan Zhuang held his shoulders tightly.

"Your Majesty, go with peace of mind."

Yan Zhuang's voice was icy. "I will assist His Highness An Qingxu in defending Fanyang and resisting the Tang army. Your kingdom will not perish in our hands."

An Lushan's body gradually became limp, his eyes lost their luster, and finally fell on the coiled dragon embroidery on the ceiling of the tent - it was embroidered by the craftsmen specially when he proclaimed himself emperor, but now it has become his final resting place.

An Qingxu pulled out the dagger, and blood splattered on the couch, staining the mink cushion red.

He looked at his father's body, his body shaking violently, but with a hint of relief.

"Doctor Yan, what should we do next?" An Qingxu's voice was trembling, but a little calmer.

Yan Zhuang walked to the desk, picked up a brush and ink, and quickly wrote a fake edict: "Your Majesty is seriously ill, and the throne is passed to your second son, An Qingxu. He will ascend the throne today and change the reign to Zaichu."

After writing it, he handed the forged edict to An Qingxu and said, "Immediately send someone to Luoyang to inform His Majesty Shi Siming of his death and have him return to Fanyang as soon as possible to attend the funeral - and seize the opportunity to seize his military power."

"Also, call Li Zhu'er and have him handle His Majesty's body. Tell the public that His Majesty is seriously ill and needs to rest. Don't announce the funeral for now."

An Qingxu took the fake edict, his fingertips trembling slightly with excitement.

He looked at his father's body on the table, then at the fake edict in his hand, and suddenly felt the burden on his shoulders become heavier - from now on, he was the emperor of Yan State, and he had to face the fierce attack of the Tang army, check and balance powerful generals like Shi Siming, and defend the half of the country left by his father.

When Li Zhuer was called back in, he saw the corpse on the couch and was so scared that he almost collapsed to the ground.

Yan Zhuang grabbed his collar, his eyes fierce: "If you dare to reveal a single word about His Majesty's death, I will kill you immediately!"

"Now, drag your Majesty's body to the cellar in the apse, cover it with lime, and don't let anyone know!"

Li Zhuer nodded repeatedly, and tremblingly, he and two trusted eunuchs dragged An Lushan's body out of the bedroom.

Only An Qingxu and Yan Zhuang were left in the hall. The flickering light and shadow of the fire were reflected on their faces, half bright and half dark.

"Your Highness," Yan Zhuang bowed and said, "From today on, you are the emperor of Yan."

"The Tang army will attack soon, and Shi Siming may not surrender willingly. We must quickly stabilize the army's morale and prepare for war."

An Qingxu took a deep breath, walked to the table, picked up the gilded seal that symbolized imperial power, and stamped it heavily on the fake edict.

The ink was bright red. He looked out the window at the snow and wind, his voice filled with determination: "I know."

"I hereby declare that from this day forward, all troops will be commanded by Doctor Yan. Anyone who dares to disobey will be charged with treason!"

Yan Zhuang bowed and accepted the order, then turned and walked out of the bedroom. An Qingxu stood alone in the hall, looking at his father's bloodstains, and suddenly felt a chill - he had killed his father and seized the throne, but the future was uncertain.

The cavalry of the Tang army is approaching, Shi Siming's ambition is ready to be realized, and those old subordinates who are loyal to his father will turn around and kill him?