I have already established my power and prestige, so how did Li Shimin come back to life?

Li Jing answered truthfully, with a hint of helplessness in his tone, and the traces of time were clearly visible at this moment.

Hearing Li Jing's answer, Li Chengqian looked at him deeply, with a complicated look in his eyes.

Then he said, "General Li, you remain silent in the court, making yourself completely transparent and marginalized. I want to ask you, do you want to be the Sima of Jin?"

Li Chengqian said this calmly, but this sentence was like a blockbuster bomb, exploding in Li Jing's heart.

Li Jing was not calm at all when he heard this. He was startled and his sleepiness disappeared without a trace.

He stood up hurriedly, feeling panicky, and walked quickly to the side, about to kneel down.

But then he heard Li Chengqian's angry rebuke: "Don't kneel! I didn't ask you to kneel. Go back and sit down! I'm talking to you, just answer my questions!"

Li Chengqian's voice was extremely majestic and echoed in the palace.

"I'm asking you again!"

"Do you want to be the Sima of Jin?"

Li Chengqian stared at Li Jing closely, not missing any expression on his face.

After hearing what Li Chengqian said, Li Jing did not return to his seat. Instead, he bowed to Li Chengqian and said, "Your Majesty, this old minister has absolutely no such intention!"

His eyes were firm and sincere, as if he wanted to reveal his inner thoughts to Li Chengqian.

"I know, I know you don't have that intention, I just want to tell you directly."

Li Chengqian's tone softened a little.

"I am not the late emperor. I don't like beating around the bush. I called you here today because I wanted to have a frank chat with you."

He stood up and slowly walked towards Li Jing.

"I have never been wary of you."

"The old general has nothing to hide."

Hearing Li Chengqian say this, Li Jing slowly raised his head. In the dim light, he tried hard to see clearly the young master of the Tang Empire.

How young! A young man of twenty-two!

There was a calmness and majesty beyond his age on that young face, and wisdom and courage in his eyes, as if he was a rising star, emitting a dazzling light.

"Thank you, Your Majesty!" Li Jing's voice trembled slightly.

Li Chengqian looked at Li Jing with an inexplicable look in his eyes.

He slowly spoke, "General Li, if I remember correctly, you were born into a branch of the Longxi Li family, right?"

"Your Majesty, I am indeed from the Longxi Li family."

Li Jing replied, feeling somewhat confused as to why Li Chengqian suddenly mentioned this matter.

"You also know that I don't get along with aristocratic families and I don't like them. General Li was born into an aristocratic family, and like me, he hates them to the extreme."

Li Chengqian paced in the hall as he spoke.

"Hongfu girl, Kunlun slave, tiger under the hall."

"These three were your favorites when you were young."

"In the fourth year of Wude, you pacified Xiao Xing and brought glory to Lingnan! In that battle, you were like a celestial being sent down from heaven, defeating Xiao Xing without a fight back. Lingnan was completely annexed by the Tang Dynasty, and your fame spread far and wide."

"In the sixth year of Wude, you destroyed Duke Wu Hu! You once again demonstrated your extraordinary military talent and eliminated a major hidden danger for the Tang Dynasty."

"In the eighth and ninth years of Wude, you conquered the Eastern Turks! You fought against the Turks in the icy and snowy lands, protecting the borders of the Tang Dynasty."

"In the fourth year of Zhenguan, Jie Li Khan was captured! What a feat that was! It terrified the Turks."

"In the ninth year of the Zhenguan reign, you pacified Tuguhun! You penetrated deep into enemy territory, overcame numerous difficulties, and made immortal contributions to the stability of the Tang Dynasty."

"You've fought countless battles, big and small, and spent your entire life in the military."

Li Chengqian stopped and looked at the seventy-year-old pharmacist with a sharp gaze.

"I really don't understand, Pharmacist Li, are you really willing to die in bed like this?"

Li Jing opened his mouth slightly, wanting to say something, but he felt as if something was choking his throat, and for a moment he couldn't say anything.