Chapter Thirty-One: Scheming in the Study

  "Father, what are you thinking?" Li Jiancheng asked, seeing Li Yuan furrow his brow as if deep in thought.

  "Oh! Cheng Er, you're back?" Li Yuan came to his senses when he heard Li Jiancheng's voice and saw him, so he stood up and said to Yu Xian who was just walking into the hall: "I have something to discuss with Cheng Er, you all go ahead and eat, don't wait for us." After finishing speaking, Li Yuan turned around and headed towards the study.

  Seeing Dou Xian standing aside, seemingly worried that something might happen, Li Jiancheng hurriedly comforted her: "Mother, don't worry, nothing big will happen." After hearing his words, Dou Xian relaxed. Since Yang Guang killed the former Crown Prince Yu, Li Yuan had basically consulted him on everything, and as a mother, Dou Xian naturally knew his abilities.

  Arriving at the study, Li Yuan was still sitting in his seat. Seeing Li Jiancheng come in, he raised his hand slightly, indicating for him to find a seat and sit down. This wasn't Li Jiancheng's first time here, so he casually found a seat and sat down, opening his mouth to ask: "Father, what has happened again that you're so worried?"

  Li Yuan thought for a moment, seemingly organizing his words, and after a while said: "Today when I came down from the court, the queen sent a eunuch to tell me something." Li Jiancheng listened and found that it was someone from the palace, so it shouldn't be a small matter. He concentrated his attention and continued listening. "The eunuch brought the queen's oral message, saying that Duke Yuwen had spoken to the emperor a few days ago about moving me to Taiyuan, I don't know if there is any trap involved, so he came to inform me. Cheng'er, what do you think of this matter?" Li Yuan asked after telling the queen's words.

  Li Jiancheng thought about the books he had read in his past life for a while, and then thought again. During this time, Li Yuan did not interrupt him either. From their previous conversations, Li Yuan knew that Li Jiancheng always needed to think before giving an opinion. Even if one were a genius, it would be impossible to come up with an answer as soon as the question was asked. Perhaps in his past life there existed something called a "computer", and perhaps in this era there also existed something similar - a "demon". After thinking for a while, he roughly gathered his thoughts and said: "Father, Yuwen Huaji's plan is extremely vicious!"

  "Oh! What's going on?" Li Yuan asked in surprise, just changing places, how could it become so serious.

  "Firstly, Your Majesty will bring up the matter of Father being transferred to Taiyuan on the imperial court, and Father will be caught off guard. He'll either agree or disagree. But once Father disagrees, Wei Zheng will definitely make a move against him in the imperial court. Reducing Father's power would be the least of it; he might even be accused of disobeying the imperial decree." Li Jiancheng said slowly, although it wasn't explicitly stated in the previous life's book, but thinking about it, one could understand that if someone proposed an idea and was rejected without any consequences, why would they foolishly bring it up?

  "He had thought of this as a father, so on the way, he thought that since his father was going to Taiyuan, it wasn't impossible. He just couldn't see what was wrong with the place, and Cheng Er taught him! After all, he was also the future Tang Dynasty founding emperor, and his IQ was still there. However, he didn't dare pat Li Yuan's shoulder and say: "Father, your IQ is quite high." I reckon he would be slapped against the wall."

  "The poison is in the fact that it was after Father agreed. Firstly, on the way to Taiyuan, Your Majesty would not allow Father to bring too many soldiers, at most some of our family's house guards, so if they were to encounter bandits or robbers on the road, it's not impossible. And with Yuwen Huaji holding different political views from Father, if he were to send people to ambush them on the road..." He stopped speaking here, and Li Yuan probably understood as well.

  "Too deceitful!" Li Yuan angrily shouted, but soon calmed down. However, Li Yuan must have had a grudge against Yuwen Huaji and Yang Guang. Perhaps in his past life, Li Yuan would have taken this path, and there was a reason for Yuwen Huaji and Yang Guang's persecution. Of course, the timing was different, if he hadn't arrived, perhaps he would have been assassinated on the way and then felt resentful, but now he was reminded of it and felt dissatisfied.

  "If so, then if we secretly leave, we won't have to worry about Yuwen Huaji's plot?" Li Yuan asked.

  "No way!" Li Jiancheng hastily vetoed: "Firstly, there are too many of us, it's hard to guarantee that we won't leave any clues for Yuwen Huaji to discover. Secondly, if we do this, it will chill the hearts of our guards and make others think that I, the Li family, am afraid of the Yuwen family, which would tarnish the prestige of my family. Therefore, not only must we leave, but also leave in a bright and upright manner." Although the time to move to Taiyuan has changed now, and it's unknown whether they will encounter Qin Shubao or not, Li Jiancheng still wants to try his luck. Besides, Yuwen Huaji probably won't take action personally. With his current martial arts skills, he's not afraid of his guards either.

  "My son is right, I almost made a mistake." Li Yuan said with regret. "Cheng Er, it seems that there was another meaning in your words just now." Li Yuan asked again, and at the same time felt very pleased: Cheng Er is so excellent, there is someone to inherit!

  "The ambushes on the road and in the city can be dealt with, after all, he can't deploy a large number of people to set up an ambush. But what's coming next is even more ruthless." Li Jiancheng said, "Father, do you know why the north of Taiyuan is special?"

  "North? Not Tujue? How could..." Li Yuan was suddenly shocked.

  "That's right! The Turks, and Shanxi Province is directly opposite the Turks. My Taiyuan is also a place that is directly opposite the Turks. Therefore, once it is broken by the Turks, it is very likely to be destroyed and people will perish. And if Yuwen family just places some people inside the city, and releases them when the Turks attack, the consequences are unthinkable. And Yuwen Huaji can also use the Turks' hands to eliminate our Li family, his heart cannot be said to be deep and far-sighted." Li Jiancheng slowly spoke out his thoughts.

  "Despicable thing, how can it be so vicious!" Li Yuan was furious again.

  "Don't be anxious, Father!" Li Jiancheng comforted his father to calm down and said: "Doesn't Father think that moving to Taiyuan might not necessarily be a bad opportunity for our Li family?"

  "What chance?" Li Yuan exclaimed in surprise.

  "That's right. Father thought of the Song family in Lingnan, our Li family is in Taiyuan, not only far away from Your Majesty's control, but also can develop the family, as long as we don't rebel, who can do anything to us?" Li Jiancheng said in a low voice.

  Li Yuan's eyes lit up, but soon dimmed, and after a moment of thought, he said: "If that's the case, if Your Majesty brings it up, then I, as his father, will take it on. When has Li Yuan ever been afraid of anyone?" Li Yuan spoke with heroic grandeur.

  Since Li Yuan had made up his mind, Li Jiancheng did not say much and went to have dinner with Li Yuan. Nothing unusual happened that night.

  The next day, he stayed at home and didn't go anywhere. He was chatting with Dou Xian, Li Shimin, Li Yuanji, Li Xiuning, and Li Yuanba in the hall, feeling warm and cozy. This made him feel that a family could only be happy when they were like this, if they were as strict as some big families, it would be meaningless. Just about the time Li Yuan was expected to return, after a while, he saw Li Yuan walking into the hall.

  "Huh? Everyone's here today? Just in time, I have something to announce. Get ready, we're going to move to Taiyuan." Li Yuan said.

  "What? Move to Taiyuan? Why, Master?" asked Dou Xian in surprise.

  "Haha, the Emperor has issued a decree, appointing me as the Taiyuan Garrison Commander." Li Yuan explained. Upon hearing Li Yuan's explanation, Shimin furrowed his brow, seemingly deep in thought. The others, however, remained unresponsive, prompting Li Jiancheng to remark: "Being young is indeed wonderful!"

  "Alright, let's eat quickly! After we finish eating, we'll start preparing. We'll be departing in a few days." Li Yuan said.

  "But then what about the marriage between Cheng Er and Dugu family's daughter?" Du Xian asked worriedly, now she was very satisfied with Dugu Feng as her daughter-in-law!

  "En..." Li Yuan thought for a moment and said: "You go to the Dugu family tomorrow to discuss it, see if you can postpone the marriage, and after we stabilize our foothold in Taiyuan, let them get married." Du Xian also agreed with this idea after hearing it.

  Li Jiancheng began to think about making preparations, and fortunately, due to Yang Guang's actions, he had already set up a plan in Taiyuan early on, so now he won't be rushed when he goes. On He Qing's side, arrangements also need to be made. The most troublesome thing is that Dugu Feng will probably need to be comforted again. It seems that he indeed has a laborious fate, born to suffer!