Chapter 66: To Scheme is to be Schemed Against

  On the court, Cheng was muttering to himself and cursing with a mouthful of foul language, while everyone else suppressed their smiles and looked away.

  Li Er sat on the dragon chair, looking at Cheng Chumo who was dazed and confused. Instead of getting angry, he smiled and pointed at Cheng Chumo for half a day without knowing what to say, opening his mouth several times.

  After a while, Li Ermo smiled and pointed at Cheng Chumo, saying: "You little rascal, get up! It's none of your business, go out!"

  Cheng Chu Mo was laughed at inexplicably, but he didn't have to kneel anymore. He knocked his head and said, "Thank you, Your Majesty!" He stood up, rubbed his knees, looked dispirited, and left in a daze.

  Li Er looked at the ministers standing below and knew that today's fight was not small, saying: "Everyone, tell me what to do now? Should we surrender to the Turks again?"

  Those sitting are all old ministers who helped Li Er take the throne and seize power, brothers, outside has already closed hands, at this moment, there is nothing that cannot be said.

  Duan Zixuan, the general who had just been promoted to "Zhou Yafu", stepped forward and said: "It's all because I, your humble minister, was not strict in governing my household and did not discipline him properly, which led to today's mistake. Please, Your Majesty, punish me."

  Those rascals have caused trouble outside, if it were in the past, everyone would hide and dare not admit it; but now they gradually understand that it's a big deal, if they conceal it, it won't be settled with just a good beating, if they miss the big thing, even if they don't die, they'll lose their skin, so they went home and honestly said.

  The house was beheaded, and Fang Xuanling was extremely heartbroken. The old wife at home cried to the point of dying, but since it was a serious matter, he had no choice but to step forward and ask for punishment, saying: "My family's young son is worthless, please punish him!"

  Zhang Xu and Duan Xi both said so, and they all begged for punishment.

  Instead, Zhangsun Wuji closed his eyes, calm and composed, completely unaware that Zhangsun Chong was also among them.

  Not only was Li Er surprised, but everyone else was also very curious. Changsun Wuji, you have a big attitude! You feel proud that your son writes poetry, but what about when he gets into fights and causes trouble? Do you feel proud of that too?

  Li Er couldn't help but ask, "Uncle, what should we do now?"

  Chang Sun Wuji smiled complacently and said, "It's simple, just use their own trick against them!"

  Li Jing raised an eyebrow and took a glance, Longsun Wuji, carefully pondering for a moment, understood the profound meaning, with a faint smile hanging at the corner of his mouth. This must not be what Longsun Wuji himself thought, his military vision was not that high, it must have been his family's fat son who thought of it.

  "Is it going to be calculated?" Li Er rubbed his well-groomed eight-character mustache and vaguely felt a little enlightened.

  "Yes, Your Majesty. Last time we, the group of ministers, have already decided to use troops against Tujue next year. But today, taking advantage of this matter, we sincerely apologize and make amends to Tujue, making them think that it is impossible for us to launch a large-scale military campaign in the near future! In this way, when we attack Tujue next year, we can catch them off guard and take them by surprise!"

  Cheng Yaojin gritted his teeth and cursed: "Still want to apologize to the Turks! Useless!"

  Changsun Wuji stepped forward and said, "Brother Cheng, this statement is incorrect. Last year we were unable to negotiate with them, but now it's different. Although there have been disasters, we've already caught our breath. Even if the Turks insist on fighting, we're not afraid. It's just that we're unprepared, so even if we kill a thousand of their soldiers, we'll still suffer eight hundred losses ourselves, which isn't worth it. On the other hand, if we lull the Turks into complacency, our chances of victory next year will increase greatly, and our losses will be much smaller."

  Li Er nodded and said, "My dear, you are absolutely right! Tomorrow, I will invite the Turkic envoy, La Kuba, to enter the palace. I want to reward him heavily and flatter him a bit, so that they can relax their vigilance."

  As for the Turkic war, from a national perspective, Xiao Yu supported it one thousand times and ten thousand times; but from a personal point of view, he was unwilling to do so, because Yang Zhengdao, the grandson of Emperor Yang of Sui, and his sister Empress Xiang, were still in the Turks. If they went to war, who knew whether it would be good or bad fortune?

  Li Er saw Xiao Yu's gloomy expression, he trusted that Xiao Yu would not betray him, but he had to remind Xiao Yu, saying: "Xiao Ai Qing, this is a matter of great importance, the secret must not be leaked!"

  Xiao Yu came forward, knelt down and kowtowed to the ground, saying: "I know what is light and heavy, but thinking of my poor sister's lifelong inability to return home in her old age, it feels like a knife cut in my heart."

  Xiao Huanghou? She is truly a standard great beauty, with a high bun and low-hanging sidelocks, her face like a peony, beautiful eyes shining brightly, her waist slender like a willow tree, and elegant demeanor in every way. Just thinking about it, Li's heart felt carefree and relaxed, just like the heavenly and refined Xiao Huanghou, she naturally couldn't be left outside, if there was an opportunity, he would bring her back, treating it as a favor to old minister Xiang Yu, also fulfilling his own youthful fantasy.

  Those who are familiar with Li Er noticed his unusual behavior, but as the emperor of three palaces and six courtyards, with 72 concubines, Li Er's concubine is considered few, everyone is a man, everyone knows what's going on.

  Xiao Yu naturally didn't fall behind Li Er's expression, but he couldn't care about that much, as long as he could let his sister come back, and the siblings reunite, it was better than anything else.

  "Xiao Ai Qing, do you know that Yang Zhengdao has already established a 'Great Sui' in the Turkic region and Empress Xiao has become the consort of the Turkic Khan? The Turks are our sworn enemies, whether it's the Great Tang or the Great Sui, you understand this better than I do. But now they're helping the Turks to deal with us Han people, constantly invading our borders, burning, killing, and looting. How can I let them off?" Li said sorrowfully and indignantly. His heart was broad-minded, Yang Fei was the daughter of Emperor Yang of Sui, wasn't she one of the four consorts? Xiao Yu was the younger brother-in-law of Emperor Yang of Sui, the younger brother of Empress Xiao, wasn't he extremely trusted and relied upon?

  If Empress Xiao and Yang Zhengdao were willing to surrender to Tang, he would not kill people who posed no threat to himself. On the contrary, their arrival would show his magnanimity and generosity towards others.

  Xiao Yu's hands trembled as he pulled out a letter from the innermost layer of his clothes, holding it up with both hands and saying: "I was really missing my sister before, so I wrote a family letter to ask about her well-being and asked Lord Tang to bring it to my sister. I have already received the letter sent by my sister."

  Li Er heard Xiao Yu's letter and wasn't very surprised, because last year before Tang Jian went to the Turks, he had already told him everything. Even if Tang Jian was close to Xiao Yu, he wouldn't dare to secretly pass on messages; one careless move would be considered treason, which is the most serious crime.

  "Zhou He, bring it over and open it for me to see!" Li Er ordered Zhou He to bring it over and open it for him.

  Only a few lines above, filled with thoughts of hometown, wanting to return home as soon as possible.

  "This is Xiao Shi wanting to come back, what about Yang Zhengdao?" Li Er had no expression. In those years, Xiao Shi escaped to the Turks and became the Turkic queen, while Yang Zhengdao was granted the title of "Sui Wang". He wasn't sure if there was any deceit in it.

  "Zhengdao is still young and inexperienced in worldly affairs. Although he was made King of Sui by the Turks, there were only a few people who took him seriously, so my sister wanted to return home and not drift about outside." said Xiao Yu, believing that her sister truly wanted to come back.

  "Xiao Ai, last year when the Wei army arrived outside Chang'an City, everyone is clear about what role Princess Yicheng played in it. As long as Empress Xiao and Yang Zhengdao do not betray us during our expedition against the Turks, I will spare their lives and let them return to Chang'an." Li said in a low voice, "As for you, Princess Yicheng, I cannot guarantee that."

  Based on Yicheng Gongzhu's previous actions, she is destined to never return for the rest of her life.

  With Li Er's words, his sister would at least not die in the hands of the Turks. Xiao Yu was extremely grateful, knowing that this was already the Emperor's greatest concession. He also saw from this matter that the Emperor trusted him, and did not punish him for secretly writing a letter to his sister. He was even more grateful that he had stood on the side of the current Emperor back then, which is why he could enjoy peace today. At his age, power was no longer his top priority; being able to resolve the regrets in his heart during his lifetime was his greatest wish.

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