hsntnovel Chapter 2726 Do You Want to Be the Crown Prince?
Chapter 2726 Do You Want to Be the Crown Prince?
Li Shen looked at Li Tai and said seriously:
"Fourth Brother, have you forgotten your position? You are the Grand Commander of Yangzhou and the Grand Commander of Yuezhou, remotely governing twenty-two prefectures."
He was the General of the Left Guard and the Governor of Xiangzhou, overseeing the military affairs of the seven prefectures of Xiang, Wei, Li, Wei, Ming, Xing, and Bei.
"Isn't Father good enough to you?"
Li Shen became increasingly jealous as he spoke. Damn it, three governors and twenty-nine prefectures, how could anyone live like that?
Li Shen was already very happy to have eight prefectures to serve him back then, and he was able to manage so many fiefdoms.
Upon inquiring, Li Shen learned about the fiefdoms of Li Tai and Li Zhi, and he felt like dying.
Although these fiefdoms did not all belong to Li Tai, they were still a symbol of status and position.
If Li Tai were to be sent to a fiefdom, he would wield considerable power.
After listening to Li Shen's explanation, Li Tai did not get excited, but instead spoke calmly.
"Tenth brother, these are all honorary positions with only a salary. If I were to go to a fiefdom, Father would take back most of the duties. It would be good enough if I could just be a governor."
Don't you know this is the rule?
When my third brother became the governor of a major prefecture, he only governed five prefectures.
"Salary? Yes, salary. You don't know I don't get a salary, do you?"
Li Shen is now most sensitive to these two words. When the servants outside discuss salaries, Li Shen can be startled awake in his sleep.
"Isn't that because you made a mistake?" Li Tai said with a sneer.
“I’ve had my salary withheld for seventy years,” Li Shen said calmly.
"How much?" Li Tai was stunned. Was there such a thing as deducting seventy years' worth of salary?
"You see, you don't know, do you? So, what favors have I received? All I have are tears of injustice."
Li Shen's expression was bitter, and he looked like he was about to cry.
Li Tai was completely thrown off balance by Li Shen's words; he was now speaking entirely according to Li Shen's train of thought.
Realizing this, Li Tai gave Li Shen a deep look.
Suddenly, Li Tai asked directly:
"Tenth brother, have you ever thought about becoming the crown prince?"
"Pfft~~" Li Shen spat out his drink.
Chunxiang immediately took a handkerchief and wiped Li Shen's face.
"Ahem... Fourth Brother, did you see something we can't see?"
After coughing twice, Li Shen looked up and asked.
"Something you can't see? What makes you say that?" Li Tai was taken aback.
"I suspect you're not my fourth brother, but possessed by a ghost, otherwise why would you say such things?"
"Stone, quickly go and fetch my butcher's knife, peach wood sword, and lightning-struck wood."
Li Shen shouted at the stone, appearing extremely anxious.
"Tenth brother, what do you mean? I am perfectly fine, where are there any ghosts or demons?"
Li Tai was at a loss with Li Shen. What was this guy thinking about all day?
Is this the normal reaction a person should have?
Seeing Li Shen looking at him with a wary gaze, which even contained a hint of fear.
This made Li Tai want to kill Li Shen. Did this guy really think he was some kind of evil spirit?
"Tenth brother, I am not possessed by any evil spirit." Li Tai had no choice but to clarify again.
But Li Shen's eyes told him that Li Shen didn't believe him at all.
"Your Highness, I've brought the things." Shi Tou ran back, carrying several items in his hands.
A pig-slaughtering knife, a peach wood sword, and lightning-struck wood are all used to ward off evil spirits and bad luck.
"You audacious fiend, get off my fourth brother right now, or don't blame me for being impolite!"
Li Shen gestured at Li Tai, whimpering.
Li Tai was almost driven mad with anger. He had no idea what Li Shen meant. Was he having a stroke?
Judging from his mental state, it really does seem like that.
"Tenth Brother, don't be ridiculous. This talk of being possessed by a demon is utter nonsense."
"Impossible, I would never say what I just said." Li Shen shook his head, waving the peach wood sword in front of Li Tai.
"Sigh, I just wanted to know what you thought," Li Tai sighed.
"Thoughts? What thoughts? I've never had any thoughts," Li Shen replied seriously.
"Don't you want to be the crown prince? Over the years, what you've done has benefited the country and its people far more than your elder brother."
Are you really content to be subservient to others?
In the Tang Dynasty, whether in terms of strength or wealth, if you are qualified to be the Crown Prince, your father will agree if you so desire.
Li Tai stood up and looked at Li Shen seriously.
Li Shen remained wary of him as if he were a ghost, the butcher knife in his other hand gleaming.
"I don't want to be the crown prince. Look how poor the crown prince is. He's managed by a hundred people, and he gets lectured for everything he does."
Is this the kind of life a human being should live? Where are these so-called rights?
It's not as comfortable as I am now. I can do whatever I want, and if I want to go to a brothel or a pleasure boat, I can go.
"I can hit whoever I want." Li Shen shook his head vigorously.
Li Tai chuckled after hearing this:
"Hehe, so that's what you think. I never expected you to be so magnanimous, while Fourth Brother is so narrow-minded."
Fourth Brother simply feels that with your abilities, you should go further and do more for our Li Tang dynasty and for the people of this world.
Otherwise, it would be a real shame to waste your talent.
"I have no talent, I just like money. I know my own limitations, so I won't trouble you, Fourth Brother. I know which way to go."
Li Shen put down the wooden sword and the butcher's knife and continued to lie prone.
"That's good. Fourth Brother was really worried you might have inappropriate thoughts. Eldest Brother, as the Crown Prince, is very much to Father's liking."
As the elder brother, I don't want anyone to compete with my eldest brother.
"Only you have the ability now, which is why I'm asking. If you truly have this intention, then I must give you some serious advice."
Li Tai also sat down, picked up his teacup, and took a few sips of tea.
"So Fourth Brother was testing me. I thought you were trying to sow discord between me. I was being presumptuous."
Hehe, I apologize to Fourth Brother.
Li Shen looked enlightened, then raised his juice glass and clinked it against Li Tai's, taking a few gulps.
"Haha, how could I do such a thing? My elder brother and I are siblings from the same mother. If my elder brother becomes emperor, it will be of the greatest benefit to me."
No matter who competes with my elder brother for it, I will always stand by his side.
Li Tai laughed heartily, then took a sip of tea as well.
"Yes, Fourth Brother is indeed a brother with a deep bond with Eldest Brother. I admire him." Li Shen nodded.
"Look at what you're saying, aren't we brothers too? We're all brothers, we should help each other out."
"In a few days, I'll need you to help me lose weight."
Li Tai said with a smile.
"Fourth Brother is right, but I'm currently injured and it will probably take a few more days. I won't be able to help Fourth Brother lose weight until the end of the month."
Li Shen waved his hand, indicating that there was no need to be polite, but in his heart he was contemptuous. He finally understood what Li Tai meant by coming over.
What a clever tactic of sowing discord!
(I read through all the topics from yesterday, and I was surprised to find that everyone's childhood was so complete.)
Life is full of ups and downs, and it's always good to have a complete life.
Perhaps, our hundred years in this world are merely a journey of spiritual cultivation.