I Can Control My Ancestors

Chapter 429 - 16: The Curtain Rises, Turmoil Approaches

But what can be done?

Perhaps it was precisely because he had too high an expectation for this matter that, when everything turned to dust, Li Shimin suddenly felt somewhat lost.

But Li Jiancheng would not give up this opportunity.

He took successive actions, even aligning with Li Yuanji, the King of Qi, employing various methods to dispatch his people to various places to win over the remaining rebel kings.

This even included the Northern Border.

The Northern Border was indeed a piece of fat meat. Ever since Gu Ye established the trade routes, this piece of land has now been completely integrated into Kyushu.

The people there still have unique tribes.

But their culture has already completely merged into that of Kyushu.

Although their influence does not match the unimpeded effectiveness of Li Shimin, in this overwhelming momentum, everything is going smoothly.

Besides, Li Jiancheng also began to target the King Qin’s Mansion.

He wanted to win over Li Shimin’s close associates!

Within ten days, the situation in the entire city of Chang’an kept changing.

Almost everyone in the court could feel the conflict between the Crown Prince’s Eastern Palace and the King Qin’s Mansion.

Yet Li Shimin from beginning to end showed no reaction, even shutting the door on his brothers who wanted to see him.

Actually, Li Shimin can’t be blamed for this.

Since childhood, his ambition has always been to become the second Gu Chen, and as he grew older, this ambition became increasingly intense.

Now, watching his years of ambitions seemingly no longer possible to achieve.

The blow to him is unimaginable.

After all, Li Shimin is only twenty-four years old now.

——No one is perfect!

At present, he has not yet grown to a stage where he can calmly face everything.

He still needs transformation.

....

King Qin’s Mansion.

Princess Consort Zhangsun slowly walked into the courtyard, looking at Li Shimin, who stood with his hands behind his back gazing at the sky. She slowly walked forward and stood by his side. After a moment of silence, she suddenly spoke: "Your Highness, how long do you intend to remain silent?"

Li Shimin did not answer.

"Today, the Crown Prince has already petitioned about the marriage of Princess Pingyang and the Left Guard General," Princess Consort Zhangsun continued.

The Left Guard General is Gu Yan.

Li Jiancheng has already suggested to Li Yuan to follow in the footsteps of Liu Xiu of old, marrying the princess into the Gu Clan, aiming to win over the Gu Clan.

Indeed, he has already set his sights on Gu Quan.

As the eldest legitimate son of the Gu Clan;

If he could win over Gu Quan, it could certainly indirectly influence the judgments of the Gu Clan’s younger generation.

The current influence of the Gu Clan in the court is significant.

With several of the Gu Clan’s adept politicians emerging, although not yet at their peak, the significance represented by the Gu Clan is entirely distinct from other families.

Upon hearing this, Li Shimin finally showed some change in expression, frowning slightly as he looked at Princess Consort Zhangsun.

"Your Highness, I wish to ask you a question," she said without avoiding Li Shimin’s gaze, softly but firmly, "Did you really set such a grand ambition from a young age just because of the so-called honorary title of ’Ten Directions Expedition Envoy’?"

Her voice was not loud, yet it made Li Shimin freeze.

In that instant, countless thoughts flashed through his mind.

Everything he had witnessed in Julu;

All the sights he saw during the battles over the past two years;

The blood and tears of the common people;

The bodies of the soldiers;

For many people, often the simplest words are needed at certain moments.

——Li Shimin is precisely in such a moment now.

The gentle breeze kept blowing.

Looking at the gentle eyes of Princess Consort Zhangsun in front of him, Li Shimin remained silent for a long time, finally allowing the sense of bewilderment to gradually fade away amidst endless thoughts.

Suddenly, he reached out and grabbed Princess Consort Zhangsun’s wrist, his gaze becoming bright once more, and the corner of his mouth suddenly curled up with a long-lost sharp edge:

"Send someone to inform my brothers that I am hosting a banquet and inviting them to gather for a discussion.".....