Chapter 106 The Incompetent Emperor and the Treacherous Minister (1/2)

The sun shone inside the West Garden brightly. The lake was shimmering and fishes were swimming freely, which was a lazy scene. It was also a good day for fun outside. But after Wei Baoheng had said that two words, Li Cui apparently felt that today's winter wind was extremely cold and chill.

Li Xian.

Only Li Cui himself knew how much weight of this name to him. And only Li Cui himself knew how many nightmares he had had because of Li Xian.

During Li Cui's life of being an emperor, Li Xian was the only person of whom he was afraid and whom he feared. In every day when Li Xian was alive, Li Cui always felt that the throne was like a stove melting him at any moment.

First in military exploits, first in political achievements, first in cultivation, the emperor's sword given by the last emperor, having his own palace and army and enjoying the same treatment of Three Ministries, as well as followers and subordinates all over the world... Even if a minister with a different surname had one of the achievements, the narrow-minded emperor would fear him.

Li Xian wasn't a minister with a different surname, but he was a youth of the Imperial Clan.

When Emperor Xuanzong was alive, he kept Li Xian company day and night and spared no effort to guide Li Xian every day.

When Li Cui had not yet ascended the throne, rumors had it that the revival of the country by Xuanzong would be able to carry forward if the throne was passed to Li Xian... He would even be able to reproduce the brilliant of Tang Empire!

Carry forward the brilliant of Tang Empire!

Li Cui clenched his fists and gnashed his teeth secretly, hatred flashing in his eyes.

In Xuanzong's whole life, he didn't appoint the Heir Prince. When he was seriously ill, many ministers thought that this brave and wise emperor would make an exception to pass the throne to Li Xian because Li Xian was a descendant of Xuanzong's elder brother and given the emperor's sword by Xuanzong!

The Luke Sword was called the emperor's sword because it belonged to the emperor!

Xuanzong didn't appoint the Heir Prince, but he instructed Li Xian day and night. He also ordered Li Xian to lead the army and political affairs. After Li Xian had made contributions, Xuanzong gave the emperor's sword to him... In Li Cui's view, all the signs showed that Xuanzong wanted to pass the throne to Li Xian. Why would he do that?

Li Cui got up angrily and swung his sleeves. Facing the lake, he stood with his hands behind his back.

At that year, Li Cui's cultivation was average. He didn't have a good reputation and he was not favored. It was unexpected that he could ascend the throne. It was just because he was chosen by the Lieutenant of the Regal Guards at that time.

Moreover, Xuanzong died young and he died of illness suddenly, beyond everyone's expectation!

Even Xuanzong himself didn't expect that he would be seriously ill and unconscious so that many of his plans came to naught.

After Li Cui had ascended the throne, Li Xian fought for many years without a defeat and governed places without a bad name. He made so many contributions that he had military and political power in hand. No more rewards could be given to him. His fame spread all over the country and all people respected him and spoke highly of him.

So... there was the Battle of Bagong Mountain.

”Tell me! Why do you bring up Li Xian?” Li Cui asked a word by a word. ”You'd better give me a satisfactory reason!”

The emperor was furious, so Wei Baoheng quickly bowed to the ground to show his fear. He said hastily, ”His Majesty, Li Xian is dead, so we don't need to fear him, but Li Xian's former trusted subordinates...”

”Don't you get rid of all his trusted subordinates?!” Li Cui asked without turning back.

Wei Baoheng answered, ”I did get rid of many of them, but Li Xian was very powerful in the imperial court and some of his trusted subordinates had outstanding cultivation, so I couldn't kill them all and some of them ran away...”

”So what? Only a few insects have run away. Are they able to overthrow me? Now that Li Xian is dead, will they rebel?!” Li Cui swung his sleeves and said seriously.

Wei Baoheng said, ”Normally, they won't, but now things have some changes.”

”What changes?”

”This change is Li Ye!”

”What's wrong with Li Ye?”

”Li Ye's cultivation has already reached Level 5 of Qi-refining!”

”What are you talking about?! This is impossible! It isn't a long time after he has achieved the Qi-refining Stage?!”

”His Majesty, please don't forget that Li Ye has got Celestial Master Yuan's inheritance in Cloud-engulfed Mountain!”

”Yuan Tiangang...”

”In Tang Empire, no one has ever made it to the Realm of Celestial Master Yuan... Rumors have it that after Celestial Master Yuan has left Chang'an, his Realm is very likely above the Spiritual Master Realm!”

”Above the Spiritual Master Realm? That's impossible! Would he become an immortal?”

”Your Majesty...”

”Even if Li Ye has made rapid progress in cultivation, what can he do? In my empire, he can do nothing with only himself. If I give him a reward, he can only take it. If I give him destruction, he can only be thankful!”

”But Li Ye is not alone now!”

”What do you mean?”

”Wang Duo, Lu Yan and the others have a close relationship with Li Ye!”

”Wang Duo? This old guy, who strives for fame, always gives me a hard time in the name of giving me sincere advice!”

”In addition, I've learned that there's a group of cultivators of high-level Qi-refining gathering in Prince An's Manor!”

”High-level Qi-refining? Will a cultivator of high-level Qi-refining work for a four-class official?”

”There is only one possibility!”

”These people are Li Xian's former followers and trusted subordinates?”