Li Qinzai never said it, but he knew very well that Li Ji had always been dissatisfied with Li Jingye, the heir to the British Dukedom.
Li Jingye now lives in Sima, Liuzhou. He works as an official away from home all year round and rarely returns to Chang'an.
The intersection between Li Qinzai and him was when Li Jingye was involved in a local affair case. After the matter was resolved, Li Jingye was reinstated and returned to Liuzhou. In the years since then, Li Qinzai has not seen him.
As for the eldest son and grandson of the Li family and Li Qinzai's cousin, Li Qinzai was actually relatively unfamiliar with him, and he didn't even understand his personality.
But Li Qinzai can be sure that Li Ji has always been dissatisfied with Li Jingye in his heart.
This is not Li Qinzai's personal guess, there are clear records in the history books of his previous life.
Li Ji just commented on Li Jingye, and one of his sentences was quite to the point. He said that Li Jingye had a "bad character."
Of course, the heir to the title does not expect him to be a saint. He can tolerate a little bad temper, a little despicable, a little prodigal, a little spineless.
Just being "bad-hearted" can be regarded as a recipe for disaster for the entire family, and it can also be a catastrophe of confiscating the family and exterminating the family.
When people hang out in the court, it doesn't matter if they have a few minor problems. If their character becomes crooked, they are very likely to embark on the road of ruining the whole family.
In real history, Li Jingye lived up to expectations and brought his family to the grave. The glory that Li Ji earned for his family through his lifelong battles was wiped out by him overnight.
Of course, the historical trajectory of this life is different. With Li Qinzai's unexpected appearance in this world, many people and things have been changed intentionally or unintentionally. What should happen may never happen, and those who should be destroyed will eventually do so. He was forced to correct the direction.
But what follows is the unpredictability of the future. Even Li Qinzai, the time traveler, does not know what will happen in the future, and what Li Jingye, the heir to the British duke, will do in the future.
There was a lot of regret in Li Ji's tone. He actually wanted to pass the title of Duke of England to Li Qinzai.
But the rules are the rules, and Li Ji can't change them.
Li Qinzai doesn't care about the title of British Duke. Now he has reached the rank of Duke, and is only one level away from being promoted to Duke.
"Grandpa has just returned home in triumph. Don't worry too much about family affairs. Your children and grandchildren will have their own blessings. You can live at home and take care of yourself. The Li family will not collapse because of their grandchildren." Li Qinzai consoled him.
Li Ji murmured: "'Children and grandchildren will have their own blessings', this is a wonderful saying, haha! Yes, I am old, and I am not as open-minded and free-spirited as you."
Then Li Ji said in a deep voice: "There are some things that I can't change, and you are the most promising child of my Li family. You should start your own business and start another one."
"In the future, when I am gone and the Li family is in trouble, if you can lend a hand to help, you should spare no effort. If the disaster is too big and you can't bear it, you will go up and stab the Li family in the back. Use this as evidence to distance yourself from the Li family. From now on, the Li family will regard your branch as the main line. After dedication, life and death will be determined by heaven."
Li Qinzai was startled and looked at Li Ji in horror.
He is worthy of being a famous general on the battlefield. He is ruthless to everyone. Even his own descendants will not be spared when he goes crazy. Moreover, he kills decisively and without hesitation in his words. He makes decisions in an instant. This ruthless and cold courage, Li Qinzai asked himself that he couldn't do it.
"Grandpa, don't say this, my grandson will feel upset when he hears it." Li Qinzai said with a frown.
Li Ji smiled freely and said: "I'm not asking you to stab me in the back now. Anyway, remember what I said. I hope no disaster will happen in the future. Otherwise, you must make a quick decision to avoid further disaster for yourself."
Li Qinzai responded silently, but secretly made a decision in his heart.
Li Jingye, from now on, I will keep an eye on you.
The atmosphere was a bit stagnant. Faced with this heavy topic, the grandfather and grandson were no longer in the mood to chat.
After a long time, Li Qinzai broke the silence.
"Grandpa, don't you really think about meeting the officials and generals outside? One hundred guan per person, if you don't make money, you won't make it in vain. Our family has a big business and huge expenses, and the landlord's family has no food left..."
Before he finished speaking, Li Ji picked up a pair of pokers and threw them at him: "Get out!"
…………
After resting in Luoyang for three days, the heavy snow still did not stop.
However, Li Ji couldn't stay any longer. After all, he had been away from home for two years, and he was eager to return. Even the heavy snow could not stop him from returning.
So early on the fourth day, Li Ji decided to set off back to Chang'an.
The cavalry escorted the grandfather and grandson out of the gate of Luoyang City. Countless officials and generals braved the heavy snow to come to see them off. Everyone stood in the snow and bowed respectfully until they were sent out ten miles outside the city. Everyone watched the cavalry team off. Disappeared in the snow.
It was snowy and windy, and the road was muddy, making it difficult for the group to walk.
Li Ji was old and couldn't bear the bumps, and the road conditions were not suitable for galloping. Li Qinzai accompanied him patiently, and he walked slowly and stopped all the way.
After walking for half a month from Luoyang to Chang'an, I finally saw the majestic and towering Chang'an City Wall in the distance among the mountains.
On the Zhuma Mountains, Li Ji looked at the Chang'an City Wall in the distance with a little warmth in his eyes.
After a lifetime of fighting and returning home, this is the final destination of his life.
The wind and snow were misty, and the beard and temples were mixed with the white snow. The iron armor on the body was still stiff and hard. The twilight veteran was riding a thin old horse, and he was actually timid outside his hometown at this moment.
A soldier came galloping on his horse in the wind and snow, but he got off his horse before anyone arrived.
"I'm reporting to you, the emperor is leading hundreds of officials to welcome me back to the capital in triumph at Liuting, thirty miles outside the city."
Li Ji was startled and said hurriedly: "Come forward quickly, don't let the emperor wait for a long time."
The group of people galloped on their horses. After running for several miles, they saw a group of dark people standing quietly waiting outside a pavilion in the distance.
In the middle, surrounded by everyone, was Li Zhi. He was wearing a thick leather cloak, and his head and shoulders were covered with snow. It was obvious that he had been waiting for a long time, but there was no trace of impatience on his face, and he was looking into the distance calmly.
Behind Li Zhi, Empress Wu, who was also dressed in formal empress court uniform, stood quietly. All the civil and military officials around her stood solemnly and respectfully. Hundreds of people were waiting for the return of a late veteran general in the wind and snow.
Li Ji dismounted from his horse a hundred steps away and hurried forward.
When Li Zhi walked up to Li Zhi, he was about to kneel down, but Li Zhi stepped forward and held his arm, preventing him from continuing to salute.
"I am so virtuous and capable, but my Majesty, the Queen, and all my colleagues went out of the city to welcome me, which is a shame for me," Li Ji said solemnly.
Li Zhi supported his arm, looked Li Ji up and down, and sighed with red eyes: "Your Majesty has been fighting for the country for several years, and he is getting older. I feel guilty, thank you for your hard work."
After speaking, Li Zhi and Empress Wu bowed to Li Ji at the same time.
Li Ji was so frightened that he hurriedly knelt down and bowed in return: "Your Majesty must not..."
"Young Master made such an unparalleled contribution to the Tang Dynasty, so he deserves to receive this gift." Li Zhi said seriously.
Immediately afterwards, the surrounding civil and military officials also bowed to Li Ji.
