Chapter 25: Li Chengqian: My Life Has Been Like Walking on Thin Ice

"Hehe, my plan is very simple: let’s have another Xuanwu Gate Incident!"

"What?!"

Li Yuan was stunned by Li Chengqian’s words.

Meanwhile, inside the bamboo grove retreat on the west side of Da'an Palace, Consort Zhang reclined lazily on a soft couch, covered by a quilt, and smiled faintly. "Anye, did you sense any signs from tonight's events?"

Not far from her, Consort Yin was smiling as she brewed hot tea, listening quietly.

Zhangsun Anye hesitated for a moment before replying with a smile, "In reply to Consort Zhang, my perspective is limited, and I did not notice anything. I came this time merely to bring some curious novelties from the market for the two Consorts."

"Oh?" Consort Yin raised an eyebrow, immediately interested. "What kind of novelties?"

"Hehe, well..." As Zhangsun Anye began to reach for the items in his robe, Consort Zhang let out a cold snort, interrupting them. "I am talking about serious matters! Do you treat me as if I don't exist?"

"Ah? This..." The two men exchanged awkward glances.

Consort Zhang swept a cold gaze over them. "If I hadn't helped you smooth things over repeatedly in the inner hall today, would you be able to sit here so calmly discussing novelties?"

"Uh..." Consort Yin felt embarrassed for a moment, then quickly offered an ingratiating smile. "Oh, little sister, we are all family, why be so formal? You know as well as I do that ever since the Retired Emperor abdicated, his moods have been unpredictable. Every day we serve him, we have to be extremely cautious!"

"And are you satisfied with staying in this tiny Da'an Palace?"

"I..." Consort Yin opened her mouth, then hesitated. Of course, she was not satisfied; otherwise, she wouldn't have gone to find Empress Zhangsun on her own initiative when she heard that the Empress intended to reduce the number of palace maids. If they lost their servants, how would this Da'an Palace be any different from a cold palace? Despite calling herself an old woman in front of Li Yuan, she was actually only in her early thirties. At such an age, how could she be content to waste her life in a cold palace?

Consort Zhang, who was even younger at only twenty, was even less willing to let her youth wither away. Her ambition was to become Li Yuan's Empress.

Seeing Consort Yin fall silent, Consort Zhang smiled coldly and turned her gaze to Zhangsun Anye. "Anye, your little schemes cannot hide from the Retired Emperor, nor can they hide from me. So, tell us everything you know!"

"This..." Zhangsun Anye hesitated, then smirked. "Nothing escapes Consort Zhang's eyes. In truth, many major events have occurred at court recently, especially regarding the New Year rewards for meritorious officials. It is said that not only did the Prince of Yi'an gain nothing, but the Prince of Huai'an also received no rewards. He feels it is highly unjust!"

"Oh?" Consort Zhang’s delicate brows arched as she remarked, "Li Shentong is a man capable of commanding armies. For Erlang to treat him this way is not a good sign!"

"Exactly! But the Emperor is targeting not only the Li imperial clan but also vassal kings of other surnames. For example, the Prince of Yan County also received no rewards!"

"Hah!" Consort Zhang laughed. "Li Yi is arrogant; he didn't even manage to take action during the Xuanwu Gate Incident!"

"Indeed, and that is why I believe the Emperor’s failure to reward him might be related to the former Crown Prince," Zhangsun Anye added.

Consort Zhang stood up from the couch, watching the bamboo grove illuminated by candlelight outside the window. Thoughtfully, she said, "For Erlang to offend so many people at once—it seems the new dynasty is in trouble!"

"Yes, yes! Many people are very unhappy!"

"Hehe..." Consort Zhang smiled noncommittally, then turned to Consort Yin. "I have prepared some things. Take them to the Prince of Huai'an, the Prince of Yan County, and the Prince of Yi'an. Tell them it is a small token of the Retired Emperor's regard for the veterans of the Wude era!"

"This..." Zhangsun Anye hesitated, puzzled. "The New Year's court assembly is almost here, and they will surely come to Chang'an. Why doesn't the Consort give it to them personally?"

"I would like to, but the question is, can I even leave this Da'an Palace?" Consort Zhang gave a bitter smile, then added meaningfully, "If the opportunity arises, I will find a time to speak with them myself. When that time comes, I will have to trouble you, Anye..."

"Hehe, leave it to me!" Zhangsun Anye patted his chest. Just then, a maid entered with a box. He took it without looking inside, rose, and took his leave. "I shall depart now!"

"Go." Consort Zhang waved her hand and watched him leave the bamboo house.

Consort Yin handed her the brewed tea, smiling fawningly. "Little sister, you have such great resolve, even making the Zhangsun family's Anye do your bidding..."

"Sister, you jest. Zhangsun Anye is just Zhangsun Anye, and the Zhangsun family is the Zhangsun family; they are not on the same path..."

"Furthermore," she added, taking a sip of the hot tea and blowing away the steam. She looked toward the direction of the inner hall, continuing, "That eldest grandson of the Great Tang is no simple person!"

"Indeed! He is not simple! I heard that as soon as he was named Crown Prince, he requested that Erlang depose him. It was a complete farce; no wonder he was so rude!" Consort Yin said indignantly.

Consort Zhang glanced at her, amused. "Do you know why he went to see the Retired Emperor?"

"Why?"

"Because he wants the Retired Emperor to reinstate him as Crown Prince!"

"Ah?" Consort Yin was startled, her face filled with disbelief. "Why would he do that?!"

"I don't know, but I feel that this matter is certainly not simple," Consort Zhang replied, shaking her head.

"In your opinion, little sister, will the Retired Emperor agree?" Consort Yin couldn't help but ask.

Consort Zhang looked at her, then back toward the inner hall, and smiled mysteriously. "Heh, who knows!"

...

On the other side, outside the gates of Da'an Palace, Li Chengqian, having just finished discussing matters with Li Yuan, seemed to be in a very good mood and began humming a little tune.

"Who is playing 'Dong Feng Po' on the pipa, the years peeling off the wall, seeing my childhood, still remembering..."

"You rebellious son!"

Just as he was getting into the song, a familiar, cold snort came from behind. Li Chengqian’s singing stopped abruptly, and he instinctively shrank his neck.

"Fa... Father... why are you here?"

Li Chengqian turned his head mechanically to find Li Shimin staring at him with a gloomy face. Behind Li Shimin stood an endless line of the Imperial Guard, holding torches, their eyes fixed intently upon him.

*Damn it!* This is too much! It’s just one female musician, is it really worth such a big fuss?!

Li Chengqian was clearly frightened by the Emperor’s actions and quickly ran to him to plead for leniency. "Father, I am guilty, but things are definitely not what you think. It’s all a misunderstanding, a misunderstanding!"

"A misunderstanding?" Li Shimin sneered. "Is your private contact with court officials also a misunderstanding? Is your defiance of my orders a misunderstanding? Is your disturbing your grandfather in the middle of the night a misunderstanding? Didn't you say there are three kinds of filial piety? Tell me, which kind of filial piety is this?"

"This, this, this..." Li Chengqian was panicked, but since Li Shimin only mentioned disturbing Li Yuan and not their secret plot, he assumed he hadn't been discovered. His mind raced. "Father, this is not about filial piety—it is about loyalty!"

"Loyalty to whom?" Li Shimin’s eyes narrowed slightly.

Li Chengqian twitched his mouth and quickly said, "Father, the reason I contacted my uncle is because he once had high expectations for me, hoping I would become Crown Prince. I failed him, which saddened him. I only wanted to offer a formal apology; this is loyalty to affection and righteousness!"

"As for the matter of the musician, I don't believe it was defying your orders. As everyone knows, Grandfather is a master of the pipa, and this musician’s reverse-pipa playing is a unique talent. May I ask, Father, is it not said that filial piety comes first? If you have something good, shouldn't you share it with your parents first? Should I stand by and watch others accuse you of being unfilial? Therefore, this act is loyalty to the Sovereign!"

"Hah!" Li Shimin sneered. "So, you are a loyal subject now?"

"Yes! I am definitely your most loyal subject, Father!"

"And you think these sophistries make you a loyal subject?"

Li Chengqian blinked and asked cautiously, "Then, Father, what do you think a loyal subject is?"

"I don't care what a loyal subject is, but it is certainly not someone like you!" Li Shimin waved his large sleeve. "Men! Seize this rebellious son!"

"Ah? Why? I don't accept this!" Li Chengqian was startled and argued his case. "During the Spring and Autumn period, the Duke of Qi asked his Prime Minister, Yanzi, what a loyal subject was. Yanzi said: 'When the state is in danger and the ruler flees, the subject does not follow.' The Duke asked: 'If a subject accepts land and titles from the ruler, yet acts this way in times of danger, can they be called a loyal subject?' Yanzi replied: 'If the ruler listened to the loyal subject, how could the state be in danger? How would the ruler ever have to flee? Conversely, why would one die for a ruler who refuses to listen to loyal advice?'"

"Oh, I see," Li Shimin nodded, then looked at Li Chengqian with cold eyes. "So, you came to Da'an Palace because you think I don't listen to loyal advice and the state is in danger?"

"This..." Li Chengqian was struck dumb. Seeing two Imperial Guards walking toward him, he gritted his teeth and said stubbornly, "I did it for my mother!"

"Hmph! You have the nerve to mention your mother!"

"I was raised on my mother’s milk; why can’t I mention her?"

"Chengqian!" Li Shimin’s face darkened, ready to discipline his rebellious son.

But Li Chengqian said with a disappointed tone, "I know you have many women, Father, but can you consider my mother’s feelings? What did she do wrong? She only offered loyal advice to her husband, and you were so angry you made her fall ill!"

"What did you say?" Li Shimin was startled. "Your mother is ill?!"

"After you left, Mother collapsed from the stress. Dr. Zhen said she is suffering from a condition caused by emotional blockage, which is worsened by anger! However, the doctor has already prescribed medicine and says she should recover in a few days!"

"That is good, that is good, as long as she recovers!" Li Shimin let out a long sigh of relief, feeling a bit guilty. "I was impulsive at the time; I shouldn't have angered your mother!"

"Since you know you shouldn't have angered her, Father, why did you go to the Consort of Yang?"

"Shut up!" Li Shimin shouted, then added indignantly, "I am going to see your mother first, and then I will deal with you, you rebellious son!" He turned to head toward the Lizheng Palace.

But Li Chengqian stopped him. "Father, I suggest you don't visit my mother right now!"

"Why?" Li Shimin frowned, displeased.

Li Chengqian sighed helplessly, glanced at the guards behind him, pulled his sleeve, and whispered, "Because you still have her scent on you..."

"This..." Li Shimin’s heart jolted. Earlier, he had been so enraged that his son had intercepted his woman for Li Yuan that he had rushed to Da'an Palace without changing his clothes. Hearing this, he realized he still carried the scent of the younger Consort Yang.

Awkward! Incredibly awkward! The father and son were too embarrassed to look at each other.

After a long time, Li Shimin looked at Li Chengqian with a complex expression and sighed. "Take good care of your mother for me..."

With that, he turned to return to the younger Consort Yang's palace.

Just then, Li Chengqian added unexpectedly, "Father, Grandfather asked me to tell you something. He said: 'Right and wrong, success and failure, will be judged by posterity!'"

"This..." Li Shimin’s heart shook, and he was filled with astonishment. What was he working so hard for? Wasn't it to prove to his father that he had chosen the wrong Crown Prince? He never expected his father to be so detached; he didn't care about what was happening now—he was leaving Li Shimin’s legacy to be judged by future generations!

"Hahaha!" Li Shimin suddenly realized and laughed toward the sky. *Good, good, good!* What a perfect sentiment: "Right and wrong will be judged by posterity!"

*Let future generations judge! Let’s see who was right: you, Father, or I, Li Shimin!*

With this thought, Li Shimin took one last deep look at Da'an Palace and left with his guards without another word.

After watching them leave, Li Chengqian let out a long breath and wiped the cold sweat from his forehead. He sighed, "My life is like walking on thin ice. System, do you think I can reach the other shore?"

[The host is only a few days away from returning to the position of Crown Prince. Please stay the course!]

"Heh!" Li Chengqian smiled. Since the system believed his return was within reach, it meant his collaboration with Li Yuan was the right move.

In fact, it was obvious. Li Yuan had been forced to abdicate by Li Shimin—how could he not have resentment? If he had no resentment, would he be obsessively fathering children just to disgust Li Shimin? So, it was no surprise he wanted to fight back! Moreover, what Li Chengqian was doing with him wasn't just about spite; it was about securing more space to survive. After all, he was currently living as a prisoner.

What did he want to take back with his own hands? Freedom! That was why Li Yuan was willing to cooperate.

Thinking of this, Li Chengqian looked in the direction Li Shimin had left and said resolutely, "I, Li Chengqian, will never walk the path of a deposed Crown Prince again!"

With that, he flicked his sleeves and headed straight back to Lizheng Palace.