Chapter 29: A True Man Stands Between Heaven and Earth [Please Add This New Book to Your Collection]

"Grandfather, have you heard about my father's plan to revise the Martial Virtue Code?" Li Chengqian asked with a smile, taking a bite of the water chestnut cake sent over by Empress Zhangsun.

Li Yuan glanced at him, picked up the wine cup on the table, took a sip, and replied, "Do I need to hear about it? Do you really think your grandfather is senile? I had already guessed it!"

Li Chengqian smiled noncommittally, then sighed, "But those old officials of yours... they are truly foolish."

"What do you mean?"

"I keep nothing from you, Grandfather. Those old cronies of yours—you should let them go when it is time. Otherwise, if the disaster reaches you, it will be troublesome."

"So you mean..." Li Yuan’s eyes narrowed slightly. "Is Erlang preparing to take action against them?"

"Isn't that bound to happen sooner or later?" Li Chengqian asked rhetorically, a hint of amusement in his tone. He continued, "My father now controls all the power in the Great Tang; the only thing he lacks is complete administrative authority. And the root cause of that is precisely those old officials from the Wude era that you have placed in the court."

"The fact that they are acting so brazenly now—isn't it just forcing my father to deal with them sooner?"

"Furthermore, the more they act out, the more it harms our plans."

Li Yuan laughed softly. "Are you worried that Erlang will think it was I who instructed them to oppose your father?"

"Exactly!" Li Chengqian nodded. "If Qingque hadn't reminded me today, I would have nearly forgotten this crucial link. What we are doing now is a grand strategy—devising victory from within the command tent that will decide the outcome a thousand miles away. We cannot afford the slightest error."

"Even if those Wude-era officials are not using your name to oppose my father, he and his ministers will certainly perceive it that way..."

"In that case, more and more attention will be directed toward you, Grandfather. That would be detrimental to our subsequent plans."

"Hmm, you make a valid point." Li Yuan nodded slightly in agreement, then added with a touch of helplessness, "But we cannot simply abandon them, nor can we explain their actions to Erlang! Wouldn't that be like burying three hundred taels of silver and putting up a sign saying it's not here?"

"I understand your meaning, Grandfather. My point is that you should see those old officials less often lately. Do not intervene in anything; let them toss and turn as they please, and they will bring about their own destruction."

"This..." Hearing the words "bring about their own destruction," Li Yuan hesitated. "Must we be so ruthless?"

"Ruthless?" Li Chengqian raised an eyebrow. "Then, Grandfather, would you kill my father?"

Li Yuan’s expression darkened. "What kind of nonsense is that! How could I kill my own son?"

"Hehe..."

"What are you laughing at?"

"Nothing. I was just worried that if you killed my father, I would become your accomplice."

"I never thought you were so filial..."

"Grandfather, if I weren't filial, would I be colluding with you?"

"You!" Li Yuan pointed a finger at Li Chengqian, seemingly about to lose his temper, but then he suddenly threw his head back and laughed. "You truly are a rebellious child!"

"Hehe..." Li Chengqian gave a bashful smile, then turned serious. "Grandfather, do you worry that if our plan fails, my father will kill us both?"

Li Yuan snorted dismissively. "If he dared to do it, he would have done it six months ago. Do you think he has the courage?"

Li Chengqian thought for a moment and shook his head. "Throughout history, no one who killed their father to usurp the throne has ever met a good end. It violates the fundamental filial piety of this era and defies the greater cause. Even if he could seize the throne temporarily, he would not sit upon it for long. Besides, my father is a man of great ambition; he would never do such a thing."

"So, you are worried he will kill you?"

"Sons killed by emperors to secure the path to the throne—this has been common throughout history. It is nothing strange."

Li Yuan smiled, looking at Li Chengqian with interest. "And are you afraid?"

"Uh..." Li Chengqian’s mouth twitched. *I only have six months to live anyway, what do you think? But I certainly won't show weakness in front of you!*

After a brief hesitation, Li Chengqian stood up from his seat, standing on tiptoe to make himself look taller and more imposing. He looked down at Li Yuan, who was sitting on the couch, and said heroically, "A man living between heaven and earth, how can..."

"How can what!?"

Just as Li Chengqian was about to finish with "how can one fear death," a majestic voice sounded from outside. His legs suddenly went weak, and he knelt down on the spot.

*No way!*

*Is that you, Li Erfeng?*

*Speak of the devil and he appears!*

*Are you two the same person?!*

Li Chengqian was speechless. Just as he was about to stand up, he heard Li Shimin’s majestic voice again: "I am asking you, how can one what?"

"How can... how can..." Li Chengqian was trembling with fear. He looked up at Li Yuan, only to see the old man acting as if he had heard and seen nothing, continuing to drink his wine. Li Chengqian curled his lip in anger, muttering to himself, *'Old fox...'*

However, before he could hesitate further, Li Shimin had already reached him. Looking down from above, he said coldly, "I am asking you: a man living between heaven and earth, how can what?"

"Uh..." Li Chengqian’s mouth twitched. He bit the bullet, looked up, and gave a bashful smile. "How can one not recognize the times and be a hero..."

"Pfft—"

Li Yuan spat out a mouthful of fresh wine and burst into laughter.

Li Shimin looked bewildered.

He had originally been in the Taiji Palace discussing the reduction of noble fiefs with Wei Zheng. Wei Zheng had insisted that "listening to both sides brings enlightenment, while listening to one side brings darkness," and that he shouldn't just consult himself.

With no choice, he had called for Zhangsun Wuji and Fang Xuanling.

But then, he was scolded by Wei Zheng again. Wei Zheng claimed he knew exactly what Zhangsun Wuji and Fang Xuanling were thinking, and that consulting them was merely discussing trivial details—a waste of time.

When he asked who he should consult instead, Wei Zheng told him directly: consult those whose fiefs were being cut, and consult those who were trying to prevent the cuts. This had infuriated him so much he came straight to Li Yuan.

Did he not understand the thoughts of those whose fiefs were being reduced or those who opposed it? Consulting them would be like asking a tiger for its hide.

He felt it was better to consult the Retired Emperor, Li Yuan! After all, they had discussed it once before, though they hadn't gone into details...

But as fate would have it, father and son bumped into each other. And so, the scene unfolded as it did.

"Cough, cough..." After laughing for a while, realizing his lack of decorum, Li Yuan coughed twice and took the initiative to change the subject. "Erlang is here!"

Li Shimin frowned at Li Chengqian, feeling that attending to serious business was more important, so he ignored him and bowed to Li Yuan. "Son greets Father!"

"Hmm. I wonder, Erlang, what brings you here this time?"

"Returning to Father, it is about the reduction of noble fiefs I mentioned before..."

Li Yuan frowned. "Didn't I tell you before? I agree with your decision to reduce the fiefs; what is there left to discuss?"

"Father is unaware, but regarding the details of the reductions, Wei Zheng suggested I consult more people. In my view, those fiefs were granted by you, Father, so you should know them better..."

"So much time has passed, how would I remember!" Li Yuan said, already preparing to show him the door.

Li Shimin asked unexpectedly, "And what about the matter of revising the Martial Virtue Code?"

"An emperor should act like an emperor!" Li Yuan’s expression turned stern as he lectured Li Shimin. "Do you not understand the principle that each generation of emperors brings its own ministers? I have already abdicated; how can I manage so much!"

After finishing, he waved his hand impatiently. "If you want to discuss it, go talk to Pei San and the others; they are familiar with those fiefs as well!"

"And their opinions...?"

"None of my business!" Li Yuan retorted angrily. "Tell them to bother me less in the future. And you, apart from family matters, don't come bothering me either!"

"Hehe..."

Li Yuan’s words were harsh, but Li Shimin was secretly delighted. He had indeed suspected that the opinions of Feng Deyi and Pei Ji had something to do with Li Yuan. Although those opinions hadn't changed the final outcome, he had still harbored some resentment. Now, hearing Li Yuan’s words, everything seemed to be resolved.

"Since Father does not wish to discuss it, I will go consult Minister Pei and the others!"

With that, Li Shimin turned and left the Da'an Palace, ignoring Li Chengqian once again.

"Uh..." Faced with the swift and decisive Li Shimin, Li Chengqian felt a bit unaccustomed to it.

He said in an odd tone, "Grandfather, my father seems very anxious about the reduction of the fiefs!"

"Ha!" Li Yuan snorted, a cryptic smile on his face. "Isn't it good that he is anxious?"

"That is true." Li Chengqian smiled knowingly. He gave Li Yuan a thumbs-up and said with a grin, "Grandfather, your acting just now was truly superb. You are worthy of being called an Oscar-winning actor!"

Li Yuan, old in years but young at heart, chuckled and gave a thumbs-up in return. "Likewise!"

...

Elsewhere.

Li Shimin, having just walked out of the Da'an Palace, suddenly paused. When he left, he felt as if he had forgotten something. Only now did he remember that the rebellious Li Chengqian was still in the Da'an Palace.

However, turning back now to drag Li Chengqian out would likely only irritate Li Yuan further. He thought it over—his father liked Li Chengqian, so letting him stay and keep his grandfather company to enjoy some family time was better than him interfering in state affairs.

Besides, what could a grandfather and a grandson possibly stir up together?

Could they really flip my Li Er’s heaven upside down?

Thinking this, Li Shimin smiled confidently and returned to the Taiji Palace, intending to summon Zhangsun Wuji, Pei Ji, Feng Deyi, and Fang Xuanling to discuss the matter—let's see what Wei Zheng has to say now!

...

Meanwhile, in the pavilion of the Da'an Palace.

Consort Zhang held a pug and squinted as she watched Li Shimin leave. She said faintly, "My eyesight is poor; was that Erlang who just left?"

Zhangsun Anye bowed. "Aunt, you joke. That was indeed the Emperor!"

"Ha, Erlang is becoming more and more like an emperor. It's a pity he chose a wife who doesn't look like an empress..."

"Indeed. I never expected that my sister would have this day!"

"Do you regret it?" Consort Zhang sneered.

Zhangsun Anye spoke noncommittally, "I am just wondering, has the Retired Emperor mentioned the matter of Li Yi to the Emperor?"

"This..." Consort Zhang hesitated, lost in thought. "With the Retired Emperor’s stratagems, I imagine he would not tell Erlang about Li Yi, otherwise Erlang would certainly feel that he is interfering in state affairs..."

Zhangsun Anye’s heart skipped a beat, and he hurriedly asked, "Then what should we do?"

"Are you afraid?"

"I..." Zhangsun Anye was speechless, thinking, *If it weren't for you setting me up, would I be afraid?*

However, seeing Consort Zhang's attitude, he assumed this wasn't a major issue and that Li Yuan must have a way to resolve it. He changed the subject again. "Aunt, haven't you been wanting that secret frankincense from the Western Regions lately? Although it has been out of stock on the market, a strange new item called 'soap' has appeared in Chang'an recently. It is even better than frankincense; not only does it leave a lasting fragrance, but it also removes dirt and grease. It is truly magical!"

"I was wondering, why do you have an unfamiliar scent on you..."

Consort Zhang smiled, but she showed no interest. "Do you not know my preferences? I never use things I am unfamiliar with..."

"Otherwise, if the Retired Emperor found the scent on me unpleasant, it would be troublesome..."

"Hehe, I naturally know your preferences, Aunt. That is why I had a custom-made soap created just for you!"

Laughing, Zhangsun Anye took an exquisitely packaged box from his arms and handed it to Consort Zhang.

Consort Zhang frowned. "Can this item be customized?"

"Yes, it was my first time hearing of it too, but they are very attentive and the quality is excellent. I even had three custom soaps made for myself!"

"Three?" Consort Zhang asked in surprise. "Why did you order so many?"

"Aunt, you may not know, but this soap comes in different types. Some are for bathing, some for washing feet, and others for washing faces or hair. In short, it has many uses," Zhangsun Anye explained with a smile.

Consort Zhang’s mouth opened slightly, as if a new world had opened before her. She took the box from Zhangsun Anye’s hand and opened it slowly.

Inside was an oval-shaped, cherry-pink soap the size of a walnut, emitting the very scent she was familiar with.

"This... is this not the scent of the frankincense I often use?"

"Yes, that is why it was specially made for you, Aunt!" Zhangsun Anye smiled. "Would you like to try the effect?"

"How do I try it?" Consort Zhang was stunned.

Zhangsun Anye called to a maid nearby, "Chunhua, go bring a basin of water!"

"Yes!" The maid named Chunhua responded and soon brought a basin of water.

Following this, Zhangsun Anye personally guided Consort Zhang on how to use the soap. After a bit of scrubbing, Consort Zhang was immediately captivated by the bubbles in the water. It was dozens of times better than the frankincense she had used before—no, they were simply incomparable.

"How is it, Aunt?" Seeing that Consort Zhang was too shocked by the soap's effect to speak, Zhangsun Anye asked with a smirk.

"How much does this cost?" Consort Zhang didn't answer his question but asked about the price instead. After all, she had spent quite a bit on gifts last time, and she didn't dare buy anything too expensive.

Zhangsun Anye smiled and said, "The custom version is one guan of copper coins, and the regular version is one hundred wen."

"Why is the regular version so cheap?"

"The regular version is called 'soap' and is generally used for washing clothes, so it is not worth much."

"Hmm, with this cleaning power, it should wash clothes very clean."

"Yes, all my clothes are washed with it. It's a pity that it's currently in short supply and I can't buy much..."

"Ha!" Consort Zhang laughed and tossed the soap in her hand to Chunhua. "From now on, all the maids in our Da'an Palace will use this soap!"

Saying this, she looked toward the direction of the Lizheng Hall. "Isn't she cutting back on maids? We will let her see what kind of demeanor an Empress should have!"