Chapter 54: The Grand Emperor Restores the Throne! No One's Approval Needed!

In history, Zhangsun Anyｅ's rebellion was rescued by Empress Zhangsun.

This was because the Empress was unwilling to have outsiders gossip about the Zhangsun family, especially concerning Zhangsun Wuji, feeling that she and her brother were merely retaliating for past grievances.

And Li Shimin, showing great consideration for the siblings, commuted Zhangsun Anyｅ’s originally scheduled death sentence to exile.

The official justification given was that this was a domestic family dispute within the Zhangsun clan rather than a treasonous rebellion.

Now, history was repeating itself.

Empress Zhangsun was once again attempting to use the pretext of a family matter to save Zhangsun Anyｅ's life.

Unfortunately, Zhangsun Anyｅ had been blinded by the illusion of victory within his grasp; he was utterly incapable of listening to the Empress's words.

Instead, he sneered, "I am the legitimate eldest son of the Zhangsun family! What qualifications do you have to accuse me? You say I have pushed the clan toward the abyss? I say it is you two who have pushed the family into the depths!"

"Your meteoric rise to power, I acknowledge it! But by what right do you presume to make decisions for the entire Zhangsun clan?"

"I am the true heir of the Zhangsun family! I am the one who represents the Zhangsun clan!"

As he finished these words, Zhangsun Anyｅ's emotions were visibly far more agitated than before.

Even the hand holding the flint was trembling, as if it might drop into that black iron chest at any moment.

This sight sent waves of sheer terror through the assembled ministers.

In truth, given the defensive deployment around the Taiji Hall, the guards were entirely confident in their ability to subdue or shoot down Zhangsun Anyｅ.

Yet none of them dared to act rashly.

Why was that?

Because they feared the unpredictable.

Should Zhangsun Anyｅ, in his dying moments, drop the burning flint into that black box, even if not all the ministers in the Taiji Hall perished, at least half would surely die.

For the Great Tang, this would undoubtedly be an apocalyptic catastrophe.

Therefore, without absolute certainty, even Li Shimin did not dare to make a reckless move.

After all, firearms and explosive devices of this kind were entirely alien to them.

Mankind is always doubly terrified of the unknown.

Empress Zhangsun remained as calm as ever as she spoke, "Very well. Since you claim to represent the Zhangsun family and to be its rightful heir, let me ask you: what is the penalty for treason?"

"This..."

Zhangsun Anyｅ hesitated for a moment, furrowing his brow. "This is not treason! I am merely purging the court of evil ministers!"

"Very well, let us say you are purging the court. Tell me, what do you intend to do once that is accomplished?"

"Naturally, it is to restore the Retired Emperor to his rightful throne!"

"Ah, I understand."

Empress Zhangsun nodded in sudden realization, then cast a complex gaze upon Zhangsun Anyｅ. "You desire the merit of supporting a dragon, you desire the rewards of principal vassals and high-ranking offices, do you not?"

"I..."

Zhangsun Anyｅ opened his mouth, words failing on his lips.

Admittedly, this was precisely what he thought in his heart, yet facing the full court of civil and military officials, he dared not voice it.

For this was merely his own selfish ambition.

Once spoken aloud, the entire nature of his actions would fundamentally change.

Thus, he chose silence.

However, Empress Zhangsun had no intention of allowing him to remain silent.

"Does the Retired Emperor know of all that you have done?" she pressed on.

"Naturally he does!"

"Then why has the Retired Emperor not been invited to ascend the hall?"

"This..."

Zhangsun Anyｅ was struck dumb.

He certainly wished to invite Li Yuan to ascend the hall.

Yet deep down, he knew all too well that Li Yuan had never once explicitly expressed a desire for restoration to him.

Therefore, he could only wait until the grand outcome was settled before forcing Li Yuan onto the throne.

Hesitating, he replied, "The ministers have not yet consented to the Retired Emperor's return!"

Empress Zhangsun smiled. "If the Retired Emperor truly harbored the intent to be restored, would he need the consent of the ministers? He was already the Emperor!"

"What?!"

Hearing these words, Zhangsun Anyｅ was instantly bewildered and stunned.

And at the very moment he was thrown into confusion, Empress Zhangsun delivered her soul-searching question: "How much longer can the flint in your hand burn?"

"This..."

Upon hearing this, Zhangsun Anyｅ instinctively glanced toward Li Xiaochang.

The instant their eyes met, their pupils abruptly constricted.

Indeed!

How could the two of them have overlooked this?

The burning time of a flint was strictly limited!

Once the flint burned out, attempting to ignite the explosive device would become virtually impossible.

Yet, at the very moment of their exchange, a figure suddenly appeared behind Empress Zhangsun.

The person was holding a wooden basin, and without a single word of hesitation, hurled the entire basin of water directly onto Zhangsun Anyｅ's flint.

With a muffled hiss, the burning flint in Zhangsun Anyｅ's hand was instantly extinguished.

"Not good! I've fallen into a trap!"

Zhangsun Anyｅ snapped back to reality, his expression filled with astonishment.

He had never imagined that the sudden appearance of Empress Zhangsun was merely a feint—a diversionary tactic.

She had used her identity and her rhetoric to draw everyone's attention entirely upon herself, thereby causing them to overlook her true objective.

And that objective was precisely to extinguish the flint.

"Prince of Yi'an!"

Without a moment's hesitation, Zhangsun Anyｅ roared directly at Li Xiaochang, "Light the fire—!"

Li Xiaochang was still somewhat at a loss, but hearing Zhangsun Anyｅ's furious roar, he snapped back to his senses and frantically pulled out his own flint, attempting to strike it.

Yet, along with Zhangsun Anyｅ's shout, not only did Li Xiaochang react, but everyone else inside the hall awakened to the danger as well.

Among them was Yuchi Jingde, who had escorted them inside.

Without a second word, Yuchi Jingde lunged straight toward Li Xiaochang.

In his desperate haste, Li Xiaochang fumbled and failed to pull the cap off his flint.

It was only then that the ministers fully understood: aside from a burning flint, there was simply no other way to detonate the explosives!

Outcries erupted everywhere as one after another, they rushed toward Li Xiaochang and Zhangsun Anyｅ, plunging the grand hall into absolute chaos.

"Quick! Stop them!"

"Don't let the flint fall into the box!"

"Careful! Someone is moving the oil lamps! Stop him!"

Fang Xuanling and Du Ruhui were frantic with bloodshot eyes, shouting warnings both to those charging at Zhangsun Anyｅ and Li Xiaochang, and to the enfeoffed princes and veteran ministers of the Wude era who were attempting to seize the opportunity to cause chaos.

If Zhangsun Anyｅ and Li Xiaochang failed, their earlier expressions of support would instantly become their death warrants, leaving them no choice but to fight desperately.

However, who were Li Shimin's ministers?

How could they possibly allow such an opportunity to succeed?

Several enfeoffed princes and old Wude-era ministers holding oil lamps, attempting to rush close to the chest, were easily overpowered and subdued one by one by Li Shimin's loyal officials.

Nevertheless, the crisis was far from averted.

For in the split second he dodged Yuchi Jingde's earth-shattering charge, Li Xiaochang managed to pull the cap off his flint.

"Prince of Yi'an! Drag them down to hell with us!"

"Agreed!"

Realizing the game was thoroughly lost, the two men made a decisive choice.

Right at that critical juncture, Li Chengqian, who had been lingering quietly in a corner, raised his hand and hurled a sachet from his waist directly at them.

The throw lacked both great force and precision.

Had Li Xiaochang ignored it, he would have been completely unharmed.

However, unaware of what this bulging, flying object was, Li Xiaochang instinctively ducked away, only to be struck squarely in the face by the sachet.

In an instant, a peculiar and potent fragrance surged straight into his mind.

Li Xiaochang was suddenly overcome by an intense tickling sensation in his nose, culminating in a violent sneeze that blew directly upon the already glowing flint, extinguishing it entirely.

"No—!"

With a heavy thud, he collapsed to his knees.

Snowflakes fluttered through the air, and the northern wind wailed mournfully.

Heaven and earth stretched out, vast and boundless, in a pale expanse of white.