Side Story Chapter 33: Common Understanding!
First Brother Li Xuantu was extremely proud. If he wanted to kill Li Taiyi, he would not rely on such methods as assassins. After thinking it over, Li Taiyi could only think of his other two brothers.
“If it’s really them, then they’ve gotten a little too bold. Trying to assassinate a Prince in the Imperial Palace is a grave crime!” Wang Jiuling suddenly said. It was clear that he had realized the same thing as Li Taiyi.
“This matter is far from simple. The Imperial Palace is heavily guarded, and there are many experts in the inner court, patrolling out in the open and in the shadows. Most importantly, everyone knows that the Imperial Army is under the command of the First Prince.
“Without his permission, those people would have never been able to reach Jade Dragon Palace without anyone noticing,” a young general behind Li Taiyi said. This was one of Li Taiyi’s newly recruited subordinates, Zhang Shougui.
In the war against the Turks, Zhang Shougui had displayed a brilliant understanding of the art of war and an incredible mind for tactics and planning.
Zhang Shougui’s words made everyone fall silent, their hearts heavy.
The Tang Emperor was seriously ill, and the situation in the palace was complex and conspiratorial.
The Second Prince had been in the palace for many years and had gathered many subordinates, making him very difficult to deal with. Together with First Prince Li Xuantu, who possessed immense prestige, he presented an extremely powerful force.
“There’s a solution to everything. There’s no need for all of you to worry about this. I have an idea on how to proceed,” Li Taiyi calmly said.
He was not one to sit around and wait for death. If Li Chengyi overdid it, he could no longer concern himself over his fate.
……
Meanwhile, in another palace…
“What do the Yin Yang Ghosts mean by this? Daring to take my money and not do the job?!”
Second Prince Li Chengyi was furious, clenching the tea cup in his hand, unaware of the hot tea leaking through the cracks onto his hand.
Before Li Taiyi’s ascendancy, he had used the time when Li Xuantu had not been present to secretly take control of more than half the court. So long as he used his own faction members and those who were once loyal to his first brother to smear his first brother, with himself adding some spice to the story at the Tang Emperor’s side, his first brother would naturally lose his status as Crown Prince.
The Crown Prince’s place was certain to be his.
But now, that piece of trash was suddenly ascendant???
He was clearly a pleasure-seeking Prince. How had he suddenly risen up?!!
This thought made Li Chengyi grind his teeth, denial and unwillingness on his face.
The corruption case that Li Taiyi had exposed had led to the power he had built up in court collapsing, leaving himself with only a few useful people.
It was impossible to achieve glory without some pain, and he could endure all of this. If he lacked men, he simply needed to install more.
But it wasn’t long before Li Taiyi returned with a victory over the Turks and entered the court. Those people who had originally belonged to his faction had suddenly made an about-face and joined Li Taiyi’s camp.
At that moment, Li Chengyi understood that he was no longer at the center of the battlefield.
For these court officials, the Tang Emperor’s most favored Princes were the First Prince and Third Prince. Only one of these two would ultimately sit upon that supreme throne.
As time passed, the hall became quieter and quieter.
After some time, the Second Prince had seemingly calmed down. His eyes brightly flashed as he vaguely said, “Extraordinary times call for extraordinary measures. I won’t let those two get the throne! It seems like I’ll have to resort to that.”
After thinking for a few moments, he summoned a minor eunuch.
“Make preparations for a visit to the Eastern Palace.”
When two tigers struggled, one would come out injured. Only through this method would he have a real chance.
……
At this moment, in the Eastern Palace…
“Your Highness, that one in Jade Dragon Palace obtained the help of the Bureau of Works some time ago, and now, his subordinate, Wang Jiuling, has entered the Bureau of Personnel and taken the post of Minister. The current situation bodes ill for us,” one of the advisors worriedly said to First Prince Li Xuantu.
The other advisors nodded in agreement at the advisor’s words.
“Wait a little longer.”
Though everyone was advising him to act, Li Xuantu kept his eyes half-closed, his index and middle fingers lightly knocking on the table as if he was waiting for something.
“This…”
The advisors of the Eastern Palace were confused, exchanging glances and seeing the confusion in each other’s eyes.
At this moment, a quick-witted eunuch appeared at the door of the Eastern Palace.
Li Xuantu seemed to sense this, his eyes opening as he ordered the eunuch to speak.
The eunuch immediately lowered his head and said, “The Second Prince has come to pay a visit.”
Almost everyone in the Eastern Palace frowned at this.
Why had the Second Prince come to find their liege?
“Let him come in!”
Having seemingly expected this, Li Xuantu appeared indifferent as he spoke.
The eunuch immediately withdrew, and before long, a tall and handsome figure entered the Eastern Palace. It was none other than Second Prince Li Chengyi.
“First Brother.”
The moment Li Chengyi entered, he respectfully bowed.
Normally, Li Chengyi should have quickly received a reply from Li Xuantu so that they could enter the main topic. But Li Xuantu pretended not to see anything, instead lightly sipping on his tea.
The smile on Li Chengyi’s face stiffened.
As the mood grew more and more awkward, a chilling voice spoke.
“Second Brother had to lose your rice trying to steal a chicken before finally remembering your first brother!”
A hint of confusion appeared in Li Chengyi’s eyes, but he quickly understood what was meant, and his heart thumped.
Trying to steal a chicken and losing the rice?
Wasn’t this referring to his assassination attempt?
Second Prince Li Chengyi subtly glanced at Li Xuantu. Those cold and penetrating eyes that seemed to see through everything caused him to break out in a cold sweat.
His first brother knew everything!
“First Brother, your brother had no other choice!”
Panicking, Li Chengyi immediately got down on his knees.
“Don’t be afraid. You are this prince’s brother. How could this prince so lightly assign guilt to you?” Li Xuantu calmly said, his voice flat and emotionless, but Li Chengyi shivered.
“Thank you, Imperial Brother, for your favor.”
Li Chengyi swallowed.
“Speak. You should not have come to visit me for just this.”
Shooting an ‘earnest’ glance at Li Chengyi, Li Xuantu coldly laughed.
“Since Imperial Brother is being so straightforward, your brother will be forthright,” Li Chengyi sternly said. “Imperial Brother is far more capable than me in martial arts and politics. I know that I cannot compare to Imperial Brother, so I am willing to withdraw from the struggle for the throne. If Imperial Brother agrees to make me a King in the future and give me a part-time official position, your brother is willing to join Imperial Brother’s side and assist Imperial Brother against Third Brother in the struggle for the throne of Nine and Five.”
“Oh? It sounds very tempting, but how can I believe you?”
Li Xuantu grinned, seemingly unmoved.
In the imperial household, feigned civility was common. Li Chengyi had also been after the throne, so how could he be so easily believed?
“Imperial Brother, you were there at Taiji Palace. Imperial Father’s body is no longer in the same state, and it has been several days since he last attended court at Taihe Palace, with the Grand Preceptor and Grand Tutor presiding in his place. Forgive your brother for speaking bluntly, but Imperial Father…”
Li Chengyi lowered his head and did not continue to speak. He was confident that the First Prince understood his meaning.
“Such audacity! You are saying that Imperial Father’s life is reaching its limit?! You dare to speak so boldly about such things? Imperial Father simply feels unwell. This prince will naturally try to find medicines that will assist Imperial Father in the healing process.
“Such thoughts from you are treasonous!” Li Xuantu sternly rebuked, his expression cold.
Li Chengyi clenched his teeth, knowing these words would not be able to move Li Xuantu.
“Imperial Brother, the Ziwei has reappeared, escorted by five stars…”
Buzz!
Li Xuantu and the Eastern Palace advisors paled, but on the other end, Li Chengyi sighed in relief.
“What a surprise that even you would know about this. It seems that you have quite a few men installed in the Eastern Palace,” Li Xuantu coldly said.
“Doesn’t Imperial Brother also have quite a few spies in my palace?” Li Chengyi calmly said, his head still bowed.
“The shift in the heavens has already forecasted the future structure of the Great Tang. Your brother is not amongst the stars, so he will find it very hard to contend against Imperial Brother. But Third Brother is different. That newly appeared Ziwei Emperor Star, if all is as expected, refers to Third Brother.
“In just a few short years, he has gathered many capable people at his side, and this isn’t even considering Virtuous Empress Dou’s efforts on his behalf. At present, only Virtuous Empress Dou is allowed into Taiji Palace, and if something happens in Taiji Palace and Virtuous Empress Dou claims to be acting on imperial decree… the one who will be taking the throne at that time might not be Imperial Brother, but Third Brother.
“If that happens, Imperial Brother… will you accept it?” Li Chengyi solemnly said.
The Eastern Palace was silent. Nobody spoke, and Li Xuantu raised his head, the look on his face shifting and inconstant.
“I will believe you for now, but if you dare to betray me, you will suffer a fate worse than death!” the First Prince finally said.
Li Chengyi raised his head, a faint smile on his lips.