Chapter 11 Transition
After the incident involving the white jade hairpin, time did not immediately move to the decisive moment at Xuanwu Gate. The wheels of history turned slowly and heavily; at this time, the Tang Dynasty was far from being able to engage in internal strife and rest easy.
Between 622 and 624, although the flames of war gradually subsided, stubborn enemies remained. First, Liu Heita rose up in Mingzhou, gaining considerable power and capturing several prefectures and counties; later, Fu Gongshi rebelled in Danyang, establishing a separatist regime in the southeast. Li Yuan's headaches seemed to ease under the relatively stable political situation, but his reliance on the capable and valiant Li Shimin became incredibly clear and urgent when war broke out again.
After the Prince of Qin's family offered their thanks, Wang Yi's life in the palace seemed to return to normal. She remained aloof and self-possessed, playing the role of an "overseas celestial master" who treated the emperor's health. Li Shimin, on the other hand, was soon summoned to war and once again donned his armor and went to battle.
This farewell was unlike any before. Before his departure, Li Shimin sat alone in his study late at night, gazing intently at a simplified version of a "world map" he had drawn from memory. On the map, the territory of the Tang Dynasty was being gradually outlined and expanded, while the vast world depicted in the magical original map brought by Wang Yi served as a silent call, reminding him that beyond his achievements lay a more distant cosmos. And the woman who brought this map… His fingertips unconsciously brushed against his waist, where no ornaments adorned him, but close to his chest lay another short, black jade hairpin—similar to, yet more robust than, the one he had given Wang Yi—the other piece of a pair of his own.
"Your Highness, the army is ready and will depart at dawn tomorrow." Changsun Wuji's voice rang out from outside the door.
Li Shimin snapped out of his thoughts, his eyes regaining their sharpness: "Understood."
He rolled up the map and placed it into a specially made copper tube. When he turned around, he was once again the infallible General Tian Ce, who struck fear into the hearts of his enemies.
This journey began with years of continuous warfare. Li Shimin successively quelled Liu Heita and Xu Yuanlang, and finally, in the seventh year of Wude (624), completely defeated Fu Gongshi of Jiangnan, bringing the Tang Dynasty's basic unification of the country to a close. Battle reports were repeatedly sent back to Chang'an, and with each victory, the prestige and power of the Prince of Qin rose to a new peak. With each victory report, Wang Yi in Ningyun Pavilion could sense from Li Yuan's complex and unfathomable expression (a mixture of satisfaction and deeper apprehension) and the whispers circulating in the palace that the man thousands of miles away was constantly consolidating his position with his illustrious military achievements, and step by step approaching the critical point of the final showdown with the Crown Prince's faction.
During this period, Wang Yi was not entirely inactive. She exploited Li Yuan's dependence on her "elixirs" and his trust in metaphysical knowledge to more systematically and subtly influence his understanding of health and his mindset. She packaged some modern health concepts as Taoist secret arts, emphasizing the importance of "quietude and non-action" and "following nature" for treating "wind-related illnesses" (Li Yuan's headaches were categorized as such by the imperial physicians), implying that court infighting and father-son distrust were the source of "disturbing the heart fire" and "obstructing the flow of qi," greatly detrimental to the emperor's health. At the same time, the formula for her "heart-clearing and pain-relieving powder" (actually a dosage of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs slightly adjusted according to Li Yuan's physical condition and an auxiliary placebo) was described as increasingly mystical and dependent on a "peaceful state of mind."
While Li Yuan enjoyed the relief from his headaches, he was inevitably affected by this psychological suggestion. He felt increasingly annoyed and worried about the increasingly fierce power struggle between the Crown Prince and the Prince of Qin in the court, and this emotion, in turn, could indeed trigger or aggravate his headaches. Thus, a hidden cycle was formed: Li Shimin's achievements in the field—Li Yuan's complicated mood (suspicion + dependence)—increased risk of headaches—greater reliance on Wang Yi's "medicine" and "calming" theories—subconsciously hoping for "peace" in the court—and increasingly ambiguous and conflicted attitude towards the balance of power between the Crown Prince and the Prince of Qin.
This cycle, objectively speaking, created a more subtle and favorable atmosphere within the court for Li Shimin to focus on external wars while secretly accumulating strength. Although Crown Prince Li Jiancheng intensified his efforts to build up his power base in the court, win over ministers, and attempt to influence Li Yuan through the concubines in the harem, many of his offensives were subtly softened or delayed under the high-sounding reason that "Father Emperor has a headache and needs to rest, and should not be overworked or troubled" (a reason that was to some extent endorsed by Wang Yi's "medical skills").
In the autumn of the seventh year of the Wude era, Li Shimin completely quelled the rebellion of Fu Gongshi and returned to the capital in triumph. This triumphant return was of extraordinary significance, marking the true elimination of the main separatist forces from the Li Tang regime and the unification of the empire. The welcoming ceremony in Chang'an was unprecedentedly grand. Li Shimin, clad in golden armor and riding a fine horse, entered the city amidst the cheers of thousands of people and the gaze of civil and military officials, enjoying unparalleled prestige.
At the victory banquet, Li Yuan publicly praised him, bestowing upon him a large amount of gold, silver, and silk, and granting him additional titles and rewards. However, discussions about the "General of Heavenly Strategy" establishing his own residence and wielding excessive power were quietly brewing in the shadows. During the banquet, Li Shimin's gaze briefly met that of Wang Yi, who sat not far below Li Yuan. She seemed a little thinner, but her eyes remained calm and profound. When he raised his cup to accept the congratulations from the officials, she merely raised her teacup slightly, nodded in acknowledgment, and then looked away, as if he were just an ordinary victorious general.
However, Li Shimin sensed something different in her gaze. It was no longer pure aloofness; there seemed to be an almost imperceptible… scrutiny? Or perhaps, assessment? Assessing the increased power he had brought? Assessing whether he was closer to the position she had anticipated?
This realization ignited a fire within Li Shimin. His bloody battles and territorial expansion were not merely for the sake of the Li family's rule, nor simply for self-preservation. He now clearly understood that it was also to accumulate enough resources to break down the high wall between him and her, the wall called "Father Emperor" and "Palace Rules."
Shortly after the banquet, Li Shimin received a secret report that the Crown Prince and the Prince of Qi were extremely wary of him and were plotting even more drastic actions, which might even involve a direct threat to his personal safety. Li Yuan's attitude wavered between the rewards brought by his great achievements and the deeper hidden worries, and he seemed to be beginning to lean towards suppressing his son, who was "too powerful to be a threat to the emperor," in order to appease the Crown Prince.
The situation suddenly became tense again. The war to unify the world had ended, but another, more dangerous war that would determine the ultimate ruler was imminent.
That night, in a secret chamber of the Prince of Qin's residence, Li Shimin once again held a late-night discussion with his trusted ministers, including Fang Xuanling, Du Ruhui, and Changsun Wuji. Maps were unfurled, and the defenses of Chang'an, the layout of the palace, and the details of Xuanwu Gate were repeatedly analyzed. Everyone's expression was extremely grave.
“Your Highness, there have been frequent transfers between the Eastern Palace and the Qi Prince’s residence recently. The generals stationed in key positions such as Xuanwu Gate and Linhu Hall may be making unusual moves.” Du Ruhui pointed to several points on the map.
"Are our men in place?" Li Shimin asked in a low voice.
"They are all in position, hidden and awaiting orders. But His Majesty's side..." Fang Xuanling hesitated, then stopped.
Li Yuan's attitude remained the biggest variable. If he firmly stood by the Crown Prince or issued an edict explicitly restricting the Prince of Qin, all plans might be doomed.
Li Shimin walked to the window and pushed it open a crack. The cool autumn night breeze blew in, carrying the unique scent of Chang'an. He looked towards the palace; the majestic palace complex lay silent in the night, like a lurking beast.
He recalled Wang Yi's warning, her eyes that seemed to see into the future, and how she was now within the palace walls, and in a sense, also within the potential reach of this storm.
"As for Father Emperor..." Li Shimin said slowly, a sharp glint in his eyes, "We need an opportunity, an opportunity that will force Father Emperor to remain neutral, or... to leave him no time to attend to other matters."
His gaze returned to the depths of the palace, towards Ningyun Pavilion. Perhaps, that seemingly detached "fairy" was not merely an observer in this game. Her very existence, her "medical skills," and her influence on his father might be an unexpected piece in this seemingly hopeless game, capable of shifting the crucial fulcrum.
But how can this piece be used without getting burned?
Li Shimin closed the windows, keeping the chill out. The candlelight in the secret room cast his long shadow on the wall, making him look like a giant about to go to war.
“Continue to closely monitor all movements of the Eastern Palace and the Qi Prince’s residence. Xuanwu Gate is our last chance, and our only chance.” His voice was resolute. “As for Father Emperor… I have my own plans.”
The war god who unified the world has returned. Now, he must seize the final and only crown for himself, and for the ever-burning, unyielding desire in his heart. And that mysterious woman from overseas, whether she likes it or not, has been deeply drawn into this torrent that will determine the course of history.
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