Chapter 47 Night Talk
Inside Qixia Garden, Wang Yi was flipping through a medical book, but her mind was elsewhere. She was waiting for Li Shimin's reaction.
Li Ming has been at the Liangyi Hall for two hours. According to the plan, the child should have confessed everything to Li Shimin and requested to be adopted. Now, it's time for Li Shimin to come and find her.
She wasn't worried that Li Shimin would guess that she was the one who gave Li Ming the idea. On the contrary, she hoped that Li Shimin would guess.
In the inner palace, the greatest danger is not having others know you are intelligent, but having others know you are intelligent yet trying to hide it. The former might breed apprehension, but the latter will certainly breed suspicion.
Wang Yi was very clear about her position: she was not a concubine vying for favor in the harem, nor a scheming concubine attempting to interfere in politics, but a special "partner" who could help Li Shimin solve some problems. This position needed to be transparent, and Li Shimin needed to feel that she was under his control and that all her actions were within his sight.
Therefore, this time she guided Li Ming using an open strategy—even if Li Shimin knew it was her, he wouldn't be able to find fault with it, and would instead agree that it was the best solution at present.
"Your Majesty, Your Majesty has arrived," a palace attendant whispered.
Wang Yi put down his book and rose to greet him. Li Shimin walked in, his face calm, revealing neither joy nor anger.
"Your Majesty," Wang Yi bowed.
Li Shimin waved to dismiss the palace servants, sat down on the couch, and looked at her: "Ming'er came to see me just now."
"Your Highness, Prince Cao?" Wang Yi feigned a hint of surprise at just the right moment. "Does Your Highness have something to say?"
Li Shimin stared into her eyes: "He requested that I, after he comes of age, allow him to be adopted by Yuanji."
Wang Yi was silent for a moment, then asked softly, "Your Majesty... has he agreed?"
"I said I need to consider it," Li Shimin said slowly. "Wang Yi, what do you think of this idea?"
This was a test. Wang Yi understood, and she met Li Shimin's gaze calmly: "In my opinion, this is the best choice for His Highness Prince Cao at present."
"Oh? Why?"
“Because it can completely resolve his awkward identity,” Wang Yi analyzed. “By being adopted by the Prince of Qi, he will no longer be His Majesty’s biological son, and those who want to exploit his bloodline will lose their biggest excuse. He can also leave Chang’an, stay away from the center of power, and live a peaceful life.”
She paused, then added, "Moreover, since the King of Qi has no heir, the adoption of His Highness the Prince of Cao can be considered as continuing the family line. His Majesty values family ties, so this is not necessarily a bad thing."
Li Shimin looked at her silently for a long time before saying, "Was this idea yours to Ming'er?"
Wang Yi neither denied nor directly admitted it, but simply said softly, "A few days ago, I happened to meet His Highness Prince Cao in the Imperial Garden. Seeing that the child looked anxious, I said a few more words to him. I told him that in this deep palace, if one cannot be strong enough to protect oneself, one must know how to show weakness and how to make choices."
She looked up at Li Shimin, her eyes clear and honest: "I did hint to him that adoption might be a way out. But the final decision was made by the child himself. I just... gave him a choice."
Li Shimin suddenly smiled, a smile that contained both appreciation and mixed feelings: "You always manage to think of things that others don't."
"I am merely an observer with a clearer perspective," Wang Yi said, lowering her eyes. "Moreover, I also have my own selfish motives."
"What selfish motives?"
“Only when His Highness Prince Cao is safe can the harem be at peace,” Wang Yi said frankly. “The Empress needs to recuperate, and His Highness the Crown Prince needs to be stabilized. If there is any more turmoil on His Highness Prince Cao’s side, it will not be good for anyone. I… also wish to stay with His Majesty for a few more years in this peaceful situation.”
These words were half true and half false, but they were touching enough. Li Shimin reached out and pulled her into his arms, sighing softly, "You always think of me."
Wang Yi nestled in his arms, her mind clear. She knew she had passed this hurdle. Li Shimin accepted her "meddling" and even appreciated her "far-sightedness."
"What does Your Majesty intend to do with those former subordinates?" she asked softly.
“It’s all arranged.” Li Shimin’s voice turned colder. “Tomorrow we will continue to deal with them until they all surface… and then wipe them out in one fell swoop.”
"And what about His Highness Prince Cao's safety...?"
"I will send people to protect him secretly," Li Shimin said. "Don't worry, I will not let anything happen to that child."
Wang Yi nodded. She knew that if Li Shimin said so, he would definitely do it. This emperor might be ruthless in politics, but he still harbored a deep affection for his children.
“Your Majesty,” she suddenly spoke, “I have something to say, but I don’t know if I should say it.”
"you say."
"This incident has made me realize something," Wang Yi said softly but earnestly. "In this deep palace, I am ultimately all alone. Although I have His Majesty's protection, there are bound to be areas that cannot be covered. Therefore, I think... perhaps I should find some allies for myself."
Li Shimin raised an eyebrow: "Allies?"
“For example, the Changsun family,” Wang Yi said frankly. “In this incident, Minister Changsun acted swiftly and decisively, eliminating potential threats, which allowed me to see his ability and loyalty. I think that if we can maintain a good relationship with the Changsun family, it may be beneficial to both myself and the peace of the harem.”
She looked up at Li Shimin, her eyes clear: "Of course, I will not get involved in politics, nor will I have any private dealings with any court officials. However, if we can maintain communication with the Empress and the Changsun family regarding matters in the inner palace, many things will be easier to resolve."
Li Shimin looked at her, a thoughtful look flashing in his eyes. He hadn't expected Wang Yi to express her desire for an alliance so bluntly, and he certainly hadn't expected her to choose the Changsun family as her ally.
But this is indeed the safest and wisest choice. The Changsun family is an in-law family, and their relationship with the inner palace is already close. Wang Yi's good relations with the Changsun family will not arouse his suspicion, and will also give her an extra layer of protection in the inner palace.
"How do you intend to maintain relations with the Changsun family?" Li Shimin asked.
“It’s very simple.” Wang Yi smiled. “I will continue to do my best to treat Her Majesty the Empress. It is my duty. Occasionally, I may consult with Minister Changsun through Her Majesty the Empress on matters unrelated to court affairs, such as the procurement of medicinal herbs and the organization of medical books. After all, the Changsun family has a long history of scholarship and broad knowledge.”
This statement was perfectly worded. Asking about "matters unrelated to politics" both expressed closeness and clearly defined boundaries.
Li Shimin laughed: "You've thought of everything very thoroughly."
"I just don't want to put Your Majesty in a difficult position," Wang Yi said softly. "I know that Your Majesty treats me well, but I cannot take advantage of your favor. In this deep palace, I must have my own way of surviving—I must put Your Majesty at ease while also ensuring my own safety."
She paused, her voice even softer: "After all, the only person I care about in this world is Your Majesty. But I must also learn to protect myself so that I can stay with Your Majesty for a long time."
These words were spoken with such sincerity that a warm feeling welled up in Li Shimin's heart. He held Wang Yi even tighter: "With me here, who dares to harm you?"
"I know Your Majesty will protect me," Wang Yi nestled against him, "but I also want to share Your Majesty's burdens, not become one."
Li Shimin remained silent for a long time, only gently stroking her long hair. This woman was astonishingly intelligent, yet heartbreakingly sensible. She clearly knew her place, what she should and shouldn't do, and how to protect herself in this deep palace without causing him trouble.
How could he not fall deeply in love with a woman like that?
"Do whatever you want," Li Shimin finally said. "As long as it doesn't involve politics, I will allow it."
"Thank you, Your Majesty." Wang Yi felt relieved. She had obtained the permission she wanted—permission to establish contact with the Changsun family.
This was not merely for self-preservation, but also for future planning. Changsun Wuji was Li Shimin's most trusted minister and the future most powerful minister in Emperor Gaozong's reign. Maintaining a good relationship with the Changsun family would be of immense benefit to her and her daughters who might bring about the Tang Dynasty.
“Your Majesty,” she suddenly remembered something, “I might visit Prince Cao occasionally. That child… is too lonely.”
Li Shimin looked at her, his eyes full of tenderness: "You are always soft-hearted."
"I was just thinking about myself..." Wang Yi paused at the right moment, her eyes glistening with tears.
Li Shimin knew she was thinking of the child who died young again, and a wave of guilt washed over him: "Go, take better care of that child. He was also my son."
"Mm." Wang Yi nodded, burying her face in Li Shimin's arms, concealing the calm calculation in her eyes.
The game unfolds step by step, and she is steadily transforming from a pawn into a player. With Li Shimin's tacit approval and a potential alliance with the Changsun family, her foundation in the Tang Dynasty is gradually becoming more solid.
As for Li Yuanji's former subordinates... Wang Yi sneered inwardly. Their end was near.
What she needs to do is to both protect herself and gain more leverage in this storm.
As night deepened, Li Shimin stayed overnight at Qixia Garden. Wang Yi slept peacefully in his arms, but her mind was as clear as day.
She was calculating her next move—how to fill the vacant positions in the court after Changsun Wuji purged his old subordinates with "insignificant" but useful people. For example, the Imperial Medical Bureau, the Directorate of Works, and the inner court agencies that managed royal assets...
These places are not involved in court politics, but they control a great deal of resources and connections. She needs a stable channel to introduce modern knowledge and technology into the Tang Dynasty in a "reasonable" way.
It's not about changing history, it's just about... making her "Tang Dynasty vacation" more comfortable, safer, and more fun.
After all, although she didn't intend to stay in this era for long, since she had come, she had to do something and leave something behind.
Moonlight streamed through the window, gently enveloping the two sleeping in each other's arms. One was immersed in love, while the other, under the cover of love, calmly planned for the future.
This is Wang Yi's way of surviving in the Tang Dynasty: using sincerity to gain trust, using wisdom to gain space, and using compromise to gain freedom.
And on this path, she walked more and more steadily, and went further and further.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com