Chapter 17 The Xuanwu Gate is Coming Soon
The secret rendezvous at the Kunming Pool villa was like a key, unlocking a gate of extreme danger yet irresistible allure. For Wang Yi, one attempt was far from guaranteeing pregnancy, especially in an era lacking modern medical monitoring; she needed to increase her chances of conceiving. For Li Shimin, that successful, taboo-crossing encounter not only satisfied his burning desire for conquest and his yearning for Wang Yi herself, but also provided him with a peculiar comfort and strength on a spiritual level—in the treacherous vortex of politics, there was such a special and powerful woman, willing to share this immense risk with him, even binding their fates more deeply in the most intimate way.
Therefore, when Wang Yi, through secret channels and in extremely subtle language, conveyed her desire to meet again, Li Shimin hardly hesitated. He understood her needs; this trust was remarkably similar to his determination to seize the throne! This added another layer to his admiration for Wang Yi's strength, even inspiring a sense of kinship.
“She wants not only my present, but also my future.” Li Shimin sighed to Changsun Wuji and others in a secret room (of course, he omitted the most important personal feelings and only emphasized Wang Yi’s value and determination in the palace), “Such ambition is no less than that of the heroes of our time. With her in the palace, great things can be expected.”
So, over the next month or so, taking advantage of Li Yuan's brief absences from the palace or the temporary lulls and distractions created by palace ceremonies, Li Shimin risked arranging several extremely secretive rendezvous. The locations varied; sometimes it was at a more secluded manor, sometimes even utilizing the complexities of palace troop rotations to meet in a top-secret safe house within Chang'an. Each meeting was treated as a high-stakes affair, meticulously planned down to the second, with multiple escape routes and elaborate cover measures. Li Shimin utilized his underground network cultivated over many years in Chang'an, controlling the risks to the extreme.
Each meeting was like dancing on a knife's edge. The pressure of the environment and the urgency of time, ironically, catalyzed a strange kind of stimulation. Wang Yi maintained a peculiar calmness and initiative throughout. She was no longer merely a receiver, but would clearly express her needs (based on calculations of her menstrual cycle), and even display a research-like focus that both surprised and fascinated Li Shimin. This way of interacting, which transcended the gender concepts and worldly desires of the time, deeply captivated Li Shimin. She was unlike any woman he had ever possessed; she was an "opponent" he had to deal with with all his might, a "treasure" he longed to possess completely, and a "comrade-in-arms" he could entrust his back to.
In order to appease Li Shimin's doubts that might arise from his repeated adventures, and to further strengthen his determination to face the unknown with her (especially the possibility that she might "return"), Wang Yi took the initiative to mention the worst-case scenario during a brief moment of tenderness after a passionate encounter.
The candlelight flickered, illuminating her serene profile. Leaning against him, her voice was clear and soft: "Your Highness, our affair is like sailing in the dark; the slightest misstep could lead to annihilation. All I ask for is a 'possibility.' If heaven does not protect us, if our plan is exposed, or if misfortune strikes, and our efforts are in vain..." She paused, feeling the arms around her tighten suddenly.
She raised her head, meeting Li Shimin's eyes, which had suddenly become sharp and deep, and said, word by word, "I am willing to go to the Yellow Springs with Your Highness. I do not ask to live together, but only to die together. It is better than... living alone in this world, suffering endless humiliation and loneliness." These words were half genuine (if she truly failed and fell into the hands of Li Yuan or Li Jiancheng, her fate would be tragic, so death was preferable), and half a strategic emotional binding. She wanted Li Shimin to believe that she was not only there to "borrow a seed," but that she had entrusted her life and emotions to his success or failure.
Li Shimin was jolted. He had heard countless oaths of loyalty, his subordinates willing to die for him, his advisors willing to give their lives for him. But never had a woman, especially one so special, so valued by him, so calmly and resolutely uttered the words "to go to the Yellow Springs together." This was not dependence, but an equal covenant, a pledge of life itself. Following the immense shock came a surge of emotion and an even stronger sense of responsibility. He pulled her close, his chin resting on the top of her head, his voice hoarse yet resolute:
"No! It will never come to that!" His chest heaved violently. "If I, Li Shimin, could bring you out, I can protect you! Xuanwu Gate will be won! The world will be ours! And you..." He loosened his grip on her slightly, cupped her face in his hands, his gaze piercing as if trying to brand her soul. "I want you to live, to stand by my side, and watch how this world is transformed in my hands! The 'inheritance' you desire, I will give you; the honor and peace you crave, I will also give you! Wait for me!"
This was a promise, and also an order. Wang Yi saw an undeniable domineering aura and a deep-seated stirring in his eyes. She knew her words had worked. She lowered her eyes slightly, concealing the complex thoughts within them, and softly murmured "Mmm," burying her face against his chest in a gesture of dependence.
During these clandestine encounters, Wang Yi meticulously timed her interactions, employing self-prepared medicinal herbs, and her body subtly underwent changes. Her period was delayed, accompanied by subtle changes in her physical characteristics that only she could perceive. She was seven or eight parts certain, but the palace was treacherous, and until she was completely certain, she dared not reveal anything. She even more carefully adjusted her daily diet and "cultivation" to avoid arousing suspicion from those with ulterior motives.
Meanwhile, Li Shimin's preparations for the coup were entering their final sprint. The unusual activity at the Eastern Palace and the Qi Prince's residence was becoming increasingly frequent, and the assassination plot against the Qin Prince's residence was becoming increasingly clear. The order from Li Yuan to transfer Fang Xuanling, Du Ruhui, and others away from the Qin Prince's residence (they later secretly returned) served as a final warning. Li Shimin and his confidants finally finalized the specific plan to act at Xuanwu Gate in the early morning of June 4th (July 2nd, 626 AD). Every detail, every ambush force, and the response of every key figure were repeatedly rehearsed.
In the final action plan, Li Shimin specifically included a contingency plan for Wang Yi. He ordered his absolutely reliable assassins to infiltrate the vicinity of Qinghui Garden during the chaos of the Xuanwu Gate Incident and the impending turmoil within the palace. Upon receiving a specific signal (indicating success or urgency), they were to immediately remove Wang Yi using a pre-arranged method and transport him to a predetermined, absolutely safe location. This plan was separate from the main operation, and only three or four people knew about it.
June 3rd, night. The secret chamber of the Prince of Qin's residence was brightly lit. Li Shimin was finalizing all the details. He had changed into easily movable military attire, his sword gleaming coldly in the candlelight. The air was thick with the solemnity and tension characteristic of the eve of a major battle.
Li Shimin stood silently for a moment, then took out the black jade hairpin he had always kept close to his body, the one that had been given to Wang Yi. His fingertips caressed the cool jade, and Wang Yi's cold and resolute face appeared before his eyes, her words "Let's go to the Yellow Springs together" seemingly echoing in his ears. The last ripple of emotion caused by ethics or risk was replaced by overwhelming fighting spirit and a strong protective instinct.
"Wait for me," he murmured to himself, carefully tucking the jade hairpin back into his bosom, as if it were a treasure that could bring protection and power. When he turned to face the assembled trusted generals and advisors, he had completely transformed from the shrewd and infallible General Tian Ce.
"Gentlemen," his gaze swept over each person, his voice not loud, but carrying immense weight, "Success or failure hinges on this moment! For the sake of the Tang Dynasty, and for the sake of our lives, ambitions, and futures—tomorrow at Xuanwu Gate, victory is certain!"
"Victory is certain!" A suppressed yet resolute roar echoed in the secret room.
At the same moment, in Qinghui Garden, Wang Yi dismissed all the palace servants and sat alone by the window. The night sky was moonless, and the stars were dim. She gently placed her hand on her lower abdomen, where there was nothing unusual yet, but she was almost certain that a seed belonging to the future (whether it was the future of this time and space, or the modern world she might bring back) had quietly begun to grow.
She took out the mutton-fat jade bracelet given to her by Li Shimin and put it on her wrist. Then, from an extremely hidden compartment, she took out a small brocade pouch containing some things she had prepared beforehand that might come in handy in a critical moment: a few energizing and fatigue-relieving pills (concentrated with caffeine and other energizing ingredients), a small packet of hemostatic and anti-inflammatory powder, and a specially made metal ornament containing a miniature compass and a small piece of high-concentration sugar (an emergency energy source)—this was the last resort she could make using the limited materials she could find in the palace, relying on her memory and craftsmanship.
She knew that tomorrow, everything would be revealed. Li Shimin's blade would determine the fate of the empire, and also the fate of her and the child that might be in her womb.
"Li Shimin, don't let me down." She gazed in the direction of the Prince of Qin's residence and said softly, her eyes devoid of fear, only a icy calm and assessment. "And I... won't let you down either." Regardless of the outcome, she had already secured the best possible starting point and as many options as possible for herself and for the future generations. All that remained was to face this decisive storm and, within it, find her own opportunity for survival and development.
Night fell, and all was silent. Chang'an slept soundly, unaware that in a few hours, the majestic Xuanwu Gate would be soaked in blood, ushering in a new, glorious era belonging to Li Shimin. And a complex relationship, beginning with cold calculations and interwoven with ambition, admiration for power, forbidden emotions, and life-or-death vows, would reach its most crucial moment of reshaping amidst the earth-shattering cries of battle.
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