Chapter 90 The Imperial Heir is Born, the True Colors Are Revealed
In October, Chang'an was blessed with clear skies and the fragrance of osmanthus blossoms. However, in the Eastern Palace that year, the autumn air was filled not only with rich fragrance, but also with an uncontrollable tension, a mixture of bloodshed and the hope of new life.
Consort Li of Zhao County was the first to give birth, and after a difficult night, she delivered a healthy baby boy. When the news spread, firecrackers went off in front of the Li family mansion in the capital for the time it takes to burn an incense stick. Although they did not dare to celebrate lavishly, the joy and ambition revealed in the deliberately suppressed noise almost broke through the walls of the neighborhood.
Following closely behind, Li Chenghui from Longxi and Cui Fengyi from Qinghe also gave birth one after another, and without exception, they were all princes!
The arrival of three imperial grandsons in quick succession was like three thunderclaps, completely shaking the power structure of Chang'an. Inside the Eastern Palace, though postpartum weakness mingled with the cries of newborns, an invisible yet profound sense of strength seemed to be instantly infused into the atmosphere. The three new mothers, despite their exhaustion, shone with an unprecedented light in their eyes—a renewed hope for the future of their families and for their own future.
Li Chengqian visited the new mother and infants immediately, bestowing upon them gifts far exceeding the usual standards. He also personally chose auspicious nicknames for his three sons, names subtly related to their maternal clans and ancestral homes. His actions undoubtedly sent a clear signal to the outside world: he valued these children highly, and their maternal clans would be elevated in status as a result.
But that wasn't all. During the ten months between the three concubines' pregnancies and childbirths, the Eastern Palace seemed to open its doors to newcomers, and four more women from aristocratic families (mostly those closely related to the three pregnant women's families, or those who intended to curry favor with them) were brought into the palace as concubines of high rank, such as Liangyuan and Chenghui. The official explanation was that "the harem is full of pregnant women, and there are not enough servants," but it was clear to everyone that this was a "pledge of allegiance" that more aristocratic families were eager to submit after seeing the tangible "returns" of their "investment" in the Eastern Palace.
For a time, the inner garden of the Eastern Palace almost became the domain of noblewomen. Apart from the old guard like Wu Zetian, Zheng Liangdi, and Lu Liangdi who had entered the palace earlier, as well as a few "smokescreens" and "stand-ins" used to confuse the public, almost all the newly promoted and influential concubines bore the mark of aristocratic families. Apart from his eldest son Li Xiang (born to Wu Zetian), all of Crown Prince Li Chengqian's offspring, both newborn and those who might be born in the future, would almost all have the blood of powerful aristocratic families flowing through their veins.
This was an extremely ingenious and audacious plan. Li Chengqian's vision was far more far-reaching than outsiders could perceive. These children, once they grew up safely, could be enfeoffed upon his ascension to the throne. Where would their fiefdoms be chosen? Naturally, in areas where their maternal clans held considerable power or influence. A prince (or nobleman) with their own bloodline would legally become the nominal master of that land—could there be an arrangement that would reassure powerful families and better bind their interests to the imperial family?
At that time, the lands at the heart of these aristocratic families will nominally be occupied by members of the "Li" family. Unless they openly rebel, under the dual protection of law and blood ties, they can "legally" operate, expand, and accumulate power. The imperial court will also find it difficult to easily suppress the powerful clans within the "vassal kings'" territories or infiltrate them with policies like "equal land distribution," as it had in the past. These princes will become the strongest shield for their maternal clans, and also wedges used by the imperial family to embed itself within the spheres of influence of these aristocratic families—both as appeasement and as a check on them.
With the birth of three princes and the entry of more noble ladies into the palace, the political climate in the court underwent a fundamental shift.
The powerful families and officials who had previously wavered between the Prince of Wei and the Crown Prince, or who had secretly supported the Prince of Wei, began to defect en masse or fall silent. Li Chengqian not only demonstrated his ability to father children (a significant political asset in ancient times when offspring were highly valued), but also showed his willingness and ability to share core interests (potential future succession to the throne and control of fiefdoms) with his supporters. In contrast, the promises made by Prince Wei, Li Tai, remained merely castles in the air.
The power of the Crown Prince's faction thus expanded to an unprecedented level. The veteran officials, led by Changsun Wuji, were already inclined towards the Crown Prince, and now more centrists, and even some officials who had originally favored Prince Wei, began to actively or passively gravitate towards him. Prince Wei's voice in court was quickly suppressed; several attempts to impeach him regarding policy oversights or personnel issues were easily thwarted, and he was even reprimanded in return. The number of carriages and horses in front of Prince Wei's residence dwindled, and many of the scholars and literati who had previously surrounded Li Tai quietly left to seek other avenues.
The imperial court seemed to have ushered in a long-awaited "peace" under the strong leadership of the Crown Prince. Many political affairs proceeded smoothly, and some issues that had been shelved due to factional struggles were re-discussed. Emperor Li Shimin was also happy to let the Eastern Palace handle more specific matters, while he himself seemed to be immersed in a kind of detached observation after the grief of losing his wife had eased.
However, beneath this calm surface, the undercurrents are becoming increasingly turbulent, even carrying a sense of resolute determination, as if the true intentions are about to be revealed.
In the study of the Prince of Wei's residence, an atmosphere of near-desperate madness permeated the air. Li Tai's eyes were bloodshot, and his once full cheeks were deeply sunken. The Crown Prince was giving birth to princes one after another, powerful families were turning against him, and the political winds at court were completely shifting... all of this had pushed him to the edge of a precipice. He knew he had no way out. If he waited any longer, he would only be completely marginalized by the Crown Prince, and might even lose everything, even his life, in some "accident" or a carefully orchestrated crime.
"Your Highness, we can't hesitate any longer!" The few remaining loyal confidants cried out, their voices hoarse and agitated. "The Crown Prince is now powerful and has an heir to back him up. His Majesty's attitude is ambiguous. If this continues, Your Highness will be in grave danger! We must... we must take this risk!"
"How do we fight?" Li Tai's voice was hoarse, carrying a desperate, reckless glint in his eyes. "Assassination? Palace coup? How much strength do we still have?!"
“We don’t necessarily need to resort to direct combat.” A strategist’s eyes flashed with a cold light. “The Crown Prince seems to be enjoying great power now, but his weaknesses are equally obvious—his foundation rests on those aristocratic families and those newborn princes. And the inner palace of the Eastern Palace is full of people with many eyes and minds… that’s the best breakthrough point. We could…”
The whispers of the conspiracy subsided, and only the candlelight flickered on Li Tai's distorted face, casting a grotesque image.
Meanwhile, in the Eastern Palace, Li Chengqian's study was brightly lit. Before him lay no longer memorials, but secret reports detailing the recent unusual movements of the Prince of Wei and his remaining followers. His face showed no smugness, only a cold, calm demeanor and a hunter's sharpness deep within his eyes.
"Finally... can't hold back anymore?" Li Chengqian murmured to himself, his finger tracing the records in the secret report about the Wei Prince's Mansion frequently contacting certain border generals, secretly stockpiling supplies, and secretly contacting distant relatives of certain low-ranking concubines in the Eastern Palace.
Some of this was within his expectations, while some was even something he had intentionally or unintentionally "forced" into action. He wanted to make Li Tai feel he had no way out, driving him to desperation. Only by making Li Tai voluntarily step forward and commit an unforgivable mistake could he legitimately and thoroughly eliminate him, preventing future troubles. In the process, he might also be able to take the opportunity to eliminate some unstable elements hidden deep within the court who were overly dependent on powerful families or harbored disloyalty to the imperial power.
He gazed out the window at the deep night, as if he could see through the palace walls and see his brother struggling frantically in the darkness. "Mother, watch over me from heaven. I will not allow anyone to harm those I care about again" (the image of Wang Yi's cold face flashed through his mind), nor will he allow anyone to threaten what is rightfully mine. "Li Tai… this is your own doing."
Behind his desk in the Liangyi Hall, Li Shimin closed a newly arrived secret report concerning the unusual flow of funds in the Prince of Wei's residence, and wearily rubbed his temples. He was fully aware of the power struggles between his two sons. He had witnessed Chengqian's schemes and Li Tai's despair.
He felt little turmoil, only a cold, calculating mind characteristic of an emperor. Chengqian's methods, though drastic and even risky, had effectively secured his position as heir apparent, sowed discord among the powerful clans, and demonstrated the decisiveness and shrewdness expected of a future monarch. As for Li Tai… if he was truly foolish enough to commit an irreversible act, then it was entirely his own fault.
Li Shimin picked up the now-cold tea, took a sip, and felt the bitter taste spread across his tongue. He seemed to see Guanyinbi's gentle yet worried eyes again. So be it, the children have all grown up, they have their own paths to walk, their own trials to overcome. All he could do was, at the last moment, control the situation and prevent this royal infighting from escalating into a catastrophe that would shake the very foundations of the nation.
As for who will win and who will lose... he already has the answer in his heart. However, whether this answer brings hope for long-term peace and stability, or the prelude to another, more profound crisis, he cannot fully predict.
As the autumn night deepened, all was silent in Chang'an. But beneath this silence, in the deep courtyards of the imperial palace and the secret chambers of the princes' residences, a murderous intent was already pervasive. The curtain was slowly being drawn back on the final act of fratricide, drawn by an unseen hand. And the emperor, high above all, was both the judge and, perhaps, the one who would ultimately clean up the mess.
In Qixia Garden, Wang Yi pushed open the window, letting in a chilly night wind. She looked towards the palace, where the lights were dim, yet a thick, impenetrable black fog seemed to be gathering. She knew that Li Chengqian's plan had reached its most crucial stage, and Li Tai's counterattack was imminent. And she, the "observer" who had once delivered that crucial letter, could only close the doors and windows tightly and wait for the inevitable storm to pass.
But after the storm, will this land be transformed or left scarred and devastated?
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