Chapter 10 Li Shimin was moved
The tranquility of Ningyun Pavilion was shattered. Wang Yi still wore a simple Taoist robe, burning incense, meditating, and reading Taoist scriptures every day. Occasionally, he would brew a cup of tea for Li Yuan, who came to "discuss Taoism" or fetch medicine. His words were esoteric, and his demeanor was aloof. The palace walls isolated him from the storms of the outside world, as well as the aftershocks of that brief encounter at the Qin Prince's residence.
However, this tranquility was soon shattered by a generous gift from the Qin Prince's residence.
The gifts were personally arranged by Princess Consort Changsun and sent in the name of Prince Qin, Li Shimin, and his wife to express gratitude for the "Fairy Wang's" life-saving grace. The gift list was long and meticulously crafted: there were Shu brocade and Wu silk, treasures even in the palace; fine writing brushes, ink, paper, and inkstones, as well as rare Daoist manuscripts; rare and nourishing incense; and some exquisite and elegant jade ornaments that did not appear extravagant. Each item reflected the sincerity and style of the Prince Qin's residence, being substantial yet not vulgar, and avoiding anything that might arouse Li Yuan's suspicion.
The palace maid in charge of counting the gifts couldn't help but whisper praises of the Princess Consort of Qin's thoughtfulness and elegance. Wang Yi watched quietly as these items were stored away in the storeroom, his face expressionless, but inwardly he held a more cautious assessment of the historically renowned virtuous empress. Changsun Linglong, indeed, was no ordinary woman.
Meanwhile, when the maid who delivered the gift returned to the palace, she told Changsun Linglong that Wang Yi was the woman who had come to the palace to thank the Prince of Qin for saving her life.
Nighttime, inside the Qin Prince's mansion.
While massaging Li Shimin's shoulders and neck, who was slightly tired after finishing a round of meetings, Changsun Linglong said in a calm tone, "Second Brother, the thank-you gift sent to Ningyun Pavilion today should have been received by Fairy Wang. I have carefully checked the gift list and there should be nothing wrong with it."
"Thank you for your hard work, Guanyinbi." Li Shimin closed his eyes to rest, his voice somewhat low.
Changsun Linglong continued, her hands still busy, "It's quite a coincidence. I only realized what had happened today when I heard from my servants. It turns out that this Fairy Wang is the woman you rescued and gave travel expenses to on the roadside when you returned to the capital in triumph. Later, she came to your residence to repay your kindness and brought you a package, which I accepted and gave to you. Now it seems like karma has come full circle. She was saved by you back then, and now she has saved your life in return. It's like fate has ordained us."
"Is this really true..." Li Shimin murmured, feigning surprise. The mystery surrounding Wang Yi seemed to have become clearer, and the allure born of mystery was now subtly mixed with a sense of "destiny."
Changsun Linglong observed his expression, her tone still gentle: "Although the cause and effect are balanced, your life is still more important, Erlang. It is only right that we prepare an extra gift of thanks. However..." She paused slightly, her voice even softer, "This Fairy Wang is now in the palace, and His Majesty relies on her greatly. Our gift of thanks this time has already exceeded the bounds of propriety. In the future... we should be extra careful."
Her words were brief and to the point, serving as both a reminder and a subtle hint of worry. As a wife, she knew her husband all too well. When Li Shimin looked at Wang Yi, the occasional flicker of inquiry, admiration, and even a fleeting passion in his eyes might not have been fully noticed by him, but an observer could see it clearly.
Li Shimin was silent for a moment, then took his wife's hand from his shoulder and patted it gently. "I understand what you mean. Don't worry, I know what I'm doing." He paused, then continued, "You handled the matter of the thank-you gift very well. However... I always feel that ordinary things are insufficient to express even a fraction of the kindness shown to me in this life. Could you... perhaps add that plain white jade hairpin from my study to the gift list?"
Changsun Linglong's fingertips trembled almost imperceptibly. She remembered that jade hairpin; the jade was of excellent quality, warm and flawless, with a simple yet elegant design. It was an old item that Li Shimin quite liked, supposedly acquired as spoils of war in his early years, but he didn't usually wear it. Why would he specifically give him something that seemed like a personal item?
She looked up at her husband, Li Shimin, whose eyes were deep and calm, yet carried an undeniable decisiveness. Changsun Linglong sighed inwardly, but her face remained docile: "Yes, I remember that jade hairpin. Its material and style suited the otherworldly air of the Fairy Wang. So I had it added."
"Hmm." Li Shimin closed his eyes again, saying nothing more. However, the slightly tightened jawline betrayed that his inner peace was not entirely intact.
That jade hairpin was less a gift of gratitude and more a symbol, a test, an externalization of complex emotions that even he himself might not have fully understood. He, Li Shimin, the Grand General of Heavenly Strategy, had always been a controller and conqueror, sweeping across armies. He admired Zhangsun Linglong's virtue and wisdom, and cherished her companionship and support, but it was a stable and profound emotion based on kinship and responsibility.
Wang Yi, however, was different. Like a bolt of lightning suddenly cleaving through chaos, she forcefully entered his world, carrying incredible mystery and power. She saved his life, using methods he couldn't comprehend yet remarkably effective; her gaze towards him lacked the awe or admiration of ordinary women, instead possessing an equal, even scrutinizing and fatalistic clarity; her casual words could pinpoint his deepest anxieties and ambitions; she was all alone, yet she managed to escape unscathed from the coercion of the Eastern Palace, the Imperial Palace, and even the Prince of Qi, and even retaliate against them…
This power was not based on force, but rather on a "mysterious power" that stemmed from the unknown, from inner composure, and from a state seemingly transcending worldly rules. This held an unprecedented attraction for Li Shimin, who had always admired strength and was accustomed to conquest and control. It was a recognition of "kindred spirits," a curiosity about "higher-level power," and even... mixed with a trace of primal masculine desire to conquer this unconquerable thing.
Obtaining her was not merely for her beauty (though she was indeed stunning), nor simply for the assistance she might bring (such as maps, superior breeds, and medical skills), but also for a symbol—a symbol of his control over that mysterious power, a further confirmation of his destiny, and a breakthrough beyond the boundaries of the mortal realm.
This growing desire, yet seemingly unattainable due to the strict palace rules and his father's attitude, burned silently in his heart like a smoldering fire. Every time he thought of her within those high walls, spending her days with his aging father (even though he knew Wang Yi was deliberately keeping her distance), a mixture of resentment, anxiety, and intense possessiveness would quietly arise within him.
He began to recall her words more frequently: "On rainy days, do not approach Xuanwu." This was no longer just a warning to be wary of; it was more like a secret code, known only to the two of them, concerning a turning point in their destinies. He began to mentally rehearse various possibilities, pondering how to achieve final victory in the inevitable decisive battle against Crown Prince Qi.
And what comes after "victory"? That position, that supreme power... will it be able to break through all obstacles and allow him to truly touch that cold yet powerful moonlight?
Once this idea took hold, it grew wildly like weeds. In the past, his motivation for vying for the throne was more out of self-preservation, ambition, and responsibility for the future of the Tang Dynasty. However, now, a more intense and personal desire—to clear away all obstacles, to be able to rightfully and without restraint pursue the person he wanted—was injected into his determination like a catalyst, making his already firm resolve to seize the throne even sharper, more determined, and even tinged with an unyielding obsession.
Wang Yi received another gift of gratitude from the Prince of Qin's residence, and also saw the mutton-fat jade hairpin, placed separately, with its warm and lustrous texture and simple, antique design. She picked up the hairpin, her fingertips brushing against its smooth surface, a hint of understanding flashing in her eyes, which then turned into a deeper, more profound gaze.
"Li Shimin..." she murmured the name, gently placing the jade hairpin back into the brocade box. He had given her this hairpin with a profound meaning. Was it gratitude? A mark? A test? Or... a silent declaration?
She wasn't naive enough to believe that a few encounters would be enough to win the heart of this future Khan. But the seed had already been sown, planting a strong interest and desire for her—this "special being"—in the fertile soil of his heart, which yearned for strength and was filled with a desire for conquest. And this desire was merging with his inherent ambition and sense of crisis, fermenting into an even more powerful driving force.
"Do you want it?" Wang Yi walked to the window, gazing in the direction of the Qin Prince's mansion. In the night, her profile was as cold as frost, but her eyes burned with a calm yet intense flame. "Then go fight for it, go seize it. Take that supreme position... and then we'll talk about terms."
She turned away, no longer looking at the night. The power struggles in the palace continued; Li Yuan's headaches still relied on her "elixirs"; Li Jiancheng's jealousy and Li Yuanji's fear had not disappeared. And she, in this intricate web, needed to continue playing the role of the "fairy from overseas," while patiently awaiting the inevitable "rain," and the moment after the rain when she could truly speak on equal terms with her "destined one."
A web of power struggles and hidden emotions woven together, drawing everyone in and causing them to struggle for survival, ambition, or that elusive glimmer of moonlight. A storm is brewing on the horizon, and the moment that will decide everyone's fate is drawing ever closer.
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