Chapter 96 Appeal to the Emperor, Father and Son Devise a Plan
The following morning, as dawn broke and the white marble steps outside the Liangyi Hall were still frosted with the chill of the autumn night, Li Chengqian, dressed in plain clothes and without a crown, his hair held back only by a simple jade hairpin, his face pale, the dark circles under his eyes barely concealed even by a light layer of powder, walked alone, without any attendants, step by step, down the damp stone steps toward the palace that symbolized the supreme power of the empire.
Inside the hall, Li Shimin had already risen and was staring intently at the pile of memorials on his desk. When the eunuch announced in a low voice that the Crown Prince requested an audience, a complex emotion flashed in his eyes, and he waved for the prince to enter.
Li Chengqian entered the hall, and before he even reached the imperial desk, he knelt down, his forehead touching the ground. His voice was dry and heavy: "Your son, Li Chengqian, kowtows to Your Majesty. Your son... failed in educating his son and neglected the management of the palace, resulting in the death of the eldest prince, Li Xiang, at the hands of treacherous men. Your son's sins are grave, and he has no face to face Your Majesty, nor to face our ancestors. I have come to beg Your Majesty for forgiveness and humbly request Your Majesty... to punish me!"
He didn't weep or deliver a passionate speech; he simply admitted his "failure" and "guilt" in the most direct way. This heavy and restrained gesture of repentance was more moving than any dramatic performance.
Li Shimin looked at his son kneeling on the ground, his once upright figure now appearing so thin and desolate. He had recently experienced the pain of losing a son himself (the death of Empress Zhangsun was also a loss for him), and now he could better understand the piercing pain and helplessness in Li Chengqian's heart. As a father, he felt heartache; as an emperor, he had to examine the situation.
He didn't immediately tell Li Chengqian to get up. After a moment of silence, he slowly spoke, his voice revealing neither joy nor anger: "Raise your head."
Li Chengqian raised his head as instructed, but kept his eyes lowered, refusing to meet his father's gaze.
"I am aware of Li Xiang's situation." Li Shimin's voice was calm, yet carried an invisible pressure. "The Imperial Medical Bureau and the Hundred Cavalry Division's preliminary examination confirms that he died from a rare and unusual poison. The Eastern Palace is heavily guarded, yet such a thing still happened... Chengqian, tell me, where did the problem lie?"
This was not a consolation, but a questioning; it was the emperor's test of the crown prince's abilities and a challenge to his control over the Eastern Palace.
Li Chengqian knew this was an inevitable hurdle. He had already prepared his speech, and now his voice was clear but tinged with the weariness and self-reproach of pain: "Your Majesty, I have been negligent and have committed three sins. First, since the marriage alliance with the aristocratic families, I have been preoccupied with balancing the court and appeasing various factions. Although there were strict orders regarding the defense of the Eastern Palace, I neglected to personally supervise the details, allowing the villains to take advantage of the situation. Second, because of the previous princes' poor health, I was preoccupied with the newborn offspring and the reactions of the aristocratic families, and failed to pay close attention to the personnel changes around the eldest prince and the subtle details of his daily expenses, thus failing to nip problems in the bud. Third," he paused, his voice even lower, "I underestimated the ruthlessness and determination of my opponents. After Prince Wei, Li Tai, lost power, I thought he was just a trapped beast and not worth worrying about. I did not expect him to be so ruthless, and I did not expect... that he might have deeper reliance and methods behind him."
He did not directly point out the "poison left by the retired emperor" and the "black hand of aristocratic families," but the words "deeper reliance and methods" were enough for Li Shimin to understand his guess.
Li Shimin listened, his fingers unconsciously tapping on the imperial desk. His son's self-reflection sounded sincere and pointed out the problem—there were oversights in the internal management of the Eastern Palace, insufficient assessment of potential dangers, and a lack of sufficient vigilance regarding Li Tai's madness and the possible forces behind him.
"Now that you know your sin, do you know how to make amends?" Li Shimin continued to ask.
"Your Majesty, I humbly request that you issue an edict," Li Chengqian kowtowed again, this time with a resolute tone, "to thoroughly investigate the murder of Li Xiang! Your Majesty, I am willing to fully cooperate with the Ministry of Justice, the Court of Judicial Review, and the Hundred Cavalry Division to thoroughly investigate both inside and outside the Eastern Palace. Anyone implicated will be dealt with without leniency! At the same time, I implore Your Majesty to strengthen the protection of the Eastern Palace, especially the young princes and Consort Wu. Your Majesty will also thoroughly reorganize the defenses of the Eastern Palace, purge any suspicious persons, and ensure that no detail is overlooked!"
He raised his head, his eyes finally revealing an uncontrollable hatred and determination: "Li Tai's cruelty to the imperial heir is undeniable. Your son begs Your Majesty to punish him severely without leniency, to uphold the law of the land and comfort the departed soul! As for... whether there are other masterminds or accomplices behind him, your son believes that as long as we thoroughly investigate Li Tai and follow the clues, we will surely be able to find him!"
These words not only expressed the determination to investigate to the end, but also showed a cooperative attitude, and put "severely punishing Li Tai" in the open. At the same time, they cleverly pointed the finger at Li Tai's confession and clues to investigate the "mastermind behind the scenes," thus avoiding the rashness of directly accusing the aristocratic family.
Li Shimin nodded slightly. His son's response was much calmer and more organized than expected; he hadn't completely lost control due to grief, nor had he made indiscriminate accusations out of hatred. Behind this restraint, it was clear that someone had guided him, or he had forced himself to calm down. Either way, it was a good thing.
"Li Tai's matter will be dealt with according to the law of the land." Li Shimin finally gave a clear stance. "Harming an imperial heir is an unforgivable crime. I have already issued an edict to imprison him in the Imperial Clan Court for rigorous interrogation. All those involved will be thoroughly investigated." He paused, his gaze sharpening as he looked at Li Chengqian. "As for the Eastern Palace… I grant your request for forgiveness. From today onwards, you will remain secluded for half a month to reflect on your actions and reorganize the palace. I will dispatch additional elite cavalry to assist in the Eastern Palace's protection. But…"
He changed the subject, his tone becoming more serious: "Chengqian, you must remember. You are the crown prince, the future emperor. You must remain calm and act only after careful consideration. Grief is acceptable, hatred is acceptable, but if you are swayed by emotions and do something that harms the stability of the country or shakes the foundation of the nation, then you will be derelict in your duty and have failed the expectations of me and your mother."
These words served as both a warning and a setting. The emperor permitted the crown prince to investigate and seek revenge, but it had to be done within the framework of "national law" and "national stability," and could not trigger an uncontrollable political storm.
Li Chengqian took a deep breath and kowtowed again: "Your subject will humbly obey Your Majesty's teachings! I will take this as a warning, learn from this painful experience, rectify the Eastern Palace, investigate the true culprit, and never dare to abandon public justice or shake the foundation of the nation because of personal grievances!"
"Hmm." Li Shimin nodded, his expression softening slightly. "Get up."
Li Chengqian then stood up and stood with his hands at his sides.
"Your mother valued familial bonds above all else and longed for harmony among you brothers." Li Shimin suddenly sighed, his voice tinged with a rare weariness and sorrow. "Now... alas. I will give you and Xiang'er an explanation regarding Li Tai's matter. But you must remember that you are not only Xiang'er's father, but also the father of the other princes, and the Crown Prince of the Tang Dynasty. The burden on your shoulders cannot allow you to wallow in grief. I... hope you can pull yourself together as soon as possible."
This was the most direct comfort and expectation that Li Shimin, as a father, could offer.
Li Chengqian's nose tingled, and he almost shed tears. He forced himself to hold them back and said in a choked voice, "Your subject... understands. I will certainly not fail Father's expectations."
"Go," Li Shimin waved his hand. "Take good care of the Eastern Palace. Report back immediately if you need anything or find any important clues."
"Your subject takes his leave." Li Chengqian bowed and slowly withdrew from the Liangyi Hall.
Stepping out of the palace gates, the morning sunlight was somewhat dazzling. Li Chengqian squinted, the rage and despair in his heart, after a night of torment and his recent petition before the emperor, seemed to have been forcibly suppressed into a deeper, colder container. He had received his father's permission for a thorough investigation and a certain degree of support, but he had also received clear warnings and restrictions.
From now on, he must proceed with greater caution and secrecy. Li Tai must be severely punished, and the treacherous snakes behind him must be brought to justice, but he can no longer attempt to exploit or openly confront the powerful families as before. He needs more subtle methods and a more patient plan.
He glanced back at the majestic Liangyi Hall, his eyes once again becoming deep and unfathomable.
Father, rest assured. Your son will not let you down. All the revenge that needs to be taken, all the scores that need to be settled, your son will not leave out a single one. It's just… in the way you would like to see.
He straightened his back and descended the steps step by step. What awaited him in the direction of the Eastern Palace was a thorough purge, a covert investigation, and a far more complex power struggle unfolding silently. Wu Zetian's words of enlightenment, and his father's admonition today, would become crucial guidelines for his future actions.
The shadow of the eldest prince's untimely death has not yet dissipated, but a new storm has quietly shifted its form on the chessboard of power. A more covert and perhaps more brutal purge, under the emperor's tacit approval and supervision, is about to begin.
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