Chapter 92 The Poisonous Fruit Revealed, A Trapped Beast's Last Stand
The congenital deficiencies of the three princes in succession were like a silent yet extremely vicious plague, gradually "manifesting" before their first birthdays.
Initially, it was only the eldest son of the Li family of Zhao County who cried incessantly at night and had a poor appetite. After examining his pulse, the imperial physician frowned slightly and said that he was "born with a slight weakness and needs careful care." Soon after, two princes born to the Li family of Longxi and the Cui family of Qinghe also showed similar symptoms: their complexions were not as rosy as those of ordinary infants, their muscles and bones were soft, and they occasionally had mild fever or diarrhea. Although not fatal, these symptoms were lingering and difficult to cure, leaving the wet nurses and imperial physicians who were taking good care of them helpless.
One prince's poor health might be an accident. Two, however, are enough to arouse suspicion. When a third prince, also from a prestigious family and whose maternal clan are among the newly emerging core supporters of the Crown Prince, develops similar problems, anyone with even a modicum of political acumen understands—this is not a natural disaster, but a man-made one.
The atmosphere in the Crown Prince's Palace instantly plummeted from the joy of a newborn to an icy abyss. The three birth mothers wept uncontrollably, nearly fainting, while their families were enraged and horrified. Their prince, on whom they had placed immense hopes and on whom they viewed the future of their families for decades, even centuries, was subjected to such a vicious and insidious attack while still an infant! This was not merely harming a royal heir; it was a fatal provocation against their family's dignity and future!
Li Chengqian's "rage" was perfectly timed. His face was ashen, and he vehemently demanded a thorough investigation at the court assembly, vowing to find the mastermind behind it all and punish them severely. He also used this as grounds to request his father, the Emperor, to grant the Eastern Palace, the Ministry of Justice, and the Court of Judicial Review greater investigative authority. His grief and anger seemed so real that only a very few of his closest confidants (such as Wu Zetian) might have been able to discern a cold, almost indifferent scrutiny deep within his eyes.
Driven by the Crown Prince's "furious" reaction and the relentless efforts of the maternal families of the victimized princes, the investigation unfolded at an astonishing pace. The connections, informants, and experience in investigating various underhanded methods accumulated over millennia by these aristocratic families proved invaluable at this moment. Following seemingly insignificant oversights within the Eastern Palace (which were actually gaps intentionally left by Li Chengqian), the clues quickly pointed to the Prince of Wei's residence.
Some pharmacy owners and itinerant Taoist priests who had secret dealings with the Prince of Wei's residence were secretly arrested; several low-ranking officials of the Prince of Wei's residence who attempted to flee Chang'an were stopped at the city gate; even a maid who had worked as a day laborer in the Eastern Palace's laundry room and returned to her hometown after her family "unexpectedly" received a windfall was dragged out of her place of origin. Confessions, physical evidence, the flow of funds... clues intertwined like venomous snakes, ultimately gripping Prince Wei, Li Tai.
When irrefutable evidence was presented to the emperor and several heads of core aristocratic families, the flames of anger completely consumed the last shred of reason.
"Li Tai, you scoundrel! How dare you!" The head of the Zhao County Li family in Chang'an smashed almost everything he could in his study, his hair and beard bristling. "This is an irreconcilable feud! I will tear him to pieces!"
"Your Highness! Prince Wei has harmed the imperial heir; his heart is utterly despicable! How can such a heartless and insane person be tolerated in the imperial family and stand in the court?!" Representatives of the victimized families, such as the Li family of Longxi and the Cui family of Qinghe, along with many other aristocratic officials who had already pledged allegiance to the Crown Prince or were about to do so, were filled with indignation and launched a frenzied attack on Prince Wei, Li Tai, and his cronies in the court and within their respective spheres of influence.
Impeachment memorials flooded the Liangyi Hall, listing Li Tai's crimes ranging from "harming the imperial heir," "harboring resentment," and " associating with treacherous officials" to "extravagance" and "interference in court affairs"—virtually everything imaginable. The remaining influence of the Prince of Wei in the court was swiftly purged, and officials who had associated with him lived in constant fear, submitting memorials to defend themselves or turning against him. The once bustling Prince of Wei's residence was now completely "protected" (in reality, under surveillance) by the Imperial Guards, deserted, and even daily purchases were strictly restricted.
The aristocratic families' frenzy stemmed not only from avenging their own princes and demonstrating their loyalty to the Crown Prince, but also from a deep-seated fear: if Li Tai could target families with princes today, he could target those who hadn't yet "successfully invested" in him or were preparing to do so tomorrow! A healthy and intelligent prince represented their future hope, while a weak, sickly prince, or even one who might die young, represented enormous risks and sunk costs. They couldn't sleep soundly until Li Tai was completely overthrown and the threat eliminated.
Faced with this overwhelming onslaught, the Prince of Wei's residence remained strangely calm. Li Tai sat in the empty and desolate main hall, looking at the bleak autumn scenery outside the window. His face showed no panic, only an almost numb sense of despondency, and a lingering, ruthless, and unwilling madness deep in his eyes.
He had long anticipated this day. From the moment Li Chengqian began accepting daughters of noble families, and from the successive births of those princes, he knew that his hopes of vying for the throne were fading. The noble families were like weather vanes, siding with whichever side offered greater benefits and a brighter future. When Li Chengqian was willing to share his most crucial "share" (the right to inherit the throne), Li Tai's empty promises became utterly worthless.
He had been fighting Li Chengqian for so many years, from their covert rivalry while their mother was alive to their blatant betrayal after her death. They both knew each other's limits and bottom lines. He also remembered the vow they made before their mother's deathbed: "Never to kill each other." He knew that Li Chengqian, out of consideration for their mother's last wishes and the public's opinion, wouldn't directly take his life unless absolutely necessary. At most, he would be stripped of his title and imprisoned for life.
But... he was not willing to give up!
Why? They were both legitimate sons, both loved by their mother (in his own opinion), but just because he was born a few years later, was that position destined to belong to Li Chengqian? Just because he knew better how to please the emperor and was more skilled in literature, he was considered a threat to the succession, and was schemed against and pressured by his elder brother until he had nowhere to turn?
Li Chengqian won, won brilliantly, using powerful families and their descendants as weapons to utterly crush him. But was Li Tai really going to surrender like this, like a loser, spending the rest of his life in confinement, watching helplessly as Li Chengqian ascended to the position he had always dreamed of and enjoyed unparalleled glory?
No! Absolutely not!
Since that position was long gone, and since Li Chengqian wouldn't kill him because of his oath… what did he have to fear? The worst outcome was just confinement. But he couldn't swallow this insult! He had to teach Li Chengqian a lesson, to make him taste the agony of heart-wrenching pain! To cast an indelible shadow over his victory!
"Your Highness..." The only remaining old eunuch tremblingly brought over the tea, looking at the terrifying expression on Li Tai's face, he hesitated to speak.
Li Tai turned his head, his gaze falling on the old eunuch. Suddenly, he grinned, revealing a twisted smile: "What are you afraid of? I haven't lost completely yet." He lowered his voice, using an almost whispered tone, yet it carried a chilling decisiveness: "Go, make that final move... Remember, be quick, be clean, and... make him feel pain!"
The old eunuch trembled, almost dropping the tea tray. He understood what Li Tai meant—it was the last and most fatal move that the Prince of Wei had made before he was completely desperate. The target was no longer those aristocratic princes who had already been "deposed," but the true foundation of the Eastern Palace, the Achilles' heel that Li Chengqian could not afford to lose, and also... the soft spot that could truly drive him mad.
"Your Highness, please reconsider! That...that is..." The old eunuch's voice trembled.
"Think it over?" Li Tai sneered, his eyes growing increasingly crazed. "I've already thought it over! Go now! If you don't act now, you'll truly miss your chance!"
Seeing Li Tai's almost murderous gaze, the old eunuch knew that further persuasion was useless, so he could only stagger away, his face pale.
Li Tai remained alone in the empty hall, his laughter gradually growing louder, filled with endless resentment and pleasure, echoing in the silent palace like the mournful cry of an owl.
"Li Chengqian... my good brother... do you think you've already won? Do you think you can rest easy with those useless children and aristocratic families? Just wait... I'll give you a... unforgettable gift!"
His target had been locked on the depths of the Eastern Palace, a place that seemed heavily protected but was actually vulnerable due to the recent turmoil and the prince's affair drawing too much attention—the eldest son of the Crown Prince, Li Xiang, and... his birth mother, Wu Meiniang.
Since you can't touch the "tools" and "allies" you cherish, then touch the people you truly care about! Li Tai thought maliciously, he wanted to let Li Chengqian taste what it felt like to lose the one he truly loved (no matter what kind of love it was)!
A cornered beast will fight to the death, and its ferocity is unmatched. Li Tai's desperate, reckless gamble is like a boulder thrown into a calm lake, destined to unleash a raging storm far more violent and uncontrollable than before. This ultimate tragedy of fratricide is finally about to reach its bloodiest and most irreversible climax.
In the Eastern Palace, Li Chengqian was unaware of the deadly counterattack from this beast in dire straits. He was busy appeasing the damaged aristocratic families, consolidating his gains, and planning how to give Li Tai a "dignified" end. Wu Meiniang, on the other hand, was worried because Li Xiang had been coughing recently, and she strengthened the protection around her, unaware that a more insidious net had quietly been cast upon her and her son.
At the summit of the palace, Li Shimin looked at the urgent report from the Hundred Cavalry Commandery regarding the Prince of Wei's final, frantic movements, his face ashen. He finally realized that this sibling rivalry, which he had intentionally tolerated to temper the Crown Prince, seemed to be sliding into an abyss that even he could not fully control.
"Issue the decree," his voice was icy, carrying an unquestionable authority, "Strengthen the defenses of all the princes' residences in the Eastern Palace, especially the residence of the eldest prince, Li Xiang. Deploy the elite troops of the Hundred Cavalry to secretly protect Consort Wu. If there is any unusual activity at the Prince of Wei's residence... the Eastern Palace and the Hundred Cavalry are permitted to execute first and report later!"
The eye of the storm shifted once more. This time, it wasn't a cold, hard political bargaining chip, but living, breathing human lives—the very thing that could potentially cross Li Chengqian's bottom line. Everyone's hearts were in their throats.
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