Chapter 23 Li Yuan Goes to His Death
Life at Qixia Garden appeared outwardly peaceful. Wang Yi, as the "Protector of the Nation," lived a secluded life, spending most of her time in the garden "quietly recuperating." Occasionally, on fine days, she would stroll through the plum grove or lotus pond behind Qingsi Temple, dressed in a simple Taoist robe, her face still bearing a sickly pallor, yet possessing an air of refined elegance far removed from worldly affairs. Whenever Li Shimin had free time, he would often come here in a small entourage. Sometimes he would simply sit quietly with her for a while, enjoying a cup of medicinal tea she had personally prepared; other times he would discuss the troubles of state with her. Although he didn't expect her to offer any concrete solutions—in his eyes, she was still a frail patient in need of care—talking to her always brought a moment of peace to his tense mind.
However, Wang Yi's "illness" and "rest" were merely a facade. Using these moments of solitude, and drawing upon her memory of major events from the early years of the Zhenguan era and her analytical abilities rooted in modern thinking, she began to subtly and skillfully convey crucial information and insights to Li Shimin.
Event 1: Locust plague warning following the severe drought in Shandong.
In the autumn of the first year of the Zhenguan era, signs of drought followed by locust plagues first appeared in Shandong. Local officials mostly considered it a common natural disaster and downplayed it in their reports. Li Shimin, in Qixia Garden, mentioned this matter with great concern, worrying that if it was not handled properly, it could lead to the displacement of people and shake the foundation of the new dynasty.
Wang Yi was brewing tea at the time. Upon hearing this, he paused slightly with his teaspoon and whispered seemingly unintentionally, "When I was young, I traveled with my master and heard that there were extraordinary people overseas who observed the celestial phenomena and clouds and said, 'When drought is extreme, locusts will appear.' Their numbers will rise up, covering the sky and the sun, devouring all the green crops. I have also heard from ancient methods that 'locusts fear the sound of metal, the light of fire, and the smoke.' Perhaps we can gather the people and scare them with gongs and drums, then light torches at night to lure and burn them, and then use damp grass to create smoke to drive them away... Although we cannot eliminate them completely, we can reduce their harm. More importantly, after drought and locusts, the price of grain will surely rise. The government should prepare granaries in advance, or transfer grain from Jiangnan and Sichuan to sell at a fair price, or have wealthy households donate to appease the people."
She combined modern knowledge of locust habits with scattered ancient locust control experiences, presenting them in the style of "exotic tales from overseas" and "records from ancient books." This approach maintained her status as an "outsider" while providing a clear and feasible solution. Li Shimin listened thoughtfully and immediately ordered Shandong and other regions to closely monitor the locust situation. He also prepared gongs, drums, torches, and other supplies in advance, and formulated a preliminary emergency plan. Although the locust plague was ultimately not completely avoided, the relatively thorough preparation and timely response resulted in significantly less damage than in previous years, and prevented large-scale unrest. Li Shimin's appreciation for Wang Yi's extensive knowledge and concern for the people grew even stronger.
Event 2: The "Catfish Effect" in the Art of Using People.
On one occasion, Li Shimin lamented that some meritorious officials and veteran generals in the court were becoming arrogant and complacent, while newcomers were finding it difficult to stand out quickly, and there seemed to be a risk of a talent gap in the talent pool.
Wang Yi was copying a calligraphy work from a previous dynasty when she heard this. Her brush paused slightly, and she said softly, “I have heard that when overseas merchants transport live fish, they often put several lively catfish among the fish to keep them fresh. The catfish swim around and stir up the water, forcing the other fish to keep swimming around, which greatly reduces the mortality rate during the journey. Perhaps this principle can be applied to the way of governing a country and employing people. Your Highness, would you be willing to promote a few talented people who are still relatively inexperienced but ambitious, willing to take on responsibilities, and have relatively simple backgrounds to key positions or as close advisors? These people are like ‘catfish.’ Their vitality and drive may inspire those ‘sardines’ who are becoming complacent, inject fresh blood into the court, and give hope for advancement to talented people from humble backgrounds.” She cleverly transformed the “catfish effect” of modern management into a metaphor that the ancients could understand.
Li Shimin's eyes lit up; the metaphor was novel and profound. Afterward, he indeed paid more attention to promoting officials of relatively humble origins but with genuine talent, such as Ma Zhou and Liu Ji, and occasionally entrusted important ministers like Fang Xuanling and Du Ruhui with new challenges, thus revitalizing the atmosphere of the court.
Event 3: Solving the food shortage problem and the truth behind the "treasure map".
In the spring of the second year of the Zhenguan era, signs of a food shortage appeared in Guanzhong. Although not fatal, it put Li Shimin, who was dedicated to restoring the people's livelihood, under great pressure. After a tender moment, Li Shimin embraced Wang Yi and sighed wearily, "The people's livelihood is full of hardships, and food is the most important thing. Although the treasury is gradually filling up, the country has just been settled and the foundation is not yet stable. If a major disaster occurs, food will still be a major concern."
Wang Yi nestled in his arms, her fingertips unconsciously tracing his chest, and suddenly asked softly, "Does Your Highness still remember the world map I gave you when I first entered the Prince of Qin's residence?"
Li Shimin paused for a moment, then nodded: "Of course I remember. That painting broadened my horizons, and I still treasure it to this day."
“That map… is not just about mountains and rivers.” Wang Yi raised her eyes, a complex light flashing in them. “My sect has a long history. Our ancestors traveled far and wide, not only drawing maps, but also marking information about strange objects, exotic species, and even mineral deposits in the earth’s veins using special secret methods in the layers of the map or in specific symbols. However, this method is secretive and cannot be understood by anyone other than the core disciples of our sect.”
Li Shimin sat up abruptly, his eyes burning: "Is this true? What strange and exotic creatures are depicted on the map?"
Wang Yi also sat up, pulled the brocade quilt over himself, and said seriously, “I remember in the map, on another vast continent in the far west (referring to the Americas), several kinds of grains were marked as ‘tolerant of barren soil and extremely high-yielding.’ One of them was ‘corn,’ with stalks like bamboo and kernels like gold, which could be eaten or used as feed; the second was ‘potato,’ which grew underground, with large tubers, easy to grow and high-yielding, and especially resistant to cold and drought; the third was ‘sweet potato,’ which was vine-like with sweet tubers and could be used as a staple food in famine years… I mentioned these back then and attached a small amount of seeds, but unfortunately… times have changed, and the seeds are probably no longer effective.”
Li Shimin lamented with regret: "So that's how it is! I was only awestruck by the vastness of the territory back then, and I didn't delve into those tiny markings! Those seeds... alas!"
“Your Highness, please don’t worry,” Wang Yi comforted her. “Although the seeds are lost, the methods of planting, descriptions of characteristics, and suitable regions should still be preserved in the scroll in the form of coded text. However, deciphering them requires specific mnemonics and sequences, and they may be scattered among the related markings on different scrolls.” She began to describe in detail a fictional and complex “multi-layered image decryption method,” involving light angles, specific symbols corresponding to agricultural seasons, and so on. It was very mysterious, yet logically consistent, perfectly matching her persona of “an overseas secret.”
Li Shimin was deeply moved, as if he had found a priceless treasure! If the detailed methods for introducing these high-yield crops could truly be found in the map, it would be an immeasurable merit that would benefit the present and future generations! It would be more secure for the country than ten victories! He excitedly embraced Wang Yi again: "My dear minister, you are truly my lucky star! No, you are the lucky star of the Tang Dynasty! The use of this map is truly remarkable! I will immediately order someone to retrieve the map and try to interpret it according to your method!"
“Your Highness,” Wang Yi pressed his hand, his eyes earnest, “this matter concerns the fate of the nation and must be kept absolutely secret. The person who interprets it must be absolutely loyal and reliable, and preferably illiterate, only following the steps, with a trusted minister personally supervising the process. The interpretations must also be properly preserved and gradually tested and promoted. We must not be impatient for quick results, lest we cause trouble.”
"I understand! I understand!" Li Shimin nodded repeatedly, his eyes filled with indescribable love, gratitude, and awe as he looked at Wang Yi. He not only saw a confidante, but also a "national hero" who could bring him and the Tang Dynasty a revolutionary weapon! This recognition, which was a mixture of strong emotions and extreme practical value, elevated Wang Yi's status in his heart to an unprecedented height.
However, just as Li Shimin's affection for Wang Yi deepened due to the "treasure map" incident, and the guards of Qixia Garden became even tighter (Li Shimin subconsciously strengthened protection), a cold undercurrent from Da'an Palace finally converged into a deadly killing intent.
After retiring to Da'an Palace, Li Yuan outwardly appeared to be enjoying his retirement, but inwardly he was constantly filled with resentment towards Li Shimin and a deep-seated hatred for Wang Yi, whom he considered a "femme fatale." He believed that this enchanting woman had bewitched his son, exacerbated the fratricidal strife, and ultimately led to his loss of imperial power and dignity. Several old ministers who still held blind loyalty to him, or whose own interests conflicted with Li Shimin's new policies, secretly maintained connections with Da'an Palace. They knew of Li Shimin's extreme favor and dependence on Wang Yi and believed that eliminating Wang Yi would both weaken Li Shimin and appease the retired emperor, perhaps even allowing them to profit from the chaos.
These veteran officials devised an extremely insidious plan. They exploited loopholes in the palace's procurement and repair processes, bribing a low-ranking eunuch working odd jobs outside the Qingsi Temple who occasionally had access to items delivered to Qixia Garden. The plan consisted of two steps:
The first step, through this eunuch, was to mix a colorless and odorless, but chronically poisonous substance called "Dust Shadow Powder," which, with prolonged exposure, slowly damages the heart and lungs, causing coughing, asthma, and ultimately death from exhaustion, into the ingredients of a specific incense cake used by Wang Yi for daily use. This incense cake was made by Wang Yi according to an "ancient recipe," and the ingredients had to be purchased from a specific pharmacy, which gave them the opportunity to do so.
The second step was to bribe or coerce one or two imperial physicians at the initial stage of the poisoning, when Wang Yi exhibited coughing and wheezing symptoms, to diagnose her condition as "a recurrence of an old injury, a chronic illness that is difficult to cure," and suggest sending her to a "hot spring detached palace" outside Chang'an for recuperation. In reality, this detached palace was within their sphere of influence. Once Wang Yi left the palace, they could create the illusion of "being seriously ill and dying" or "dying accidentally" on the way or at the detached palace, thus eliminating her completely.
The plan seemed meticulous, taking advantage of Wang Yi's "frail and sickly" condition, intending to cover up the murder with a slow-acting poison. They thought they had done it flawlessly, but little did they know that the person living in Qixia Garden was a soul with modern awareness and a deep understanding of the dangers of the palace.
Wang Yi was exceptionally careful with her daily necessities, especially items that she ingested or wore close to her body. She personally blended the incense, and each time new raw materials arrived, she would habitually conduct a simple inspection (observing the color, smelling the aroma, and even testing with a silver hairpin or certain plant juices she recognized). On this particular day, when the batch of tampered incense ingredients arrived, she keenly noticed an extremely subtle difference in the scent of one of the ingredients, "borneol," which was not as crisp as usual, but instead carried a faint, cloying sweetness.
Alarm bells rang in her mind. Without making a sound, she simply excused herself, saying she didn't feel like blending perfumes that day, and had the palace servants temporarily store the raw materials. Then, using the pretext of a dream in which the Medicine King warned her to examine the recently collected medicinal materials, she subtly expanded the scope of her inspection. Utilizing her modern knowledge of toxicology and understanding of Tang Dynasty medicinal herbs, she tested the batch of "borneol" using various methods, ultimately separating trace amounts of suspicious crystals from it. While she couldn't be completely certain it was "Dust Shadow Powder," it was enough to conclude that someone had poisoned it.
"It's finally here..." Wang Yi glanced at the inconspicuous crystal, a cold glint in her eyes. She didn't immediately tell Li Shimin, lest she alert him. She wanted to use this opportunity not only to resolve the crisis but also to expose the mastermind behind it all, further consolidate her position, and... give that restless retired emperor a stern warning.
She began secretly adjusting her "illness," deliberately feigning a slight discomfort with a certain incense scent and occasional coughing, but keeping it within reasonable limits. At the same time, through a channel of absolute trust, she conveyed an extremely subtle warning to Li Shimin: "Recently, while blending incense, I felt uncomfortable with an unusual odor. I fear the raw materials may be impure or something is amiss. I will be careful, but I fear this is not accidental. I hope Your Majesty will also pay attention to the supplies used in the palace."
Upon receiving the news, Li Shimin was furious and immediately ordered his secret guards to conduct a covert investigation while simultaneously strengthening surveillance of all supply channels to Qixia Garden. A counter-conspiracy and purge, revolving around Wang Yi's life and death, involving the imperial court and harem, and ultimately targeting Da'an Palace, quietly began. Wang Yi, this woman who had traveled through time, was once again thrust into the eye of the storm. However, this time, she was no longer a passive participant relying solely on quick wit and luck, but a hunter with information in hand, well-prepared, and calmly planning her moves.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com