Chapter 29 Discord
The fierce argument at Da'an Palace, which erupted into a bitter dispute, was like a freezing winter's chill, instantly shattering the warmth of the fourth year of the Zhenguan era. After Li Shimin stormed off, the father-son relationship plummeted to its lowest point. Li Yuan secluded himself, refusing all visits and communication, growing increasingly thin and aged amidst illness and resentment, occasionally uttering curses against Li Shimin and Wang Yi. Li Shimin, meanwhile, was plunged into an unprecedented state of emotional turmoil.
After the anger came a profound weariness and an indescribable...bewilderment. Li Yuan's vicious curses, especially those concerning "sons killing each other" and "coveting his stepmother," were like poisoned nails, piercing deep into the most hidden corners of his heart, hiding his deepest fears. He had ascended the throne over the blood of his brothers; the shadow of Xuanwu Gate had never truly dissipated. Now he had several sons—Chengqian, Tai, Zhi… They were still young and loving, but what about the future? How much could kinship withstand before power?
As for Wang Yi… Li Yuan's accusations, while undoubtedly stemming from jealousy and slander, also served as a distorted mirror, forcing him to examine his relationship with her. He loved her, respected her, and depended on her; these emotions were fervent and genuine. But within the framework of "filial piety" and "moral ethics," were these emotions truly flawed, as Li Yuan claimed? More importantly, if the curse was indeed true, would this special favor become a source of future trouble, inciting unnecessary conflict, and even…affecting his offspring?
These thoughts, like a tangled mess, entangled Li Shimin. He needed time and space to process and weigh them. Wang Yi, as the most direct trigger and the center of this conflict, seemed to constantly remind him of the unbearable argument and his father's malicious prophecy. A subconscious, perhaps not even fully understood, escapist mentality led him to reduce his visits to Qixia Garden.
He resumed his policy of "equal distribution of favors," visiting the palaces of other concubines more frequently. He behaved with utmost respect at the Lizheng Palace, treating Empress Zhangsun with the utmost courtesy; he also visited other concubines with children, playing the role of a loving father; and he even occasionally showed favor to some young and beautiful newly promoted concubines. It seemed he was using this method to prove to himself and to the outside world that he was not, as Li Yuan claimed, "bewitched" by a woman, and that he remained the emperor who controlled everything and maintained balance in the harem.
Qixia Garden suddenly became deserted. The emperor, who used to arrive almost every other day, might not appear for ten days or half a month. The gifts sent were still generous, and the palace servants still attended to him with utmost care, but the invisible attention and warmth emanating from the highest authority of the empire had clearly dissipated. Even the flowers and trees in the garden seemed to sense this change, displaying an unnaturally quiet desolation.
Wang Yi wasn't too surprised by this; in fact, she felt a sense of "I knew it." She knew Li Shimin all too well. This man was ambitious and passionate, but deep down, he was ultimately the carefully groomed heir of the Tang Dynasty, deeply influenced by Confucian ethics and imperial politics. The concept of "filial piety," even though father and son had fallen out, still carried immense weight in public opinion and in his own heart. The psychological impact and subsequent effects of completely severing ties with his father over a woman far exceeded those of ordinary emotional disputes.
"He needs time to process Li Yuan's curse, to redefine our relationship, and even... to consider how to balance this affection with his imperial status and the bond between father and son." Wang Yi, alone in his study, facing a copy of the map of the northern frontier, calmly whispered to the only mute maid he completely trusted beside him, "If he comes now and sees me, he'll probably remember his father who roared and cursed him in the Da'an Palace, remember those vile words about 'retribution' and 'incest.' This will make him uncomfortable, and might even... cause him to feel a slight resentment or apprehension towards me that he himself may not even be aware of."
She gently stroked the location of Yinshan on the map, a place that had once witnessed their profound spiritual connection and their joint plans for unparalleled achievements. "A man's love, especially the love of a man at the pinnacle of power, is never pure. It contains the desire to conquer, admiration, dependence, and perhaps also guilt and a need for compensation. But when this love clashes violently with other things he values more, such as his posthumous reputation, the paternal bond, or the stability of his empire, it is perfectly normal for it to be temporarily set aside or even abandoned in consideration."
She felt neither disappointment nor fear, only a calm, almost ruthless, assessment. She had long foreseen that the conflict with Li Yuan would sooner or later affect Li Shimin's attitude towards her. Now, it was simply a confirmation of her judgment. This "cooling-off period" might not necessarily be a bad thing for her. It allowed her to temporarily step away from the spotlight of being "favored," reducing the open and covert attacks from all sides, and giving her more time to quietly continue advancing her plans, such as... studying the maps more deeply, or keeping an eye on that young concubine who would one day enter the palace.
The "fall from favor" of Qixia Garden was as clear as a weather vane in the eyes of the astute women of the harem. The most excited was none other than Consort Yang, who had just given birth and regained her status as a concubine. She had given birth to a prince (Li Ming), and although weak after childbirth, looking at the infant in her arms gave her a stronger sense of security. Now, seeing the emperor distance himself from Wang Yi, the resentment and ambition that had been suppressed in her heart for so long grew wildly like spring grass.
"That vixen, she's finally met her match!" Consort Yang leaned against the couch, her face still somewhat pale, but her eyes were unusually bright, filled with resentful pleasure. "What 'Guardian of the Nation,' what 'His Majesty's confidante,' it's nothing more than His Majesty's novelty wearing off, or perhaps he's remembered the moral order and finds her an eyesore! I knew it, that kind of vixen wouldn't last long!"
She began her clandestine activities. Under the guise of "the need for various medicinal herbs for postpartum care" and "the prince requiring meticulous attention," she frequently contacted low-ranking eunuchs in the Imperial Household Department, the Imperial Medical Bureau, and even those responsible for purchasing and miscellaneous tasks within the palace. She gathered information and spread rumors that Wang Yi had "fallen out of favor due to the Emperor Emeritus's wrath" and that "His Majesty is tired of his interference in court affairs." Simultaneously, she was secretly selecting a target and seeking an opportunity to strike Wang Yi again—perhaps through food, perhaps through incense, or perhaps by creating an "accident" while she was "resting." She couldn't afford to repeat the Emperor Emeritus's previous failed attempt to poison her, which she attributed to insufficient preparation and Wang Yi's good fortune. This time, she vowed to be more secretive and more ruthless.
These clandestine actions were not entirely unknown to anyone. Empress Zhangsun, in the Lizheng Palace, quickly picked up on some unusual signs through the network she had cultivated over many years in charge of the inner palace. A female official subtly reported to her Consort Yang's recent unusual activity and certain unclear movements pointing towards Qixia Garden.
Empress Zhangsun listened quietly, her hands slowly turning the prayer beads. Her heart was in turmoil. Reason told her that Consort Yang was wicked and her actions could very well endanger the peace of the harem, and might even implicate the imperial heir (if things went wrong and an investigation was launched). As Empress, she had a responsibility to prevent such a thing from happening, and at least to give her a warning or restrain her.
However, the jealousy and bitterness she had desperately suppressed but could never completely eliminate quietly resurfaced at this moment. Wang Yi… the woman who had almost stolen all of His Majesty's attention, was now finally tasting the bitterness of being neglected. Seeing His Majesty frequently visiting other palaces recently, especially spending more time with her and the princes, Empress Zhangsun felt a sense of comfort, but also a dark…satisfaction? She didn't like this side of herself, but the emotion was real.
"If Consort Yang could really... make that person disappear completely, would the harem return to its former peace? Would His Majesty be able to... truly return to me and the children?" This thought flashed through her mind like a venomous snake, sending a chill down her spine, followed by a deep sense of self-loathing.
She closed her eyes, and after a long while, she wearily said to the female official, "Consort Yang has just given birth and needs to rest. The prince is also young. Pass on my message that she should focus on raising the prince and not summon outsiders unless necessary, nor should she worry too much about matters outside the palace. As for Qixia Garden..." She paused, her voice even lower, "Since Master Wang is in quiet cultivation, all his supplies shall remain as usual, and no one unrelated to him shall disturb him."
This seemingly conventional approach of neither taking sides and assigning equal blame is actually a tacit acceptance of inaction. She neither exposed Consort Yang's conspiracy nor strengthened the protection of Qixia Garden; she merely used the Empress's authority to draw a vague line. The rest is up to fate, or rather... whether His Majesty has truly let go of that person completely.
The lady-in-waiting received her order and left. Empress Zhangsun sat alone in the hall, gazing at the lush trees outside the window, her heart filled with desolation. In the end, she still couldn't completely break free from the shackles of "jealousy." And her complex silence undoubtedly tore open a dangerous crack in Consort Yang's treacherous scheme.
The summer of the fourth year of the Zhenguan era seemed particularly favorable for reproduction. Perhaps it was due to Li Shimin's deliberate "equal distribution of favors," or perhaps it was simply a coincidence, but news of concubines becoming pregnant came one after another from the harem. In addition to Consort Yang having given birth to a prince, several other concubines were diagnosed with pregnancy, including even a few young and healthy palace maids of humble origins. For a time, the harem seemed to be filled with the hope and restlessness of new life.
Li Shimin seemed quite attentive to all of this, bestowing generous rewards and entrusting the imperial physicians with care, displaying an image of valuing offspring and maintaining harmony in the harem. He seemed to be using this method to prove to himself and the world that he was not infatuated with one woman, but rather a wise and benevolent ruler who would ensure the continuation of his lineage and bring lasting blessings. Whenever he heard news of another concubine's pregnancy, the gloom in his heart caused by Li Yuan's curse seemed to lessen somewhat—look, my sons will multiply, and they will be loving, unlike my relationship with Jiancheng and Yuanji.
However, beneath this seemingly peaceful facade of "many children, many blessings," undercurrents never ceased to surge. Consort Yang's treacherous schemes were brewing in secret; Empress Zhangsun struggled between guilt and personal desires; in the outwardly desolate Qixia Garden, Wang Yi's gaze pierced beyond the palace walls, fixed on the distant future; and Li Shimin himself, amidst the busyness of "spreading favors evenly" and the anxieties about the future, struggled to balance his complex emotions with the responsibilities of an emperor.
Wang Yi, seemingly relegated to the sidelines, calmly observed the movements of every piece on the chessboard, much like a chess player temporarily sidelined. She knew the turmoil she had instigated was far from over; Li Yuan's curse, like a seed, had been planted in Li Shimin's heart. What she needed to do was to use this temporary silence to accumulate strength and await the next opportune moment. After all, the wheels of history rolled on, and her role was far from finished.
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