Chapter 112 A Child's Choice, Undercurrents Flow
Since returning from the Eastern Palace that day, the study in the Prince of Jin's residence had become Li Zhi's solitary chamber, a place where he chewed on pain and pondered difficult thoughts. The spring snow outside the window had almost melted away, and tender green buds were quietly climbing onto the branches, but the winter in his heart seemed to have just begun.
His elder brother Li Chengqian's heart-wrenching words from that night echoed in his mind day and night. The truth behind Li Xiang's tragic death, the reasons why Li Tai was driven to the brink of despair, the venomous fangs hidden by the powerful clans, the cold-blooded scheming that might exist beneath his uncle Changsun Wuji's gentle mask... all of this, like the sharpest icicle, pierced his originally simple and beautiful understanding of the world.
He once thought that power struggles were far removed from him; he only needed to study hard, be filial to his father, love his elder brother, and become a virtuous and law-abiding king. He regarded his uncle's teachings as the care of an elder and guidance on the "right path." Although he respected his elder brother's "strictness," he also secretly felt that perhaps it was indeed "too rigid."
But now, his elder brother tells him that behind that "strictness" lies the pain of losing a son, a warning bell of fratricide, and the determination to eradicate a millennia-old cancer. And behind his uncle's "righteous path" may lie a meticulous calculation of family interests, a deep-seated scheme to use him as a "blunt knife" to check his elder brother, and even to drag him into the vortex of power.
He repeatedly recalled every interaction with his uncle. Those seemingly earnest and patriotic words, upon reflection, now revealed hidden barbs. His uncle never explicitly criticized his brother, but he always emphasized "benevolence" and "prudence," always hinted at the "risks" of the current political situation, and always guided him to consider "another possibility." And when he expressed reverence for his brother or agreement with certain policies (even if based solely on common sense), his uncle would always subtly steer his thinking in another direction with a more "lofty" reasoning.
Is this what it means to be guided and shaped?
Li Zhi felt a chill run down his spine, colder than the wind that night at the waterside pavilion. He wasn't stupid, but he had never before examined one of his closest friends with such vigilance and suspicion.
He also tried to defend his uncle. Perhaps his uncle simply had different beliefs and genuinely thought his brother had gone astray, and out of a sense of public duty, he wanted to "correct" him by influencing him? Perhaps those covert attempts to hinder his brother were just common tactics in political struggles, not aimed at any individual, much less at putting anyone to death?
But he quickly dismissed this idea. His brother's mention of Li Xiang's death, the bizarre "trap," the irrefutable evidence pointing to a hidden branch of the Longxi Li clan, and the possibility that his uncle might have played at least a "tacitly approved" or "knowing" role... this went beyond a mere ideological dispute; it was a blood feud, an unforgivable conspiracy that crossed the line of the royal family! If his uncle was truly involved, even if it was merely a matter of withholding information or an ambiguous attitude, then the conflict between him and his brother would be far more complex than a simple political disagreement!
A profound sense of fear and betrayal overwhelmed Li Zhi. He dared not, and did not wish to, delve into the extent to which his uncle might have been involved. The mere possibility was enough to cause him to crumble with doubt over all the trust he had placed in the past.
Meanwhile, the look in his elder brother Li Chengqian's eyes that night—his heavy weariness, his undisguised pain, and his earnest expectations of his younger brother—repeatedly pounded into his heart. His brother had given him a choice: to become a pawn in their uncle's game, embarking on a path of no return that could lead to fratricide and even disgrace; or to trust his brother, for though the road ahead was difficult, at least their brotherly unity and shared responsibility might prevent them from repeating Li Tai's fate.
This choice weighed so heavily on him that he could barely breathe.
He tentatively approached his uncle again, only to receive the same smooth and farsighted explanation, while avoiding any mention of his inner turmoil and thirst for the truth, merely emphasizing "observe and think more" and "walk your own path." This avoidance only deepened Li Zhi's suspicions.
He secretly observed the court. The power struggle between the Crown Prince's faction and Changsun Wuji's faction (or rather, those forces gathered under the banner of "benevolence and conservatism") continued, but the Crown Prince had clearly intensified his counterattack. He not only refuted the empty criticisms but also presented concrete achievements (such as increased national treasury revenue and examples of new policies benefiting the people) and shocking evidence of the illegal activities of powerful families. The winds in the court seemed to be subtly shifting in the Crown Prince's favor. Some officials who had followed Liu Fan's lead began to fall silent, while others suffered more precise attacks from the Crown Prince's faction.
Li Zhi saw that his elder brother was not simply domineering; he also possessed political wisdom, knowing how to win over and divide, and how to let facts speak for themselves. As for the opponents, aside from slogans and some exaggerated or one-sided cases of "disturbing the people," they seemed unable to offer any more compelling arguments that could fundamentally refute the Crown Prince's policy direction.
Time passed by in agonizing days. Li Zhi grew visibly thinner, his eyes darkened with deep black circles, and he seemed somewhat dazed. He no longer frequented the palace as often as before, and his "consultations" with his uncle decreased significantly. He spent most of his time locked in his palace, reading, writing, and daydreaming.
His unusual behavior naturally caught the attention of many.
In the Eastern Palace, after hearing the report, Li Chengqian remained silent for a long time before finally sighing, "Let him think it over carefully. Some hurdles he must overcome himself." He did not exert any further pressure, and even instructed people to secretly take care of the Prince of Jin's daily life, but he no longer summoned him proactively.
The atmosphere at Changsun Wuji's residence was much more somber.
"His Highness seems to be preoccupied lately, quite different from usual," Du Hui reported to Changsun Wuji in a low voice. "He's been like this ever since he returned from his trip to the Eastern Palace. He's also become quite distant from us. When we went to ask for his advice last time, he gave us a perfunctory answer."
Changsun Wuji listened expressionlessly, toying with a warm, smooth jade pendant in his hand—a gift from his younger sister, Empress Changsun. After a long while, he slowly said, "Chengqian... was caught off guard. I didn't expect him to use this method to directly manipulate Zhinu."
"Lord Changsun, should we..." Du Hui made a cryptic gesture.
Changsun Wuji shook his head, his eyes gleaming: "No need. Any further action now would only confirm the Crown Prince's accusations and push Zhinu further away. The Crown Prince is using 'emotion' and 'reason,' and if we confront him head-on with 'power' and 'scheme,' we may not win. Zhinu is kind-hearted and sentimental, and the Crown Prince's frankness this time hits his weak spot."
"Then shall we give up?" Du Hui asked, somewhat unwilling.
"Stop?" Changsun Wuji sneered. "The arrow has already left the bowstring, how can it turn back? The more the Crown Prince acts this way, the more it shows that he is wary of the potential impact of Zhinu, and it also shows that our approach is correct. It's just... the method needs to be adjusted."
He stood up, walked to the window, and gazed at the budding spring in the courtyard: "Zhi Nu wavered because the Crown Prince threw out the bloody 'truth' and the emotional appeal. So... we can no longer just talk about empty ideals. We also need to let Zhi Nu see 'the other side'—the 'damage' caused by the Crown Prince's so-called 'elimination of accumulated abuses'; the 'oppression' that his so-called 'centralization of imperial power' might bring to court officials and the imperial family; and... what the ultimate consequences of his 'coercion' of his own younger brother (Li Tai) were. We don't need to say these things directly; let others say them, let the facts speak for themselves."
“Furthermore,” Changsun Wuji turned around, his gaze deep, “contact that person in the palace. See what His Majesty’s attitude is towards the Crown Prince and Zhi Nu lately. His Majesty is getting old, and perhaps… he would prefer to see brotherly harmony and a stable court, rather than this tense atmosphere.”
Du Hui understood immediately and bowed, saying, "Understood."
Changsun Wuji's strategy changed. He shifted from direct indoctrination and promotion to more covert infiltration and influence. Through other channels, he continued to spread rumors about the "side effects" of the Crown Prince's policies and began to subtly mention Li Tai's past, implying the Crown Prince's "intolerance" of his brothers. At the same time, he attempted to exploit the Emperor's desire for stability in his later years to create the impression that the Crown Prince was "too radical" and "detrimental to harmony among brothers."
However, after the initial shock and confusion, although Li Zhi's mind was still in turmoil, he began to try to step out of the whirlpool of emotions and observe and think with a more rational perspective.
He noted that although his elder brother was tough, his policies, such as investigating land ownership and curbing land annexation, did indeed touch the core interests of powerful families, but also gave some landless or land-poor people a chance to breathe; promoting people from poor families, although it made some members of powerful families dissatisfied, also injected new vitality into the court; replenishing the national treasury and strengthening the central authority, in the long run, would undoubtedly be beneficial to national stability.
Aside from slogans of "benevolence" and criticisms of deviations in implementation, the dissenting voices rarely seem to offer truly systematic and alternative governance strategies. More often than not, they appear to be upholding an existing order that is clearly riddled with flaws.
His uncle, Changsun Wuji… he still respected him, but he could no longer trust him as completely as before. His uncle's wisdom and foresight were beyond doubt, but his stance and purpose now had a huge question mark in his mind.
As spring deepened, Li Zhi finally made a decision. He didn't immediately go to his elder brother to express his opinion, nor did he completely sever ties with his uncle. He chose silence, but a positive silence.
He studied even more diligently, not only on classics and historical texts, but also consciously delving into practical books on law, finance, and geography. He reduced unnecessary social interactions, especially with those who clearly belonged to the core circle of the "opposition." When he occasionally entered the palace to pay his respects, he would discuss his reading experiences more in response to his father's inquiries, offering only objective accounts of court affairs without readily expressing any biased opinions. However, when his father expressed his expectation for "brotherly harmony," he would appropriately express his understanding of his elder brother's hard work.
He began to see with his own eyes and think with his own mind. He was no longer easily swayed by the words of either side. He knew that his choices could have far-reaching consequences, and he needed time, more observation, and more judgment.
This silent and independent attitude reassured Li Chengqian somewhat, at least his younger brother hadn't sided with the other side. It also made Changsun Wuji feel a deeper sense of unease—a Prince of Jin who had begun to think independently and was no longer easily manipulated had his value greatly diminished, and might even become an unpredictable factor.
After enduring a fierce storm, the child's heart did not completely sway either side. Instead, amidst pain and confusion, it began to sprout its own tender yet resolute roots. He didn't know what lay ahead, but he decided that he would no longer be merely a pawn in someone else's game.
The power struggles within the court continue, but the contest surrounding Prince Li Zhi has temporarily entered a delicate stalemate and period of observation. The undercurrents remain turbulent, but their direction seems to have become more complex and unpredictable. Li Zhi's final decision may no longer be a simple either/or choice, but rather based on his gradually forming understanding and judgment.
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