Chapter 16 Successful Journey West
Life at Qinghui Garden appeared outwardly tranquil, like that of a hermit. Wang Yi spent her days burning incense, meditating (in name only), and perusing the Daoist medical texts bestowed upon her by Li Yuan. Occasionally, she would take Li Yuan's pulse and adjust his prescriptions—all in accordance with her status as "Lady Mingzhen." She faithfully kept her ten-year promise. Although Li Yuan occasionally glanced at her, he refrained from pressuring her due to the agreement and his fear of "heavenly blessings." This gave Wang Yi precious time and space to cultivate her true intentions.
She first needed more accurate intelligence and more reliable communication channels. Previously, as "Wang Zhenren," her contact with the Qin Prince's mansion was extremely limited and risky. Now, using her status as a concubine in the harem, she could more "reasonably" approach certain people and matters. She began selectively cultivating relationships with a few lower-ranking palace servants in Qinghui Garden whose backgrounds were relatively simple and who could be bribed, especially the eunuchs and maids responsible for purchasing and relaying messages. Instead of directly contacting the Qin Prince's mansion, she established an extremely secretive relay point used only for receiving specific signals or transmitting brief coded messages (such as "the scenery is beautiful on such and such a day"). This required immense patience and insight; Wang Yi cautiously advanced the process using risk assessment and interpersonal manipulation techniques from modern management.
The opportunity soon arrived. On the fifth day of the fifth lunar month, the Dragon Boat Festival, a banquet was held in the palace by the Taiye Pond. This banquet was quite large, with members of the royal family, important officials, and their wives all in attendance. Wang Yi's seat was arranged in the middle of the concubines' quarters, facing the princes' quarters where Li Shimin was located across the water. It wasn't close, but the view was unobstructed.
Midway through the banquet, dragon boat races added to the festivities, drawing everyone's attention to the water. Wang Yi, feigning slight intoxication and a need to refresh herself, led a close maid, whom she had already begun to control (by exploiting a minor mistake and offering her favors), slowly towards a waterside pavilion nestled in a bamboo grove by the Taiye Pond. She knew that, based on their previous tacit agreement and Li Shimin's abilities, if he so desired, he would surely notice her departure and try to follow her.
Sure enough, in less than the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, Li Shimin appeared at the other end of the bamboo path. He waved for his attendants to stop and walked over alone. The palace maid had already been instructed by Wang Yi to stand guard at the entrance of the pavilion.
"It's certainly more refreshing to be here by the water and listening to the breeze than at the banquet," Li Shimin said as he stepped into the pavilion. His voice was steady, but his gaze swept around quickly like a hawk's before finally settling on Wang Yi. Today, she was dressed in a lotus-colored palace gown, which made her appear more gentle and graceful than usual, but her eyes remained clear and sharp.
"Your Highness, are you also here to find some peace and quiet?" Wang Yi turned around, leaning against the railing, seemingly admiring the view of the pond. "The dragon boat races are exciting, but watching them for too long can make your eyes dizzy."
"More than the dragon boat race, I am concerned about whether my lady is settled in properly." Li Shimin approached, keeping a distance between them at the limit of social etiquette, and lowered his voice, "Qinghui Garden... are you getting used to living here? Have you been disturbed by any inconsiderate people?" He was asking about her safety and living conditions, and whether there was any spying or trouble from the Eastern Palace or other parties.
"Thank you for your concern, Your Highness. The garden is quiet, and His Majesty has ordered that no one dares to openly disturb us." Wang Yi paused, turned to look at him, and changed the subject slightly, "However, this 'quietness' can sometimes be unsettling. I've heard that Your Highness has recently renovated your villa by Kunming Pool outside the city; the scenery is elegant, and there's even a hot spring where you can bathe, which must be quite beneficial for your health?" She mentioned a specific location—the Qin Prince's villa by Kunming Pool—and used "health preservation" as a pretext. This was the first time she had proactively and clearly conveyed her desire to meet in a safer, more private place outside the city.
Li Shimin's gaze suddenly deepened. Kunming Pool Villa was indeed a relatively secluded property of his, guarded by trusted confidants. Because of its hot springs, he often went there under the guise of "recovering from injuries" or "taking a bath," so it didn't attract much attention. Wang Yi's knowledge of this place, and her use of it to hint at it, indicated that she not only desired to advance her plan but also possessed a certain level of information gathering ability.
"My lady is well-informed." Li Shimin's lips curled into a slight smile, the kind of smile a hunter gives when he sees his prey willingly stepping into the trap, filled with admiration and even greater interest. "The hot springs at that villa are indeed remarkably effective. I occasionally visit and find myself feeling quite refreshed. If my lady is interested in 'treating' herself, perhaps... we could find a suitable opportunity to go and give it a try." He picked up on the conversation and implied that he could make arrangements.
"Oh? Then I'll take note." Wang Yi's tone was calm, as if she were genuinely discussing health preservation. "However, entering and leaving the palace is not easy, especially given my current status, I must be even more cautious. I wonder what 'opportunity' Your Highness deems most appropriate? For example... when His Majesty next leaves the palace to recuperate at the Nanshan Palace?" She threw out another key piece of information—Li Yuan's itinerary. Li Yuan often suffered from headaches, and every now and then he would go to the Nanshan Palace for a few days to seek a more tranquil environment for recuperation. At those times, the focus of the palace's vigilance and attention would shift accordingly.
Li Shimin was startled. She had even figured out her father's schedule and pinpointed this gap in the schedule! Her meticulousness and ability to seize opportunities impressed him once again. "Your Majesty's thinking is thorough," he said, giving her a deep look. "While the scenery of Nanshan is beautiful, there are established procedures for palace affairs during His Majesty's recuperation. However... if arranged properly, a day or two of 'quiet' is not difficult."
This was practically an explicit agreement. The two exchanged crucial information over their conversation: location (the Kunming Pool villa), timing (Li Yuan's next departure from the palace), and purpose (a secret rendezvous). Without a single explicit word, they had outlined the most perilous plan.
"I hope we can have this opportunity." Wang Yi nodded slightly, his gaze falling on the dragon boat race in the pool, which was nearing its end. "However, even a small boat on a stormy sea needs a skilled helmsman to stay safe."
"Rest assured, Madam," Li Shimin's voice carried an undeniable force. "Now that we are in the same boat, we should work together. I am not only adept at navigating turbulent waters, but also skilled at... cutting through the waves." He was promising to ensure the safety and success of the operation.
Just then, a palace maid keeping watch in the distance gave a slight cough signal, indicating that someone was coming in this direction.
Wang Yi immediately took a step back, curtsied, and said, "Your Highness, the wind is getting a bit chilly. I should return to my seat so that His Majesty will not ask any questions."
"Please go ahead, Madam, and take care of yourself." Li Shimin also resumed his aloof princely demeanor and nodded slightly.
Wang Yi, accompanied by her palace maids, departed calmly, her steps showing no sign of panic. Li Shimin lingered in the pavilion for a moment, watching her disappear into the bamboo grove, his eyes swirling with complex and indescribable emotions—longing, admiration, a sense of certainty, and a thrill of facing a formidable challenge together. He increasingly realized that Wang Yi was not merely an object to satisfy his desire for conquest and emotional needs, but a trustworthy (under shared goals), a reliable (in her professional field and influence within the palace), and even, in some ways, a "powerful ally" who could rival him. To possess her was not just to gain a woman, but to gain an irreplaceable asset and bond.
Several days later, Li Yuan's headache worsened after a court assembly, and he decided to depart for the Southern Mountain Palace three days later to recuperate for five days. The news was immediately transmitted to the Prince of Qin's residence through a secret channel established by Wang Yi, using coded language.
Upon receiving the secret report, Li Shimin immediately began making arrangements. He publicly claimed that his old injury was slightly aggravated and that he needed to recuperate at his villa in Kunming Pool for two days in a warm bath. Simultaneously, he deployed his "spies" embedded within the palace, responsible for crucial aspects such as carriage and horse dispatch and access control, meticulously devising a plan to secretly smuggle Wang Yi out of the palace, escort him to the villa, and then safely return him. Every step, including the timing, personnel, pretext, and backup plans, was carefully considered. His most trusted and loyal confidants were tasked with executing the plan, and each was kept separate from the others, only aware of their own portion of the mission.
On the eve of the operation, in Qinghui Garden, Wang Yi looked at herself in the bronze mirror, her face calm and expressionless. She had quietly adjusted her physical condition, calculating her menstrual cycle to ensure the highest probability of achieving her goal at this meeting. On the table were "fertility pills" she had made using herbs from the Imperial Medical Academy and her secretly modified formula (based on some documented traditional Chinese medicine tonics), as well as a small packet of emergency contraceptive (just in case the plan needed to be delayed). She swallowed the pills and carefully hid the emergency contraceptive. The smooth, warm texture of the white jade bracelet on her wrist was gently touched; she rubbed it lightly, her eyes resolute and clear.
This was not a romantic rendezvous, but a meticulously planned and purposeful "operation." The target was the future Heavenly Khan, and the goal was to acquire the best genetic inheritance and deepen the strategic bond with this future emperor. Emotions might be growing, but reason would always prevail.
The plan was launched the following day. The process was fraught with peril, but thanks to Li Shimin's meticulous arrangements and Wang Yi's calm cooperation, it went surprisingly smoothly. Disguised, they infiltrated the convoy that was leaving the palace to make purchases, changed vehicles midway, and secretly arrived at the heavily guarded Kunming Pool villa... When Wang Yi saw Li Shimin waiting for him again in a tastefully furnished secret room deep within the villa, surrounded by the steaming hot spring, both of them felt a sense of solemn relief, as if they had overcome tremendous obstacles and finally faced their core objective.
There were no superfluous words, not even the usual romantic prelude to a secret rendezvous between a man and a woman. Isolated from outside eyes and risks, their meeting at this moment had a naked and clear purpose.
"I admire your courage, Madam." Li Shimin looked at her as she shed her disguise, revealing her naturally aloof face, his eyes burning like fire beneath a rock.
“Your Highness’s planning is the foundation.” Wang Yi met his gaze calmly, loosened his hair, and let his black hair fall freely. “Time is limited, so we should do what needs to be done.”
This was a clash and fusion stripped of worldly etiquette, directly addressing the essence of the matter. It involved both Li Shimin's intense desire for conquest and the release of his emotions, and Wang Yi's proactive acceptance and cooperation in achieving her goals. The steam from the hot spring blurred their vision, but it made the resolute determination, admiration, and the burning emotions that erupted under the pressure of harsh reality in their eyes all the clearer. Wang Yi's calmness and initiative, and even the control she displayed at times—unlike that of ordinary women (stemming from the psychological advantages of modern women)—allowed Li Shimin to not only experience the ultimate satisfaction of conquest but also to deeply appreciate her unique charm as an "accomplice" and "equal partner."
After a brief reunion, the same meticulous return process followed. When Wang Yi returned safely to her chambers in Qinghui Garden, dawn was nearly breaking. She quickly disposed of anything that might leave a trace, took some medicine to regulate her body, and lay back down on her bed. Her body still felt tired and unwell, but her mind was unusually clear.
The core step of the plan has been taken. Next, it's about waiting for the results and dealing with any unforeseen circumstances. Meanwhile, outside the palace, Li Shimin, in his study at his villa, stared at a map of Chang'an, his finger tracing the location of the Xuanwu Gate. This secret union with Wang Yi seemed to have infused him with even greater determination and strength. It wasn't just for his imperial ambitions, but also for the woman with whom he had promised to "share the burden," and with whom he might have already forged a shared "future."
"It'll be soon..." he murmured to himself, his eyes no longer showing any hesitation, only the cold decisiveness and determination of an emperor. "Everything will be settled at Xuanwu Gate."
Wang Yi's waiting and scheming in the palace, and Li Shimin's military preparations outside the palace, all point to the impending historical moment that will determine everyone's fate. Their complex and profound relationship, which began with calculation, was tempered by risk, and will enter a new and more dramatic phase as that door opens.
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