Chapter 78 Father and Son, Ruler and Subject
Li Shimin stood outside the study of the Eastern Palace, not immediately entering. The palace lanterns in the corridor were already lit, casting flickering shadows on his face in their dim light. Inside was his eldest son, the Crown Prince of the Tang Dynasty, and the center of this storm. As a father, he felt anger, disappointment, and even a stinging sense of betrayal; as a monarch, he had to secure the throne, quell the rumors, and maintain the dignity of the royal family. These two contrasting emotions clashed fiercely within him, leaving him with a rare sense of weariness and… a hesitation bordering on cowardice.
He heard a muffled, suppressed sound like porcelain shattering inside, followed by a long, deathly silence.
In the end, he pushed the door open.
Li Chengqian stood with his back to the door in front of his desk, his shoulders slightly tense. Hearing the door open, he stiffened for a moment, then slowly turned around. The composure he had been trying to maintain on his face cracked the instant he met Li Shimin's deep, unfathomable gaze. He opened his mouth as if to say something, but no sound came out. In the end, he simply bowed deeply and knelt down: "Your subject... respectfully welcomes Father Emperor."
There was no explanation, no protest, only this kneeling and slightly trembling shoulders.
The anger in Li Shimin's heart suddenly subsided by half, replaced by a more complex bitterness. He walked behind the desk, not letting Li Chengqian get up, and sat down himself. The study was filled with a faint scent of ink and a barely perceptible smell of porcelain dust.
"Are you aware of what happened in court today?" Li Shimin's voice was not loud, but it carried immense power.
"...Your subject already knows." Li Chengqian's voice was hoarse.
"What do you have to say?"
Li Chengqian raised his head, his eyes bloodshot, filled with humiliation, anger, and a deep, almost desperate stubbornness: "Father, please understand! I have only respect and gratitude for the Master! The Master has made outstanding contributions to the country and the court; to me, he is a good teacher, a good friend, and a model for both ruler and heir! I do rely on the Master and often consult him on matters, simply because the Master has exceptional insight and is devoted to the public good! Heaven and earth bear witness to this! As for Consort Wu..." He paused, a struggle flashing across his face, "When I first met her, I did... I did feel that she had a calming aura, a sense of familiarity. But I never saw her as a substitute for someone else! Consort Wu is resilient, astute, and genuinely kind to me. I like her because she is who she is! I have absolutely no intention of... disrespecting the Master or confusing personal feelings!"
He finished speaking in one breath, his chest heaving as he gasped for breath, overwhelmed by excitement and fear, his eyes fixed on Li Shimin as if he wanted to tear out his heart to prove his innocence.
Li Shimin listened quietly without interrupting. His son's explanation was very similar to Wang Yi's, both trying to steer the narrative towards "respect," "dependence," and "admiration," while distancing themselves from any "personal feelings." Was it true or false? Perhaps even they themselves weren't entirely sure. Young people's emotions are intense yet naive; admiration and love are sometimes separated by a fine line. He could sense that Chengqian's feelings for Wang Yi were far more than a simple teacher-student or ruler-subject relationship. But what exactly it was, perhaps even Chengqian himself couldn't figure out.
And this is precisely the most dangerous place. It is also the vital point that Li Yuan, that old fox, precisely targeted.
“Chengqian,” Li Shimin began slowly, his tone no longer as oppressive as before, but even more so, “You are the crown prince, the future emperor. Your thoughts, words, and actions concern not only your personal honor and disgrace, but also the fate of the nation and the ancestral temple of the Li family. The eyes of the world are on you, and the pens of the historians are pointed at you. Do you understand the weight of the words ‘public opinion is a fearsome thing’?”
Li Chengqian trembled: "Your subject... understands."
“No, you don’t fully understand.” Li Shimin stood up, walked to the window, and looked out at the secluded courtyard of the Eastern Palace. “You only feel wronged, only feel angry, and feel that the world has slandered you and tainted the feelings you cherish. But do you know why such rumors exist? Besides those who deliberately stir up trouble, haven’t you also made mistakes and given others ammunition against you?”
Li Chengqian's face turned even paler.
"How much have you relied on the Empress Dowager? In all matters of the Eastern Palace, big and small, even in details that she shouldn't have to concern herself with, have you ever habitually sought her opinion? You treat Consort Wu with special favor; have you ever, even for a moment, looked for a familiar shadow in her? When you are with the Empress Dowager, have you ever forgotten the distinction between ruler and subject, or the boundaries between men and women, and become too intimate and casual?" Li Shimin asked one question after another, his voice not loud, but each word like a hammer, striking Li Chengqian's heart.
"I..." Li Chengqian wanted to deny it, but he found that the details he had deliberately ignored were now crystal clear. He was speechless.
"Rumors are detestable, but they are not entirely baseless." Li Shimin turned around, his gaze piercing. "They are often rooted in some exaggerated and distorted facts. If you act uprightly, sit properly, and follow etiquette in everything you do, even if someone wants to spread rumors, they will have no way to do so, and even if they do, they will find it difficult to gain people's trust. Chengqian, you are the Crown Prince. Your 'uprightness' lies not only in your heart, but also in your actions. Every move you make must withstand the most rigorous scrutiny and the most malicious speculation from the people of the world. This is the difficulty of being the Crown Prince and the weight of being an emperor."
These words were less a rebuke and more a lesson, a wake-up call. Li Chengqian broke out in a cold sweat; the initial resentment and anger in his heart were gradually replaced by a deeper fear and lingering dread. His father was right; he himself had given others an opening to attack. His feelings for Zhenren might be pure, but were his actions truly without flaw? Was his treatment of Consort Wu truly devoid of even a trace of subconscious misunderstanding?
"Your subject... knows he was wrong." This time, his voice was filled with genuine fear and remorse. "It was your subject's lack of foresight and improper conduct that brought this disaster upon you, tarnishing your reputation and causing Your Majesty even more worry..."
Seeing his son's pale face and the fear in his eyes, Li Shimin's last bit of anger dissipated, leaving only a heavy sense of responsibility and a barely perceptible trace of pity. Chengqian was still young; he needed guidance, experience, and... protection.
"Get up," Li Shimin said, his tone softening.
Li Chengqian rose as instructed, stood with his hands at his sides, and maintained a respectful posture.
"The root of this matter lies with the Emperor Emeritus." Li Shimin stopped beating around the bush and pointed out directly, "He hates me, and he also hates Wang Yi. Attacking the Crown Prince and destroying Wang Yi is his strategy to kill two birds with one stone. You are merely a pawn in this game, and a key one at that."
Li Chengqian looked up abruptly, his eyes flashing with shock and a deeper chill. He had guessed that someone was pulling the strings behind the scenes, but he never expected it to be the Emperor Emeritus! His grandfather, who seemed to be enjoying his retirement and indifferent to worldly affairs!
"I have dealt with the censor who spoke nonsense in court today, but this is only a temporary solution. To address the root cause, we need to start from three aspects." Li Shimin sat back in his chair and explained his plan, which was also the core of Wang Yi's suggestion. "First, Wang Zhenren will completely stay away from the affairs of the Eastern Palace, only coming when summoned, and will also keep her distance from you in public. This is to avoid suspicion, to protect her, and even more so to protect you."
Li Chengqian felt a pang of pain in his heart. This meant that he would no longer be able to consult with her as readily as before. The warmth and reassurance of being understood and guided would be greatly diminished. But he knew this was the necessary price to pay. He nodded silently.
"Secondly, regarding Consort Wu, I will issue an edict ordering her to assist in managing some of the internal affairs of the Eastern Palace and to appear at appropriate occasions for officials' wives. What you need to do is give her trust and support, allowing her the opportunity to demonstrate her abilities and establish her own image, rather than living in anyone's shadow. Do you understand what I mean?"
Li Chengqian understood, of course. This was to separate Wu Meiniang from the rumors of her being a "stand-in" and give her independent value. "Your subject understands and will certainly do as instructed."
"Thirdly," Li Shimin's gaze deepened as he fixed his gaze on Li Chengqian, "and this is the most important point. Chengqian, you must remember that you are the Crown Prince of the Tang Dynasty, the future emperor. Your heart should be filled with the nation, the people, civil and military achievements, and the great cause for generations to come! Not any personal feelings, dependence, or... inappropriate fantasies!"
His voice suddenly turned stern: "You may respect Wang Zhenren as your teacher and value her as a national hero, but you must never again have any thoughts that overstep the boundaries of the relationship between ruler and subject or the separation of men and women! From this day forward, you must completely suppress and eliminate these thoughts! If I discover any further misconduct on your part, or if rumors arise because of you, I will not let you off lightly! Do you understand?!"
The last few sentences were delivered with stern and forceful language, carrying an undeniable imperial authority and a father's warning.
Li Chengqian was struck dumb, his face ashen, his body swaying as if he could barely stand. His father's words were like a red-hot knife, completely dissecting, burning, and declaring the vague emotions deep within his heart that he dared not even face himself as taboo and impure. A tremendous sense of shame and an almost desperate emptiness overwhelmed him.
"...Your subject...understood clearly." He heard his own dry voice reply, each word as if squeezed out of his throat, "Your subject...will follow Father's teachings. In my heart...there is only the country, and absolutely no other thoughts."
Seeing his son's face drain of all color and his eyes filled with an almost deathly stillness, Li Shimin felt a pang of pity, but it was quickly suppressed by a stronger sense of reason. This was for his own good, for the good of the Crown Prince, and for the good of the Tang Dynasty. Some budding problems must be nipped in the bud.
"Remember what you said today." Li Shimin stood up, no longer looking at him. "Reflect on your words and do what you should do as the crown prince. I will handle the turmoil outside. But within the Eastern Palace, if there is any more gossip, or if anyone uses this to cause trouble, I will hold you responsible!"
After saying that, he left the study without lingering.
The door closed, shutting out the deepening night outside, and seemingly shutting out all of Li Chengqian's strength and vitality. He slowly slid down to sit on the floor, leaning against the cold wall, burying his face deeply between his knees.
His father's warning, like the strictest law, was etched into his heart. From now on, his special feelings for the Emperor could only be "respect," only "reliance," only "ruler and subject." Any extra warmth would be a transgression, a sin.
And Wu Meiniang… He suddenly remembered that she had recently deliberately changed her style of dress, and in her conversations, she had intentionally or unintentionally emphasized the difference between herself and the real Wu Meiniang. So, she had noticed it all along? Was she also suffering from the troubles and pressure of the rumors about her being a "stand-in"? How much of the affection he had given her was truly for "Wu Meiniang," and how much was for that "familiar" quality she possessed?
An unprecedented sense of confusion and self-doubt engulfed him. For the first time, he realized with such clarity that, as the Crown Prince, even the way he liked someone would be scrutinized, judged, and even distorted under the gaze of the entire world. He possessed a great deal, but what truly belonged to "Li Chengqian" seemed pitifully little.
After an unknown amount of time, soft footsteps sounded outside the study, followed by Wu Meiniang's gentle yet worried voice: "Your Highness? May I come in?"
Li Chengqian did not answer immediately. He slowly raised his head, wiped the cold dampness from his face, straightened his clothes, and then said in as calm a voice as possible, "Come in."
Wu Meiniang pushed open the door and entered, carrying a cup of warm calming tea. She saw Li Chengqian's swollen eyes and pale face, and her heart ached, but she asked nothing. She simply placed the teacup gently on the desk and said softly, "Your Highness, have some tea to warm yourself up."
Her voice, her concern, were so genuine. Li Chengqian looked at her; in the lamplight, her face was beautiful, her eyes clear, possessing a resilience and agility that belonged only to her. Yes, she was Wu Meiniang, not anyone's shadow.
"Meiniang," he suddenly spoke, his voice hoarse, "do you... feel wronged?"
Wu Meiniang was taken aback, but then she understood what he meant. She gently shook her head, walked to his side, but did not get too close, maintaining a proper distance: "Your Highness, why do you say such things? It is my honor to serve Your Highness. The rumors outside are nothing but the tricks of those with ulterior motives, and I have never taken them to heart. I am only worried about Your Highness, and about the True Man."
Her answer was appropriate and comprehensive, expressing her own attitude, taking into account Li Chengqian's feelings, and pointing out the real enemy.
Li Chengqian looked at her, his heart filled with mixed emotions. This woman was more intelligent and resilient than he had imagined. Perhaps he should see the real her more, rather than seeing other shadows through her.
“You’re right.” He took the teacup, the warmth restoring some feeling to his cold fingers. “Rumors stop with the wise, and even more so with those who act righteously. From now on, we must all be careful with our words and actions.”
"I understand." Wu Meiniang lowered her eyes. "His Majesty just issued an order for me to assist in some palace affairs. I will certainly do my best to live up to His Majesty and His Highness's trust."
"Hmm." Li Chengqian nodded, understanding his father's arrangement even more. This was both giving Meiniang a chance and helping him and the Crown Prince to get rid of the troubles caused by rumors. "Go ahead and do it. If you encounter any difficulties, come to me."
"Thank you, Your Highness." Wu Meiniang curtsied, a glint of light flashing in her eyes. She knew that crisis also contained opportunity. If she could seize it well, this might be the key to truly gaining a foothold in the Eastern Palace, or even advancing further.
After exchanging a few more pleasantries, Wu Meiniang, seeing that Li Chengqian's emotions had calmed down somewhat, considerately took her leave.
The study fell silent once more. Li Chengqian sat alone, slowly finishing his now slightly cooled tea. His father's warnings still echoed in his ears, the shadow of the rumors had not yet dissipated, and the road ahead remained shrouded in mist. But at least, he knew who the enemy was, and he knew what he should and should not do.
He cast his gaze out the window at the dark night sky, where the stars were few and far between. Outside the Eastern Palace, in some corner of Chang'an, was his grandfather, the retired emperor of the Tang Dynasty, watching with a smug, cold smile the turmoil he had orchestrated?
Li Chengqian's hands slowly clenched. He would not admit defeat, he would not let his grandfather's conspiracy succeed, he would not disappoint his father, and he would not... allow himself to fall into such a passive and pathetic situation again.
The path to becoming the crown prince is fraught with thorns. Let this be a trial by fire.
Meanwhile, inside the Da'an Palace.
Li Yuan leaned back on the soft couch, listening to his trusted eunuch's low report on the day's court proceedings and what followed. When he heard that Li Shimin had dealt swiftly with Zheng Lian, then hurriedly left the palace for Qixia Garden, and finally went to the East Palace, a smile mixed with mockery and pleasure appeared on his wrinkled face.
"Heh... Shimin, Shimin, are you anxious? Are you angry? Have you experienced that feeling?" He muttered to himself, his withered fingers tapping lightly on the edge of the bed. "This is just the beginning. I want to see how many storms your seemingly monolithic court, your seemingly benevolent Crown Prince, and your incomparably relied-upon 'Guardian of the Nation' can withstand?"
"Your Majesty, a message has arrived from Prince Wei, asking what to do next?" the eunuch whispered.
Li Yuan narrowed his eyes: "Tell Tai'er to be patient. The fire has already been lit, so let it burn for a while. Have the people below continue to 'inadvertently' spread some details, such as... the Crown Prince once compared the real person to a 'bright lamp in the dark night,' or Consort Wu's tea-making technique was learned perfectly from the real person... Remember, it should be like palace servants chatting in private, and absolutely no evidence should be left."
"Yes." The eunuch acknowledged the order and quietly withdrew.
Only Li Yuan remained in the hall. He stared at the flickering candlelight, his eyes flashing with a mixture of hatred and a near-mad obsession.
Wang Yi, I want you to be abandoned by everyone, to be disgraced, and to taste the pain I felt when I lost everything and my dignity was utterly destroyed! Shimin, I also want you to taste what it feels like to be "betrayed" by the person closest to you and most trusted!
This game has only just entered the middlegame. He, playing black, made the first move and gained a slight advantage, but white responded quickly, and his defense and counterattacks were quite methodical. However, it doesn't matter; he still has the second move and many pieces to place.
The night deepened, enveloping the restless city of Chang'an. Taiji Palace, the Eastern Palace, Qixia Garden, Da'an Palace, the Prince of Wei's residence… all factions operated silently in the darkness, brewing for the next, even more intense, confrontation.
Meanwhile, at a post station far from the power center of Chang'an, a fast horse galloped through the night. The messenger on horseback was covered in dust and tightly clutched a secret report from the distant frontier, stamped with urgent military information.
The storm may not originate solely from within the palace.
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