Chapter 67 The Test by the Princess of Wei
In the spring of the fourteenth year of the Zhenguan era, the ice and snow in Chang'an melted, and all things revived. Inside the Lizheng Hall, Empress Zhangsun's condition had finally stabilized under the care of medicine and Wang Yi. Although she was not fully recovered, she was able to handle palace affairs normally, and her complexion had become much rosier.
However, beneath the surface calm, undercurrents never ceased.
Li Chengqian and Li Tai appeared to be brothers in harmony in front of Li Shimin and Empress Zhangsun, but in private they remained wary of each other. Li Chengqian strengthened the defenses of the Eastern Palace and tightened the checks on those coming and going; Li Tai, on the other hand, rarely went out, except for attending court and participating in the compilation meetings of the "Kuodi Zhi" (Records of the Land).
However, Princess Wang, the wife of the Prince of Wei, became a frequent visitor to Qixia Garden.
This woman, from the Wang family of Taiyuan, was dignified in appearance and manners, and always spoke in a soft voice, seemingly without any guile. Every time she came to Qixia Garden, her reasons were always legitimate—either to "ask for advice on beauty preservation methods," or to "discuss needlework skills," or to "seek some calming spices for the Prince of Wei."
Wang Yi could not refuse, because Wang was the principal wife of a prince, a position of great prestige; and also because her reasons were reasonable and impeccable.
But Wang Yi could sense that there was always a sharp, observant quality in Wang Shi's seemingly gentle eyes. She would subtly probe when she spoke, cleverly inquire during casual conversation, and even while enjoying tea and flowers, she would pay attention to the layout of Qixia Garden, the people coming and going, and even Wang Yi's words and actions.
"Your Majesty, you've really grown this orchid very well. I heard that there's a similar one in the Prince of Wei's mansion, but it's not as lush as this one," Wang said, pointing to the orchid on the windowsill.
Wang Yi smiled and said, "It's just that I put in a little more effort. If Princess Wei likes it, she can take one back with her."
"How could I possibly accept that?" Madam Wang waved her hand, but then asked, "By the way, I heard that Consort Wu of the Eastern Palace often comes to see you, Master? She is truly capable, as she has to take care of the young grandson and assist the Crown Prince in handling domestic affairs."
These words, though seemingly complimentary, were actually an attempt to inquire about the interactions between the Eastern Palace and Qixia Garden.
Wang Yi responded calmly: "Consort Wu is indeed meticulous, often coming to consult me on matters of childcare and health. His Highness the Crown Prince is very busy with state affairs, so it is only right that she share some of the burden."
Similar conversations occurred almost every time. Wang could always find a variety of topics, from flowers and plants to food, from health preservation to childcare, and then inadvertently veer into matters of the court, the Eastern Palace, or the affairs of the Prince of Wei's residence.
As time went on, Wang Yi grew increasingly annoyed, but he couldn't show it. After all, Wang Shi had never said anything out of line, and was always impeccably polite, leaving no room for criticism.
She could only occasionally utter a few words of complaint when Wu Zetian came to Qixia Garden.
“The Princess Consort of Wei has been coming often lately, saying she wants to learn about beauty and skincare, but every time we talk, it always feels like…” Wang Yi carefully chose his words, “it always feels like she’s observing something, trying to find out something.”
Wu Meiniang was feeding Li Xiang baby food when she heard this and looked up: "I have also heard about it. The Princess Consort of Wei has also gone to the Eastern Palace a few times, saying that she was visiting the Crown Princess and Consort Xiao, but each time she stayed for a long time and asked all sorts of questions."
She paused, then said in a low voice, "My lord, I think the Princess Consort of Wei is not simple. She seems gentle and harmless, but in reality, she is very shrewd. His Highness Wei's decision to have the Princess Consort appear is a brilliant move, as it will not attract too much attention and will still achieve his goal."
Wang Yi nodded: "I think so too. But she is, after all, the Princess Consort of Wei, and I cannot turn her away."
Wu Zetian pondered for a moment: "Perhaps the real person can 'overcome weakness with gentleness'."
"How so?"
"Doesn't the Princess Consort of Wei like to ask for advice on health preservation, needlework, and childcare? Then the Master should have in-depth conversations with her on these topics, keeping the conversation firmly within these areas." Wu Meiniang's eyes gleamed with wisdom. "If she tries to steer the conversation to other topics, the Master should pretend not to understand and continue with the original topic. If she tries to test the waters, the Master should give irrelevant answers. Over time, she will realize that she can't get any useful information from the Master, and naturally she will come less often."
Wang Yi's eyes lit up. That's a good idea. Instead of passively responding, it's better to actively guide the conversation, keeping it within a predetermined scope.
"Moreover," Wu Meiniang added, "a real person can occasionally 'inadvertently' reveal some unimportant information, or even some filtered information that will not cause harm. This makes them appear honest and can also confuse the other party."
This tactic is even more ingenious. It blends reality and illusion, keeping the opponent guessing.
"You're right," Wang Yi said approvingly. "Let's do it your way."
From then on, Wang Yi adjusted his strategy for getting along with Wang Shi.
When Wang came again, Wang Yi no longer responded passively, but took the initiative to guide the conversation. When Wang mentioned orchids, Wang Yi discussed with her in depth the varieties, habits, and cultivation techniques of orchids, from soil ratios to watering frequency, from light requirements to pest and disease control, speaking in great detail, leaving Wang no room to interject.
When Wang mentioned health preservation, Wang Yi took out the "Essentials of Health Preservation" compiled by the Imperial Medical Bureau and explained it to her point by point, from dietary regulation to acupoint massage, from seasonal health preservation to daily routines, speaking eloquently and making Wang listen attentively.
When Lady Wang mentioned needlework, Wang Yi summoned palace maids from Qixia Garden who were skilled in embroidery. They demonstrated various needlework techniques, discussed embroidery styles from different regions, and compared the merits of different silk threads, immersing Lady Wang completely in the discussion of the craft.
After several visits, Wang did indeed "learn a lot" from Wang Yi, but it was all knowledge about health preservation, gardening, and needlework, which had nothing to do with the court, the Eastern Palace, or the Prince of Wei's residence.
What's even more interesting is that Wang Yi would occasionally "inadvertently" reveal some information. For example, when talking about health preservation, he would mention that "the Crown Princess has been having trouble sleeping lately, and the imperial physician has prescribed a calming remedy"; when talking about gardening, he would mention that "several peonies have been transplanted to the Eastern Palace and are in full bloom"; when talking about needlework, he would mention that "the Empress has recently taken a liking to Suzhou embroidery and has ordered the Imperial Wardrobe to prepare more of it."
This information is all true, but it is irrelevant and will not harm anyone, but it can give Wang the illusion that "Wang Yi is very honest with her".
Sure enough, Wang's visits gradually decreased. Initially, she came every three days, then every five days, and later only once every ten days or so. Moreover, when she did come, she no longer probed as much as before; instead, she genuinely sought advice on health and gardening.
Wang Yi breathed a sigh of relief and admired Wu Meiniang's wisdom even more.
However, she soon discovered that Wang's reduced visits did not mean that the Prince of Wei's residence had given up on gathering information. On the contrary, they changed their methods.
One day, a young physician from the Imperial Medical Bureau was reporting to Wang Yi on the progress of compiling the medical classics when he casually mentioned, "Master, I've heard that His Highness Prince Wei has recently become very interested in medical classics. He not only personally consults ancient books but also frequently discusses them with several senior physicians from the Imperial Medical Bureau. His Highness is truly learned."
Wang Yi's heart stirred, but his face remained calm: "His Highness Prince Wei is indeed eager to learn. Compiling medical classics is a meritorious undertaking, and it is a good thing that His Highness can participate."
"Yes," the physician nodded. "Moreover, His Highness not only studies himself, but also has Princess Wei study with him. Recently, the Princess has been frequently consulting with the female physicians in the department, saying that she wants to learn more about medicine so that she can better take care of everyone in the household in the future."
These words seemed like casual conversation, but Wang Yi discerned a hidden meaning—the Prince of Wei's residence had begun to gather information through the Imperial Medical Bureau.
She immediately became alert. The Imperial Medical Bureau was a place she had cultivated for many years; it absolutely could not become the eyes and ears of the Prince of Wei's residence.
“It’s a good thing that Princess Wei is eager to learn,” Wang Yi said calmly. “However, medicine is a vast and profound subject that cannot be mastered overnight. You must be careful when giving her guidance, lest she learn only a superficial understanding and think she knows everything, which could lead to mistakes.”
"Your Excellency understands," the physician replied respectfully.
After the physician left, Wang Yi immediately summoned several trusted confidants of the Imperial Medical Bureau and secretly instructed them: Be cautious in your dealings with the Prince of Wei's residence; do not reveal any information concerning the court, the Crown Prince, or even herself. They may impart medical knowledge, but only within the academic realm.
At the same time, she began to pay attention to the personnel in the Imperial Medical Bureau who had close ties with the Prince of Wei's residence, and made corresponding adjustments—transferring some key personnel and replacing them with more reliable candidates.
This was like a silent, covert war. The Prince of Wei's palace infiltrated through various channels, while Wang Yi defended himself using various methods.
In this covert struggle, Wang Yi increasingly realized the importance of intelligence. She needed a more comprehensive information network and more timely news channels.
She began to strengthen the information gathering capabilities of Qixia Garden. Through rewards, assistance, and personal connections, she planted informants in key positions throughout the palace—not spies, but ordinary people who could pass on messages.
The purchasing eunuchs in the Imperial Kitchen knew the dietary preferences and interactions of the various palaces; the embroiderers in the Imperial Wardrobe knew the movements and moods of the concubines; even the palace servants responsible for cleaning could overhear some gossip.
These pieces of information are scattered, but when pieced together, they form a relatively complete picture.
Wang Yi also established information channels within the Eastern Palace through Wu Meiniang. Wu Meiniang, now in charge of the Eastern Palace's internal affairs, had contact with all palace staff and officials, enabling her to keep abreast of the Eastern Palace's activities.
"Master, there's been something unusual about the Eastern Palace lately." One day, when Wu Meiniang came to Qixia Garden, she whispered to the Emperor, "Consort Zheng's elder brother has been in close contact with an official of the Prince of Wei's residence recently. Consort Lu's father also had a very pleasant conversation with the Prince of Wei at a poetry gathering."
Wang Yi's heart skipped a beat. The Prince of Wei's residence had begun to court the families of the concubines in the Eastern Palace.
"Does His Highness the Crown Prince know?" she asked.
"I have already subtly reminded him," Wu Meiniang said. "His Highness takes it very seriously and has already instructed the officials of the Eastern Palace to keep an eye on these developments."
“You did the right thing.” Wang Yi nodded. “The Eastern Palace must be united and cannot give outsiders an opportunity to take advantage of us.”
She paused for a moment, then continued, "You can remind Consort Zheng and Consort Lu to understand that the fate of the Crown Prince is intertwined with his; if the Crown Prince is unstable, they and their families will also be affected."
"I understand," Wu Meiniang said solemnly.
The information war is raging in the shadows, while on the surface, everything remains calm.
Li Chengqian continued to advance various practical matters, Li Tai continued to compile the "Kuodi Zhi" (Records of the Land), Lady Wang occasionally came to Qixia Garden to consult on health preservation, Empress Zhangsun's condition remained stable, and Li Shimin was pleased with the "harmony" between his two sons.
But Wang Yi knew that this calm was fragile, like a frozen river with turbulent undercurrents that could break at any moment.
She must be more vigilant and more thorough.
In the summer of the fourteenth year of the Zhenguan era, Chang'an experienced an unusually hot season. Cicadas chirped incessantly, the sun was scorching, and even the ice blocks in the palace could not dispel the heat.
In the midst of such sweltering heat, a piece of news plunged Wang Yi's heart into despair—Li Tai proposed to Li Shimin that he wanted to inspect his fiefdom and investigate the local conditions.
The reason given was quite plausible: "The compilation of the 'Kuodi Zhi' requires on-site investigations to understand the geography and local conditions of various places, so that the gazetteer can be more accurate and detailed."
Li Shimin praised, "Qingque is very thoughtful. Reading ten thousand books is not as good as traveling ten thousand miles; on-site investigation is indeed necessary. Approved. Which places would you like to go to?"
"Your subject wishes to go to Shandong, Henan, and the Jianghuai region." Li Tai had already made preparations. "These places are densely populated, rich in resources, and have diverse geographical features, making them most valuable for compiling local chronicles."
"Very well, I will have the Ministry of Works and the Ministry of Revenue send people to accompany you and assist you in your investigation." Li Shimin readily agreed.
When the news reached Wang Yi, she immediately realized the seriousness of the problem.
Li Tai's inspection tour of the region was ostensibly an academic investigation, but in reality, it was a political activity. He could use this opportunity to befriend local officials, cultivate local influence, understand local conditions, and perhaps even... build his own power base.
Shandong, Henan, and the Jianghuai region are all core areas of the Tang Dynasty, with large populations, developed economies, and immense influence. If Li Tai establishes connections and builds prestige in these areas, the threat he poses to the Crown Prince will greatly increase.
What's more troublesome is that this request is perfectly reasonable, and Li Shimin has already approved it, so she can't stop it.
She could only try her best to salvage the situation.
First, she suggested that Li Chengqian also request an inspection tour from Li Shimin: "Your Highness the Crown Prince is in charge of agricultural improvement and water conservancy projects, and you also need to conduct on-site inspections to understand the actual situation in various places."
Li Chengqian adopted this suggestion. However, Li Shimin did not approve it immediately, saying only that "the Crown Prince's responsibility to remain in the capital to oversee the country is heavy, and it is not appropriate for him to be away from the capital for an extended period of time."
This differential treatment displeased Li Chengqian and made Wang Yi even more worried.
Secondly, Wang Yi used his connections in the Ministry of Works and the Ministry of Revenue to arrange for several reliable people to accompany Li Tai on his inspection tour. These people were not there to spy on him, but to observe and report Li Tai's movements in a timely manner.
Finally, she reminded Wu Meiniang to have the Eastern Palace closely monitor the movements of local officials related to Li Tai's inspection route, especially those who had dealings with the Prince of Wei's residence.
After everything was arranged, Li Tai left Beijing in early July to begin a three-month inspection tour.
Wang Yi's heart sank as he left.
This fratricidal conflict has spread from the imperial court to the local level, growing in scope and influence.
She didn't know what changes Li Tai's inspection would bring, but she knew she had to be prepared for anything that might happen.
The cicadas outside the window continued their incessant chirping, and the summer heat remained oppressive. Wang Yi stood by the window of Qixia Garden, gazing south—the direction Li Tai was inspecting—and silently calculated in his mind.
Three months, ninety days. What will happen during those ninety days?
She didn't know. All she knew was that the game had entered a new phase, and she needed to be more clear-headed and more vigilant.
Taking a deep breath, Wang Yi returned to his desk. The desk was covered with reports from all over the country—reports on agricultural harvests, water conservancy projects, road construction, and maritime trade progress...
These are her foundations, the basis for her standing in this era. No matter how the political situation changes, she must do these things well.
Because only tangible political achievements and the genuine recognition of the people are the most solid backing.
As for Li Tai's inspection tour, and the brothers' rivalry... she could only deal with each move as it came and proceed cautiously.
Night had fallen, and Wang Yi blew out the candle. Tomorrow would be another new day.
But the challenges never stop.
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