Chapter 183: Mysterious and Perplexing

Shengye Ward contains many Buddhist temples—the Zonghua Temple and Jingzhu Temple built in the Sui dynasty, and the Shengye Temple and Ganlu Ni Temple built in the Tang dynasty, among others—all gathered here. For security work, the primary task is "reconnaissance"—that is, surveying the actual terrain, preparing retreat plans, and acting as a "lifeline" at a crucial moment.

With only three days left before Prince Shou's wedding banquet, Fang Chongyong and Zhang Guangsheng took advantage of the guard‑change interval to go to Shengye Ward and observe the terrain.

Chang'an's one hundred and eight wards vary in size.

There are "small wards," each of the four walls of the ward having one gate. These wards are mainly concentrated in the area directly south of the Imperial City.

There are "large wards," where the longer side of the four walls has two gates and the shorter side has only one gate. These wards are mainly concentrated on the two sides south of the Imperial City.

On the east and west sides of the Imperial City lie several "grand wards," whose area is almost twice that of a small ward, with the same number of gates as a large ward. According to the usual layout, these grand wards must contain large mansions of imperial relatives.

Shengye Ward is one of those grand wards, and its location is especially strategic, adjacent to Xingqing Palace.

Within this ward there are not only many temples but also the residence of Ji Ge's brother, Prince Xue Li Ye's family—the Prince Xue residence—situated in the northwest corner!

The mansion of Emperor Li Xian's family is located in the southeast corner of Shengye Ward.

"The situation here can be quite complicated."

Fang Chongyong muttered to himself.

"General Fang, what should we do?"

Zhang Guangsheng, standing beside him, asked in confusion.

The core of Shengye Ward is Shengye Temple, with other Buddhist temples scattered throughout. Ganlu Ni Temple lies near the northwest corner of the ward, adjacent to the Prince Xue residence. Ordinary civilian houses are scarce in the ward; it is either large mansions or Buddhist temples, with many pilgrims coming and going.

The function here is somewhat like a scenic area and high‑end residential district (princely mansion) of Chang'an City.

On the day of the wedding, the monks in the temples can of course be arranged to go outside the ward to "collect alms," and return after curfew. By then the banquet will already have ended.

But for Prince Xue's family and the emperor's family, how should they be arranged?

If they are required to stay indoors, it seems to affect the relationship between the saint and the imperial clan, making it appear that the saint distrusts them.

If nothing is done, it leaves a huge hidden risk!

These princely families each have many household guards. There may not be many pieces of armor, but there are plenty of bows, crossbows, knives, and swords.

Within Chang'an City there is an Arsenal Office, which stores weapons sent from provinces across the realm, with inventory measured in tens of thousands!

There are dedicated staff: a chief officer, two deputies, as well as supervisors and clerks.

It can be said that if the Arsenal Office's stock were freely supplied, providing every person in Chang'an City with a weapon would be no problem at all. Not to mention that each year a large number of "aged" weapons are decommissioned and disappear.

Who knows how many weapons are hidden in the princely families' armories! Even if these households are wealthy and have many guards, what does it matter?

Because Ji Ge gets along very well with his brothers, they are a model of "brotherly friendship and filial respect." Therefore, toward Prince Qi, Prince Xue, and other princes, he is very indulgent. As long as they do not plot rebellion, Ji Ge does not interfere with whatever they do.

Even rebellion is dealt with on a "case‑by‑case" basis.

For example, in the 13th year of Kaiyuan, Ji Ge fell gravely ill, even reaching a point where he might have died at any moment.

At that time, Prince Xue Li Ye's brother‑in‑law, Inner Direct Officer Wei Bin, conspired privately with the palace monitor Huangfu Xun. In plain terms, they plotted to install a prince on the throne, planning to act after Ji Ge's death.

After the plot was exposed, Ji Ge ordered Wei Bin to be beaten to death and demoted Huangfu Xun to the prefect of Jinzhou. Prince Xue's wife, Lady Wei, was terrified, and Li Ye himself dared not enter the palace to see Ji Ge. However, once Ji Ge recovered, he pardoned Li Ye's family and restored their favor.

Having let such a major incident pass lightly, it is no wonder that Prince Xue's and Prince Qi's residences might harbor all sorts of monsters…

Ji Ge ignores these petty matters, but Fang Chongyong cannot afford not to consider them.

"By the way, Prince Xue's wife, Lady Wei… is her brother Wei Jian?"

Fang Chongyong suddenly recalled this thread and asked in doubt.

Zhang Guangsheng, also a keen learner, had soon after arriving in Chang'an roughly sorted out the imperial family's intermarriage relations. He nodded slightly and said:

"Indeed, Wei Jian is Prince Xue's brother‑in‑law. The Crown Princess of Prince Zhong who died of illness a while ago was Prince Xue Li Ye's sister‑in‑law. Prince Xue died in the 22nd year of Kaiyuan; the new Prince Xue is the third son, Li Quan, whose mother is Lady Wei."

Prince Xue, Lady Wei, Wei Jian, Prince Zhong… a clear line gradually linked them. Fang Chongyong knows exactly how Prince Zhong Li Heng stands. So what is Prince Xue's attitude, and what is Lady Wei's attitude?

Fang Chongyong squinted, looking at the Prince Xue residence whose courtyard walls are taller than the ward walls, with three‑story pavilions inside; a person with decent eyesight standing atop could see the entire Shengye Ward clearly.

Li Heng indeed has no army, and even the officials that should be in a princely mansion are merely nominal.

But if Ji Ge were to "unfortunately" die in a rebellion, and Prince Xue stepped forward to support, combined with Lady Wei's influence.

Does Li Heng actually have any way to secure succession to the throne?

It should be noted that Wei Jian is also related to Li Linfu! At a critical moment, might the Tang Right Prime Minister also have a bias?

The more he thought, the more his back chilled, and cold sweat dripped from Fang Chongyong's forehead. Seeing his appearance, Zhang Guangsheng came over, lowered his voice and asked, "General, does it feel off here?"

"No, it's not that it's off."

Fang Chongyong waved his hand and said, "This place is not just off—it's a disaster waiting to cause the mountains to collapse and the earth to split!"

He could already envision how Li Heng's mental script would play out.

Prince Shou first kills Ji Ge, then someone goes to Ganlu Ni Temple to "rally the court." With Ji Ge dead, the Dragon Martial Army loses its commander and can only watch. Ultimately, Li Heng, witnessed by the Xue royal line, is elevated to become the new Tang Emperor.

Then the other princes present are controlled, a false imperial edict is issued, the Southern Yamen garrison units are ordered to return from outside the city to their stations, and trusted agents are sent one by one to pacify and win over the commanders of each army, culminating in seizing Daming Palace!

It must be said, once the first step is accomplished, the rest falls into place. With Li Heng's connections, he indeed has a great chance of completing the whole scheme.

Why is the chance of success so high?

Because the regicide is Prince Shou, and it occurs in full view of all the princes.

So Li Heng also clears any suspicion and ascends the throne in a straightforward manner, with no doubt.

Conversely, if Prince Shou does not assassinate the emperor, or the assassination fails, then… there's no game left; the nature of the court‑rallying would become rebellion.

Whether Ji Ge will actually die at Prince Shou's hands is a key variable in this struggle!

"In a few days, a great chaos may break out here."

"If you care for your hometown, perhaps you should resign now and leave Chang'an."

Fang Chongyong patted Zhang Guangsheng's arm and said.

He immediately recognized it as a "retreat to advance" tactic; Zhang Guangsheng quickly crossed his hands in a salute and said, "General, rest assured, there is no obstacle we cannot overcome! A true man never retreats when the battle begins!"

"Good! Then just follow my orders when the time comes."

Fang Chongyong gave a slight nod and said no more. He already knew that An Tiaoke's death by a carriage was orchestrated, undoubtedly by Li Heng.

And the reason Li Heng does not strike at Fang's office is that his own status is still too sensitive, far beyond what a Western frontier merchant could compare to. If he were to die, Ji Ge's side would inevitably investigate to the end, which would be detrimental to the affairs of Prince Zhong's mansion.

Li Heng is like a concealed venomous snake; he will surely find the best chance to strike, a killing blow! Letting Prince Shou kill Ji Ge is a once-in-a-thousand-years opportunity! Fang Chongyong believes that with Li Heng's scheming means, he will absolutely not let this chance slip.

However, once Li Heng takes the throne, what will eventually happen is something anyone can guess even with their toes.

Fang Chongyong's best possible outcome is likely that his whole family ends up dead afterward, framed with a randomly inserted charge of conspiring in regicide.

And the worst outcome is that he will be killed on the spot in the chaotic army a few days later, identified as an accomplice of Prince Shou.

Sorry, but I have to stop you. Although Wei Sanniang is pitiful, you are pitiful too, but I cannot drag myself into this because of your personal grudge.

Fang Chongyong let out a light sigh, muttering to himself, feeling an indescribable oppression.

Actually, he really wanted to see Prince Shou thrash Ji Ge, but Ji Ge simply cannot die now. If Ji Ge were to die now, Prince Zhong Li Heng would inherit the throne, and he would definitely end up with no place to bury himself.

But it's all right; since he knows Prince Shou's plan, the problem isn't big.

……

Three days passed in a flash; early that morning, Fang Chongyong led his detachment of Dragon Martial Army troops to stand guard before a certain Buddhist hall at Sweet Dew Nun Temple, his gaze like a torch scanning every prince who entered, searching them with utmost thoroughness.

In Fang Chongyong's eyes, these people were all thieves, all troublemakers—'bad people' coming to cause him trouble.

What shocked him was that, while it would have been fine if these princes weren't searched, once searched, Fang Chongyong actually found something problematic on them.

Prince Di Li Yan carried a finely crafted small knife, its sheath inlaid with gemstones. According to him, it was a wedding gift for Prince Shou Li Chang.

Prince Zhen Li Wan also brought a delicate hand crossbow, though it had no bolts. He also said it was a wedding gift for Prince Shou Li Chang, for hunting. Since it lacked bolts, it posed no danger.

Prince Yi Li Sui brought a palm-leaf fan that seemed fine, but the fan was actually forged of fine iron, heavy in the hand. The fan bore a painting of court ladies by a renowned Chang'an artist; using it to smash someone would be no problem.

Fang Chongyong couldn't be bothered with pleasantries toward these princes; he simply confiscated all these items before allowing them to enter.

When it came to Prince Zhong Li Heng's turn to be searched, he simply lifted his sleeves in a relaxed, generous manner, indicating that Fang Chongyong could search him as he pleased.

In his steady gaze lurked a hint of provocative arrogance, now visible, now concealed.

Zhang Guangsheng, take Prince Zhong aside to search him; the search must be thorough, but don't be negligent.

Fang Chongyong lightly waved his hand; knowing how the 'script' would unfold, he naturally wasn't worried about Li Heng playing any tricks here.

Those earlier 'gift-bearers' all knew something would happen, so they brought an item for self-defense. This shows they had no backup plans and little ambition.

But Li Heng needs no self-defense; he has made full preparations! His plot is the greatest and also the most dangerous!

Just then, Prince Shou Li Chang, wearing a bright red brocade robe, approached. Today his face bore a calm, confident smile, with none of the tension and awkwardness he'd had before making a big move.

"General Fang, please feel free to search me. Although today is my wedding, rules must be observed. No matter how you wish to investigate, I will fully cooperate."

Li Chang spoke to Fang Chongyong in a relaxed, generous manner.

His demeanor made him seem like a completely different person from before!

"Then I'll have to offend you; it's my duty."

Fang Chongyong gave a slight nod; at this moment, he could not give Prince Shou any opportunity.

Fang Chongyong wasn't looking for anything; he simply reached for Prince Shou Li Chang's waist. Here he would find a treasure sword from the Western Regions! He didn't know its name, but it was a remarkably unusual waist-worn soft sword.

It had once been used to assassinate a Persian noble; it certainly had some pedigree!

When the sword is coiled, it slips into the waist belt, which serves as its scabbard.

When needed, a latch on the belt is pressed; the soft sword springs out, and the user can draw on the force from taut to slack to execute a "Drawing Sword Slash"!

Prince Shou had been "hanging out" with those Western Region barbarians in the Great Qin Temple, but that was merely a cover. His real purpose, under Antioch's guidance, was to master the essence of the soft sword's Drawing Sword Slash. Antioch had already told Fang Chongyong about this.

Prince Shou would use this Drawing Sword Slash to kill the defenseless Ji Ge in a single blow! Today's wedding feast is his day of revenge!

Too bad that after the secret leaked, Prince Shou couldn't bring anything inside.

Such is life's helplessness. Wanting to kill the traitor is useless; one also needs the power to turn the tide.

Suddenly, Fang Chongyong's hand grasped a soft silk waistband!

He suppressed his inner shock, repeatedly checking Prince Shou's pockets, only to discover in disappointment: Prince Shou had nothing on him that counted as contraband. In fact, compared with the earlier princes, he was even more "above board"—not even a jade pendant.

This damn thing is truly ghostly! You're not going to chicken out when the moment arrives, are you?

Fang Chongyong stared at Prince Shou Li Chang, his face full of bewilderment, almost opening his mouth to ask where that waist-worn soft sword had gone.

"General Fang, do you still need to search? I can swear an oath that I brought nothing prohibited inside today."

Prince Shou Li Chang asked with a smile.

"Indeed so."

Fang Chongyong let out a light sigh, saying. He had even checked Prince Shou's socks; the other side had no swords, daggers, sachets, poisons, or anything strange at all.

Could it be that he intends to go up bare-handed and beat Ji Ge to death?

Fang Chongyong retreated embarrassedly, clasped his hands in a salute, then let Prince Shou Li Chang enter the Buddhist hall. Inside, the wedding feast's food and drink had already been laid out, cross-checked for poison by specialists; each dish and each jug of wine had been tasted by at least two people.

The princes entered one after another; finally, Ji Ge, under the protection of Chen Xuanli and Gao Lishi, also arrived outside the Buddhist hall.

Ji Ge was in high spirits; he had already heard about today's tight security and the contraband found on the princes.

Now he found Fang Chongyong increasingly pleasing to the eye.

"Shall I search Your Majesty's person?"

Li Longji looked at Fang Chongyong and asked calmly.

"How dare I, how dare I; please, Your Majesty, go inside."

Fang Chongyong bowed with clasped fists, offering his apology.

"Not bad."

Ji Ge gave a slight nod, about to enter the Buddhist hall, but Fang Chongyong stopped him.

"Your Majesty, later there will be no guards; you should still bring a knife for self-defense."

Fang Chongyong handed over the dagger hidden in his sleeve, scabbard and all, to Li Longji.

"Insolent!"

Seeing this dagger, Ji Ge felt as if he had suffered a great insult, and he lashed out at Fang Chongyong with a torrent of abuse:

"In a moment it will be Your Majesty's family banquet; the attendees are all Your Majesty's own sons! No outsiders are present."

In such a situation, I still need to carry a knife on my person for self-defense; if the courtiers found out, how would they regard me, the Son of Heaven?

"Huh?"

Ji Ge stared at Fang Chongyong with a hostile gaze, feigning displeasure, and for a moment the atmosphere in front of the Buddhist hall became extremely tense!

"Um, I, the lowly officer, have been rude; please forgive me, Sage, please forgive me."

Fang Chongyong said with an embarrassed face.

Gao Lishi walked over smiling, patted his shoulder, and said softly, "Flattery isn't done like that; just keep watch outside."

Hearing that, Ji Ge then turned his anger to joy and said to Fang Chongyong, "You are indeed conscientious in your duties, but you still need to gain more experience. Keep good watch outside; without my order, no one is allowed to enter!"

"Yes."

Fang Chongyong clasped his fists in salute, saw Ji Ge enter the Buddhist hall, and afterward the hall's doors were shut, so no one could see what was happening inside.

"It's coming; what will happen in the end?"

Fang Chongyong muttered to himself.

"Why is your team missing a person today?"

Gao Lishi asked nonchalantly.

"Reporting to General Gao, he has been suffering from diarrhea all day and has taken leave to seek medical treatment."

Fang Chongyong replied cautiously.

"Hmm."

Gao Lishi nodded noncommittally.

He asked this question not for any other reason, but because many in the Dragon Martial Army have taken leave for various reasons today.

Isn't that a bit too coincidental?

(End of chapter)