Chapter 265: Chaos

Within the imperial hunting park in the northern outskirts of Chang'an, the grass was dotted with starlike specks—beautiful fireflies dancing one after another.

In the dim night, beneath the bright moonlight, the green glow flickering in the grass was intoxicating.

The Tang Emperor, Li Longji, was leaning against the railing of a two-story-high pavilion in the park's temporary palace, watching the fireflies in the grass not far below.

As well as the palace maids chasing and catching fireflies.

"Haha, I caught one! I caught it! Ow!"

The cheerful shout stopped abruptly. The palace maid who had just cried out collapsed in a pool of blood. Beside her stood another palace maid holding a stone, panting heavily on the spot.

When she had smashed the stone into the back of the other's head just now, she had used every ounce of her strength. Now, with the adrenaline fading, her whole body went limp, and she could barely stand.

This palace maid dropped the stone to the ground, leaned down, and took the "lantern" from the fallen maid's hand.

A "lantern" made of sheer gauze, filled with green-glowing fireflies!

"I can finally leave this cursed place."

She sighed softly, placed her hand over the eyes of the dead palace maid whose eyes refused to close. When she withdrew her hand, those eyes that had been wide open were now shut.

"Don't blame me."

This palace maid murmured to herself, and was just rising to leave when she suddenly felt an unbearable pain in her back—a dagger had been thrust through her abdomen.

She looked down at the blade tip, turned her head with difficulty, and saw that in the glow of the fireflies, blood was streaming down the forehead of the palace maid who had fallen earlier. That person looked like a ghost!

"You..."

She uttered a single word in disbelief, feeling at this moment as though her life was draining away at terrifying speed.

"No one is going to take my fireflies away from me! I want to be a Noble Consort!

I! Want! To! Be! A! Noble! Consort!"

The palace maid who had climbed up from the ground roared viciously, gnashing her teeth with every word, looking as though she had crawled up from the depths of hell.

She used every last bit of strength, her left hand grabbing the other's hair, her right hand stabbing repeatedly. Blood splattered across the pristine white palace dress she wore, looking like pigment on a painting's draft.

One stab was not nearly enough. She stabbed over a dozen times in one breath, only stopping when she was too exhausted to move.

The mantis stalking the cicada, caught off guard for a moment, was counter-killed by the cicada playing dead—truly a lamentable turn of events.

The one who struck second snatched back the lantern containing the fireflies and stumbled forward. Her vision grew increasingly blurry, and the wound on the back of her head kept bleeding. At last, this palace maid, brimming with ambition, could hold on no longer and collapsed to the ground.

That counter-attack had also been her dying struggle.

The sheer gauze at the opening of the lantern was pierced by the gravel on the ground. The fireflies inside escaped their cage and flew into the grass, vanishing in an instant.

This scene unfolded right before Brother Ji's eyes. From his vantage point above, he watched the entire thrilling spectacle with keen interest, a satisfied smile appearing on his face.

Many people hold very low status and live bitter lives, yet their explosive power should never be underestimated. In their brief lives, they often blaze with dazzling brilliance at some particular moment.

"Lishi, 'people die for wealth and birds die for food'—who first said that?"

Brother Ji rested his arm on Gao Lishi's shoulder and asked with a soft sigh.

"Your Holiness, such a profound question—this slave does not know either."

Gao Lishi answered cautiously.

This Tang Emperor before his eyes was becoming increasingly inscrutable.

Tonight's firefly-catching by the palace maids in the imperial park was in fact an event organized on Brother Ji's orders. It was not compulsory; in principle, participation was voluntary.

The ten palace maids who caught the most fireflies would be permitted to attend the Emperor's bedchamber.

Of course, if they did not wish to attend the bedchamber, they could instead choose to go home—this was their due. The event lasted ten days. Before dawn each day, the fireflies they had caught had to be handed over to the eunuch in charge of organizing the event.

In total, several thousand palace maids had signed up to participate. These women either wanted to go home or wanted to attend the Emperor's bedchamber, each carrying her own purpose.

And Brother Ji, as the audience, patrolled here and there, enjoying the sight of palace maids employing every conceivable scheme to compete for fireflies.

"When will Prince of Di Li Yan's men make their move? By the timing, it should be soon, shouldn't it?"

Brother Ji asked casually, his aged face bearing a look of deep mockery.

He found it very amusing. Three days before Prince of Di Li Yan's planned strike—in other words, three days ago—several informants within the Prince of Di's residence had already delivered the news to Gao Lishi.

Fang Youde leading the Divine Strategy Army to Hu County at the foot of Mount Hua for military training was merely casting a line. In truth, he had trained an elite, highly efficient "rapid response force" within the Divine Strategy Army, composed entirely of cavalry, capable of returning to defend Chang'an in the shortest possible time.

To be precise, it was to capture the rebels.

Brother Ji naturally knew all this as well. In fact, the strategy of "luring the snake out of its hole" was devised by this very Tang Emperor.

This was the beauty of having the princes relocate out of Chang'an without leaving the capital region. If the princes were still in Chang'an, when these people struck, the Emperor might not be able to handle it every time.

After all, Chang'an was vast, but the palace was relatively small.

"Your Holiness, many reports say they will strike tonight in the imperial park.

Quanzhong has already led a battalion of the Divine Strategy Army, quietly returning from Mount Hua to the vicinity of Chang'an, and is lying in ambush tonight in the outskirts of Yunyang County.

The moment Li Yan's assassins strike in the imperial park, the Divine Strategy Army will surge into Yunyang County and flatten the Prince of Di's residence.

Not a single person will escape."

Gao Lishi's tone was very calm, but the killing intent in his words was fully on display, without the slightest concealment.

Li Yan thought he was playing cards with Brother Ji, but from the referee to the gambling implements to the rules of the game, everything was set by Brother Ji—and the cards were transparent only one way.

Li Yan did not have any chance.

Just then, a young eunuch named Yu Chao'en walked up to Brother Ji, bowed with hands clasped, and said: "Your Holiness, a group of unidentified brigands has forced their way in through the south gate of the imperial park. The Gold Crow Guard are currently fighting them. The situation is under control."

"Reel in the net. I didn't expect this wicked son to be so inept at fighting."

Brother Ji waved his hand wearily, speaking with waning interest.

Prince of Di Li Yan was extremely foolish. This assassination, from its planning to the final reeling in of the net, was entirely under Brother Ji's control.

Perhaps only Li Yan alone felt brimming with confidence. Battling such a foolish opponent gave Brother Ji no excitement at all; his heart was utterly unruffled, even somewhat inclined to laugh.

On the contrary, only an action planned and executed by a single person—like last time with Prince of Shou Li Chang—had any chance of success.

It had made Brother Ji break out in a cold sweat. No—Li Chang had nearly succeeded last time.

"Send someone to notify General Fang. He can reel in the net."

Gao Lishi glanced at Yu Chao'en and spoke softly.

Yu Chao'en said nothing, bowed, and left.

"Sage, how should the ten palace women who won the firefly-catching contest this time be arranged?

Could it be that the Sage truly wishes them to share his bed?"

Gao Lishi asked cautiously. This was actually pointless talk, because the "rules of the game" had been stated in advance.

"The slaughter in the grass just now — could it be that General Gao did not see it?

When a woman turns ruthless, she is truly no less fierce than any man."

Brother Ji asked with a smile, only the smile on his face was somewhat cold, and his tone was far from friendly.

Just now, Palace Woman A caught a firefly, but was ambushed by Palace Woman B, who struck her on the back of the head. Palace Woman B snatched the other's firefly, but as she turned around, Palace Woman A — who had been playing dead — suddenly lunged and stabbed her over a dozen times.

Both died together in the grass, and the firefly flew away — a true case of mutual destruction.

And Brother Ji and Gao Lishi did not even know their names!

A woman who could survive such brutal slaughter and obtain a firefly — how monstrous and deeply scheming must she be?

For an aging emperor in physical decline, what use was keeping such a woman? To keep her at his side to cause trouble?

Gao Lishi recalled how in his youth, Brother Ji had lived in trepidation under Wu Meiniang's oppression, and he understood what the other was truly thinking now.

Women who scheme too cleverly should all die in Brother Ji's eyes! Even the air they exhale is foul!

"Please rest assured, Sage. This servant will arrange everything."

Gao Lishi said with hands clasped in salute.

"Mm, We are going to retire for the night. You may handle the rest as you see fit."

Brother Ji turned and walked toward the bedchamber of the temporary palace, his mood very calm.

Tonight, for certain people, would surely be a sleepless night.

Tonight, for certain people, would also surely be a precious night.

Because they would not see the sun rise the next day.

……

That spring, a "major event" that was not quite major occurred in Chang'an.

A group of unknown assassins entered the imperial park in the northern outskirts of Chang'an, attempting to assassinate the Son of Heaven. The result was that these people were completely wiped out by the Jinwu Guard, who had been lying in ambush. A living witness deliberately spared among the assassins confessed and named the mastermind behind the plot.

It was none other than the Prince of Di, Li Yan.

Divine Strategy Army Grand General Fang Youde, with speed too fast to cover one's ears, stormed into Yunyang County where the Prince of Di's residence was located, and arrested Li Yan's entire family — not a single person escaped.

The day after the incident, the Son of Heaven's verdict came down:

Li Yan's princess consort, Lady Wei, was ordered to become a nun.

The Prince of Di, Li Yan, was confined in a pigpen on a certain imperial estate, and three days later took his own life. He was buried with the rites of a commoner, and the Court of Imperial Sacrifices removed his name from the imperial genealogy.

Li Yan's concubines were ordered to be buried with him, though later Brother Ji showed mercy beyond the law, allowing those of outstanding beauty to be sent to the Music Bureau, while the rest were buried alive.

Li Yan's children were stripped of status and reduced to commoners, and not long after died under inexplicable circumstances, while all the servants in the Prince of Di's residence were executed for treason.

Not even a living dog was left behind.

The storm came fast and left fast, and thus came to an end. The Prince of Di Li Yan's rebellion case arrived very abruptly and concluded with unusual haste.

From the assassination attempt to the dust settling, it was but three days' time.

Though the time was short, many of the details within were highly worthy of scrutiny.

For instance, the Divine Strategy Army led by Fang Youde had originally been drilling in Hua County at the foot of Mount Hua, hundreds of li from Yunyang County.

Yet they arrived at Yunyang County the very night of the incident, capturing everyone in the Prince of Di's residence in one sweep. This marching speed was undeniably too fast.

Or again, in this entire affair, only the childless Princess Consort Wei emerged unscathed by becoming a nun, while everyone else met with great misfortune.

Such peculiar matters were all highly thought-provoking.

Yet everyone in and out of court, from the ordinary county lieutenants of Chang'an to Right Chancellor Li Linfu, kept their mouths tightly shut about it.

Everyone simply acted as though the prince Li Yan, the Prince of Di, had never existed at all.

……

The death of the Prince of Di, Li Yan, though it caused no ripples in or out of court and generated little discussion, set off a tremendous uproar within the circle of imperial princes!

The Prince of Yong's residence, in the study of the Prince of Yong, Li Lin.

This prince was pacing anxiously around the desk, while his personal eunuch Gao Shang stood calmly to the side without speaking, hands clasped at his lower abdomen.

"It's coming, it's coming, it's coming! Li Chang's curse is coming!

Damn it!

Everyone will die, everyone will die!

What should I do! What should I do!"

Li Lin spoke words that Gao Shang pretended not to understand, his entire being consumed by extreme agitation — an ant on a hot pan would have been calmer than him.

"Your Highness, please calm yourself. The consequences of this matter are not as severe as Your Highness imagines."

Gao Shang clasped his hands in salute to Li Lin and said.

"How can you expect me to stay calm! Ah! Ah!"

Li Lin grabbed Gao Shang by the collar, the veins on his forehead bulging.

Then he let go weakly, his whole person like an eggplant struck by frost.

"That day, Li Chang said many things. He said Li Yan was making voodoo dolls of the Sage at home, and even mentioned something about iron nails a foot long.

Heh, I thought he was joking."

Li Lin gave a self-mocking laugh, recalling the scene from back then. At that time, Li Chang's words had seemed like pure fantasy; now he only felt a chill down his back.

Was Li Yan truly cursing Brother Ji?

The Prince of Yong, Li Lin, did not know; in fact, he had never believed it before.

But judging from the assassination attempt on the Son of Heaven that had just occurred, this matter was very likely true—at the very least, Li Yan had a guilty conscience.

Or to put it another way, matters of this kind all fell under "subjective judgment."

What the truth of the matter actually was, in fact, was not important.

The key lay in what the Son of Heaven himself thought. As long as he deemed someone guilty, that person would inevitably be punished—nothing more to it.

Witnesses and evidence were entirely unnecessary.

It was obvious that the words Li Chang had spoken that time, Brother Ji had taken completely to heart. And he had been quietly making preparations without showing any sign of it.

This time it was Li Yan; next time, would it be himself?

Li Lin did not know, but he was very afraid.

"Rest assured, Your Highness. Whether it is you, the Crown Prince, or the Prince of Ying, you are all now bound together in life and death.

As long as Your Highness does not make any mistakes, then this game can continue to be played. What Your Highness needs to do now is to quietly wait for the right moment.

Stillness is better than action."

Gao Shang persuaded without batting an eye.

"Sigh, it seems that is the only way."

Li Lin let out a long sigh and sank weakly to his knees before the desk.

In his heart, Gao Shang cursed Li Lin as mud that would not stick to a wall, yet he still plastered on a smile and offered comforting words:

"It is now time for Your Highness to send people to find fault with the Crown Prince.

Those old cold cases from Chang'an County—you can find some victims and have them kick up a fuss at the Jingzhao Prefecture yamen."

Gao Shang bowed to Li Lin, a glint of shrewdness flashing in his eyes.

"Will this kind of foolish rabble-rousing by this palace really be of any use?"

Li Lin frowned slightly and asked back with a displeased expression.

Gao Shang was so angry he wanted to take a club and smash this idiot's skull in. He suppressed the fury in his heart, squeezed out a smile, and persuaded in a gentle tone:

"Your Highness, the Sage is not worried right now about you causing a ruckus. On the contrary, he is very worried that Your Highness is too wise and capable.

There is no need to hide this from anyone. Your Highness should simply go ahead and do it openly and loudly. Once the Sage's edict rebuking Your Highness comes down, then you can stop."

"Mm, what you say does make some sense."

The Prince of Yong, Li Lin, nodded thoughtfully and said.

"Once Your Highness has drawn the Sage's attention, you can then plan the next step of action."

Gao Shang said, suppressing the excitement in his heart.

"The next step?"

A look of confusion appeared on Li Lin's face, then as if he had remembered something, he laughed loudly to cover his embarrassment: "Right, right, right, An Lushan, An Lushan!"

"If we can win over Fang Chongyong, Your Highness's odds of success will be even greater."

Gao Shang said quietly.

"Don't even think about that one."

Li Lin waved his hand helplessly and said. Fang Youde was the fastest blade in Brother Ji's hands—how could his son possibly be won over by a prince!

"Your Highness, your servant must now return to Chang'an to speak ill of Your Highness before the Sage."

Gao Shang bowed deeply to Li Lin and continued:

"The way to lull the Sage into complacency is not for your servant to do nothing, but rather to portray Your Highness before the Sage as someone without learning or ability, lacking in ambition, dissatisfied with the Sage yet not daring to show it.

If these words reach Your Highness's ears, then when you ought to lose your temper, you must lose your temper; when you ought to get rough with your servant, you must get rough."

"This palace understands, I understand!"

Li Lin walked over and helped the prostrate, bowing Gao Shang to his feet, saying: "In the future, when this palace ascends the throne, whatever you want, this palace will give you. Even if you want to be Right Minister, this palace will not be stingy!"

Li Lin's earnest manner of treating the worthy with courtesy nearly made Gao Shang throw up.

He endured his inner discomfort, wiped the tears from the corners of his eyes, and said with profound gratitude: "Serving the Prince of Yong—how could there be any talk of hardship? Please rest assured, Your Highness. Your servant will set out for Chang'an now."

"Mm, go ahead."

Looking at the tear-streaked Gao Shang, Li Lin nodded with emotion.

Having palace maids catch fireflies to attend the emperor in bed was a piece of intangible heritage that Brother Ji had left for later emperors in history. This of mine could be considered a tribute to a classic.

(End of this chapter)