Chapter 347: Noble House Night Banquet (Part 2)

Brother Ji's offspring, the eldest, is named Li Cong, titled Prince Qing; because when he was young he was wounded on the face by some kind of "monkey" while hunting, disfiguring him, he withdrew early from the Crown Prince contest.

Perhaps it was a blessing in disguise; Li Cong has lived to the present. Although everyone knows he cannot ascend the throne, he at least preserved his life.

Other surviving adult princes include: the sixth son, Prince Rong Li Wan; the twelfth son, Prince Yi Li Sui; the thirteenth son, Prince Ying Li Jiao (originally named Li Yun); the sixteenth son, Prince Yong Li Lin; the eighteenth son, the current Crown Prince Li Chang (formerly Prince Shou); the twentieth son, Prince Yan Li Bin; the twenty‑first son, Prince Sheng Li Qi; the twenty‑second son, Prince Ji Li Huan; the twenty‑third son, Prince Xin Li Huang, and so on.

All are over twenty years old, and even Li Cong is in his forties.

Aside from Li Chang, in theory there are at least seven or eight princes who could become emperor; if the still‑living teenagers are counted, the number definitely exceeds ten, and the competition remains quite fierce.

Don't say it's impossible; when it comes to succession, everything is possible!

Just after noon, in the stables outside Huaxing Palace, one magnificent high‑headed horse after another was led in. The eunuchs stationed at Huaxing Palace tended to the horses as if serving their father, daring not a single moment of negligence.

The princes' attendants all waited by the small river at the foot of the mountain, forbidden to ascend into Huaxing Palace proper. A long row of houses had been built at the mountain's base for these attendants to reside; they could live there for a year without problem!

Several thousand Shen Ce soldiers were divided into ten battalions, stationed throughout the vast Huaxing Palace, both inside and out, with tight security.

The Son of Heaven issued a strict edict: only the princes themselves may enter Huaxing Palace; no court officials were invited.

Outside the palace gate at the mountain's foot, Prince Yong Li Lin, full of thoughts, happened to see Prince Ying Li Jiao arriving at Huaxing Palace almost at the same time. The two met, exchanged a wordless glance.

Among Brother Ji's many sons, Li Lin was somewhat fearful of Li Jiao, because the latter was a very scheming little coin!

Back when Brother Ji killed three sons in one day, Li Jiao "reported" to Brother Ji, providing a crucial piece of evidence.

It was the Crown Prince Li Ying, who asked him for two thousand sets of armor, but Li Jiao did not lend them and instead reported Li Ying.

By the way, at that time Prince Ying was still called Li Yun.

Looking back now, the matter is riddled with doubts. Since even the Crown Prince did not control many armors, how could a single prince, Li Yun, produce two thousand sets of armor?

When Prince Shou Li Chang suddenly rebelled, he gave a very logical answer: Brother Ji had ordered Li Yun to do it and promised to later make him Crown Prince.

But later Brother Ji apparently forgot that promise, and… there was no after.

Li Jiao suffered a silent loss, a belly full of grievances with no one to tell.

I wonder if Li Jiao still believes now that the Crown Prince seat should be his.

Li Lin thought over the matter, then stepped forward to greet Li Jiao, exchanging a few casual words.

After the meaningless pleasantries, while the attendants were farther away, Li Lin lowered his voice and asked, "Elder Prince, have you lately heard any strange rumors, like the Sage falling ill? Should we ask later, to fulfill our filial duty?"

Li Lin pretended to be a fool and asked so bluntly.

"Recently I have indeed heard some rumors about the Sage falling ill, but I believe they are baseless. When we see the Sage later, we will know at a glance."

Li Jiao remained expressionless and turned Li Lin's words back on him.

He seemed to have said something, yet also seemed to have said nothing. Even if outsiders heard, they could not make sense of it.

The horse riders truly left no gaps!

Li Lin cursed Li Jiao in his heart, yet also knew that this man already knew certain things, and did not hide them from a fellow prince.

Li Lin muttered that it was ominous, and hurriedly steadied his mind.

Li Chang, that bitch, indeed gave every prince who went to mourn the Crown Princess a note, lest anyone be unaware.

"By the way, elder prince, I just was at the gate and didn't see the Crown Prince's carriage. We didn't arrive early; the Crown Prince hasn't come yet—are we being rude?"

Having almost reached the front hall of Huaxing Palace, Li Lin suddenly shouted, making the surrounding attendants hear.

Li Jiao had not yet answered; the guide ahead, Yu Chaoen, replied: "The Crown Princess died violently, the Crown Prince is in mourning, it is inconvenient for him to wear mourning clothes to attend the Sage's banquet, so the Sage, understanding him, did not invite him."

I think the Sage saw Li Chang and wanted to kill him, right? Not letting him come is turning a blind eye!

Li Lin internally scoffed, but his face showed a "sudden realization" as he said with some pain, "So that's it! I misjudged the Crown Prince! Sigh, I must go to the Eastern Palace to apologize someday!"

Li Lin displayed a sense of "brotherly respect", and whether others believe it or not, he doesn't care; after all, he performed it.

"We were already late, the Sage must be impatient; let's go faster."

Li Jiao, with a calm expression, urged a sentence, revealing nothing of his thoughts.

Li Lin felt the "green tea" level gap between him and Li Jiao, and fell silent. The two arrived at the front hall of Huaxing Palace and saw the banquet venue already set.

Aside from the two of them, the other ten‑plus princes had already taken their seats.

Li Lin and Li Jiao immediately sat at the desk bearing their names, kneeling and keeping their gaze steady.

All adult princes present wore solemn, unsmiling faces. Some underage princes looked around anxiously, yet dared not move freely.

At that moment, a Pear Garden dancer appeared in the central hall, and Gong Sun Da Niang also arrived, directing from the side. Pear Garden musicians also entered, bringing all kinds of instruments.

This year's birthday banquet was naturally not as grand as before, but still far livelier than a common noble family's.

Soon, under Lei Haiqing's baton, the musicians began playing "Nishang Yuyi Qu". The dancers streamed into the main hall and, to the music, began to flutter gracefully.

Everything was Brother Ji's usual habit.

But there was one major difference: Brother Ji himself never showed up!

"Nishang Yuyi Qu" consists of thirty‑six movements, divided into Prelude (six), Middle (eighteen) and Finale (twelve), integrating song, dance, and instrumental performance.

Moreover, this piece can be repeated throughout the banquet.

The princes listened to the music and watched the dancers. They waited and waited, for two whole hours, and Brother Ji never appeared!

The cold dishes were cleared and replaced with fresh ones, but the hot dishes never arrived. Every prince held his breath, awaiting Brother Ji's appearance.

At that moment, Gao Lishi entered through the front hall's main gate, shouted to the crowd, "The Sage is occupied with state affairs and has no time for the birthday banquet. Princes, feel free. The banquet begins; serve the dishes. Do not stop the music!"

Having said that, he left without looking back, not lingering a moment.

The princes present exchanged puzzled looks; they had been invited by the Sage's summons, yet the Sage never appeared—what does that mean?

Under imperial authority, there is no father‑son; a father's birthday banquet where the father himself does not appear violates human morality.

But when the emperor's birthday banquet lacks the emperor himself, it is the whim of imperial power. The emperor simply does not come—what can you do?

More crucially, the princes lost the chance to observe up close whether Brother Ji was ill, a huge loss!

Li Lin looked around and saw everyone still composed; he alone felt uneasy, wanting to "visit the sick", so he had to suppress his anxiety and not become a trailblazer.

At each table, the dishes were colorful and fragrant, yet no one lifted their chopsticks. In the hall, the dancers' seductive poses went unappreciated. The ethereal and beautiful "Nishang Yuyi Qu" only made hearts restless, yet the musicians could not be driven away.

When night fell, this indescribable "birthday banquet" finally ended. The princes were ordered to return immediately to their respective stations, forbidden to linger around Huaxing Palace.

A silent "farce" drew its curtain, leaving countless imaginations for many people.

……

Inside the Nine Dragon Soup of Huaqing Palace, Ji Ge was lazily soaking in the hot spring, while Gao Lishi clutched a slip of paper—the same kind as Li Lan's.

It bore the same sixteen characters: "The Sage hides his illness, no medicine can cure; time is short, you may take care of yourself."

"That wretched beast, what boldness!"

Ji Ge opened his eyes in the pool and, in a murderous tone, said a nonsensical sentence.

"Your Sage, I estimate that every prince now has one. It remains to see whether they admit it; shall I send someone to ask?"

Gao Lishi asked cautiously.

"Enough. Li Chang is betting that I dare not kill him. I must admit, he bet correctly."

Ji Ge let out a cold snort, then his tone turned somewhat helpless.

Killing Li Chang is like crushing a flea—there are countless reasons, just as in those days when three princes were slain in a single day.

But now Li Chang cannot die. If he dies, the content of that slip would be confirmed.

This time Ji Ge feels like a mouse trapped by a cat, extremely stifled!

Li Chang now repeats a single tactic: as long as I lie flat, you cannot harvest my chives. As long as I don't seek victory, I remain unbeaten.

Li Chang never cultivates his own power, so among the many princes he is the weakest.

Conversely, Ji Ge must wholeheartedly support Li Chang, otherwise he would fall too easily. If Li Chang falls, the balance of the court would be shattered!

Li Chang, seeing through this, launched a scathing remark at Ji Ge.

"Sage, killing Li Chang is impossible, but sending people to beat him up shouldn't be hard, right?

I will now lead a troop to thrash Li Chang, to vent your anger, Sage."

Gao Lishi suggested softly. Hearing this, Ji Ge could neither laugh nor cry.

He waved his hand and said, "Such a thing, if done, only adds idle chatter—what's the point! Sigh! Thanks to that wretched beast, the matter has become troublesome now."

Ji Ge couldn't help but shake his head and sigh; he felt his strange illness must have already sparked speculation among the princes.

That is also the main reason he deliberately skipped the longevity banquet today.

Ji Ge and Li Chang engaged in a remote duel, neither appearing at the banquet, yet profoundly influencing the scene.

Originally, Ji Ge barred the Crown Prince from the banquet to hint to the princes: I am deeply displeased with the Crown Prince; you all have a chance.

He prepared many words to stir ambition among the princes.

But this move was disrupted by the sudden slip, making Ji Ge dare not attend the banquet at all.

He truly feared anyone catching a clue.

For an emperor, the greatest deterrent is the "unknown."

When punishment is unknowable, authority cannot be measured.

He must not let those "big boys" know his condition; even if they suspect, they cannot confirm it. Reaching this point is sufficient.

As for everything else, Ji Ge has already settled for second best and dares not contemplate it.

"Li Chang, this disaster cannot be left untouched."

Ji Ge suddenly thought of a good plan.

"How about this: in a few days issue an edict from the Eastern Palace, proclaiming the Crown Prince as benevolent and filial, a model for the princes. Send him to Mount Hua to pray for me.

My native mountain is Mount Hua; having him pray there should be effective."

Ji Ge suddenly smiled and said.

Having the Crown Prince Li Chang in Chang'an, this scoundrel is never honest. The stinky bug doesn't bite people, only makes them nauseous. Ji Ge decided to assign Li Chang a "good place."

"Sage, what about the other princes? They've all received Li Chang's slip!"

Gao Lishi asked in confusion.

I must say, Li Chang's move truly disgusted Ji Ge, yet

and yet Ji Ge still cannot depose the Crown Prince,

if so, Ji Ge's incurable ailment would be fully proven.

I dare not imagine the consequences!

"I plan to lure the snake out of its hole soon, stage a play, and they will become obedient."

Ji Ge snorted coldly.

"Sage, you mean…pretend to be gravely ill and be unable to conduct affairs?"

Gao Lishi was a bit puzzled, then suddenly recalled that incident from years ago and was instantly enlightened.

During the Kaiyuan era, Ji Ge was wealthy and powerful but suddenly fell gravely ill. At that time many nobles were stirring, even the Prince Consort

Exiling the exiled, beheading the beheaded, eradicating danger while it was still in its nascent stage.

Soon after, Ji Ge recovered "miraculously" and simultaneously dealt with those schemers.

Exile after exile, execution after execution, the danger

was eliminated in its budding stage.

Now, shall we reenact that story again?

"Yes, exactly copying the move of luring the snake out of its hole back then."

But now, Ji Ge is already in his sixties! If word gets out that he's seriously ill, the outsiders will truly think he has passed away.

Regarding Ji Ge's rotten

idea, Gao Lishi could not bring himself to agree.

Back then Ji Ge was wealthy and powerful, so after restoring order

it was easy to stabilize the situation.

Gao Lishi isn't particularly clever; if even Gao Lishi says it's impossible, then it truly is impossible!

"Fine, I will do as you say. The other princes can be delayed; Li Chang must be sent to Mount Hua to pray for me!"

Ji Ge clenched his fist viciously and said.

He said "never mind" outwardly, but inside he kept pondering that a "catch‑and‑release" move is needed for insurance. Otherwise those big‑brained guys would surely try to cause trouble, so a bloody crushing defeat must be used to intimidate them.

"Gao Lishi, step back; I want to be alone for a while."

Ji Ge, looking exhausted, waved his hand and said.

(End of chapter)