Chapter 16

Li Chongjun's question was like a red-hot branding iron, directly searing Wang Xiu's heart.

Here it comes! The real test has come!

The Yaozhou matter, after all, is far away; even if spoken incorrectly, there is still room for maneuver.

But now the Crown Prince asks about Empress Wei, Wu Sansi, and Princess Anle! Each of these names represents the top power clique in today's court, entities capable of shaking the entire empire!

This question is a hundred times more dangerous than Li Xian's questioning last night!

If you speak too superficially, the Crown Prince will think you are incompetent and just brushing it off.

If you speak too deeply, once it spreads, it becomes slandering the Empress and interfering in the inner court, an unpardonable grave crime!

Wang Xiu felt that his mental strength was again rapidly depleting.

He controlled Wang Jin, remaining silent for a moment.

The entire Chongwen Hall was so quiet that only Li Chongjun's heavy breathing could be heard.

The Junior Tutor to the Crown Prince, Li Jiao, also nervously watched Wang Jin, his palms sweating. He had wanted to speak up to dissuade, to keep the Crown Prince from making things difficult for a newly arrived attendant, but the words rose to his throat and he swallowed them back. He also wanted to see just how much mettle this young man, extraordinarily promoted by the Emperor, possessed.

Wang Jin (Wang Xiu) slowly raised his head, his gaze locking onto the Crown Prince, his face showing not a trace of fear.

"Your Highness, I dare not presume to discuss state affairs. But since you have asked, I am willing to conduct a sand-table simulation for you."

"A sand-table simulation?" Li Chongjun raised an eyebrow, intrigued. Although he did not enjoy reading, he was quite fond of military strategy and battlefield formations.

"Exactly." Wang Jin bowed and said, "Please, Your Highness, allow me to borrow brush, ink, paper, and inkstone."

Li Chongjun waved his hand.

Immediately, a little yellow-door attendant spread a large sheet of fresh paper on an empty table in the hall and had the ink ready.

Wang Jin walked up to the table, picked up the brush, but did not draw or write.

First, at the very top of the paper, he wrote a large "Tang" character, symbolizing supreme imperial authority.

Then, around that "Tang" character, he drew four circles of varying sizes.

He pointed to the largest circle and said to Li Chongjun, "Your Highness, look: this circle represents the Wu faction headed by the external relative Wu Sansi, together with the court officials who rely on them. They are numerous and powerful, deeply entrenched, and currently the strongest force in the court."

Next, he pointed to a slightly smaller circle beside it, noting that this circle overlapped partially with the Wu Sansi circle.

"This circle represents the inner palace faction led by Empress Wei and Princess Anle. They reside in the inner court, enjoy the Emperor's greatest trust, and are in collusion with the Wu faction, thick as thieves."

Then came the third circle, drawn farthest from the Emperor and also the smallest.

"This circle represents the meritorious officials of the God Dragon Restoration, such as Zhang Jianzhi and Li Duozuo. They hold Military Power, have rendered distinguished service in planning, but their great power threatens the throne, and they are now being frenziedly suppressed by both the Wu and Wei factions, isolated and helpless."

Finally, Wang Jin's brush landed on the fourth circle. This circle's position is unique: it stands apart from the other three, yet it is not far from the "Tang" character representing imperial authority.

"Your Highness, this circle represents you, together with Prince Xiang, Princess Taiping, and other members of the Li clan."

Having finished this crude "distribution of court powers" diagram, Li Jiao's eyes were filled with astonishment.

The Great Way is simplest!

This Wang Jin actually used such a simple, direct method to lay bare the today's tangled, surging court situation with perfect clarity!

Li Chongjun also stared fixedly at the diagram, his eyes shifting. Although he was inside the situation, he had never before seen his own position so clearly as today.

He realized that, although he appeared noble as Crown Prince, he was actually surrounded on three sides, his situation the most awkward and dangerous of all!

"You… you continue." Li Chongjun's voice was a little hoarse.

Wang Jin (Wang Xiu) nodded, picked up the brush, and drew a heavy cross on the two large circles representing the Wu and Wei factions.

"Your Highness, these two forces are your natural enemies, with no room for compromise whatsoever. They see you as a thorn in the flesh, a splinter in the eye, eager to be rid of you. Your very existence blocks their path."

He then pointed to the small circle representing the meritorious officials.

"This force ought to be your natural ally. Unfortunately, they expose their sharpness too much, fail to restrain themselves, and are now like a mud Buddha crossing the river—unable to save themselves. Getting too close to them now would be tantamount to drawing fire upon oneself."

Finally, his gaze fell upon the circle representing the Crown Prince himself.

"Therefore, Your Highness, what you must do now is not to confront them head‑on; you lack the wherewithal."

"What should I do then? Just sit and watch them run rampant, waiting for them to depose me?" Li Chongjun jumped to his feet, agitated.

"No."

Wang Jin shook his head, his voice calm yet carrying an undeniable force.

"Your Highness, what you must do now consists of only two words."

He lifted the brush and wrote two strong, vigorous characters in the blank space of the diagram.

"Conceal clumsiness."

"Conceal clumsiness?" Li Chongjun stared, dumbfounded.

"Yes, conceal clumsiness." Wang Jin emphasized his tone, "Restrain your sharpness, hide your anger. The more they suppress you, the more you must appear obedient, filial, even… incompetent."

"What?!" Li Chongjun exploded in rage, "You want me to be a shrinking turtle, letting others bully me?"

"Please calm your anger, Your Highness!" Wang Jin met his gaze without humility or arrogance, "This is not cowardice, but wisdom! It is hiding one's light and nurturing obscurity."

"Your Highness, consider what Empress Wei and Wu Sansi fear most about you."

Li Chongjun startled.

Wang Jin asked and answered himself: "What they fear is not your position as Crown Prince. They fear a wise and valiant heir, deeply popular with the people, backed by the Li clan and the God Dragon officials—such a Crown Prince would keep them restless day and night."

"But what if the Crown Prince were merely a hot‑tempered, unlearned lout who spent his days only riding and shooting arrows, neglecting state affairs? Would they still fear you so much?"

"They would merely think you are no threat. In fact, they would be pleased to see you like this, for an incompetent Crown Prince serves their interests better and is easier for them to manipulate."

Thus, their wariness of you would naturally diminish greatly, and you would be safe.

Li Chongjun fell silent.

He could not help but admit that Wang Jin's words were like a sharp dagger, precisely striking the pain point he had long felt. The more he displayed strength, the more Empress Wei and her ilk suppressed him, creating a vicious cycle.

Wang Jin watched his expression, knowing his words had taken effect. He decided to add fuel to the fire.

"Your Highness, concealing clumsiness is merely the first step. It is for 'defense'."

"The second step is for 'offense'."

"Attack?" Li Chongjun's eyes lit up instantly.

"Right, attack." Wang Jin's mouth curled into an almost imperceptible curve, "But this 'attack' isn't to attack Empress Wei, to impeach Wu Sansi. It's to 'attack' another place."

He picked up the brush and heavily tapped the large "Tang" character at the top of the map.

"Here."

"Father Emperor?" Li Chongjun was puzzled.

"Exactly. Your Highness, you are the Crown Prince; your greatest backing isn't clan relatives or meritorious officials, but the Emperor!"

"As long as the Emperor still recognizes you as Crown Prince, no matter how Empress Wei and the others leap and scramble, your position will be as steady as Mount Tai!"

"Therefore, the only thing you must do now is to devise every possible way to win the Emperor's heart! To gain his complete trust and paternal affection!"

"He loves literature; accompany him in reading poetry. He loves calligraphy; practice it earnestly. He worries about state affairs; help relieve his concerns! You must make him feel that among all the sons of the world, you are the one who understands him best, is most filial, and most considerate!"

"When your weight in the Emperor's heart surpasses Empress Wei, surpasses Princess Anle, even surpasses Wu Sansi, then at that moment…"

Wang Jin's voice was full of bewitching allure.

"Your Highness, do you still need to contend with them?"

"All you need to do before the Emperor is to casually say, 'I, your son, have lately felt uneasy, fearing a mischief‑maker.' Guess what the Emperor will do?"

"Boom!"

Wang Jin's words, like thunder from the nine heavens, boomed in Li Chongjun's mind!

He stood there dumbfounded, mouth slightly open, eyes filled with unprecedented shock and enlightenment.

"Indeed!"

"Why should I fight those lackeys and women?"

"I am the Crown Prince! I am the Father Emperor's son!"

"All I need… all I need is to firmly grasp the Father Emperor's heart in my hand, and the whole world will sooner or later be mine!"

At that moment, Li Chongjun's gaze at Wang Jin changed completely.

No longer contemptuous, no longer scrutinizing.

But a… fervor and admiration as if he had beheld a priceless treasure!

"Wang Jin… you…" he stammered in excitement, "you… truly are the lone Zifang!"

"One of the early Han's three greats, Zhang Liang, Zhang Zifang!"

"What a lofty compliment!"

Beside them, Li Qiao, who had gone from initial shock to deep admiration, watched Wang Jin speak eloquently, as if he saw the young Di Renjie, and the shadows of Yao Chong and Song Jing.

"This youth has the talent of a prime minister!"

Wang Jin (Wang Xiu) slowly put away his brush, faced Li Chongjun, and bowed deeply once more.

"Your Highness, this is a Yang strategy, also an imperial mind technique. It is beyond my ability; it is the wisdom of the ancients."

"Please, Your Highness, think it over."