Chapter 80: The Price of Reform

(Brothers, please give lots of support; I'll see if I have time and post another chapter tonight. Today's work was quite busy, it's the first time I've been speechless at myself!)

East Palace, Lìzhèng Hall.

Crown Prince Li Chun sat behind the writing desk, silently reading a scroll.

He was just over twenty, handsome in appearance, yet his brows carried a melancholy that belied his age.

As the crown prince, his situation was actually very awkward.

His father, the present Emperor Shunzong, though gravely ill, still firmly held the reins of state power and placed all his trust in Wang Shuwen and his Reform Faction.

And he himself was, intentionally or not, excluded from the core of power.

He could feel that Wang Shuwen's people did not trust him, even showing a hint of wariness.

Because he was the only hope for the eunuchs and old officials stirred by the reforms.

At that moment, an attendant of the East Palace hurried in.

"Your Highness, the Wang Minister of War of the Ministry of War seeks an audience outside."

Wang You?

A flash of surprise flickered in Li Chun's eyes.

He naturally knew Wang You. The Head of the Wang Family, now one of the prime ministers of the Royal Secretariat, is also the true architect behind this new reform.

However, this man has always been low‑key, never befriending any prince, and he had also heard rumors about the Wang Family's ancestral precepts.

Why would he suddenly come to see him today?

"Invite him in," Li Chun suppressed his doubt and said calmly.

Soon, Wang You entered under the attendant's guidance.

"I, Wang You, salute the Crown Prince," Wang You bowed and performed the salute.

"Wang Prime Minister, no need for ceremony, please sit," Li Chun gestured to the seat beside him.

The two sat opposite each other, momentarily speechless.

Finally, it was Wang You (Wang Xiu) who spoke first.

"Your Highness, how have you been lately?" he asked, even though he had kept Wang You alive for many years, he still felt a hint of awkwardness now.

"I appreciate the Prime Minister's concern; I am fine in all respects," Li Chun's answer was airtight, after all he did not know the reason the prime minister had come.

Wang You (Wang Xiu) smiled; he knew that an emperor, even a future one like this, is a deep‑thinking type who cannot be beaten around the bush.

"Your Highness," he looked straight into Li Chun's eyes and said slowly, "Your Majesty's dragon body is unwell, a sign that will not last long. Wang Shuwen and his followers act decisively; though they have the heart to restore the realm, they lack tolerance for others and have already offended the entire court's nobles and eunuchs. If this continues, great upheaval may arise."

Li Chun's pupils contracted; he never imagined that Wang You, originally an ally of several, would, upon speaking, directly backstab his comrades, criticize the sovereign, and utter such treasonous words.

Those words were equivalent to saying, your father is near death, his men are also untrustworthy, and this world will eventually be yours.

"Wang Prime Minister, watch your words!" Li Chun's complexion darkened.

"Your Highness, I have come today to speak from the heart, with no outsiders," Wang You's expression did not change a bit, "I am the Head of the Wang Family. For three generations, the Wang Family has been loyal to the Li Tang realm, not to any particular Your Majesty or faction."

"The current new policies appear spectacular, yet are riddled with danger. Wang Shuwen and his group only know to charge head‑on; even with ministerial support, they will not endure, for they have offended too many. Once Your Majesty's dragon carriage reaches the guest, they will collapse instantly."

"When that time comes, those long‑suppressed eunuchs and regional warlords will inevitably strike back furiously. The court will be in turmoil, and the world may become even more chaotic than before the reforms!"

Wang You (Wang Xiu)'s words completely unsettled Li Chun's heart.

Because what Wang You said was precisely what Li Chun feared most: a crown prince who is also an outsider, and he had long foreseen this.

Although he disliked Wang Shuwen and his group, he also knew that what they did was beneficial to the Tang Dynasty.

He also did not wish that the reform results, bought with his father's and Wang Shuwen's lives, would ultimately be wasted or even provoke a more dreadful backlash.

"Oh? Then I wonder what the Prime Minister thinks," he kept his emotions hidden, a necessary lesson for a ruler, for he could not let others see his true thoughts.

But he could not hide that from Wang You (Wang Xiu), the seasoned veteran of court turbulence; he knew the moment had arrived.

"Your Highness, what you must do now is not to fight." Wang You nodded, "Wait."

"Wait?"

"Yes, wait." Wang You nodded, "Wait for Your Majesty's dragon carriage to reach the guest, wait for Wang Shuwen and his followers to be abandoned by all. Your Highness, you are the rightful heir; this world will sooner or later be yours. What you must do now is to amass strength and gather people's hearts."

"I have come today to tell Your Highness that the Wang Family is willing to become your strength."

Wang You (Wang Xiu) looked at Li Chun and said word for word, "My younger brother Wang Ce commands the Imperial Guards and can keep the Capital absolutely secure. I also have some influence at court and can connect Your Highness with those pragmatic, diligent old officials who have been sidelined by Wang Shuwen. The wealth of the Jiangnan region can provide some funds for Your Highness's future great undertaking."

"I have only one condition."

"Wang Prime Minister, please speak." Li Chun's breathing had already become somewhat rapid.

"I hope that after Your Highness ascends the throne, the new policies can be continued," Wang You's voice was exceedingly sincere, "but not by Wang Shuwen's radical methods. Rather, by a gentler, more stable approach."

"Dismiss the men, retain the policies."

"Dismiss all those radical reformers to appease the old officials' hearts. Yet the beneficial policies they have implemented—such as curbing eunuch wealth and controlling regional warlord economies—must be preserved, and even further refined and strengthened."

"In this way, the court can be stabilized while the reform achievements are preserved. This is the true path to revitalization."

This is the final path that Wang Xiu found for this reform.

He knows that Wang Shuwen and his group are destined for tragedy.

He cannot save them.

But what he wishes to save is the tiny spark of reform they exchanged for their lives.

He intends to hand this spark personally to the next emperor.

Li Chun was stunned after hearing Wang You's words.

He looked at the old minister before him, disbelief unmistakably evident in his eyes.

He had always thought Wang You was merely a participant among Wang Shuwen's people, a man serving their political power.

Now he finally understood how wildly mistaken he had been.

This man is the true leader of the reform; his vision and scope have long surpassed Wang Shuwen and everyone else.

He is not taking sides; he has chosen the future most beneficial to the Tang Dynasty and to the Wang Family.

"Wang Prime Minister's talent — We have only just seen it today." Li Chun stood up, faced Wang You, and performed a deep bow, saying, "Please accept my obeisance. Your words are like sweet dew poured over the head, clearing my blocked mind."

"Your Highness, you flatter me." Wang You hastily rose to support him.

"No." Li Chun shook his head, his eyes extremely firm, "From today onward, sir, you shall be my teacher; I will follow your arrangements in all matters."

Wang Xiu breathed a sigh of relief; no matter how Emperor Shunzong's reform ultimately turns out, Xianzong will still provide a safety net.

However, he was happy too soon.

He underestimated the madness of the Conservative Faction, and overestimated Emperor Shunzong's health.

Just a few days after he and Crown Prince Li Chun reached their agreement.

A shocking piece of news came from the palace.

Emperor Shunzong suffered another stroke, falling completely into a coma.

And at the same time, the eunuch Ju Wenzhen, who commanded the Divine Strategy Army, allied with a group of conservative officials in the court and several regional military governors whose interests were harmed by the new policies, suddenly launched an attack!

They used the pretext that "the emperor is gravely ill and cannot govern" to forcefully enter the palace, compelling Crown Prince Li Chun to immediately assume regency!

This, is a disguised coup!

Wang Shuwen, Liu Zongyuan, and other Reform Faction officials were caught off guard by this sudden turn of events.

They had no military power, and could only watch helplessly as the eunuchs escorted the crown prince onto the throne of power.

The entire city of Chang'an was on edge, startled at every sound.

A bloody counterattack was about to begin.

(ps: Readers, what on earth have you done? Without urging updates and comments, how can I fight against Tomato's broken mechanism? The author stamps his feet and glares at you, only to see all readers smile faintly: "It's simple, we help you become a golden tomato, isn't that right?" After saying that, I saw the readers' aura finally no longer concealed, revealing itself—either handsome and imposing, or multi-talented, or everything going smoothly, saying work is smooth, or final exams without failing... In an instant, the whole Tomato fell silent.)