Chapter 10: This Is a Madman

"Hiss..."

Everyone present gasped, their expressions turning to shock as their gazes darted between Li Chengqian and Li Shimin.

Even Li Shiji, who had remained silent throughout, felt cold sweat break out on his forehead:

"This is stabbing the Emperor right in the heart! How can the Crown Prince be this insane?

He shouldn't be here today; he should be at home taking medicine for his illness!"

It wasn't just Li Shiji; even Zhangsun Wuji was struggling to keep his composure. He could never have imagined that Li Chengqian would dare to say such things.

Yet he had to admit, once these words were spoken, even if Li Shimin wanted to depose the Crown Prince, he could no longer use the charge of treason.

After a long silence, Li Chengqian spoke again:

"If you want to pin the charge of treason on me, then wait until I actually commit treason. Otherwise, I will not accept anyone's testimony.

Witnesses can be bought, and physical evidence can be forged. Don't even bother bringing out any handwritten letters.

I can have as many of those as I want. If you all want some, I can write letters right now detailing how you are all colluding to usurp the throne."

"Enough!"

Li Shimin closed his eyes and took three deep breaths, then opened them, his tone brooking no argument:

"Hegan Chengji and Helan Chushi have framed the Crown Prince; execute them by strangulation!

The Prince of Qi conducted military drills without notifying the imperial court, causing unrest among the people of Qizhou. Effective immediately, he is to be confined to Taiji Palace and may not leave without an imperial decree.

As for the rest, proceed as the Crown Prince said. The court is dismissed!"

Having said this, Li Shimin cast a complex look at Li Chengqian, then immediately stood up and left, giving no one a chance to speak again.

After Li Shimin left, Li Chengqian also slowly stood up:

"Gentlemen, if you want to be the fisherman, you must at least have your own net. Isn't it a bit shameless to use someone else's?

A word of advice to you all: my leg may be crippled, but my mind is not. If you want to step on me to climb higher, bring some real skill to the table."

With that, Li Chengqian walked toward the exit of the hall, speaking again as he passed Zhangsun Wuji:

"Uncle, find some time to teach Zhinu more!"

Zhangsun Wuji did not reply, staring at Li Chengqian's back with a gloomy expression. He knew that since he hadn't managed to depose Li Chengqian today, it would be even harder in the future.

What was terrifying was that Li Tai also knew he was standing on Li Zhi's side; this meant the Shandong Aristocratic Families would inevitably move against them.

This was no longer just a struggle between Li Chengqian and Li Tai; it was a struggle between three legitimate sons, and the situation had instantly become murky and unpredictable.

Most importantly, he could no longer fathom Li Shimin's thoughts.

Meanwhile, Li Tai returned to the Literature Pavilion still feeling lingering fear, pulling Fang Yi'ai aside to recount what had happened during the court session:

"Do you think my eldest brother has gone mad? How could he dare to say such things?"

"Prince of Wei, I think you should stop seeing the Crown Prince in the future. He is a madman; there's no telling what he might do."

"What is there to fear? Can he kill me?"

"But he will beat you, and after he beats you, you'll have to thank him for helping you. Isn't that terrifying?"

Li Tai rubbed his forehead and nodded involuntarily:

"I do have to thank him, otherwise I would have been played by that old man Zhangsun Wuji.

That Chu Suiliang has always wanted to depose my eldest brother, but he isn't one of our people.

And that Li Shiji—if not for Su Guzhang's reminder, I would have forgotten he was the Chief Clerk of the Bingzhou Governor's Office.

It's just that I'm not sure if Zhinu knows about these things. Zhinu is so weak; if he really takes the throne, won't this Great Tang be surnamed Zhangsun in the future?"

"Minister Zhangsun is not easy to deal with. Should we strike at Chu Suiliang first?"

"How? His father, Chu Liang, is one of the Eighteen Scholars; Father won't punish him easily."

"Just have him transferred away from Chang'an!"

"That works! I'll find someone to arrange it properly."

Both men tacitly avoided mentioning Li Chengqian; having escaped even the grave charge of treason, they didn't know how to deal with him for the time being.

At the same time, Yin Fei and Li You were embracing and weeping:

"Mother, I almost never saw you again, boohoo!"

Yin Fei patted Li You's back hard, her tone filled with both relief and frustration at his lack of progress:

"How could you be so foolish? Your uncle is an idiot; how could you listen to him?

If the Yin Family hadn't still had some troops in Liangzhou this time, would your life have been spared?"

"Ah?"

Li You stopped crying abruptly: "Wasn't my eldest brother saving me to save himself?"

"Silly child, why would the Crown Prince save you for no reason?"

"One of my subordinates was implicated with Hegan Chengji, and Hegan Chengji revealed my eldest brother's treason. Wasn't that the reason?"

"Yesterday, a garrison soldier told me exactly that on the road and told me to cooperate with my eldest brother."

"Tell me in detail what happened at the court session."

Li You did not hesitate and recounted the events as detailed as possible:

"Mother, what do you think Father is thinking? He believed such a reason; is he senile and muddled?"

Yin Fei retorted: "You are the one who is muddled. What else could your father do but believe it? Could he really let the Great Tang throne become a Xuanwu Gate Succession System?"

If it were just you committing treason, it would be easy to handle; no one would think in that direction.

But if both an Imperial Prince and the Crown Prince commit treason, what do you think the world would think? What would future generations think?

The Emperor has always regretted the incident at Xuanwu Gate. Now that the Crown Prince has brought up the old matter, he had to spare your life to prevent such a tragedy from happening again.

You will stay in Taiji Palace and keep me company from now on. After your eldest brother ascends the throne, he will surely choose a new fief for you."

"That is all I can do. It is already a stroke of luck to have saved my life this time; I will never dare to act recklessly again!"

Yin Fei sighed softly: "The Yin Family is already tied to the Crown Prince. In the future, consult with the Crown Prince more on whatever you want to do, and do not easily trust others again."

"Yes! Will Father be disgusted if Big Brother brings up the Xuanwu Gate Succession System?"

"He will not. He is the son of Empress Zhangsun and also the Emperor's eldest legitimate son. Just look at his name and you will know how great the expectations Gaozu Huangdi and the Emperor have for him."

"Chengqian? What does it mean?"

"It means to inherit the imperial enterprise and oversee the universe!"

If it were any other emperor and Li Chengqian held any other status, he would not dare to speak of such a thing as the Xuanwu Gate Succession System.

Or rather, looking throughout history, only Li Chengqian and Zhu Biao could say such things in front of their own fathers.

He is the son of Zhangsun Huanghou, and Li Shimin himself is broad-minded enough; in his later years, he even regretted the Xuanwu Gate incident, which is why he dared to use these words to secure his position as Crown Prince.

'I thought wrong. If it were Zhu Biao, there would be no need to say this at all. If Zhu Yuanzhang heard that Zhu Biao was plotting a rebellion, he would probably be eager to tie himself up!'

Thinking of Zhu Biao, Li Chengqian could not help but sigh:

"If I had transmigrated as Zhu Biao, how happy would that be?"

He took a scroll of books from his left sleeve, and the large "Dao" character on it faintly made one's eyes sting.

After spreading out the "Dao" book, Li Chengqian sat cross-legged:

'Back then, Erfeng used the public opinion influence of both Buddha and Dao to quell the chaos after the Xuanwu Gate incident; these two must be utilized well.

The current textbook for scholars is the Five Classics Correct Meaning annotated by Kong Yingda; for Confucianism, I can let Qingque take the lead for me first.

Public opinion must be seized, and Erfeng's governing philosophy that the ruler is the boat and the people are the water must not change, otherwise, for the sake of the Great Tang, Erfeng will surely depose me.'

Thinking of this, Li Chengqian picked up the brush on the desk and drew a circle around the passage: "Therefore, the Sage manages affairs through non-action and carries out the teaching that uses no words."

Having not read the "Laozi" for long, his eldest son Li Xiang walked in:

"Greetings, Father!"

Li Chengqian looked up at this convenient son; the fourteen-year-old youth was already one meter seven, and standing together, anyone would think they were brothers.

"What is it?"