Chapter 61

"Something's not right! Something's not right!"

Zhangsun Wuji shook his head repeatedly: "The Six Rate Guards only obey the Emperor's orders, even if the military officers are replaced, it is the same.

It is that the Crown Prince wants to do something he doesn't want the Emperor to know about, which is why he purged the Eastern Palace.

You were right about one thing: His Highness the Crown Prince completely distrusts the Emperor."

"We must find out what exactly happened!"

"I'll go ask the Crown Prince?"

Li Shiji retorted: "How would you ask? In the current situation, do you still dare to go to the Eastern Palace? Would the Crown Prince tell you?

The Crown Prince is no mediocrity; if he were to see you at this time, would you dare believe what he says?

The current situation is confusing and obscure; I am certain that the Literature Pavilion is just like us, not daring to move at all. Perhaps even the book compilation will have to be temporarily halted."

Just as Li Shiji said, Li Tai, Su Xu, and the others indeed did not dare to compile the book lightly.

"Prince of Wei, do you know what the Crown Prince and the Emperor talked about? Why would the Eastern Palace have such a big movement?"

Li Tai looked bewildered: "What else could they talk about? It was just the book compilation. Big Brother wanted me to compile the book, Father wouldn't let me, and the two of them just started arguing like that.

As for why Big Brother suddenly wanted me to compile the book, I already explained that yesterday."

"The problem is, when did the Crown Prince become so kind-hearted? He must have his own purpose.

Consort Su, say something! You haven't said a word since just now; what exactly are you thinking?"

Facing Xiao Yu's questioning, Su Xu slowly raised his head:

"The top nine of the Qian hexagram: The dragon soaring too high will have cause to repent! The top six of the Kun hexagram: Dragons fighting in the wild, their blood is black and yellow!

Is there a possibility that the greater the reputation, the more disadvantageous it is for the Prince of Wei?

Just like Chu Suiliang, who had to leave Chang'an under the weight of his great reputation."

"How is that possible!"

Xiao Yu denied it without even thinking: "In the whole world, only scholars would stand on the Prince of Wei's side because of the book compilation, and how many scholars are there?

Most scholars are from aristocratic families or humble backgrounds, and as for the commoners..."

Before he finished speaking, Xiao Yu suddenly raised his head, his face turning pale:

"You mean to say, 'The Wang and Ma families share the world'? His Highness the Crown Prince's goal is to have the Prince of Wei gain the support of the major aristocratic clans during the book compilation, especially the support of the Five Surnames and Seven Clans.

With them supporting the Prince of Wei, no matter how much the Emperor values him, he will not let the Prince of Wei ascend the throne. The Emperor fears a repeat of the Xie and Wang families.

Impossible! Impossible! His Highness the Crown Prince couldn't have thought of such a scheme."

"Do you remember what the Emperor said yesterday? He asked the Prince of Wei if he had thought about the consequences of compiling the book.

For such a simple matter, the Emperor had no need to remind him, yet he reminded him anyway."

"I knew it! I knew it!"

Li Tai's face was full of grievance: "This insidious villain has always claimed to 'rule by virtue,' how could I have forgotten?

I softened my heart when I saw him shed tears, forgetting that this is a shameless villain.

He lets me gain a reputation, but makes me lose the throne. With this reputation, I can protect my life, and Father won't have to worry about brothers killing each other.

How could he do this? It makes me unable to even hate him. What a hateful, shameless villain!"

After Li Tai said this, Su Xu felt a wave of remorse in his heart and couldn't help but slap himself:

"Slap! I am truly a pig! The Emperor sent us an opportunity and we couldn't even catch it.

No wonder the Crown Prince mentioned Xuanwu Gate again and the Eastern Palace was purged; it turns out the Crown Prince's plan was ruined by the Emperor, leaving him with no hope of ascending the throne.

Now this hot potato cannot be pushed away, and if not done well, it will inevitably be criticized, or even utilized by the Crown Prince and Zhangsun Wuji."

Xiao Yu also had an ugly expression: "What do we do now? Delay the time for compiling the book?"

"We can't delay it!"

Su Xu's eyes narrowed: "If the Crown Prince didn't know the Emperor had already made up his mind, we could delay it, and the Crown Prince might even take the initiative to delay it.

Now, delaying it will only give the Crown Prince a handle to impeach the Prince of Wei for unfilial behavior, and at that point, even the Emperor would have to abandon the Prince of Wei."

After speaking, a cold light flashed in Su Xu's eyes: "Your Highness the Prince of Wei, do you still remember the Imperial Examination System?"

"Yes!"

"Use the Imperial Examination System to screen for great talents for the book compilation. This way, you can not only screen for true great talents but also let the whole world know how dedicated you are to the compilation, and let the Emperor know that you will succeed his philosophy in governing the country."

Li Tai stood up abruptly: "No! Uncle Su, Special Advance Xiao, you are also from aristocratic families; are you not afraid that your own descendants will decline?"

"Haha..."

Xiao Yu laughed out loud: "Your Highness the Prince of Wei is overthinking. The Three Rites are still tested in the Imperial Examination; this is a hurdle that commoners and the masses cannot cross.

Every dynasty and generation needs the help of aristocratic families to establish rites; this is one of the reasons why aristocratic families have always been passed down.

Your Highness, rest assured, the Imperial Examination System will only make the aristocratic families feel a sense of crisis; it will not make them directly hostile to Your Highness.

Besides, with the Lanling Xiao Clan and the Wugong Su Clan here, it is even less likely that they will all stand on the opposite side of Your Highness.

If they truly become Your Highness's enemies, the Emperor's determination to make you the Crown Prince will only grow stronger."

Su Xu also chimed in at the right time: "Just change the name. Most of the scholars who can participate now are from aristocratic families, with only a small portion being sons of humble families, and as for commoners, there are very few.

And this is only for this one time, not a precedent, so Your Highness need not worry too much."

Su Xu and the others thought this was the truth of the matter, but then an imperial decree from Li Shimin left Li Tai and the others bewildered once again.

"Your Highness the Prince of Wei, Your Highness the Prince of Wei!"

Suddenly, an anxious voice sounded outside the door, and Gu Yin ran in hurriedly:

"The Emperor has issued a decree: the Prince of Jin is to be the Deputy Grand Commander of the army and will join the main force in the eastern expedition next spring."

"Bang!"

Li Tai stood up abruptly and roared: "How is that possible! What does Father want to do? Is having Li Shiji with Zhinu not enough?

No! I must enter the palace and talk to Father."

"Your Highness!"

Su Xu shouted: "The situation is not yet clear; you must not act rashly.

The Emperor wants to push you to the top, but it also requires planning; it's not something that can be done just by saying a word to make you the Crown Prince.

Don't forget Zhangsun Wuji; he will not easily let you ascend to the position of Crown Prince."

Li Tai sat down slowly: "No wonder Big Brother said I was naive; it turns out the position of Crown Prince is truly not something Father can decide at will.

Uncle Su, does Big Brother still have a chance?"

"Didn't His Highness the Crown Prince already tell you? It's just that you didn't believe him."

Li Tai looked grave: "I can't figure it out; with no one supporting him, how can he ascend the throne?

And Father has already taken action against him; I really can't think of any other path he has to take."

"Let's stop and see for now. At this time, the Crown Prince is more anxious than we are; let's see what he does."

Li Chengqian did nothing. Upon learning that Li Zhi would also go on the eastern expedition, he knew that his original plan had already been guessed by Li Shimin.

Originally, he wanted to make Li Zhi a soul figure for resisting the North. In this way, as long as the Emperor wasn't a fool, he wouldn't easily take action against Li Zhi, and Li Shimin could also be at ease.

To become a soul figure in the army, one must think for the soldiers, and cutting military spending is absolutely not feasible.

In this way, Li Zhi could only speak for the military, which would make Li Shimin think that Li Zhi would also govern the country through military force, and Li Zhi would lose the possibility of ascending to the top.

But now, this plan has been guessed and stolen by Li Shimin, and his hope of ascending the throne has become slim.

He cannot continue to remain silent; he needs to find someone to cooperate with, and these people are not in Chang'an.

However, before that, he must first delay for time.

'I never thought I would have to use Cheng Chuliang, but now I have no choice!'

Thinking of this, Li Chengqian picked up a pen, quickly wrote a few sentences on paper, and then handed it to Wang Qi:

"Have Yuwen Ding deliver this letter to my uncle. Don't let anyone know, especially those in the palace."

"Yes!"

After receiving the letter, Wang Qi left hurriedly.