Chapter 65: Self-Inflicted

"The clan!"

A bitter smile appeared on Li Shimin's face: "Truly, one reaps what one sows! I originally thought to use the members of the Li Clan to seize local power, but now they have become a thorn in my side.

The status of Gaoming as the legitimate eldest son is enough to make many clansmen follow him; I wonder if Gaoming has thought of this."

Whether Li Chengqian has thought about what use this status as the legitimate eldest son has, no one knows.

At this moment, he is listening to Yuwen Ding's report:

"The Minister of Works Zhangsun was called away by the Emperor halfway there; our people have not infiltrated the palace, so we do not know the reason."

"No need to worry about it! Either conceal it or confess it; in any case, we have prepared two plans.

The Prince of Jiangxia will join the army for the eastern expedition; send someone to the Prince of Jiangxia to be used for delivering messages.

Send another to the Shu region to find a merchant who trades yaks with Tibet; remember, you must investigate clearly, I want someone with a clean background."

"Yes!"

After acknowledging the order, Yuwen Ding spoke with some hesitation:

"Your Highness the Crown Prince, news has come from the Lu State Duke Mansion that Cheng Chuliang was beaten by the Lu State Duke today; he will have to lie in bed for at least two months."

"The specific reason is unknown, only the words 'Taiping Dao', 'Zhang Jiao', and 'old rascal' were heard."

"Pfft..."

Li Chengqian spat out a mouthful of water, his face full of disbelief:

"You're kidding! Cheng Chuliang is practicing the Taiping Dao? No wonder the Lu State Duke wanted to beat him; it's a miracle he wasn't beaten to death.

Forget it, since he's lying in bed for two months, we'll talk about it later; there is no rush on that side.

You be careful; the matter regarding the Prince of Jiangxia must not be known by anyone."

"Yes!"

There is still plenty of time, and the matter with Cheng Chuliang can wait, but Li Daozong cannot; the eastern expedition is about to begin, and he must act as soon as possible.

However, he is now under the surveillance of Li Shimin and cannot act freely.

Not only him, but the Crown Princess and Li Xiang are also under the surveillance of Li Shimin.

If it weren't for people like Yuwen Ding, he would likely be waiting for death.

Li Chengqian fell backward, lying directly on the floor, his eyes staring straight at the ceiling:

"Even a clever housewife cannot cook without rice; how can I send a gift to Qingque without attracting attention?

Should I use rumors? Those eunuchs have not been trained and are easily caught.

Wait for the eastern expedition? According to the timeline, if Chu Suiliang really did something in Qianzhou, he will be entering the capital soon.

Giving up the plan is not an option; Xuanzang returns in the nineteenth year of Zhenguan, and without Xuanzang, the perfect effect cannot be achieved."

Just as Li Chengqian was struggling with this, a woman's sobbing sounded at the door:

"Sob sob sob, I want to see His Highness the Crown Prince!"

"Lady Xiao, please don't make things difficult for this lowly one; the Crown Prince said no one is to disturb him."

"Let her in!"

Hearing this, Wang Qi slowly opened the door, and Lady Xiao ran in crying.

"Your Highness the Crown Prince, you must make the decision for me!"

Li Chengqian rubbed his temples: "Speak! I'm listening."

"My father is seriously ill, and I want to go back to see him, but the Crown Princess won't allow it."

"Why? The Crown Princess is not that kind of person; did she give any reason?"

Lady Xiao suddenly stopped sobbing, lowering her head, not daring to speak.

"Are you mute? Don't tell me you are playing those petty jealousy games; even if you told me, I wouldn't believe it.

As for you people, I see it very clearly; you all wish you never had to see me for the rest of your lives."

"What kind of words are those, Your Highness! I am truly fond of you."

"Get out! If you don't speak now, you won't have to speak ever again!"

Lady Xiao took a deep breath, as if having made a certain resolution, and spoke with a serious face:

"I am not wrong! It is my father who does not understand."

Li Chengqian held his forehead: "What exactly are you talking about? I don't understand a single word."

"My father was angered into illness by me!"

"Do you want to listen to what you are saying? You stay in the Eastern Palace every day, how could you anger your father?"

Lady Xiao hung her head and muttered: "I lost at gambling and kept asking my mother for money, which my father found out about.

He came to the Eastern Palace to inquire and only then found out it was because of gambling losses; he thinks I have disgraced the family name."

"..."

Li Chengqian's head was covered in black lines: "Do you yourself think I should let you return to the Xiao Mansion?"

"I should! If I don't go home to plead guilty, my father will cast me out of the family."

"Shut up! I want to cast you out of the Eastern Palace right now."

Li Chengqian said irritably: "I will send someone to tell your father; do not leave the Eastern Palace at a time like this.

If it were possible, I would really want you to leave the Eastern Palace to do things for me, but unfortunately, it is not possible; the entire Eastern Palace is already under surveillance.

As soon as you go to see your father, your father will have to enter the palace the next day."

"No! No! I have a way!"

Lady Xiao said loudly: "Your Highness the Crown Prince, I have a clothing shop in the East Market; every time I go out, I change my outfit and then go eat sesame cakes on the street; no one has noticed."

"Dressing as a man?"

"What dressing as a man? Disguising as a maid! I go out with a large group of people, and by the time I reach the East Market, it turns into five or six people."

"The eunuch turned into a young master, and I turned into a maidservant; no one knows I'm out playing, hehehe!"

Li Chengqian grinned: "Now I know. If I don't keep an eye on you all, you just let yourselves run wild, don't you?"

"Gambling, drinking, strolling the streets—truly, how very happy you are."

"Go back and copy the Analects three times yourself; I will check it the day after tomorrow."

"Then will you let me go back?"

"It depends on the result of your copying. If the handwriting is sloppy, don't blame me for not giving you a chance."

Consort Xiao hung her head: "Fine!"

After Consort Xiao left, the corners of Li Chengqian's mouth curled up slightly; he discovered that the intelligence network of gossiping women had existed since ancient times, and anyone could use it.

Thinking of this, Li Chengqian felt a moment of relief; as long as there was a way to send messages to certain people, it would suffice.

Arriving at Qingfeng Pavilion, Li Chengqian took out his fishing rod again to begin today's work; private matters were never as important as public affairs.

But before he had been fishing for long, an unexpected person arrived at the Eastern Palace.

"Who did you just say is here?"

"The Liang State Duke!"

"Invite him over!"

A look of confusion appeared in Li Chengqian's eyes; coming at this time, was it by the order of Erfeng? Or did he come on his own?

Before long, Fang Xuanling appeared at Qingfeng Pavilion:

"Greetings, Your Highness the Crown Prince!"

"Please sit! Are you not afraid of the Emperor getting angry for coming to see me at this time, Lord Fang?"

Fang Xuanling walked to the stone stool and sat down slowly: "It was the Emperor who ordered me to come, hoping that Your Highness will keep your word and not let the imperial court fall into chaos during the eastern expedition."

"What? The officials are allowed to set fires, but the commoners are not allowed to light lamps?"

"He doesn't keep his own word, yet he demands benevolence, righteousness, propriety, wisdom, and trustworthiness from others? A total double-standard hypocrite."

"Ahem, ahem, ahem!"

Fang Xuanling was somewhat unable to laugh or cry: "Your Highness the Crown Prince, regardless of everything, the Emperor is your sovereign and father; you must still harbor filial piety."

"Destroying Goguryeo is also something Your Highness the Crown Prince wishes to see; why ruin the court's plans just to satisfy a moment of sharp-tonguedness?"

"He cannot destroy them! The population in places like Youzhou is sparse, there are many Narrow Lands, and coupled with the bitter cold of the northeast, once Goguryeo defends their cities, food will be a major problem."

"Regardless of whether it can be destroyed or not, at the very least it will weaken Goguryeo, and it will naturally be much easier for Your Highness to ascend the throne in the future."

Li Chengqian curled his lips: "Why must you deceive me, Lord Fang? If the Emperor lets me ascend the throne, then ghosts would truly have to exist."

"Tell the Emperor to rest assured; having reached this point, I only wish to save my life for now. As for this position of Crown Prince, he can give it to whoever he likes; I don't care anymore."