Chapter 66: Having to be Used

"Temporary?"

Fang Xuanling laughed in spite of himself, shook his head secretly, and then spoke slowly:

"In this way, this subject can also give the Emperor an explanation; I hope Your Highness the Crown Prince can keep your word."

"Lord Fang, only those who repay kindness are gentlemen. Do you think you are a gentleman?"

"This subject is not! This subject is a petty man!"

Li Chengqian looked at Fang Xuanling with resentful eyes: "Lord Fang, one cannot be too shameless in life; one will be despised for that."

"Although this subject cannot achieve the state of 'not being discouraged even if the whole world slanders me,' I will not care too much about the contempt of one or two people."

"Lord Fang!"

Li Chengqian let out a long sigh: "Have you ever thought about whether Chu Suiliang going to contact Buddhism and Fang Jun cultivating Buddhism are really just coincidences?

Is Cheng Chuliang cultivating Taoism a move I made casually, and is compiling books really just to make Qingque withdraw from the struggle for the throne?

Grand Ancestor once had the three teachings of Buddhism, Taoism, and Confucianism debate; is there a possibility that when I was young, Grand Ancestor told me what regrets he had?"

"The Three Teachings Debate?"

Fang Xuanling's expression was solemn: "Your Highness the Crown Prince, what exactly do you want to do? The Great Tang has finally stabilized; it really cannot be thrown into turmoil.

Fang Jun is not virtuous; even if he participates, he cannot help Your Highness!"

"Having Lord Fang and Gaoyang is enough! Sometimes status is more important than knowledge and wisdom."

Fang Xuanling's face turned ugly; he could not see clearly what Li Chengqian wanted to do, nor did he know his plan.

"Your Highness the Crown Prince, this subject is already old. It was not easy to wait until Fang Jun changed for the better; just let me spend my remaining years in peace."

Li Chengqian grinned: "Fine! Just play dumb! If the Emperor can see through my plan, it must be because you are by his side to remind him.

As long as you play dumb and let the Duke of Lu turn a blind eye to the Jiang Prince Mansion, that will suffice.

How about it? Is it very simple?"

"Of course, Lord Fang can also refuse. At that time, if Fang Jun is forced to participate in the Three Teachings Debate, don't blame me."

Fang Xuanling shook his head: "It is not the Wude Era now; wanting a Three Teachings Debate is impossible."

"I forgot to tell Lord Fang!"

Li Chengqian spoke with a smile: "In the third year of Zhenguan, there was a great famine. The Emperor issued an edict for the Commoner to seek their own survival. A Dharma Master set out from Chang'an to go to Tianzhu to seek the Great Vehicle True Scripture.

A few days ago, news came from the Buddhist center of Tianzhu, Nalanda Monastery, that this Dharma Master is already on his way back to the Great Tang.

Does Lord Fang think that this dispute within Buddhism can make Taoism see an opportunity, and would Confucian scholars want to participate in it?"

Fang Xuanling's expression stalled, and a look of shock and suspicion appeared in his eyes:

"When did Your Highness the Crown Prince know that a Dharma Master had gone to Tianzhu?"

"Grand Ancestor told me before he passed away; I have been laying the groundwork for several years!"

Li Chengqian's eyes were open and honest: "If it weren't for the Emperor acting recklessly, there would be no Fang Jun, and there would be no Cheng Chuliang.

Lord Fang, is it hard to act dumb and play the fool like the Duke of Wei? Does this still need consideration?"

"The problem is that it is not just this subject who is there; the Duke of Shen, Gao Shilian, is much wiser than this subject."

"The Emperor is not in Chang'an, and the Duke of Shen is also old; he is too lazy to get involved.

As long as Lord Fang agrees, I can guarantee that Fang Jun and Gaoyang will be carefree."

Speaking of this, Li Chengqian's eyes drifted toward the direction of Taiji Palace:

"If Zhinu ascends to the throne, then Fang Jun will be in danger. Uncle does not have my broad-mindedness to exhaust all efforts just to protect an enemy."

Fang Xuanling looked at Li Chengqian with a complex expression; he had to admit that once Li Zhi ascended to the throne, given the relationship between Fang Jun and Li Tai, Zhangsun Wuji would inevitably take action against Fang Jun.

Although he knew that Li Shimin had already made up his mind to let Li Tai ascend to the throne, he dared not gamble, because neither Li Chengqian nor Zhangsun Wuji were easy people to deal with.

Especially Li Chengqian; he still had not seen him clearly. After a long silence, Fang Xuanling decided to probe Li Chengqian.

"Your Highness the Crown Prince, you know the Emperor's thoughts, and you no longer have any power; what will you use to help the Prince of Jin?"

"Ritual, Zongmiao, and enfeoffment—are those not enough?"

Li Chengqian sneered: "Why would the King of Han, Li Yuanchang, help me? Does he really think he also likes Turkic military formations?

If it weren't for the fear of the world falling into chaos, could I not recruit some Confucian scholars and royal clansmen?"

"Choosing the place of Jiaozhi is because it is far from Chang'an and far from the land of Longxi. As long as I do not act recklessly myself, no matter who becomes the Emperor, they will not dare to easily raise an army to destroy me.

If I chose another place, no matter who ascended the throne, the first thing they would do is collect evidence to falsely accuse me of treason."

'The Emperor's worries have come true!'

Fang Xuanling hung his head and sighed secretly; he also did not expect Li Chengqian to grow so rapidly, or perhaps the original Li Chengqian had been acting all along.

'What exactly did the Emperor see? Why must he depose such an excellent Crown Prince?'

Fang Xuanling could not figure it out; in terms of ritual, Zongmiao, ability, and magnanimity, no matter how one looked at it, the Crown Prince was suitable; why must he be deposed?

Not only could Fang Xuanling not figure it out, but Li Chengqian could not figure it out either; logically, he had already shown a demeanor of caring for his younger brother.

If his ability was not enough, one could wait for this struggle for the right to speak to decide; why decide so quickly, as if everything that happened during this period was just to tease Li Chengqian.

"Lord Fang, the Great Tang empire was not only won by the Emperor, but also by you civil officials.

Do not forget why you followed the Emperor in the beginning; give yourself a chance, and give the Great Tang a chance."

"Your Highness the Crown Prince! Since you no longer have the heart to disrupt the Great Tang, and you also know the character of the Duke of Zhao, you should help the Emperor."

Li Chengqian rubbed his brow: "Lord Fang, can you stop probing? Isn't it better to open the skylight and speak clearly?

Now, whoever ascends to the throne is disadvantageous to me; I can only delay time and plot a way to survive for myself."

"Why does Your Highness the Crown Prince deceive me? If you only wanted to save your life, the Emperor has plenty of ways; he could send a large army to escort you to Jiaozhi right now.

But you are still thinking about ascending to the throne, and you will even stop at nothing to do so; this is what the Emperor is worried about."

"Fine!"

Li Chengqian sighed: "Let's assume I still want to ascend to the throne; now, please tell me, Lord Fang, are you willing to play dumb?"

"If you truly do not wish to, I will not blame you, but do not blame me for being heartless."

"I can contend with Father; a few more enemies will not matter."

Fang Xuanling slowly stood up and walked toward the outside, leaving behind only one sentence:

"The matter that Your Highness suggested last time, this subject has kept it in his heart!"

Li Chengqian was slightly stunned, then immediately remembered that he had suggested Fang Xuanling learn from the Duke of Wei, Li Jing, last time.

"Many thanks, Lord Fang. From this day forward, I shall protect the Liang Guogong Fu."

Without Fang Xuanling's reminder, Li Chengqian believed that Li Shimin would not have seen through his plan while he was acting as regent.

'I hope Chu Suiliang can hurry back!'

The Chu Suiliang of whom Li Chengqian spoke had already entered Guanzhong and would soon arrive in Chang'an.

However, Zhangsun Wuji, having received the letter, ordered him to stop where he was.

"Father, why won't you let Chu Daifu enter Chang'an? Haven't you always wanted him to return as soon as possible?"

Zhangsun Wuji frowned and explained: "I fear being used by the Crown Prince. I now need to know whose idea the reform of the open proclamations was in the first place."

"Prince Wei, it is a matter known to all the civil and military officials at court."

"The Crown Prince told me that the Bamboo Paper was something he specifically gifted to Prince Wei.

If the open proclamation was also a gift from the Crown Prince, there must be a conspiracy within it; we cannot be used by the Crown Prince."

Zhangsun Chong gave a bitter smile: "Father, haven't you realized? Regardless of whether it is the Crown Prince or if there is a conspiracy within it, you must let Chu Daifu return.

If he does not return, Ma Zhou and the others might not necessarily continue to follow the Prince of Jin.

Furthermore, if you do not use the open proclamation to deal with Prince Wei, the Crown Prince will have Prince Wei use the open proclamation to deal with you.

From the moment the Prince of Jin joined the struggle for the succession, you had no way out; you can only be used by the Crown Prince."