Chapter 9: The Succession System of the Xuanwu Gate

Li You reacted instantly, hurriedly prostrating himself on the ground and beginning to wail:

"Father, how would your son dare to rebel! You know what abilities your son has; apart from cockfighting and dog-walking, what your son is best at is drinking.

Last year, when Father earnestly exhorted your son to contribute to the country, your son felt he could not let Father down.

It just so happened that I heard of rebellions occurring from time to time in the north, so your son thought to conduct a rebellion drill; Quan Wanji and Du Xingmin both know of this.

Father, your son is wronged! Your son's heart is bitter! Your son only thought to share Father's burdens and contribute to the country, why is it so difficult!"

Li Shimin's face was complex; with the Imperial Examination System in place, he no longer wanted to kill Li You, but this matter had already been defined, and if the case were to be overturned, Du Xingmin would have to be dealt with.

If Du Xingmin and the others were dealt with, then if any Imperial Prince rebelled in the future, no one would dare to handle it.

After a moment of contemplation, Li Shimin decided to test Li Chengqian once more:

"Gaoming, can the two of you turn a major issue into a minor one and a minor issue into nothing just by singing in harmony?

It is a fact that the Prince of Qi attacked Gao Village, and it is a fact that Quan Wanji died on the road back to Chang'an."

"People died in Gao Village? Is there evidence to prove that Quan Wanji was killed by Fifth Brother?"

Li Chengqian put on an earnest and sincere expression:

"Father, you have always taught us to listen to both sides and not to be biased or credulous; why do you only listen to the one-sided words of the officials in Qizhou?

You like ministers who can offer remonstrance despite the risk of offending you, like Duke Wei, and you also feel that these are the only loyal ministers.

But when those above have a preference, those below will surely follow it to the extreme; there are very few Duke Weis in this world, and most are merely fame-seekers. I hope Father will see clearly."

"How can Your Highness the Crown Prince twist right and wrong like this?"

Chu Suiliang spoke in a cold voice: "The Prince of Qi stood on the city walls of Qizhou and said in front of all the commoners of the city that he wanted to attack Chang'an; is this also a drill?

Even if it were a drill, in the eyes of the people of the world, it is rebellion. If it is not punished, what should be done if others follow his example in the future?"

"It certainly must be punished!"

Li Chengqian nodded slightly: "Not only must the Prince of Qi be punished, but the officials in the six regions including Qizhou and Qingzhou must also be punished.

To conduct a drill without being prepared is an irresponsible act toward the safety of the lives of the commoners in Qizhou. To be so disregardful of the people, he should be confined in Chang'an City.

The officials in Qizhou and other places were caught off guard by an unprepared rebellion, which is enough to prove that they are not fit to govern the locality; they should be dismissed from their posts.

As for Du Xingmin and the others, although there is suspicion of deceiving their superiors and concealing the truth from their subordinates, there is no evidence, and considering their effective response to the rebellion, they should be transferred to other places."

As soon as these words were spoken, everyone subconsciously glanced at Li Chengqian, then quickly lowered their heads; even in the depths of Zhangsun Wuji's eyes, a look of shock could not be concealed:

'With the Prince of Qi confined in Chang'an, the Emperor cannot extend his reach into Qizhou and other places through the Prince of Qi; the goal of the noble clans has been achieved.

With the officials of Qizhou and other places falling from power, those noble clans will fight openly and struggle secretly for official positions, directly preventing them from pursuing the Prince of Qi relentlessly.

And the handling of Du Xingmin serves as an answer to Chu Suiliang's question; if an Imperial Prince rebels again in the future, local officials will not be afraid to take action.

What on earth happened to the Crown Prince? Why has he changed so much? Even I could not think of this way of handling things.'

Chu Suiliang, standing to the side, was also secretly feeling miserable; his goal was to depose the Crown Prince, not to investigate the Prince of Qi.

After taking a deep breath, Chu Suiliang spoke in a deep voice:

"If the Prince of Qi's rebellion was a drill, then what about Hegan Chengji and Helan Chushi?"

"What about them?"

Li Chengqian began to play dumb: "Come to think of it, it is strange; they haven't come to the Eastern Palace for many days. They must be reprimanded properly."

"They conspired to rebel!"

A flash of ruthlessness passed through Chu Suiliang's eyes:

"Hegan Chengji and Helan Chushi have provided evidence that the Crown Prince is rebelling; I wonder what the Crown Prince has to say?"

"I am rebelling?"

Li Chengqian stared at Chu Suiliang with cold eyes: "Chu Daifu, if you don't know how to speak, then shut your mouth.

I am the Crown Prince; this world will be mine in the future. Do you think I have gone mad or that I can no longer live?"

After speaking, Li Chengqian shook his head: "Forget it, with your intelligence, it is truly difficult for you to understand what I am saying."

"Pfft..."

Li You laughed out loud, but immediately remembered that this was Liangyi Hall and shut his mouth at once.

Chu Suiliang, however, stared at Li Chengqian with a red face, his mouth faster than his brain at this moment:

"How can Your Highness the Crown Prince, who insults his ministers like this, be worthy of the position of Crown Prince?"

"Is my position as Crown Prince for you to decide?"

Li Chengqian's mockery was undisguised: "The whole world knows that I would not rebel, yet you conclude that I would rebel based solely on the words of one or two treacherous villains; what is your true intention?"

"Hegan Chengji and Helan Chushi are Thousand-Bull Guards of the Eastern Palace; they have seen every word and action of Your Highness the Crown Prince.

Helan Chushi is even a member of the Wugong Su Clan; could it be that he would abandon his own life and the clansmen of the Wugong Su Clan just to frame the Crown Prince?"

"Who knows? The human heart is hard to fathom!"

Li Chengqian's gaze turned toward Li Tai, and a gentle smile appeared on his face:

"Qingque, do you think Big Brother is the kind of person who would rebel? You know Big Brother's character better than anyone.

As long as you say one word that Big Brother is rebelling, Big Brother will immediately admit his guilt and submit to the law!"

"Bang!"

"Nonsense!"

Li Tai pointed at Chu Suiliang and cursed: "Treacherous minister! Big Brother has always been gentle, polite, respectful, and filial; how could he do such a thing?

Hegan Chengji is just a minor guard; who knows if he was bought by someone to frame Big Brother."

Following Li Tai's statement, Xiao Yu, the Special Advance who participated in the main trial, also spoke up in support at this time:

"Reporting to the Emperor, during the trial process, this minister did not find any substantive evidence, and the Duke of Chen and Li Anyan also did not make any moves to mobilize troops. This minister believes that Hegan Chengji framed the Crown Prince in order to save his own life."

"This minister seconds that!"

Zhangsun Wuji and the others could no longer control their expressions, looking at this scene in total shock; they never imagined that Li Tai would speak up for Li Chengqian.

They did not know what had happened, and at this moment, Chu Suiliang was caught in a dilemma.

Xiao Yu came from the Lanling Xiao Clan and had always supported Li Tai; now that he was one of the chief judges, since he said there was no solid evidence, Chu Suiliang dared not produce forged evidence.

To the side, Li Shiji kept his eyes on his nose and his nose on his heart, as if he had no idea what was happening, remaining in a detached state throughout.

Zhangsun Wuji swept his gaze over those present and was just about to speak, but Chu Suiliang was one step faster than him:

"Helan Chushi and Hegan Chengji were interrogated separately, yet what they said matched perfectly without the slightest discrepancy.

It was only when interrogating the wandering knights of the Qi Wang Fu that Hegan Chengji was discovered; does the Crown Prince believe that Hegan Chengji can divine the future and knew in advance he would be caught, and therefore conspired with Helan Chushi to frame the Crown Prince?"

Li Chengqian leaned back slightly, a mocking curve hanging on the corners of his mouth:

"Doctor Chu, why do you keep saying that I would rebel? What exactly are you trying to prove?

Do you know what consequences would arise if I were to rebel?"

"It would make everyone in the world never dare to harbor thoughts of rebellion again."

"Wrong!"

Li Chengqian slowly shook his head: "From ancient times to the present, whether in the imperial family or the homes of commoners, one must either appoint the legitimate heir or appoint the virtuous.

With Father as a precedent, if I truly were to rebel, this Great Tang would be creating a new succession system: the Xuanwu Gate Succession System.

Doctor Chu, do you think what I say is reasonable?"

Ignoring Li Shimin's increasingly unsightly expression, Li Chengqian stared at him without blinking:

"Father, what do you think of the Xuanwu Gate Succession System? The weak are prey to the strong; the victor is the king and the loser is the bandit—this is an unchanging truth from ancient times.

Actually, wanting to depose a son is simple: just bestow a cup of poisoned wine, then tell the outside world that the son died of illness."