Chapter 336: Origin

"The Imperial Jade Seal!"

Li Shimin repeatedly ran his fingers over the seal's surface, especially the eight bird‑insect seal characters, his voice shifting from a trembling whisper at first to an uncontrollable excitement.

He really needs this.

These years, he has made countless efforts to erase the impact of the Xuanwu Gate incident, hoping—what else—than to have everyone acknowledge his legitimate claim.

Li Shimin knows that people outwardly accept it, yet the suspicion of an illegitimate accession remains a hidden undercurrent.

The seal's meaning—"Mandated by Heaven, may it endure and prosper forever"—is an unparalleled omen for him.

"Your Majesty, I congratulate you!"

Empress Changsun approached, cradling her little daughter, bowed slightly, and smiled in congratulations.

Perhaps only she can truly understand Li Shimin's feelings at this moment.

In two days will be the first New Year's Day grand audience where Li Shimin, styled as the Heavenly Khagan, convenes; the seal's appearance will carry a completely different significance.

Li Shimin kept touching the Imperial Jade Seal; after the excitement, a sense of relief gradually rose in his heart.

He turned and said, "Zi An, how did you find it?"

Chen Yan, hearing this, hurriedly explained, "Your Majesty, I did not find it; the Grand Historian, the National Teacher, and Xue Li found it."

As he spoke, he gave the three behind him a glance, urging them to step forward.

But Li Chunfeng and Yuan Tiangang acted as if they hadn't seen; Xue Li wanted to step forward, yet the two did not, so he had to stay behind.

Li Chunfeng clasped his hands and said, "Your Majesty, this item was located thanks to Mr. Chen's rough information and many leads; I merely made a trip and brought it back from outside."

"The Grand Historian is right; Mr. Chen is the key to finding this," Yuan Tiangang added.

Chen Yan was completely stunned.

He had only contributed a trivial hint, just a vague piece of information—what use is that?

Finding the Imperial Jade Seal relied on your own abilities, didn't it?

"Fine then!" Li Shimin rose, "You all contributed; no need for modesty."

He looked at Chen Yan with deep emotion and said, "Zi An, you have given me a tremendous surprise."

"Your Majesty, it really has nothing to do with me…"

"Hmm, hmm, hmm, it's not your business; I understand, you need't repeat it."

Chen Yan, helpless, thought, "Your perfunctory attitude doesn't look like you understand at all."

"Wushe!"

"I am here!"

"Bring tea, grant a seat."

Li Shimin, regardless of Chen Yan's thoughts, casually ordered, and led a few people to sit down, intending to have a proper conversation with Chen Yan and the others.

Empress Changsun, quite curious, followed as well.

"Grand Historian, Zi An, where did you find this Imperial Jade Seal?"

Just after sitting, Li Shimin asked impatiently.

"Your Majesty, I found the Imperial Jade Seal among the Huihe."

Li Chunfeng replied.

"Huihe?" Li Shimin asked, puzzled, "How could the Imperial Jade Seal be among the Huihe?"

"This…"

Li Chunfeng didn't know how to answer, Chen Yan sensed his dilemma and took over, "Your Majesty, the seal was originally with the Göktürks, brought over by the previous dynasty's Empress Xiao…"

"As for what happened afterward…"

"I understand!" Li Shimin thought, guessing roughly, "Li Jing suffered a great defeat against the Göktürks this year, brought back the Xiao family, and the Xiao family gave me a forged Imperial Jade Seal."

"I have always believed the previous dynasty's Imperial Jade Seal was a fake; the genuine seal was lost in the Southern and Northern Dynasties, and I never expected the Sui dynasty's seal to be authentic."

"So the Xiao family deceived me!"

The few were embarrassed, not knowing how to respond; the former dynasty's Empress Xiao had a tangled relationship with Li Shimin, so they dared not interject on the matter.

Empress Changsun sensed the awkward atmosphere and timely shifted the topic, "So perhaps the Göktürks then realized they were not rivals of the Tang, and to prevent the seal from falling into Tang hands, they sent the genuine Imperial Jade Seal away?"

"That's hard to say," Chen Yan mused, "The exact circumstances, no one can explain, including the Xiao family themselves may not know that the seal they gave you was fake."

"Oh?" Li Shimin was somewhat surprised, "From where does this start?"

Chen Yan thought for a moment and replied, "When Gao Yang and I first returned to Chang'an City, didn't I ask Your Majesty about the Imperial Jade Seal?"

"Later, after hearing from Your Majesty that the seal was fake, I privately visited the Xiao family and Princess Hengyang, subtly probing for information on this matter."

"From their words, they seemed unaware that the seal was fake."

Princess Hengyang…

Mentioning her, a flash of resentment crossed Li Shimin's eyes.

During the Wude era, the Göktürks were powerful and frequently harassed Tang borders; Li Yuan had no choice but to seek a marriage alliance with the Göktürks' Khagan Jieli, and this person was Princess Hengyang.

When Li Jing suffered a great defeat against the Göktürks, he also brought Princess Hengyang back.

Li Shimin calmed his mind, puzzled, "So, just because of a bit of information and speculation, you asked the Grand Historian and others to search for the seal?"

"Of course not," Chen Yan first denied, then added, "My information and speculation are not important; the Grand Historian's skill is what matters."

"If it were another person, even with more concrete information, they could not locate the Imperial Jade Seal."

Li Shimin was taken aback, glanced at Li Chunfeng, and nodded in agreement.

Chen Yan smiled.

How to put it…

After Li Jing brought back Empress Xiao, rumors spread that Empress Xiao presented the Imperial Jade Seal to Li Shimin.

But it could never be verified.

That time Gao Yang had just become pregnant, on the day Chen Yan took her back to Chang'an, he casually asked Li Shimin, and Li Shimin told him that Empress Xiao had indeed presented the Imperial Jade Seal, but the seal was a fake.

Chen Yan then thought of trying to see if he could find it, after all it is a treasure of the Chinese lands.

In his previous life, Chen Yan had heard some experts say that the Imperial Jade Seal presented by Empress Xiao was fake, and it was very likely still inside the Göktürks or other small states.

The reason for this speculation is that, according to Li Shimin's character, if he obtained the Imperial Jade Seal, wouldn't he hold a three‑day banquet, flaunt it before the ministers, to prove his status?

He might even have to perform the Fengshan ceremony on Mount Tai.

But Li Shimin did nothing, not even mentioning it, which is very suspicious.

After Chen Yan received concrete information, he rushed to find Empress Xiao and Princess Hengyang, inquired about many matters, and found them corroborated by later experts' speculation.

He then told all this information to Li Chunfeng, sending him to look for the Imperial Jade Seal.

That is the whole course of events.

Of course, at first Chen Yan had no particular hope, only wanting Li Chunfeng and Xue Li to go out and train, so that later they could lead the unflagged cavalry.

Whether they find it or not is irrelevant; what matters is Li Chunfeng and Xue Li's willingness to go.

That is why, after the two left, Chen Yan began asking Li Shimin for troops to train.

The unflagged cavalry was originally prepared for them.

Compared with the Imperial Jade Seal, Chen Yan values all treasures beyond the Tang Dynasty!