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"For Your Majesty, what is so difficult? As long as you do not make Li Shimin the Crown Prince, everything will be fine," Yin De Fei observed that Li Yuan still cared about them, and hope began to rise in her heart.
"But Li Jiancheng has colluded with Yang Wengan to rebel. How can I possibly allow him to remain as Crown Prince?" Li Yuan replied.
"Your Majesty, it is true that Yang Wengan has rebelled, but who says His Highness the Crown Prince colluded with him?" Yin De Fei asked.
"Well..." Li Yuan was at a loss for words. Indeed, no one had said that; he had been misled by Li Yuanji's words and subconsciously believed it.
"Since there is no evidence of Li Jiancheng colluding with Yang Wengan, Your Majesty should not depose him from his position as Crown Prince. Moreover, Your Majesty could also make Li Yuanji the Crown Prince. He is also Your Majesty's legitimate son," Zhang Jieyu suggested. After all, they could not let Li Shimin become the Crown Prince!
"Li Yuanji?" Li Yuan shook his head. "What qualifications does he have? He doesn't even come close. Besides, his abilities are far inferior to Shimin's."
Although Li Yuan dismissed the idea of making Li Yuanji the Crown Prince, Zhang Jieyu's words reminded him: Could this fourth son have ambitions for the position of Crown Prince? Otherwise, why would he imply that someone responded to Yang Wengan, suggesting a conspiracy between the Crown Prince and Yang Wengan?
"Your Majesty, you cannot depose Li Jiancheng from his position as Crown Prince!" Yin De Fei insisted on preserving Li Jiancheng's status.
"But I just promised Li Shimin that I would make him the Crown Prince!" Li Yuan said, looking troubled again.
"Your Majesty, you also promised me that you would not make Shimin the Crown Prince," Yin De Fei pointed out.
"Well... that was a long time ago!" Li Yuan blushed slightly.
Two years ago, Yin De Fei had been wronged by Li Shimin and came to Li Yuan in tears. To comfort her, he had casually promised not to make Li Shimin the Crown Prince.
Now that Yin De Fei brought up this promise, it felt like a slap in Li Yuan's face.
"Your Majesty, a promise is a promise!" Yin De Fei pouted playfully.
"Let me think it over!" Li Yuan relented. He indeed felt that promising Li Shimin the position of Crown Prince was somewhat hasty.
"Then Your Majesty must consider my life and death!" Yin De Fei sensed an opportunity and thought she could stoke the fire later that evening.
"I understand!" Li Yuan nodded.
"Then I shall take my leave!"
"I take my leave!"
Yin De Fei and Zhang Jieyu both said in succession.
"Go on!" Li Yuan waved his hand.
After Yin De Fei and Zhang Jieyu left, Li Yuan sat quietly for a moment and realized he truly had a headache! He had just promised Li Shimin; was he really going to go back on his word?
It was all because of that damned Yang Wengan! How dare he rebel? And this time his rebellion was quite suspicious. I only called him over for questioning; why did he choose to rebel? Could it be that Li Jiancheng really colluded with him? Then how could Li Jiancheng dare to come alone to confess?
Indeed, I dispatched Yu Wen Ying to summon Yang Wengan. Could it be that Yu Wen Ying said something to Yang Wengan? That shouldn't be the case! The reason I sent Yu Wen Ying was that he is on good terms with Li Yuanji, not with Li Shimin. Yu Wen Ying should not have spoken out of turn; could it be that I miscalculated?
While I was pondering this, Feng Deyi requested an audience!
It goes without saying that he must have come regarding the Crown Prince issue!
"Your Majesty!" Upon receiving permission, Feng Deyi entered and bowed.
"Minister Feng, what brings you here?" Li Yuan asked knowingly.
"I have heard that Your Majesty intends to depose the Crown Prince and establish Prince Qin as the new Crown Prince. Is there any truth to this?" Feng Deyi got straight to the point.
"Yes, I do have such intentions!" Li Yuan did not deny it.
"This cannot be allowed, Your Majesty!" Feng Deyi quickly replied.
"Why not? Li Jiancheng colluded with Yang Wengan to rebel, while Li Shimin has outstanding military achievements. Now I need him to quell the Yang Wengan Rebellion. What is wrong with my plan to establish Prince Qin as the Crown Prince?" Li Yuan questioned.
Feng Deyi clasped his hands and said, "Your Majesty! Is there any evidence regarding Li Jiancheng's collusion with Yang Wengan? If the Crown Prince were indeed in league with Yang Wengan, would he come to Ren Zhi Palace to plead for forgiveness? There is clearly something amiss here. Your Majesty must not depose Li Jiancheng from his position as Crown Prince due to a misunderstanding!"
Li Yuan pointed to a chair beside him and said, "Minister Feng, please sit and speak comfortably! I have already promised Prince Qin; how can I go back on my word? If he is to quell the Yang Wengan Rebellion, he deserves some reward!"
Feng Deyi took a seat and replied, "Prince Qin will surely handle the Yang Wengan Rebellion with ease. However, Your Majesty can grant him titles, increase his fief, and bestow gold upon him, but you cannot make him the Crown Prince!"
"Why not? Just because Li Shimin is not my eldest son? He is still my legitimate son, more capable than Li Jiancheng and has greater achievements. If I do not make him the Crown Prince, he may harbor resentment! Any other rewards will likely not satisfy him," Li Yuan stated.
"Yes, I understand that Prince Qin harbors ambitions for the Crown Prince position. But Your Majesty must not forget the lessons of the previous dynasty!" Feng Deyi boldly spoke as he noticed the Emperor's expression remained calm.
Li Yuan shuddered; Feng Deyi's words struck a nerve.
The previous dynasty referred to the Sui Dynasty. Sui Wendi Yang Jian initially established his eldest son Yang Yong as Crown Prince. However, his second son Yang Guang proved to be even more outstanding, especially during his military exploits in quelling Southern Chen. This led Yang Jian to favor his second son more.
After one of Yang Yong's "mistakes," Yang Jian deposed him as Crown Prince and established his second son Yang Guang instead. But what did this bring upon the Sui Dynasty? Its downfall!
Now, the situation between Li Jiancheng and Li Shimin mirrored that of Yang Yong and Yang Guang in the early years of the Sui Dynasty! Li Jiancheng was made Crown Prince due to being the eldest son, but his abilities and achievements were indeed far inferior to those of his younger brother Li Shimin.
Li Yuan had long contemplated changing the Crown Prince. The reason he had not acted on it was not only due to considering the feelings of his two beloved consorts but mainly because he remembered the lessons from the previous dynasty.
Yang Guang's abilities and achievements surpassed those of Yang Yong; however, he was unfit for being emperor, which led to the Sui Dynasty's demise. Would Li Shimin end up like Yang Guang?
This was the primary reason why Li Yuan hesitated to change the Crown Prince.
Today, in a moment of impulse due to needing Li Shimin to quell the Yang Wengan Rebellion, Li Yuan promised him the position of Crown Prince. Now reminded by Feng Deyi and recalling the cries of his two beloved consorts earlier, Li Yuan felt regret!
Li Yuan also pondered another question: could it be that Li Jiancheng's so-called "mistake" was orchestrated by someone just like that of Sui Dynasty's former Crown Prince Yang Yong?
"Your Majesty, what should I do now?" Li Yuan looked at Feng Deyi with a troubled expression.
"First, Your Majesty must set aside the idea of changing the Crown Prince. After pacifying the Yang Wengan Rebellion, rewards should be given to Prince Qin as I suggested earlier. As for Crown Prince Li Jiancheng, no punishment should be imposed. He should be released and allowed to return to Chang'an to continue his duties as regent," Feng Deyi advised.
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