Book Synopsis
Book Tags
Donation Rankings
Comment
0 Comments
You May Also Like
墨書 Inktalez
The turmoil in the court had temporarily subsided as Li Shimin returned to Prince Qin's mansion, pacing back and forth like a caged beast, filled with anxiety. Advisors Fang Xuanling and Du Ruhui sat nearby, the atmosphere so tense it felt suffocating. They understood that the evidence presented by Li Jiancheng was extremely tricky; any misstep could lead to irreparable consequences for Prince Qin's faction.
"The current situation demands that we sacrifice the pawn to protect the king," Fang Xuanling broke the silence first, his brow furrowed, worry etched in his eyes.
Li Shimin abruptly halted, his gaze piercing as he looked at him and asked, "Are you suggesting Zhang Liang?"
Fang Xuanling nodded slightly, speaking heavily, "Zhang Liang is in Luoyang. Although his actions are for Your Highness's benefit, he has now become a target. To ensure Your Highness's safety, we must let him take the blame and distance ourselves from him."
A pang of anguish struck Li Shimin's heart. Zhang Liang had followed him loyally for many years; abandoning him was an agonizing choice. Yet he understood that in this life-and-death moment, there was no room for sentimentality.
"It seems we have no other choice," Li Shimin sighed deeply, a flicker of helplessness and determination crossing his eyes. "But it will be hard on Zhang Liang."
Thus, Li Shimin entered the palace to meet Li Yuan, proactively suggesting that Zhang Liang be imprisoned to demonstrate his righteousness and sever ties with him. Li Yuan looked at Li Shimin with complex emotions—disappointment mingled with a hint of relief. He hadn't expected Li Shimin to propose such a measure, which eased his stance towards him somewhat.
"Since you can recognize the situation and voluntarily take responsibility, I will tentatively trust you. However, I will thoroughly investigate Zhang Liang's case. If you truly harbor rebellious intentions, I will not show mercy!" Li Yuan said coldly.
After expressing his gratitude, Li Shimin exited the palace. He knew this was merely a temporary reprieve; he needed to find evidence quickly to prove his innocence, or the consequences would be dire.
Zhang Liang was soon imprisoned. In jail, he endured severe torture but remained steadfast and unyielding, refusing to utter a word against Li Shimin. He understood that every action of his affected Prince Qin's safety; even under torment, he could never betray Prince Qin.
"You will not extract anything from me! Everything I did was for the sake of the Tang Dynasty, not for rebellion!" Zhang Liang shouted defiantly at the officials interrogating him.
Meanwhile, Li Jiancheng closely monitored the developments from the Eastern Palace. He knew that Zhang Liang's imprisonment was just the first step; to completely topple Li Shimin, he needed more evidence and support. After conferring with Li Yuanji, they decided to seize this opportunity to further undermine Li Shimin's power.
"Brother, now that Zhang Liang is imprisoned, it is an excellent opportunity for us to weaken Prince Qin's mansion. We can take this chance to impeach other loyalists of Prince Qin and leave them scrambling," Li Yuanji suggested with a glint of malice in his eyes.
Li Jiancheng nodded in agreement: "You are right, but we must proceed cautiously so that Father does not think we are deliberately suppressing them."
Thus, Li Jiancheng and Li Yuanji began impeaching other officials from Prince Qin's mansion in court, accusing them of colluding with Zhang Liang to plot rebellion. These accusations were like heavy bombs dropped in the court, creating even greater waves. The officials from Prince Qin's mansion were filled with dread as they scrambled to defend themselves; however, under the relentless pressure from Li Jiancheng and Li Yuanji, they gradually found themselves cornered.
Li Yuan faced these impeachments with a headache. He did not want to see the conflict between his sons escalate further but could not ignore these accusations either. After weighing his options, he decided to investigate the officials from Prince Qin's mansion but did not impose immediate punishment; instead, he adopted a wait-and-see approach.
In this power struggle, Li Shimin's situation grew increasingly precarious. He had to fend off attacks from both Li Jiancheng and Li Yuanji while also finding a way to prove his innocence and regain his father's trust. Day and night he consulted with advisors on strategies and searched for evidence that could exonerate him but found nothing.
Just as Li Shimin found himself in dire straits, Zhangsun Wuji stepped forward. Understanding Li Shimin's predicament well, he decided to take risks to seek a way out for him. Utilizing his connections and resources, Zhangsun Wuji secretly investigated the Zhang Liang incident in hopes of uncovering flaws.
After arduous investigation efforts, Zhangsun Wuji finally discovered some clues. He found that during Zhang Liang’s recruitment of assassins, some individuals had suspicious identities; they did not appear to be genuine assassins but rather planted by someone intending to frame Li Shimin.
"Your Highness! I have found some leads—these people might have been sent by Li Jiancheng to frame us!" Zhangsun Wuji excitedly reported his findings to Li Shimin.
Upon hearing this news, Li Shimin felt a surge of joy but also recognized that these leads were still insufficient to prove his innocence; more concrete evidence was needed.
"Continue investigating! We must find irrefutable proof that exposes Li Jiancheng’s conspiracy!" Li Shimin declared resolutely.
Meanwhile, Li Jiancheng sensed Zhangsun Wuji’s movements as well. Knowing that Zhangsun Wuji was one of Li Shimin’s trusted aides, he realized that if Wuji uncovered damaging evidence against him, all their previous efforts would be in vain. Thus, he decided to send someone to secretly monitor Zhangsun Wuji and thwart his investigation.
The struggle in the court continued, growing increasingly complex. Li Shimin and Li Jiancheng were like two fierce tigers, their eyes bloodshot as they clashed on the battlefield of power, neither willing to back down. In the middle stood Li Yuan, caught in a dilemma. He wished to maintain stability in the Tang Dynasty but did not want to harm either of his sons. However, this conflict had escalated beyond control, leaving him to ponder how to make a choice. What direction would the future take? Everything was shrouded in uncertainty, and the fate of the Tang Dynasty hung by a thread in this intense power struggle.
Comment 0 Comment Count