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Yang Guang looked at Li Jian Cheng, who seemed hesitant, unsure of how to win him over. He particularly needed someone who could help him communicate with the Empress.
Entering the inner palace was difficult; as a man with children, he could not enter without summons. Although the consorts had more freedom, it was still unwise to visit too frequently and attract attention.
Li Jian Cheng was still young and a relative of the Empress, serving within the palace. Most importantly, he had the Empress's trust.
Of course, his identity was also significant. As the Legitimate Eldest Son of the Li Family, with Li Yan absent from the Capital City, he represented the family. While the Li Family might not be prominent in the Court now, they had many connections that could influence affairs.
“Jian Cheng, do you have any ambitions?”
Li Jian Cheng replied earnestly, “Jian Cheng only wishes to serve the country like the Duke of Qi and Duke of Yue, to fight against the Turkic and restore my family's honor through merit!”
Yang Guang clapped his hands in praise. “Good lad! You truly are a noble son of the Li Family. Uncle wishes you can achieve your aspirations.”
“Jian Cheng, it is difficult to gain merit while always in the palace. If there is an opportunity in the future, would you be willing to serve under Uncle? While I cannot send you to fight against the Turkic right now, there are still some bandits that would allow you to practice your skills.”
Li Jian Cheng stood up and bowed. “There is no need to wait for the future; Jian Cheng is willing to pledge allegiance to Uncle today and face any challenges ahead!”
Yang Guang paused for a moment before saying, “Jian Cheng, have you truly thought this through? This is not a trivial matter.”
“Uncle, Jian Cheng is neither a reckless child nor acting on impulse. Although the Empress still has some reservations, she generally favors you. In my opinion, Uncle possesses both literary and martial talents and is truly deserving of a position of prominence.”
“Good! I will not disappoint you; in the future, I will ensure you have opportunities to realize your ambitions and restore your family's prestige.”
Yang Guang was not afraid that Li Jian Cheng would deceive him; after all, this was merely a verbal agreement. Trust would depend on how he acted afterward. If he followed through with his orders, there would be no room for regret.
Yang Guang rose and bowed to Li Jian Cheng, then, no longer polite, directly instructed, "With the Duke of Qi present, the position of Crown Prince cannot be easily moved. You must find a way to persuade the Empress to abandon Gao Shan."
"Is Your Highness in contact with the Duke of Yue?"
Seeing Yang Guang shake his head, Li Jian Cheng replied, "Relying solely on Her Majesty is not enough. The Duke of Qi has held the position of Left Chancellor for over a decade, deeply rooted in power. Your Highness should reach out to the Duke of Yue; he is the one who most desires to see the Duke of Qi fall."
"The Duke of Yue values talent over virtue, is known for his extraordinary deeds, and has been suppressed by the Duke of Qi in court for many years. He must have long harbored ambitions."
Yang Guang looked at Li Jian Cheng in surprise. "It is not convenient for me to interact with high-ranking officials in the Capital City. Those trusted aides who could communicate with Yang Su are all stationed in Jiangdu; it will take time to summon them."
Li Jian Cheng clasped his hands and said, "My nephew has a close relationship with the Duke of Yue's legitimate son, Yang Jishan. Recently, he has also extended some small favors to the Yang Family. While it may be difficult for the Duke of Yue to discuss matters privately due to his high status, his brother, Deputy Minister of the Dali Temple, Yang Yue, should be able to meet and talk."
"I do not seek a definitive agreement but merely wish to gauge the Duke of Yue's intentions. Once Your Highness's trusted aides arrive, we can proceed with an alliance without delay."
Yang Guang suddenly sighed and said, "Qilin Child, it is a pity that I only have one daughter now, and she has long been promised to Yuwen Shiji. In a few months, they will marry; otherwise, I would certainly arrange for you to become my son-in-law."
"Jian Cheng, Yang Yue is deep and silent and greedy by nature. You can assure him and his brother that this matter must be handled well."
"Understood."
Yang Guang firmly held Li Jian Cheng's hand as they exited the royal residence and instructed the guards at the gate, "Jian Cheng is my closest nephew. From now on, when he comes, there is no need for announcement; he may enter directly. You must treat him with respect. If there is any disrespect shown, I will not forgive it!"
...
By this time, it was already dusk. Li Jian Cheng could not possibly go to the Duke of Yue's Residence at this hour; that would mean staying at someone else's home. He could only return to his own residence first.
Not far from the Duke's Residence, nestled between the two houses, was Tonghua Lane. Soon, they arrived home, where the Steward greeted them, saying, "My Lord, you have returned! The palace has been bestowing gifts continuously these past few days, and I am somewhat frightened."
Last night, Li Jian Cheng had also been pulled by Yang Jishan to rest at Cangxia Tower, so he only remembered that there had been gold and silk bestowed by the Emperor yesterday.
The Steward reported, "Yesterday, His Majesty awarded one hundred taels of gold and a thousand bolts of silk. The Crown Prince and Han Wang each gifted two carts of gold and silver items. Just now, the Empress Dowager also bestowed a cart of books and thirty servants."
As he spoke, there was another commotion at the door. A visitor announced, "On the orders of Prince Jin, there is a small gift for your Young Master."
The Steward hurried to receive it, and Li Jian Cheng personally went to express his gratitude. After all, for the next decade or so, he would be relying on this individual.
While looking over the list of gifts, the Dou Family also came out upon hearing the news. Li Jian Cheng stepped forward to pay his respects and handed over the list.
After reviewing it, the Dou Family remarked, "This is indeed a family gift; it even includes scar-removing medicine. It is said that Consort Jin is benevolent and thoughtful; it seems to be true. It looks like my son will get his wish fulfilled. I must write a letter to your father later; this concerns the entire family."
Li Jian Cheng replied, "Mother, please explain a few things on my behalf; it truly is due to circumstances beyond my control."
Hearing this, the Dou Family chuckled and said, "Are you afraid your father will return in a few months?"
Li Jian Cheng tugged at the Dou Family's sleeve in plea for a long while before she agreed but cautioned him, "In the future, do not act so recklessly. Such important matters cannot be decided on your own."
The mother and son returned to the courtyard where the Dou Family took their month-old son from the nursemaid and scolded Li Jian Cheng playfully, "As an elder brother, you show no concern for your little brother. You come and go without a trace every day. Come here; let me hold you."
Li Jian Cheng took the swaddled infant into his arms. The second brother was quite chubby and strong; his little arms and legs were surprisingly sturdy. With everything going smoothly in his plans, he felt confident facing this little brother. Otherwise, he might have hesitated to see him out of fear of taking a wrong path.
After watching the two brothers for a while, the Dou Family commented, "Although the Crown Prince's talents are not extraordinary and his character is ordinary, he is not without merit or virtue. What a pity."
Li Jian Cheng said, "To act according to one's whims and desires, without any pretense, may be a good quality for an ordinary person, but for someone in the position of the Crown Prince, it is the greatest mistake."
"Now that he has lost his father's favor and his mother's love, no one can help him."
Li Jian Cheng held no ill will towards Yang Yong. If he had to say, he even hoped that Yang Yong could become emperor; there would be nothing wrong with him steadily inheriting the title of Duke of Tang. Unfortunately, this man was already in his thirties or forties and still remained so naive and willful.
Many old ministers who supported the Crown Prince advised the emperor and empress, claiming that if he had wise advisors, the Crown Prince would be capable of succeeding the imperial legacy.
But how could the emperor and empress trust these so-called wise advisors? Yang Jian himself had once been a minister of state, and the outcome was well known to all.
Prince Jin was ambitious and patient; the emperor and empress were not unaware of this. But wasn't that a good thing? If he lacked even this ability, how could he govern the world?
"Mother, are there any famous fortune tellers in Chang'an lately?"
"I have heard that there is a fortune teller from Shu who is exceptionally skilled in divination and is currently residing at Xuandu Temple in Chongye Workshop."
During this period, Buddhism and Daoism had a strong influence on princes, nobles, and commoners alike. Especially since the current emperor was particularly devoted to Monastic Daoism; he had grown up in a Buddhist environment. The era name Kaihuang was derived from Daoist scriptures, and now there were thirty-six Daoist temples in Chang'an, all built by imperial decree.
Li Jian Cheng took note of this; perhaps soon he would need to make use of these individuals.
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