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Li Yan had also served as the Thousand Cattle Guard for several years, which had fostered a deeper bond with the Emperor, although it did not prevent Yang Jian from suppressing the Li Family.
After the audience, Li Yan first respectfully reported to his uncle about his negligence in governance during his tenure as Prefect. Yang Jian did not hold back in criticizing him.
However, after the reprimand, he said, "These are tumultuous times; it's good that you have returned to the capital. You will first take on the role of City Gate Captain."
Though the title of City Gate Captain may not sound impressive, it was actually a fourth-rank official position responsible for guarding the gates of the Capital City. This position had historically been held by trusted relatives of the Emperor.
Yang Jian placing Li Yan in this position clearly indicated that he felt the court was somewhat chaotic after the Crown Prince's deposition and needed a trusted individual to oversee the city's defenses.
If Li Yan were merely a noble relative without a title, he would certainly be pleased. However, as the head of the Li Clan and Duke of Tang from the Sui Dynasty, with his legitimate eldest son still quite young, it was one thing to serve as Thousand Cattle Guard; it was quite another to be called back from serving as a lowly Prefect in a distant province just to be reprimanded and then assigned to guard the city gates. This felt somewhat excessive.
Nevertheless, Li Yan respectfully thanked him and repeatedly expressed his loyalty, which pleased Yang Jian enough that he couldn't help but engage in some casual conversation with his nephew.
After praising Yang Jian for a while, Li Yan steered the topic towards Qin Wang Yang Jun. After some deliberation, he said, "Prince Qin is benevolent and filial; since childhood, he has been devoted to Buddhist teachings. It is only due to being led astray by some rascals that he has indulged in a bit of luxury and pleasure. This is not a grave sin and should not warrant such severe punishment. I hope Your Majesty will consider this."
Yang Jian looked at Li Yan with some surprise and replied solemnly, "There are those in court who have advised me to establish Qin Wang as heir. Do you share this view, or has Qin Wang sent you as an envoy?"
Li Yan hurriedly explained, "I grew up alongside several princes. After Qin Wang fell ill and faced punishment from the Emperor and Empress, he has been dispirited. I couldn't bear to see this and thus interceded on his behalf."
Yang Jian was unconvinced and coldly snorted, "I have five sons; the deposed Crown Prince was extravagant and lecherous and was thus reduced to commoner status. The faults committed by Yang Jun are no different from those of Yang Yong. Even now, he retains his title due to my compassion. If I were to pardon him and restore his position or even establish him as heir, how could I then restrain my other sons and relatives?"
Not yet satisfied with this response, he ordered Li Yan to personally deliver an imperial edict to Qin Wang Mansion. Upon hearing this command, Li Yan showed signs of difficulty but left under Yang Jian's increasingly icy gaze.
Qin Wang Mansion was located in Peace Alley; just outside Hanguang Gate lay its entrance. Inside Qin Wang Mansion gathered many officials, though their ranks were not particularly high, and many were former ministers from the Chen Dynasty.
Li Yan arrived at the mansion as commanded, where Yang Jun came out accompanied by Princess Lincheng, the fifth daughter of Chen Shubao, to receive the edict.
Yang Jun was tall, but his complexion was pale. He had narrowly escaped death from poisoning, yet his health remained fragile.
Li Yan stood facing south, reading the emperor's edict: "I strive to fortify the borders and establish this Great Undertaking as a model for my subjects to follow. If you, my son, wish to undermine it, I do not know how to hold you accountable!"
Yang Jun's already weak body swayed at once; he opened his mouth to say something but suddenly blacked out and fell unconscious. His servant hurried forward to support and assist him.
The officials who had also heard the decree left the Qin Wang Mansion in unison. At such a critical moment, the emperor's merciless reprimand indicated that there was no hope left for Qin Wang.
Li Yan cast a sympathetic glance at Chen, who was weeping like a pear blossom in the rain. She was truly beautiful, but he could not linger long and could only apologize before leaving.
Little did he expect that Qin Wang would fall gravely ill. After submitting a memorial to plead for forgiveness, he expressed his fear that his days were numbered and hoped for his parents' compassion to see him one last time before passing, but Yang Jian believed he was merely feigning pity and issued another reprimand...
At home, Li Yan held his young son and sighed, "In the royal family, there are no father-son bonds; it is indeed true. I remember the emperor was not like this in the past; he was very fond of all his sons. Now it seems he only has some affection left for Han Wang, while the other princes have become mere subjects."
The Dou Family remarked, "The emperor's temperament has grown increasingly extreme; even if Prince Jin ascends to the throne, he will not fare well."
Li Jian Cheng was entertaining Li Xiuning by talking to a parrot when Li Yan said to his son, "Jian Cheng, Han Wang has invited you to a banquet. It wouldn't be good to refuse so harshly."
"His intentions are not good; why should we show him any mercy? I am not afraid of Han Wang's displeasure; Prince Jin will be pleased enough to hear about it."
Not long ago, Han Wang Yang Liang had sent someone to invite Li Jian Cheng to the banquet and had even sent two carts of gifts. However, Li Jian Cheng ordered them to be driven away and dumped the gifts directly onto the street.
Yet Li Jian Cheng knew that Han Wang was not broad-minded. The Li family's business interests in his territory would likely be jeopardized. This was also why Li Yan felt it unnecessary to be so harsh; maintaining some goodwill was better than tearing their relationship apart with no room for negotiation.
But in the grand scheme of things, such gains and losses were trivial, especially since they were merely financial losses. The family's treasury had accumulated wealth precisely for moments like this—to avoid being constrained by mundane profits.
Yang Liang was not open-hearted, and Yang Guang was even less so. After ascending the throne, how could he tolerate such a rival continuing to wield power? In just a few years at most, Han Wang would either be deposed and confined or face death.
As Yang Su took action, Shu Wang and Yang Xiu were forcefully summoned back to the capital. With all five sons of the emperor gathered in the city, the competition for the position of Crown Prince sparked much debate among officials and the public, but ultimately, Prince Jin had the highest support.
With news of Qin Wang lingering on his sickbed, he was effectively out of the running; no one dared to place their bets on someone whose future was uncertain.
Since Shu Wang entered the capital, his prominence gradually overshadowed that of Han Wang. After all, Han Wang was too young and had only been a prince for two years, with little to show for it.
In contrast, Shu Wang and Yang Xiu had been stationed in Yizhou, overseeing military affairs across twenty-four provinces for over a decade, earning considerable merit.
Shu Wang was bold and imposing, with a majestic appearance and impressive martial skills. He could be considered the son most resembling his father among the princes, earning him great respect from many court officials.
However, Yang Jian did not favor this son who resembled him the most. He had sent him away to be a prince at the age of eight or nine and once told Queen: "Xiu will surely meet a bad end; I have no worries about myself, but my brothers will surely rebel."
It was based on this statement that Yang Su privately persuaded the emperor to summon Yang Xiu back. Yang Jian was also concerned that if another person were named heir, his hot-tempered son would immediately rebel in the Shu Region, causing chaos in the state and dynasty, thus he decided to summon him back.
Naturally, Yang Xiu did not dare to rebel directly; he could only obediently return to the capital. However, he fancied that his father summoned him back with the intention of making him Crown Prince.
So, under the persuasion of several attendants, he even crafted some items along the way that were meant solely for the Crown Prince or even the emperor himself, exceeding what was appropriate.
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