Chapter 107: Grab Whatever You Can Get (Part 2)

"Minister Liu, explain to me how this matter came to be, hmm?"

Crown Prince Li Hong had always been a man of gentle and refined character, rarely prone to fits of temper. But when he was truly angered, the consequences were far from trivial. At this moment, Li Hong was clearly in a state of fury. Though he did not descend into coarse abuse, his complexion had turned ashen, his gaze was murderous, and the veins on his forehead pulsed violently—all signs of the intensity of his rage. He was merely holding back, yet the ferocity in his demand was enough to chill even a seasoned veteran of the court like Liu Xiangdao.

"Your Highness, please calm your anger. Your humble servant... ah, your servant was foolish. I spoke wild words after drinking, which was deeply unbecoming of a court official. I truly should not have done so; I have failed your trust, Your Highness. Your servant..."

Facing the furious Crown Prince, regret surged within Liu Xiangdao, but in this world, there is no medicine for regret. Now that things had come to this, it was too late for words. Liu Xiangdao could only offer his apologies with a face full of agony, his features twisted into a mask of bitter distress.

"Enough! I have told you many times: these are difficult times, and I expect you all to conduct yourselves with care and not lose the greater good for the sake of the trivial. But you—you drank your fill and spewed whatever dog-shit came to mind, without a care for the occasion! Now that such a disaster has occurred, how am I to handle it? Tell me, tell me!"

The Crown Prince was truly enraged. For days, things had been going poorly for him. Not only had half of his authority as regent been seized by Li Xian, but Empress Wu had also been interfering in state affairs, frequently rejecting the memorials Li Hong had already reviewed. These frustrations had left him on edge, and now, to have this mess dropped on his lap—how could he contain his mounting volatility? Before Liu Xiangdao could finish his plea, Li Hong slammed his hand onto the table and roared.

"Your servant is guilty, your servant deserves death..."

Seeing Li Hong erupt, Liu Xiangdao stopped trying to explain and threw himself to the floor, kowtowing like a man pounding garlic. The poor man was nearly seventy years old; in his terror, he looked even more aged, his entire body trembling like chaff in the wind.

"Your Highness, please calm yourself. Since the matter is done, anger will not mend it. It would be better to deliberate on a long-term solution."

Yan Liben had also been angered by the incident, but seeing his colleague of many years in such a wretched state, he felt a sense of sympathy. Seeing that the Crown Prince was on the verge of making an example of Liu Xiangdao, he stepped forward to offer a gentle word of counsel.

"A long-term solution? I would like to, but the Empress... *sigh*. What have I done wrong to deserve such retribution? I..." Li Hong waved his hand in frustration, his expression shifting, before he collapsed back into his seat, sighing with a heart full of bitterness.

"Do not despair, Your Highness. This matter has not reached a point of no return. His Majesty is a man of reason and will surely not condemn a man for a slip of the tongue. Even if Minister Xu holds great power, he cannot conceal the truth from the heavens. As long as we do not fall into chaos, this legal battle can still be fought." Yan Liben, having long navigated the treacherous waters of the court, understood the gravity of the situation, but seeing the Crown Prince’s sorrow, he felt compelled to offer comfort.

"Sigh, do I not know that my father is benevolent? But he is now bedridden, and even I find it difficult to see him. Now that the impeachment memorial is in the hands of the Empress, I fear this is no longer for me to decide. I fear even my father..." Li Hong stopped mid-sentence, sensing it was improper to go on, but his meaning was clear: the situation was dire.

Silence descended. After Li Hong’s words, both the kneeling Liu Xiangdao and the standing Yan Liben were struck dumb. Everyone understood the crux of the matter, but knowing the problem was one thing; knowing how to respond was another. It was not just an issue of Empress Wu; there was also the formidable rival, Li Xian, in the court. To resolve this smoothly would be no easy feat.

"Reporting to Your Highness, the Prince of Zhou is at the palace gate requesting an audience."

Just as the three men were staring at one another, Wang Dequan, the vice-steward of the Xiande Hall, hurried in from outside the study. Seeing Liu Xiangdao kneeling in such a miserable state, he was startled but dared not ask questions. After a moment of hesitation, he hurried forward and bowed to report.

"Why is he here? No!"

Li Hong’s mind was in turmoil, and he had no desire for guests. Furthermore, having been outmaneuvered by Li Xian several times, he had long lost the desire to court his favor. He waved his hand coldly and barked a refusal.

"Ah, yes, this servant will go and turn away the Prince of Zhou."

Seeing Li Hong’s grim expression, Wang Dequan dared not delay. He acknowledged the order and turned to leave.

"Wait."

Before Wang Dequan could take a step, Yan Liben frowned and suddenly called out, stopping him.

"Hmm? Master Yan, what are you..."

Hearing Yan Liben intervene, Li Hong raised his head, looking at him with suspicion.

"Your Highness, regardless of the Prince of Zhou's intentions, he has come to request an audience in accordance with court etiquette. If he is turned away now and word spreads, it may be greatly disadvantageous. Perhaps you should see him. If you find the meeting unpleasant, you can dismiss him later." Yan Liben advised tactfully.

"Hmm, very well. Send him in."

Though Yan Liben’s words were vague, Li Hong understood the underlying meaning: Liu Xiangdao had been impeached precisely for criticizing Li Xian. If Li Hong refused to see Li Xian now, it would inevitably create the misconception that Liu Xiangdao’s drunken words were actually Li Hong’s true intent. This would be catastrophic for his reputation. Thus, despite his deep reluctance, he had no choice but to agree.

"Yes, this servant will go."

Upon receiving the Crown Prince’s consent, Wang Dequan did not linger and hurried out to the palace gate.

"Get up, why are you still kneeling!" After Wang Dequan left, Li Hong stared blankly for a moment before snapping out of his thoughts. He glared at the kneeling Liu Xiangdao and snorted coldly. Ignoring Liu’s reaction, he turned to Yan Liben and said, "Master Yan, you all should step aside for now. I want to see what that fellow is planning."

"As you command, Your Highness." Yan and Liu did not dare to delay, acknowledging the order and retreating into the side chamber behind the study.

"Your younger brother pays his respects to the Crown Prince."

Li Xian arrived quickly. Not long after the two men had hidden, Li Xian entered the study. Seeing Li Hong sitting behind his desk with a poor complexion, he did not dare to be slight, stepping forward to offer a respectful greeting.

"Seventh Brother is here. Sit."

Facing Li Xian’s salutations, Li Hong merely nodded indifferently. He offered no welcome, nor did he lash out with harsh words; there was only a cold, distant detachment.

"Thank you, Crown Prince."

Li Xian had long prepared himself for Li Hong’s attitude and did not mind the coldness. After thanking him respectfully, he walked to a low table on the side, knelt, and sat. He did not speak immediately, but instead watched Li Hong with a faint smile.

"Do you have business with me, Seventh Brother?"

Li Hong waited for a while, and seeing that Li Xian did not speak, his bad mood got the better of him. He frowned and asked impatiently.

"I have come specifically regarding the matter of Minister Liu. I wonder if the Crown Prince would be willing to hear me out?" Since Li Hong had asked, Li Xian did not hide his purpose.

"Speak!"

Although Li Hong had guessed that Li Xian’s arrival had everything to do with the impeachment of Liu Xiangdao, hearing it confirmed still filled him with rage. His face twitched, but unable to vent, he could only grit his teeth and snort coldly.

"Your Highness, please observe. I believe Minister Liu’s words were merely drunken babble. I have not taken them to heart. However, since the matter has reached the Empress, it is no longer something we can control. I ask for your understanding in this." Li Xian’s face was filled with feigned apology as he spoke with a humble demeanor.

"Hmm."

At this point, Li Hong cared little whether Li Xian was offended or not; he cared only about how to win this legal battle. Thus, no matter how sincere Li Xian sounded, Li Hong remained unmoved. He gave a noncommittal grunt, his expression of displeasure undiminished.

*Tsk, what a small-minded man. Good grief, just because I tricked you once, there’s no need to hold such a grudge. Boring. Fine, I’ll just hit you with something heavy!* Li Xian inwardly mocked Li Hong. His eyes darted as he made a decision, and having no interest in beating around the bush, he bowed and said, "Crown Prince, I have come to tell you only one thing: the Empress is about to ascend to the throne!"

"Hmm?" Li Hong clearly did not expect such shocking words from Li Xian. His complexion changed instantly, and he stared at Li Xian in disbelief, unable to utter a word for a long time. Finally snapping out of his stupor, he shook his head and glared at Li Xian. "Seventh Brother, do not talk nonsense!"

*Nonsense? Hardly.* Li Xian stared back, unfazed. "When have you ever seen me talk nonsense, Crown Prince?"

"This..."

Seeing that Li Xian did not appear to be alarmist, Li Hong froze once more. He stammered, unable to form a complete sentence.