Chapter 124: The Crown Prince's Counterattack (Part I)

"What? What did you say? The Secretariat of the Lantai? Whose decree is this? Speak, speak!"

In the study of the Xiande Hall within the Eastern Palace, the naturally frail Crown Prince Li Hong’s eyes were bloodshot. Like a lion in a blind rage, he grabbed a pathetic young eunuch, shaking and shoving him violently. Gone was his usual refined and gentle demeanor. This was hardly surprising; anyone subjected to such a gut-wrenching humiliation would likely react just as Li Hong did. Paper cannot wrap fire forever. Although Empress Wu had ruthlessly silenced all the maids and eunuchs in the Fengyi Palace, the truth did not remain confined within those walls. The news that Helan Minzhi had openly raped the future Crown Princess within the imperial palace spread through the official circles of the capital in a heartbeat. It left Crown Prince Li Hong caught in a scandalous affair for no reason, turning him into a laughingstock for the entire court and the public. What infuriated Li Hong even more was that after committing such a heinous act, Helan Minzhi not only escaped punishment but was actually promoted to the Secretariat of the Lantai. How could Li Hong possibly bear this?

"Your Highness, please calm your anger! Your Highness, please! This servant... this servant only knows that the imperial decree came from the Inner Palace. It must be true, Your Highness! I would never dare to deceive you, Your Highness..." With Li Hong’s outburst, the young eunuch he was holding onto was so terrified that he wet his pants, sobbing as he tried to explain.

"Scoundrel! They have bullied me too far! I will kill him! I will kill him! Ah..."

Li Hong might not have cared for the life of Yang Lingyu, his soon-to-be-wed fiancée—after all, they had only met once and had no real affection—but he could not ignore his own reputation. There was no doubt that the decree promoting Helan Minzhi was a public slap in his face, rubbing salt into an already agonizing wound. In all the world, nothing could have enraged Li Hong more. Even a commoner would find such an insult unbearable, let alone a Crown Prince. In his explosive fury, Li Hong found a strength he never knew he possessed; he hurled the young eunuch away and threw his head back, letting out a roar of madness.

"Your Highness, please calm down! Your Highness, please!"

Seeing that Li Hong had completely lost control, Wang Dequan, the deputy director of the Xiande Hall, was terrified. He rushed forward, trying to restrain the Crown Prince’s outburst. However, in his crazed state, Li Hong possessed astonishing strength, and Wang Dequan, fearing to use his full force, found himself unable to subdue the prince, panicking in his helplessness.

"Someone! Come here and pin him down!"

Just as Wang Dequan was at his wit's end, Yan Liben and Zhao Renben entered the study together. Seeing the state of the Crown Prince, Yan Liben immediately grew anxious and shouted. The young eunuchs, alerted by the commotion, rushed forward and struggled to press Li Hong down behind his desk. Another quick-witted eunuch took a mouthful of cold water and splashed it directly onto Li Hong’s face and body.

"I am fine now. All of you, leave. Get out!"

Perhaps it was the cold water that shocked him back to his senses, or perhaps the venting of his rage had lightened the pressure in his chest; Li Hong panted heavily for a long while before finally regaining his composure. He looked at the crowd with a vacant expression, waved his hand weakly, and gave a sullen order.

"Your Highness, your health is of the utmost importance. Do not lose the greater good over a minor issue," Yan Liben said, his heart heavy with sorrow as he watched Li Hong’s dejected expression. He spoke with subtle persuasion, not knowing how else to advise him.

"Forget it. I am fine. Let us discuss this. This matter cannot end like this." Although Li Hong had calmed down, the hatred in his heart had not diminished. He gritted his teeth and spoke with a chilling voice.

"Your Highness, that Helan Minzhi is nothing but a degenerate child. With your golden status, you really should not lower yourself to his level. If this matter were to escalate, it would only invite gossip. This old official truly cannot agree to such a course of action." The hatred of having one's wife-to-be violated was the greatest shame a man could suffer; Yan Liben understood this, yet he did not support the Crown Prince taking action against Helan Minzhi, and thus he offered his earnest advice.

"Indeed, Your Highness. This old official believes that the person behind this promotion of the Helan boy intends to provoke you into a conflict. If you fall for it, even if you win, you will have lost. Your Highness must be cautious," Zhao Renben added, following Yan Liben’s lead.

"What are you two thinking? Do I look like such a fool? Do you think I would fall for such a petty trick? What I want you to discuss is the matter of the Supreme Court of Justice. Hmph, you want me to fight the Helan boy? I intend to give that scoundrel a slap in the face first and see how he likes it!" Li Hong rolled his eyes, let out a grunt of dissatisfaction, and laid out his plans without reservation.

"Your Highness is brilliant! This is the perfect opportunity. We can make a show of attacking the main road while secretly crossing the Chencang. Caught off guard, we will surely achieve a great victory!" Upon hearing Li Hong’s words, Yan Liben smiled with relief, clapped his hands, and agreed.

"Exactly. Lord Yan is right. At this moment, everyone expects the Crown Prince to make a move against the Helan boy. Your Highness can feign an attack, keeping the truth uncertain, and that person will surely be unprepared. A single strike will secure our success. Moreover, although the Emperor was forced to issue that decree, he must feel guilty toward Your Highness and will likely assist you in secret. If the two kings are also willing to cooperate, what is there to fear?" Zhao Renben’s reaction was clearly a beat slower than Yan Liben’s, but once the secret was laid bare, he was quick to add his own praise.

"Hmm, then it is decided." Li Hong had already had a plan in mind, though he had been uncertain. Seeing his two trusted ministers agree, he raised no objections. He frowned slightly and nodded in consent, yet he felt no excitement; the hatred in his eyes only deepened.

After the sudden decree promoted Helan Minzhi to the Secretariat of the Lantai, countless eyes focused on the Eastern Palace. No one believed the Crown Prince would swallow such a bitter pill. Everyone waited to see how the Crown Prince would launch his counterattack. Clearly, under so many watchful eyes, there was little the Eastern Palace could do to hide. Soon, news spread that the Crown Prince had flown into a rage in his study and ordered his officials to impeach Helan Minzhi. Many of the Crown Prince’s faction began preparing their petitions. Amidst the tension, various factions began their secret preparations. The Prince of Lu, Li Xian, was no exception; he excitedly summoned Li Xian (Li Xian the younger) to discuss the matter.

"Seventh brother, have you heard? Heh, that fellow is going to drag the Helan boy to his death. Hahaha, it really is a fight to the finish. The momentum is quite something, isn't it? Seventh brother, what is your take on this?" Li Xian was clearly in a good mood. Upon seeing Li Xian arrive, he didn't even wait for him to sit down before he started talking excitedly.

Heard? He didn't need to hear about it. In his previous life, Li Xian had already experienced this once. It was the same incident—Helan Minzhi forcing himself upon the Yang woman, and the same decree promoting him to the Secretariat of the Lantai. Only, in that previous life, the Crown Prince had endured it and made no response. However, the political landscape of this life had changed significantly due to Li Xian’s interference. The current Crown Prince was clearly much stronger than he had been at the same period in the past and had both the ability and the reason to mount a powerful counterattack. The question was, what kind of counterattack would Li Hong unleash?

"Does the Sixth Brother have a firm opinion on this?" Li Xian had been pondering the Crown Prince’s movements before arriving at the Prince of Lu’s mansion, but he could not see the situation clearly. Seeing that Li Xian seemed to have an idea, he decided not to voice his own doubts and instead asked with a smile.

"I wouldn't call it a firm opinion. I only know one thing: no matter how despicable he is, he is still a member of our imperial clan. What the Helan boy has done may be a slap in the face to the Crown Prince, but it also casts shame on all of us brothers. Such a wild and arrogant brat—why not kill him? If that one is determined to take down the Helan scoundrel, I will certainly provide my full support. Heh, this move will first vent the anger in my heart, and second, after this ordeal, his reputation will be in the mud, and no matter what he does, he won't be able to recover. If I help him take his revenge, what does it matter?" Li Xian had no suspicions toward Li Xian and chuckled as he revealed his thoughts without reservation.

"Hmm, that is true."

Li Xian did not oppose Li Xian’s analysis. In fact, he had reached the same conclusion himself. Yet, deep down, he felt that things might not be so simple. After all, for the Crown Prince to duel with a degenerate like Helan Minzhi, even if he won, it was hardly a victory. Aside from venting his anger, it solved nothing, and he wouldn't regain much of his lost face. If he lost, he would be completely disgraced, and his position as Crown Prince might no longer be secure. Would Li Hong do something that offered so little gain? It seemed unlikely. Of course, in a fit of rage, it was possible, and that was precisely why Li Xian could not be certain of Li Hong’s actions.

"What? Does the Seventh Brother still have doubts? I have received accurate news that his men have already begun preparing the impeachment papers. Surely that cannot be false." Li Xian keenly noticed Li Xian’s hesitation and spoke with a hint of displeasure.

"Sixth Brother, I am only wondering about one thing. Let me put it this way: what Helan Minzhi has done is not just a slap to the Crown Prince's face; he has trampled upon the honor of our imperial family. Why would the Empress still protect him? Isn't that a strange affair?" Li Xian glanced at Li Xian and asked slowly.

"This... this..." Hearing this question, Li Xian was stunned. He stammered for a long time, unable to find a reasonable explanation, and his face turned unsightly in an instant.