Chapter 134: Forcibly Seizing the Imperial Decree

Li Xian’s carriage rolled lazily along the grand avenue outside the palace. Its unhurried pace made it look more like a casual outing than the urgent transport of a man bearing grave news. Li Xian himself leaned back against the silk cushions with his eyes half-closed, appearing to be resting at his leisure. Yet, the occasional twitching of his eyelashes betrayed the turbulent waves of thought beneath his calm facade. His mind was not truly occupied with the arson case at hand—though thorny, it was not beyond resolution. Even if he could not achieve the strategic goal of a total sweep, he was absolutely confident he could strip away several layers of the Empress’s faction.

What truly troubled Li Xian was that Empress Wu had formally stepped to the forefront of the political stage. Perhaps soon, the beaded curtain used to feign modesty would vanish entirely, and the situation of the "Two Sages Ruling Simultaneously" would become irreversible. If that came to pass, the path ahead would be treacherous indeed.

Since ancient times, those who achieved the imperial throne were masters of the art of political ruthlessness and deception. In Li Xian’s view, no one surpassed Empress Wu in this regard. Even with the memories of three lifetimes, Li Xian dared not claim he could hold the upper hand against her. While he had consistently avoided defeat and occasionally gained the advantage, he knew well that he merely benefited from his knowledge of historical trends. However, as history diverged and the butterfly effect took hold, future changes would grow increasingly unpredictable. His advantage of "knowing history" was fading. Moreover, having repeatedly thwarted the Empress’s plans, he suspected he would become her primary target. A single misstep could lead to a disastrous fate.

Escape? A joke. Even if he had such thoughts, where could he go? To the desert to become a horse thief? That would be utterly ridiculous. Besides, a woman as obsessed with power as the Empress would never let him be, no matter how much he retreated. Would he allow the tragic fate of his previous life to repeat itself? Absolutely not. Having been reborn, he refused to be a punching bag again. Resistance was inevitable, yet the thought of the Empress’s cold-blooded methods made his heart race with anxiety.

People in later generations considered Zhu Yuanzhang the originator of secret police politics, but Li Xian knew that title belonged to Empress Wu. She simply practiced it with more subtlety. In his past life, before and after her ascension, she relied on two pillars to purge her enemies: the use of cruel officials and a sophisticated surveillance network. This network was the prototype of secret police politics. Li Xian had suffered greatly under it in his previous life—the deaths of his first wife, his eldest son, and his daughter were all the work of this apparatus. Clearly, the battle against the Empress was not merely a court struggle; it was a contest of shadow forces. While he had already begun laying his own foundation in the dark, its scale and strength were far from sufficient to withstand the Empress’s pressure. The realization only deepened his agitation.

He could not let the old woman proceed so smoothly. He had to find a way to curb the "Two Sages" situation, or at least delay it. If not, even the gods could not stop her from running amok. But how? Suddenly, an idea flashed through his mind, causing him to sit up so abruptly that he struck his head against the roof of the carriage with a loud *thud*. He yelped in pain, clutching his head, grateful that the noise of the carriage wheels masked his mishap from the guards outside.

"Damn it, that hurts," he cursed softly, rubbing the bump on his forehead. Yet, as he replayed his idea, he grew increasingly confident, and a triumphant smile tugged at the corners of his mouth.

"Your Highness, we have arrived at Chengtian Gate."

The voice of Gao Miao, impatient and urgent, came from outside. Li Xian quickly composed himself, smoothed his expression, and stepped out of the carriage. With Gao Miao’s assistance, he reached the palace gate, presented his identity plaque, and was soon summoned to the Liangyi Hall.

"Your son greets the Emperor and the Empress."

Entering the hall, Li Xian saw Emperor Gaozong and Empress Wu seated side-by-side at the head of the chamber. The ministers, including Xu Jingzong and Dai Zhide, stood to the sides with grim expressions, suggesting a heated argument had just concluded. Li Xian did not pause to ponder the topic; he strode forward and performed a formal salute.

"Xian'er, you arrive just in time," Gaozong said, his mood clearly foul. His voice was sharp, even laced with profanity—an uncharacteristic outburst for the Emperor. It was understandable; he had just ordered a thorough investigation of the Dali Temple, only to have the building mysteriously catch fire before the decree could even be formally issued. It was a direct slap in the face to his authority.

"Father, I went to the Dali Temple with my sixth brother to oversee the investigation," Li Xian replied, feigning alarm. "To our shock, we found the building already in flames. It is said the records warehouse was the target. I rushed here for your instructions before I could ascertain the full extent of the damage."

"A bunch of useless fools! I don't believe for a second that a fire just happened to break out. Investigate! We must investigate!" Gaozong roared.

"Your Majesty, calm yourself," Empress Wu said softly. "This matter must be investigated thoroughly, but it is delicate. In my view, since Cui Jing of the Jingzhao Prefecture has already taken charge, he should continue. Changing hands now would only hinder the process."

*Let Cui Jing investigate?* Li Xian sneered internally. *With a mole like Chen Renhao in place, he would turn black into white.*

"Father," Li Xian interjected before Gaozong could respond. "While Prefect Cui is a capable man, you have already decreed that my sixth brother should oversee the investigation. To change commanders now would be improper. Since my brother is already on the scene, it is best he remains responsible for the case."

"Your Majesty," Xu Jingzong stepped forward, "I believe the Prince of Zhou's suggestion is ill-advised. By law, such a fire falls under the jurisdiction of the Jingzhao Prefecture. To have the Prince of Lu burdened with two separate matters is impractical. I beg for your ruling."

"I disagree," Le Yanwei, a loyalist to the Crown Prince, stepped forward to challenge him. "The fire is suspicious and likely linked to the original case. They should be handled together."

"Enough!" Gaozong slammed his hand on the table, silencing the bickering ministers.

"Father," Li Xian said, sensing his moment. "Argument is useless. The court is in shock; we must uncover the truth to restore order. Please make your decision."

Provoked by Li Xian’s urgency, Gaozong took a rare stand. Ignoring the Empress's silent disapproval, he waved his hand. "My mind is made up. My son Xian will assist his brother in this investigation. You have ten days to solve this case. Someone, draft the decree!"