Chapter Seventy-Nine: The King of Qin Will Not Be Let Off Easily

Li Shimin eradicated Xue Renguo, removing the threat from the west to Great Tang. Although the interference of the Turks and Liang Shidu displeased Li Yuan, on the whole, the situation in the empire was greatly alleviated. In his excitement, Li Yuan bestowed rewards and honors, appointing Prince Qin, Li Shimin, as Minister of the Imperial Secretariat. In the Northern Song and Five Dynasties period, this title was merely honorary, but during the Tang dynasty, it carried significant authority—the Secretariat commanded the Six Ministries, holding real power equivalent to that of a prime minister.

As soon as Li Yuan’s decree was announced, Li Jiancheng’s heart was thrown into turmoil. Especially when Liu Wenjing seized the opportunity to propose deposing the Crown Prince and naming Li Shimin as heir apparent. Although the proposal was ultimately rejected by senior officials like Pei Ji, Feng Lun, and Feng Deyi on the grounds that the state was unsettled, replacing the heir would harm the realm, and that the Crown Prince had committed no fault, the matter nonetheless left Li Jiancheng feeling as if he had swallowed a fly.

After court was dismissed, Li Jiancheng and Li Shimin left the Ganlu Hall together, but more than half the officials clustered around Li Shimin.

“Congratulations to Your Highness Prince Qin on your promotion!”

“Best wishes, Your Highness Prince Qin, on your elevation!”

“Congratulations, Your Highness Prince Qin!” The chorus of voices rang in Li Jiancheng’s ears, each word stinging unbearably.

Wei Ting, watching the throng of courtiers flocking forward, sneered with disdain. “A pack of sycophants and opportunists, every last one of them.”

“Sycophants?” Li Jiancheng smiled bitterly. “Has my fortune truly waned so soon?”

“Your Highness the Crown Prince overthinks it,” Wei Ting replied, but his words lacked conviction.

…

When Crown Princess Zheng Guanyin saw Li Jiancheng return from the palace and sit by the window in a daze, sighing anxiously and frowning, her concern grew. Born to the illustrious Zheng clan of Xingyang—one of Shandong’s seven eminent lineages—her great-grandfather Zheng Daoyu had been Minister of Rites and Governor of Xuzhou under the Later Wei. Her grandfather Zheng Chen had served as Chief Steward of the Minister of Works, Censor-in-Chief, Prefect of Yingchuan, and Duke of Wushan. Her father Zheng Jibo had been a high official in Northern Qi and Sui, and Governor of Kuaizhou. Having grown up in such a milieu, Zheng Guanyin was hardly a sheltered gentlewoman ignorant of political intrigue.

After a moment’s thought, Zheng Guanyin could not restrain herself and stepped forward. “Your Highness, what troubles you so?”

“Alas…” Suddenly, Li Jiancheng seemed to come to a realization. His expression turned cold and his eyes flashed as he fixed Zheng Guanyin with a sharp gaze. “The inner palace must not meddle in affairs of state!”

“True though that may be, we are husband and wife, bound together in fortune and adversity. Does Your Highness view me as another Empress Lü or Jia Nanfeng?” Zheng Guanyin met his piercing eyes unflinchingly.

Hearing her words, Li Jiancheng deflated a little. Empress Lü, the infamous Empress Dowager Lü, nearly usurped the Han dynasty, while Jia Nanfeng, daughter of Jia Chong and consort to Emperor Hui of Western Jin, was known for her jealousy and ugly appearance; she wielded power owing to the emperor’s weakness and became one of the instigators of the “War of the Eight Princes,” which in turn led to the devastation of the realm.

Li Jiancheng’s tone softened and he sighed. “I truly am… powerless.”

He then recounted how Li Yuan had rewarded Li Shimin for his great service to the realm and appointed him as Minister of the Imperial Secretariat, and how Liu Wenjing had proposed deposing the Crown Prince in favor of Prince Qin.

Li Jiancheng said bitterly, “Father is so partial. If Second Brother achieves further military merit, will he truly be given my position as heir?”

“Your Highness is lost in the moment,” Zheng Guanyin replied, showing no sign of alarm, but rather a relaxed demeanor.

“Oh?” Li Jiancheng’s eyes lit up. “Why do you say that, Guanyin?”

She answered, “If His Majesty truly intended to replace the Crown Prince, wouldn’t he first strip you of your supporters?”

Li Jiancheng nodded.

She continued, “Have Wei Ting, Li Anyan, Duan Lun, or Lu Chisong been dismissed or demoted?”

Li Jiancheng shook his head. “No.”

“And what of He Deren, judiciary of Hedong, or Ren Kui of Hedong County, who are close to you? Have they been implicated?”

Again, Li Jiancheng shook his head.

Suddenly, understanding dawned. Li Gang, Dou Gui, Zheng Shanguo, Yu Bao, Chen Ziliang, Xiao Deyan, Zhao Hongzhi, Xu Shimo, Ouyang Xun, Tang Lin, Tang Xian, Dou Gan, Feng Li, Xie Shufang—all had longstanding ties with him and had spoken out in opposition to Liu Wenjing in court. In fact, his influence in the court had only grown.

Could it be that his diligent efforts in reforming government, tax laws, and issuing decrees had simply made his father wary?

Li Jiancheng asked, “So Father has no intention of deposing me?”

“Of course not. The heir to a nation is not so lightly set aside,” Zheng Guanyin replied. “Consider past emperors—how many surpassed Emperor Wu of Han in prestige? Even he, when insisting on deposing Liu Ju, faced such universal condemnation that he was forced to confess his guilt at Luntai.”

Li Jiancheng suddenly rose, affectionately embracing Zheng Guanyin and pressing his forehead to hers. “Guanyin, you are too clever—my very own Lady Zhuge.”

Zheng Guanyin broke free of his arms, her face tinged with gentle reproach. “In broad daylight—what if someone sees?”

Li Jiancheng laughed. “Within the Eastern Palace, who would dare gossip?”

“I’ll yield to you then. But if the censors memorialize you for public impropriety in daylight, it will be no laughing matter…”

Li Jiancheng’s countenance darkened and his ardor faded. “Guanyin speaks wisely,” he nodded.

Zheng Guanyin glanced around and ordered, “You may all withdraw now.”

The palace maids and eunuchs bowed their heads and hurried out. Once the hall was empty, Zheng Guanyin said, “Still, Your Highness, we must not be unprepared.”

“How should we prepare?” Li Jiancheng asked, puzzled.

She replied, “Great Tang is a nation built on military strength—there are many places still at war. Why let Prince Qin monopolize these opportunities?”

“I am stationed in Chang’an—how could I leave so easily?”

“Even if you cannot personally lead troops, you must not let Prince Qin have all the chances for military glory,” Zheng Guanyin advised. “Though you have few close allies among the generals, why not use your own men?”

“My own men?” Li Jiancheng immediately thought of Xue Wanche.

“But Xue Wanche is Governor in Jingzhou. He’s best left where he is,” he said.

“The Eastern Palace commands six military units—Xue Wanche is not your only officer,” Zheng Guanyin responded.

“Indeed!” Li Jiancheng said. “In the Right Guard and Weixun’s two bureaus, there is also Chen Ying—a youthful hero. Recently, with just over three hundred soldiers, he quelled the rebellion in Pangqidi and brought back over fifteen hundred elite troops! Unfortunately, Second Brother overshadowed him in that campaign.”

“Next time there’s a chance to lead troops in battle, let Chen Ying go,” Zheng Guanyin suggested.

“As it happens, there is such an opportunity now!” Li Jiancheng exclaimed. “Liang Shidu is attacking Lingzhou. Ordinarily, Lingzhou could repel him, but now the Turks have stationed five thousand light cavalry at Langzhuling. Lingzhou fears it cannot hold alone, and the court is still deliberating reinforcements.”

“No matter who goes to Lingzhou, Prince Qin must not be allowed to go!” Zheng Guanyin declared.

Li Jiancheng nodded in emphatic agreement. “Exactly!”