Tang Dynasty Puppet Doctor

Chapter 175 Extra 1: The Contest with Princess Taiping
Another year has passed, winter has gone and spring has come. In Chang'an, the spring chill is still in the air, but all kinds of flowers are in full bloom.

Children roamed the streets, laughing and playing, singing songs of the new emperor's ascension to the throne and the peace that reigned throughout the land.

There were no dark clouds, no birdsong, no strange signs of characters appearing on white stones; the world was at peace, all nations came to pay tribute, and the people were healthy and well—this was the greatest auspicious omen.

"I heard that the current emperor is as swift as lightning on the battlefield, and with just one stroke he beheaded the Khitan leader Sun Wanrong, and then forced the Tibetan general Lun Qinling to jump off a cliff to commit suicide!"

"She is truly as brave as any man and as intelligent as any woman. The new empress did not kill her meritorious officials and wreak havoc like her predecessor. Instead, she issued many policies that benefited the people. She is truly a benevolent ruler!"

"Yes, but an emperor must not only be benevolent, but also ruthless. Some people deserve to be killed, such as the Cui family of Anping!"

Many scholars scoffed at the mention of the Cui family of Anping.

"Cui Shi single-handedly destroyed the entire Cui family's Anping House; he is truly awe-inspiring and invincible!"

"It's no wonder that the entire Cui family of Anpingfang was exiled along with him. This Cui Shi wasn't content with being Shangguan Wan'er and Princess Taiping's male lover; he even got Princess Anle pregnant with his child and encouraged her to poison her own father and become emperor, dreaming of becoming the emperor's consort. It's truly laughable!"

"I heard that he confessed in the Lijing Courtyard that he and Princess Anle embezzled the food and cotton clothing sent to the soldiers fighting against the Tibetans on the Anxi border, hoping that the soldiers on the border would freeze to death in Anxi."

"If the current emperor and Prime Minister Xiao hadn't fought a swift and decisive battle, defeating Lun Qinling and bringing back the 40,000 Tang troops before the blizzard arrived, who knows what might have happened?"

"He deserves to die! Utterly shameless!"

As these rumors spread like wildfire throughout the streets and alleys of Chang'an, Cui Shi, along with his four sons and a group of men, were escorted by government soldiers to the outskirts of Chang'an, preparing to travel thousands of miles to Lingnan.

The disheveled Cui Shi was a far cry from his former noble demeanor. He gazed longingly at the city gates of Chang'an. A soldier gave him a hard thud on the back and urged, "What are you looking at? The Emperor has already shown you great mercy by not beheading you immediately. Hurry up and go!"

Holy man!
That little girl, the one who seemed different from ordinary girls the first time we met, has now become a saint!
The world is truly unpredictable and ever-changing!
Just as Cui Shi was about to take a step forward, he suddenly heard a woman's voice call out, "Wait, I've come to see him off too!"

Cui Shi froze, then immediately turned around to look at Princess Taiping, who was stepping down from the carriage.

Although she is nearly forty years old, Taiping still looks as elegant and graceful as she did in her youth, but today, there is a hint of weariness in her eyes.

"Princess!"

Cui Shi cupped his hands and called out, his eyes filled with tears, as if a thousand words were unspoken in them.

"When you were with me before, I reminded you not to be too greedy. Although I know that you once deceived and used Wan'er, I still promoted you because I thought you still had some talent."

Regardless of character, you are the only one whose talent can rival Zicheng's. I never imagined you would set your sights on Princess Anle.

"It is I who have disappointed the princess!"

"So be it. We are both losers. No one could have predicted that someone who was not expected to seize the throne would become the final victor."

Taiping said in a low voice, his tone seemingly filled with resentment and regret.

"Princess, what do you intend to do?"

"The mantis stalks the cicada, unaware of the oriole behind. Everyone wants to be the oriole, but no one knows if they will be the last one to be caught."

Taiping sighed and said, "Cui Chenglan, go now, take care on your journey!"

"Thank you princess!"

Cui Shi choked back a sob, and finally walked away in heavy shackles.

But just a month later, when Cui Shi arrived in Jingzhou, he received a secret imperial edict and a cup of poisoned wine delivered by an imperial censor.

Despite his reluctance, this cup of poison ended his lifelong dream of ascending to the supreme throne!
……

In Princess Taiping's residence, Li Lingyue, who had received the secret letter, crumpled it into a ball and threw it into the charcoal fire, nodding and saying, "Do not mention this matter to anyone again!"

"Here!"

Taiping then turned to a man who had entered her residence and asked somewhat nervously, "Mr. Lu, do you think they will come after me?"

This man, named Lu Zangyong, was a strategist newly recruited into the government of Taiping. After passing the imperial examination, he lived in seclusion in Zhongnan Mountain, like Xie An of the Jin Dynasty, to cultivate his reputation until he was summoned by the court to serve in the government. He is currently the Vice Minister of the Ministry of Rites.

The term "shortcut to Zhongnan Mountain" also originated from him.

"Princess, it has always been the case that emperors are wary of meritorious officials. As for whether the current emperor is wary of you, we'll have to wait and see what Prime Minister Xiao says today."

Inviting Xiao Muchen to Princess Taiping's residence was a decision made by her and her advisors.

But this decision also made her feel extremely anxious and uneasy.

Just like six years ago, Taiping once again filled the mansion with the latest peonies, waiting for guests to come to the banquet. However, this time, she did not invite any scholars from the capital, and the only guest was Xiao Muchen.

At 1:15 AM, a gatekeeper finally came to report: "Prime Minister Xiao has arrived at the residence!"

Taiping dressed up in her finest attire and rose to greet him. She saw that Xiao Muchen was still dressed in the same white robe as always, with black hair like clouds, skin as white as snow, and a handsome appearance as if he were untouched by the world.

"Your Highness greets the Princess!"

"Please sit down!" After gesturing for him to sit down, Taiping teased, "You are now the Emperor's consort, yet you are still so polite to me."

"The princess is making fun of me."

"The world is truly unpredictable. I have tried to win over Zicheng many times in the past, but Zicheng has always adhered to the doctrine of the mean and has not attached himself to any faction. I thought that Zicheng was not greedy for power and was only devoted to serving the country. I thought that he would eventually retire after achieving his goal and live in seclusion. But I never expected that the result would be so different from what I imagined. It was completely unexpected."

"I've disappointed the princess!"

Princess Taiping had her maid pour Xiao Muchen a cup of wine, and then said with a smile:
"Could you tell me when it all began? When did Zicheng learn of her identity, and when did he begin plotting to help her ascend to the throne as Empress?"

Xiao Muchen said, "If I were to say that I had never had this thought before returning from Anxi, would the princess believe me?"

Taiping smiled, clearly disbelieving. "Then, may I ask how you did it? How did you manage to make the dragon recognize its master? And how did you win the hearts of all the people?" At this point, Taiping smiled bitterly again, "Even my mother relied on so many people to create favorable timing and location back then."

He fabricated auspicious omens, used the Great Cloud Sutra to promote his identity as the incarnation of Maitreya Buddha, and then took the opportunity to suppress the Li Tang imperial family and nobles, killing countless people to ascend the throne. Yet, it seems she did nothing at all?

"The 'dragon recognizing its master' tactic was actually just a kind of mechanical art created by the Mohists. It was a way to defeat Princess Anle's attempt to create public opinion using auspicious omens and prophecies. Ahuan never believed in these things, nor did she believe in any prophecies or destiny. She just did what she wanted to do."

"Do what you want to do wholeheartedly?" Taiping seemed somewhat puzzled.

"Yes, protecting the territory of the Tang Dynasty and driving out the traitors such as the Tibetans, Khitans, and Turks is what she wants to do. Protecting the people of the region to the best of her ability is also what she wants to do. Protecting those around her from any further harm is also what she wants to do. Of course, if the princess insists on considering it as an ambition, then let her call it an ambition!"

"So, is this why you are unwilling to help me? Do you think I don't have her magnanimity and concern for the world?"

Xiao Muchen remained silent for a moment before replying, "I know that the princess has been keeping a low profile, and that the princess possesses extraordinary wisdom and talent. But princess, have you ever been to the frontier? Have you ever gone to the common people to experience their hardships? Are the ministers you favor truly serving the country and working for the well-being of the people?"

Princess Taiping lowered her head somewhat embarrassedly. Leaving aside the other officials, Cui Shi was someone she had recommended and promoted, but this person had only good looks and talent, yet he had done some shameful and foolish things.

"I know, I know that those I promoted are not as good as Zicheng, at least not as good as Zicheng's sincere heart for the people of the world, but Zicheng, I can't win your heart!"

As Taiping spoke, tears welled up in her eyes. She glanced at the maid beside her, who then poured another cup of wine and placed it in front of Xiao Muchen.

When Xiao Muchen picked up the wine cup, Xuan Yu's heart jumped into his throat.

Just as he brought the wine cup to his lips, Princess Taiping suddenly called out, "Wait, Zicheng, play the zither for me one more time. It's been so long since I've heard you play!"

Xiao Muchen paused abruptly, holding his wine cup, and said with a smile:
"can!"

Immediately, he sat down beside the zither that Taiping had prepared and began to play it with focused concentration. Taiping sat opposite him, listening attentively. But as she listened, she seemed to drift into a dream.

In her dream, she helped her nephew Li Longji launch a coup, killing Lady Wei and her daughter in the palace. Afterwards, she assisted her brother, Prince Xiang, in ascending the throne. Later, Li Longji was exceptionally promoted from a son of a concubine to Crown Prince for his merit in supporting the ascension.

From then on, the siblings and aunt and nephew no longer shared the same kinship and mutual support they once had. Her brother feared her, her nephew feared her, and she was even more afraid that Li Longji would suppress his meritorious officials and kill her after he ascended the throne, just like Li Xian. So she decided to strike first and sent spies to poison Li Longji. However, the plot was exposed. Li Longji lured all her supporters into the palace and killed them all in one night. In the end, she also received a cup of poisoned wine.

After her death, her children were also executed one by one, and all her glory and wealth as a princess who protected the country were taken away, ultimately leading to the tragic end of her entire family being wiped out.

When the music stopped, Taiping suddenly woke up from her dream, looking at Xiao Muchen in astonishment and shock.

"Just now……"

"It was a dream I conjured for the princess. There's no need to be afraid; this has not yet happened, however..."

However, even if Xiao Muchen didn't say it, Taiping could understand that this was to tell her that if she continued to be obsessed with this power struggle, this dream might very well become a reality.

As Taiping pondered, Xiao Muchen walked up to her, picked up the wine cup again, and said, "After you finish this cup, Zicheng will be leaving. Take care, Princess!"

"and many more--"

Just as Xiao Muchen was about to drink, Taiping suddenly snatched the wine cup from his hand and said with tears in her eyes, "I won't drink anymore, Zicheng. There will be plenty of time in the future. When I hold another peony banquet in the palace, I will invite you to my residence to drink to your heart's content. You should go back first. I know that your wife is about to give birth. You should go back and spend more time with her!"

"it is good!"

After saying this, Xiao Muchen led Xuan Yu to leave Princess Taiping's residence. At this moment, Princess Taiping suddenly asked again, "Zicheng, aren't you worried that one day she will also be wary of you?"

Xiao Muchen turned around and smiled, saying, "If that day ever comes, I will have no regrets."

But I believe she won't!

Taiping was stunned for a moment, then fell silent, watching Xiao Muchen and Xuan Yu leave together.

On the way back to the palace, Xuan Yu wiped the cold sweat from his forehead and sighed, "That was close, my lord. If Princess Taiping hadn't stopped you, would you have really drunk that poisoned wine? You knew it was poisoned, didn't you?"

"Of course not, it's just a gamble. If we win, there will be less unnecessary fighting. With the world newly settled, it's always better to have less conflict."

"That's too dangerous. I definitely won't dare to come to Princess Taiping's residence again!"

……

"Princess, why did you stop him from drinking that wine?"

As soon as Xiao Muchen stepped out of Princess Taiping's residence, Lu Zangyong emerged from behind the curtain and asked.

"Do you think that if I really killed him, Li Linghuan would let me go? I'm afraid my fate would be even worse than that of the one in my dream just now?"

After speaking, Taiping sighed with regret, "Perhaps Zicheng is right. I do not have the magnanimity to care about the world. Over the years, I have been busy scheming against cruel officials and ministers. I finally managed to eliminate those treacherous officials, but in the end, I still have to fight against my own brother and my own nephews and nieces. I am indeed tired!"

……

After the carriage entered the palace, Xiao Muchen hurriedly got off and strode into the Zichen Palace where Murong Huan was. Before he even reached the palace gate, he saw Murong Huan standing at the entrance, seemingly having been waiting for a long time. He then strode over, touched her high, protruding belly, and carefully asked, "Are you tired? Let me carry you back to your chambers to rest."

"It's just a few steps, there's no need to carry me," Murong Huan said reproachfully, then stroked his cheek and asked, "Is everything resolved? Does she still have feelings for him?"

"Don't worry, Ah Huan. I believe the princess will eventually figure it out. Even if she doesn't, I will face it with you."

The implication is that if appeasement fails, then forceful suppression is the only option.

To maintain peace and stability in the world, one cannot rely solely on benevolence, a principle that Murong Huan fully understood.

"Alright, stop thinking about it. I'll go with you to the Imperial Garden. Many flowers are in full bloom now."

"it is good!"

As Murong Huan spoke, he raised his head and lightly kissed Xiao Muchen's lips: "Zicheng, it's so good to have you!"

Xiao Muchen also kissed her cheek, smiling as he said:

With you, I am content!