Tang Dynasty, my wife Wu Zetian

Chapter 501 The Prince of Yan and the Prince of Yong

The Prince of Yan's residence, backyard.

All the servants and eunuchs looked at Li Lian with nervous expressions.

It turned out that Li Lian was holding a brush and washing the body of a baby elephant.

This baby elephant was brought from Kunming and Tibet by Li Xiao about two weeks ago as a gift for Li Lian.

Although the baby elephant was only three years old, it already weighed two or three hundred pounds. Fearing that the baby elephant might hurt Li Lian, many of the servants carried ropes and sticks, ready to deal with any emergencies.

Fortunately, the baby elephant was very well-behaved, and it didn't make any move after Li Lian finished washing it.

Li Lian was very busy. After washing the baby elephant, he ran to the stable to wash a pony, which Li Yong had brought to him from Anxi a month ago.

At the beginning of this year, Li Yong went to Anxi to assume his fiefdom as he wished, but unfortunately the war was over and he had no room to make any contributions.

Anxi has many horse ranches. Li Yong served as the Deputy Protector-General of Anxi, responsible for the governance of the eastern part of Anxi, with his capital in Kucha City.

There happened to be a large pasture near Kucha, where many fine horses were kept.

Although Li Yong was the Deputy Protector-General of Anxi, he didn't usually manage affairs, which were handled by his subordinates. So he often went to the horse farm to practice riding and archery.

This foal is a fine horse that grew up on a horse farm.

Li Yong and Li Xiao sent him gifts to celebrate his change of title to king.

At the beginning of this year, because Li Xian turned ten, Li Jingxuan, the Minister of Rites, requested an imperial decree to change Li Xian's title to that of a prince.

Li Lian was always grateful for Li Xian's guidance, so he took the initiative to submit an imperial edict, giving the title of Prince Yong to his younger brother and requesting to change his own title.

Prince Yong was the highest-ranking title among princes. At the time, Emperor Gaozong of Tang was favoring Consort Xiao, which is why Li Lian received this title.

Now that Li Lian has grown up and matured, he knows that it will not benefit him to continue to hold this title, especially since Li Xian has indeed helped him.

Emperor Gaozong (Li Zhi) loved seeing his sons get along well. Seeing Li Lian's humility towards his younger brother, he granted his wish and changed Li Xian's title to Prince of Yong and Li Lian's title to Prince of Yan.

Therefore, Li Yong and Li Xiaocai gave him gifts as both a celebration and a comfort.

After being enfeoffed as the Prince of Yan, Li Lian became even more low-key, rarely going out and staying at home raising horses and elephants, waiting to leave the capital to take up his fiefdom the following year.

He has already decided on his fiefdom and will ask his father for permission to go to the Songzhou Governor's Office, which is very close to Kunming, Tibet and Anxi.

The Qiang people had just experienced unrest and were in a period of instability.

The Songzhou Governor's Office was an important government office for managing the Qiang people. Li Lian also wanted to make a name for himself in Songzhou and impress his father and two elder brothers.

While Li Lian was thinking about the future, he was scrolling through his little horse when a doorman came to report that someone wanted to pay him a visit.

Without turning his head, Li Lian asked, "Who wants to see me?"

The gatekeeper said, "Your Highness, that man claims to be a member of the Xiao family."

Li Lian's expression changed slightly, and he said in a deep voice, "I won't see him!"

The doorman added, "That man also said that he is Xiao Zhiyan's younger brother and has come to pay his respects to you on his elder brother's orders."

Li Lian exclaimed in surprise, "Xiao Zhiyan?"

"Exactly."

Li Lian's heart pounded. When the Xiao family was preparing to support him, they had Xiao Zhiyan serve as the Flying Dragon Envoy in the Eastern Palace, teaching him the ways of the crown prince every day.

After Xiao Siye died, Xiao Zhiyan also resigned from his official post. When he left the Eastern Palace, he only said one sentence to him: that he should not have any other thoughts in the future, but only focus on having fun and be a carefree prince, so that he could protect himself.

The two never saw each other again after that.

Why did Xiao Zhiyan suddenly send someone to find him again?
At this moment, a head guard of the Prince's residence said in a deep voice, "Your Highness, it's best not to see Xiao Zhiyan!"

Li Lian asked, "Why?"

The head guard said, "I heard that Xiao Zhiyan committed a crime and was taken to the East Palace. He has not been released yet."

Li Lian asked, "What crime did he commit?"

"I am not clear about the specifics, but it seems to be related to a murder case."

"A murder case?" Li Lian was shocked.

"Yes, just a few days ago, a member of the Wei family of Jingzhao suddenly died in an inn."

Li Lian frowned and remained silent.

Now, with a broad perspective and a yearning for the outside world, his heart has long since flown away from Chang'an City, and he is no longer willing to concern himself with the trivial matters of Chang'an.

But Xiao Zhiyan and he did have some kind of relationship after all.

Deep down, Li Lian harbored a deep fear: that his secret with the Xiao family would be discovered by others.

At that time, he was young and only knew to follow Xiao Shuren's orders without thinking much about it.

Of course, deep down, he also harbored the idea of ​​becoming the crown prince.

Looking back now, I realize how outrageous this was. A prince secretly learning the ways of the crown prince—what would happen if he were discovered?
Therefore, he kept his distance from the Xiao family members, hoping that this secret would never be known to anyone.

Now that Xiao Zhiyan has suddenly sent someone to look for him, it has once again stirred up his painful memories.

If we ignore Xiao Zhiyan, will he give up and reveal the secret, dragging us down with him?

Li Lian turned to look westward and murmured, "My two elder brothers, what should I do?"

"Your Highness, what did you say?" the head guard asked.

Li Lian took a deep breath and instructed, "Have that person wait for me in the outer hall."

The doorman accepted the order and quickly ran away.

Li Lian changed his clothes and quickly went to the outer hall, where he saw a tall and thin young man of about twenty years old waiting in the hall.

"My name is Xiao Zhifan, and I pay my respects to Your Highness, the Prince of Yan!"

Li Lian walked to the head of the table and sat down, not letting him sit down, but staring at him intently, and said, "What brings you here to see me?"

Xiao Zhifan knelt on the ground and pleaded, "Please, Your Highness, save my brother."

Li Lian asked, "I've heard some things about your brother. Is he really involved in that murder case?"

Xiao Zhifan said urgently, "Absolutely no relation!"

Li Lian said, "His Highness the Crown Prince is acting as regent by imperial decree and will surely be impartial in his dealings. Since it is none of your business, you can go back and wait for news. Why did you come to see me?"

Xiao Zhifan gritted his teeth and said, "Does Your Highness know who the four suspects who were invited to the Eastern Palace are?"

Li Lian picked up his teacup and said, "I don't know, and I don't want to know."

Xiao Zhifan seemed not to hear him and continued, "Besides my elder brother, the other three are Li Jingye from the Duke of Ying's mansion, Wei Yue from the Wei family, and Yuwen Kang from the Yuwen family!"

Li Lian said, "So what?"

Xiao Zhifan said loudly, "These three people are all of extraordinary status, and the power of their families is even more remarkable."

Li Lian frowned and asked, "What does this have to do with the case?"

"Of course it's related! If Your Highness can't find out, and someone has to be made a scapegoat, who do you think will be made a scapegoat?"

Li Lian was taken aback, and said in a deep voice, "Nonsense, how could His Highness the Crown Prince not be able to find out?"

Xiao Zhifan said, "It would be best if we could find out, but I'm afraid that the powerful families behind it will destroy the evidence and my brother will end up as the scapegoat!"

Li Lian was silent for a moment, then said, "Then what do you want me to do?"

"I implore Your Highness Prince Yan to go to the Eastern Palace and plead with His Highness the Crown Prince on behalf of my brother. If the matter cannot be found out, His Highness the Crown Prince will not use my brother as a scapegoat out of consideration for you!"

Li Lian said irritably, "Nonsense! You seem certain that His Highness the Crown Prince can't find out?"

Xiao Zhifan said in a low voice, "Your Highness should also know who Wei Shen is. This case involves so much, I'm afraid it will be very difficult to find a result!"

Li Lian thought to himself, "Isn't Wei Shen just a member of the Wei family? How much involvement could he possibly have?"

He didn't want to ask too many questions right away, so he waved his hand and said, "You may leave now. Let me think about this matter carefully." Xiao Zhifan kowtowed and said, "I entrust everything to Your Highness." He got up and was about to leave, but after taking a few steps, he suddenly turned back and said, "Your Highness, my brother said that if he is convicted, I'm afraid it will be difficult for him to keep his mouth shut."

Li Lian flew into a rage: "Are you threatening me?"

Xiao Zhifan lowered his head and said, "I dare not."

Seeing his men staring at him strangely, Li Lian was startled. He waved his hand and said, "You may leave. I will consider this matter carefully."

"Then thank you very much, Your Highness Prince Yan." Xiao Zhifan bowed again, took his leave, and departed.

After he left, Li Lian hurriedly sent someone to investigate Wei Shen's matter. More than two hours later, the person he sent finally returned to the mansion to report.

This matter was originally quite secretive, but Li Lian, being a prince, had very capable subordinates who managed to find out the truth.

When Li Lian heard that Wei Shen was plotting a treason, he felt a chill run down his spine.

Xiao Zhiyan's involvement in such a major case could very well implicate the entire Xiao family.

If he does nothing, he will definitely retaliate and reveal what happened when he taught him at the Flying Dragon Academy.

Moreover, the entire Xiao family will suffer a devastating disaster, and his birth mother will likely be implicated as well.

But if he really is involved in a treasonous plot, wouldn't helping him be going against my father and the imperial court?

Li Lian locked himself in his room and didn't sleep all night.

The next day, as dawn broke, he finally made his decision. He took a bath, changed his clothes, and headed towards the East Palace.

These past few days, with the emperor gone to Shanzhou and the crown prince overseeing the state, the Eastern Palace has become even more lively than usual.

Officials from the two provinces and six ministries constantly passed through the passageways of the Eastern Palace.

Seeing this, Li Lian thought to himself, "Being the crown prince isn't all that great. Wu Lang is younger than me, yet he's already so busy. It's nothing like my leisurely life at home."

Upon arriving at the rear hall of the Lizheng Hall, after announcing his arrival, a palace attendant invited him into the hall.

There was only one person in the hall, but it was not Crown Prince Li Hong, but the Sixth Prince Li Xian.

"Sixth Prince, it's you? Where is the Crown Prince?" Li Lian asked curiously.

Li Xian spread his hands and said, "Fifth Brother went to the Empress Dowager's villa outside the city."

Li Lian asked in surprise, "Is it the villa of Consort Wei?"

Li Xian muttered, "Yes, news came from the Wei residence that after hearing about Wei Yue's matter, the Dowager Consort Wei was so angry that she fainted. When she woke up, she was too weak to get out of bed, so my brother had to take the imperial physician to see her."

Li Lian frowned and said, "That's how it is." He paused, then asked, "Sixth Brother, how's the investigation into Wei Shen going?"

Li Xian laughed and said, "Why is Fourth Brother suddenly concerned about this matter as well?"

Li Lian snorted, "If you don't want to talk about it, I won't ask." He turned to leave.

Li Xian quickly grabbed him and said with a smile, "Oh dear, I was just asking a question, why are you angry? Sit down and let me explain!"

Li Lian had always been wary of the Empress's children, but Li Xian's personality was so endearing that he wanted to distance himself from him, yet he couldn't bring himself to be angry with him, so he had no choice but to sit down with him on the couch.

"Go ahead."

Li Xian asked, "Fourth brother, do you know who died?"

Li Lian said, "I know, Wei Shen of the Wei family of Jingzhao."

“That makes things easier. This matter involves four people, as you, Fourth Brother, know?” Li Xian asked again.

Li Lian nodded.

Li Xian said, "These four people are not ordinary people, and their families are even more powerful. I suggested using torture, but my brother disagreed, so we haven't been able to get anything out of them yet."

Li Lian asked, "What are you going to do if we can't find out?"

Li Xian was stunned and said, "Can't they find anything? That can't be right, can it?"

"I mean if."

Li Xian's heart skipped a beat. He glanced at Li Lian and smiled, "If we can't find out, we'll have to find someone to take the blame. Otherwise, it'll be hard to explain to Father."

Li Lian raised an eyebrow and said, "Are you planning to make the Xiao family a scapegoat?"

Li Xian stroked his chin and said, "Of the four, Xiao Zhiyan has the least background, so he is indeed the best candidate!"

Li Lian said in a deep voice, "What if I don't allow it?"

Li Xian suddenly stopped smiling, stared at Li Lian, and said, "Fourth brother, you have indeed come for the Xiao family."

Li Lian was slightly startled and fell silent.

Li Xian picked up an orange and handed it to Li Lian, saying with a smile, "Hey, Fourth Brother, your mother is a member of the Xiao family. It's perfectly reasonable for you to come and plead for the Xiao family. I'm not blaming you, so why the long face?"

Li Lian said in a low voice, "But she... she was demoted to a commoner by my father, and he won't allow me to see her."

Li Xian said solemnly, "Therefore, Fourth Brother, you should not get involved in this matter. Don't worry, with me here, I will never let your Xiao family suffer an injustice."

Li Lian gazed at him for a long while, feeling a warmth in his heart, and said, "Alright, then thank you very much, Sixth Brother."

Before he arrived, he had made up his mind that if Wei Shen's death had nothing to do with Xiao Zhiyan, then he would try his best to help him and not let him suffer a loss.

If Wei Shen was indeed killed by Xiao Zhiyan, then he would never help him again, no matter what. Even if Xiao Zhiyan revealed what happened back then, he would simply apologize to his father and accept the punishment.

Now that Li Xian is willing to help him take care of Xiao Zhiyan, he has nothing to worry about anymore.

Just as Li Lian was about to take his leave, a middle-aged man entered the hall and greeted Li Xian and Li Lian.

Li Xian introduced Tang Ping to Li Lian, saying, "Fourth brother, this is Commandant Tang of the Palace Secretariat." Tang Ping then asked, "What brings you here?"

Tang Ping glanced at Li Lian but remained silent.

Li Xian snorted, "The Prince of Yan is no outsider, so just say what you have to say."

Tang Ping responded and cupped his hands, saying, "Your Highness, the guards at Tongguan Pass have reported that they discovered someone using a fake official pass to pass through. Upon arrest and inspection, they found that the person was actually a follower of Yuwen Kang."

Li Xian's eyes lit up: "Any other discoveries?"

Tang Ping said, "My subordinates sent men to take this man into custody from the gatekeepers. After interrogation, he confessed that Yuwen Kang had sent him to find a gold hunter to assassinate Wei Shen."

Upon hearing this, Li Xian was overjoyed and exclaimed, "For example, was Wei Shen killed by Yuwen Kang's men?"

Tang Ping said, "It should be good."

Li Xian asked, "Where is that person now?"

Tang Ping said, "He is temporarily detained in the inner prison of the Imperial Household Department."

Li Xian was about to have Tang Ping bring the man over when he suddenly remembered that this matter was ultimately the responsibility of Crown Prince Li Hong, and he could not act on his own initiative.

"Commander Tang, go and tell the Crown Prince about this immediately, and ask him to return to the Eastern Palace to preside over the interrogation."

Tang Ping agreed and left.

Li Xian looked at Li Lian and smiled, "Fourth brother, the matter has been investigated and found to have nothing to do with the Xiao family. You can rest assured now."

Li Lian nodded, but his expression was somewhat complicated.

He thought about it all night and went through all sorts of mental anguish before deciding to come and speak up for Xiao Zhiyan today.

The case was suddenly solved, which surprised him more than pleased. He didn't know if it was because he hadn't slept all night, but he felt that things might not be so simple.

But the Yuwen family is no ordinary family. Could someone possibly frame them?
Seeing his furrowed brows, Li Xian smiled and said, "Fourth brother, don't think too much. When fifth brother returns, we'll interrogate him, and the truth will come out."

Li Lian took a deep breath and nodded, saying, "That's true."

Two hours later, Crown Prince Li Hong finally returned.

Seeing that Li Lian was also in the Eastern Palace, he did not say much. He immediately issued an order to summon Yuwen Kang and his attendant to an audience, intending to have the two confront each other.

(End of this chapter)