Tang Dynasty: A Guide to Avoiding Pitfalls for Li Er at the Start

Chapter 18 His Highness said he wants you to be a witness.

What are you doing here?

Just as Yuchi Jingde's outstretched hand was only an inch away from Wen He's collar, a sudden shout interrupted him.

Everyone turned around and saw Changsun Wuji walking out of the main hall with a solemn expression.

"What time is it? Stop causing trouble here and go inside!"

"Brother Fuji."

Upon seeing him appear, the burly man with a heroic appearance to Yuchi Jingde's left stepped forward to greet him first.

"You are too kind, Uncle Bao," Changsun Wuji returned the greeting.

Upon hearing this, Wen He looked at the person in surprise.

He is none other than the famous Qin Shubao, Qin Qiong?!
No wonder I felt a heroic air about him when we first met.

Upon seeing him appear, Wen He immediately became certain of one thing.

That is why many people in later generations said that Qin Qiong did not participate in the Xuanwu Gate Incident.

Wen He was also puzzled at the time, since there were other versions in the Old Book of Tang.

Another theory suggests that Qin Qiong did not participate in the Xuanwu Gate Incident, which is why he was ranked last in the Lingyan Pavilion.

But look at who's second to last – it's Li Ji!

The ranking of the Lingyan Pavilion was determined in the seventeenth year of the Zhenguan era, long after Qin Qiong had passed away.

After Li Shimin ascended the throne, Qin Qiong stayed at home to recuperate and rarely appeared in public, let alone made any contributions.

The vast majority of the military generals in Lingyan Pavilion had distinguished themselves in battle during the Zhenguan era.

If he hadn't participated in the Xuanwu Gate Incident, he probably wouldn't have even been able to enter the Lingyan Pavilion.

There are only twenty-four people in the Lingyan Pavilion. Even the last one in the ranking is someone that many people can only dream of.

"Changsun Fuji, this charcoal-faced man is acting tough again, and I can't stop him." The burly man on the other side snorted.

Before Changsun Wuji could speak, Yuchi Jingde turned around and shouted at the burly man, "Cheng Yaojin, are you itching for a beating!"

"You black charcoal, do you think I'm afraid of you?!"

The two glared angrily at each other, looking ready to fight.

Wen He stared, her mouth agape.

This person is Cheng Yaojin.

“Jingde and Yizhen, this is a matter of great importance. Do not act impulsively.”

Yizhen?

So this is Cheng Yaojin's courtesy name! Wen He had previously thought Cheng Zhijie's courtesy name was Yaojin.

I used to watch too many TV dramas and was misled.

But who would have thought that the courtesy name of such a burly, unrefined man would be Yizhen?

"Hey, why are you looking at me with such a strange gaze, little brat?" Cheng Zhijie frowned as he turned his head and noticed Wen He's odd gaze.

"It's all because of your ugly appearance that he was frightened!" Yuchi Jingde would not let go of any opportunity to attack Cheng Zhijie.

Instead of getting angry, the latter laughed: "You charcoal head, you just called him a spy, but I think you're the one who scared him."

"You, you try calling another charcoal head!"

"Go ahead and call me whatever you want, I'm not afraid of you!"

"Enough!"

Changsun Wuji couldn't listen to this any longer; if it continued, the two would start fighting again.

Cheng Zhijie was clearly no match for Yuchi Gong, yet he still provoked him every time.

But the two men wouldn't listen to him and rolled up their sleeves, ready to fight.

"enough!"

Qin Qiong, who was standing nearby, suddenly shouted.

Yuchi Gong and Cheng Zhijie were taken aback. They turned to look at Qin Qiong's calm yet solemn face and felt somewhat embarrassed.

Yuchi Gong had once been captured alive by Qin Qiong, so he held him in some awe.

Needless to say, even the most unruly Cheng Zhijie had to address Qin Qiong as "Second Brother."

With him around, the two naturally dared not cause trouble. "Brother Fuji, has His Highness summoned us?"

Qin Qiong ignored the two simpletons and asked Changsun Wuji.

The latter glanced at Yuchi Jing and Cheng Zhijie, and sighed inwardly.

These military generals were truly arrogant, but fortunately His Highness's outstanding military achievements were able to suppress them. If it were anyone else, they would not have been able to win over the people.

"Everyone else has arrived, and we are just waiting for the three generals."

Changsun Wuji made a gesture of invitation.

Qin Qiong thanked him and glanced at the two people behind him.

Yuchi Gong immediately chuckled twice, while Cheng Zhijie laughed awkwardly.

"Brother Qin, you are ill, and the physician advises you not to get angry."

"You two, be quiet. Tonight's events concern His Highness's future; you mustn't act recklessly!"

Qin Qiong's face was indeed pale, and he looked like he was seriously ill.

"I know, I know."

Yuchi Jing was a little impatient, but he still agreed.

Watching the three of them go inside, Changsun Wuji sighed helplessly.

"Judging from Shubao's appearance, I'm afraid he won't be able to fight in the future."

His voice was very low, but it clearly reached Wen He's ears, or rather, it was meant for him.

"Historically, after Your Highness ascended the throne, Qin Qiong did not go to the battlefield again. Later historical records have also made many speculations, with many saying that he was disliked by Your Highness."

"Nonsense! Your Highness and Shubao are close friends, how could you possibly dislike him?" Changsun Wuji snorted indignantly.

"These people of later generations are always talking nonsense."

"But Qin Qiong spent twelve years recuperating from illness and was never given important positions. It's no wonder that later generations have speculated. The mainstream view is that he was faking his illness, but of course, this is based on the premise that Qin Qiong did not participate in the Xuanwu Gate Incident."

Now that Qin Qiong has appeared here, this claim is completely disproven.

"Absurd." Changsun Wuji thought it was nonsense, but after a while he felt something was wrong: "Wait, didn't you say before that Shubao participated?"

"Well, that's what the Old Book of Tang says. The New Book of Tang doesn't record it. However, according to the speculation of some people in later generations, Qin Qiong probably didn't go to Xuanwu Gate, but stayed in the Prince of Qin's mansion."

As Wen He finished speaking, he paused, noticing that Changsun Wuji's expression was somewhat off.

Does this mean I was right?
"His Highness did indeed leave Shubao in the Qin Prince's residence to guard against Xue Wanche. Apart from Jingde, only Qin Shubao can fight him."

"That explains it. Most of the historical records in later generations describe the events at Xuanwu Gate, and hardly mention the Qin Prince's Mansion. Did Cheng Yaojin, or rather Cheng Zhijie, not go along?"

Wen He asked again, recalling that Cheng Yaojin was not mentioned in the New Book of Tang.

Whether he participated in the Xuanwu Gate Incident was also ambiguous.

Changsun Wuji frowned and nodded solemnly.

After hesitating for a moment, he said, "Your Highness, please be careful in case of any unforeseen circumstances. Yizhen will not go to Xuanwu Gate, but will instead lead the Xuanjia Guards to Tonghua Gate. If anything happens, he will cover Your Highness's journey to Luoyang."

This shows they've prepared for both possibilities.

Li Shimin's power base was not in Chang'an, but in Luoyang.

When Li Yuan saw that Li Jiancheng and Li Shimin were fighting more and more fiercely, he came up with the idea of ​​letting the two brothers divide the world equally, so Luoyang became the latter's territory.

Even with me around, Li Shimin still kept a watchful eye on things, which I truly admire.

Wen He couldn't help but sigh.

Those who can become powerful rulers are indeed not ordinary people.

"If that's the case, then what does Your Highness need me for? You don't need me when you're discussing matters, do you?"

Wen He felt a bit superfluous.

Upon hearing this, Changsun Wuji couldn't help but chuckle, and simply replied to Wen He with a faint remark.

"His Highness said he wants you to be a witness."

"Holy crap, what does that mean?"

"I just want to take you to see the saint."

This chapter might be a bit wordy, mainly because it involves Qin Qiong and Cheng Yaojin. I've consulted a lot of materials, and there are both versions of the story, so I'll just go with my own understanding.

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(End of this chapter)