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

Chapter 30 asked you to talk about Xue Wanche, so why are you mentioning Fang Yi'ai?

"Fang Yi'ai, are you referring to Xuanling's second son?"

Li Shimin frowned in confusion. He asked Xue Wanche how the Fang family had been involved.

"This matter is quite complicated. Ultimately, it stems from the feud between Changsun Wuji and Fang Xuanling, as well as your issue of establishing a new crown prince."

"To put it simply, Fang Yi'ai was sidelined by the new emperor because he had supported Li Tai. Also, your daughter, Princess Gaoyang, was scolded by you for having an affair with a monk, and you killed her lover, which caused her to become mentally twisted..."

"What did you say!"

Li Shimin's eyes widened suddenly as he stared at Wen He in disbelief.

Who is Gao Yang?

He doesn't have a daughter with that name.

"Gaoyang is a title, but her name is not recorded in later generations. Historical records say that she is your seventeenth daughter. She should not have been born yet. Moreover, her birth mother should not have been of high status, because there is no record of her."

If we calculate the timeline, Gao Yang should have been born around the fifth year of the Zhenguan era.

At that time, Empress Zhangsun passed away, and his daughter, who had just turned five, was at a lively age. She must have brought him a lot of comfort, which is why he doted on her so much.

Li Shimin stood there in astonishment, unsure of what to say for a moment.

What's the difference between having a daughter whose name and mother are unknown in the future and not having been told anything at all?

"Never mind, whichever it is, I will definitely have Guanyinbi teach them well in the future, and this will never happen again."

Li Shimin squinted his eyes; this was why he valued Wen He so much.

By knowing about the future through Wen He, he can avoid many mistakes and future regrets.

"Don't worry about it. This matter has been debated by later generations. After all, there are two official histories, one mentions it and the other doesn't. Later generations don't know whether it's true or false."

Wen He wanted to reassure him.

To everyone's surprise, Li Shimin snorted somewhat indignantly: "What kind of people wrote history books in later generations? They were all ambiguous and full of nonsense!"

Wen He smiled noncommittally and continued.

"Anyway, for the reasons mentioned above, Fang Yi'ai was sidelined and joined forces with a group of Wei Wang Party members who had previously supported Wei Wang Li Tai to try to support Li Yuanjing as the new emperor. However, the plan failed and he was forced to commit suicide."

"Xue Wanche was also implicated."

"However, some people in later generations have questioned this matter, suggesting that it was likely done by Changsun Wuji to eliminate dissidents, since Xue Wanche had no reason to rebel at the time."

"Although you dismissed him from his post and exiled him, you already knew that you were about to... well, you know. You did it on purpose so that the new emperor would show him favor. After all, he was a fierce general, and his personality was somewhat arrogant. It would take some tricks to subdue him."

What Wen He is saying here are just his guesses.

Perhaps what is recorded in history books is true, but with him here now, history will surely be changed.

It is important to know that Xue Wanche played a crucial role in the later conquest of Goguryeo.

Li Shimin remained silent, processing what Wen He had said.

After a moment of contemplation, he asked, "What was the reason I dismissed you from your post back then?"

“Someone wrote a memorial saying that he was arrogant and domineering. Then Li Ji, oh, now he is called Li Shiji. After you died, he changed his name to Li Ji to avoid the taboo.”

"Let's talk about Xue Wanche, and not mention anything else!" Li Shimin's forehead veins bulged.

What he disliked most was hearing Wen He talk about his death.

"Don't get angry, I'll continue. Li Ji said, 'Wan Che is a general, and his only relative is the emperor's son-in-law. His words of resentment are unforgivable.' But I think he definitely conspired with you on this matter."

A general was dismissed from his post because of his arrogance and conceit.

This seems illogical no matter how you look at it.

"I understand," Li Shimin sighed deeply.

He seemed to understand why he would do what he did in the future.

A fierce and unruly general is a great danger if his successor is weak and unable to subdue him.

He didn't know what Wen He was thinking; if he did, he would definitely laugh at him for being too naive.

The future king will dismiss him from office not only to gain favor from the new emperor, but also to eliminate a threat to the new emperor.

But after the new emperor reinstated him, Fu Ji plotted to get rid of him...

Thinking of this, Li Shimin clenched his hands tightly behind his back. He realized that the future Changsun Wuji seemed to be losing control.

"What do you unserstand?"

Wen He was curious; he wanted to know what Li Shimin had figured out.

Unfortunately, the latter would never tell him.

Li Shimin rolled his eyes at him, then beckoned to a Xuanjia Guard in the distance, signaling him to come over.

The soldier approached and saluted.

"Send a team of men to escort Wen Xiaolang back to his residence."

"Oh, so you're letting me go back already?"

Wen He was somewhat unwilling; he still wanted to go with Li Shimin to see Xue Wanche.

The latter squinted and chuckled.

"With your impulsive nature, I'm worried you might ruin my plans. Go back safely and appease your sister."

Li Shimin flicked his sleeves.

He didn't mind Wen He's personality.

The more guileless a person is, the more at ease he feels with them.

"Alright, then I'll take my leave."

Wen He grinned, bowed to Li Shimin, and walked away with the Xuanjia Guard under the latter's gaze.

He had wanted to leave this godforsaken place for a long time.

The pungent smell of blood in the air made him feel nauseous.

Knowing he couldn't ride a horse, the Xuanjia Guards found him a carriage, which was personally escorted by a guard captain and ten Xuanjia Guards.

When he circled around from Xuanwu Gate to Zhuque Avenue in front of Taiji Palace.

The streets were still deserted.

He had been here before; at this time of day, the streets would already be bustling with pedestrians heading to the East Market or the West Market.

Today, however, apart from patrolling soldiers and carriages coming and going in a hurry, there is hardly anyone to be seen.

"I wonder how things are at the Prince of Qin's residence?"

Although Qin Qiong had gone, Wen He was still somewhat worried about her younger sister.

I wonder if they were frightened by today's commotion.

As he approached the Prince of Qin's residence, his carriage was suddenly stopped by a group of soldiers checking their identities.

Upon seeing that they were Xuanjia Guards, they immediately let them pass.

After a series of close calls, they finally returned to the Qin Prince's Mansion.

As soon as Wen He stepped off the carriage, she saw the dilapidated gate of the Prince of Qin's mansion. Under the steward's direction, the servants in the mansion were removing the arrows from the gate one by one.

Soldiers were carrying corpses, bloodstains were still flowing on the ground, and the air was filled with a pungent smell.

"Oh, it's Young Master Wen! You're back. I wonder where His Highness is?"

The butler greeted Wen He with a beaming smile.

He had only seen Wen He once before, when Wen He and Changsun Wuji entered the mansion. After hearing that Wen He had moved into a side courtyard, he immediately remembered his name.

This person is a very important person; we must not offend them.

Wen He smiled and nodded at him, saying, "Your Highness is well."

"Your Highness is certainly safe and sound. It was my fault for being so tactless and asking too many questions." He smiled humbly and had a path cleared for him, leading Wen He into the mansion.

He had just entered the gate when a figure suddenly rushed towards him, seemingly heading straight for him.

Thanks to three readers for their monthly tickets: No-Brain Fish, Book Friend 2017518001944892, and Moyu Talking About Movies.

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(End of this chapter)