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

Chapter 4 No wonder your son ultimately drove him to his death.

"Shut up!" Changsun Wuji's expression changed, and he shouted.

He hurriedly looked outside.

Although the Xuanjia Guards had been stationed outside to keep watch, no outsiders could possibly approach without their orders.

But he still couldn't help feeling alarmed.

Li Shimin patted him on the shoulder: "Auxiliary machine, no need to worry."

"Your Highness, be careful, there are ears on the other side of the wall."

Changsun Wuji had to be so careful, because if even a little bit of information leaked out, the Qin King's faction would all lose their heads.

“There’s no need to be so careful. Wu Gou has already cleared out everyone in the manor.” Li Shimin appeared much more composed. He turned to look at Wen He, his gaze deep, the corners of his mouth turned up, and asked with a smile, “The Xuanwu Gate Incident you mentioned, is it something that will happen to us in the future?”

“Yes.” Wen He nodded and continued to get straight to the point: “According to historical records, soon after, the spies you placed by Li Jiancheng’s side will come to tell you that the Crown Prince and Li Yuanji plan to take action against you at Kunming Pool. After learning of this, your elder brother Changsun advised you to strike first. Coincidentally, on the third day of the sixth month, Venus descended again. Fu Yi secretly reported to His Majesty that this was a sign that the Prince of Qin would rule the world. Li Yuan summoned you for a confrontation, and you accused Li Yuanji and Li Jiancheng of having illicit affairs with the concubines. Li Yuan, no, His Majesty, then ordered you to confront Li Jiancheng and Li Yuanji in court on the fourth day of the sixth month.”

"On the fourth day of the sixth month, you led Changsun Wuji, Yuchi Jingde, Fang Xuanling, Du Ruhui, Yuwen Shiji, Gao Shilian, Hou Junji, Cheng Zhijie, Qin Shubao, Duan Zhixuan, Qutu Tong, Zhang Shigui, and others to the court, and laid an ambush at Xuanwu Gate, and then..."

Li Shimin and Changsun Wuji already knew what the outcome would be without Wen Heming needing to explain.

At this critical juncture, Li Shimin, Li Jiancheng, and Li Yuanji could not turn back; it was a matter of life or death.

Both Changsun Wuji and Li Shimin were fully aware of this matter.

"Did it succeed?" Changsun Wuji asked a pointless question.

He looked at Wen He excitedly. Even though he had already guessed the answer, he still couldn't help but want to confirm it.

“Of course.” Wen He looked at him.

"Am I a good emperor?" Li Shimin hesitated, his breathing becoming rapid.

"You will become the Heavenly Khan who strikes fear into the hearts of foreign tribes, and future generations will call you the strongest carbon-based life form in East Asia in the seventh century."

"Heavenly Khan!" Li Shimin clenched his fist.

Although I don't know what carbon-based life forms are, the fact that they are mentioned together with the Heavenly Khan suggests that they must be a term used by later generations to praise achievements.

Emperor Wen of Sui, Yang Jian, was revered as the Sage Khan by the people of the grasslands.

This was also what his father, the emperor, had once pursued.

But now his father, the emperor, is old and has handed over state affairs to powerful families and the crown prince.

The Tang Dynasty had only been established for a short time, and most of the country had been conquered by Li Shimin. How could he have foreseen that the Tang Dynasty would follow the same path as the Sui Dynasty?

"Eldest brother, fourth brother, I did this for the sake of the Tang Dynasty, I can only apologize to you!"

Li Shimin clenched his fist and shouted in his heart.

Changsun Wuji lowered his eyes, his eyes filled with joy.

Having followed Li Shimin for many years, he knew very well what this posture represented.

The same was true for His Highness the Prince of Qin on the night before he raised his army in Jinyang.

"You just said that on the third day of the sixth lunar month, Venus will appear again, and Fu Yi will submit a memorial saying: 'The King of Qin should rule the world'?" Li Shimin suddenly changed the subject.

Wen He nodded, not understanding what was going on.

Is Li Shimin about to take action against Fu Yi?
I don't know much about Wen He, except that he is a well-known anti-Buddhist.

However, judging from his secret memorial, he was very likely a man of Li Jiancheng or Li Yuanji.

Otherwise, why would they have framed Li Shimin?

“Since Grand Historian Fu says so, then I should grant him his good name. Fu Ji, send someone to secretly tell Fu Yi that today Venus appeared in the Qin territory, which is a sign that the King of Qin should possess the world.”

A ruthless glint flashed in Li Shimin's eyes.

Wen He secretly gasped, her heart skipping a beat. They were about to act ahead of schedule.

His eyes flickered slightly, and he lowered his head to hide the surprise on his face.

I was still naive.

This is neither a TV series nor a novel.

Standing before me was the living, breathing Li Shimin.

How could I be so frivolous?

Wen He pondered for a while, and he knew that he should change his attitude towards these historical figures.

He was no longer a bystander.

"I will take care of it immediately, but isn't this matter a bit too hasty?" Changsun Wuji asked with some concern.

He knew that His Highness the Prince of Qin was a little impatient, but if things were rushed, something unexpected might happen.

Li Shimin laughed and pointed at Wen He, saying, "Just now he said that in a few days you would be the one to advise me to strike first, that Venus would descend to earth and the Prince of Qin would rule the world. Isn't this prophecy perfectly timed?"

Changsun Wuji immediately understood Li Shimin's meaning.

"Your Highness is seeking a righteous cause. If the uprising succeeds, the crimes of killing your brother and imprisoning your father will likely be recorded in history. But with this righteous cause, the history books will at least downplay it."

He pondered to himself, then cupped his hands in agreement.

As he left, he glanced at Wen He.

Feeling a little guilty after being looked at so suddenly by him.

After he left, Li Shimin suddenly chuckled and said, "Do you know why Fuji was looking at you just now?"

"He wouldn't be thinking of imprisoning me, would he?" Wen He blurted out, realizing this possibility.

Li Shimin was taken aback, seemingly not expecting Wen He to have such self-awareness. He nodded with a smile.

"Damn it, that old bastard, no wonder your son forced him to his death in the end!" Wen He couldn't help but curse.

Li Shimin's smile froze instantly. He took three steps in two to walk up to Wen He and covered his mouth with his hand.

"What did you say!" Li Shimin stared wide-eyed, his breath coming in short gasps as he questioned in a low voice.

Wen He was startled. He had just been reminding himself to be careful, but he had spoken too quickly again.

He quickly shook his head, signaling Li Shimin to let go of him.

The latter glanced at the doorway, and seeing no movement, released his grip.

"The auxiliary machine was forced to commit suicide in the future? Why?" Li Shimin asked in disbelief.

Wen He made a face and said two words: "Power."

Li Shimin remained silent, gradually calming down.

He knew all too well what those two words meant.

He turned around and knelt down, remaining silent for a long time.

Wen He consciously kept her mouth shut and didn't say anything, her eyes darting around his study.

"If Gao Ming and Fu Ji were to get closer..." After a long while, Li Shimin suddenly spoke up, but it sounded like he was asking a question.

Wen He turned to look at him, and sure enough, Li Shimin also looked over, staring intently at him, as if waiting for his answer.

After a moment of silence, Wen He blinked and gave an awkward smile: "Um, who is this 'Gao Ming' you're talking about?"

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(End of this chapter)