Sheng Tang: What is Liu Jianjun going to do today?

Chapter 130 Empress Wu has no useless moves
Since the Empress Dowager summoned him, the surveillance of the State Guest House has been relaxed considerably.

At least Li Xian and Liu Jianjun's residences are no longer constantly watched.

Liu Jianjun said: "Not only will no one be watching you anymore, believe it or not, it won't even be long before your mother starts urging you to go out for a stroll."

Li Xianxin.

Therefore, Liu Jianjun appeared very frustrated.

Sure enough, Wu Sansi came to their door the next day.

He invited Li Xian to a banquet at a restaurant on the banks of the Luo River as an apology.

Li Xian's first reaction was to refuse; he did not want to accept Wu Sansi's apology.

But after refusing, Wu Sansi spoke again: "This banquet was arranged by the Empress Dowager at my request. Not only will I be present, but all the prominent officials in the court will also be present."

This was clearly an attempt to use Empress Wu to intimidate him. Li Xian suppressed his anger: "When and where?"

"Tomorrow at noon, at the Luo River market."

After saying this, Wu Sansi apologized and turned to leave.

Li Xian looked at Liu Jianjun, who was standing calmly to the side, and said with an annoyance, "You knew all along that he was here on the Empress Dowager's orders?"

"Isn't that obvious? When has your mother ever only considered the move in front of her when playing chess?"

Liu Jianjun walked over, took the invitation from Li Xian, flipped through it, and then casually tossed it back to Li Xian, muttering, "You came to my door yesterday to test me, and you're here today to apologize in order to take advantage of me."

Li Xian was puzzled.

"Wasn't the Yangzhou rebellion carried out under your banner? Although your mother announced to the world that your sister-in-law was pregnant, it was ultimately just empty talk. Now that you've come to Luoyang, she can't help but drag you out for a stroll and show you to everyone?"

"Especially after we've tested you and confirmed that you have no ambition."

"Your mother has already planned out the next move the moment she makes a move; that's always been her style."

Li Xian suddenly realized.

"However, this also shows that we may have really wronged that kid Wu Youji before. Compared with Wu Sansi, Wu Youji is almost like a useless piece that is casually discarded, whose only purpose is to guard against the slight possibility that you will raise an army to rebel."

Li Xian gave Liu Jianjun a disgruntled look.

Despite being just a young man, he always spoke with an air of maturity. Wu Youji was five or six years older than him, but he would call others "boy" all the time.

"So what do you plan to do?" Li Xian asked.

"What else can we do? Just treat them to good food and drink. Your mother will definitely invite the most influential and trusted people in the court to the banquet in order to spread the news of your presence in Luoyang..."

Before Liu Jianjun could finish speaking, Li Xian's eyes lit up: "Go and steal the Empress Dowager's man?"

He remembered Liu Jianjun describing this behavior as "undermining someone's foundation."

"Are you crazy?"

Liu Jianjun rolled his eyes. "Almost everyone at this kind of banquet is a loyal follower of your mother. The moment you show goodwill, your mother will receive the news and then she will come to question you that very day. What are you, a leisurely prince, planning to do by associating with powerful people? Are you plotting a rebellion?"
"We won't try to win anyone over. Once we're there, we'll eat and drink well, and make a note of who's there. We can settle accounts with them one by one later..."

At this point, Liu Jianjun paused and added, "Well, those with lower official positions could try to get close to them."

"Because if only your mother's faction were present, their words would not be credible. Therefore, your mother would definitely invite some low- to mid-level neutral officials with little influence to corroborate the news that you have come to Luoyang."

"But even when befriending these neutral officials, we'd better be careful with our words and actions."

Li Xian was a little discouraged: "Then we can't do anything?"

"Not necessarily. Wasn't this banquet held as an apology to you?" "Hmm?"

"Why should he apologize? To put it bluntly, isn't he just trying to humiliate me? If you bring this up, won't the whole court know that Wu Sansi is a homosexual? Then his career will come to an end." Liu Jianjun laughed heartily.

Then he cursed, "Damn you, you damn rabbit, I'll get you!"

This time, however, Li Xian pursed his lips and, unusually, refused Liu Jianjun's suggestion, saying, "We'll discuss this matter again, and you're not allowed to leak this information."

Liu Jianjun is right. Exposing Wu Sansi's affairs is indeed like throwing a bucket of filth on Wu Sansi, and it's the kind of filth that can't be washed away.

But Liu Jianjun will also be smeared.

Li Xian did not want this to happen.

"Alright, go back and rest first. You can go to the banquet tomorrow." Li Xian forcefully cut off Liu Jianjun's words before he could finish.

……

The autumn night was a bit chilly, and Li Xian couldn't fall asleep.

Since returning to Chang'an, the pace of life has become more and more intense. Although Li Xian could feel that most of the pressure had been relieved by Liu Jianjun, Liu Jianjun was only one person and could not be in two places at once, and his power was also limited.

Just like this time when Wu Sansi came to Liu Jianjun's door, it was fortunate that he only intended to test Liu Jianjun.

But what if next time, Wu Sansi receives orders to arrest or even execute someone?

Liu Jianjun had no soldiers by his side and was merely a chief secretary in the Prince's mansion, so his ability to protect himself was limited.

Li Xian wanted to do something for Liu Jianjun, but unfortunately, he was just a leisurely nobleman with limited abilities.

He needs power.

This was the first time Li Xian had felt a surge of desire for power.

He used to want to reach that position simply because he thought that once he did, his wife and children would no longer be humiliated. But now he understands a truth: status is illusory, only power is real.

Take Li Dan, for example. Even if he became emperor, what difference would it make? He was still imprisoned in the deep palace by his mother, and she couldn't even see him.

He realized how powerless he was when faced with genuine malice from the core of power, relying solely on the empty title of a prince.

He couldn't protect the embroiderer, and he almost couldn't even protect Liu Jianjun, who was right next to him.

This feeling of powerlessness coiled around him like vines, tightening its grip.

The desire for power was no longer just a vague idea. What weighed on his mind was not the ethereal imperial power he would have after ascending the throne, but the real power he needed now, at this very moment, to protect those around him and to prevent himself from being passively attacked.

……

At noon on the second day, the Luo River was flooded.

The restaurant, built right by the water, was clearly booked out today, newly decorated, and heavily guarded.

When Li Xian arrived on time with Liu Jianjun, there were already many luxurious carriages parked downstairs.

Wu Sansi was already waiting at the door. His face still bore some bruises from the previous beating, but he was all smiles, as if the unpleasantness had never happened.

He personally stepped forward, bowing deeply: "Your Highness Prince Pei's arrival is an honor to our humble abode! Please, please come in!"

……

(End of this chapter)