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

Chapter 192 Liu Jianjun's Shocking Speculation and Unexpected Surprise
Li Xian was stunned again.

In the story he told, the discord between his elder brother Li Hong and his mother was already beginning to emerge, and even he, the narrator, was starting to wonder if there was something fishy about his elder brother's death.

But at this moment, Liu Jianjun said that his elder brother's death had nothing to do with the Empress.
Why is Liu Jianjun's way of thinking so different from ordinary people?

"What do you mean?" Li Xian still adhered to the principle of asking Liu Jianjun if he didn't understand.

"First, let's start with the conflict between your mother and your elder brother. In your opinion, there may be a problem with your mother marrying Consort Xiao's two daughters to two ordinary guards, but you have to consider one thing: your two older sisters are not young anymore."

"How old were they back then?" Liu Jianjun asked, but before Li Xian could answer, he continued, "According to your age, they must have been at least twenty-three or twenty-four, right? The older one was probably twenty-seven, right?"
"What do you call this? This is what you call an older single woman. She's lucky if someone wants her!"
"Your mother found two low-ranking guards for them, and these two guards are actually nicer to the two princesses because of their low rank. So, from your mother's perspective, this is well-intentioned."

"Besides, what ordinary guards could possibly catch your mother's eye? They must at least be the emperor's personal guards, right? Their ancestors must have been high-ranking officials, so they can be considered sons of high-ranking officials. It's only because you yourself are a royal grandson that you feel that others are of low status."

Li Xian felt that Liu Jianjun's words made sense.

Liu Jianjun continued, "Even if we take a step back and consider that these two people were of lowly status, didn't your mother make any amends afterward?"

Li Xian nodded: "After the marriage, both of the sons-in-law were promoted. One became the prefect of Yuanzhou, and the other became the prefect of Yingzhou."

"That settles it then, so you can say that your mother handled this matter well," Liu Jianjun concluded.

"Then let's talk about another question. Was your eldest brother killed by your mother? You just said that your eldest brother was ill. What was his illness?"

“Tuberculosis,” Li Xian answered honestly.

"Holy crap!" Liu Jianjun jumped up dramatically. "These days, if you get tuberculosis, you're going to suspect someone else killed you? You'd just die if you couldn't catch your breath!"

Li Xian glared at him angrily.

Liu Jianjun immediately gave an awkward smile and said, "That's just an exaggeration. You know how weak a person with this disease is. And who is your mother? She can control your critically ill father as a wife, so she might be able to control a seriously ill crown prince as a mother."

"Killing him is unnecessary."

"Moreover, he is the Crown Prince, surrounded by a group of people protecting him. If your mother fails to kill him, or if the fact of the murder is exposed, she will lose your father's trust and the hearts of the people, and it will be impossible for her to gain more power."

“As a sober politician, she would never do something so reckless.”

When Li Xian heard this, he inexplicably thought of what his elder brother had done in the past.

At that time, Li Hong had a good relationship with his brothers. Li Xian once invited Taiping, Li Xian, and Li Dan to a banquet and tried to invite him as well.

But he replied, “My condition has recently worsened, and my father wants me to rest more, so I have been staying in the inner palace to recuperate. It’s not that I don’t want to see you, it’s that I can’t see you.”

"A politician?" Li Xian asked curiously.

"Hmm, I feel that's the most appropriate way to address her," Liu Jianjun replied casually, without delving into the matter further.

Then she continued, "That's why your mother wouldn't kill your eldest brother; she had neither the motive nor the opportunity."

Li Xian nodded and asked, "Then what does it matter?"

“It has a lot to do with it.” Liu Jianjun looked at Li Xian meaningfully and said, “Your mother did not want to kill your eldest brother, nor did she want to kill Xianzi, and she did not even kill Wu Youji… Of course, there must be other considerations for not killing Wu Youji.”

"And then?" Li Xian was still puzzled.

Liu Jianjun asked directly, "Then why did she want to kill you?"

Li Xian was stunned: "Didn't you say... I was blocking her way?"

At this moment, Li Xian had a vague feeling that something was wrong, but he wasn't sure.

This is crazy.

"Stupid!" Liu Jianjun scolded, "When it comes to blocking the way, do you think Xianzi, who has been on the throne, can stop us? Do you think Danzi, the former emperor, can stop us? Aren't they still alive and well?"

Li Xian wanted to retort that if it weren't for his and Liu Jianjun's intervention, they might have already been dead.

But looking into Liu Jianjun's determined eyes, the uneasy thought in his mind became clearer and clearer.

He pursed his lips and asked, "So..."

"So, I suspect you're not her biological son at all!" Liu Jianjun directly pointed out Li Xian's suspicion.

"This...how is this possible!"

Although Li Xian had already guessed what Liu Jianjun was going to say, he still subconsciously retorted, "But... Li Wei and Li Ming are also dead..."

"Are they your mother's sons?" Liu Jianjun interrupted directly.

Li Xian was stunned again, speechless.

Just then, a voice announced from outside the door: "Your Highness Prince Pei, a messenger has arrived from the palace!"

Li Xian and Liu Jianjun exchanged a glance, a sudden unease creeping into their hearts.

He had just mentioned to Liu Jianjun that he might not be the Empress's biological son when a messenger arrived from the palace, which inevitably made Li Xian suspicious.

Especially now that the sun has already set, why would the Empress summon me unless it is an emergency?

"Go ahead, what are you standing there for?"

Liu Jianjun gave him an annoyed look and said, "This is just our guess. Even if it's true, your mother doesn't know we're guessing!"

Li Xian gave an awkward smile.

The main reason is that Liu Jianjun's previous guess was too shocking.

"Then...why would the Queen Mother send an envoy?"

"It's highly likely that it's still about Wu Youji's previous outburst. Your mother will probably ask about that slave contract, and she'll probably also want to act as a peacemaker."

"Peacemaker?"

"Yes, Wu Youji's words in the main hall, no matter how you look at it, have affected you. Since she doesn't want to kill Wu Youji, she will probably ask for your opinion. After all, in her eyes, you are now a staunch 'Wu Party' member."

"Then what should I do?" Li Xian asked.

"What else can we do? We'll just have to back down gracefully. You can't really want Wu Youji to die, can you?" Liu Jianjun rolled his eyes in annoyance and said, "As for the slave contract, just say it like this..."

……

When Li Xian arrived at the front hall, a middle-aged eunuch dressed in the official robes of the Inner Palace was already standing respectfully with his hands at his sides.

“Your Highness Prince Pei,” the eunuch bowed to Li Xian, his voice calm, “His Majesty has decreed that Your Highness must enter the palace immediately and meet him at the Zhenguan Hall.”

As Liu Jianjun had guessed correctly, Li Xian breathed a sigh of relief and said, "Thank you for your trouble, Eunuch. I will now accompany you into the palace."

……

As dusk settled, the palace appeared especially solemn under the night sky.

Upon entering the Zhenguan Hall, one finds it brightly lit.

After sitting down at her desk, Empress Wu did not review any memorials. Instead, she held a book in her hands, seemingly reading it. However, Li Xian sensed that her mind was not on the book.

"Your subject pays respects to Your Majesty." Li Xian bowed respectfully, pondering a plan of action.

"Rise. What do you think of what happened in the palace today?" The Emperor put down his book and calmly looked at Li Xian.

As expected, the discussion started with the matter of Wu Youji.

Li Xian stood up, bowed respectfully, and replied as instructed by Liu Jianjun: "Your Majesty, after I returned, I questioned Liu Jianjun. It is true that Wu Youji possessed the indenture of Lao Da, a servant of the Prince of Pei's mansion. That indenture was revealed by Wu Youji during a drunken conversation with Liu Jianjun. Liu Jianjun, thinking that I was still concerned about the treason case from back then, secretly replaced the indenture with the indenture of a servant in the Prince's mansion."

"Your subject... Your subject is unaware of this matter."

Li Xian didn't quite understand why Liu Jianjun had instructed him to give this answer.

In his view, wouldn't this expose Liu Jianjun?
They even tried to smear him. But surprisingly, when Empress Wu heard Li Xian's answer, she didn't seem particularly surprised.

Instead, he nodded and said, "Just as I expected, you have found a good subordinate."

Li Xian could tell that his mother's praise was sincere.

Although he did not understand Liu Jianjun's deeper meaning, he could only go along with the conversation and show just the right amount of shame: "Your Majesty is too kind. Your Majesty, I have failed to manage my subordinates properly, which has led to his audacity and recklessness, causing today's turmoil and disturbing Your Majesty's ears. I beg Your Majesty to punish me!"

The Emperor waved his hand, his tone calm, with a hint of barely perceptible amusement: "Fine. Although this person acts eccentrically and unconventionally, this unexpected turn of events has..."

She changed the subject, her gaze sharp as she looked at Li Xian, "You must keep a close eye on these people who act on their own initiative and scheme against princes and dukes, lest you raise a tiger that will become a menace."

"Your Majesty's teachings will be obeyed! I will strictly restrain him and never allow him to act recklessly again!" Li Xian replied hastily.

That concludes the matter concerning Liu Jianjun.

As expected, the Empress Wu then said, "Wu Youji has behaved improperly in front of the Emperor, slandered the Emperor, and falsely accused a prince. His crime deserves to be punished."

Li Xian's heart jumped.

"However," the Empress paused slightly, "considering that he suddenly lost his beloved wife and was mentally distraught, although his words and actions were wild, they did not cause any real harm. Moreover... he is, after all, of the Wu family bloodline."

Her gaze fell on Li Xian, with a hint of inquiry: "What do you think I should do?"

Li Xian admired Liu Jianjun to the point of complete awe.

The Queen Mother is indeed here to play peacemaker.

Following his agreement with Liu Jianjun, a complex and reluctant expression crossed his face as he pondered, “Mother, Wu Youji’s crimes are unforgivable, but his circumstances are pitiable. He appeared insane in court today, and even I felt heartbroken watching him. The pain of losing his wife is excruciating, and perhaps… those outrageous words were a lapse in judgment born of extreme grief.”

"Your Majesty, I implore you to show mercy beyond the law and spare his life, thus demonstrating the benevolence of the Imperial Family!"

After listening, the Emperor's face remained expressionless. He simply said, "You are able to set aside past grievances and plead for him. This magnanimity is truly rare and commendable."

These words made Li Xian's heart skip a beat. He didn't know whether it was praise or criticism, so he could only lower his head and say, "Your subject... just feels that the deceased are gone, and the living... why add new sorrows?"

These words carried a degree of sincerity.

He thought of Wu Youji's desperate eyes, and also of his own possible secrets.

Emperor Wu was silent for a moment before saying, "Your request is granted. Effective immediately, Wu Youji is stripped of all his official titles and ranks and is confined to his residence, where he may not leave without an imperial edict. His wife... shall be posthumously granted the title of Third Rank Lady and given a grand funeral."

"Your Majesty is wise!" Li Xian bowed, a weight lifted from his heart; Wu Youji's life was finally saved.

However, the Empress's words did not end there.

She paused briefly, a strange fluctuation in her tone, perhaps genuine regret, or perhaps just a necessary political explanation, and slowly said, "As for his marriage to Taiping... After this incident, Wu Youji's mind is damaged and his reputation is tarnished, making him no longer a suitable match. I will find another suitable son-in-law and select a steady and reliable consort for Taiping. This matter will be put on hold for now."

Li Xian was stunned.

Is Taiping not going to get married?
Immediately, everything became clear to me.

The Empress Dowager has always doted on Princess Taiping. Now that Wu Youji has done this, and with his official titles and ranks stripped, it's impossible for her to marry Princess Taiping off to him.

“Your Majesty’s considerations for peace are thorough, and I admire them greatly,” Li Xian replied respectfully.

After the marriage of Wu Youji and Taiping was settled, the atmosphere in the palace seemed to enter a delicate phase.

Empress Wu's fingers unconsciously caressed the scroll. Li Xian could feel her gaze falling on him again, this time deeper and more direct, seemingly carrying some emotion that Li Xian couldn't understand.

For no apparent reason, he thought of Liu Jianjun's speculations about his background again, and his heart filled with tension.

"Mingyun." She suddenly spoke, her voice not loud, but it startled Li Xian, who was lost in thought.

Li Xian hurriedly replied, "Yes."

Fortunately, Empress Wu did not notice Li Xian's unusual behavior. She seemed to be thinking about something and slowly said, "Although Wu Youji's words and actions were arrogant today, he mentioned the old things of the Eastern Palace, which ultimately reopened that wound. I know that you must have had grievances in your heart all these years."

Li Xian was stunned.

Then, a surge of ecstasy rose within me.

Li Xian was no longer the same naive man he once was; he could guess what Empress Wu was going to say after only hearing the beginning of her speech.

His voice was filled with emotion as he hurriedly replied, "Mother Empress... Your son dares not lie. What happened back then is like a nightmare, haunting me for many years. Bazhou is desolate, the nights are long, and your son has indeed... pondered it repeatedly, and my heart is filled with unease!"

This excitement stemmed not only from his indignation at the injustice done to him in his treason case, but more importantly, from Li Xian recalling Liu Jianjun's words: "The first level of disguise is the persona. As long as you remember what your persona is and always act in accordance with that persona, your disguise will at least be so convincing that no one will see through it."

His current identity is that of a prince who is determined to redress the injustice done to him, so in his heart, redressing the injustice must be of paramount importance.

Now that we hear the news of a possible exoneration, we need to show enough excitement.

His eyes instantly reddened, and his voice choked with sobs as he continued, "Your subject knows that he may have made mistakes back then, but the crime of treason is as heavy as a mountain pressing down on him, your subject... your subject truly..."

He paused at this point, not continuing, but tilting his head slightly as if trying to force back the tears that were about to spill, perfectly portraying the image of a prince who had suffered injustice and endured for many years, finally seeing hope.

Empress Wu watched his genuine emotions unfold quietly, her eyes revealing neither joy nor anger.

But Li Xianneng sensed that her reaction was within her expectations, and perhaps even what she hoped for.

Liu Jianjun's words echoed in my mind again: "But, when facing your mother, you have to add another layer of disguise on top of that, which is... to try your best to be the way she wants you to be."

Li Xian felt he had succeeded.

As expected, the Empress sighed softly, put down the book in her hand, and leaned forward slightly.

"I know your grievances." Her voice softened slightly, losing some of its usual coldness. "The events of that year involved a wide range of people and the situation was complex. There may be... inaccuracies in some of them."

Li Xian's heart skipped a beat!
"There are inaccuracies!" My mother admitted it herself!
He held his breath, not daring to miss a single word that followed.

"Some people took advantage of my suspicions, while others deliberately framed me." The Empress's tone became grave. "Some actions, given the circumstances at the time..."

"Mother Empress..." Li Xian's voice trembled as he interjected at just the right moment, his tone carrying a hint of disbelief and hope, yet he forced himself to say, "Mother Empress's actions naturally have their reasons, your son..."

Emperor Wu raised his hand, stopping Li Xian from speaking: "I do not wish to delve further into the rights and wrongs of the past. But you are my son, the Prince of Pei of the Great Zhou! Your reputation is not only a matter of the imperial family's dignity, but also of the laws of the court!"

She paused, and each word struck Li Xian's heart like a heavy hammer.

"I have decided to reopen the case of the treason from years ago! I order the Ministry of Justice, the Censorate, and the Court of Judicial Review to conduct a joint trial and to get to the bottom of the matter and clarify the truth!"

Li Xian felt another surge of excitement.

The fact that the Empress said this means that she can really clear her name of the treason case from back then!

After all, if it weren't for overturning the verdict, why go through all the trouble of re-investigating?
The most important thing is...

If I can clear my name of the injustice I suffered back then, the legal and rational distinction between myself and my younger brother will be clear in an instant. The only thing separating me from returning to the position of Crown Prince is Wu Chengsi!
As for Wu Chengsi, Liu Jianjun said that he could not succeed to the throne as crown prince because the old officials of Li Tang would not agree, and there would be necessary people to stop him.

In other words, as long as the treason case is cleared, the position of Crown Prince is a sure thing!

Li Xian, suppressing his excitement, bowed and thanked her, saying, "Your subject... Your subject thanks Your Majesty for your divine grace! Your Majesty's wisdom is beyond compare!"

He remembered Liu Jianjun's words.

Sure enough, after the Empress Dowager ascended the throne, various flaws and things that needed to be considered began to emerge. Li Xian didn't know what she was considering when she made such a compromise, but it was a good thing.

Dealing with an emperor is indeed very different from dealing with an empress dowager.

"Get up. This matter concerns the foundation of the nation, and involves countless details that cannot be resolved in a day. After you return, you should calmly await the outcome, cultivate your character, and be cautious in your words and actions. In particular, you must..."

She paused, then raised her voice, "Distinguish right from wrong, befriend virtuous ministers, and stay away from petty men. Do not be misled by treacherous officials again and fail to live up to my expectations."

……

(End of this chapter)