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

Chapter 196 The Shocking Turn of Events in the Eastern Palace and Liu Jianjun's Plans (10,000 words)
Visiting Li Dan was a very difficult thing.

Since Li Dan stepped down from that position, his situation has been very bad. Wu Zetian has always been wary of his restoration. His five sons, who were originally all enfeoffed as princes, have now all been demoted to county princes and imprisoned with their father, and are not allowed to step out of the palace.

Two months ago, two officials were executed by Wu Zetian for visiting Li Dan without her permission.

At this point, Liu Jianjun said he wanted to contact Li Dan.

It's hard.

But Li Xian felt it wasn't entirely impossible.

Now that he has earned a reputation for being well-behaved in his mother's eyes, it wouldn't be unreasonable for him to visit Li Dan out of brotherly affection.

"Of course, if you think this is risky for us, we can choose not to go. After all, Wu Chengsi's side would never come up with such a thing..."

Before Liu Jianjun could finish speaking, Li Xian interrupted him: "Go."

He couldn't bear to see his younger brother suffer any more.

“I knew you were like this. As for Danzi… well, it’s always good to lend a hand if you can.” Liu Jianjun paused, then instructed, “Danzi is under tight guard right now, so sneaking in is unlikely. You’ll have to ask your mother, the Empress.”

"Since you're going, go openly and honestly. Just tell your mother that you're worried about Danzi and want to visit him. But remember one thing: if it can be done, great; if not, don't force it."

Li Xian nodded.

……

After Wu Zetian gained a certain level of trust in Li Xian, the biggest change for Li Xian was that he could directly seek an audience with Wu Zetian and had a very high probability of succeeding.

Upon entering the Zhenguan Hall, one finds a faint scent of sandalwood incense burning within. Wu Zetian sits behind her desk, pen in hand, reviewing memorials, her writing uninterrupted by his arrival.

Li Xian knelt and bowed in accordance with etiquette: "Your subject pays respects to Your Majesty."

Wu Zetian did not respond immediately. After finishing reviewing the document in her hand, she put down her vermilion brush, looked up at him, and said, "Stand up and speak. What brings you here today?"

His voice was steady, revealing no emotion.

Li Xian stood up, bowed his head respectfully, and replied, "I have heard that there have been many changes in my brother Lun's palace recently, and I am very worried about him. I humbly request Your Majesty to grant me permission to visit him and do my part as an elder brother."

Li Xian tried his best to keep his voice calm, making it sound like a trivial matter of an older brother visiting his younger brother.

Even so, he could feel his heart beating a little fast.

There have been too many injustices in Luoyang recently, and he was unsure whether Wu Zetian was in a good mood.

Wu Zetian tapped her fingers lightly twice on the imperial desk, her gaze still fixed on him, as if she were weighing her options.

“You do have a kind heart,” she finally spoke, her tone revealing neither joy nor anger, “You still remember our brotherhood.”

Li Xian held his breath, waiting for what was to come.

"Go." Wu Zetian's voice rang out again, more decisive than he had expected.

These words sounded ordinary, but Li Xian's heart skipped a beat. He immediately bowed and said, "Your subject thanks Your Majesty for your grace."

"Remember your duty." Wu Zetian picked up another memorial and stopped looking at him.

……

Li Xian respectfully withdrew from the main hall. The sunlight outside was a bit dazzling, and he then realized that a thin layer of sweat had seeped out on his back. Wu Zetian's quick agreement made him feel an invisible pressure.

But in any case, I still have to see Li Dan.

Holding Wu Zetian's special edict, Li Xian hurried to the Eastern Palace.

The closer one gets to the East Palace, the stronger the somber and oppressive atmosphere becomes. There are noticeably more guards than elsewhere, their eyes scanning the surroundings warily.

After the announcement, Li Xian was led into the Eastern Palace.

Unlike the bustling and lively prince's residence in his memory, the Eastern Palace was now eerily quiet, with few palace servants and even their steps were cautious.

He was led to a side hall, where he could hear a commotion and shouts from afar, interspersed with faint moans.

Li Xian's heart sank, and he quickened his pace.

How could there be any commotion in the Eastern Palace?

Turning the corner of the corridor, the scene before him almost froze his blood.

In the courtyard in front of the main hall, a temporary torture chamber had been set up!

All sorts of grotesque instruments of torture were laid out on the ground, and the smell of rust and blood was faintly wafting through the air. Lai Junchen, dressed in a scarlet robe, sat at the head of the table with a cold expression, while several fierce-looking and cruel officials stood on either side.

In the open space in front of the palace, a dozen or so musicians knelt, trembling, their faces pale and their eyes filled with fear. Li Dan, accompanied by two guards, stood to the side, his face ashen, his lips tightly pressed together, and his eyes filled with a deathly despair.

He was even thinner than when Li Xian had glimpsed him from afar last time, his large robes hanging loosely on his body.

Li Xian's heart tightened.

Come to Junchen?
Why is he here?

Wasn't it said that Wu Chengsi would take revenge on Li Dan? Why is it Lai Junchen who came instead?
Wasn't it Lai Junchen who filed a complaint against Wei Tuan'er when Wu Chengsi assigned her to the task?
Li Xian found himself increasingly unable to understand the situation within Luoyang.

Most importantly, this is the Eastern Palace!

It was arguably the most heavily guarded place in the entire imperial city of Luoyang.

In other words, Lai Junchen's presence here must have been under Wu Zetian's orders.

I was too late after all.

and also……

Why would Wu Zetian allow him to visit Li Dan at this time?
Suppressing his doubts, Li Xian walked into the courtyard.

His appearance immediately attracted everyone's attention.

Lai Junchen was clearly not expected that Li Xian would appear at this moment. A look of surprise flashed across his gloomy face, but he quickly stood up, put on a perfunctory respectful expression, and cupped his hands, saying, "I did not know that His Highness Prince Pei would be here. I am sorry for not welcoming you properly. Please forgive me."

Although he bowed, his posture lacked genuine humility; instead, it carried a sense of scrutiny.

Li Xian ignored him immediately. His gaze first swept quickly over the kneeling, trembling musician on the ground, and finally settled on his younger brother, Li Dan.

Li Dan also saw him, and a complex emotion flashed across his lifeless eyes in an instant—surprise, a sliver of hope, but mostly fear.

He shook his head almost imperceptibly, signaling Li Xian not to get involved.

Li Xian felt a pang of sadness and forced himself to look away from Lai Junchen, speaking in a calm voice: "Imperial Censor Lai, this is the Eastern Palace, the residence of the heir apparent, a quiet place, not your Judicial Office. What is the purpose of setting up such a grand display?"

Lai Junchen straightened up and replied with a forced smile, "Your Highness, I have been ordered by His Majesty to investigate the matter of the Crown Prince's musicians colluding with foreign officials and plotting treason. These lowly servants are very stubborn. Without some means, it will be difficult to get them to reveal the truth."

He deliberately emphasized "His Majesty's secret decree" and "malicious intent," which served as both an explanation and a warning.

"Intentional misconduct?" Li Xian frowned, his gaze sweeping over the terrified musicians. "With just them?"

Li Xian's words were not meant to look down on these musicians; he was simply stating a fact.

These musicians were all commoners; according to the prejudices of aristocratic society, they weren't even considered normal people.

"Your Highness is benevolent, but the safety of the imperial heir concerns the fate of the nation. Even the smallest details cannot be taken lightly. It is better to investigate incorrectly than to overlook something," Lai Junchen replied impeccably.

Li Xian discovered that this person was indeed, as Liu Jianjun had said, a talented individual in some respects.

When I first met him, he was an illiterate gambler, but now he speaks fluently and even knows how to flatter people.

Just as Li Xian was about to speak, the musician who had been held down by the yamen runners and was about to be tortured let out a shrill wail: "Your Highness! Your Highness Prince Pei! I'm innocent! Innocent!"

Li Xian glanced over, his mind racing.

At this point, directly obstructing Lai Junchen from using torture would not be the best course of action; on the contrary, it could lead to charges of interfering with official business and protecting suspects.

He turned his gaze to Li Dan, his tone softening, carrying an elder brother's concern, and also addressing everyone present: "Brother Lun, I have come to visit you on Mother's orders. Seeing you well puts my mind at ease. But this place..."

He paused, then glanced meaningfully at the instruments of torture around him, “...too noisy, not a place for quiet recuperation.”

He made it clear that he had come "by imperial decree" and that it was reasonable for him to visit his brother, while implying that the occasion was inappropriate.

But Li Dan's lips moved, and he ultimately failed to utter a word, only lowering his head even further.

Li Xian sighed softly.

In this situation, he didn't know what to do.

Although he himself had come to visit on Wu Zetian's orders, so had Lai Junchen.

Moreover, theoretically speaking, his visit to Li Dan would not affect Lai Junchen's handling of his case. If he forcibly stopped him, not only would he be without a legitimate reason, but he might also be bitten in return and implicated.

However, just as the situation reached a stalemate, a resolute voice broke the balance.

"The heir to the throne has not rebelled!"

A musician suddenly stood up and straightened his back.

Li Xian did not recognize the man, but he felt that the young man had a stubbornness and integrity between his brows that was different from the other musicians. In the crowd of people who were terrified and cowering, his posture of stepping forward was particularly eye-catching.

Lai Junchen's cold gaze immediately locked onto him.

But before he could speak, the musician continued, his voice hoarse with fervor, as if worried that the courage he had forcibly mustered would crumble: "The Crown Prince has indeed not rebelled! If you do not believe me... I, An Jinzang, am willing to cut out my heart to prove the Crown Prince's innocence!"

"An Jinzang?" Li Xian silently repeated the unfamiliar name in his mind.

The next moment, An Jinzang suddenly drew a gleaming short knife from his waist!

That was not a weapon used in battle, but more like a sword used by musicians to cut the reeds of the sheng (a type of reed pipe instrument) and repair other instruments.

"stop!"

Li Xian's pupils contracted sharply, and he instinctively shouted to stop him, while taking a step forward.

But An Jinzang's movements were incredibly fast. To everyone's horror, he swung his knife backhand and stabbed himself in the abdomen without hesitation!
"Pfft!"

The sound of a sharp blade piercing flesh was dull yet clear.

Blood gushed out instantly, staining An Jinzang's plain-colored musician robes crimson, the glaring scarlet spreading rapidly.

"Ugh..."

An Jinzang let out a painful groan, his body swayed violently, and his face instantly turned ashen.

But he stubbornly refused to collapse, his hand still tightly gripping the hilt of his sword, his eyes blazing as he stared intently at Lai Junchen, using his last strength to repeat, "Crown Prince...innocent..."

The entire courtyard was deathly silent.

Everyone was stunned by the horrific scene. The executioners forgot to act, the cruel officials looked horrified, and even the wailing musicians fell silent in fear.

Lai Junchen stood there, stunned, as if he hadn't expected anyone to be so resolute.

Li Xian's heart tightened. Although he did not know An Jinzang, the heroic act of dying to prove his innocence strongly impacted his senses. A lowly musician could make such a sacrifice to prove the innocence of the imperial heir!
"Send word to the Imperial Medical Bureau immediately!" Li Xian could no longer afford to worry about anything else.

A surge of emotion, a mixture of admiration and anger, welled up inside me.

He abruptly looked up, his gaze like a blade piercing Lai Junchen. All his previous considerations and reservations were washed away by the blood, and his tone was more severe than ever before: "Lai Junchen! Is this the result of your investigation?! You've driven someone to commit suicide to prove their innocence! If the Crown Prince truly harbored rebellious intentions, why would a mere musician risk his life to vouch for him?! I will certainly report this matter truthfully to His Majesty!"

Instead of accusing Lai Junchen of framing him, he focused on the fact that Lai Junchen's methods of handling the case were cruel and had led to a death.

Under the watchful eyes of the public, An Jinzang's heroic act has won undeniable moral authority.

Lai Junchen's face turned extremely pale, alternating between ashen and ashen.

He had planned everything meticulously, but he never expected that such a reckless variable as An Jinzang would emerge, nor did he expect that Li Xian would appear at this crucial moment and intervene so forcefully, taking advantage of this "momentum."

"Your Highness, please calm down," Lai Junchen said, suppressing his anger and trying to salvage the situation. "This man is violent and acts erratically, which is truly beyond my expectations... Since Your Highness is here, I will leave it at that for now..."

Li Xian no longer listened to his feeble excuses, and instead sternly urged the stunned palace servants: "What are you all standing there for! Carefully carry him away and do everything you can to treat him! If the Imperial Pharmacy staff are late, you will be held responsible!"

His attention seemed entirely focused on saving people, but this swift and decisive action inadvertently interrupted Lai Junchen's interrogation process and temporarily saved the other musicians who had not yet been tortured.

Watching the palace servants frantically carry the dying An Jinzang away, the winding trail of blood was shocking and horrifying.

Li Xian took a deep breath and suppressed his turbulent emotions. He knew that he must not panic at this moment.

He first turned to Li Dan, his tone calm and reassuring: "Brother Lun, don't panic. Since this has happened before my eyes, I will definitely handle it properly. You can rest assured."

This statement was both to comfort his terrified younger brother and to declare to Lai Junchen and everyone present that he, Prince Pei, Li Xian, would take full responsibility for this matter.

Then, he stopped looking at Lai Junchen's unpredictable expression, glanced at the musicians still trembling on the ground, and said in a deep voice to the executioners Lai Junchen had brought: "Take these musicians into custody in the side hall of the East Palace for the time being, and keep them under strict guard, but do not torture them again, nor treat them harshly. Await His Majesty's decision!"

He directly deprived Lai Junchen of the possibility of continuing the torture.

The officials looked at each other, glancing at Li Xian and then stealing glances at Lai Junchen, unsure of whose advice to take.

Li Xian did not give Lai Junchen a chance to refute, and then said, "Imperial Censor Lai, things have come to this point, which is not what you or I wanted. The most urgent task is to treat the wounded, stabilize the situation in the Eastern Palace, and immediately report the changes to His Majesty. You and I can go together to meet the Emperor and explain the situation."

He brought up the idea of ​​"meeting the emperor together" both to tie the responsibility to Lai Junchen and to prevent him from taking the lead and distorting the truth in front of Wu Zetian.

At the same time, he characterized An Jinzang's heroic act as an "unexpected event" rather than "evidence of a crime," thus occupying the moral high ground.

He learned a lot from Liu Jianjun.

Lai Junchen's lips twitched. Li Xian's series of reactions were fast, accurate, and ruthless, completely disrupting his plans.

He stared at Li Xian, trying to find a flaw in Li Xian's face, but all he saw was silence.

He knew that it was impossible to continue the torture at this point, and it would be unwise to forcibly resist the prince who had come to visit him on imperial orders.

"...Your Highness has considered things thoroughly." Lai Junchen squeezed out a few words through gritted teeth, his face so gloomy it could drip water. "Then we will follow Your Highness's wishes."

……

On the way to Zhenguan Hall, Li Xian and Lai Junchen walked one after the other in silence. Li Xian was thinking about what he would say when he met the emperor, and judging from Junchen's expression, he seemed to be thinking the same thing.

Stepping into Zhenguan Hall again, the sandalwood incense was still there, but the atmosphere was completely different.

Wu Zetian remained seated behind her desk. Upon hearing that the two were requesting an audience, she seemed unsurprised, simply asking, "What brings you in such a hurry?"

She seemed unaware of what was happening in the Eastern Palace, or perhaps she already knew everything.

Li Xian and Lai Junchen knelt and bowed in accordance with etiquette.

"Your Majesty (Empress)."

Lai Junchen spoke first, prostrating himself and saying, "Your Majesty, I was ordered to investigate the musicians of the Eastern Palace. I was just about to delve into their alleged collusion with foreign officials and spying on the palace when His Highness Prince Pei suddenly arrived."

"Among them, a musician named An Jinzang, who was violent in nature, actually committed suicide in the palace, attempting to use his death to hold others hostage and interfere with the investigation! His Highness Prince Pei was misled by him and ordered me to stop the interrogation. I... I fear that I will fail to comply with His Majesty's order, so I came with His Highness to request His Majesty's decision!"

He spoke very quickly and quickly put the hat on Li Xian's head.

Li Xian sneered inwardly; Lai Junchen was indeed the one who falsely accused others.

He remained calm and waited for Junchen to finish speaking before kowtowing and saying, "Your Majesty, I have been ordered to visit my younger brother Lun. Upon entering the Eastern Palace, I found instruments of torture laid out and cries of agony filling the air, resembling the courtroom of the Imperial Court, completely unlike the tranquility of the Imperial Heir's residence."

"The imperial censor claimed to be investigating the case, but he did not find any real evidence and only resorted to torture to intimidate the musicians."

"Your subject felt this was inappropriate. The musician An Jinzang, unable to bear the terror of torture, in order to prove my brother Lun's innocence, angrily cut out his own heart to prove his innocence!"

At this point, Li Xian's voice became agitated: "At that time, the blood was everywhere, a truly shocking sight! In my shock, I thought of the reputation of the imperial heir and the decorum of the palace, and I was even more afraid that more lives would be lost. Therefore, I had no choice but to order the suspension of the interrogation, urgently summon the Imperial Medical Bureau to treat the wounded, and temporarily place the censors and the musicians involved in the case under guard. I will come to report to Your Majesty immediately."

Wu Zetian finally put down her vermilion brush, slowly raised her head, and her gaze first fell on Lai Junchen. Her expression was calm and unwavering: "Lai Junchen, I order you to investigate the musicians. Do you have any conclusive evidence to accuse the Crown Prince of involvement?"

Lai Junchen shuddered instinctively and prostrated himself even lower: "Your Majesty, at present... at present we have not yet obtained a definitive confession from the musicians. However, according to secret reports..."

"A secret report?" Wu Zetian interrupted him, her voice still steady, yet carrying an invisible pressure. "Is it a secret report identifying the heir to the throne, or identifying a musician?" "...Yes, it's an identification of a musician who may be colluding with foreign officials or spying on the palace." Fine beads of sweat appeared on Lai Junchen's forehead.

"In other words, you have no direct evidence pointing to the Crown Prince," Wu Zetian's gaze turned to Li Xian, "and you, with your own eyes, witnessed that the musician committed suicide to prove the Crown Prince's innocence?"

“Your Majesty, I saw and heard it with my own eyes and ears. An Jinzang shouted, ‘The Crown Prince has not rebelled,’ and ‘I am willing to cut out my heart to prove it,’ before stabbing himself with a knife, his resolve unwavering. Everyone present can testify to this,” Li Xian replied firmly.

The hall fell into a brief silence.

Wu Zetian's gaze was deep and unfathomable; no one could discern her true thoughts.

After a long pause, she finally spoke, her voice carrying a hint of barely perceptible coldness: "Lai Junchen."

"The minister is here."

“I know you are eager to solve the case. However, the Eastern Palace is the residence of the imperial heir, and it is not an ordinary place. Using severe torture to the point of causing death, disturbing the imperial heir, and shaking the palace is your fault.”

Lai Junchen trembled and touched his head to the ground: "Your Majesty, I know my crime! I failed in my duties, please punish me!"

“As for you, Li Xian,” Wu Zetian turned her gaze to him, “you know how to maintain decorum in the face of trouble, prevent the situation from escalating, and report it in time. You are quite steady.”

"Your subject dares not claim credit, but only begs Your Majesty's wise judgment," Li Xian said respectfully.

Empress Wu nodded slightly and made a preliminary decision: "By imperial decree, the musician An Jinzang is commendable for his loyalty and bravery. The Imperial Medical Bureau is to do everything in its power to save his life. If he survives, he will be richly rewarded. As for the other musicians of the Eastern Palace, since there is no concrete evidence that they are implicated in the imperial heir, they are to be released immediately and return to their posts."

This decree effectively negated Lai Junchen's potential accusations against Li Dan.

"Lai Junchen was reckless in handling the case. He is hereby fined half a year's salary as a punishment. The case concerning the Crown Prince is hereby closed and shall not be investigated further."

"Your subject...accepts the imperial decree and expresses gratitude." Lai Junchen's voice was filled with resentment.

“An Jinzang…” Wu Zetian repeated the name softly, tapping her fingertip lightly on the imperial desk, “A musician, yet he can do such a thing.”

She raised her eyes, looked at Li Xian and Lai Junchen, and said in an unquestionable tone: "You two, come with me to take a look."

Li Xian's heart skipped a beat.

Is Wu Zetian going to visit An Jinzang in person?
He was puzzled as to why Wu Zetian would care so much about a musician, but he immediately replied respectfully, "Your subject obeys the decree."

Lai Junchen also immediately prostrated himself on the ground: "Your subject obeys the decree."

……

The group silently made their way to the Imperial Medical Bureau.

The atmosphere was terribly oppressive. Wu Zetian walked ahead, and Li Xian dared not speak. He could even clearly hear his own heart beating too fast.

He secretly glanced at Lai Junchen beside him, only to see that the other man had his head down, his face gloomy, and he didn't know what he was thinking.

……

The Imperial Medical Bureau was filled with the smell of medicine. An Jinzang was placed in a secluded spot, but he remained unconscious.

Upon seeing the Emperor's arrival, the physicians knelt in fear. Wu Zetian waved for them to rise and not to make a sound. Then, she slowly walked to the bedside.

Li Xian followed closely behind, his gaze immediately drawn to the pale figure on the bed.

An Jinzang looked so young, even with a touch of childishness, but at this moment his brows were furrowed, his lips were dry and bloodless, and his weak breathing seemed as if he might stop at any moment.

The imperial physician reported the injuries in a low voice: "...The sharp blade has pierced the intestines, causing excessive blood loss. Whether he can survive the night is still uncertain..."

Li Xian thought of Liu Jianjun's superb medical skills in stitching up wounds, but after thinking about it, he didn't dare to speak.

Liu Jianjun is his biggest secret.

For a moment, Li Xian felt a sense of bewilderment.

It turns out that everything in this world can be weighed in terms of its importance. Between a human life and keeping Liu Jianjun's secret, he made a decision without even much thought.

Look up.

Wu Zetian stood there quietly, gazing at An Jinzang. She did not speak, but simply watched.

Li Xian could clearly see the outline of Wu Zetian's profile and the slightly pursed corners of her lips.

He didn't know what Wu Zetian was thinking, but just looking into her eyes made him feel a pang of sadness.

This was a tenderness that Wu Zetian had never shown to herself, a tenderness reserved for her children.

For no apparent reason, Li Xian thought of Liu Jianjun's speculation.

Could it be that I... am not Wu Zetian's biological son?

He thought of his brothers and sisters.

When his elder brother Li Hong was eight years old, he was in charge of the country. Because he missed his mother and cried incessantly, Wu Zetian took him to her side.

When his third brother, Li Xian, was born, he suffered a difficult childbirth. Wu Zetian prayed to Buddha for his protection and arranged for him to become a disciple of the eminent monk Xuanzang. She also had a cave carved and a statue made for him at Longmen Grottoes, hoping that Buddha would bless him.

The fourth brother, Li Dan, was appointed as the governor of the north. He clung to Wu Zetian's leg and begged, saying, "I can't go to Mother." As a result, he was kept behind.

As for peace, that goes without saying.

But he alone received not a single bit of Wu Zetian's pampering.

At this moment, Wu Zetian suddenly let out a very soft sigh.

The sigh was almost inaudible, but it brought Li Xian back to his senses.

He heard Wu Zetian say in a low voice, with an indescribable weariness and a certain sense of relief, "I have a son who cannot understand himself, which has led you to this point."

These words struck Li Xian like a thunderclap.

The melancholy, self-blame, and even the fleeting vulnerability in his words were things he had never felt in Wu Zetian before.

She wasn't praising An Jinzang's loyalty and bravery, but rather reflecting on her relationship with Li Dan. It was because of An Jinzang's sacrifice that she felt a...slight guilt towards Li Dan.
At that moment, Li Xian suddenly understood that An Jinzang's decisive stab had perhaps truly struck the hardest yet softest part of his mother's heart.

She remembered Li Dan, who had once clung to her legs and begged, saying, "I can't go to my mother."

Wu Zetian did not linger. After saying that, she turned around and left the room with her steps still steady, as if the emotional outburst just now had never happened.

Li Xian and Lai Junchen followed obediently behind her.

Back in the Zhenguan Hall, Wu Zetian remained silent for a moment, then picked up her brush and wrote a new imperial edict, her tone resolute:

"The Crown Prince Wu Lun is of pure and honest nature, and he adheres to the proper etiquette of a subject. He has committed no wrongdoing. Effective immediately, the extra guards of the Eastern Palace shall be removed, and its supplies and provisions shall be restored. Without imperial decree, no one shall disturb the tranquility of the Eastern Palace or frighten the Crown Prince for any reason. Anyone who disobeys shall be punished for sowing discord within the imperial family."

After writing, she looked at Li Xian and Lai Junchen, her gaze regaining its usual sharpness and authority: "Issue the decree immediately. Lai Junchen, the matter of the Crown Prince ends here."

"Your subject... obeys the decree." Lai Junchen kowtowed deeply, his voice hoarse.

"Li Xian."

"My son is here."

"When you visit Wu Lun in the future, just follow the orders."

"My son understands."

As Li Xian left Zhenguan Hall, he watched Lai Junchen's hurried departure, his heart filled with mixed emotions.

Li Dan finally gained a precious moment of respite because of the heroic act of a stranger musician who paid with his life. The task that he had come to instruct Li Dan seemed to be completed, but it also seemed that he had not done anything.

But he knew that the storm in Luoyang had temporarily bypassed the Eastern Palace because of An Jinzang's knife.

……

By the time they returned to the Prince of Pei's residence, it was nearly dusk.

He dismissed his attendants and went straight to the warm room where Liu Jianjun often stayed.

By candlelight, Liu Jianjun was fiddling with some small wooden signs and drawing something on them with a brush. Hearing footsteps, he looked up at Li Xian, then immediately went back to his work.

"You're back? Judging from your face, things are settled, but you don't seem at ease?"

Li Xian glanced at the wooden plaque in Liu Jianjun's hand, which had the words "80,000" written on it.

Although he was already used to Liu Jianjun's penchant for tinkering with strange and unusual gadgets, he still couldn't help but ask, "What are you doing?"

"I need to get a mahjong set. With my status, it's not easy for me to go out. I'm getting so bored every day."

Li Xian didn't know what mahjong was, but he knew that Liu Jianjun had come up with this little game to amuse himself, so he didn't take it to heart and sat down opposite him.

Then he let out a long breath and recounted the events that had occurred in the East Palace that day.

"...The Empress Dowager said that I have a son who cannot explain himself, which has led you to this point. After that, the matter will be completely over."

"That's what she said?" Liu Jianjun put down the "One of Bamboo" in his hand and leaned forward slightly.

Li Xian nodded.

Liu Jianjun clicked his tongue and said, "I'm starting to seriously doubt that you're my biological son. We're both sons, but the difference between you two is like heaven and earth."

Li Xian glared at him irritably and said, "If I wasn't born of the Empress Dowager, then where did I come from? Did I spring out of a rock?"

Liu Jianjun shook his head and smiled, then didn't continue the topic.

He leaned back in his chair, his fingers tapping the table unconsciously, his eyes vacant, as if he were deducing something in his mind. After a long while, he slowly spoke: "Xianzi, you still tend to look at the surface of things. An Jinzang's loyalty is the fuse, but not the explosive itself."

Li Xian looked at him with a puzzled expression.

Liu Jianjun said seriously, "Who is your mother? She is the first female emperor who ascended the throne by stepping over countless corpses!"
"Her willpower is far stronger than we can imagine. Simple loyalty might earn her praise, but it is by no means enough to make her change her established strategy toward the imperial heirs in an instant, let alone make her show any emotion of 'self-blame'."

Li Xian wanted to say that what he didn't understand was the so-called fuse and explosives, but after hearing what Liu Jianjun said, he roughly understood what fuses and explosives were.

"What's that for?"

"Because of the cost and the reflection." Liu Jianjun said, word by word, "Lai Junchen, that mad dog, set up a torture chamber in the Eastern Palace. This was actually tacitly approved or even authorized by your mother, the Empress. The purpose was to warn and intimidate Danzi, and further weaken his presence. This is a routine operation in her power control game."

"But An Jinzang's stab instantly raised the cost of this 'routine operation' to a level she could not ignore! It forced the innocent to their deaths, shook public morale, and damaged her reputation and foundation as emperor and even as a mother."

"Think about it, a lowly musician risked her life to prove her son's innocence. If this got out, what would the people of the world think? What would the court officials think?"
"They will sympathize with An Jinzang, admire his loyalty, and then question what kind of injustice and oppression could have driven a musician to this point? And what role did the prince who was proven innocent, his mother, the current emperor, play in all of this?"
"Your mother's words, 'I have a son but cannot explain himself,' sound like self-blame, but on a deeper level, it shows that she instantly realized the risks of public opinion and the political costs involved."

"She realized that treating Danzi in such a cruel way might not only force him to rebel, but also give her a bad reputation for being mean-spirited and ungrateful, and forcing her own child, which would be a huge blow to the image she had painstakingly built."

Li Xian suddenly realized: "So, she immediately stopped Lai Junchen, treated An Jinzang well, and issued an edict to appease Dandi, all to...stop the damage? To salvage the potentially out-of-control public opinion and public sentiment?"

"That's right!"

Liu Jianjun snapped his fingers. "That's the main motivation."

"But at the same time, An Jinzang's actions may have indeed touched that rarely revealed part of her heart that belonged to her as a mother."

"Perhaps it also caused her to feel a slight... well, what could be called 'maternal love' amidst the cold power struggles, but this feeling was based on political considerations and was by no means dominant."

Li Xian remained silent, his heart filled with mixed emotions.

Today, when Li Xian saw the expression on Wu Zetian's face at the Imperial Medical Bureau, he thought that she might still have some affection for her children.

Even though Li Xian never received that warmth.

But he also hopes that the warmth is real.

But now, Liu Jianjun's analysis was like a bucket of cold water poured over Li Xian's head, extinguishing any glimmer of hope he had.

"However, in any case..."

Liu Jianjun changed his tone and patted him on the shoulder.

"We have achieved our goal this time. Danzi is safe for the time being, and Wu Chengsi and Lai Junchen's attack has been thwarted. Moreover, through this incident, you have established a stable and considerate image in your mother's mind. She has even given you the right to visit Danzi legitimately, which is a good thing."

"only……"

Liu Jianjun paused for a moment, then continued, "The storm has only temporarily detoured, it has not subsided. Wu Chengsi will not be satisfied, and Lai Junchen, having been reprimanded, is probably harboring some ill intentions."

"We still need to stay alert and think about how to use your current advantages to give ourselves more options."

Li Xian nodded.

In this turbulent city of Luoyang, a moment's carelessness could swallow a person whole, so he dared not be careless in the slightest.

But suddenly, he asked, "By the way, Lai Junchen...didn't you ask him to report Wei Tuan'er for using voodoo dolls? Wei Tuan'er was sent by Wu Chengsi, so wouldn't Lai Junchen have offended Wu Chengsi? But why would he help Wu Chengsi?"

Liu Jianjun chuckled: "You've hit the nail on the head."

"You need to understand one thing first: people like Lai Junchen don't have permanent friends or permanent enemies; they only have permanent interests and opportunities to climb the ladder."

“I sent Lai Junchen to denounce Wei Tuan’er, giving him an opportunity to show his loyalty to His Majesty, while also allowing him to take a bite out of Wu Chengsi. This is beneficial to him, so he is naturally willing to do it.”

"But Wu Chengsi isn't stupid. If he suffered a loss, wouldn't he try to get revenge?"

Li Xian asked, puzzled, "Then...shouldn't he be targeting Lai Junchen instead?"

“No.” Liu Jianjun shook his head. “You have to look at them separately.”

How do we break it open?

"Wu Chengsi has been dismissed from his post as prime minister, and his power is far less than before. He needs a vicious dog like Lai Junchen, who can speak to His Majesty and is good at fabricating charges. But what about Lai Junchen? He just indirectly offended Wu Chengsi's faction because of Wei Tuan'er's matter. How could he not be suspicious? If Wu Chengsi were to lower himself and offer substantial benefits, such as a promise that he could regain power in the future... do you think Lai Junchen wouldn't be tempted?"

"So, they've reached some kind of...cooperation?" Li Xian felt a chill. The collusion among these people was like a spider web in the dark night, hard to detect, yet everywhere.

"It's uncertain, but at least there's a tacit understanding between the two of them."

Liu Jianjun thought for a while and said, "Wu Chengsi needs a knife, and Lai Junchen wants to find a more stable backer. At the same time, he can also use Wu Chengsi's power to deal with people he doesn't like, such as... us."

Li Xian's eyes widened.

Liu Jianjun continued, "Putting aside the fact that taking down a crown prince would be another great achievement for Lai Junchen, just the fact that he lost power before because of you, how could he not want to get revenge?"
"Even if these hooligans and thugs put on gold, their vengeful nature will never change."

"But it's okay, he won't be thinking of provoking us for the time being. This guy is very cunning. He learned his lesson last time and will remember it for a long time, especially since we still have some dirt on him."

Li Xian was completely convinced.

Liu Jianjun's insights into human nature are simply unbelievable.

In his eyes, these living people were like books, each containing a story of their life, and he was the one who read the entire book.

"So... Lai Junchen is a man who can play both sides. He doesn't want to completely offend Wu Chengsi, he's wary of us, and he wants to gain favor with the Empress Dowager?"

"That's right!" Liu Jianjun slapped his thigh. "This is Lai Junchen's way of surviving. He's like an eel, maneuvering between several forces. Today, we broke his trap by accident and even got him reprimanded. He'll be obedient for a while, but he'll definitely hold a grudge. Wu Chengsi will probably reassess our threat as well."

At this point, Liu Jianjun's expression became more serious. He said, "My son, do you see? This is Luoyang, this is the imperial court. There are no absolute positions, only eternal interests."

"And your mother is the mastermind behind all these interests."

Li Xian took a deep breath, and the pressure suddenly increased.

But Liu Jianjun grinned and said, "Unfortunately, she ran into us, who saw through all her subsequent tricks!"

Seeing Liu Jianjun still looking so spirited, Li Xian felt a sudden sense of relief.

He asked, "So... what do we do next?"

"Is that even a question? Wu Chengsi has lost power, and Danzi is temporarily safe. Now, it's time to pave the way for you."

When Liu Jianjun said this, his eyes gleamed with a greenish light.

……

(End of this chapter)