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

Chapter 61 Emperor Gaozong Passes Away
Li Xian suddenly fell silent.

As a prince, he certainly knew what the Imperial Guards surrounding the gates of his palace were doing.

When the emperor was critically ill, it was the most vulnerable time for the Tang dynasty to become unstable. The Imperial Guards needed to ensure a smooth transition of imperial power to Crown Prince Li Xian, so monitoring the Tang imperial family in the capital became a necessary measure.

They weren't targeting them personally; it was just a matter of established custom.

"Father...is your health failing...?"

Although Li Xian had already mentally prepared himself for his father's passing, he still felt a sense of unease as the day drew near.

And feeling lost and helpless.

He didn't know what he was thinking.

Some blurry images flashed through Li Xian's mind: as a child, being lifted up by his father's strong hands and placed on his lap while listening to him recite the Book of Documents; later, practicing riding and archery in the palace gardens, with his father casting a scrutinizing gaze from afar...

Furthermore, there was the complex and unreadable disappointment and sorrow in his father's eyes when he looked at him after the treason case, and the aged face he had seen a few days earlier.

But he didn't think about the vacant, supreme imperial throne that would remain after his father's death.

What brought Li Xian back to his senses was Liu Jianjun's sudden, light pat on his shoulder.

Liu Jianjun moved the stool next to Li Xian and said, "Xianzi, although I understand that it's heartbreaking that your grandfather is about to pass away, I still have to tell you something important."

Li Xian forced a smile: "It's alright, go ahead."

Liu Jianjun straightened Li Xian's shoulders and stared intently at him: "Now your grandfather, the emperor of the Tang Dynasty, is about to breathe his last. What do you call this? This is called a power vacuum, a world-changing event!"

“Outside, undercurrents are surging, and everyone, whether human or ghost, has raised their knives and forks, ready to devour the impending tide of power.”

"Now is not the time to cry for your grandfather, nor is it the time to think about how to be a dutiful son or grandson. You need to figure out two things immediately!"

Sensing the seriousness in Liu Jianjun's tone, Li Xianqiang composed himself and solemnly said, "Liu Jianjun, go ahead, I'm listening."

"First, concrete news from the palace! How is your father? Has he passed away? What's happening with Xianzi? And what about your mother!"

When Liu Jianjun mentioned "your mother," he deliberately emphasized the words, "What is her attitude? Is she sitting back and doing nothing, or has she already taken swift and decisive action? This kind of information is more valuable than gold!"

"But now the Prince of Pei's residence is only taking in information and not letting it out. I need you to find a way to obtain this information."

Li Xian nodded and said, "Taiping can help with these matters. She is a woman and is the most favored by the Empress Dowager, so she can freely enter and leave the palace."

"Well, you should find a way to get Taiping to handle this matter, but remember to do it as a son who cares about his father. Even if the information you gather is fragmented, it doesn't matter. The most important thing is the second matter."

Liu Jianjun's face turned serious: "It is imperative! We must get Shangguan Wan'er to come to the Prince of Pei's residence."

"Shangguan Wan'er?" Li Xian was taken aback.

"Well, if nothing unexpected happens, Xianzi should be made the new emperor by your father. I'm worried that she might rebel at this critical juncture. Whether she sides with your mother or Xianzi, it won't be good news for us."

"Send her to the Prince of Pei's residence. I need to help her solidify her stance."

Li Xian nodded.

……

The Prince of Pei's mansion was sealed off by the Imperial Guards, and Li Xian and the people in the mansion could not leave. Therefore, Li Xian had to personally send an Imperial Guard to summon Taiping to the mansion.

Princess Taiping had obviously learned of the Emperor's serious illness. When she came, her face was no longer as cheerful as before. Li Xian was also in no mood to say anything to comfort her. He only asked her to help find out the news in the palace and to convey Liu Jianjun's request for Shangguan Wan'er to come to the Prince's residence before hastily ending the meeting.

As dusk settled in the afternoon, Taiping finally returned.

She was alone; Shangguan Wan'er was not with her.

"Father's illness has relapsed. He is too weak to get out of bed and can't see anything. Pills, powders, needles, and ointments are all useless. My third brother was summoned to Father's palace. Mother served Father without taking off her clothes. The Zichen Palace is filled with the smell of medicine. Doctors came one after another..."

"Several prime ministers are kneeling outside the palace. It seems that Father Emperor is preparing to draft an edict..." As she spoke, Taiping burst into tears.

Li Xian also felt a pang of sorrow.

Although Taiping only said a few words, Li Xian knew that his father might really be dying.

Li Xian reached out and pulled Taiping into his arms, gently stroking her back to comfort her.

It took a while for Taiping to calm down.

Remembering Liu Jianjun's instructions, Li Xian asked again, "What about Shangguan Wan'er?"

“I relayed the message that Brother Wang was looking for her, and she just told me that she would come to see Brother Wang when the time was right.”

……

After seeing Taiping off, Li Xian, feeling dejected, went to Liu Jianjun's courtyard and relayed Taiping's words in detail.

After listening, Liu Jianjun frowned, as if he was thinking about something troublesome.

Li Xian asked him, "What's wrong?"

“There shouldn’t be any problems with your mother’s side, and Xianzi should be able to succeed to the throne normally, but that woman Shangguan Wan’er…” Liu Jianjun rubbed his temples again.

Li Xian knew that Liu Jianjun was probably referring to the fact that Shangguan Wan'er hadn't come with Taiping, so he probed, "Perhaps she's just too busy with palace affairs to get away? After all, she needs to stay close to the Empress Dowager, and this is a critical time. If she were to leave the palace rashly, it would surely arouse the Empress Dowager's suspicion."

"I hope so," Liu Jianjun sighed softly.

"Then... what should we do now?" Li Xian asked with some worry.

"Let's wait." Liu Jianjun suddenly smiled and said, "Don't look so worried. Everything is still under my control."

Li Xian was puzzled, but he trusted Liu Jianjun.

……

Because the Prince of Pei's residence was under surveillance, Li Xian and Liu Jianjun were unable to leave for the rest of the time.

A day passed, and Shangguan Wan'er did not come.

Another day has passed, and Shangguan Wan'er still hasn't come.

On the third day, Shangguan Wan'er still did not come.

But Emperor Gaozong passed away.

Along with the news of Emperor Gaozong's death, his last edict also arrived:
[The realm is of utmost importance, and the ancestral temples and altars are of paramount importance; the succession of the imperial lineage must not be neglected even for a moment. The Crown Prince may ascend the throne before the coffin, and the severity of his mourning attire should follow the Han dynasty system. Using days instead of months is appropriate for the occasion. The system for the imperial mausoleum should be frugal. In cases of unresolved matters concerning military and national affairs, the Empress Dowager's opinion should be sought.]①
Li Xian felt a sudden emptiness in his heart.

His father eventually passed away, and Li Xian ascended the throne.

He was puzzled. Was this the end of it all?
He remembered Liu Jianjun saying that he would not confront Li Xian, but now, Li Xian had been ordered by the will to ascend the throne directly in front of the coffin and become the new emperor of the Tang Dynasty. If he wanted to ascend the throne again, how could he not confront Li Xian?
And the Empress Dowager.

Wasn't she always after Da Bao?

Why did she also sit idly by and watch Li Xian ascend the throne?

And Shangguan Wan'er, why didn't she come to the Prince of Pei's residence?
Is it really just being busy?
The Prince's Mansion was also sealed off by the Imperial Guards, which Li Xian was unaware of.

But on the fourth day, Shangguan Wan'er finally arrived.

……

　①: Collection of Imperial Edicts of the Tang Dynasty, Volume 11
　　
　
(End of this chapter)