The Fierce Teacher of Zhenguan: Starting with Teaching the Crown Prince to Make a Comeback

Chapter 204 The consequences were so severe?

This thought made him feel irritable and powerless.

He also understood the concerns of Changsun Wuji and others.

The political situation cannot be allowed to deteriorate any further.

Having just experienced the rebellion of the Prince of Qi, if the Crown Prince were to be deposed or severely punished immediately afterward, it would be a huge blow to the Zhenguan court.

Time passed slowly, and the hall became eerily quiet.

The four high-ranking officials held their breath, awaiting the final verdict, their hearts filled with unease.

Finally, Li Shimin stopped.

He raised his head, his gaze sweeping over the four people, his eyes now displaying the composure of an emperor.

"Since all the ministers and the Crown Prince believe that Prince Qi's actions are understandable..."

Li Shimin's voice rang out steadily, yet it carried an unquestionable decisiveness.

"Very well. Prince Qi, Li You, is guilty of treason. He may be spared the death penalty, but he will not escape punishment."

He paused, then spoke slowly and deliberately.

"Strip him of all titles and ranks, reduce him to a commoner. Exile him to Qianzhou, where he may never leave again!"

This arrangement is quite meaningful.

But this is not all.

Li Shimin's gaze sharpened as he looked at Changsun Wuji. His voice, though not loud, reached everyone's ears clearly:

"As for how to arrange their placement, how to escort them, and all subsequent matters..."

He paused slightly, a barely perceptible, cold smile curving his lips.

"The Crown Prince shall have full authority to handle this matter."

"I want to see how this 'benevolent, filial, and fraternal' elder brother, who is also 'courageous and responsible,' will deal with his... treasonous younger brother!"

Upon hearing this, Changsun Wuji, Fang Xuanling, Cen Wenben, and Gao Shilian secretly breathed a sigh of relief.

His Majesty ultimately compromised.

Li You survived, and although the punishment was still severe, it wasn't the worst outcome.

Giving the power of disposal to the Crown Prince is a response to the Crown Prince's "benevolence and filial piety".

This also meant that a hot potato, a huge test, was thrown directly back into Li Chengqian's hands.

His Majesty is responding remotely to the Crown Prince's question in court—"Didn't you want to take responsibility?"

I will put you in this position!

Didn't you say that I failed to raise my son properly and that I, as his elder brother, bear the responsibility?
Then you shall personally demonstrate to me how to fulfill this responsibility!
"Your Majesty, we... obey your command."

The four responded in unison, their voices carrying a hint of relief, but also a new worry.

In any case, the most dangerous moment seems to have passed for the time being.

The court avoided an imminent, potentially devastating storm.

Li Shimin waved his hand, signaling them to step back.

The four bowed and left the Liangyi Hall.

They glanced at each other, both seeing the same judgment in each other's eyes—

Your Majesty has not truly let go of the matter.

The final edict to deal with Prince Qi, Li You, was quickly approved by the Secretariat and then issued to the whole country.

He was stripped of his title, reduced to a commoner, exiled to Qianzhou, and imprisoned for life.

This outcome, after the dramatic confrontation in the imperial court, seems both reasonable and subtly nuanced.

It is clear to everyone that this is not His Majesty's own wish, but rather the product of a compromise and weighing of various forces, especially the Crown Prince's forceful intervention with himself as the stake.

After the imperial edict was issued, Li Chengqian did not delay.

Before Li You was taken away from Chang'an, he personally went to the villa where the Imperial Clan Court was holding imperial relatives.

The villa was heavily guarded, but seeing that the Crown Prince had arrived in person, no one dared to stop him.

The interior is simply furnished, a stark contrast to the former extravagance of the Prince Qi's mansion.

Li You sat alone on a hard wooden couch, dressed in coarse prison clothes, his hair disheveled. His former arrogance had vanished, leaving only a face full of dejection and fear.

Hearing footsteps, he looked up and saw Li Chengqian. A hint of surprise flashed in his eyes.

He instinctively wanted to stand up and bow, but he didn't know how to behave in his current position, so his movements froze in mid-air.

"Fifth brother," Li Chengqian said, his voice calm and devoid of much emotion.

He dismissed his attendants, leaving only the two brothers in the room.

"Your Majesty... Your Highness."

Li You's voice was dry and hoarse. In the end, he chose a respectful title, lowered his head, and dared not meet Li Chengqian's gaze.

"A sinner... I dare not accept such a title."

Li Chengqian walked to the mat opposite him and sat down, his gaze sweeping over the simple prison cell.

"We are brothers after all."

These words made Li You's body tremble slightly. He looked up abruptly, his eyes filled with disbelief and a glimmer of hope for survival, but this was quickly replaced by a deeper despair.

“Brother…I…I have committed such a heinous crime, how can I still have the face to call Your Highness my brother…”

His voice choked with emotion.

“Father... Father must never want to see me again.”

"You already know about Father's decree."

Li Chengqian didn't respond to his words, but went straight to the point.

"Qianzhou is a long and difficult journey. You'd better take care of yourself."

Li You's face instantly turned even paler.

Qianzhou!

It was plagued by miasma and was a desolate and isolated place.

A member of the imperial family like him, who has been pampered since childhood and is incapable of lifting a finger, going to such a place is no different from being sentenced to death.
He could almost see himself suffering from hunger, cold, and illness, and finally dying silently in that desolate land.

"Your Highness...I...I..."

Li You's lips trembled, and the immense fear made him incoherent.

“If I go over there, how will I survive? I don’t know anything… I don’t even know how to start a fire or cook… I have children… what will happen to them?”

He looked up, his eyes filled with pleading and desperate tears.

"Your Highness, my death is nothing to regret, but the children... they are innocent! Will they... also have to spend their whole lives in that kind of place, like... like commoners..."

The panic in his words was genuine.

For an ancient nobleman who had been deprived of all political rights and economic resources and lacked basic survival skills, exile, especially to a remote place like Qianzhou, was almost tantamount to a slow death.

It was not just physical torture, but also complete spiritual and class destruction, making it difficult for future generations to rise up.

Li Chengqian watched him quietly, observing his once arrogant and domineering younger brother now acting like a frightened bird.

He felt little sympathy for Li You; Li You had only himself to blame for getting to this point.

But his purpose in coming here at this moment is not to kick someone when they're down.

"You don't need to worry about these things too much."

Li Chengqian's voice remained steady.

"Since I have fought for your life before the Emperor, I will not watch you go there to fend for yourself."

Li You suddenly opened his eyes wide and stared intently at Li Chengqian, as if he couldn't believe his ears.

Li Chengqian continued, "I will take care of the officials escorting us along the way. When we arrive in Qianzhou, I will also send someone to look after the local governor."

"Basic land, housing, and expenses will be arranged for you, enough for you and your family to live a peaceful life." "You won't be required to do farming or weaving work; I can ensure you have enough to eat and wear."

This is not an empty promise.

Li Chengqian had already considered that since he had taken on this "hot potato," he had to deal with it properly.

Using the resources of the Crown Prince's palace to remotely arrange for the exile of a commoner, though somewhat conspicuous, is not impossible.

The key lies in his attitude. He must let Li You, and everyone who might be paying attention to this matter, see that he, Li Chengqian, will keep his word.

Li You was stunned, and tears instantly streamed down his face.

He knelt down with a thud and kowtowed heavily to Li Chengqian, his forehead hitting the ground with a dull thud.

"Your Highness! Your Highness's great kindness! I am a sinner... a sinner..."

He wept uncontrollably, all his fear and despair seemingly finding an outlet at that moment, transforming into endless gratitude for the brother before him.

He never imagined that the Crown Prince would consider his future survival in such detail, and even promise to guarantee the livelihood of him and his family.

"Get up."

"As for your children... they are of the Li family bloodline. Although they have been implicated by you and removed from the clan register."

"But in the future, if there is an opportunity, I will try to restore their status as members of the royal family, so that at least... they can have a proper lineage."

These words gave Li You a distant hope.

Restoring his status as a member of the imperial clan meant that his descendants would no longer have to bear the stigma of being the offspring of a disgraced official, and they would have the possibility of returning to Chang'an and even obtaining an official position.

This moved and impressed him even more than ensuring his current livelihood.

"Your Highness..." Li You was so excited that he didn't know what to say, so he could only kowtow again.

"If I have survived this life, it is all thanks to Your Highness! If I am ever asked to serve you in the future, I will gladly die a thousand deaths..."

"Alright," Li Chengqian interrupted his declaration of loyalty and stood up.

"There's no need for such words. Remember this lesson, behave yourself and that's the best way to repay me and Father. Make preparations, we'll be setting off soon."

After saying this, Li Chengqian turned and left the cell without lingering.

Behind him, came Li You's suppressed sobs, a mixture of crying and laughter.

The turmoil at Taiji Hall spread from within the palace walls to the streets and alleys of Chang'an.

After the initial shock, a more practical and acute sense of panic began to quietly grow in the city.

"Have you heard? At the court meeting a few days ago, His Majesty said he wanted to depose the Crown Prince."

In a corner of a teahouse in the West Market, a merchant dressed in a worn silk shirt spoke in a low voice to his companion at the table, his eyes full of worry.

His surname is Zhao. He does some silk and cloth business and has dozens of bolts of fine Jianghuai silk in his possession, which he is waiting to sell when the market is good.

The shopkeeper across from him, who specialized in spices, frowned deeply upon hearing this.

He held the teacup in his hand, his knuckles turning slightly white.

"It's not just hearsay! My good-for-nothing son of mine is on duty on Chengtianmen Street. Although he can't enter the main hall, the commotion... His Majesty's furious roar can be faintly heard outside!"

Zhao the merchant did not respond.

He wasn't thinking about the feud between the Tian family father and son, but about something else that was more important.

"Brother Qian,"

He suddenly moved closer.

"How much of 'that' do you still have?"

Manager Qian was taken aback, then realized what was happening, and his expression changed slightly.

"You mean... imperial bonds?"

He glanced around instinctively before whispering, "I took some money in a while ago because the interest was decent and the payments were timely. Why?"

"Make a move quickly!" Zhao Shangren's tone was urgent and left no room for argument.

"Offer as much as you can! Even if it's at a discount, we'll still offer it!"

"Why?" Manager Qian asked, puzzled.

"Isn't this bond secured by the reputation of the snowflake salt and bonds newly acquired by the Crown Prince? It was quite strong a while ago, and many people were vying to hold it."

"This time, that time!"

Zhao, the merchant, practically spat out the words through gritted teeth.

"Old Qian, don't you understand? The Crown Prince and His Majesty have fallen to this point."

"If word gets out that the Crown Prince is being deposed, how much credibility will the Eastern Palace have left? Is the Crown Prince's position still secure? If he can't even protect himself, will those certificates and salt permits issued in his name still be valid?"

Manager Qian gasped, and his hand holding the teacup trembled violently.

Zhao the merchant's words were like a cold awl, piercing through his previous sliver of hope.

"But...but this contract also bears the official seal..."

"Seal?" Zhao Shangren sneered, his smile tinged with bitterness.

"The seal is inanimate, but people are alive! If His Majesty truly has designs on the Crown Prince... losing everything would be the least of his worries!"

Manager Qian's face turned completely pale.

He recalled his hundred-cash Zhenguan voucher, which he had invested almost half of his fortune in, hoping to earn interest that was significantly higher than the official rate.

If what Lao Zhao said is true...

Manager Qian sat down dejectedly, his mind a complete mess.

He thought for a moment that the hundred-string coupons might become worthless, and then he thought of his wife and children at home who were waiting for rice to cook, as well as the spices that had just been delivered to the warehouse and for which the final payment had not yet been made.

If this money is lost...

The panic intensified.

At the same time, in the Liangyi Hall.

Li Shimin looked at the urgent report jointly submitted by the Minister of Revenue and the Prefect of the Capital, his brows furrowed tightly, his face filled with confusion and anger.

"The Zhenguan coupons have plummeted in value and become worthless? Prices are soaring?"

He threw the report onto the table, his voice filled with confusion.

"These Zhenguan coupons are merely a means of facilitating transactions. Even if no one uses them, why would they cause the prices of rice, salt, and cloth to rise?"

"My original intention in implementing this policy was to replenish the national treasury, so why has it produced such... such terrible consequences?"

He couldn't understand.

In his mind, money was something tangible, like copper coins and silk.

The Zhenguan coupons were simply certificates representing these items, similar to flying money.

Since no one wanted the vouchers, everyone just traded with copper coins again. Why did this cause a shortage and price increase of physical goods in the market?
This is completely unreasonable.

Tang Jian replied tremblingly, "Your Majesty, I...I was also puzzled at first. According to the reports from my subordinates, it is because merchants and common people now regard Zhenguan bonds as snakes and scorpions, and dare not hold them or accept them."

"Previously, people used bonds for transactions, but now the bonds they hold can no longer be traded. In addition, panic spread, merchants holding goods were reluctant to sell, and people who needed to buy goods rushed to buy them, thus... leading to soaring prices."

Upon hearing this explanation, Li Shimin's brows furrowed even deeper.

He had a vague feeling that the Zhenguan Certificate was not as simple as he had initially imagined.

It seems to possess a strange power that directly links the credibility of the imperial court with the prices of goods in the marketplace.

Once a reputation is damaged, the chain reaction it triggers far exceeds expectations.

"The consequences are so severe?"

Li Shimin muttered to himself, for the first time feeling a trace of doubt and regret about issuing the Zhenguan bonds.

This thing seems to be a double-edged sword; if used improperly, it can actually harm oneself.

Although the current turmoil has not yet reached the point of shaking the foundations of the country, it is enough to make the emperor feel uneasy and unfamiliar with the matter of bonds.

(End of this chapter)