Li Junxian was a few years older than Emperor Li, already fifty-six years old. However, because Li Jing was already there, Li Yuanying felt it would be inappropriate to call him “Old Li.” After pondering for a moment, he used his seniority to address him as “Junxian.”
All the way back to Tengzhou, Li Yuanying felt he had become quite familiar with Li Junxian. As he led Li Junxian into the Wang Fu (Government Office or Official Residence), he greeted him warmly, “Junxian, treat this Wang Fu like your own home. Tengzhou is a bit smaller than Chang’an, and I don’t know why His Majesty would leave you here. Don’t mind if there are fewer people managing things, and the accommodations might not be as comfortable as Chang’an.”
Li Junxian replied, “I am a man of the military, I wouldn’t mind such things.”
Li Junxian clearly seemed like a reasonable person. Li Yuanying tried to chat with him for a long time, and Li Junxian showed no signs of impatience. Li Yuanying was initially worried about whether Li Junxian could control the soldiers under his command, who looked unremarkable but had all seen blood. However, as soon as Li Junxian mounted his horse, he transformed into a different person, effortlessly engaging in ten rounds of combat without showing any signs of fatigue. His prowess was astonishing, hard to imagine for someone nearing sixty!
Li Yuanying’s eyes lit up, looking at Li Junxian as if he were a treasure dropped from the sky. That evening, he invited Li Junxian to a banquet in the army, sharing the festivities with all the soldiers.
Li Junxian gradually understood Li Yuanying’s extravagant spending habits. Even when there was enough wine, he insisted on providing the best quality for all the soldiers. Even when there was sufficient food, he insisted on serving the finest dishes. At this rate of supporting the troops, the imperial treasury would be depleted in a year!
Logistics were not under Li Junxian’s purview, so he didn’t offer much input. He decided to focus on training the soldiers diligently. After enjoying the best food and wine, they needed to demonstrate the corresponding strength to match!
Seeing Li Junxian quickly adapting and becoming a training fanatic, Li Yuanying silently offered his condolences to his guards, then quickly left. He didn’t want to be subjected to Li Junxian’s training sessions, considering his small stature and lack of strength.
With Li Junxian settled, everything in Tengzhou returned to normal.
This night was peaceful in Tengzhou, but unrest brewed in Chang’an. Emperor Li had yet to return to the capital, and Crown Prince Li Chengqian was in charge during his absence. That night, Duke Chen Hou Junji entered the East Palace under the pretense of a visit. Li Chengqian, considering Hou Junji a close friend of Emperor Li and the father-in-law of his personal guards, couldn’t refuse him. He had Hou Junji entertained with a feast.
Ever since Duke Yun, Zhang Liang, was executed, Hou Junji had been unable to sleep peacefully. First, he sent his two sons to remote posts for easy manipulation. Then, he feigned illness to avoid accompanying Emperor Li on the Mount Tai pilgrimage. Without Emperor Li’s presence in the imperial city, there was no sense of intimidation. After the emperor left, Hou Junji had been plotting in secret, planning to seize the East Palace, then the imperial city, and finally surround the emperor’s retinue to kill Emperor Li.
The Crown Prince, a cripple, would be easy to manipulate!
Emperor Li was old, the world would soon be his!
If the Crown Prince proved uncooperative, the East Palace housed a young grandson.
Hou Junji’s eyes were filled with madness.
After finding a way to enter the East Palace, Hou Junji, though unarmed, easily overpowered the physically weak Li Chengqian, confining him and his wife to the palace hall.
Li Chengqian never imagined Hou Junji would be so audacious. As he realized even the East Palace guards were under Hou Junji’s control, he knew the situation was dire. However, Hou Junji was swift and ruthless. By the time Li Chengqian reacted, it was too late. He could only comfort his wife and young son, trying to keep them from panicking.
In the blink of an eye, Chang’an underwent a silent transformation. Hou Junji seized Li Chengqian’s official seal and replaced the imperial city guards with his own men.
Everything went so smoothly it seemed unreal. Hou Junji’s advisors hesitated, sensing a trap, but Hou Junji was overjoyed. For years, he had endured being sidelined, watching others achieve glory and advancement while he remained stagnant. He was forbidden from joining battles, and his voice was silenced in court. It was agonizing!
Now, everything would be different. Even if the throne was not yet his, he would make Emperor Li taste the bitterness of losing power! He had served Emperor Li loyally, charging into battle, only to be betrayed. What was the point of his portrait in the Lingyan Pavilion if all he had was taken away? A man who built his reputation on military achievements had all his soldiers stripped from him, forbidden from waging war and building merit. What difference did it make from killing him?
He wasn’t like Li Jing or Li Daozong, capable of swallowing their pride!
Hou Junji dismissed everyone and locked himself in the main hall where imperial audiences were held. The hall was brightly lit, the imperial throne illuminated by candlelight, appearing to glow. The throne was adorned with carvings of intertwined dragons, both imposing and grand, perfect in every way. He strode towards the throne, feeling his blood boil. Who wouldn’t crave power, beauty, fame, wealth, and glory?
Why should all of it belong to the Li family?
Take Li Chengqian, for example. He wouldn’t last two rounds against Hou Junji. He was a cripple, trampled by two horses. Yet, he was born a crown prince, destined to inherit the vast empire. Hou Junji walked to the throne, running his hand along the majestic dragon-shaped armrest, caressing it for a long time before finally sinking into the seat. All the years of resentment and dissatisfaction turned into pure exhilaration.
Hou Junji burst into laughter.
No wonder Emperor Li had murdered his own brother and exiled his father to secure the throne. It was such a magnificent position, who wouldn’t want it? Who wouldn’t want to rule over the entire Tang dynasty from this lofty height?
The Crown Prince and the grandson were in his grasp. Once Emperor Li was dead, the kingdom would be his!
Early the next morning, people began noticing the unusual situation in the imperial city. Officials seeking to meet with Li Chengqian at the East Palace were turned away. The only message delivered from the palace was that the Crown Prince was ill and receiving no visitors.
Why would the Crown Prince fall ill out of the blue?
And there was something strange about the imperial city guards.
Unlike the observant citizens, Li Jing’s residence was far from the hustle and bustle, offering a sense of tranquility. He had chosen to withdraw from the power struggles in court, enjoying a peaceful retirement.
As he went to feed his birds early in the morning, Li Jing noticed a small, inconspicuous white bird perched on the bird stand.
This was a bird Li Jing had gifted to Li Yuanying, who seemed to have given it to his grandson. The bird had a beautiful voice and could deliver messages, a rare combination of aesthetics and utility.
Li Jing’s heart skipped a beat. He reached out to the bird’s foot and found a small bamboo tube. Opening it, he poured out a piece of paper with a short message written on it: “There’s trouble at the East Palace, Hou Junji has rebelled, inform His Majesty quickly.”
The paper bore Li Chengqian’s private seal, and the handwriting matched his.
Li Jing was shocked.
His residence, located far from the imperial city for the sake of his exotic birds and animals, made it difficult to investigate the news.
If Hou Junji had captured the East Palace, he would certainly target the emperor’s retinue. If Hou Junji used the East Palace’s authority to mobilize people to kill Emperor Li, the consequences would be catastrophic!
Li Jing didn’t hesitate. He ordered his servants to guard the mansion and mounted his horse, riding swiftly along a secluded path.
Emperor Li was still on his way back, unaware of the chaos in Chang’an. However, he felt an inexplicable unease, as if something was about to happen.
Perhaps because his Mount Tai pilgrimage vow was fulfilled, Emperor Li had been in a cheerful mood these past few days. He traveled at a leisurely pace, discussing local conditions and livelihoods with Fang Xuanling and others. After two more days of travel, a rider emerged from a nearby forest. Everyone was on high alert. Upon closer inspection, they realized it was Duke Wei, Li Jing.
Li Jing, weakened by age and the strenuous journey, was struggling to stay upright. Still, he managed to deliver the secret message Li Chengqian had sent. The East Palace was under Hou Junji’s control, and the imperial city was also in his hands. Hou Junji’s next move would likely be to attack the emperor’s retinue!
Upon receiving the message, Emperor Li’s face clouded over.
He had been so relaxed lately, and since Hou Junji had been quiet after Zhang Liang’s denouncement of his treasonous intent, he had loosened his vigilance. He never expected Hou Junji to remain in Chang’an and manage to capture the Crown Prince!
Li Jing’s frantic ride to deliver the news touched Emperor Li’s heart. He immediately summoned the imperial physicians to treat Li Jing, determined not to let him collapse from the exhaustion.
Knowing about Chang’an’s situation in advance, Emperor Li had his own plans. Moreover, Zhang Liang’s accusation of Hou Junji’s treasonous intentions had not gone unheeded, it was just that he had been reluctant to resort to such measures.
That day, Emperor Li met with wave after wave of officers, deploying troops.
After making all the arrangements, his mood didn’t improve.
He was dissatisfied with Li Chengqian’s easy capture by Hou Junji. At Li Chengqian’s age, he was already capable of leading troops in battle and expanding the Tang dynasty’s territory. In comparison, Li Chengqian’s performance as crown prince was utterly disappointing.
These matters could be addressed once the crisis at the East Palace was resolved.
Emperor Li’s expression was a mixture of uncertainty and determination.
…
Hou Junji, having seized the East Palace, spent his days strategizing with his advisors on how to assassinate Emperor Li. Delay was dangerous, he needed to set a trap before anyone discovered the truth and informed Emperor Li.
Li Chengqian, confined to the East Palace, was restless and anxious. He worried about Emperor Li’s safety and fretted over his wife and son’s ordeal. His heart was filled with anguish.
As the emperor’s retinue approached the vicinity of Mount Li, Hou Junji, who had been feigning concern for the Crown Prince’s health to the court for the past two days, quietly slipped out of the city before dawn. He led his trusted men, mobilizing troops to lay an ambush along the emperor’s route.
Early one morning, mist hung heavy in the forest. Hou Junji couldn’t shake off the memories of the morning of the Xuanwu Gate Incident. Back then, they had risked their lives to fight for Emperor Li, killing Prince Li Jiancheng and Prince Li Yuanji.
Their hands had been stained with the blood of the Li family.
Emperor Li had betrayed them.
Hou Junji gripped his sword.
Since they had killed members of the Li family before, what was one more?
The first rays of dawn pierced through the mist, a procession of carriages approached from afar. The banners and regalia indicated it was the emperor’s return. Hou Junji felt his blood surge, not with anxiety but with excitement. Just one more step, kill Emperor Li, eliminate these annoying old officials, and the world would be his!
After confirming the emperor’s retinue had entered the encirclement, Hou Junji raised his sword towards his loyal followers stationed around the ambush site, signaling the attack.
Kill!
*Author’s Note:*
*Little Prince:* …?
The power went out at my house for a whole day.
Typing on my laptop is so awkward.
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