Chapter 206: Schemes
The next day, at the morning court.
Emperor Chong Zhao leaned on the imperial desk, his knuckles tapping a memorial. His gaze, sharp as a knife, swept over the assembled officials below, finally settling on Li Zhao, who stood with his eyes downcast in deep thought.
The atmosphere in the hall was heavy.
All the officials held their breath and lowered their heads.
“Does the Crown Prince know his crime?”
Li Zhao, clad in a python robe and jade belt, stood at the foot of the steps and straightened his back upon hearing the question.
“Your son is foolish and does not know where his crime lies.”
The Emperor threw a scroll of yellow silk, which drew a semicircle across the gold bricks.
“You handed over gunpowder to Ashina, yet you couldn’t even bring back a child! Are you intending to give away Daliang’s empire as well!”
The memorial landed heavily on the ground.
Li Zhao, unhurriedly, lifted his robe and knelt, his back as straight as a pine tree.
“Imperial Father, please see clearly, your son has never handed over gunpowder to Ashina.”
He picked up the yellow silk from the ground, not bothering to see who had submitted it, and held it above his head with both hands, showing no sign of fear.
“That batch of gunpowder has already been transported to Chishui Pass by General Lu. As for the Princess Protector of the Nation’s daughter—”
He curved his lips into a smile, his gaze sweeping over the silent Li Huan, and tapped his jade belt with his fingertips.
“Your son and General Lu staged a play called ‘The Mantis Catches the Cicada, the Golden Cicada Escapes.’ Ostensibly, we used yellow sand to lure the enemy, pretending it was gunpowder, while secretly dispatching the Eastern Palace Guard Commander to lie in wait disguised as Xizi Death Warriors. Simultaneously, beneath the yellow sand, we buried thunder-fire bombs and rescued the child amidst the chaos. The child is now being escorted by secret guards and is on their way back to Shangjing.”
A clamor erupted throughout the hall.
The sound of gasps could be faintly heard.
Emperor Chong Zhao was also surprised. “Is this true?”
Li Zhao remained silent, looking directly at the imperial carriage, his eyes filled with certainty.
At this moment, a captain of the palace guards entered, holding a box, and presented a yellow silk scroll sealed with wax, his voice clear and loud.
“Reporting to His Majesty, the garrison commander of Zhenwu Pass, Wang Xiong, has sent an urgent report via eight hundred li. The General Who Conquered the West has transported a hundred barrels of gunpowder and has already passed Zhenwu Pass…”
Everyone looked at Li Zhao, their eyes filled with confusion.
Only then did Li Zhao bow deeply, attributing the “Po Lu Plan” he had conspired with Xue Sui to Lu You’an, and revealed it one by one before the Emperor and all the high officials.
Emperor Chong Zhao’s eyes darkened slightly. “Why did you not report it earlier?”
“If the play were not convincing, how could we deceive King Xizi?”
Li Zhao looked up, the cold glint in his eyes turning into a smile.
“If your son had revealed it in advance, the Xizi people would surely have become suspicious. Only by making them believe they had victory in hand would they reveal their weaknesses.”
“A brilliant stratagem of ‘The Mantis Catches the Cicada, the Golden Cicada Escapes.’”
The officials exchanged whispers, their faces showing admiration.
Upon closer inspection, they realized that the current Crown Prince was no longer the unrestrained and unruly youth of before…
He understood forbearance and had developed a shrewd mind.
He had grasped the proper conduct of a Crown Prince.
He had also given Emperor Chong Zhao the dignity he desired.
“This plan’s success is entirely due to Imperial Father’s teachings to your son, of blending reality and illusion, and of the art of war. Your son dares not claim credit.”
The officials in the hall stood in respectful silence.
Emperor Chong Zhao stroked his beard, gazing at this son who always surprised him. He suddenly recalled Li Zhao’s appearance as a child running in the Imperial Garden. At that time, he was not yet as tall as the imperial desk, yet he dared to grasp the dragon robe and declare he would pick the reddest peony for his mother.
“Rise,” the Emperor waved his sleeve, his tone softening slightly. “Although this was perilous, it can be considered making amends for your past mistakes. In the future, you must be even more cautious in your actions.”
After all he had done, he only received a statement of making amends for past mistakes.
Li Zhao curved his lips faintly and kowtowed to express his gratitude.
—
As the court session ended, Li Zhao was asked to stay behind and was led by an eunuch into the Imperial Study.
He stood by the window for a long time, waiting, before Emperor Chong Zhao slowly approached, his hands clasped behind his back.
Only father and son were in the room.
Emperor Chong Zhao spoke more casually, but with even greater paternal authority.
“What is the conflict between you and the Third Prince?”
Li Zhao looked up and smiled. “What did Third Imperial Brother say?”
Emperor Chong Zhao frowned. “I am asking you.”
Li Zhao knew that Li Yan had lodged a complaint, and the corners of his lips curled.
“Third Imperial Brother lost his decorum while drunk and made a spectacle of himself at Prince Duan’s wedding banquet. He still has the audacity to come before Imperial Father and stir up trouble. If it weren’t for the sake of royal dignity, your son would have exposed his entire sordidness on the spot, letting the world see what a debauched drunkard is!”
Emperor Chong Zhao’s expression darkened.
He was well aware of Prince Wei’s character. However, Li Zhao’s actions were indeed too brutal, beating his imperial brother black and blue, and then humiliating him by pushing him into the water.
He felt displeased, but in the end, it was Prince Wei’s excessive drinking and misconduct, and his absurd behavior, that came first—
Emperor Chong Zhao lectured him on principles of ethics and harmony within the imperial clan. He did not reprimand him excessively, sighed, and impatiently gestured for Li Zhao to withdraw, rubbing his forehead.
Unexpectedly, Li Zhao did not leave but took a secret letter from his sleeve.
“Imperial Father, last night your son received a report from a scout…”
Emperor Chong Zhao looked at his solemn expression and felt a slight stir in his heart. “What is it?”
Li Zhao presented the secret letter with both hands, placing it gently before him.
“The death warriors who attempted to assassinate the Princess Protector of the Nation at the land temple west of the city were captured and confessed that they were acting under someone’s orders and received three thousand taels of silver. Your son investigated and learned that the person who facilitated this connection frequently visited the Women’s Society in Ping Le Square…”
Emperor Chong Zhao asked, “Is there any concrete evidence?”
Li Zhao’s brow furrowed slightly.
He had to admit that Ping Le had been more cautious this time than in the past. The clues were hidden, and even if they suspected her, they couldn’t find direct human or material evidence.
Even if the Xizi death warriors confessed, without other evidence, it would be difficult to convict her.
Before her beloved Imperial Father, she could simply insist that the Xizi people had framed her…
Li Zhao lowered his gaze. “It is merely my bold conjecture based on the clues.”
The Emperor fiddled with the jade paperweight on his desk, slowly placing the secret letter beneath it.
“Why did you not report the truth in court just now?”
Li Zhao lowered his gaze, his smile cool, but his voice soft.
“Your son knows Imperial Father’s deep affection for his children. If this family shame were exposed before the assembled officials, how could Imperial Father maintain his dignity, and how could the imperial family’s prestige be preserved?”
The Emperor’s fingertips paused.
The young man’s features bore a slight resemblance to his own in his youth.
However, he was too stubborn, with too much rebellious spirit, preferring to break than bend. He never yielded to him, nor offered a single soft word. Even when he had, in accordance with the former Emperor’s wishes, conferred the title of Crown Prince upon him, he had accepted it indifferently, as if this vast empire were merely a handful of yellow earth in the mountains.
Now, he was willing to exercise restraint for the sake of the imperial family’s overall situation?
Emperor Chong Zhao sensed something unusual and glanced at the celadon vase from the previous dynasty on the curio shelf—a crack marred its surface, repaired with gold lacquer, much like the years of estrangement between father and son.
He did not know when his son’s disposition had changed…
The Emperor sighed deeply.
“Do you not resent my favoritism?”
Li Zhao looked up, his gaze as clear as autumn water.
“Everyone has their favorites. Your son only wishes for Imperial Father’s peace of mind.”
Everyone has their favorites.
Whatever is placed in the heart is always right…
At this moment, Emperor Chong Zhao felt a softness in Li Zhao’s eyes—a clarity of the human world that one only understands after experiencing profound loneliness.
If his praise for Li Zhao in the great hall had stemmed from imperial calculation, then at this moment, looking at his son, a long-lost paternal affection welled up in his eyes.
After a long pause, the Emperor nodded and spoke.
“The Eastern Palace is not easy. Proceed with caution and do not disappoint my expectations.”
Li Zhao kowtowed.
His peripheral vision caught the white hairs at the Emperor’s temples, and a hint of astonishment flickered across his face.
—
That afternoon, as Li Zhao arrived at Chongwen Hall in the Eastern Palace and was discussing military strategy scrolls with a few Eastern Palace officials, an imperial decree arrived.
The group hastily adjusted their caps and robes and hurried out to receive the decree.
“Crown Prince Li Zhao, possessing profound talent and understanding of military affairs, is hereby appointed concurrently as the Supervisor Censor of the Shenwu Army, overseeing the disbursement of provisions and the rectification of military discipline. For any corruption within the ranks, you are permitted to use the seal of the Chancellery to investigate thoroughly. For urgent matters, you may act without awaiting further report. Submit a report upon completion. By Imperial Order.”
Li Zhao cupped his hands in thanks. “Your son accepts the decree.”
Wang Chengxi gently placed the imperial decree, the color of imperial yellow, into Li Zhao’s hands.
“Congratulations, Your Highness the Crown Prince.”
—
The morning glow spread over the Prince’s Mansion, dyeing its eaves a flowing, honey-like gold.
The sky was clear and the weather fine.
Wen Jia, holding Niu Niu by the hand, stepped into Prince Duan’s Mansion.
Xue Sui was sitting under the corridor, sifting osmanthus flowers. Her light green skirt was dusted with golden stamens. Hearing the commotion, she quickly led a few maids to greet them with smiles.
Little Niu Niu saw her, broke free from her mother’s hand, and ran into Xue Sui’s embrace.
“Auntie, Niu Niu misses Auntie!”
Wen Jia smiled helplessly. “This child is becoming more and more undisciplined.”
“It’s alright.”
The faint scent of milk from the child, mixed with the sweet fragrance of osmanthus, was comforting.
Xue Sui chuckled softly and affectionately pinched Niu Niu’s cheek.
The child’s eyelids were swollen, and there were red marks on her wrists from the rope, clearly indicating she had suffered greatly.
However, as long as she was back with her mother, she would slowly recover and forget those nightmares.
“Good Niu Niu. Come in quickly, Auntie has prepared food for you.”
She invited Wen Jia and her daughter into the room.
Wen Jia, afraid Niu Niu would cling to her, beckoned her over. Niu Niu, however, acted spoiled and said in a childish voice, “Auntie smells like medicine, it’s nicer than the jasmine powder Mother uses!”
Wen Jia was amused and exasperated.
The maids covered their mouths and giggled softly.
Xue Sui also couldn’t help but smile. She lifted Niu Niu onto her lap and asked Xiao Zhao to fetch a small sachet embroidered with gold thread. “Do you like this? It’s filled with dried mint and mugwort. If you wear it, you’ll smell like Auntie…”
“Thank you, Auntie!” Niu Niu’s eyes lit up. She hugged Xue Sui’s neck and nuzzled her shoulder, then suddenly pointed to a skull-shaped incense burner on Xue Sui’s desk.
“This little skull is the same as the one on Uncle Lu’s sword tassel!”
Wen Jia’s fingertips trembled, and her embroidered handkerchief almost slipped.
“Uncle Lu? Which Uncle Lu…”
Niu Niu nuzzled Xue Sui’s shoulder and looked at her mother. “Uncle Lu is the Uncle Lu who saved me! In the dark carriage, Uncle Lu gave Niu Niu sugar cakes and said he would take me to find Mother. Uncle Lu also said…”
The little girl suddenly pursed her lips, her black grape-like eyes darting around.
“He said he was going to war, and when he returned, he would bring Niu Niu delicious things.”
Wen Jia and Xue Sui exchanged a glance.
The latter lowered her head to tie the knot on Niu Niu’s sachet, pretending not to have heard.
Yaoguang’s work was truly flawless.
This time, Lu You’an had indeed dispatched trusted secret guards to search for Niu Niu and simultaneously support Li Zhao’s Po Lu Plan, so he deserved this credit.
Wen Jia clenched her handkerchief, gazing at her daughter’s face, still showing a hint of timidity after surviving the ordeal, and suddenly felt her eyes sting.
“I never knew… he took such a risk.”
Lu You’an, marching to Chishui Pass, was still thinking of rescuing Niu Niu…
How could she ever repay this debt of gratitude?
