Chapter 477: Those Who Follow Prosper

Inside the Zichen Hall, Li Heng stood by the window, gazing quietly outside. The night was especially silent, and the noises from the Changsun family outside Danfeng Gate reached his ears through the night breeze. The Changsun family’s dissatisfaction was within his expectations. The incident that occurred in Pingkang Fang in the afternoon had caused him great trouble. He had just managed to calm An Baoyu when such a serious incident happened again, which was like a loud slap in his face, pushing the Yulin Army and the Jinguwei even further into the spotlight.

Although he had quelled the incident by force, he knew it had created a rift between the Jinguwei and the Yulin Army, one that would be difficult to repair. To win back the Yulin Army’s goodwill, he would have to kill Wang Yue as an atonement. But if he killed Wang Yue, how could he explain it to the Jinguwei? Their attitude was equally firm—not only could Wang Yue not be killed, but none of the other Jinguwei soldiers involved in the fight could be touched either. This left Li Heng at a loss. If he didn’t touch Wang Yue, how could he deal with the other Jinguwei soldiers?

Li Heng sighed inwardly. He couldn’t have it both ways. He could only protect the Jinguwei and the Guanzhong Army, as they were the foundation of his power. As for the Yulin Army, he could only try to pacify and adjust them gradually in the future. With a grim expression, Li Heng turned to Wang Gong and Chen Xuanli beside him and said, “This matter is settled as such. But I warn you—there must be no recurrence. General Chen, you must strictly control the Jinguwei and the Guanzhong Army, especially the Jinguwei, whose misdeeds I’ve even heard about. I’ll only tolerate this once. There will be no leniency next time.”

Chen Xuanli breathed a deep sigh of relief. Although the Political Council had already taken urgent steps to calm the situation, it was Li Heng’s final decision that truly brought it to an end. Chen Xuanli also faced immense pressure from the military. The Jinguwei refused to admit fault and demanded that all the other Yulin Army soldiers involved in the conflict be executed to atone for the three Jinguwei soldiers who died. Though this was impossible, it was already his greatest effort to spare those Jinguwei soldiers from blame.

Although Chen Xuanli also disliked Wang Yue, he didn’t think it was Wang Yue’s fault this time. Both sides were at fault—Changsun Nanyi had attacked Wang Yue first, which he believed was the real reason the conflict escalated. Therefore, he defended Wang Yue, earning gratitude from Wang Gong as well.

Chen Xuanli bowed and said, “I pledge that there will be no recurrence.”

Li Heng nodded. “Go and comfort your subordinates! I need to discuss other matters with Prime Minister Wang.”

“Yes! I take my leave.”

Chen Xuanli stepped back, and only then did Li Heng turn to Wang Gong and say, “It’s strange. How could he agree to my plan?”
The person Li Heng referred to was Li Qing’an. Wang Gong pondered for a moment before saying, “I’m also puzzled. Even if Du Gu Changfeng is involved in this case, he plays no significant role. Given Li Qing’an’s style in Xinfeng County, he would likely take more forceful action against the Jinwu Guard. Moreover, this is a good opportunity for Li Qing’an to buy off the Yulin Army and the Changsun family, yet he gave it up—which is truly surprising. I suspect it’s because the Battle of Helong is about to break out, and at such a time, he doesn’t want to offend us too much, which is why he agreed to Your Highness’s plan.”
Li Heng didn’t respond. He paced back and forth in the room with his hands behind his back. He agreed with Wang Gong’s analysis—that Li Qing’an was worried about this affecting the Battle of Helong. This could be inferred from the content of the edict drafted by the Central Secretariat. Li Qing’an had already indicated in the edict that the battle against Tubo was imminent. With this in mind, Li Heng came up with another bold idea: Could Li Qing’an make even greater concessions? Although the main force for the Battle of Helong was the Anxi Army, the funds and supplies still needed to come from Chang’an. Li Qing’an must have needs of his own. So, could this battle be used to extract even greater benefits from Li Qing’an, such as him giving up a seat in the Council of State?
Thinking this through, Li Heng asked Wang Gong, “If I want to get back our seat in the Council of State, how likely do you think it is?”
Wang Gong thought for a while before saying, “I think it’s possible. I heard from Pei Min that Li Qing’an might go to Longyou in person. Since he’s not in Chang’an, that seat in the Council of State is usually given up. If Your Highness talks to him properly and shows full support for him in dealing with Longyou—as he said in the edict, the harmony of a country lies in the cooperation of its armies—I believe he will give up the seat to Your Highness if he prioritizes the greater good. But I doubt he’ll agree so easily. Your Highness needs to save face for him.”
“Then tell me, how should I save face for him?”
“According to common practice, Your Highness could propose several candidates, and Li Qing’an would choose one from them. It seems like his appointment, but in reality, it’s Your Highness who benefits. That’s a clever way to make concessions, with both sides understanding the arrangement. But in any case, Your Highness needs to have a proper talk with Li Qing’an—not about anything else, just about how to conduct this Battle of Helong.”
Li Heng remained silent for a long time before finally nodding. “Let’s go by your plan!”
……

Not long after the Changsun family left Danfeng Gate, a carriage also emerged from within. Hundreds of cavalry waiting not far away immediately rushed forward and surrounded the carriage on both sides. The Yulin soldiers stepped aside to make way. Everyone knew it was Li Qing’an’s carriage coming out.

There were no lights inside the carriage, leaving it completely dark. Pei Min and Li Qing’an sat facing each other. Li Qing’an leaned against the carriage wall with his eyes closed, resting. Pei Min, however, was uneasy, his mind filled with doubts but unsure where to start.

“Are you wondering why I support Li Heng’s plan?” Li Qing’an asked, opening his eyes slightly and smiling.
“A little, yes!”
Pei Min also smiled. “I think the general must have considered the upcoming battle in Longyou; otherwise, he wouldn’t have let the Jinwu Guard go so easily. Am I right?”
Li Qing’an leaned back against the carriage wall and laughed. “At least you’re mostly right. It indeed relates to the battle in Longyou. To win this war, I must be fully prepared—not only with a continuous supply of logistical resources but also with a stable political situation within the country. I can’t say the armies are united, but at least they should coexist peacefully. The internal factions fight for their own interests, while the conflict between Tang and Tubo concerns the fate of an entire nation. How could I, Li Qing’an, risk the destiny of the Tang Dynasty for my own gain?”
Pei Min nodded and said, “I was worried that the general was just being wishful. With the general away from Chang’an, the regency faction might take the opportunity to cause trouble!”
“That’s something I can anticipate. I know Li Heng’s intentions better than anyone. But many things follow their own laws; he can’t just do whatever he wants. If he tries to defy fate, heaven won’t allow it.”
Pei Min chuckled. “Since the general says so, I’m no longer worried.”
After a pause, he asked, “If the general returns to the Western Regions, who will temporarily take over the position in the Council of State?”
Li Qing’an shook his head with a smile. Pei Min was surprised. “Does the general intend to oversee the Council of State from afar?”
“No!”
Li Qing’an said, “I intend to resign from my position in the Central Secretariat and focus on dealing with the Tubo people. They have been building up their strength for years, and their power cannot be underestimated. This battle won’t be over in a month or two. I estimate it will take at least half a year, maybe a year. In any case, I won’t be able to handle court affairs anymore.”
“I see. Now I understand. Then, who does the general plan to appoint to the Council?”

Li Qing’an remained silent, lost in thought. Pei Min was filled with confusion but dared not disturb his deep contemplation. The carriage moved swiftly through the night, and before they knew it, it arrived at Pei Min’s residence. The carriage stopped, and Pei Min got up, bowed, and said with a smile, “Then let’s wait for news from the General tomorrow.”
“Prime Minister Pei!” Li Qing’an suddenly called out to him.
Pei Min, who had already stepped out of the carriage, stopped and stood by the window, smiling. “Is there anything else the General needs?”
“What if I ask the Cui family to return to power as ministers? Do you think the Pei family can accept that?”
……
The carriage raced through the darkness, the flickering light casting shadows on Li Qing’an’s face as he continued to ponder the future. Although Pei Min was a minister he trusted, there were certain things he couldn’t tell him yet. Pei Min had only guessed half of it—Li Heng’s concessions were not merely for the battle in Longyou. In fact, Anxi could handle that battle on its own. Perhaps only one person could guess his true intention—a person skilled at fishing.
The carriage reached the entrance of Yongning Fang in Wannian County and gradually slowed down. Suddenly, a rider rushed out of the darkness and approached Li Qing’an’s carriage window. The rider bowed and reported, “General, there are no spies around Cui’s residence.”
“Very good!”
Li Qing’an took out a name card and handed it to the rider. “Take this personally to Cui Huan. Tell him I’m waiting for him at Cihang Temple in Huaiyuan Fang.”
“Yes!”
The messenger took the name card and spurred his horse toward the district, disappearing into the darkness in moments. Li Qing’an immediately ordered, “Head to Huaiyuan Fang!”
Huaiyuan Fang was located in Chang’an County, close to the Western Market. It housed the headquarters of the Guanzhong-Anxi Army and the Qianniu Guard, as well as the intelligence agencies of Chang’an. With two thousand Qianniu Guard soldiers stationed there, it was, like Taiping Fang, one of the most heavily guarded areas by the Qianniu Guard in Chang’an County. Cihang Temple was located right next to the intelligence agencies. As the name suggested, it was a temple dedicated to Avalokiteshvara. In reality, it was a medium-sized nunnery with over thirty nuns.
Fifteen minutes later, Li Qing’an arrived at Cihang Temple. He got out of the carriage and entered directly. His guards did not stand at the temple’s entrance but waited outside the intelligence agencies’ gate, just thirty steps away from the temple entrance.
“General, please follow me!”
The abbot of Cihang Temple, an elderly nun in her sixties, led Li Qing’an to the back courtyard.
“How is she now?” Li Qing’an asked with a smile.

“Madam is doing very well!” the old nun smiled gently. “She planted over a dozen peonies, raised twenty chicks, and plays the zither in her free time. I feel she’s in high spirits.”
After crossing a small bridge, they arrived at a separate courtyard. In the darkness, the silhouettes of several women could be seen—these were female spies from the Anxi Imperial Household, stationed there for covert protection. Upon reaching the courtyard, the old nun clasped her hands and said, “General, go ahead by yourself! I won’t accompany you.”
“Thank you, sister. An official surnamed Cui will come to see me at Cihang Courtyard later. Please let me know when he arrives.”
The old nun nodded and turned to leave. Li Qing’an slowly walked into the courtyard. As soon as he entered, he saw Yang Yuhuan standing on the steps, scattering rice to feed the chicks.
Although Li Qing’an had made many arrangements for her, this was their first meeting. Compared to the last time, Yang Yuhuan seemed much thinner. Her hair was tied up high at the back of her head in a neat bun, giving her a fresh appearance. Seeing her fully focused on feeding the chicks, Li Qing’an didn’t disturb her. Instead, he leaned against a large tree, arms crossed, watching her with a smile.
Seeing the chicks fighting over the food, Yang Yuhuan frowned and scolded, “Hey! Stop fighting! Make room for others… Here! There’s more over here—everyone gets a share.”
After scattering all the rice, she clapped her hands and was about to go back inside when suddenly, as if sensing something, she looked up and saw Li Qing’an. Her eyes lit up with surprise. “General Li, is that you?”
Li Qing’an shook his head and laughed. “It’s not General Li. Have you forgotten?”
Yang Yuhuan stamped her foot lightly and said playfully, “After all this time, how could I possibly remember?”
She then giggled and said in a drawn-out tone, “Of course I haven’t forgotten. You should be called Qilang. I just called you that by habit. General Qilang, please come inside!”
Seeing that she was in a good mood, Li Qing’an also felt happy. He entered the house and saw that it was very simply furnished and spotless. To his surprise, there was even a spinning wheel for weaving silk in the corner.
Yang Yuhuan blushed and quickly explained, “I learned weaving in the palace before. In my free time, I wanted to try weaving as a hobby. If I can master it, I’ll have a skill to make a living with.”
Li Qing’an was about to say, “Your music is so good—how can you not have a skill to make a living?” But then he realized that Yang Yuhuan didn’t want others to know, so he didn’t bring it up. He stepped forward and said with a smile, “Have you woven anything yet? If you have, I’ll be your first buyer.”
“The first piece is almost done, but it’s not for you.”

Yang Yuhuan winked playfully and said with a smile, “For my sister. Can you guess who it is?”
“Your sister?”
Li Qing’an pondered for a moment before suddenly realizing she meant Mingyue. He quickly replied, “Isn’t it the same whether it’s for her or for me?”
Yang Yuhuan shook her head and laughed, “That’s not the same. You’re a man, so I’ll weave a brocade robe for you. But Qingrong isn’t something a man can use—just because you get it doesn’t mean you’ll give it to Mingyue.”
“You women! All so petty.”
Li Qing’an smiled and sat down at the small table. Then, in the light, he took a closer look at Yang Yuhuan. Unmade up, she truly exuded grace and purity, with delicate skin and well-proportioned features. She was still stunningly beautiful, breathtaking in her charm.
Seeing his intense gaze, Yang Yuhuan shyly lowered her long eyelashes and sighed softly, “My hair is in disarray, and I don’t even dare go out.”
“No! You’re just as beautiful as the first time I saw you—one glance takes your heart, and another takes your kingdom.”
Hearing his sincere tone, Yang Yuhuan felt pleased and smiled faintly, “Since when have you become such a smooth talker? I know my own age well; I don’t need your praise.”
At that moment, she suddenly remembered something and apologized, “Look at me—I haven’t even poured you a cup of tea. Wait, I’ll get you one.”
Li Qing’an pointed to the two teacups on the table and said with a smile, “Aren’t there cups here?”
“That’s for the nuns when they come to chat. You’re a layperson; you can’t use the nuns’ cups. I’ll get you my cup.”
Yang Yuhuan hurried into the inner room. Hearing that she didn’t treat him as a guest, Li Qing’an felt delighted and raised his voice with a laugh, “I’m sorry to disturb you so late. I have to meet a guest at Cihang Temple later, but I thought I’d drop by to see you.”
Yang Yuhuan came out carrying a cup of cool tea. Her gaze was like flowing waves as she glanced at him, smiling faintly, “Just dropping by?”
“Hehe! I was wrong. I came specifically to see you, and incidentally meet the guest.”
“That’s much better!”
Yang Yuhuan sat down across from him with a smile. “Actually, I should thank you. You’ve given me freedom. These past few days, I’ve felt the most relaxed—like the heavy shackles on me have been removed. Qilang, thank you really.”
“So you’ve decided not to be a female Taoist priest?” Li Qing’an asked with a hint of ambiguity in his voice.
Yang Yuhuan rolled her eyes at him and said, “You’re so scheming. If you put me in a nunnery, how could I possibly be a female Taoist priest?”

Li Qing’an found her words amusing and laughed heartily. “You’re wronging me! I don’t have such ulterior motives. It’s because this place is the safest—right next door is an important office of the Anxi Army. Only by keeping you here can I feel at ease.”
“I was just joking! But I really want to go out and explore, leave Chang’an and travel elsewhere. Qi Lang, can you arrange that for me?” Yang Yuhuan pleaded, looking at him.
Li Qing’an pondered for a moment before saying, “I’ll take you to Anxi. Do you want to go?”
“Anxi?”
Yang Yuhuan had never imagined she could go to Anxi, a place she had long dreamed of visiting. Seeing that Li Qing’an didn’t seem to be joking, she hesitantly asked, “Qi Lang, are you serious?”
Li Qing’an took a sip of tea from his cup and nodded. “I’ll leave Chang’an for Anxi the day after tomorrow. There won’t be many more opportunities for me to return there in the future. If you want to go, I can accompany you.”
Yang Yuhuan was both excited and anxious. Of course she wanted to go, but it came so suddenly that she wasn’t prepared at all. After thinking for a while, she smiled and said, “Let me consider it! I’ll have Master Miao Jing tell you my decision tomorrow.”
At that moment, only the voice of an old nun could be heard from outside the courtyard: “General, the person you’re waiting for has arrived.”
Li Qing’an drained the cold tea in his cup, stood up, and said with a smile, “Very well. I’ll wait for your reply tomorrow. I won’t disturb your rest. I’ll go meet them now.”
……
In the guest room in the front yard, Cui Huan was restless, pacing back and forth with his hands behind his back. He hadn’t expected Li Qing’an to come see him at this time. Although he didn’t know why Li Qing’an wanted to meet him, given the secrecy, it must be something important. Cui Huan knew that tonight, the Cui family would face a major opportunity.
Cui Huan had already thought it through along the way. In fact, he had made up his mind long ago. Li Qing’an would never abandon the Cui family, which ranked second in the land. Likewise, the Cui family would not miss this opportunity with Li Qing’an.
At that moment, the door opened, and Li Qing’an walked in. Bowing slightly with a smile, he said, “Lord Cui, it seems we’re destined to meet!”
Volume Twelve: The Great Tang-Tibet War