Chapter 43: Silence (V)

After Li Kuo was taken away to Jingzhao Prefecture by Gao Xiuyan, Zhang Yanji immediately went to Xuanren Fang to seek out the Lady of Guo State. In Zhang Yanji’s view, with Yang Zhao absent from the capital, the only person in all of Chang’an capable of saving Li Kuo was the Lady of Guo State. With her reputation in the capital, she would surely be able to rescue him.

But Zhang Yanji clearly underestimated the complexity of this case. Gao Xiuyan was not content merely with getting rid of Li Kuo; he also wanted to use this opportunity to remove the crown prince on behalf of Prime Minister Li Linfu. Undoubtedly, this was a scheme devised long ago by Gao Xiuyan and Li Linfu. They first sent someone to find out when the crown prince met Wei Shi in secret, then spread the news through Gao Xiuyan, allowing Li Kuo and his group to chase them to the crown prince’s residence in Chongye Fang. There, the guards of the Jinwu Army, who had been waiting in ambush, would then “arrive upon hearing the news.” As for those guards who died in the backyard, they were likely sacrifices in this larger scheme.

In fact, this case was not merely about violating curfews and committing dangerous murders; it also touched upon the emperor’s bottom line and most sensitive concerns. Ever since the crown prince divorced Wei Fei, Wei Shi had been confined to the crown prince’s residence in Chongye Fang. Without the emperor’s permission, no one was allowed to visit her, not even the crown prince himself.

But this time, in the memorial submitted to the emperor, General Gao Xiuyan claimed that the crown prince met Wei Shi in secret at night, and when his guards resisted, he allegedly ordered his trusted man Li Kuo to lead his troops to kill the guards at the residence. The emperor didn’t care about the fate of those guards, but two issues raised by this case deeply disturbed him.

First, the crown prince still cherished his past feelings for Wei Shi and was willing to defy his own orders to meet her in secret at night, indicating that he still harbored illusions about the Wei family and resentment over the case of Wei Jian. The Wei family of Jingzhao was a prominent clan from the Guanlong region, already distrusted by the emperor, and now associated with the sensitive crown prince, making them a major concern for him.

Second, the crown prince had a close relationship with the border general Li Kuo. Whether Gao Xiuyan’s claims were true or not, and whether Li Kuo had committed murder or not, the fact remained that he was on good terms with the crown prince. The emperor could never tolerate the crown prince of Tang having such close ties with a border general, even if that general had not yet reached a high position.

Most border generals who had close relationships with the crown prince did not end well. There were many such examples, such as Wang Zhongsì and Huangfu Weiming.

In essence, the root of this case lay with the crown prince, not Li Kuo. In other words, if the crown prince had not been there that night, things would have been much easier to handle.

If the knot in His Majesty the Emperor’s heart is not untied, no matter how innocent Li Kuo is or how much others advise him, it will be of no use.
Although the Lady of Guo State rushed to the palace to see the emperor overnight, the outcome was not satisfactory. The emperor, who used to obey her orders, was now truly angry and even considered deposing the crown prince.
Back in her residence, seeing Zhang Yanji pacing restlessly, Yang Huahua felt her anger surge: “Stop walking around aimlessly! What’s the use of a man just worrying without doing anything?”
“Madam, you must save Brother Kuo. Only you can save him now. Li Linfu holds a deep grudge against him and won’t let him go this time.”
Zhang Yanji’s cheeks twitched slightly, and before long he began to sob: “Madam, you don’t know the whole story. It all started because of me. If I hadn’t insisted on investigating, none of us would have fallen for Gao’s scheme. If it weren’t for my urging, Brother Kuo wouldn’t have fallen into the trap…”
“Enough, enough! As a man, it’s shameful to cry like this!”
Yang Huahua sighed softly: “There is still a chance, but it depends on one person’s willingness.”
“Madam, who is that person?”
Zhang Yanji asked eagerly upon hearing this.
“Gao Lishi,” Yang Huahua replied firmly, emphasizing each word.
As soon as he returned to the Eastern Palace, Crown Prince Li Hen summoned his confidant Yu Chaoyen to discuss a plan.
Reflecting carefully, Li Hen felt that everything that night seemed to have been orchestrated by Li Linfu, with him and Li Kuo acting like actors, led wherever Li Linfu wanted.
“What should I do? What should I do? Father hates it the most that I associate with border generals. Moreover, I secretly met Kun’er—Father surely won’t forgive me.”
Li Hen clutched Yu Chaoyen’s robe sleeve and cried out.
“Elder brother has always coveted the position of crown prince. Since he’s close to Li Linfu, he’ll surely take advantage of this situation. What should we do?”
“Your Highness, Your Highness!”
Yu Chaoyen shook his head and said with a bitter smile, “Your Highness, stay strong. Things aren’t that bad yet!”
Sighing, Yu Chaoyen continued, “Your Highness, think carefully. Is it because you disobeyed the emperor’s orders and met Lady Wei privately, or because you met General Li secretly in the dead of night that made His Majesty so angry?”
After a moment’s thought, Li Hen replied, “Given Father’s personality, he’s surely angry because I met General Li privately.”
“That’s it!”
Yu Chaoyen smiled. “As long as Your Highness can prove that you and General Li just happened to meet, this matter will be resolved.”

“But, but the Jinyuwei are all under Gao Xiuyan’s control. It’s obvious they set up that trap that night… If Gao Xiuyan insists on his story, what do I have to convince the Emperor?”
Li Heng pounded his forehead in frustration, lamenting repeatedly.
“Your Highness, it’s not just Gao Xiuyan who can talk his way out of anything.”
Yu Chaoen smirked coldly.
“What do you mean?”
Li Heng frowned, puzzled.
“Your Majesty’s literary and military talents are on par with Emperor Taizong, and his skill in handling people is excellent. Yet over these decades, he’s been overly indulgent toward one person.”
Yu Chaoen left his words unfinished, smiling at Li Heng.
“Could it be the Imperial Concubine?”
“Sigh, although the Emperor obeys the Imperial Concubine in everything, it’s mostly related to palace affairs. When it comes to state matters, the only one whose words the Emperor is willing to listen to is Old Gao!”
“Yes, yes! How could I forget him? I’ll prepare a generous gift and have it sent to Old Gao. No, I’ll go see him in person.”
With that, Li Heng adjusted his clothes and prepared to visit Gao Lishi for help.
“Wait, Your Highness, wait!”
Yu Chaoen adjusted Li Heng’s robes and sighed, “Your Highness, stay calm and take a moment whenever faced with a problem. Even if you’re unsure, don’t let others see it. The Emperor is getting older, and doubts may arise. As a prince, you should go along with him more often. Hold on a bit longer—in the end, won’t the throne still belong to you?”