Chapter 28: Sending Off the Soul (6)
The days never seem to end; the scorching heat torments my intestines. How I wish for a wind from afar to blow through my robes. The vast sky reveals a bright moon, and the dense forests cast a faint glow. Midsummer nights are unbearably short, so I open the windows to let in a bit of cool air.
Even in dim light, every detail is visible; even insects flutter about. All things, great or small, follow their natural course. I think of those soldiers armed with spears, who guard the borders all year long. How can they wash away the heat and gaze at each other in the scorching sun?
Chang’an in July was shrouded in thick heat. The wealthy families had already used the frozen ice from their backyard cellars to combat the heat. Even the wise emperor Li Sanlang of Xingqing Palace couldn’t bear the heat and took the imperial concubine to Huaqing Palace to escape it. Accompanying them were the powerful prime minister Yang Guozhong, the chief eunuch General Gao Lishi, and of course, the currently influential Prince Yong, Li Lin.
As for the crown prince, he was gradually distanced from by the emperor and failed to accompany them. Though he nominally held the title of regent, he couldn’t handle any matters on his own. For important matters, he had to send messengers at full speed to Lishan, and even trivial matters required consultation with the ministers before he could carefully sign his approval.
It seemed pointless for a crown prince to reach such a state, but the crown prince didn’t care and continued to handle state affairs diligently and humbly.
It was another sweltering noon. In the Jiade Hall of the Eastern Palace, Li Hen rolled up his sleeves adorned with dragon patterns and focused on copying an inscription. He loved calligraphy, especially the stone inscriptions from the Wei and Jin dynasties. For unknown reasons, he had to suppress his political talents and devote himself to studying and practicing calligraphy. Though such a life was leisurely, it effectively concealed his sharpness, allowing him to remain in the position of crown prince to this day.
“Steady the grip, lift and suspend; rotate smoothly, rise and fall in reverse. Eliminate complexity, draw tightly, break the hook. Recharge, conceal, fold, and twist!”
These twenty-four short words summarized the essence of calligraphy. Isn’t life sometimes just like what these words describe?
With a slight strength in his wrist, he concealed his sharpness and finally exhaled deeply after completing the last stroke.
Looking at the round character “ren” on the Xuzhou rice paper, Li Hen felt a mix of emotions. The character “ren” was like a knife to his heart—how difficult it was to endure! Yet he, the crown prince of the Tang Empire, had endured humiliation for over a decade. First Li Linfu, then Yang Guozhong—why did all the powerful ministers of the Tang Empire target him?
Actually, he also knew that there was some degree of the Emperor’s involvement in this. After all, without the current emperor’s tacit approval, ministers as powerful as Li and Yang would not risk their entire families to oust him.
Father, Father! I can no longer see him clearly!
“Your Highness’s handwriting has become even more refined.”
Suddenly, applause rang out in front of him. Li Heng quickly raised his head and saw Yu Chaoen’s half-smiling face.
Yu Chaoen stepped forward gently and placed a cup of bitter tea on the ebony table, then said slowly, “Your Highness’s characters are neat yet rounded. In my opinion, even the Sage of Calligraphy, Zhang Jiuzhi, would not be a match for you.”
Li Heng smiled bitterly and waved his hand. “Why go to such lengths, my friend? I know my own handwriting well. It’s only good enough to deceive laypeople. If I were to meet a skilled expert, I’d be laughed at.”
“Why belittle yourself, Your Highness? The same stele inscription takes on different meanings when written by people of different statuses. Take Zhang Jiuzhi, for example—his works are known for their boldness and freedom, while your handwriting is neat and rounded, exuding an imperial grandeur.”
Yu Chaoen paused, his eyes curving like a crescent moon. “Moreover, Your Highness will one day rule the Tang Dynasty. Why compete with mere scholars? What’s most important now is to regain the Emperor’s trust.”
Hearing this, Li Heng sighed deeply. “My friend, how could I not want that? But right now, Father is fully supporting Prince Yong. I don’t even have the chance to accompany him. How can I turn things around?”
His physique was already weak, and his words were filled with sorrow and despair, evoking pity.
Yu Chaoen waved his hand. “Not necessarily. Those who are close don’t necessarily hold the upper hand. Things that are too close can easily become tiresome—Prince Yong is the same. In my view, the Emperor just wants to use Prince Yong’s influence to balance your power; he doesn’t truly intend to change the heir.”
Hearing this, Li Heng pushed the jade bowl aside, took out a handkerchief, and wiped the medicinal liquid from his lips. “So you mean someone is whispering behind Father’s back, causing him to doubt me?”
“Of course. As for who it is, I won’t say. Your Highness surely knows.”
Yu Chaoen spoke calmly, without any trace of emotion.
“Yang Guozhong!”
Li Heng slammed the table in anger, cursing loudly.
“Cough, cough!”
He probably spoke too hastily; his emotions surged so much that he started coughing. Yu Chaoyen quickly stepped forward to pat Li Heng’s back in concern. Ah, this ancestor—so weak in health, it’s uncertain even if he can survive until the current emperor’s reign ends. How did I end up choosing such a person as my master?
“Your Highness, please don’t worry. Yang Guozhong’s strength comes solely from the Imperial Concubine. Without her, he’s nothing!”
Li Heng shook his head with a bitter smile. “A while ago, I took the opportunity to pay my respects to the Imperial Concubine and had an honest talk with her. In my opinion, she’s not the kind of woman with ambitions. But after all, she’s part of the Yang family. If I and Yang Guozhong truly become enemies, she will surely side with Yang Guozhong.”
Yu Chaoyen shook his head. “Your Highness has forgotten one person—someone who has the Imperial Concubine and the Lady of Guo State deeply fascinated.”
Li Heng frowned. “Are you referring to Li Kuo?”
“That’s right!”
Yu Chaoyen clapped his hands in excitement. “It seems now that only this man can split them apart from within the Yang family. More importantly, he comes from the Eastern Palace and holds a deep grudge against Yang Guozhong.”
Li Heng stood up, hands behind his back, and began to pace. He stopped in front of a screen. “But he also has a feud with me. Though we’ve reconciled later, I doubt he’ll truly risk his life for me.”
“He’s just waiting for an opportunity. After all, this is a huge game!”
Yu Chaoyen suddenly became reflective, pointing at the sun hanging high in the sky outside the paper window. “If the early years of the Kaiyuan and Tianbao eras were merely a phase of planning for Chang’an, now is the time for the final stage. All major forces have made their bets. Whoever ends up swallowing this great dragon will trigger a bloody conflict. It’s impossible to remain completely neutral in this game. Anyone with some status will eventually take a side; they’re just waiting for the situation to become clearer before acting.”
After hearing this, Li Heng nodded repeatedly and asked urgently, “Then, in your opinion, what should I do to win Li Kuo’s trust?”
Yu Chaoyen replied, “Your Highness needn’t rush. By sending him to Jianghuai to train troops, the emperor is actually sending him to investigate the salt scandal in Jianghuai. This shows the emperor isn’t completely confident in the Prince of Yong. In fact, for him, the rise of any one faction is unacceptable. With such an obvious hint, Li Kuo surely won’t turn against Your Highness.”
“Hmm. How’s Cui Yuanshan doing? I haven’t received any secret reports from Yangzhou in half a month. Could it be he’s been too aggressive and has been noticed by the Prince of Yong’s people?”
Li Heng felt slightly more at ease. He took a few steps and asked again.
“That was a crucial move!”
Yu Chaonan sighed deeply. “It seems that Cui Yuanshan still hasn’t found evidence to defeat Prince Yong in one fell swoop. But with Li Kuo investigating in secret, Prince Yong’s faction surely won’t be spared.”
Li Heng wasn’t convinced. “There’s not much time for him to waste. Prince Yong is always by the emperor’s side. If he keeps speaking ill of me from time to time, there will surely be estrangement between me and our father.”
“Your Highness, you must stay calm!”
Yu Chaonan sighed heavily. “Your Majesty is testing you. The more such times there are, the more you need to show composure.”
“Mm, I understand!”
Li Heng closed his eyes tightly. “How’s things progressing in Hedong Circuit?”
“Reporting to Your Highness, I’ve already done as you instructed. Now, rumors of An Lushan’s rebellion have spread in Hedong Circuit. Your Highness’s two-pronged strategy is truly brilliant—it not only dealt a heavy blow to An Lushan but also forced Yang Guozhong into a hurry.”
Yu Chaonan clearly admired Li Heng’s move, his eyes filled with sincere admiration.
“I only hope our father will listen to advice. An Lushan will rebel sooner or later. It’s better to prepare in advance than to be caught off guard later.”
Li Heng spoke indifferently, but his focus improved significantly as he calmed his mind.
“Mm, if An Lushan doesn’t rebel, that’s fine. But if he really dares to rebel, with Tang’s hundreds of thousands of elite troops, the Three Garrisons can be crushed within days. Then, Your Highness will have achieved a great feat.”
Yu Chaonan seemed to envision Li Heng being highly praised by the emperor in court, feeling extremely pleased.
“Send another message northward, telling them it’s time to take action. As for the members of the Qingke Alliance, there’s no need to act hastily. Unless forced, I don’t want to become a sinner through the ages.”
Li Heng gazed wistfully at the towering palace walls outside the paper window, feeling extremely desolate.