Chapter 6: Du Yu (I)

In the bitter cold of the ninth day of the twelfth lunar month, the winds were howling fiercely. Although the sun still shone brightly at this time, its warmth was gone, replaced by a chilling coldness.
In the city of Jiangling, Prince Yong, Li Lin, stood on the Ningchun Tower, overlooking the multitude of people below.
“Sir, do you think I am a tyrant?”
After a long silence, Li Lin’s expression suddenly turned cold as he sneered.
Li Taibai, standing beside him, was initially stunned before stammering, “Your Highness, why would you say such a thing? You are the son of the retired emperor and the brother of the current emperor—your son of heaven…”
“You haven’t answered me!”
Li Lin turned sharply, his gaze dark as he stared at Li Taibai. “Can’t all these titles stop me from being a tyrant?”
“Perhaps.”
Li Taibai didn’t know what to say and simply shrugged. He truly couldn’t understand why Prince Yong would suddenly say such things. In his eyes, Prince Yong had always been a kind, disciplined, and respectful prince of the Tang Dynasty—far from being a tyrant. But why would such a person claim to be one? Perhaps he had been provoked by something?
Compared to his proud and aloof self years ago, Li Taibai had become much more accommodating now. Little by little, one is transformed into the opposite of who they once were—perhaps that is life.
“Who in this world isn’t a tyrant? An Lushan is a tyrant, Yang Guozhong is a tyrant, even the retired emperor is called a tyrant. Even my brother, who sits on the imperial throne—do you believe he too will become a tyrant in a few years?”
With his hands behind his back, Li Lin gazed wistfully at the land of ancient Jingzhou. In the past, Liu Bei and Sun Quan fought fiercely over Jingzhou, all for the chance to become tyrants and rule the world.
To become a tyrant, though despised by others, must be a dream hidden deep in every man’s heart.
“Sometimes I wonder what would have happened if the retired emperor hadn’t gone to Shu and instead come to Jiangling.”
After a pause, Li Lin added with a bitter smile, “But there are no ‘what ifs’ in this world. My brother forced our father to abdicate and then ascended the throne legitimately—haha, truly legitimately…”
Li Lin placed one hand on his forehead, rubbing it slowly as his lips trembled slightly.
“Your Highness!”
Seeing Prince Yong in such a disheveled state, Li Taibai’s heart sank, and he tried to speak to comfort him.

“Sir, there’s no need to persuade me! Though I am not as talented as Emperor Taizong, I still refuse to live in submission all my life, especially under a tyrant!”
Li Lin waved his hand abruptly, his gaze turning dark and fierce.
“Have you ever considered that I was raised by my elder brother since childhood? It’s funny—my mother, Guo Shunyi, passed away early, and everyone in the palace was opportunistic and despised me. Only my elder brother loved and protected me dearly, even bringing me to the Eastern Palace to be raised there.”
Li Lin shook his head helplessly. “But sometimes life is just so complicated and unpredictable. The very person who did me so much good has now become my greatest enemy.”
Li Bai remained silent. No matter how arrogant he was, speaking out against a monarch was an unforgivable crime.
As a prince, it was fine for Li Lin to complain, but if Li Bai said the same things, someone would surely lock him up soon.
“Do you know what the Retired Emperor wrote in the edict appointing me as the military governor of Shanan East Road and the four regions south of the Qianzhong River, as well as the governor of Jiangling Prefecture? He warned me to be careful of one person. It’s not An Lushan, nor Shi Siming, nor even Tian Chengsi—it’s my elder brother, the current emperor of Tang!”
Li Lin clenched his fists and exhaled a puff of white breath. “I always thought my elder brother was a kind and benevolent person, but it seems I was wrong—completely wrong. He’s a tyrant, hiding all his ambitions behind a hypocritical mask. How did the Retired Emperor treat him? He gave him the title of Prince of Loyalty and the position of Crown Prince in the Eastern Palace—almost giving him the throne! But how did he repay the Retired Emperor? At Mawei Post, he colluded with Chen Xuanli to seize the throne! Don’t tell me anything about mutinous soldiers—without backing, would those soldiers dare to commit such acts of destruction? Although the Retired Emperor didn’t say it outright, it’s clear he resented him deeply.”
After speaking so much in one go, Li Lin felt all the pent-up anger pour out. He smiled, closed his eyes, and let the cold wind brush across his cheeks.
“Your Highness, you’re drunk!”
Li Bai sighed and spoke after a long silence, “Whether right or wrong, the situation has already settled. What’s the use if you resist now? It would be better if you…”
“I refuse to accept it! Why can that man take everything from me? Why can he order me around? Why can he decide my life and death at will—just because he was born before me?”

Prince Yong sneered and said, “Don’t think this king doesn’t know about all his despicable deeds. If pushed to the limit, I’ll expose them all—then even he won’t be able to silence public criticism.”
After a pause, Li Lin asked, “Sir, do you know there are only two kinds of people in this world?”
Li Bai replied doubtfully, “Men and women?”
Li Lin shook his head. “Living people and dead people. The greatest difference among people in this world is life and death. Why do so many risk their lives to seize the throne? It’s so they can ensure their descendants’ prosperity and peace for generations. But they don’t care—or rather, they disdain to care—about how many people will die in the process.”
“I know you’re someone who values loyalty and retribution. So you should understand this king’s feelings even better. If someone were to put a knife to your throat, would you resist or accept your fate?”
Li Lin’s face turned sickly pale, making his words even more heartbreaking.
“Does Your Highness mean His Majesty intends to harm you?” Li Bai asked gravely, frowning. He didn’t want to get involved in the royal power struggles, but since he was privately hired as Prince Yong’s advisor, it was his duty to help him solve problems and make decisions at critical moments.
“Do you know what happened seven days ago?”
Prince Yong nodded slightly. “This king, along with Xue Miao, Li Taiqing, Cai Chong, and others, went to Jiangling on an inspection tour. But traitors reported us to the current emperor. He immediately sent envoys to scold me harshly and even ordered that my feet be tied!”
Li Lin’s gaze wandered erratically before he let out a long sigh. “This king followed the retired emperor’s orders to inspect the troops and boost morale. Yet he misinterpreted my actions as treason. Since he’s pushed me to this point, what other choice do I have but to fight to the end?”