My father, Li Shimin, please call me Crown Prince

Chapter 437 Wu Zetian's Desperate Situation for Survival
The twilight, like cotton wool soaked in ink, gradually spread over the eaves of the Taiji Palace.

Behind the artificial hill by Taiye Pond, withered reeds rustled in the cold wind. Prince Li Zhi of Jin's hand, which was holding his brocade robe, trembled slightly, while Wu Meiniang stood behind the rock, her fingertips trembling, even the hem of her plain-colored dress was wrinkled from being pinched.

When Wu Meiniang emerged from behind the artificial hill, her face was calm as usual, but only she knew that her heart was pounding wildly in her chest like a drum.

As she walked through the corridor, she bumped into the changing of the guards from the East Palace. Their eyes were sharp as knives, and although they didn't linger when they swept over her, they made the hairs on the back of her neck stand on end.

The winds in this palace always carry hidden dangers. She used to think that being cautious would allow her to survive, until she discovered that her affair with Li Zhi was tacitly approved. Only then did she realize that the real danger was not the open reprimands, but the "tacit approval" hanging over her head.

They can protect you today, but tomorrow they can fall without warning and crush you to pieces.

“These past few days, the Imperial Guards on the palace road have had a new batch of faces, and they are checking waist tokens more thoroughly than before.” Li Zhi’s voice trembled, but Wu Meiniang did not reply immediately. Instead, she handed him a hand warmer.

The warmth of the brazier wafted through the brocade, but her fingertips remained icy cold; the warmth couldn't quench the chill in her heart.

She gazed in the direction of Ganlu Palace in the distance, its dim lights resembling those of an old man in his twilight years.

His Majesty was there, but even as a deposed emperor, her status as a "talented lady" was forever bound to her; it was a shackle etched into her bones.

Countless nights, she sat before the mirror, removing her hairpins and ornaments, gazing at her face in the bronze mirror, her features worn smooth by palace rules, lost in thought.

Am I destined to be trapped in this palace for the rest of my life, waiting for my youth to fade, for new faces to replace the old, and finally rotting away silently in some corner like a fallen leaf?

No.

She absolutely cannot do that.

"His Majesty and the Crown Prince already knew about our affair."

When Wu Meiniang spoke, her voice was so steady it seemed unlike her own, but the thoughts in her heart were churning like a stormy sea.

She thought about it countless times: Who is the Crown Prince?

He followed His Majesty's path, forcefully seizing power by blasting open the Xuanwu Gate with cannons. He single-handedly implemented new policies, almost like changing dynasties.

Two years into the new policy, the Crown Prince used an iron fist to sweep away powerful clans and severely punish smuggling. Anyone who stood in his way, no matter who they were, was executed without hesitation.

Why did he turn a blind eye to her and Li Zhi's "private palace affairs"?
It's not that I don't care, it's that I disdain it, and it's that I'm waiting.

Wait until they behave themselves, wait until they are no longer a threat.

But this "waiting" has a time limit. Now that the new policy is gradually stabilizing, the tariffs in Lingnan have tripled, and scholars from humble backgrounds are crowding into the Ministry of Personnel. The day when the Crown Prince can free up his hands is not far off.

By then, how long can these two "eyesore fish" swim peacefully in the pond?
Li Zhi looked up abruptly, nearly dropping the hand warmer: "What did you say? They know?"

Wu Meiniang turned to look at him, a barely perceptible hint of urgency hidden in her eyes.

She had to make Li Zhi understand that this was not a fluke, but his last chance: "Didn't you notice that the guards at Taiye Pond were replaced last month?"

"The newly replaced staff are all old people from the East Palace, yet they pretend not to hear us talking behind the rockery."

"This is not indulgence, it's a test. A test to see if we will take advantage of this, a test to see if we have any ambitions."

She paused, her fingertips unconsciously picking at the moss on the stone wall, a chill seeping into her fingernails: "The Crown Prince doesn't want to bear the reputation of 'killing his brother'."

“Look at the King of Wei, the Crown Prince has not shown any intention of making a move against him so far.”

“If you do your job well, he won’t touch you. What he wants are ‘obedient citizens’ who don’t oppose the new policies.”

“But we are different. I am His Majesty’s concubine, and you are a prince. As long as this relationship continues, it will be a hidden danger in his eyes.”

Li Zhi's back was beaded with cold sweat: "Then why...don't they make a move?"

Wu Zetian's voice carried an almost cold clarity: "Because the reputation of 'killing his brother' is too heavy for him to bear."

She knew that if the Crown Prince killed her and Li Zhi, the court and the public would surely say that he "mistreated his brothers," and those dormant powerful clans would only seize on this point to attack the new policies.

The Crown Prince is so clever that he would never leave himself such a weakness.

Perhaps it's more a matter of not caring about them.

This was a conclusion she dared to draw after two years of observation, and it was the only gamble she could take.

“But you are Father Emperor’s concubine. To leave the palace is as difficult as climbing to heaven.” Li Zhi’s voice was hoarse, but Wu Meiniang suddenly laughed, a laugh that contained a desperate determination.

She knew all too well how difficult it would be to leave.

Palace rules are ironclad. Concubines who leave the palace either die of illness or are deposed and forced to become nuns. There is no reason for them to be sent away with the princes.
Difficult, but not impossible. The Crown Prince's decision to send the princes to other places was to keep them away from the troubles of Chang'an and to demonstrate to the world the new policy that "princes also need to gain practical experience."

By leaving as a "disfavored concubine," she could completely sever her ties with the harem and allow the Crown Prince to gain a reputation for "benevolence."

If she can even "accept" her brother's affair, what else can't she tolerate?
This move was extremely risky, but she had no way out.

“That’s why we need their tacit approval.” She pulled out half a copy of the tax register from her sleeve. The edges of the pages were rough from being rubbed repeatedly by her, and the red annotation “Tax Exemption for Land Reclamation” on it was glaringly bright.

"They know about our situation but haven't done anything about it; they're just waiting for a 'minor' outcome. If you ask to be transferred to a post outside the capital, saying you want to promote new rice varieties and inspect agriculture, which aligns with his new policies, he'll definitely agree. As for me..."

Her fingertips traced the word "practical" on the manuscript, her nails almost piercing the pages.

She thought of the Lingnan chef from the Imperial Kitchen who opened a restaurant in the West Market after leaving the palace, living a life filled with the aroma of cooking every day—a life she had always dreamed of.

For these few days, she had to gamble. Gamble that the Crown Prince cared about his reputation, gamble that Li Shimin would cherish old friendships, and gamble that Li Zhi would have the courage to take this step.

"Before you leave the capital, I will go and plead with His Majesty."

Wu Meiniang's voice was as light as the wind, yet it carried an undeniable firmness: "I said I was willing to go with you to the prefectures and counties to take care of your daily life and do my part for the new policies. If they want to put this matter to rest, this is the most dignified way. If they can tacitly allow us to meet in secret, they can tacitly allow me to leave the palace."

"After all, a fallen concubine is far less important than the reputation of the new policies."

A cold wind swept fallen leaves across the water, and the sound of the armor of the night patrolling guards came from afar, as if urging her to make a decision.

Wu Meiniang gazed at the night outside the palace walls, where a vast world she had never seen before was hidden, and where her only chance of survival lay.

She knew the price of this gamble: if she lost, she would be banished to the cold palace at best, and her life would be in danger at worst.

But if she didn't gamble, she could only exhaust her last breath in this deep palace.

The Crown Prince's new policies have not affected the Prince of Wei and the Prince of Jin for two years, not because he is soft-hearted, but because he has weighed the pros and cons.

And she will use this "weighing" to try and make a living.

She plucked a wintersweet blossom from her temple and placed it in Li Zhi's palm. The thin frost on the petals melted slowly from his body heat: "This flower can survive the cold winter. So can we."

A cold wind swept withered leaves across the surface of Taiye Pond, creating ripples that mirrored Li Zhi's chaotic state of mind. He clutched the winter plum blossom that Wu Meiniang had given him; the frost on the petals had melted, and the damp, cold touch seeped into his palm, sending a shiver down his spine.

"You put it lightly."

Li Zhi's voice was strained, filled with barely suppressed fear: "The Crown Prince is not making any moves against us in Chang'an, perhaps because he promised Father, or perhaps because he is afraid of criticism from the court and the public."

"But what if I leave Chang'an? When I get to those remote places like Lingnan and Jiangnan, the mountains are high and the rivers are far. A flash flood, a bandit attack, or even a bowl of unclean food could kill me without me even noticing."

"Who will investigate then? Who will care about an 'accident' involving a prince who has been sent to a remote post?"

Even my father...

Li Zhi became increasingly agitated as he spoke, his shoulders trembling slightly beneath his brocade robe: "Fourth Brother is keeping himself hidden at home, like a shadow. If I were to be sent out into the world, I would be handing myself over to the Crown Prince."

"What he wants are 'obedient subjects,' but dead 'obedient subjects' are the ones he can trust the most, aren't they?"

Wu Meiniang listened quietly, but the light in her eyes did not dim.

She had anticipated that Li Zhi would have such concerns.

The prince knew better than anyone the ruthlessness of the power arena, and he had seen plenty of the murderous intent hidden beneath the "rules" and "regulations" since he was a child.

But she couldn't let him be trapped by fear; it was their only way.

She stepped forward, raised her hand and gently pressed it against his arm. The coolness of her fingertips seeped through the fabric, yet it carried a strange calmness: "Have you forgotten what the Crown Prince cares about most?"

Li Zhi was taken aback: "What?"

“Reputation.” Wu Meiniang’s voice was clear and calm, yet it carried a penetrating force in the cold wind: “He has been implementing new policies for two years, killing smugglers and foreign merchants, all under the guise of ‘severe punishment to address abuses.’”

"He established the Inspection Bureau and set performance evaluation laws, relying on 'clear rules and regulations'. Everyone in the world said that the Crown Prince was 'iron-fisted', but no one said that he 'killed his own parents', which was the face he valued most."

“In Chang’an, if you are ‘unexpected,’ everyone will suspect him; but in the prefectures and counties, if you are ‘unexpected,’ who will be the first to be questioned?”

"They are local officials."

"The Crown Prince just used the performance evaluation system to tightly bind local officials. Would they dare let something happen to a prince who has been sent to a remote area?"

"Although the inspectors are at the port, the tax registers and agricultural reports from the prefectures and counties have to be sent to Chang'an every month. The Crown Prince sees your movements better than anyone else."

Li Zhi frowned even more deeply: "But if he's determined to take action..."

“He won’t,” Wu Meiniang interrupted him, her tone resolute, though her mind was racing.

She knew Li Chengqian too well.

After all, before anything happened, Wu Zetian wanted to be able to get on the Crown Prince's good side.

Unfortunately, the crown prince paid her no attention at all.

She was very straightforward; the Crown Prince always considered the "advantages and disadvantages" before making decisions.

What would you gain by killing a prince who has been exiled to a remote area? Eliminate a potential "threat"? But what would the cost be?

Trust in the new policies will waver between the court and the public. Scholars from humble backgrounds may feel that the crown prince is intolerant of his brothers, and it may even give those dormant powerful families a handle to accuse the new policies of being immoral.

"What the Crown Prince wants is for the people of the world to believe in his 'rules' and his 'standards,' not in his sword."

Wu Meiniang took out another piece of paper from her sleeve. It was the "Detailed Rules for Performance Evaluation in Prefectures and Counties" that she had asked someone to copy from the Quanxueguan (a school for promoting education). The clause about protecting the imperial family was circled in red.

"Look at this. The performance evaluation law clearly states that 'local officials must protect the safety of imperial relatives sent to the provinces; those who neglect their duties will be demoted three ranks.' This isn't just for us; it's for all local officials."

"The Crown Prince has tied the safety of the imperial clan to their careers."

Wu Meiniang leaned closer to Li Zhi, lowering her voice even further, with a desperate urgency: "We're not going to the prefectures and counties to die, but to do something."

“Go and promote the new rice varieties, inspect the reclaimed land, and fill the monthly reports with reports of successful agriculture and sericulture and increased tax revenue. These will all become achievements of the Crown Prince’s new policies.”

“He needs such achievements to prove that his policy of sending princes to remote areas was correct. The more useful you are, the more you can help him consolidate his new policies, the less likely he is to touch you.”

Li Zhi's breathing gradually calmed down, but the doubt in his eyes still lingered: "What about you? If you come with me, your position will be awkward. What if someone uses this against you..."

“No one dares.” Wu Meiniang smiled, her smile carrying a hint of worldly wisdom: “The Crown Prince’s tacit approval of our affairs is merely a gesture.”

“My following along under the pretext of taking care of his daily needs perfectly suited the Crown Prince’s desire for a dignified end.”

"When local officials see this, they'll just assume it's the Crown Prince's arrangement and will be too busy currying favor to dare say a word."

"As for His Majesty, he is only concerned with the flight path on the sand table and the roast suckling pig in the kitchen. For him, the departure of a disgraced concubine is just the loss of one more person in the palace to worry about."

She shoved the "Detailed Rules for Performance Evaluation in Prefectures and Counties" into his hand and pressed her fingertips firmly against his palm: "We're not gambling on the Crown Prince's benevolence, we're gambling on his scheming."

"The Crown Prince is calculating his reputation, his political achievements, and the stability of his new policies. These calculations are our only way to survive."

"As long as we behave ourselves, don't cause trouble in Chang'an, and don't block his way, why should he risk his reputation for the lives of two insignificant people like us?"

Li Zhi held the two pieces of paper, the warmth of the stove slowly seeping into his heart, dispelling some of the chill. He looked into the light in Wu Meiniang's eyes, a light that held no hesitation, only a resolute determination to burn one's bridges.

Yes, they had no other choice.

Staying in Chang'an is like a knife hanging over one's head.

Only by venturing out can we find a glimmer of hope.

No matter how deep the Crown Prince's schemes were, he still had to leave some dignity for the new policies and give the world the impression that the imperial family was safe and sound.

"it is good."

Li Zhi took a deep breath, and his voice finally regained some strength.

"I will go to the Ministry of Revenue tomorrow to borrow rice seed illustrations, and the day after tomorrow I will go to see the Crown Prince and tell him that I want to go to Lingnan to try to promote the new rice."

Wu Meiniang looked at him, and a genuine smile finally appeared on her lips, like a winter plum blossom blooming in the cold night: "That's right. Remember, we go to the prefectures and counties to help the Crown Prince, not to be a threat to him. As long as this remains unchanged, the sword of Chang'an will not fall on our heads."

"but."

Wu Meiniang paused for a moment, then said, "This matter should be discussed with His Majesty first. Only if His Majesty agrees will the Crown Prince agree."

Li Zhi nodded: "Father will agree."

(End of this chapter)