My father, Li Shimin, please call me Crown Prince

Chapter 445 Li Shimin: I Will Not Restoration
The Bodhi Courtyard of Da'an Palace was filled with the freshness after the rain. Li Shimin, wearing a loose, moon-white Taoist robe, held the Diamond Sutra that Xuanzang had just translated in his hands.

The fingertip lightly taps on the phrase "All phenomena are illusory".

Li Chengqian didn't care much about the return of the monk Xuanzang, but Li Shimin, who was now at a leisurely pace, was quite curious.

After retiring to Da'an Palace, Li Shimin stopped reading military books and memorials, and instead became fascinated with cultivating immortality, alchemy, and Buddhist teachings. He lived a more leisurely life than when he was in Taiji Palace.

"Your Majesty, the Venerable Xuanzang has arrived," the eunuch Zhang Anan reported softly.

Li Shimin turned around and saw Xuanzang, dressed in a red kasaya and holding a tin staff, walking slowly towards him. The gold thread on the kasaya shimmered softly in the sunlight. He smiled and went to greet him: "Master, you've arrived early today. The tea you just brewed before the rain is perfect for discussing Zen."

Xuanzang clasped his hands in a gesture of respect, his voice as gentle as a spring breeze: "I have heard that Your Majesty has recently been studying the Tao Te Ching and practicing Buddhist principles, thus integrating Confucianism, Buddhism and Taoism into one."

The two sat down at a stone table under the Bodhi tree. A servant served them tea, the aroma of which wafted through the air. Li Shimin picked up a Bodhi seed and smiled, "Back in the Taiji Palace, my mind was full of conquering new territories and reforming the bureaucracy. I had no time to think about these things."

"Now that I've stepped down, I realize that no matter how vast the country is, nothing is worse than peace of mind; no matter how heavy the power is, nothing is worse than letting go. The Master traveled thousands of miles to the west to seek the Dharma, and has seen more of the world than I have. He should tell me more about the Buddhist teachings of India."

Xuanzang held the teacup, a glint of reminiscence in his eyes: "Your Majesty is too kind. I have been traveling west for seventeen years, and the further I go into India, the more I feel that the core of Buddhism is actually in line with what Your Majesty said about 'letting go'."

"When I was at Nalanda University, the Venerable Śīlabhadra asked me, 'Why do you seek the Dharma?' I replied, 'To relieve the suffering of all beings and to understand my true nature.' He said, 'You must even let go of the attachment to seeking the Dharma in order to see true reality.'"

Li Shimin was taken aback upon hearing this, and the Bodhi seed between his fingers stopped spinning: "Let go of the obsession with seeking the Dharma? That's novel. When I seized the world and ruled the country, I relied on an obsession with 'I must do it.' If I let go of it, wouldn't I have accomplished nothing?"

Xuanzang smiled slightly: "Your Majesty's obsession is for the peace of the world; this humble monk's obsession is for the enlightenment of all beings."

“Obsession itself is neither right nor wrong; the key is whether it imprisons one’s true nature. Your Majesty’s seizure of power at Xuanwu Gate was to end the turmoil. Now, retiring to Da’an Palace is to ensure the stability of the new government.”

"This is the principle of 'holding on when it is appropriate and letting go when it is appropriate,' which is exactly the Buddhist principle of 'dwelling nowhere and yet giving rise to the mind.'"

Li Shimin looked into his clear eyes and suddenly smiled: "The Master's words are more purifying than the elixirs in the alchemy furnace."

"Back then, I always felt that an emperor should firmly grasp power, but the Crown Prince implemented new policies without my intervention, and the country became more stable."

"Only then did I realize that if you hold onto power too tightly, it will break; it's better to let go, let the right people do the right things, and then you can enjoy some peace and quiet."

Xuanzang nodded: "Your Majesty's ability to understand this principle is a great merit."

“In India, I saw many city-states. Some kings clung to power, resulting in endless internal strife; others appointed virtuous and capable officials and devoted themselves to the practice of Buddhism, thus bringing peace and prosperity to their countries.”

"The country and its people are never the country of one person, but the country of all people. The one who can bring peace and happiness to all people is the true emperor, whether or not he sits on the throne."

These words struck a chord with Li Shimin. He picked up his teacup, drank it all in one gulp, and said with delight, "Well said! I've spent half my life as a war-fighting emperor, but now I want to be a 'cultivating emperor'."

The two had a pleasant conversation, and Li Shimin was quite curious about Buddhism.

After all, Xuanzang's Buddhism was not the same as the Buddhism of the Tang Dynasty.

“Master, when I read the word ‘illusion’, I always feel that it has something in common with the ‘non-action’ in the Tao Te Ching.”

Li Shimin said, "Back when I was in Taiji Palace, I always thought about 'making achievements,' pacifying the Turks, and reforming the bureaucracy. I wanted to do everything myself, thinking that this was the duty of an emperor."

"After reading the Master's scriptures, I realized that being too attached to 'action' will only trap one in power, just as the Master said, it is 'attachment to appearances'."

Xuanzang smiled with his palms together, his voice like a clear spring gurgling over stones: "Your Majesty is absolutely right. The Buddhist teachings speak of 'dependent origination and emptiness,' meaning that all things in the world arise from causes and conditions, and there is no eternal and unchanging self-nature."

"Your Majesty's 'achievements' back then were due to the fact that the world had just been settled and that the emperor's thunderous methods were needed to stabilize the four directions."

"Now that the Crown Prince is implementing new policies, the country is peaceful and prosperous. Your Majesty's 'non-action' is in accordance with the natural order, which is the true meaning of 'one should abide nowhere'."

Xuanzang paused, a hint of earnestness flashing in his eyes: "I have traveled west for seventeen years and have seen the flourishing of Buddhism in India, where kings of various countries consider the propagation of Buddhism a meritorious act. The Tang Dynasty is now far more prosperous than India. If Buddhism can take root here and complement Confucianism and Taoism, it will truly be a blessing for all people."

Upon hearing this, Li Shimin smiled knowingly: "Does the Master mean that although Taoism is the state religion, it does not hinder the spread of Buddhism?"

He put down his teacup, his tone carrying the clarity of an emperor: "I revered Taoism back then, firstly because Laozi's surname was Li, and secondly because Taoism's philosophy of 'quietude and non-action' was conducive to recuperation and development. But religions are like rivers; only those that can accommodate all streams can endure."

"I have observed that among the foreign merchants in the West Market of Chang'an, there are both Zoroastrians and Buddhists. They trade with each other without ever fighting over their beliefs. This is the magnanimity that the Great Tang should have."

Xuanzang's eyes lit up, and he stood up and bowed: "Your Majesty is wise! This humble monk does not seek to compete, but only hopes that Buddhism can be spread in the Tang Dynasty."

“The Buddhist concepts of ‘compassion’ and ‘karma’ are from the same source as the Confucian concept of ‘benevolence’ and the Taoist concept of ‘doing good.’ If we can build temples and translate scriptures, so that people can understand good and evil and know shame, it will also be a help to the new policies.”

"only……"

Xuanzang hesitated for a moment: "Now that Taoism is the state religion, I am worried that if we are too ostentatious, it will attract criticism."

Li Shimin waved his hand: "Criticism?"

"Although the Crown Prince holds power in the court, he has always respected my will. When he implements new policies, he values ​​the stability of the people's hearts the most. If Buddhism can guide people to do good, he will be overjoyed."

"Besides, even though I have retired to Da'an Palace, he still has to give me this much face."

After a pause, Li Shimin looked at Xuanzang with certainty in his eyes: "I will build the Great Ci'en Temple for you, not only a translation building, but also a Wild Goose Pagoda to store the Buddhist scriptures and relics you brought back."

"I will personally write the 'Preface to the Sacred Teachings of the Great Tang Tripitaka,' explaining that the construction of the temple is not about abandoning Taoism and promoting Buddhism, but rather about 'the unity of the three religions to jointly support a prosperous era'—with my words, who dares to object?"

Xuanzang was so moved that he clasped his hands together, his voice trembling slightly: "Your Majesty's actions are of immeasurable merit! When I was at Nalanda Monastery, the Venerable Jiexian once prophesied that 'there will be a holy ruler in the East who can protect the spread of Buddhism.' Today I know that what the Venerable said is true. I am willing to dedicate the rest of my life to translating scriptures and spreading the Dharma, so that Buddhism can add brilliance to the Tang Dynasty's golden age."

Li Shimin smiled and said, "Master, there's no need for such modesty."

“When I read the scriptures you translated, I came across the statement, ‘If a Bodhisattva has the marks of self, person, sentient being, or life span, then he is not a Bodhisattva.’ This reminded me of the Xuanwu Gate Incident. If I had been attached to the ‘brotherhood’, I would probably have been beheaded long ago.”

"Later, when governing the country, if one is fixated on the 'appearance of imperial authority,' one will not tolerate Wei Zheng's honest but unpleasant words. In the end, Buddhism is also a method of governing the mind."

Xuanzang replied, "Your Majesty's ability to understand the Dharma and cultivate the mind is a testament to your profound affinity with Buddhism. In my opinion, a ruler's governance is like a Dharma master's spiritual practice, requiring 'enlightenment and realization of one's true nature.'"

"Understanding the nature of the people's hearts is to see the nature of the world. The Crown Prince's new policies emphasize practical matters, which is to understand that the people need food and clothing; Your Majesty's promotion of Buddhism is to see that the world needs education. They are two sides of the same coin."

Li Shimin clapped his hands and laughed: "Well said!"

“The Crown Prince is in charge of ‘clothing, food, housing and transportation,’ while I am in charge of ‘people’s hearts and education.’ The father and son have a clear division of labor.”

"Rest assured, Master, I will immediately order the construction of the Great Ci'en Temple to begin. The necessary funds will come from my private treasury, without the need for the Ministry of Finance to allocate funds, so as not to put the Crown Prince in a difficult position." Although the Crown Prince had taken a considerable amount from Li Shimin's private treasury, even if only 20% remained, it would still be a substantial sum.

The reason he used his own private treasury was that he knew that although the crown prince had delegated some power, he was still concerned about the use of the national treasury. Using his private treasury would not only get things done but also avoid causing trouble for the crown prince, which was the way an emperor would balance things.

The two talked from noon until dusk, the shadows of the Bodhi tree leaves turning halfway around, the fragrance of medicine from the alchemy furnace mingling with the ink scent of the scriptures.

Li Shimin talked about how his "killing intent" during his conquests was gradually dissolved by the "compassion" of Buddhism.

Xuanzang recounted the hardships of his journey to the West, explaining how he overcame dangers through "faith" and "good karma." From "form and emptiness are not two" to "the way of nature," from the machinations of emperors to the suffering and joy of all beings, there was no separation between them.

Before parting, Li Shimin presented Xuanzang with a string of Bodhi seed prayer beads that he had personally polished: "These beads have been with me for many years and have seen countless battles. Now I give them to the Dharma Master so that they may hear Buddhist scriptures and absorb some of the spirit of compassion."

Xuanzang accepted the prayer beads and presented them in return with a handwritten copy of the Heart Sutra: "May Your Majesty often recite this sutra and attain peace of mind."

Watching Xuanzang's departing figure, Li Shimin stood under the Bodhi tree, gazing at the sunset on the horizon, his heart filled with clarity.

He knew that although he was no longer the emperor at the pinnacle of power, he could still protect this prosperous era in another way.

Just like Xuanzang's journey to the West to seek Buddhist teachings, he did not seek personal fame or gain, but only for the propagation of Buddhism.

He built temples and propagated Buddhism not to regain power, but simply to ensure that the Tang Dynasty was bathed in both the warmth of the new policies and the refreshing breeze of Buddhist teachings.

When Li Chengqian of Taiji Palace received the report from the eunuch Wenzhong that "His Majesty intends to build the Great Ci'en Temple for Xuanzang," he simply smiled and said to Du He, "If Father is happy, then send some craftsmen over there. Don't let the project be delayed."

He understood that Li Shimin's "heart for spreading Buddhism" was also part of the prosperous era, and there was no need to stop it; it should be allowed to happen naturally.

That night.

Night falls early at Da'an Palace. The candlelight casts Li Shimin's shadow on the screen as he stares intently at the fire in the alchemy furnace. On the table lies the Vimalakirti Sutra, recently delivered by Xuanzang, its ink still faintly scented with sandalwood.

The eunuch Zhang Anan entered and reported: "Your Majesty, Duke Li Ji of Yingguo requests an audience, saying he has important matters to report."

Li Shimin looked up, a hint of surprise flashing in his eyes: "Let him in."

Li Ji, dressed in court attire, remained upright despite being retired at home. Holding a memorial, he bowed and said, "This old minister greets Your Majesty."

"No need for formalities." Li Shimin pointed to the prayer mat opposite him: "You must have something important to discuss so late at night?"

Li Ji presented a secret memorial: "Hou Junji recently sent someone to contact this old minister, saying he wanted to talk about the 'Xuanwu Gate Incident,' and urged this old minister to join him in requesting His Majesty's restoration. He also said that he would call for the emperor's support under the pretext of 'the Crown Prince's new policies being too extreme.' This old minister dared not conceal the truth and has come to report this."

Li Shimin took the secret memorial, wrote down the words "restoration," and a cold, sharp smile appeared on his lips.

He read slowly, the figure on the screen swaying gently with the candlelight, the only sound in the hall being the rustling of paper turning.

Li Ji stood with his head bowed, able to hear the faint sound of His Majesty stroking the fine and sparse parts of the object, a sound that carried an indescribable chill.

"Hou Junji..." Li Shimin put down the memorial, his voice carrying a hint of mockery and a sigh.

"He remembers the bloodshed at Xuanwu Gate very clearly. But he has forgotten that he followed me to kill Li Jiancheng and Li Yuanji to end the chaos of fratricide."

"Later, he joined the Crown Prince in forcing the emperor to abdicate; it was his own choice. Now that he has lost power, he wants to act like a dog lifting a curtain, hoping to stir up trouble in the world with his past merits?"

He got up and walked to the window, looking at the waning moon in the sky, his tone full of disappointment: "I still remember the ninth year of Wude, when he followed me, his eyes shining brighter than a knife, saying that he would 'clear obstacles for Your Majesty'."

"Back then, Hou Junji was reckless but had guts, but what about now?"

"He's just a mediocre man who's greedy for power."

“The Crown Prince doesn’t use him not because he’s heartless, but because he truly lacks the ability.”

"He can't even understand the Ministry of Personnel's assessment regulations, what's the point of keeping him around?"

Li Ji said in a low voice, "Your Majesty is absolutely right. Hou Junji only sees his own grievances, but he cannot see that under the Crown Prince's new policies, the tax revenue in Jiangnan has increased by 30% per month, the trade routes in the Western Regions are unimpeded, and the people have long forgotten about the 'restoration' and only remember the good deeds of the Crown Prince."

Li Shimin turned around, the moonlight shining on the white hair at his temples, adding a touch of vicissitude: "He understands me even less."

"If I wanted to restore the throne, why did I retreat to Da'an Palace when the Crown Prince forced me to abdicate? I have spent my life on the battlefield, killing my brothers and forcing my father to abdicate. Do I really want to seize power from my son again and make the Tang Dynasty a laughing stock of the world?"

"Does he think I covet that dragon throne? Now, the Venerable Xuanzang is discussing Zen with me, and the aroma of medicine from the alchemy furnace is far more pleasant than the gunpowder smell in the court."

At this point, a hint of coldness appeared in Li Shimin's eyes.

“I once said he was ‘the bravest in the army.’ Now it seems he was brave, but brainless. Did he think that just because I retired to Da’an Palace, I would become a pawn in his hands? Did he think that you, Li Ji, would collude with him? He was utterly hopeless.”

Li Ji asked, "Then what about this matter..."

“You did the right thing.” Li Shimin interrupted him, folded the secret document, and handed it to Li Ji. “You don’t need to give this to me. Give it directly to the Crown Prince. Tell him that Hou Junji was someone he protected back then, and now it’s up to him to deal with him.”

"I have only one thing to say: don't let the world say that the Tang Dynasty cannot tolerate meritorious officials."

Li Shimin paused, his tone softening slightly: "After all... he was one of those who walked through Xuanwu Gate with me. Let's leave him a whole body out of our past friendship."

There was no anger in this statement, only a detached indifference that comes with seeing through the ways of the world, as if discussing an insignificant old object.

Li Ji bowed and accepted the secret report, understanding its meaning immediately.

His Majesty's last vestige of affection for Hou Junji vanished with that sigh.

"Old minister, I obey."

Li Shimin waved his hand, sat back down at his desk, picked up the Vimalakirti Sutra, his gaze falling on the phrase "all conditioned phenomena are like dreams, illusions, bubbles, and shadows," and said in a voice as soft as a breeze: "Go. Let the Crown Prince handle it with peace of mind."

After Li Ji left, Li Shimin sighed deeply once again.

This sigh contained regret for the downfall of former officials and a lament about the cyclical nature of power, but it did not shake the resolve in the slightest.

His era had long since ended, and Hou Junji's struggles were merely an insignificant stroke in the otherwise prosperous history.

(End of this chapter)