Tang Dynasty: A Guide to Avoiding Pitfalls for Li Er at the Start

Chapter 108 Wen He, what a mess you've made!

Huang Chun ran wildly inside the East Palace.

Although those selected for the Hundred Cavalry Division were all vetted and absolutely loyal to Li Shimin.

But don’t be afraid of ten thousand, just be afraid of the eventuality.

If something happens then, neither he nor Xu Jingzong will escape.

As for Wen He, judging from His Highness's past indulgence towards him, it's likely that he'll be lifted up high but put down lightly.

“It’s bitter!”

Huang Chun complained repeatedly, arriving at the outside of Lizheng Hall at almost the speed of a 100-meter sprint.

"Hmm? Why are there more sentries today?" Huang Chun asked, somewhat puzzled.

There weren't usually this many guards here, but today there are at least twice as many.

But he had something on his mind, so he didn't take it to heart and instead asked to see Li Shimin.

The person now standing beside Li Shimin in his place is Gao Yue, a person with far more seniority in the palace than he is.

It is said that he was in the palace during the Sui Dynasty and later followed the emperor. Unexpectedly, he has now been transferred to the side of the crown prince.

"Your Highness, I have something to ask of you, Highness."

"Please wait a moment, His Highness is discussing matters inside." Gao Yue smiled and nodded to him, handing him a piece of silk cloth as he saw that he was covered in sweat.

Huang Chun accepted it and thanked him.

Not long after, a middle-aged general walked out of the Lizheng Hall. He was handsome and dignified.

When he came out, Gao Yue bowed to him.

Huang Chun recognized the man and bowed to him.

After he left, he asked Gao Yue.

"The Left Guard General is so full of vigor, has he been promoted?"

"Chang He was transferred to Jingzhou as the deputy commander of the cavalry, and Your Highness promoted Li Junxian to the position of Left Martial Guard General, in charge of the Xuanwu Gate."

This was nothing special; the imperial decree would be issued soon, which is why Gao Yue told Huang Chun about it.

Huang Chun, who had served by Li Shimin's side for so long, wielded considerable influence in the palace. Moreover, he had now been transferred to take charge of some kind of Hundred Cavalry Division.

We don't know what position we'll reach in the future, so it's always better to be on good terms than to be on bad terms.

"What brings you in such a hurry, Huang Zhongguan?" Gao Yue asked.

Huang Chun suddenly awoke with a start, only then remembering why he had come, and hurriedly requested an audience with Li Shimin.

Not long after, he was summoned in and reported Wen He's plan to Li Shimin.

He clearly saw that Li Shimin, who was correcting the document, paused for a moment, then looked up at Huang Chun in disbelief.

"That brat thinks he can turn my Eastern Palace into a stage for a play!"

He was furious and, disregarding any official document, got up and headed towards Wude Gate.

But as soon as he stepped out of the Lizheng Hall, he looked at the guards around him and couldn't help but frown.

"Why were there more people today?"

Having once been in charge of palace security, he naturally knew that, barring special circumstances, the number of guards in the Eastern Palace was fixed.

He becomes alert whenever there are more or fewer people around.

"Your Highness," Gao Yue approached.

"They said they were worried about unrest in the palace today, so they sent extra people. A group of people arrived just a quarter of an hour ago."

"Oh, really?" Li Shimin suddenly laughed, squinting as he scanned the guards.

Many of them lowered their heads in a panic.

"Those who arrived a quarter of an hour ago, come with me."

"promise."

The usually disciplined Imperial Guards responded in hushed tones, with some even avoiding Li Shimin's gaze.

"Interesting." Li Shimin smiled, turned around, and headed towards the Wude Hall surrounded by his guards.

"There's movement in the pond ahead, let's go!"

"This guy's got something going on, take him down!" "He dares to run? Brothers, don't let ten strings of cash get away!"

A group of well-equipped imperial guards, armed with wooden sticks, were seen chasing a group of people dressed in various ways.

The others nearby were completely bewildered. Some of the quick-thinking ones even thought that assassins had come from the palace and immediately drew their knives.

"Gao Yue, go and spread the word immediately that all guards in the Eastern Palace should not use bows and arrows or knives on suspicious persons, but only capture them alive."

Li Shimin thought Wen He was simply being ridiculous.

This is the Eastern Palace, and every one of those Imperial Guards is handpicked. If they discover anyone suspicious, they will surely kill them.

If this leads to someone's death, I'll see how you, Wen He, explain yourself.

"Don't worry, nothing will happen. Huang Zhongguan went to report to His Highness, didn't he? Besides, how can their potential be stimulated without pressure?"

Wen He comforted Xu Jingzong.

Today's events were indeed dangerous, but these people will be going out as spies in the future.

Stranded in a foreign land, who can save them then?

Besides, these people all came from the Imperial Guard and knew each other. Even if they were discovered, as long as they didn't resist, their former colleagues couldn't possibly kill them.

"Your Highness, Your Highness has arrived!"

Xu Jingzong saw Li Shimin's figure from afar and quickly gave Wen He a push.

The latter was not surprised, he simply gave a faint "hmm", took a sip of the honey water beside him, and got up to greet him.

Li Shimin's expression was not good, but Wen He knew that he did not object to what he was doing today because he had come here.

"Your subject pays respects to Your Highness."

"Hmph, Wen He, look what you've done!" Li Shimin glared at him.

Wen He looked up and smiled, "Your Highness is too kind. This is all I should do."

Everyone was taken aback upon hearing this.

Li Shimin pointed at him, his beard bristling and eyes wide, and said, "Do you think I'm praising you?"

"Isn't that right?" Wen He asked with a smile.

"Your Majesty, I'm using this selection process to test the palace's defenses. Two birds with one stone, hehe." Wen He knew that Li Shimin wasn't really angry.

If he really objected, he would have stopped it long ago and had someone arrest Wen He.

What angered him was probably the people behind him.

Wen He squinted and recognized them.

"I have brought the person here. What do you intend to do with him?" Li Shimin snorted and sat down where Wen He had been sitting.

The imperial guards who had accompanied Li Shimin panicked immediately, and several of them were about to flee.

Yes, they are among the fifty people from before.

They were clever enough to choose to disguise themselves as guards outside the Lizheng Hall.

That place was where Li Shimin handled government affairs, and ordinary people would never search it.

However, they overlooked one point: this Crown Prince is not so easily fooled.

Li Shimin brought them here to hand them over to Wen He.

His anger stemmed from the fact that someone had gotten right under his nose, yet the rest of the Imperial Guards hadn't noticed.

Wen He shrugged and smiled, "Your Highness and I are just spectators in this game. It is the pursuers who decide whether they are eliminated or not."

"And to say something disrespectful, if Your Highness were an enemy, you would be being held hostage right now, so they could be considered to have done a good deed."

Upon hearing this, Li Shimin glared at him, but quickly burst into laughter again.

"You little rascal, you're incredibly audacious! But this game is interesting, how about we expand it?"

Li Shimin asked, and without waiting for Wen He's reply, he sent Huang Chun to relay the order.

"Today, all Imperial Guards of the Eastern Palace are not allowed to carry sharp weapons. They may only carry sticks and conduct a thorough search of the palace. If fifty people are not captured within two hours, they will be fined one month's salary. If all are captured, each person will be rewarded with ten strings of cash."

As soon as he finished speaking, Wen He couldn't help but swallow.

Li Er is indeed worthy of being the crown prince; he's ruthless in his actions.

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(End of this chapter)