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

Chapter 137 Li Yi, the One Who Wants to Live
Xu Jingzong's face looked as if he had seen a ghost, his eyes almost popping out of their sockets.

Before they could come looking for her, Wen He went there herself.

"What happened?"

Wen He's sudden appearance startled both Huang Chun and Xu Jingzong.

"Young master, something terrible has happened! Last night, Li Yi went to the Honglu Guest House and hasn't come out since. Half an hour ago, the Turkic delegation was leaving and they are now preparing to leave the city."

"We haven't received any news from our people at the Honglu Inn either; I'm afraid something has happened to them."

Wen He was stunned. He now understood why Xu Jingzong had that expression just now.

At this critical juncture, Li Yi suddenly went to the Honglu Guest House, and now the Turks are rushing out of the city.

If this was a coincidence, Wen He would rather commit suicide on the spot.

"Supervisor Huang, go to the palace immediately to report to His Highness. I will lead men to stop them!"

Xu Jingzong was about to leave when his sleeve was suddenly tugged. He turned around and saw Wen He shaking her head at him.

"We can't stop them, let them go."

“Wenxianzi, Li Yi has definitely defected to the Turks. He knows the terrain of Jingzhou well. If we let him go, I'm afraid it will bring disaster!”

That treacherous minister Xu is indeed quite clever.

So many things came to mind all at once.

The Turks must now know that Li Jing went to Jingzhou.

If they relay the message back, Jieli will surely be prepared, and might even change course, not taking Jingzhou, but attacking Lingzhou instead.

Then all of Li Ji's previous plans would have been in vain.

There was another point that Xu Jingzong hadn't considered.

At this very moment, the Turkic delegation left Chang'an without even saying goodbye.

This is a blatant slap in the face to Li Shimin.

This demonstrates the Turks' attitude: We do not recognize Li Shimin as the emperor of the Tang Dynasty.

While this disgusted Li Shimin, it also gave those with ulterior motives an opportunity to launch an attack.

But Wen He knew she still couldn't stop them.

"The most important matter today is His Highness's ascension to the throne. If we intercept him at the city gate, it will only make things worse and allow other vassal states to laugh at us."

Wenhe was worried that the Turks did this on purpose.

They just wanted to cause trouble today.

"So we're just going to let them leave like that?" Xu Jingzong asked impatiently, his gaze fixed on Wen He.

Wen He shook her head again.

“Then the Tang Dynasty will lose all face… Supervisor Huang, please go and inform His Highness that I request the deployment of some crossbows and gunpowder, as well as the full strength of the Hundred Cavalry.”

Xu Jingzong and Huang Chun were both shocked upon hearing this.

Although they did not know the power of gunpowder, they knew that the divine crossbow must be a deadly weapon.

If Wen He is going to mobilize all 100 cavalry, it must be for killing purposes.

"Isn't this a bad idea? To kill the delegation?" Huang Chun hesitated.

Wen He looked puzzled: "What do you mean by killing an envoy? We were just on patrol to protect the safety of Chang'an, and we encountered bandits disguised as Turks on the way."

"Yes, yes, it's to protect the safety of Chang'an. This servant will go right away."

Huang Chun was overjoyed, gave Wen He a thumbs up, and hurried towards the East Palace.

"I'm going to find Zhang Wenxiao. You can stay here and observe the ceremony, Mr. Xu." Wen He smiled and, without waiting for Xu Jingzong's reply, headed towards her carriage.

Xu Jingzong tried to pull him back, but couldn't.

The Yan brothers, standing beside the carriage, saw him rushing over and knew something must have happened.

Yan Lide asked, "Did something go wrong? Could it be that there was a problem with the fireworks?"

For Li Shimin's enthronement ceremony, the Ministry of Works manufactured nine large fireworks, ready to be set off that night.

To ensure safety, it was personally guarded by a hundred riders.

"It's nothing serious, but Vice Minister Yan might have to come with me. I need to gather crossbows and grenades. His Highness's decree will be issued soon."

Upon hearing this, the brothers Yan Lide and Yan Liben were both stunned.

"Is someone rebelling?"

Yan Lide couldn't think of anything else that could make His Highness the Crown Prince use crossbows and gunpowder today. Wen Zhong, who was walking over, was even more startled: "Young Master, we should report this to His Highness first."

"I've already sent someone. You drive the carriage and take Minister Yan and me to the Forbidden Garden!"

Without saying a word, Wen He climbed onto the carriage.

Seeing this, Yan Lide no longer hesitated and followed closely behind him.

Shortly after.

Inside the sleeping quarters of Yichun Palace.

"Li Yanchao ultimately refused to enjoy the wealth and status I had given him."

Having changed into the crown prince's robes, Li Shimin appeared even more majestic at this moment.

Empress Zhangsun personally strapped the sword to his belt, then silently bowed her head and remained silent.

Huang Chun stood to the side with his head down.

Gao Yue waved her hand, signaling all the palace maids and eunuchs in the hall to leave.

"Gao Yue, convey my decree: Prince Rencheng, Li Daozong, and General of the Left Guard, Li Junxian, lead one hundred elite cavalry out of the city immediately. I want Li Yi alive, and leave no one else alive."

He didn't give him the military tally, or even a piece of paper.

"This slave takes the order."

Gao Yue didn't ask any more questions, bowed her head, and quickly withdrew.

“Go tell that brat Wen He that it’s good to see some blood, but don’t charge into battle. With his martial arts skills, he’s not even good enough to fill the teeth of the Turks.”

This was said in reference to Huang Chun.

Upon hearing this, Huang Chunying responded.

Li Shimin then tossed him a token.

"Let that brat go and get the gunpowder and crossbows. Tell the Hundred Cavalry that even if Li Yi fails to capture him, they must not allow that brat to suffer any harm. Otherwise, they should all commit suicide."

"Yes!"

Huang Chun couldn't help but shiver, feeling a chill run down his spine.

After he left, Li Shimin sighed and said, "Guanyinbi, do you think I will regret this someday?"

"I don't know."

Empress Zhangsun shook her head with a smile.

She said she didn't know, but Li Shimin knew that she was clever and quick-witted, and would definitely understand what he was saying.

"I don't want that brat to think I'm mean and ungrateful, so I will give him everything he deserves, and in the future I will make him a great help to me."

Li Shimin's gaze grew increasingly profound, and his right hand unconsciously gripped the hilt of his sword.

"I hope we can be a good ruler and subject, and I only hope he will not disappoint me. I really can't bear to kill him."

Empress Zhangsun suddenly looked up, her clear eyes like a spring.

She pursed her lips and said in a light voice, "Your Highness is well-versed in the classics and history, and must know the principle of not using those you doubt, and not doubting those you use."

She was always like that, speaking so softly and gently when offering advice, yet taking it all very seriously.

"Yes, the principle of 'If you doubt someone, don't use them; if you use someone, don't doubt them' may not be understood by Father, but I will always remember it."

The murderous intent in Li Shimin's eyes subsided, and a gentle smile appeared on his face.

He reached out and helped Empress Zhangsun up.

The couple exchanged loving glances.

Looking at his wife, Li Shimin spoke to her in a trembling voice.

"From this day forward, I will be the ruler of the Tang Dynasty, and you will be my empress, the mother of the nation."

Empress Zhangsun murmured softly and smiled sweetly.

"The future will surely be smooth sailing."

at the same time.

Inside the forbidden garden, the hundred cavalrymen were ready.

Looking at Wen He's solemn expression, Yan Lide couldn't help but feel a little uneasy.

Just then, a fast horse came galloping towards them from not far away.

(End of this chapter)