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

Chapter 196 Could Li Yuan have arranged for executioners to kill me?

"Your Majesty, the magistrate of Gaoyang County requests an audience."

The voices of the eunuchs outside the bedchamber made Li Yuan, who was tense, relax a little.

But he still didn't put down the knife. He glanced at the terrified concubine and sneered, "Disgraceful! Get out of here!"

"Yes Yes."

The concubine hurriedly got up, not even having time to pick up her scattered clothes, and left the side hall in a panic.

"Let that brat in."

Li Yuan straightened his robes and addressed the people outside.

The eunuch outside responded, and soon Li Yuan heard Wen He's voice from outside: "Your subject Wen He requests an audience with the Emperor Emeritus."

"Hmph, stop pretending, get in here now!"

Li Yuan snorted in dissatisfaction.

Upon hearing this, Wen He, who was outside, knew that the old man must be throwing a tantrum again.

I don't know what he was doing in there just now, but he's so resentful.

He pushed open the door and went in, only to see Li Yuan sitting there lazily, with a horizontal sword placed on the table in front of him.

Inside the bedchamber, there was an alluring atmosphere, and many women's clothes were scattered on the floor.

Wen He now understood why Li Yuan had sounded so dissatisfied earlier.

It turns out I came at the wrong time.

"Your humble servant greets the Emperor Emeritus."

Wen He stepped forward and bowed.

Li Yuan gave a faint "hmm," then glanced sideways at him, raising his eyes to question, "I sent someone to invite you before, but you didn't come. What brings you here today?"

"Forehead."

Wen He almost forgot that when he first returned to Chang'an, Li Yuan sent a eunuch to find him.

However, it just so happened that Li Shimin sent him out on an errand at that time.

Wen He later forgot about the incident, so she never came to Da'an Palace.

But even if he remembers, he won't come.

This old guy is not easy to deal with.

He wouldn't have come this time if he wasn't worried that the gentry and those from Guanzhong would take advantage of him.

"Your Majesty, this matter cannot be blamed on me. It is His Majesty who has been asking me to do things for him. If you are angry, shall I go and summon His Majesty?"

Wen He teased him on purpose, laughing it off.

How could Li Yuan possibly ask to meet with Li Shimin?

Even when Li Shimin came to pay his respects in the past, the father and son would meet alone, and it was always a little awkward.

I hope we can see each other less in the future.

"You're such a jerk!"

Li Yuan knew that Wen He was saying this on purpose, and he stood up indignantly.

Wen He deliberately looked at the horizontal sword and, seeing that Li Yuan wasn't carrying one, secretly breathed a sigh of relief.

Li Yuan walked up to Wen He, looked him up and down, and sensed that something was amiss.

"You brat, you're actually wearing armor today?"

Yes, Wen He was wearing a layer of leather armor, but because it was worn underneath, it was not noticeable unless you looked closely.

"Speak, you brat, you wouldn't come to me for no reason. I heard that Li Yuan of Youzhou has rebelled. Could it be that they've raised an army, and that rebellious son wants me to go out and help him out?"

Li Yuan chuckled.

Wen He looked up at him, and seeing Li Yuan's meaningful gaze, he couldn't help but frown, but quickly relaxed and smiled.

"Emperor Emeritus lives a secluded life, yet he is still able to hear from all directions. I truly admire him."

Not many people knew about Li Yuan's rebellion.

Even the Ministry of Personnel, the Ministry of Rites, and the Ministry of Personnel have not yet received any news.

But Li Yuan knew all this so clearly.

However, they only knew that Li Yuan was plotting a rebellion, but they did not know that Li Shimin had sent Xu Jingzong to Youzhou.

That means the person who came to tell him this news was not someone close to Li Shimin.

They must be outsiders.

Moreover, he was someone who knew all along that Li Yuan wanted to rebel.

"Hmph, don't try to pull these convoluted stories in front of me. I know you're here to gather information. Tell him I know nothing."

Li Yuan waved his hand, found a spot, and sat down angrily.

Like a sulking child.

"But since you're here, play a few games of chess with me. These servants in the palace are all useless and utterly worthless."

He cursed in dissatisfaction and turned to call for the people outside to fetch the chessboard.

Wen He smiled helplessly and said to Li Yuan, "Your Majesty, there are some things I would like to say to you privately."

He looked at the palace maids and eunuchs around him and gestured to Li Yuan.

The latter frowned, snorted in dissatisfaction, but still waved his hand at the palace maids and eunuchs: "All of you, step back!"

"promise."

The palace maids and eunuchs responded and hurriedly left.

Having spent so long in the palace, they naturally knew that in such a situation, they would definitely need to speak privately.

Those kinds of words can get you killed.

So they all walked faster than the last.

After they all left, Li Yuan glared at Wen He: "Now that everyone's gone, tell me, did that rebellious son come to see me today because he needs something from me?"

"No, Your Majesty sent me to protect Your Majesty, but I have some private matters I would like to ask the Emperor Emeritus."

Wen He smiled gently, but Li Yuan's face grew even colder.

"You brat, how dare you question me?"

“It’s not a question, it’s just a doubt.” Wen He walked to a table next to Li Yuan and sat down.

However, Li Yuan did not reprimand him for his bold behavior, but instead asked, "What doubts do you have?"

"Your Majesty, I would like to ask you whether you think you could do a better job than the future emperor if you were to be reinstated?"

As soon as Wen He finished speaking, Li Yuan was stunned. He stared at her for a long time without saying a word.

Seeing his expression, Wen He couldn't help but sigh.

It seems that Du Caigan did indeed speak with Li Yuan before he came.

Or he wouldn't have hesitated, but instead asked Wen He why she said such a thing.

"You brat, isn't this questioning me?"

Li Yuan was furious. He stood up and raised his hand to strike Wen He.

The latter quickly shrank his neck and jumped to the other side. "Your Majesty, a gentleman uses words, not fists. Besides, I only have doubts, not an interrogation!"

"Hehe, the Emperor Emeritus doesn't hit people, but my grandfather can. If you marry Lizhi in the future, you will be my grandson-in-law!"

Li Yuan shouted and chased after Wen He.

The latter was taken aback; why did those words sound so familiar?
Oh right, Li Shimin seems to have said that!

These two really are father and son; even their reasons for hitting each other are exactly the same.

However, Wen He naturally couldn't just stand there and passively take the beating. When Li Yuan chased, he ran away.

The two chased each other around the bedchamber for almost half an incense stick's time.

Li Yuan was seen leaning against a pillar, panting heavily.

"You brat, I command you to stop right there!"

"I'm not stupid, Your Majesty. I'm not going to just stand here and let you beat me."

Wen He scoffed dismissively.

Although Li Yuan was angry, he was already panting heavily from exhaustion. Finally, he sat down on the ground, completely lacking in decorum.

"Did that rebellious son send you to ask those questions? What did he do to Du Caigan?"

Just as Wen He had suspected, Du Caigan had spoken to Li Yuan when he came to Da'an Palace.

Wen He shook her head and said, "It wasn't His Majesty who sent me to ask; I was just curious. But it seems Du Caigan really did say something to you. You didn't actually agree to anything with him, did you?"

"Humph!"

Seeing Wen He ask this question, Li Yuan angrily picked up a wine cup from the side and threw it at him.

Goodness, this father and son are exactly alike; they both love throwing things.

"I did not agree to anything he asked for."

"So, you didn't reject him?"

Wen He guessed, following Li Yuan's words.

Li Yuan, who was about to speak, suddenly froze.

Seeing this, Wen He narrowed her eyes slightly: "The Emperor Emeritus still harbors some wishful thinking, doesn't he? He thinks that if those people succeed, they can bring you back to the throne. But has the Emperor Emeritus considered whether those people will really do as you wish?"

"The events of the former Sui Dynasty are still fresh in our minds. If those people in Guanzhong take this opportunity to launch an attack, will the world still belong to the Li family?"

Was Li Yuan confused?
If anyone actually thinks that way, then he must be a fool.

He had endured for decades in front of Yang Jian and Yang Guang, and had even won over the hearts of most of the people in Guanzhong.

When he traveled westward, countless old friends opened their doors to welcome him.

Li Shimin did indeed conquer more than half of the Tang Dynasty's territory, but without Li Yuan, they wouldn't have been able to enter Chang'an so easily.

So Li Yuan understood Wen He's words; he was just unwilling to accept it.

"You came here today just to tell me these things, or is it that rebellious son who came to let you show off? Is he feeling smug right now?"

Li Yuan flew into a rage, stood up, grabbed a horizontal sword from the table, and pointed it at Wen He.

The latter looked at him calmly and said indifferently, "This is the family matter of the Emperor Emeritus and His Majesty. I don't want to get involved. What I said just now was my true opinion."

"I was forced to come to the Tang Dynasty. Originally, I just wanted to live a peaceful life, marry a wife, have a few children, and then enjoy their company until the end of my life."

"But that blind steward Li Yuanji shattered my beautiful dream. I can only rely on His Majesty now. I finally managed to prevent the original Wei River Alliance from happening and defeated the Turks. I can finally have a few more days of peace."

"I don't have any grand ambitions. I just want to live a peaceful life and be a lazy bum. So, you shouldn't bother with this. Isn't life good enough as it is now? Let His Majesty and the other capable people worry about the world."

Wen He sighed helplessly.

These were words he had kept in his heart for a long time.

Li Shimin always said he was lazy, but he was just trying his best to avoid these things.

He didn't want to be Yi Xiaochuan, but he also didn't want to be Gao Yao.

He didn't want to get involved in this kind of thing in the first place.

But he knew that no matter who Li Shimin sent, besides himself, things would only escalate further.

The gentry and people from Guanzhong will certainly take this opportunity to build momentum.

At that time, the people of the Tang Dynasty would inevitably be unstable, and who knows if the Turks would make a comeback.

In fact, he knew that once he revealed his identity, he had no choice.

It's only because he's young now, but what about later?
Li Shimin taught him martial arts, sent him to the Ministry of Works, and also had him make contact with the gentry and people from Guanzhong.

Wen He knew very well what this series was for.

That's why he came here today.

"I...I didn't agree to him, I didn't!"

"Get out, get out!"

Li Yuan threw the horizontal sword in his hand towards Wen He. Fortunately, it was still in its sheath and landed right in the latter's arms.

"I don't want to see you, get out!"

Li Yuan cursed and scolded.

Upon seeing this, Wen He bowed with his knife in hand, then turned and left.

Watching the door close.

Li Yuan's eyes immediately reddened.

A tear slid down his cheek, and in a fit of rage, he forcefully overturned the table beside him.

Gold and silver utensils were scattered all over the ground.

"I have not harmed the Tang Dynasty, I have not agreed to their demands, you traitors and rebels, get out, get out!"

Hearing the angry roars from inside, Wen He sighed helplessly.

He looked up at the sky beyond the high walls.

I can't help but think of someone.

Both were imprisoned, but Li Yuan's fate was far better than that of King Wuling of Zhao.

Li Yuan's angry voice was so annoying that Wen He simply started to patrol around the Da'an Palace.

But he hadn't walked far when a palace attendant came rushing to find him.

"Lord Wen, the Emperor Emeritus summons you."

"What?"

Wen He said in astonishment, "He just said he didn't want to see me, so why is he asking me to go now? I'm not going."

After saying this, he turned to leave, but the eunuch quickly stopped him and pleaded, "Prince Wen, we servants have it tough. We hope you can understand. If you don't go, we will all be punished."

Seeing that the eunuch was about to kneel down and beg, Wen He had no choice but to agree and reluctantly went with him to Li Yuan's bedroom.

Upon arriving outside the palace, Wen He felt something was amiss.

The surroundings were completely silent, and even the hundred riders he had arranged were nowhere to be seen.

'Holy crap, did Li Yuan send executioners to kill me?'

His heart skipped a beat, and he immediately felt a chill run down his spine.

(End of this chapter)