The Fierce Teacher of Zhenguan: Starting with Teaching the Crown Prince to Make a Comeback

Chapter 115, however, is not without its flaws.

His gaze was calm as he looked at the clearly written names and deeds, his fingers unconsciously tapping the rosewood tabletop.

In recent days, under the personal supervision of Wang De, several unaffiliated secret agents have been used to conduct a thorough investigation of all those in the Eastern Palace who may have had frequent contact with the Crown Prince or whose recent behavior has been the slightest bit unusual.

This latest confidential report is a submission of the screened suspects and the results of their investigation.

His brows gradually furrowed.

The list still contains more than twenty people, and the scope has been greatly narrowed compared to the beginning, but the verification records attached to each name seem to point to a fog of mystery.

These people are all somewhat "suspicious," but upon closer examination of their past, there is irrefutable evidence that denies that they are the "masterminds behind the scenes."

His gaze lingered on a few of the names for a moment before moving away.

Ultimately, it came down to the name "Li Yichen".

The records about this child are quite detailed.

The spies even managed to contact his childhood teacher, his classmates, and even some distant relatives.

All the testimonies point to one conclusion.

Li Yichen was a member of a collateral branch of the Li family of Longxi.

Li Yichen had been studying since childhood. He was of decent talent, but he was by no means a genius. His poetry and prose were mediocre, and his responses were not particularly quick-witted. He was not outstanding in the clan school.

In order to send him to the Eastern Palace as a companion to the emperor, his father, Li Quan, almost exhausted the family fortune and made many connections. Three years ago, he managed to secure this "stepping stone to advancement" for him, which was seen by many collateral relatives.

After entering the Eastern Palace, Li Yichen kept a low profile and rarely competed with others. Apart from his routine companionship, he did not do anything particularly noteworthy.

The secret report specifically mentioned that there were several other people in the Eastern Palace whose situations were similar to Li Yichen's.

What they had in common was that when they were alone with the Crown Prince, there was no third person present in the palace, and no one knew what they were talking about.

This in itself is "suspicious".

However, after a thorough investigation of all of Li Yichen's past words, deeds, and social interactions, no knowledge or special talent was found to support his ability to offer the "Snowflake Salt" production method and the "Bond" strategy.

Even if a young man is cunning, how could he possibly master such knowledge that could benefit the people and even shake the foundation of the country?
His father went bankrupt to send him to the Eastern Palace. If he really had such abilities, why did he have to wait until today to show them?
He should have made a name for himself long ago in the clan school, in the imperial examinations, or in any other field where he could access power.

Li Shimin slowly shook his head, gently pushing aside the pages about Li Yichen, his movement carrying a subtle hint of disapproval.

Too young, too shallow a foundation, too clear a past, and... too impossible.

He completely removed this child from his short list of those he needed to focus on.

Such a young man might have gained some of the crown prince's trust, and be able to say a few words of advice or flattery.

But it is absolutely impossible that he is the mastermind behind the scenes who can turn the world upside down and lead Gao Ming step by step to his current state.

His gaze returned to the list, scrutinizing each of the other suspected individuals.

There was a mature and prudent young master of the Eastern Palace's Chamberlain's Office who was well-versed in laws and regulations, but knew nothing about economic affairs, and his family had no connection with salt and iron.

There was a courtier in charge of official documents who was quick-witted, but he had once made a fool of himself by quoting a classic text incorrectly during a debate, so his knowledge was not without flaws.

Another one is a scholar from the Hongwen Pavilion, whom the Crown Prince recently inquired about, and who is known for his extensive knowledge and strong memory.

However, what he pursued was textual research and exegesis, which is far removed from such strategic thinking, tactics, and financial management.

Moreover, this person is pedantic and naive, and is definitely not the kind of person who could devise such an intricately linked scheme.

Each name is followed by a similar verification process.

It could be due to a mismatch in academic background, personality, or abilities, or a clear past event that proves they cannot be a "master".

These people all seem to share a certain resemblance—perhaps because they have spent a considerable amount of time in private audiences with the Crown Prince, or perhaps because their recent duties are somewhat related to the new policies of the Eastern Palace.

Perhaps it's just that his family background is a bit complicated.

But upon closer examination, that slight resemblance evaporates quickly, like dew under the sun, leaving only dry, real traces, proving that they are not the target we are looking for.

Li Shimin leaned back against the solid back of the throne and closed his eyes slightly.

He felt a rare weariness, not from the toil of paperwork, but from a sense of frustration at having his control challenged.

A person's knowledge, abilities, and vision cannot be developed overnight.

In particular, such extraordinary strategies that can influence national policy must have their own accumulation and traceable patterns.

Even those famous figures in history who supposedly had "sudden enlightenment" must have had a solid foundation of knowledge and experience beforehand.

Given that the person behind this is so capable, it is impossible for them to have remained unknown and kept their abilities hidden in the past.

Unless... he deliberately hid for decades, just to wait to assist the crown prince?

The thought flashed through his mind, but Li Shimin immediately dismissed it.

This is utterly absurd and completely unnecessary.

If someone truly possesses such great talent, whether they ally themselves with any prince or directly offer advice to the court, they will receive rewards far exceeding those hidden beneath the Crown Prince's throne.

He reopened his eyes, his sharp gaze sweeping over the list.

The remaining twenty-odd people, although each had their own "unlikes", the scope of the investigation had indeed been narrowed down to the extreme.

He knew that he wasn't the only one searching; at this moment in Chang'an, the aristocratic families, nobles, and princes with keen senses were probably also using all their resources to weave their intelligence networks inside and outside the Eastern Palace, trying to find this mysterious figure who could potentially change the future political landscape.

Li Shimin pondered for a moment. He couldn't make a big show of it, as that would alert the enemy and might force them to hide even deeper, or even completely sever ties with the Crown Prince, which was definitely not what he wanted.

He needs to adjust his strategy.

Since directly investigating these "suspicious individuals" has yielded little result, perhaps we should start from other aspects.

For example, the method of making "snowflake salt"—the raw materials, tools, and craftsmen required—can always be traced.

For example, the detailed design of the "bond" policy involves calculations and clauses that cannot be done by anyone who is not proficient in mathematics and law. We can start from this aspect and investigate who in the Crown Prince's palace or among the officials who have close ties with the Crown Prince has such expertise.

Furthermore, the Crown Prince's recent changes in words and actions, his thought patterns and decision-making methods are completely different from before.

His thoughts gradually became clearer. Li Shimin sat up straight, picked up a blank sheet of Xuan paper, and began to write down new instructions with a vermilion brush.

Prince Wei's Mansion.

Li Tai's obese body sank into the large couch, his face so gloomy it seemed to drip water.

He held a transcribed copy of "A Letter to the Wise and Virtuous of the World" in his hand, his knuckles turning white from the force.

"What a wonderful idea of ​​'jointly building the border region'! What a wonderful idea of ​​'bonds'!"

Li Tai's voice was forced out through clenched teeth, filled with barely suppressed anger and resentment.

"When did that cripple acquire such skill? He actually came up with such a cunning plan!"

He suddenly crumpled the paper into a ball and slammed it to the ground.

"And that snowflake salt! Is that something a human could make? They must have received help from some kind of sorcerer!"

Du Chuke said in a deep voice, "Your Highness, please calm down. Although the Crown Prince's plan is ingenious, it is not without its flaws."

(End of this chapter)