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

Chapter 120 I...I can't be emperor? (Seeking monthly votes!!! Seeking subscriptions!!!)
Li Chunfeng sensed the unwavering determination and profound tremor in the emperor's tone, and his heart also trembled.

He knew that His Majesty was serious this time and determined to find the person behind it all.

He hesitated again, this time for even longer.

“Your Majesty,” Li Chunfeng finally spoke, his tone carrying a scholarly rigor mixed with a hint of uncertainty.

"One's appearance reflects one's heart; an extraordinary person may have an extraordinary appearance."

"However, those who can discern the secrets of heaven mostly have a restrained aura, interacting with heaven and earth, which may be revealed in their eyes or hidden in their spirit, and cannot be discerned by ordinary fortune tellers. Moreover, they must be well-versed in the art of concealment, otherwise they would have already become famous throughout the world."

He paused briefly and then made a suggestion.

"Perhaps... one can observe the qi (vital energy)."

"Observing the aura?" Li Shimin's eyes narrowed.

"Yes." Li Chunfeng nodded.

"Extraordinary people have a different energy flow than ordinary people. It may be clear or turbid, gathered or scattered, or correspond to the stars."

"When I observe the stars at night, I can pay attention to the flow of fortune in the direction of the Eastern Palace, and perhaps find some clues."

"However, this method is also very vague, and it requires a lucky chance to glimpse even a little bit of it. Moreover, if the person deliberately hides it, it is difficult to detect."

Li Shimin remained silent.

The theory of observing qi is extremely mysterious, and even a master like Li Chunfeng could not guarantee success.

But he had no other choice at that moment.

Should the Crown Prince's Palace be searched directly?

Making too much noise would easily alert the suspect, potentially forcing them to go into hiding and even causing unpredictable consequences.

"Alright," Li Shimin finally said in a deep voice.

"I will trouble you, Minister Li, to keep a close eye on this matter. It is of great importance, and you should keep it a secret."

"Sir, obey the order."

Li Chunfeng bowed deeply and withdrew from the Liangyi Hall.

Once again, only Li Shimin remained in the empty hall.

He slowly walked to the palace window, pushed it open, and the night breeze rushed in, carrying the coolness of early summer, but it could not dispel the heat and heaviness in his heart.

Looking up at the night sky, the Milky Way is dazzling and boundless.

"He can teach political strategy, manage the economy, and predict the secrets of heaven..." Li Shimin murmured to himself, each word seemingly carrying immense weight.

"Could there really be such a person in this world?"

He stood there, motionless for a long time, like a frozen statue.

For the first time, the empire's supreme ruler felt such profound powerlessness and bewilderment when facing a single person.

East Palace, side hall.

The flickering candlelight illuminated Li Chengqian's flushed face with exceptional clarity.

He almost held his breath as he watched Li Yichen calmly walk into the hall, bow, and then kneel on the mat opposite him, just as he always did.

The palace doors were gently closed from the outside by the eunuchs, isolating the palace from everything outside.

Li Chengqian immediately straightened up from the brocade cushion, leaned forward, and lowered his voice, but the excitement in his voice could not be suppressed.

"Yichen! You...you are truly...amazing! The earthquake in Bingzhou, the time, the location, and even the damage to crops but not people, are exactly the same as the 'dog divination' you spread to me a month ago!"

"How...how did you calculate something like this?"

His eyes burned with an indescribable sense of relief and an almost superstitious adoration.

"How fortunate I am to have your assistance! Without you, I would probably be long gone by now..."

He didn't finish his sentence, but his ecstatic joy at surviving such a calamity and holding the power to reverse fate was palpable.

Li Yichen calmly accepted the Crown Prince's gaze, without a trace of pride on his face.

He knew in his heart that the Bingzhou earthquake was merely a geological event accurately predicted using knowledge beyond his time.

But the effect of this event was indeed unprecedented.

It focused unprecedented attention from both the court and the public on the Eastern Palace and on Crown Prince Li Chengqian.

This focus presents both an opportunity and a huge risk.

Suspicious gazes will scrutinize everyone in the Eastern Palace like a comb.

Although the probability of him being suspected is extremely low due to the original owner's past mediocrity and his recent deliberate low profile, we must not let our guard down.

Li Shimin was no mediocre ruler, and those high-ranking officials and powerful families were old foxes who had been entrenched for hundreds of years. Any slight oversight could lead to utter ruin.

His fate was now inextricably linked to the restless and turbulent Eastern Palace, which was at the center of the maelstrom.

To survive and thrive, one must use the Eastern Palace platform to forge a path to survival.

At present, the crown prince listens to him almost without question, and his trust and reliance on him have reached their peak.

This is exactly what he needs, and it is also extremely dangerous.

He must ensure that this trust is used in the right direction and must nip any crazy ideas that could lead to a swift defeat in the bud.

“Your Highness,” Li Yichen spoke, his voice steady, interrupting Li Chengqian’s excitement.

"I dare not take credit. The success of this matter is also due to Your Highness's good fortune and the will of Heaven."

Li Chengqian waved his hands repeatedly.

"Hey, Yichen, there's no need to be so modest! If it weren't for you..."

“Your Highness,” Li Yichen interrupted again, his tone slightly more serious.

"The events in Bingzhou seem to have propelled the Crown Prince's prestige to its peak, but fortune may be a harbinger of misfortune. I believe that the real game begins now."

Li Chengqian's excitement subsided slightly, replaced by a look of confusion.

"The real game? Who's the opponent? Qingque?"

Li Yichen slowly shook his head, his gaze as deep as an ancient well, staring directly at Li Chengqian.

"No. From this moment on, Your Highness's primary and only opponent in this game will be—His Majesty."

"Father?" Li Chengqian was taken aback, then his expression changed slightly.

"You mean... Father is going to make a move against me now?"

A chill instantly crept up his spine, causing him to instinctively clench his fists.

He had witnessed the emperor's ruthlessness since childhood; it was a ruthlessness that could even kill one's own brothers.

"It's not about taking direct action."

Li Yichen denied his fear, but what he said next was even more alarming.

"Your Majesty is a ruler of great talent and ambition, and will not depose or install an emperor based on momentary joy, anger, or suspicion."

"In particular, we will not act when His Highness's prestige is at its peak and he has not committed any major wrongdoing, as that would shake the foundations of the nation."

"But once the seeds of suspicion are sown, they will take root and sprout."

He paused briefly to allow Li Chengqian to process his words, then continued in that flat, yet deeply moving tone.

“Your Highness, please consider that the actions of the Crown Prince recently, first with his attack on the heart, shook the Liangyi Palace and forced His Majesty to acknowledge that Your Highness is no longer an ignorant child.”

"Then he opened the Eastern Palace, accepted advice and gained fame, and cultivated a wise image among the court and the public."

"Then they introduced the bond policy, using salt as a base, in an attempt to bypass the imperial budget and directly control huge sums of money and grain, thus building a financial network belonging to the Crown Prince." "Now, there is even 'divination by the Heavenly Dog,' which accurately predicts natural disasters, creating a powerful aura of divine mandate in the hearts of the people and even some court officials."

"Your Highness, think about it. Which of these things, one by one, isn't challenging, or rather, diminishing His Majesty's authority?"

"A crown prince with too much prestige can win people's hearts, amass wealth, and even predict heavenly secrets..."

"This is by no means a good thing in the eyes of any emperor. Especially in the eyes of an emperor who has ascended the throne through extraordinary means and has an extremely strong desire for control of power."

Li Chengqian's breathing became heavy, and beads of sweat appeared on his forehead.

He was not stupid; he had just been blinded by anger and inferiority in the past. Now, as Li Yichen peeled away the layers of reality, the cold logic of power struggles made him feel suffocated.

"Is Your Highness aware of the witchcraft scandal that plagued Emperor Wu of Han in his later years?"

Li Yichen didn't wait for his reply and continued talking to himself.

"Crown Prince Liu Ju was renowned for his virtue and was deeply loved by the people. However, the higher his reputation grew, the more suspicious Emperor Wu became. He was framed by treacherous officials around him, and eventually, father and son became suspicious of each other, fought each other, and the crown prince and his family perished."

"Could Liu Ju really have rebellious intentions? Not necessarily. Rather, his power has already been established, making the emperor feel threatened. Even if he had no rebellious intentions, he would not tolerate him."

"Next, there was Emperor Wen of Sui, Yang Jian, and his son, Crown Prince Yang Yong. When Yang Yong was first the heir apparent, he was quite trusted. However, he made friends with officials and lived a life of extravagance, which gradually caused him to lose the emperor's favor."

"Emperor Wen's suspicions deepened day by day, and he eventually deposed the crown prince and installed Yang Guang as the new crown prince, which led to subsequent disasters."

"While Yang Yong himself made mistakes, the fundamental issue is that any attempt by the crown prince to form factions or consolidate power is seen by the emperor as a potential challenge to his authority."

Li Yichen's voice was not loud, but it echoed in the silent hall, each word like a heavy hammer blow to Li Chengqian's heart.

"Our dynasty... has a wise and powerful emperor, far superior to the senile emperors of the Han and Sui dynasties in their later years. However, the mindset of emperors is the same throughout history."

"His Majesty can tolerate a crown prince who makes mistakes or even acts recklessly because such a crown prince is easy to control and poses a limited threat."

"But His Majesty will never tolerate a crown prince whose prestige, political acumen, economic power, and even the aura of divine mandate are constantly expanding and gradually slipping out of his control."

"What Your Highness is doing now may no longer be seen as childish mischief in His Majesty's eyes, but rather... an influence beyond what a crown prince should possess."

Li Chengqian's face had turned deathly pale.

He felt as if he were in an invisible cage, surrounded by cold gazes.

His previous excitement and ambition now seem so naive and dangerous.

He thought he was consolidating his position, but little did he know that every step he took could be a step into the abyss.

"Then... then in your opinion, now that I have established my reputation and am in a precarious situation, am I... am I just a lamb to the slaughter, with no choice but to surrender?"

"Wait for the day when Father Emperor becomes suspicious, and then he will depose me or even..."

He dared not utter the word, but the fear in his eyes said it all.

Immediately, the fear was replaced by a long-suppressed ruthlessness. He suddenly grabbed Li Yichen's arm, his eyes bloodshot, his voice hoarse with excitement.

"Yichen! You're so capable! You can foresee the secrets of heaven and know the rise and fall of dynasties! Could you... could you help me devise a strategy... to strike first and gain the upper hand?"

He stared intently into Li Yichen's eyes, as if trying to extract hope from them.

"I do not wish to sit idly by and await my death! If... if this succeeds, I will treat my father well and allow him to enjoy his later years in peace!"

"I will never mistreat Qingque and Zhinu! I swear on it!"

The air inside the hall seemed to freeze.

Li Yichen felt a chill run down his spine.

Indeed, restless elements flowed in the blood of the Li Tang royal family.

From Li Yuan's uprising in Jinyang to Li Shimin's Xuanwu Gate Incident, and now to the Crown Prince who has been cornered, his first thought is to take a desperate gamble.

This thought had probably been lingering in his mind for a long time.

Previously lacking ability and support, but now feeling that he has grown stronger and has the help of a "master", this dangerous thought has emerged uncontrollably.

But Li Yichen knew even better that Li Chengqian had no chance of successfully rebelling at the moment.

Li Shimin's control over the army and his ability to manage the court were far superior to those of the incompetent emperors in history.

To launch a hasty uprising is tantamount to throwing an egg against a rock. Not only will Li Chengqian be destroyed instantly, but Li Yichen will also be crushed into dust.

Now, this idea of ​​his must be completely and thoroughly nipped in the bud.

This is the best time, and also the last time.

Li Yichen did not answer immediately; he did not even break free from Li Chengqian's tight grip.

He simply looked at Li Chengqian quietly, his gaze deep, as if he could see into Li Chengqian's soul.

This silence made Li Chengqian even more nervous. His Adam's apple bobbed, he swallowed hard, and awaited his fate.

After a long while, Li Yichen slowly, extremely slowly, shook his head.

He spoke, his voice deep and strangely penetrating, as if it came not from his throat, but from some unknowable depth.

"Your Highness, I... am unable to devise such a plan."

A hint of disappointment and confusion flashed in Li Chengqian's eyes, and he was about to speak.

Li Yichen continued, his tone carrying an undeniable certainty.

"Because there is no need for it, nor is there any possibility. More importantly... judging from Your Highness's aura, Your Highness's imperial countenance is... faint, almost imperceptible."

“Those who defy the will of Heaven will surely suffer a backlash, resulting in their own death, the destruction of their country, and the calamity that will extend to their descendants.”

"What?" Li Chengqian was struck dumb, his whole body stiffened, and he unconsciously loosened his grip on Li Yichen's hand.

The fierceness, excitement, and fear on his face were instantly replaced by utter astonishment and disbelief.

"The Emperor... the Emperor's aura is weak? You... you mean... I... I can't be the Emperor?"

This conclusion shocked him more and was more unacceptable to him than any previous analysis or historical case.

He could endure the torment of his foot ailment, his father's disappointment, and his brothers' covetousness.

You can even try to fight for it.

Because deep down, he always held onto a belief—he was the eldest son, the rightful heir apparent of the Tang Dynasty, and that position should ultimately belong to him.

This is the fundamental driving force that has enabled him to persevere through countless insults and self-doubt.

But now, Li Yichen, whom he regarded as his last hope and almost a god, told him in a tone that was almost a pronouncement...

He doesn't have the appearance of an emperor.

He can't be emperor?

This was tantamount to shattering the spiritual pillar he had always relied on for survival.

"Impossible...this is impossible..."

Li Chengqian muttered to himself, his eyes unfocused, his body swaying slightly, as if he might collapse at any moment.

"I am the Crown Prince... I am the eldest son of the legitimate wife... Father... Mother... I..."

He was incoherent, the immense shock leaving him unable to think straight for a moment.

Seeing his instantly distraught appearance, Li Yichen felt little pity.

He had to use the most shocking and direct method to completely shatter Li Chengqian's illusions and pull him back to reality.

The so-called "observation of qi" and "the countenance of an emperor" are just some of the most convincing claims of this era.

Especially coming from the mouth of someone who had just "predicted" a natural disaster.

Li Chengqian sat there blankly, remaining silent for a long time.

(End of this chapter)