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

Chapter 124. Further investigation is prohibited. (Please vote with monthly tickets!!! Please subscribe!!!)

The next day, Chang Chao.

Inside the Liangyi Hall, officials stood solemnly, but the atmosphere was quite different from usual.

An indescribable heaviness hung in the air, like the low pressure before a storm, pressing down on everyone's hearts.

Everyone's gaze, whether open or hidden, involuntarily drifted towards the empty Crown Prince's seat below the imperial steps.

Li Shimin sat high on his throne, his face beneath the crown revealing neither joy nor anger. Only his deep eyes swept over the assembled officials with their usual scrutiny and imposing presence.

But today, within that oppressive aura, there seemed to be an added, almost imperceptible, shadow.

“If you have something to report, speak now; if not, leave the court.” The eunuch Wang De dragged out his words, his voice echoing in the silent hall.

After a brief silence, Liu Ji, the Vice Minister of the Ministry of Civil Affairs, stepped forward first, holding a jade tablet and frowning.

"Your Majesty, I have a memorial to present." Liu Ji's voice was filled with obvious anxiety.

"The 'Western Continent Development Bonds' that the Crown Prince originally planned to issue three days later have been halted due to His Highness's sudden illness."

"However, merchants from all over the country had already gathered in Chang'an upon hearing the news, and rumors were rampant in the city, raising doubts about the creditworthiness of the bonds."

"This matter concerns the reputation of the imperial court and is also related to the grand plan for the development of Xizhou. Your Majesty, I humbly request your guidance on how this matter should be handled."

Among the officials, many nodded slightly or exchanged glances.

This is the true core of today's court assembly, yet no one dares to touch upon this issue lightly.

Li Shimin's gaze fell on Liu Ji, the Vice Minister of the Ministry of Civil Affairs, but he did not answer immediately. Instead, he slowly swept his eyes over the several important officials below.

"Gentlemen, what are your thoughts?"

After he finished speaking, the hall fell silent once more.

This is not an ordinary administrative matter that can be handled by citing classical texts and following regulations.

This "bond" was initiated by the Crown Prince. Its operating mechanism, guarantee method, and even the Eastern Palace Jade Salt that served as the "ballast" all depended on the Crown Prince.

Without the crown prince, this seemingly sophisticated system instantly became unfamiliar and difficult to control.

A moment later, Gao Shilian, the Right Vice Minister of the Ministry of Personnel, stepped forward. He was a senior official and spoke more directly.

"Your Majesty, this old minister believes that the Crown Prince is in charge of the bonds. However, His Highness is still ill and mentally exhausted. If we force the issuance, it may be inappropriate."

"Firstly, Your Highness cannot personally oversee the process, and if any mistakes occur, no one will be held responsible."

"Secondly, doubts have already arisen among the people. If we act hastily, it may easily lead to trouble. It would be better to... postpone the sale until the Crown Prince recovers and then make a decision."

"What Gao Gong said is that he is a wise and experienced strategist who plans for the country."

Zhongshu Ling Cen Wenben chimed in, his tone tinged with a hint of helplessness.

"However, it is easy to postpone, but difficult to clean up the mess. The credit of bonds lies in the word 'trust'. The imperial court has already issued a 'Letter to the Wise Men of the World', which clearly states the issuance date. Now, to suddenly postpone it is tantamount to breaking our promise."

"At that time, not only will this fundraising be hindered, but if the court takes similar measures again in the future, no one will respond. This is... like drinking poison to quench thirst."

He pointed out the crux of the problem—a dilemma.

Moving forward carries unpredictable risks.

Suspension, damage to credit.

Liu Ji couldn't help but ask, "Is it possible that without the Crown Prince, there is no one in our vast court capable of handling this matter? Could the Ministry of Revenue and the Imperial Household Department work together to handle it according to regulations?"

Upon hearing this, Duan Lun's bitter smile deepened.

“Minister Liu is unaware of the fact that although this bond agreement has been reviewed by three provinces, its intricacies are far beyond what can be fully contained in any document.”

"For example, how can the production and distribution of 'jade salt' serve as collateral for payment?"

"How exactly is it linked to bond tranches? And what about contingency plans for dealing with market fluctuations? These are difficult to clarify. If we take over rashly and one link goes wrong, we will lose everything!"

He paused, lowered his voice, and spoke with a hint of disbelief and emotion.

"This scheme... seemingly originated from the Crown Prince's palace, but in reality it has woven together the imperial treasury, the Imperial Household Department, and even wealthy merchants in the private sector, with each link interconnected."

"A single hair can affect the whole situation. Now that the person in charge has fallen ill, others... don't know where to begin."

These words secretly alarmed many officials in the hall.

They initially thought the bonds were just a means for the prince to amass wealth or gain fame, but upon closer examination, they realized what a complex and intricate web lay behind them.

When did the Crown Prince acquire such a terrifying ability to combine economics, public sentiment, and political maneuvering?
Liang Guogong Fang Xuanling, who had been silent all along, slowly stepped forward. His voice was steady, yet carried immense weight.

"Your Majesty, what Minister Duan said may be unpleasant to hear, but it is the truth. This bond policy is ingenious in its design and far-reaching in its implications, which is indeed beyond the scope of conventional government affairs."

"The core issue is 'credit,' and this credit currently rests largely on the Crown Prince. Forcibly separating it could lead to a collapse of credit, not only hindering the affairs of Xizhou but also potentially causing market turmoil, which would be detrimental to the country."

He raised his head and looked calmly at Li Shimin.

"The best course of action now is to postpone the issuance of bonds and issue a decree to the world that the Crown Prince has fallen slightly ill and that the bond issuance will be postponed until His Highness recovers. Although this may slightly damage the credit rating, it will preserve the foundation and demonstrate to the world His Majesty and the court's care for the Crown Prince."

"This is... choosing the lesser of two evils."

Even Fang Xuanling said so, and the last glimmer of hope in everyone's hearts was extinguished.

Yes, when faced with two evils, choose the lesser.

For ordinary grain transport or engineering projects, no matter how large, the imperial court has established precedents and capable officials to take them on.

But these bonds... are not just money and food, but a monster based on "credit" and "expectations" that they have not yet fully understood.

Apart from the Crown Prince, who is lying on his sickbed in the Eastern Palace, whether it's a real illness or a "mental illness" is unknown, no one else can handle things right now.

Duke Changsun Wuji of Zhao stood at the head of the civil officials, his eyes lowered, and he remained silent throughout.

His heart was filled with turmoil.

As the Crown Prince's maternal uncle, he should have been the most proactive in protecting the interests of the Eastern Palace, but the current situation made him feel deeply apprehensive.

Has the Crown Prince's power reached this point?
Has it come to the point where His Majesty and the entire court are so hesitant and restrained in handling a major issue concerning the nation's economy and people's livelihood?

This is by no means a simple divine favor!

This is a real, tangible voice based on ability and control!
Through these bonds, the Crown Prince forcibly carved out a new territory outside of the financial power firmly held by His Majesty.

And in this field, only he can currently control it.

Li Shimin sat upright on the throne, taking in the expressions of the officials below.

He saw helplessness, anxiety, fear, and even a hint of... awe.

Respect for the ailing prince.

Wasn't his heart also in turmoil?

As a powerful ruler who ushered in the prosperous Zhenguan era, he was confident that he could manage the capable ministers of the world and balance the power of all parties.

But now, faced with this new contraption created by his son, he, the emperor and the father, felt a sense of powerlessness.

He couldn't force the sale; that would be a gamble, wagering the reputation of the Tang Dynasty and the potential turmoil it might cause.

He couldn't easily replace the host, because no one could take over.

He couldn't even use this opportunity to completely abolish the proposal, as that would be tantamount to admitting the Crown Prince's irreplaceable status, and would be a slap in the face to himself.

All the roads seemed to be blocked.

The only option was what Fang Xuanling suggested: "postpone," maintain the status quo, and wait for that variable—the crown prince's illness.

This feeling of being controlled was extremely unpleasant for Li Shimin, who had a strong desire for control.

He seemed to see a force belonging to the Crown Prince, independent of his imperial power, quietly taking shape in the Eastern Palace and beginning to influence his decisions.

"I am aware of what you have said."

Li Shimin finally spoke, his voice steady yet carrying an undeniable resolve. "The Crown Prince's illness is a matter of great importance to the nation. The bonds of Xizhou are of paramount importance and cannot be taken lightly. Therefore, as the Duke of Liang has suggested, the issuance of these bonds shall be postponed."

"The specific date will be determined after the Crown Prince recovers. The Ministry of Civil Affairs shall immediately draft an edict and issue it to the whole country, explaining the reasons in order to reassure the people."

"Your Majesty is wise!" the ministers responded in unison.

The voice echoed in the hall, carrying an indescribable complex emotion.

Wise?

maybe.

But behind this "wise wisdom" lies the helplessness of having to bow to reality.

Everyone understood that, after this incident, Crown Prince Li Chengqian's position in the court had undergone a fundamental change.

He was no longer merely the crown prince who needed the emperor's protection and the guidance of his courtiers.

He single-handedly turned a situation into one that even His Majesty and the court officials found difficult to handle, and successfully made everyone realize that they couldn't do without him.

This was not due to his status as the eldest son of the legitimate wife, nor to the emperor's favoritism, but rather to his genuine and irreplaceable abilities and strategic planning.

The court session ended in a strange atmosphere.

The officials filed out of the Liangyi Hall, and sunlight shone on the vermilion pillars, illuminating their faces, each one heavy with worry.

They spoke in hushed tones, discussing the Crown Prince's illness, the aftermath of the bonds, but more deeply, their anxieties about the future direction of the court.

Your Majesty is in the prime of life, possessing great talent and ambition, and is at the height of your life.

The Crown Prince, however, has already shown such remarkable talent that he even seems poised to rival the Crown Prince.

There are no two days in the sky, and there are no two masters in the country.

What was once merely a warning in historical records now seems to have become an imminent reality.

If the Crown Prince recovers, given his current status, would he be willing to remain hidden in the Eastern Palace?
How long will His Majesty tolerate a crown prince with such a huge influence?
If the Crown Prince falls seriously ill and never recovers... what kind of dramatic power reshuffling will this seemingly established situation trigger?
No one knows the answer.

All they knew was that the political climate in the Zhenguan court was likely to change from this day forward.

A new breeze, carrying a hint of mystery and power, wafted in from the Eastern Palace and could no longer be ignored.

Li Shimin sat alone in the Liangyi Hall, his fingers unconsciously tapping on the imperial desk.

He dismissed his attendants, and the hall became empty and silent.

“Credit…bonds…jade salt…” He muttered these words to himself, his eyes sharp as a hawk’s.

The source of all this points to the person lying in the Eastern Palace, and the shadow hidden behind him.

"clever……"

Li Shimin muttered to himself, his voice revealing neither satisfaction, apprehension, nor cold judgment.

"You have given me quite a 'surprise'."

He stood up, walked to the huge map, and his gaze swept across the vast territory of the Tang Dynasty.

This land was built by his own hands and governed with painstaking effort.

He would never allow anyone, not even his chosen successor, to prematurely or excessively divide this power.

The crown prince's power has indeed been secured.

Whether this "momentum" is a blessing or a curse remains to be seen.

For an emperor, an overly weak successor is worrisome, while an overly powerful successor is equally unsettling.

After a while, a secret report presented by the Hundred Cavalry Division was quietly delivered to the Emperor's desk in the Liangyi Hall.

Li Shimin unfolded it and examined it closely, his brows gradually furrowing.

The report detailed the results of the secret investigation conducted in recent days on a total of 247 people, including officials, guards, and eunuchs of the Eastern Palace.

Originally, the purpose was to investigate the experts in the Eastern Palace, but now they have discovered many things that even Li Shimin did not know.

Among them, Zhang Xuansu, the Left Vice-Minister of the Crown Prince, had exchanged poems and letters with former members of the Prince of Qi's mansion.
Zhao Hongzhi, the Vice Director of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices, recently got into a land dispute in Luoyang, which resulted in a death, but he managed to suppress the incident by virtue of his uncle's connections.

Furthermore, three of the Crown Prince's guards were found to have a connection with a military officer from the Prince of Wei's residence, sharing a hometown and having privately drunk together.

These things are neither major nor minor.

On ordinary days, Li Shimin might reprimand or admonish him.

However, at this sensitive moment, these subtle connections and blemishes were uncovered one by one by the spies of the Hundred Cavalry Division and presented to the Emperor.

Li Shimin closed the memorial and tapped his fingertips lightly on the sandalwood table.

He knew very well that the official system of the Eastern Palace was vast and the relationships within it were intricate and complex.

Since the uprising in Jinyang, many of the meritorious officials and veterans who followed him, as well as their sons, brothers, and relatives by marriage, have served in the Eastern Palace and are considered part of the heir apparent's inner circle; this has been the usual practice.

In order to maintain the prosperity of their families, prominent clans in Shandong and Jiangnan would send their sons to the Eastern Palace, both as an investment in the future and as hostages.

This was originally part of the imperial art of maintaining balance.

However, when the probes truly reached into this quagmire, they stirred up far more than just a few individual misdeeds.

The process of searching for a master was revealed, and he could deal with it all at the same time.

But then what?

Then came the more intense confrontation with the entire bureaucratic system and with the powerful families that supported the Tang Dynasty.

Li Shimin was not afraid of these ministers; he had enough prestige and means to subdue them.

But he couldn't bring them together.

A stable court is one that is divided and checks and balances each other.

If the investigation into the Crown Prince's palace forces these usually at odds to unite due to a shared sense of crisis, that would be a real disaster.

Especially at a time when there was a Crown Prince in the Eastern Palace whose prestige was rising rapidly and who was showing signs of independence.

If one's relationship with the entire court bureaucracy is strained, where will the crown prince be after recovering from his illness?

Will those ministers who have been wronged and frightened by him turn even more towards the Crown Prince?
With this shift in power, the Crown Prince's influence will likely expand even faster.

Thinking of Li Chengqian, Li Shimin felt even more conflicted.

Is this son's illness real or feigned?
If it is a mental illness, what is its cause?

If you are hiding your true intentions, what are you planning?
What role did the mastermind behind the scenes play in this turmoil?
Are they watching coldly from the sidelines, or even pleased to see it happen?

A mix of thoughts overwhelmed Li Shimin, leaving him feeling an unprecedented weariness and...isolation.

He stood up and walked to the outer corridor of the hall.

This vast land and its hundreds of millions of people seem to be under his control.

But at this moment, he felt an invisible constraint from within.

Emperors are not omnipotent.

He needed ministers to govern the country, powerful families to stabilize the regions, and a set of established rules and tacit understandings to maintain his rule.

Breaking this balance will come at a price, but right now, is it worth paying a price that could shake the very foundation of our rule for a still unclear "hidden danger" in the Crown Prince's palace?
The answer is obviously no.

Utter helplessness, mixed with a hint of offended anger, ultimately turned into a barely audible sigh.

The following day, Li Shimin summoned the commander of the Hundred Cavalry and gave him only a brief instruction.

"The matter concerning the Crown Prince's Palace shall remain so for now. No further investigation is permitted without my order."

(End of this chapter)