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

Chapter 156 Is this plan... too dangerous?
The Crown Prince's prestige is growing daily. Although his foot ailment has not yet healed, Crown Prince Li Chengqian, with the assistance of Li Yichen, has shown unprecedented composure and insight.

Whether it was the steady progress in the development of Xizhou or the increasingly in-depth involvement in the court politics, both had quietly restored the previously tilted balance of power to the right.

This change, like a poisonous thorn, pierced deeply into the heart of King Li Tai of Wei.

The Wei Prince's Mansion, the Cool Hall of Hibiscus Garden.

Although an ice chest was placed there, the slight chill could not dispel the gloom and heat between Li Tai's brows.

His obese body sank deep into the rosewood couch, a newly delivered secret report clutched in his hand, detailing the Crown Prince's recent actions in a clear and organized manner, showing initial success.

"boom!"

Li Tai slammed the secret report onto the table, causing the cups and saucers to rattle.

His chest heaved violently, the fat on his chubby face jiggled, and his small eyes burned with flames of jealousy and anger.

"Good! Good for Li Chengqian!" he squeezed out the words through clenched teeth, his breath coming in heavily through his nose.

"Putting on airs to win people over!"

He suddenly raised his head and looked down at Du Chuke, who had been sitting silently below him.

"You saw everything?" Li Tai's voice was somewhat shrill with excitement.

"That cripple's influence is growing daily. If this continues, I'm afraid the entire court will truly forget who the Emperor's most beloved son is! And who should be the future ruler of the Tang Dynasty!"

He grew angrier and angrier as he spoke, and grabbed the jade paperweight on the table, intending to smash it down, but ultimately he held back because it was a gift from the emperor.

"I cannot stand idly by! I absolutely cannot!"

He growled, like a wild beast trapped in a cage.

"We must deliver a fatal blow! It must be swift and ruthless, ensuring he can never recover!"

The hall was silent except for Li Tai's heavy breathing.

Du Chuke understood that the Crown Prince had been acting cautiously lately and could not find any obvious faults. If he attacked rashly, he would only risk getting burned.

He slowly raised his eyelids, a cold glint flashing in his eyes.

"Your Highness, please calm down. The Crown Prince's power is growing stronger, and ordinary impeachments are no longer enough to shake him. If you want to deliver a fatal blow, you must find his Achilles' heel and strike him dead in one fell swoop."

Li Tai's gaze sharpened as he stared intently at Du Chuke.

"His seven-inch mark? Where is his seven-inch mark? Sir, what brilliant plan do you have? Tell me quickly! I can't wait any longer!"

Du Chuke met Li Tai's urgent and fierce gaze and slowly said, "Does Your Highness still remember the Crown Prince's previous disaster relief efforts in Shandong?"

"Of course I remember! He sought fame and fortune in Shandong, winning over some people's hearts!"

"It's not just about winning people's hearts."

Du Chuke's voice was low, carrying a seductive and chilling quality.

"Shandong is a land of powerful families, with a fierce and unruly people. It is also a place where the old forces of the previous dynasty and the Crown Prince are deeply intertwined."

He deliberately emphasized the words "Hidden Crown Prince".

Li Tai's pupils suddenly contracted, and his body involuntarily leaned forward.

"You mean..."

A fierce glint flashed in Du Chuke's eyes.

"Your Highness, we can start from here. Contact the powerful families in Shandong, and ideally... fabricate some evidence that the Crown Prince secretly colluded with local magnates, or even... with remnants of the previous dynasty or former subordinates of the Crown Prince, plotting something treacherous!"

The air suddenly became heavy.

Li Tai's expression shifted constantly. Du Chuke's words were like a poisoned dagger, stabbing directly into the deepest, most insane and alluring thought in his heart.

Frame the Crown Prince for treason!

This is the most ruthless, and also the most effective, strategy.

If successful, not only will Li Chengqian's position as crown prince be in danger, but his life will also be in jeopardy.

But... this is also the most dangerous.

He took a few deep breaths, trying to calm his wildly beating heart, his voice trembling slightly.

"Sir...is this plan...too dangerous? Treason is a serious crime, no small matter."

"Without conclusive evidence, this would be a false accusation against the Crown Prince, a crime punishable by the extermination of his entire family. Father Emperor is wise and not so easily deceived. What if... what if Father Emperor discovers the truth..."

He didn't finish his sentence, but the fear in his eyes said it all.

Li Shimin's suspicion and ruthlessness were felt most deeply by his sons and close ministers.

Although many years have passed since the Xuanwu Gate Incident, the bloody lesson it taught remains a sharp sword hanging over the heads of all the princes.

Du Chuke seemed to have anticipated Li Tai's hesitation. There was no surprise on his face; instead, he revealed a smug smirk.

“Your Highness’s concerns are reasonable. This plan is indeed like walking on a cliff; one wrong step and there will be no turning back. Therefore, we must carry out this plan, but we must also make it... completely unrelated to us.”

Li Tai perked up and hurriedly pressed for more information.

"Oh? Is there a foolproof method that can get things done without getting burned?"

Du Chuke leaned forward slightly, lowering his voice even further.

“Your Highness, my men… can still contact some of the old acquaintances who served the Crown Prince back then. These people harbor resentment towards the current emperor and have been hiding among the common people for many years. Given their identities and motives, wouldn’t it be perfectly logical for them to come forward and persuade certain aristocratic families in Shandong who are dissatisfied with the court’s policies or have already clashed with the Crown Prince to jointly frame him?”

A sharp glint flashed in Li Tai's eyes, and his breathing became rapid again.

Utilize the remnants of the hidden crown prince!
This was indeed a brilliant move, but also a risky one!
These people hate the Emperor to the core, and if given the chance to frame the Crown Prince appointed by the Emperor, they would certainly be happy to do so.

Moreover, if they are the ones to take the lead, once the incident occurs, the clues will point to the remnants of the previous dynasty seeking revenge, or the collusion between the Shandong aristocratic families and the former subordinates of the Crown Prince. It will be difficult to trace the matter directly back to the Prince of Wei's mansion!

“But…” Li Tai still had doubts.

"The Shandong aristocratic families are not fools. How could they easily believe those stray dogs and follow them in committing such a heinous act of extermination? How can they be trusted with mere words?"

Du Chuke's cold smile deepened, carrying an air of absolute certainty that he had everything under control.

"Old grudges alone are not enough. But what if we offer substantial benefits?"

He paused, then spoke slowly and deliberately.

“We can tell them that we have obtained…the complete secret formula for the new salt-making method that the Crown Prince relies on to amass wealth and intends to use to win over the hearts of the people!”

Li Tai's eyes widened suddenly, and he almost jumped up from his seat.

"A new salt-making method?! You...you got your hands on it?"

The snow-white refined salt produced by the Crown Prince using that miraculous new method is now circulating in a small circle among the powerful and wealthy. Its quality far surpasses that of official salt, and the profits are considerable.

If one could truly obtain this secret method, it would be no different from obtaining a mountain of gold!
This is an irresistible temptation for any aristocratic family!

Du Chuke slowly shook his head, his expression calm.

"I did not receive it."

Li Tai was taken aback, then deflated: "Then..." "But they don't need to know that we didn't get it."

Du Chuke interrupted him, his tone icy.

"We just need to convince them that we've got it. Once it's done, the Crown Prince will fall from power, and the Eastern Palace's influence will crumble. At that point, who will care whether the secret formula is real or fake?"

"Even if they later discover they've been deceived, the die is cast, and the crown prince has been deposed, would they still dare to claim they participated in framing the crown prince?"

"Besides, Your Highness will be in full power at that time. Just offer them some other benefits to appease them. If any of them don't know what's good for them... humph."

His words perfectly encapsulated the essence of conspiracy and intrigue.

They use deception and deception, leverage each other's strengths, use one enemy to defeat another, and ultimately discard the bridge after crossing the river.

Li Tai fell silent.

He leaned back on the couch, closed his eyes, his chest heaving, and was engaged in a fierce internal struggle.

Du Chuke remained silent, knowing that the decision now rested with the King of Wei.

This is a high-stakes gamble that risks everything; success means instant wealth and fortune, failure means certain death.

Time passed slowly, and fine beads of sweat appeared on Li Tai's forehead.

His mind flashed with his father's stern gaze, Li Chengqian's unsettling composure lately, Li Ye's timid yet equally rightful successor figure, and even more so, the supreme dragon throne, the symbol of all power...

Finally, he suddenly opened his eyes, and all the hesitation and fear in his small eyes were replaced by a ruthless determination.

He sat up straight, his fat face taut, looked at Du Chuke, and let out a low, resolute voice from deep in his throat.

"it is good!"

He paused, his gaze sharp as a knife, fixed intently on Du Chuke.

"You will handle this personally! Mobilize all available resources, contact those former subordinates of the Crown Prince, offer them great rewards and enticing them with power, you must persuade them, and use them to undermine the powerful families of Shandong! All links must be single-line communication, and you must not leave any trace pointing to me!"

His tone grew increasingly harsh, carrying an almost ferocious seriousness.

"Remember! Whether this succeeds or fails, it will be a catastrophe! No matter what, Father will investigate to the end. If even the slightest leak is made, then... you and I, and even the entire Prince Wei's Mansion, will die without a burial place!"

Du Chuke stood up, bowed deeply, and his face was more solemn than ever before.

"Your Highness, rest assured! I understand the implications! I will proceed with utmost caution and prudence. I will control everyone involved by exploiting their weaknesses, so that even if things go wrong, Your Highness will never be implicated!"

"Go."

Li Tai waved his hand, as if he had exhausted all his strength, and slumped back into the couch, closing his eyes.

"I await your news."

Du Chuke bowed again, then turned around and quietly left the cool hall.

Inside the hall, Li Tai was alone for a long time before letting out a sigh that was ambiguous, a mixture of fear and excitement.

He knew he couldn't wait any longer.

At this moment, his mentality was severely unbalanced. If he didn't take a gamble, he would still die without a burial place if Li Chengqian ascended the throne.

……

Almost as the Prince of Wei's palace was plotting this treacherous scheme that would stir up a huge storm in the imperial court, Li Shimin issued an edict that shook the entire world.

During the regular court session, after the usual political discussions had concluded, Li Shimin, seated on his throne, did not announce the end of the court session as usual.

His gaze swept calmly over the civil and military officials under His Majesty's command. After a moment of silence, he slowly spoke, his voice carrying a sorrowful recollection of the past.

"I have been feeling deeply saddened lately when I think back on the past."

With just this one sentence, the entire court fell silent, and all the officials knew that the emperor was about to make a major announcement.

"On the fourth day of the sixth month of the ninth year of the Wude era, the Xuanwu Gate Incident occurred..."

Li Shimin directly mentioned this sensitive taboo.

"When brothers quarrel, disaster strikes from within the walls; it is a tragedy of human relations, and I still feel deep pain in my heart."

The hall was so quiet you could hear a pin drop. High-ranking officials such as Fang Xuanling and Changsun Wuji all lowered their heads and lowered their eyes, their hearts filled with turbulent emotions.

"However, I was forced by circumstances, which was not my original wish. At that time, Jiancheng and Yuanji repeatedly created discord and plotted against me."

"I did this out of necessity for the sake of the nation."

Li Shimin spoke with a somber tone but a firm resolve to defend himself, before abruptly changing the subject.

"However, Jiancheng and Yuanji are, after all, my brothers and sons of Emperor Gaozu. They have also made contributions to the country in the past. Their crimes are their own, and their names... should not be tarnished for long."

Amidst the astonished and complex gazes of the officials, Li Shimin solemnly proclaimed the imperial edict, the contents of which were not merely a simple posthumous conferment of a royal title, but rather carried a deeper meaning.

"The late Prince Xi and Crown Prince Jiancheng are posthumously granted the title of Crown Prince. The late Prince Hailing, Yuanji, is reinstated as Prince Chao. His former subordinates who have not committed any major crimes are all pardoned and given appropriate positions based on their abilities. Their descendants should be given preferential treatment and their titles and ranks should be inherited."

The core of this edict was to restore Li Jiancheng's status and reputation as "Crown Prince".

This is no longer a simple act of bestowing favors or posthumous honors, but rather an official effort to legitimize his past and acknowledge his legitimacy, attempting to bring that bloody history to a close through legal and public discourse.

It was both a retroactive remedy by Li Shimin to legitimize his ascension to the throne, demonstrating his confidence and "benevolence" after taking control of the situation, and an attempt to ease potential historical grievances within the royal family and appease the hearts of any remaining former subordinates of the Crown Prince.

On a deeper level, it is also a silent warning to all the princes present—I have personally experienced the cruelty of the struggle for imperial power, with blood flowing in the court. You should take this as a warning and abide by your duties.

……

The imperial edict was quickly copied and distributed throughout the land.

The side wing of Xiande Hall in the East Palace.

Li Yichen held the copied imperial edict and silently read it.

The blazing sun outside the window reflected on his calm, expressionless face.

He knew it.

In the original historical trajectory, Li Shimin issued an edict in the sixteenth year of Zhenguan to restore Li Jiancheng's title of Crown Prince. This was a key step in the later period of Zhenguan to officially set the tone for the Wude incident and ease internal conflicts.

However, in the original history, this move was quite a shock to Li Chengqian, who was already mentally unbalanced due to foot ailment, loss of favor, and pressure. It was as if it was reminding him that his father's hands were stained with the blood of his uncles.

This also suggests that the position of crown prince is not absolutely secure, exacerbating his insecurity and rebellious mentality, and to some extent catalyzing his subsequent madness.

But at this moment, in this timeline that has been subtly altered by his intervention, the edict restoring Li Jiancheng's reputation seems to carry a different meaning.

Crown Prince Li Chengqian has recently become more stable in his mind and focused on practical matters. He has gained a deeper understanding of the emperor's political maneuvering and decision-making. This edict may actually make him more aware of the cruel bottom line of the struggle for imperial power, as well as the emperor's authority to control everything, which can both establish authority with a sword and bestow favors and legitimize his reputation, prompting him to be more cautious.

The fuse that could ignite the prince's destructive tendencies seems to have had most of its core removed.

"The inertia of history still exists, but the direction... may be different."

After a moment's thought, Li Yichen began to handle his own affairs, as tomorrow was his day off.

At that time, Li Yichen also needed to go home to make some preparations.

(End of this chapter)