Embedded Files
Psst! We're moving!
Li Shimin tightly clenched his hands at his sides, his voice pained. “I…”
He had barely uttered a single word when Wang Fu entered and whispered, “Master Jiancheng, Master Shimin—Lord Li is here.”
Both brothers were startled. Before Li Jiancheng could say anything, a servant entered with his head bowed. When he raised it, both Li Jiancheng and Li Shimin exclaimed in unison, “Father?”
It was indeed Li Yuan, who stroked his long beard and smiled. “Well? Did I startle you?”
Li Jiancheng composed himself and asked, “We were surprised, Father. But why… this attire?”
Li Yuan glanced at his own appearance and chuckled. “How else could I come to see you without drawing attention?”
Li Jiancheng probed cautiously, “Father, did you come here to give us instructions?”
Li Yuan cast a glance at both of them and replied, “I’ve heard everything about Wu Meixue. That’s why I’m here today. I’ve dealt with Wang Wei before—I know he’s a lecherous man, but I never imagined he’d be this brazen.”
Li Jiancheng responded, “Father, there’s no need to worry. I’ll send Wu Meixue over shortly, and then smooth things over with a few well-chosen words. That should satisfy Wang Wei.”
Li Yuan didn’t respond but instead turned his gaze toward the silent Li Shimin. “You don’t agree with this course of action, do you?”
Li Shimin lowered his head. “That’s correct, Father. I can accept summoning courtesans to entertain them, and I can tolerate spending my days indulging in trivial pursuits like cockfighting, drinking, and revelry. But… such acts that border on forcibly seizing innocent women are something I simply cannot accept.”
These were precisely the words Li Jiancheng least wanted to hear. He immediately snapped, “A single general’s success comes at the cost of countless lives! To achieve great things, one must not show weakness or pity. You may feel sorry for her now, but when our family faces ruin, who will pity us then?”
“Enough.” After stopping their argument, Li Yuan clapped his hands. Two beautiful young women entered, each with a hunting eagle perched on their shoulders—an unexpected sight.
Li Yuan smiled and asked, “Jiancheng, Shimin, what do you think of these two hunting eagles?”
Li Jiancheng studied them carefully and replied, “Their plumage is glossy, and they look fierce. They appear to be excellent hunting birds. Where did you acquire them, Father?”
“These eagles were captured as chicks and trained from birth. They’ve lived and slept alongside their trainers, becoming the finest hunters. No matter where they fly, they’ll return instantly at the sound of their trainer’s whistle.” With that, Li Yuan shifted the topic. “Wang Wei is a sly fox, always wearing a smile that hides his true thoughts. On the other hand, Gao Junya is perpetually stern, making him difficult to approach or please. However, they share one common interest…”
Li Shimin interjected with a bitter smile, “Women. I’ve already experienced that firsthand.”
Li Yuan shook his head. “Lust is human nature, and those who lack it are rare. The interest I’m referring to is…” He pointed to the two eagles. “This!”
After a brief silence, Li Shimin said, “Father, do you intend for me to present these two eagles to them as compensation for the Wu Meixue matter?”
Li Yuan chuckled. “Do you think that would suffice?”
Li Shimin thought for a moment, then shook his head. “It’s unlikely. I can tell that both Wang Wei and Gao Junya are vindictive men. If they don’t get their way, they’ll find ways to retaliate and destroy whatever stands in their path.”
Upon hearing this, Li Jiancheng frowned unhappily. “If you knew all this, you should have handed over Wu Meixue long ago instead of dragging your feet and angering them. You’ve handled everything else well, but this particular matter…” He sighed, unsure how to continue.
Li Yuan understood his frustration. “In truth, Shimin’s perspective isn’t entirely wrong. We should try to avoid such situations whenever possible.”
“But we have no choice,” Li Jiancheng countered. Turning to Li Yuan, he explained, “Over the years, Wang Wei and Gao Junya have exploited the Emperor’s favor, hoarding treasures and even embezzling items meant as tributes for the court.”
Li Shimin nodded. “I’ve also heard rumors about this. Some officials tried to expose their corruption through petitions, but while Wang Wei and Gao Junya remained unscathed, the whistleblowers were dismissed and punished.”
“Precisely.” After dismissing the two falconer maidens, Li Yuan continued, “Tell me, if I were to instruct them to present these eagles and their trainers as tribute to the Emperor, what do you think they’d do?”
“They cherish these possessions deeply…” Li Shimin furrowed his brow in thought, then quickly suggested, “They’d likely keep them for themselves secretly.” A realization dawned on him, and he added, “Could it be, Father, that you intend to use this to make the Emperor lose trust in them?”
Li Yuan clapped his hands and laughed. “Exactly! As long as they secretly claim these items for themselves, I’ll find a way to ensure they lose the Emperor’s trust and suffer disgrace.”
Li Jiancheng pondered this and shook his head. “Isn’t this too risky? In my opinion, it’s better to just hand over Wu Meixue to Wang Wei.”
Li Yuan disagreed. “It might already be too late for that. Moreover, rather than leaving our fate in someone else’s hands, it’s better to take control ourselves!”
As Li Jiancheng furrowed his brows in thought, Li Shimin asked, “Father, will those two falconer maidens agree to this?”
Li Yuan understood his concern and replied, “They were originally purchased from brothels to train the eagles, so they won’t object.”
“What if Wang Wei and Gao Junya don’t act as you expect? Won’t that put us in grave danger?”
Li Yuan fell silent for a moment before sighing. “That’s a possibility. We must prepare for the worst-case scenario.”
All of them were acutely aware that their current preparations were insufficient, and launching a rebellion prematurely carried enormous risks. Failure would mean total annihilation. Li Jiancheng was particularly aggrieved—it was infuriating to have survived scrutiny by Imperial Physician Zhu, only to be undone by a mere dancing girl.
He glared at Li Shimin, then turned away. “Very well. Once Wang Wei and Gao Junya leave, I’ll immediately set out for Hedong. Even recruiting a few more people will help.”
“But your leg—” Before Li Yuan could finish, Li Jiancheng cut him off. “Don’t worry, Father. I’ll be careful.”
“Alright. Take more men with you and watch your every step.” After finalizing their plans, Li Yuan quietly left Qingchun Garden. Once only the two brothers remained, Li Shimin began, “Brother…”
Before he could continue, Li Jiancheng coldly interrupted, “By the time I return from Hedong, I hope you’ve rid yourself of this foolish weakness.”
“I understand.” Li Shimin gave a faint response and turned to leave. As he stepped out of Qingchun Garden, he cast a complex glance back. Had he truly made a mistake?
When Wang Wei hinted at demanding Wu Meixue, shouldn’t he have followed his brother’s advice and offered her up without hesitation? Sacrificing a single woman to secure the safety of the Li family—that wasn’t an unreasonable trade, was it?
Google Sites
Report abuse