novelSusiti Chapter 99: Yes, it's done!
Chapter 99: Yes, it's done!
Chapter 99: Yes, it's done!
August 13th.
After roll call, Dou Fengjie was called into the office of the Minister of Ceremonies.
Having established his authority within the Prince's Palace, Li Tai's young face was brimming with youthful vigor.
He still ate plain water and snacks, and the pavilion chief still brewed tea for Dou Fengjie.
"My uncle is indeed powerful. With just a few words, he made my father-in-law bow down. My mother-in-law came to the mansion to persuade her, and the princess agreed to let Xin'er be registered under her name after she was born, just to save that lowly maid's life."
Li Tai was beaming with joy, while Dou Fengjie smiled but remained silent.
With the Princess of Yue giving in, the maid's life naturally wouldn't be easy; she was only alive because Li Tai was merciful.
If you're foolishly used as a pawn, you should be prepared to take the fall.
Li Tai was relieved that Li Xin had been promoted from a concubine's son to a legitimate son before he was even born, and naturally he stopped competing with the Princess Consort of Yue.
In a good mood, Li Tai's childishness gradually disappeared, and he became more and more like a mature man with his own opinions.
"Have you carefully considered what made the Yue family bow down? Don't blame me; I merely acted according to the circumstances."
After a bowl of tea to warm him up, Dou Fengjie smiled and gave Li Tai some pointers.
"Real power? And can I remain in control and not take advantage of the Crown Prince's misfortune?"
Li Tai muttered to himself.
No, it's that he stopped being eager to seize power and instead focused on doing solid work at the Court of State Ceremonial.
Compared to his appointment as Minister of State Ceremonies, his previous disputes with Li Chengqian were like children playing house.
The fact that Li Tai was able to criticize Li Chengqian without resorting to malicious means further enhanced his standing among the court officials.
Because he does not contend, he is without fault.
"Good news from Silla! Kim Yu-sin personally led an army and easily captured Mahu Fortress of Goguryeo, shocking Pyongyang!"
"Victory news from Baekje! Crown Prince Uija of Buyeo has led his army to capture Silla's Monkey Castle!"
Cheng Chumo, brandishing the official document, strode into the office of the Minister of Ceremonies with a smile.
Li Tai sprayed a mouthful of plain water onto the ground.
When Dou Fengjie first planned this, those in the know thought it was unrealistic, but who knew it would actually come true!
As is customary, if Silla stabbed Goguryeo in the back, Baekje would surely retaliate in kind; this is the reality of the Dongyi Peninsula.
Goguryeo was caught off guard; they were unaware that their Grand Envoy, Choi Lim-soo, had secretly delivered a map of the defenses of Mahu City.
Furthermore, with half of Goguryeo's forces stationed along the Yalu River to guard against an attack by Changsun Shi, who was collecting the remains of Sui soldiers, they had no time to spare for the mere city of Mahu.
Goguryeo had lost many cities to Silla, so they didn't care about Mahu City, which wasn't a major city like Dongbihu.
Dou Fengjie slapped his thigh and laughed wildly, "Ya Ye's plan has succeeded!"
Although it wasn't an achievement that destroyed a country, Dou Fengjie felt a sense of satisfaction at being able to incite Silla to stab Goguryeo in the back.
Minister of Agriculture Li Xuanjiang, I will avenge you for the grudge in the cellar!
Whether Xiangli Xuanjiang's undeserved misfortune was due to Dou Fengjie is not important.
Li Tai was overjoyed: "To teach Goguryeo a lesson, the Duke of Zan is truly remarkable!"
Without sending a single soldier or allocating any troops or provisions, one can inflict losses on an enemy state—that is the mark of a remarkable individual.
Of course, he's still a bit inferior to An Xinggui back then, but there's nothing we can do about it, given the limited resources.
Li Tai slapped the tea table with his chubby hand: "Tell the registrar that the Court of State Ceremonies is adding a dish today—beef! I want to celebrate with all the officials!"
Even Liu Shan, the Vice Minister of the Court of State Ceremonies, and Changsun Huan were overjoyed upon hearing the news.
The more pain Goguryeo suffered, the happier everyone was.
Because Changsun Shi submitted a memorial every ten days, describing the Jingguan (a mound of bones) of Sui soldiers he saw along the Liao River, each time making him grit his teeth and wish he could ride a horse and draw his sword to slaughter all the Goguryeo people.
On the open ground next to the Chongjiao Hall in the East Palace, two tombs rise up, with rough stone tablets inscribed with the names of Qin Ying and Chengxin.
Before the grave, Crown Prince Li Chengqian, leaning on his cane, watched as the Crown Prince Dian Nei offered incense on his behalf for the two of them. He finally understood the true meaning of "I did not kill Bo Ren, but Bo Ren died because of me".
Behind Li Chengqian were three tombs, each three feet deep, resembling the gaping mouths of three monsters waiting to devour their prey, sending chills down one's spine.
Yu Zhining and Kong Yingda exchanged a glance, both seeing the fear in each other's hearts.
Clearly, these three tombs were dug for them.
After returning from the Taiji Hall, Li Chengqian was busy treating his illness and never attended a single lecture, nor did he pretend to "process" copies of the memorials.
Whether they like it or not, the title of "traitors of the Eastern Palace" is firmly attached to them.
What's frustrating is that Du Zhenglun also offered the same advice, so why didn't Li Chengqian reprimand him?
With the palace about to be deposed, those officials who had sought fame and power were also having a hard time, and everyone else regarded them as a plague.
Even Zhao Hong'an, the Director of the Imperial Academy, looked at them with disdain and didn't even greet them.
Zhang Xuansu, the Left Vice Minister of the Crown Prince, straightened his clothes and said with a determined look in his eyes: "Your Highness, it is against etiquette to have these two tombs erected in the Eastern Palace. I, Zhang Xuansu, request that the tombs be moved to outside Chunming Gate."
Li Chengqian stared coldly at Zhang Xuansu, pointed to the three tombs, and remained silent.
Zhang Xuansu said solemnly, "My words may be harsh and not to Your Highness's liking, but my intentions are clear as day."
"But if it can change Your Highness's mind, I will gladly go down to the mere tomb."
As Zhang Xuansu entered the tomb, a sliver of hope still lingered in his heart.
The Crown Prince probably just wanted to vent his anger; he wouldn't actually go crazy, would he?
A shovelful of dirt landed on him, but Zhang Xuansu remained unmoved.
Given how unsteady Li Chengqian was on his feet, how many shovels of dirt could he possibly shovel?
Zhang Xuansu's attitude not only demonstrated the magnanimity of a teacher, but also allowed Li Chengqian to vent his frustrations, showing that he had made a shrewd plan.
"Helan Chushi, fill in the soil!"
Li Chengqian roared in a somewhat indistinct voice.
The cane struck Prince Qianniu Helan Chushi. Even though he was unwilling, Helan Chushi could only pick up the shovel and struggle to fill the grave.
At first, Zhang Xuansu didn't care about the first few shovelfuls of soil, thinking that Li Chengqian was just all bark and no bite.
The soil reached above his ankles, and Zhang Xuansu finally turned pale.
"Your Highness, I was wrong."
With the soil up to her knees, Zhang Xuansu, feeling the heavy pressure on her legs, dared not be stubborn anymore.
Although the tomb was only three feet high, and even if all the soil were piled up, it would only reach waist height, Zhang Xuansu dared not gamble.
After all, there was a form of punishment among the Turks that involved burying the prisoner up to their waist or shoulders, and then having horses trample the surrounding soil to make it firm. It was said that this was a very painful death.
However, Li Chengqian had a very close relationship with the Turkic man Dagezhi, so who can guarantee that he didn't learn these barbarian methods?
The soil has stopped.
Li Chengqian's maniacal laughter was breathless.
"Who am I to be controlled by such pedantic scholars!"
With his cane pointing at Zhang Xuansu, Li Chengqian loosened his belt, and a stream of hot urine, carrying a strong medicinal smell, poured over Zhang Xuansu's head and face.
"You brat! What are you doing?"
The emperor's earth-shattering roar echoed beside the Chongjiao Hall.
Seeing that things were not going well, Yu Zhining and Kong Yingda secretly slipped out of the East Palace and brought reinforcements.
Zhang Xuansu was both embarrassed and annoyed. Li Shimin appeared at the perfect moment and just happened to see him make a fool of himself. He thought it would have been better if he hadn't come at all.