Tiantang Splendid

Chapter 4942 Murderous Intent on a Snowy Night

There are no secrets in Tai Chi Palace.

The news that His Majesty had stayed overnight at Concubine Shen's place spread as the palace gates opened at dawn, causing a lot of discussion within the court and the public.

In the Lizheng Hall of the Eastern Palace, the Empress, the Crown Prince, and Princess Jinyang were having breakfast together when a eunuch came in and whispered the incident in detail, even telling the exact time when His Majesty went to bed and when he bathed. From this, they could estimate how long His Majesty had been in bed...

Princess Jinyang was eating. Upon hearing this, she put down her spoon and said with disgust: "What is there to say about this matter? One or two people coveting the Forbidden City is very disrespectful!"

The eunuch was so frightened that he immediately knelt on the ground and kowtowed for mercy.

This "unmarriageable" princess has great influence both in the palace and in the court. If they really want to punish her, even if she is a eunuch beside the queen, she will not be able to escape the death penalty...

The queen's expression remained unchanged, still dignified and elegant, she drank her porridge slowly and said softly: "Sizi, don't blame him. I asked him to pay attention to the situation in the palace and report to me immediately if there is anything unusual."

"Oh."

Princess Jinyang responded, lowered her head to eat, picked up a piece of vinegar celery and put it in her mouth, chewing it with a "crunch" sound. After swallowing it, she looked at Crown Prince Li Xiang again, snorted, and said, "When you grow up, don't let some messy people enter the palace. It's so polluted."

Li Xiang said nothing, his head almost buried in the bowl, eating rice quickly...

He ate the rice and porridge in the bowl in a few big mouthfuls, wiped his mouth, stood up and said, "Enjoy your meal, mother, enjoy your meal, little aunt, I'm full, it's time to do my homework."

He bowed, then turned and ran away.

Children don't understand the things between adults, but they are very sensitive to danger. They sense the subtle atmosphere and run away decisively...

After breakfast, the two sisters-in-law sat in the side hall drinking tea. Princess Jinyang whispered, "In fact, the Queen doesn't have to be angry. Your Majesty has kept the harem clean over the years. He is one of the few emperors in ancient and modern times who is strict with himself. Now that the Queen is not in the palace, it is understandable that Your Majesty feels a little lonely for a while."

The queen glanced at her and smiled, "Am I such a jealous person in your heart?"

"Is not it?"

Princess Jinyang raised her beautiful eyebrows slightly. Your unhappiness is written all over your face, do you think I can't see it?
The queen paused, her smile faded, and she looked a little depressed: "I am not angry that he favors other women, but I am disappointed that he would rather touch the daughter of the criminal official than touch me."

How long had it been since the couple had had a chance to have sex? She could hardly remember.

A woman's prime years are when her bodily functions reach their peak, so her sexual needs are naturally strong. However, Your Majesty has never slept with her since he entered the Taiji Palace, and he always stays in the Imperial Study under the pretext of handling government affairs.

Lying alone on a cold pillow, tossing and turning, how lonely and unbearable is that?
She thought it was due to His Majesty's health and that he was too busy with government affairs to have enough energy. She never complained, but comforted him everywhere and tried every means to nourish His Majesty's body.

Now I know that it's not that His Majesty is incapable, but that he is incapable when facing her...

Are you disgusted with her already?

Princess Jinyang sighed. She didn't quite understand this kind of thing. Her position was on the side of the Queen. After thinking for a while, she stepped forward and whispered, "That Concubine Shen is the descendant of a criminal official. I heard that her father seemed to have been punished by my father. Why don't I send a message to my brother-in-law and ask him to search outside the palace for the crime of Concubine Shen's father?"

Of course, framing someone is a bit immoral, but in order to protect the queen, we have to let Concubine Shen suffer a little.

All they need to do is find out the crimes her father committed, exaggerate them, frame him, and send them to the Censorate. Naturally, some censors who are eager to make contributions will come out to report and impeach him. A mere imperial concubine cannot withstand such an attack...

The Queen glared at her angrily and said, "You are getting more and more outrageous. If I act like that, what kind of person would I be? How would I manage the harem in the future? Besides, the Grand Commandant is a pillar of the country, how could he act like you?"

Princess Jinyang disagreed. As long as she asked, how could her brother-in-law not agree?

If he really didn't agree, at most I could give him some sweetness to try. From childhood to adulthood, I only needed to hug his arms or put my beautiful feet in his arms and beg him, and he would agree to anything. There had never been a time when he didn't agree or couldn't do it...

"The Queen really doesn't want to deal with that woman?"

"Of course not."

Princess Jinyang's eyes were burning: "Since we can't show her power to make her afraid, we must show her kindness to make her feel grateful. The Queen should take the initiative to ask His Majesty to confer a title on Concubine Shen."

Whether framing and suppressing them or winning them over and showing them favors, both are positive approaches that can keep the other party under control. The stupidest approach is to turn a blind eye and do nothing.

The queen was slightly surprised and asked curiously, "Who taught you this?"

Could it be that this girl is actually a hidden expert in "house fighting"?

Princess Jinyang was a little embarrassed: "My brother-in-law once said that we must always stand on the moral high ground to be invincible. For example, now, if the Queen can take the initiative to ask for a title for Concubine Shen, everyone in the world will know how magnanimous the Queen is."

From now on, whether His Majesty favors Concubine Shen and ignores the Queen, or Concubine Shen takes advantage of her favor and becomes arrogant and challenges the Queen's authority, they will inevitably be criticized by public opinion, which will further highlight the Queen's tolerance and generosity...

The queen smiled, held Princess Jinyang's hand, stroked her temples, and said softly: "Thank you, Sizi, the smart little girl in the past, now not only protects me, but also gives me advice. I am really pleased."

Princess Jinyang smiled sweetly: "We, sister-in-law and I, should stand together and face the outside world in unison, so if I have difficulties in the future, sister-in-law should support me."

The Queen's smile froze: "..."

It turns out that he was waiting for me here!
No wonder Emperor Taizong doted on this daughter so much. Not only was she righteous, but she was also full of tricks...

*****
In the evening, the cold wind blew, and snowflakes fell down, fluttering like feathers and cotton, landing on the roofs, eaves, walls, and courtyards, covering everything in silver.

Around the hour of Xu, a gust of cold wind blew over many of the lanterns on the Xuande Gate Tower on the north side of the East Palace. The doorway on the west side below the tower was hidden in shadow. Soon the palace gate here opened, and in the darkness, more than a hundred soldiers wrapped in black and fully armed came running and entered the East Palace through the open palace gate.

Inside the gate, Li Anyan and Li Siliang stood side by side, watching the more than a hundred elite soldiers enter the palace and head straight for the Buddhist temple on the west side.

The heavy snow and dark night concealed the whereabouts of these people.

Li Siliang said, "We are too close to the Taiji Palace. If we make some noise by accident, it will easily attract the attention of the imperial guards patrolling the Taiji Palace. If our whereabouts are revealed, it will be a disaster."

Li Anyan looked up at the falling snow and said calmly, "We can only hide in the Buddhist Hall. The east side of the East Palace is the Hawk Courtyard, where many birds are raised. If we go in now, it will definitely cause the birds to explode. It's fine here, just remind them to be extra careful."

Birds are night-blind and are most alert at night. They will panic at the slightest movement. Once birds start to sing or their nests start to scatter in the middle of the night, the entire East Palace will notice this place...

Li Siliang nodded: "We can take them by surprise and attack them when they are unprepared. There is a high chance that we will succeed."

Li Anyan stood with his hands behind his back, snowflakes falling on his shoulders, his eyes were somewhat deep: "Whether it succeeds or fails, what does it matter? It's just an explanation to an old friend. From now on, you don't need to get involved in this matter anymore. Even if the worst happens, I will shoulder it and leave you out of it."

"Haha," Li Siliang didn't care and said with a smile: "How can I stay out of this kind of thing? Life and death, success and failure, there is no escape from the moment I get involved. Brother, don't worry, I have been mentally prepared. Since I want to take a shortcut, I naturally need to take risks. I can afford to win, and I can afford to lose."

Li Anyan was silent for a while, then he sighed and shook his head, saying, "You shouldn't have participated in this. Why bother?"

Li Siliang wiped his face and said with a wry smile: "People always try to take shortcuts. When such a road to heaven is in front of you, how can you not be tempted? I have passed the age of thirty, but I am still just a mere official. Although I am trusted by your majesty, I am not familiar with military affairs. It is difficult to get promoted without military merit. Whether it is the three provinces and six ministries or the prefectures and cities, an ordinary civil servant will be promoted step by step. When he grows old, he will only be a minister. I am unwilling to accept this."

Since the end of the Zhenguan period, the political situation has changed and the world has been turbulent. It was a time when talented people emerged in large numbers. Countless young men took advantage of the situation and rose rapidly. The qualifications that would have required ten or twenty years of polishing were not worth the words "imperial favor" or a military achievement. How could one not be jealous and excited when seeing this?
Since staying by His Majesty's side means just following the routine and observing the rules, I might as well find a shortcut and take a risk.

Life and death are determined by destiny, wealth and honor are in heaven.

Li Anyan stopped trying to persuade him and asked, "Is everything arranged over there?"

Li Siliang said "hmm", and was silent for a while. He exhaled and blew away the snowflakes in front of him, and sighed: "Although people who don't work for themselves will be punished by heaven and earth, but after all, Your Majesty has been very kind to me, and I feel really bad."

"Humph!"

Li Anyan snorted angrily, gritted his teeth, and his eyes shot out deep hatred: "Li Er and his sons are nothing but traitors. A little grace can't hide the fact that they are rebellious and usurping the throne! Back then, they slaughtered the East Palace and destroyed the Qi Wang Mansion, and even the crying babies were not spared. Their methods are cruel and their hearts are cold. How can there be so-called benevolence? It's just a means to show off in front of people and win people's hearts!"

Li Siliang frowned: "What I did was just to 'follow the dragon's merit'. Brother, you don't want to kill people after you succeed, do you?"

Li Anyan took a breath and shook his head: "Don't worry, I know the overall situation. As long as the throne falls from Li Eryi's line, it will be fine."

Li Siliang suddenly felt a little worried.