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

Chapter 203 I... am also a poor father.

The sound waves converged and resounded throughout the palace.

Even Changsun Wuji, Fang Xuanling, and others bowed without hesitation at this moment.

"We, your humble servants, second that it is! Hegan Chengji's crimes are unforgivable. We beseech Your Majesty to make a wise decision!"

They must support them!

This "consensus" must be used to forcibly divert attention from the dramatic conflict that just occurred.

We must give His Majesty a way out and also give the Crown Prince a buffer.

We must not allow His Majesty to utter the words of deposing the Crown Prince in his fury!

We must not allow the Crown Prince to continue making those hurtful remarks!
For a time, dealing with Hegan Chengji became the only unanimous voice of the entire court.

All the conflicts were shifted to this "treacherous villain".

Li Shimin stood before the throne, his body still trembling slightly with anger.

He looked down at the officials kneeling below, and at Li Chengqian, who was still standing upright.

He understands everything.

He knew that his ministers were trying to smooth things over and give him a way out.

He knew how disobedient and malicious the Crown Prince's words were.

He knew that some things, once torn open, could never be undone.

A surge of anger churned and pounded within him, threatening to burst forth.

But he was, after all, Li Shimin, the Heavenly Khan who ushered in the Reign of Zhenguan.

His remaining rationality told him that at this moment, he had to go with the flow.

He clenched his teeth so hard that his gums were almost bleeding.

The words of condemnation churned in his throat countless times, but in the end, he swallowed them back down with all his might.

He slowly, very slowly, sat back on the throne that symbolized supreme power.

His gaze was icy, sweeping across the entire room before finally settling on Li Chengqian, where it lingered for a full three breaths.

Then he spoke, his voice hoarse and weary.

"Accurate."

"He Gan Chengji has framed the Crown Prince, and the evidence against him is irrefutable. He is hereby ordered to be taken to the West Market immediately, beheaded at the waist, and his entire family shall be executed!"

"The matter of the King of Qi... will be discussed later."

"Retreat!"

After saying the last two words, Li Shimin looked at no one again, slowly got up, and left with a flick of his sleeve.

"Dismiss the court!" the eunuch's shrill voice rang out.

The officials, as if utterly exhausted, slowly rose to their feet, many with their backs completely soaked in cold sweat.

They exchanged glances, both seeing lingering fear and apprehension in each other's eyes.

Today's court assembly was nothing short of a battle of wits and nerves, a truly nerve-wracking experience!

Li Chengqian stood still, not moving immediately.

He tilted his head slightly, looking at the empty throne.

He slowly turned around, a sharp pain in his right ankle causing him to frown slightly, but he still tried his best to maintain a steady pace as he walked out of the hall.

I hadn't gone far from the Taiji Hall when I heard a few slightly hurried but still steady footsteps behind me.

"Your Highness, please wait."

A gentle yet authoritative voice rang out; it was Changsun Wuji.

Li Chengqian stopped and slowly turned around.

Then, four important ministers of the court, Changsun Wuji, Fang Xuanling, Cen Wenben, and Gao Shilian, arrived.

"Uncle, Fang Xiang, Cen Shi, Gao Gong."

Li Chengqian nodded slightly as a greeting, his tone flat and revealing little emotion.

He knew that these people couldn't possibly remain unmoved by what had just happened in the hall.

It wasn't surprising that they stopped him.

Changsun Wuji stepped forward, his gaze sweeping over the officials who were gradually dispersing.

"Your Highness, we have a few words we would like to report to you."

His tone was very polite, even carrying a hint of barely perceptible respect.

This is different from his previous attitude towards Li Chengqian, which was characterized by the scrutiny and helplessness of an elder.

Li Chengqian's gaze swept over the four people. He saw Fang Xuanling nod slightly, Cen Wenben's eyes were solemn, and Gao Shilian looked like he wanted to say something but hesitated.

He knew perfectly well that these four represented the core power of the court.

"In that case, I'll have to trouble you all."

Li Chengqian did not refuse, and his tone remained calm.

The group silently walked through the palace gardens and arrived at the office of the Minister of Works.

This place, the heart of the empire's daily administration, is unusually quiet at this moment.

Clearly, most of the officials were still savoring the thrilling moment of the court assembly.

They deliberately avoided these big shots.

Upon entering the inner room, he dismissed those around him.

The door was closed, isolating the room from everything outside.

The interior furnishings were simple, consisting only of a desk, a couch, and piles of documents and files.

Sunlight streamed through the window, casting dappled shadows that illuminated the five faces, each with its own distinct expression.

After a brief silence, Changsun Wuji spoke first.

As the emperor's brother-in-law and also the Minister of Works, he held the highest position, making him the most suitable person to speak at this moment.

“Your Highness,” Changsun Wuji said, carefully choosing his words, his tone earnest.

"Today in court, Your Highness spoke eloquently on the matter of Prince Qi, showing consideration for brotherhood. Your heart... is as clear as day. However..." He changed the subject slightly, adding a cautious reminder.

"It's just that the words were perhaps... perhaps a little too harsh."

"His Majesty is, after all, the sovereign and father. Your Highness's actions... I fear they will displease His Majesty, which is not a good strategy for Your Highness or for the court."

He did not directly accuse Li Chengqian of "talking back" or "attacking his heart".

Instead, the relatively milder word "excited" was used.

It pointed out the problem while leaving room for both sides to maneuver.

Fang Xuanling chimed in from the side, his tone leaning more towards analyzing the pros and cons.

“Your Highness, the responsibility of the crown prince lies in stabilizing the foundation of the country. Although Your Highness has secured the moral high ground of ‘benevolence and filial piety’ and ‘brotherly affection’ in today’s matter.”

"However, confronting the emperor directly is ultimately a risky move. If His Majesty's wrath becomes uncontrollable, the consequences will be unimaginable."

"We are not blaming Your Highness, but we are truly worried about Your Highness and about the future of the Tang Dynasty."

His words were calm and his gaze wise.

Although Cen Wenben and Gao Shilian did not speak directly, their eyes and slight nods indicated that they agreed with the views of Changsun and Fang Xuanling.

Li Chengqian listened quietly, his face showing no sign of offense or impatience.

He lowered his gaze, looking at the gleaming floor in front of him, as if he were seriously reflecting on something.

Only after the two finished speaking and the room fell silent again did he slowly raise his head.

His face no longer held the stubbornness and coldness he had shown in the court.

Instead, a perfectly measured weariness and... a barely perceptible hint of regret emerged.

“Uncle, Prime Minister Fang, I understand your good intentions.”

Li Chengqian's voice was slightly hoarse, and his tone had softened considerably.

It even carried a touch of the frankness of a junior in front of an elder.

"Just now in the hall, I... was indeed anxious to save my fifth brother."

"Seeing him go astray and about to be doomed, as the eldest brother, I really... really couldn't bear it."

He paused slightly, as if organizing his thoughts or calming his emotions.

"Perhaps... perhaps I was too hasty, and my words were not carefully considered, and I... lost my composure."

"It was certainly not my intention to offend the Emperor's countenance."

His statement was completely different from his previous unyielding and even aggressive stance in the Taiji Hall.

Upon hearing this, Changsun Wuji and the others exchanged meaningful glances, their eyes flickering slightly.

The Crown Prince's "easy-going" attitude was somewhat unexpected. They had assumed that after such a fierce confrontation, the Crown Prince would be in a high mood and difficult to persuade.

Unexpectedly, he was able to restrain his sharpness so quickly, and even took the initiative to admit that he had "lost his sense of proportion".

This put their minds at ease.

As long as the Crown Prince isn't determined to confront His Majesty head-on, there's still room for maneuver.

Fang Xuanling stroked his beard, his tone becoming even more gentle.

"Your Highness's understanding of our good intentions is truly admirable."

"Your Highness is benevolent, filial, and fraternal, and cares for his brothers. These are virtues. Your Majesty... Your Majesty will eventually understand."

His words were very skillful, both affirming the Crown Prince's good intentions and implying that His Majesty needed time and a way out.

Gao Shilian then spoke up.

"Yes, Your Highness. His Majesty is a wise ruler and a loving father. It is inevitable that he would lose his temper for a moment, but His Majesty must have seen Your Highness's sincere heart."

He was the oldest and most senior, so his words, though seemingly comforting, carried a different weight.

Seeing that the atmosphere had eased, Changsun Wuji said, "Your Highness, rest assured, we will do our utmost to mediate between Your Majesty and the Prince of Qi."

"We must find a prudent method that can both uphold the laws and regulations of the country and maintain the kinship between the emperor and his family."

Li Chengqian looked at the four elders who held high positions in the court. Their words seemed concerned, but in fact, every sentence contained probing and weighing of options.

His face still held that expression of weariness and gratitude.

"Thank you for your trouble, Uncle and everyone else."

Li Chengqian bowed slightly.

"Indeed, this matter requires you all to speak well of me to the Emperor and explain the advantages and disadvantages."

"I am but a humble person with little influence, and I have already angered the Emperor. I am afraid that my words will be ineffective."

He positioned himself in a relatively weak position, cleverly shifting the responsibility of "pushing" things out back to these important officials.

Before Changsun Wuji and the others could say anything more, Li Chengqian gently pressed his temples, his face showing even more weariness.

"Today's court assembly was quite exhausting, and I am somewhat weary, so I will take my leave now. As for the matter of the Prince of Qi, I... await your good news."

After saying this, he nodded slightly to the four of them again, then turned around and left the Ministry of Personnel office with slightly heavy steps.

As they watched the Crown Prince's departing figure disappear outside the door, the "concern" and "easing" on the faces of Changsun Wuji and the other three gradually faded.

Instead, there is a deeper sense of solemnity.

"Auxiliary machine, look..."

Fang Xuanling spoke first, his brows slightly furrowed.

Changsun Wuji took a deep breath and said slowly, "The Crown Prince is more composed than we imagined, and he knows better how to advance and retreat."

He recalled the Crown Prince's rapid shift from fierce to "yielding."

The unease in my heart did not dissipate, but instead deepened.

This is something an impulsive and easily angered young person would never do.

Cen Wenben said softly, "In any case, it's better for the Crown Prince to restrain himself for the time being than to continue to confront His Majesty."

"The most urgent task is to stabilize His Majesty's side."

Gao Shilian nodded.

"Yes, we must go see His Majesty immediately."

The four dared not delay, and after a brief discussion, they went together to the Liangyi Hall.

Inside the Liangyi Hall, Li Shimin stood with his hands behind his back by the window.

The rage on his face had faded, but the chilling, ashen look remained.

Upon hearing the eunuch announce that Changsun Wuji and others were requesting an audience, he did not turn around, but simply replied indifferently, "Summon them."

"Your Majesty, we pay our respects."

Li Shimin slowly turned around, his gaze sweeping over the four people with a sharp look.

"You are here."

His voice was calm, yet carried an invisible pressure.

"Is it for the Crown Prince, or for the King of Qi?"

Changsun Wuji, as the representative, stepped forward.

"Your Majesty, we have just paid our respects to His Highness the Crown Prince."

"Oh?"

Li Shimin raised his eyebrows slightly.

"What did he say? Did he think that I, his father, am harsh and ungrateful, and unworthy to be a ruler and a father?"

His words were laced with obvious sarcasm and lingering anger.

"Your Majesty, please calm down!" Fang Xuanling quickly interjected.

"Your Highness... His Highness is actually extremely remorseful."

"Your Highness said that at the time, he was indeed anxious to save Prince Qi and saw that his brother was about to suffer a great disaster. In his haste, he lost his composure in his words."

"I had no intention of disobeying Your Majesty. I now deeply regret it."

Cen Wenben also added.

"Yes, Your Majesty. His Highness the Crown Prince is benevolent and filial. Although his methods were not entirely appropriate, his heart was still concerned about the kinship between the imperial family and his children."

"My heart is sincere and I hope Your Majesty will see it clearly."

They took turns recounting and embellishing Li Chengqian's earlier "apology" to Li Shimin, conveying it to him in a way that was both refined and emphasized. Li Shimin listened without showing any expression.

He was silent for a moment, then suddenly let out a long sigh.

"I... have also failed in my duty to raise my son."

This sentence has a double meaning!
Changsun Wuji and the others understood that His Majesty was saying that Li You's rebellion was due to his father's failure to teach him properly.

Isn't this also a reflection of Li Chengqian's "arrogant" words and actions today, a result of his failed teaching?

Changsun Wuji felt a chill run down his spine.

He had to steer the conversation in a positive direction and find a way for His Majesty to back down gracefully.

Changsun Wuji spoke earnestly, even with a hint of excitement, “Your Majesty, although His Highness the Crown Prince’s words were inappropriate today, he dared to stand up for his criminal younger brother in the court and take on the responsibility of an elder brother.”

"This sense of responsibility and this benevolence are surely the result of His Majesty's daily earnest teachings and subtle influence!"

This is an attempt to save face for Li Shimin.

This is also an attempt to justify Li Chengqian's actions.

Fang Xuanling immediately followed.

“Fuji is absolutely right. Your Majesty, the Prince of Qi is young and impulsive. This rebellion was indeed caused by excessive coercion from Quan Wanji, as well as the instigation and deception of villains such as Zan Junjian and Liang Mengbiao.”

"As far as I know, after the King of Qi was captured, he was also extremely frightened and deeply repented."

"His situation is pitiful, but his actions... may be pardoned at our discretion."

Gao Shilian and Cen Wenben echoed his sentiments.

“Your Majesty, the Prince of Qi is ultimately of Your Majesty’s blood. If he is executed, it may hurt Your Majesty’s heart as a loving father, and it would not be a blessing for the country.”

They have developed a tacit understanding.

Li You cannot be severely punished now.

At least it saves his life and serves as a buffer to ease the sharp conflict between the current emperor and the crown prince.

They didn't really care whether Li You lived or died.

However, they were concerned about the stability of the court and that the relationship between the crown prince and the emperor should not be completely broken.

The real upheaval would occur if the crown prince were driven to a dead end, or if the emperor made an irreversible decision in a fit of rage.

Li Shimin listened to the advice of his senior ministers and remained silent for a long time.

He slowly walked to the imperial desk, his fingers tracing the smooth surface.

The Crown Prince's words, however, were like poisonous thorns, piercing the most hidden and vulnerable parts of his heart.

Losers are not imitated...

The responsibility of an elder brother...

The lack of responsibility of fathers and elder brothers...

Every word echoed in his ears, carrying immense destructive power.

He had to admit that Li Chengqian had accurately grasped his sore spot.

Was Li You's tragedy not also caused by the shadow of the Xuanwu Gate Incident?
Is it completely unrelated to his father's way of disciplining and maintaining emotional bonds with his sons?
(End of this chapter)