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

Chapter 24 This is the true way to protect yourself!
This was by no means a simple visit.

Li Yichen's brain was working at lightning speed.

His Majesty had just finished discussing matters with his senior ministers when Changsun Wuji went straight to the Eastern Palace.

Their purpose was likely to investigate the reasons behind the Crown Prince's performance in court today.

It appears to be concern, but in reality it's a test, and may even carry some kind of tacit approval or hint from His Majesty.

The prince was in a state of excitement at the moment, and was very likely to make mistakes in his speech.

If a shrewd and experienced figure like Changsun Wuji were to seize upon even the slightest flaw and follow the clues, the consequences would be unimaginable.

We must never see him.

At the very least, we cannot meet with the Crown Prince when he is unprepared and emotionally agitated.

Li Chengqian had already stood up, ready to greet him.

Li Yichen quickly stood up, stepped forward, and stood in front of Li Chengqian, his voice extremely low and rapid: "Your Highness, you mustn't!"

Li Chengqian was taken aback and looked at him in confusion: "Why not? That's my uncle!"

“Your Highness,” Li Yichen said calmly, yet with an undeniable determination.

"The Duke of Zhao's visit is certainly not merely a formality. He arrived so soon after the court assembly, surely to investigate Your Highness's words and actions today. Your Highness is currently in a state of heightened emotion, and too much talk could lead to mistakes. If he discovers something amiss and questions you, how will Your Highness respond? Are you perhaps going to reveal everything discussed yesterday to the Duke of Zhao?"

The excitement on Li Chengqian's face froze instantly, as if he had been doused with a bucket of cold water.

He wasn't stupid; he was just blinded by victory.

After Li Yichen pointed it out, he immediately realized what was happening.

Yes, my maternal uncle is my mother's elder brother, a high-ranking official in the court, and one of the most trusted ministers of my father.

His arrival at this moment may be motivated by concern, but more so by scrutiny and inquiry.

He had only wanted to show off, but he forgot that Yi Chen's existence was a secret that could never be known to outsiders!

Especially, it must not be known to my uncle and father!
The thought sent a chill down his spine.

"Then...what should we do?" Li Chengqian panicked. "My uncle is already outside the palace, how can we not see him?"

“I will see you, but not now.” Li Yichen said decisively. “Please ask Your Highness to feign illness immediately! Say that Your Highness is feeling slightly unwell after the court session and is resting, and is not in a position to receive guests. Please ask Duke Zhao to come another day.”

"Claim illness?" Li Chengqian hesitated. "Isn't this... too impolite? What if my uncle informs the Emperor..."

"Your Highness!" Li Yichen interrupted him, his gaze sharp.

"When faced with two evils, choose the lesser. A temporary lapse in decorum is far better than having your secret exposed. If His Majesty knew that His Highness was 'ill,' he might be more inclined to believe that His Highness's attendance at court today was due to exhaustion. Make a decision quickly, or things may change!"

Outside the palace, the eunuchs seemed hesitant to urge them on, as there was no response from inside.

Looking at Li Yichen's extremely calm eyes, and thinking about the serious consequences of possible exposure, Li Chengqian finally gritted his teeth and made up his mind.

He took a deep breath, trying to make his voice sound tired and weak, and said in a raised voice, "Reply to Duke Zhao, I feel quite tired and slightly unwell after today's court session. I am resting and cannot receive guests. Please forgive me, Uncle. I will inquire after you another day."

There was a moment of silence outside the hall, followed by a respectful reply from a eunuch: "Yes, Your Highness."

The footsteps faded into the distance, clearly indicating they were going to reply to Changsun Wuji.

Li Chengqian slowly sat back down, letting out a long sigh. The excitement and agitation he had felt earlier had vanished, leaving only a lingering fear.

He looked at Li Yichen with a complicated expression.

The footsteps faded into the distance, clearly indicating they were going to reply to Changsun Wuji. Li Yichen's expression remained unchanged; he merely nodded slightly: "Your Highness must remember in the future that extraordinary times call for extraordinary measures. Any sudden display of 'concern' must be treated with utmost caution."

Outside the East Palace gate, Changsun Wuji's white eyebrows twitched slightly after hearing the eunuch's reply.

Feeling tired or unwell? Currently resting?

He was perfectly fine during the morning court session, but he suddenly fell ill when he arrived?
His deep gaze swept across the imposing palace gates, as if trying to penetrate the layers of halls to see his nephew inside, who was claiming to be ill and unable to get out of bed.

There's also that "expert" who might be right next to his nephew, offering advice and even teaching him how to feign illness to avoid guests.

A subtle, enigmatic smile appeared at the corner of his mouth.

Changsun Wuji didn't say much, only saying lightly, "In that case, let the Crown Prince rest well."

Having said that, he turned and left, his silhouette stretching long against the palace wall.

It seems that the secrets within the Eastern Palace are deeper than he had anticipated.

The crown prince, however, seems to be quite different from before.

Li Chengqian sat there in a daze. The brief sense of security he had gained from his resolute refusal to see his uncle quickly faded, and a strong sense of regret and unease began to gnaw at his heart.

He subconsciously clenched his sleeves, his brows furrowed, and he murmured, "Yichen... have I... have I done something wrong? That is my uncle, that is Minister Situ... was it too... too arrogant and rude of me to feign illness and refuse to see him? If my uncle harbors resentment, or even reports it to Father, will Father think that I am arrogant because of his favor, and that I have become disrespectful as soon as I have made a small step forward?"

The more he spoke, the paler his face became.

Changsun Wuji was not only a relative, but also a very influential figure in the court. Li Chengqian dared not think about the consequences of offending him.

Looking at Li Chengqian's anxious and uncertain expression, Li Yichen's lips curled into a cold smile that was incongruous with his age.

He sat down again, composed, as if he had merely declined a trivial visit.

“Your Highness,” Li Yichen’s voice was steady, yet carried a penetrating power, “you are now feeling regret, even fear, and that’s exactly right.”

Li Chengqian suddenly looked up: "What do you mean?"

"This proves that the Duke of Zhao's 'reconnaissance mission' has hit your weak spot—your fear of 'etiquette' and 'public opinion'."

Li Yichen's gaze was piercing as he stared directly at Li Chengqian. "He hasn't even entered the door yet, and he's already throwing you into disarray. If you were to actually meet him, how much composure would you be able to maintain in the face of his worldly-wise eyes?"

Li Chengqian's breath hitched, and his expression changed slightly.

Li Yichen continued, his tone growing increasingly somber, carrying a coldness that seemed to dissect human nature.

"Do you really think he came to reminisce about the relationship between uncle and nephew? Your Highness, in the Taiji Hall, you are the ruler and he is the subject. In the Eastern Palace, you are the Crown Prince and he is still the subject. For a subject to urgently see the Crown Prince without an imperial edict, especially at this sensitive time when you have just begun to show your talent—this in itself is a risky move to test the waters."

"A risky move?" Li Chengqian caught the word and his mind was drawn in.

“Not bad.” Li Yichen nodded. “This move, seemingly casual, actually conceals three layers of deadly intent: First, he observes your demeanor to probe your true strength. If you are complacent, he will know you are shallow and easily arrogant; if you feign composure, he will see your lack of confidence. Second, he uses the guise of kinship to conduct interrogation. Behind a few words of casual concern lies a barbed interrogation, aiming to extract the truth behind your words and actions today when you are least on guard. Third, and most importantly—”

Li Yichen leaned forward slightly, lowering his voice even further, yet each word struck Li Chengqian's heart like a hammer blow.

"He wants to confirm whether the Crown Prince's Palace truly has someone who can teach you 'chess.' Once he senses anything unusual, even just a hint of suspicion, Your Highness, do you think the Duke of Zhao will let it go?"

Li Chengqian gasped, his back instantly soaked with cold sweat.

He then realized that his momentary hesitation might have pushed them both into an abyss of no return.

“Therefore, Your Highness,” Li Yichen said resolutely, “by not seeing him, you are not only not at fault, but it is the most brilliant move you can make right now! You have made him punch empty air, leaving him unable to fathom the depths of the Eastern Palace. This is the true way to protect yourself!”

(End of this chapter)