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

Chapter 28 A Gamble?
"Very well! As you wish! I will order the palace gates opened right now! Let everyone come in and have a good look!"

A flush of fierceness and excitement rose on his face as he turned to the outside of the hall, about to call for his attendants.

"Your Highness, please wait!" Li Yichen stopped him again.

Li Chengqian turned around, puzzled: "What is it now?"

“The order must be given, but the posture must be appropriate.” Li Yichen was as calm as if he were planning a battle. “It cannot appear as if you were forced into it or acted out of spite. It must appear as if… Your Highness has deeply reflected on your actions, realized your mistakes, and is determined to correct them, accepting the supervision and assistance of all your subjects with the most open attitude.”

He narrowed his eyes slightly: "Your Highness may immediately draft a memorial and submit it to His Majesty. It should say that I recently offended the Emperor and my father, and I feel deeply ashamed. During my time of self-reflection, I have read the classics and realized the error of my past practice of being closed-minded, refusing to listen to advice, and covering up my mistakes. To show my sincerity in repenting, and also to be open to good advice and to cultivate my virtue, I hereby request that, from this day forward, the Eastern Palace be opened to all officials of the fifth rank and above in the capital, who may enter the palace at fixed times to request an audience and offer their advice. I earnestly request His Majesty's permission and that a historian be appointed to record this, so as to demonstrate Your Highness's sincerity in repenting and reforming."

Li Chengqian was dumbfounded: "We...we need to submit a memorial? Request an imperial decree? Have the historian record it?"

“Yes!” Li Yichen said decisively, “Not only should we open the door, but we should also announce it to the whole world with great fanfare: Your Highness, you opened this door willingly! You opened it for the sake of the Tang Dynasty and to become a better crown prince! Raise your stance to the highest level! That way, even if His Majesty has many doubts, he will have no choice but to accept it! He might even have to praise you! Otherwise, he would be a foolish ruler who hinders his son from doing good!”

"Brilliant! Absolutely brilliant!" Li Chengqian couldn't help but praise, utterly impressed by Li Yichen's cunning.

This is no longer just a game of strategy; it's about manipulating people's hearts, etiquette, and public opinion!
All the pent-up emotions in Li Chengqian's heart vanished, replaced by a near-madness of resolve.

He took a deep breath, suppressing his surging blood, and said in a deep voice to the outside of the hall, "Someone come here!"

A guard captain entered in response and bowed to receive the order.

"Reveal my command," Li Chengqian's voice regained the majesty of a crown prince.

"Effective immediately, lift all non-routine precautions at the Eastern Palace. Restore the regular guards at the palace gates and prohibit officials from being obstructed from visiting without cause. Also, summon the Left Vice-Chancellor of the Crown Prince immediately, as I need to draft a memorial."

Although the commander of the guards was surprised, seeing the prince's solemn expression, he dared not ask any further questions and immediately obeyed the order and left.

Li Chengqian turned to Li Yichen, his eyes gleaming with a mixture of excitement and dependence: "Yichen, the contents of the memorial still need your consideration."

Li Yichen bowed slightly: "Your subject will do his best."

He knew in his heart that this memorial was a crucial step. He had to turn "being forced" into "being proactive," "suspect" into "repentance," and elevate the Crown Prince's position to a level that His Majesty could not easily refute.

Just as the Eastern Palace was making preparations in full swing, the eunuchs from the Inner Palace sent by Wang De were still conducting a second round of questioning of the Eastern Palace eunuchs in a side hall.

Suddenly, a eunuch rushed over and whispered a few words to the middle-aged eunuch in charge of the questioning.

The middle-aged eunuch's expression changed slightly. After hesitating for a moment, he waved his hand to signal the end of the questioning and dismissed all the palace servants, both those who had been questioned and those who had not yet been questioned.

The middle-aged eunuch dared not delay and immediately returned to the Liangyi Hall to report to Wang De.

"What? The Crown Prince has ordered the lifting of security? And he even wants to submit a petition requesting the opening of the Eastern Palace?"

Upon hearing the news, even though Wang De had weathered many storms, he couldn't help but show surprise on his face.

He dared not delay and immediately turned around and went inside to inform Li Shimin, who was reviewing memorials, of the matter.

Li Shimin's hand, holding the pen, paused in mid-air, and a drop of vermilion ink fell onto the memorial, spreading a small patch of glaring red.

He slowly raised his head, his gaze sharp and intense, staring directly at Wang De.

"Can you say that again?"

Wang De bowed low and recounted the news from the Eastern Palace word for word, including details of the Crown Prince's plan to submit a memorial requesting the opening of the Eastern Palace and allowing officials of the fifth rank and above to pay their respects.

A deathly silence fell over the hall. Li Shimin put down his pen and leaned back on the throne.

His face was expressionless, but his deep eyes seemed to be churning with turbulent waves.

Shocking! Utterly shocking!

He anticipated Li Chengqian's various reactions.

Enraged, fearful, argumentative, or even they might come to the Liangyi Hall to cry and plead!

The only thing I didn't expect was that it would be such a decisive, such... incomprehensible move!
Open the palace gates?

Welcome official oversight?

Is this still the same son who was sensitive because of his foot ailment, eccentric because of falling out of favor, and prone to seclusion in the palace?
This was definitely not a solution that Li Chengqian could have come up with on his own!

The hand behind his back not only taught him how to defend, but also how to use offense as defense, turning a crisis into a... performance?
A gamble?
Li Shimin remained silent for a long time, his inner turmoil difficult to calm.

He realized that he might have underestimated the changes happening in the Eastern Palace.

This is no longer a simple case of teenage rebellion or being misled, but the beginning of a premeditated, methodical, and goal-oriented power struggle.

The person hiding behind the crown prince is no ordinary person in terms of vision, courage, and methods.

Just as Li Shimin was experiencing a surge of emotions, the memorial from the Eastern Palace had been formally presented to the Liangyi Hall by the interpreter.

Li Shimin unfolded the memorial, the handwriting of which was the Crown Prince's own, slightly immature, but the wording was exceptionally mature and respectful.

"Your Majesty, I, Chengqian, respectfully submit this memorial: My recent outrageous words and actions in the Liangyi Hall offended Your Majesty, a grave offense. Reflecting upon this, I am filled with dread. Reflecting on my actions behind closed doors, I have studied the classics and realized that my past isolation within the palace and refusal to heed good advice were a path to ruin, unbecoming of a crown prince. I deeply regret my actions and vow to reform myself. To demonstrate my sincerity, and to broaden my understanding, exchange knowledge, and cultivate virtue, I earnestly request Your Majesty's permission to establish a 'Consultative Hall' in the Eastern Palace, effective immediately. All officials of the fifth rank and above in the capital may enter the palace at a fixed time each day to present their views on the merits and demerits of current affairs, or to discuss classics and history with me. I will listen humbly and readily accept your advice. Furthermore, I request Your Majesty to order the historians to record these statements, to demonstrate my sincerity in repentance and reform, and to let the world know of Your Majesty's wise guidance and the court's broad acceptance of advice. I await your command with utmost trepidation!"

The memorial was short, but every word seemed to have been carefully crafted.

It downplayed the previous "questioning of the heart" as "outrageous words and perverse deeds," emphasizing "repentance" and "turning to good."

The purpose of opening the palace gates was elevated from "proving one's innocence" to "opening up to diverse opinions," "exchanging knowledge," and "cultivating moral character."

Finally, they even requested the historians to record it, packaging a potential storm as a political show that highlighted the emperor's wisdom and the crown prince's virtue.

After reading the memorial, Li Shimin gently placed it on the imperial desk and tapped his fingers on the surface.

The shock on his face gradually faded, replaced by a cold scrutiny and calculation.

"Trying to outwit me?" Li Shimin sneered inwardly.

The Crown Prince's move, seemingly placing himself in the sunlight with complete openness, was in fact a strategic retreat that outmaneuvered me.

If I do not allow it, it would be hindering the Crown Prince from doing good, confirming my harshness and suspicion towards him.

If approved, the Eastern Palace will become a chaotic place, and will the Crown Prince be able to control it?

Does the person behind this really think they can rest easy now?

　Thank you so much for your monthly tickets and recommendation votes, dear readers! I bow in gratitude to you all! To express my gratitude, I'm adding an extra chapter today!
　　
　
(End of this chapter)