Zhenguan Xiaoxian Wang Li Shen Li Shimin

The Ministry of Personnel, the office of the Left Vice Minister.

Changsun Wuji sat in the head seat, and besides him were Xu Jingzong, Gao Shilian, Gao Lixing, and Chu Suiliang.

The atmosphere was somewhat oppressive. Each person had a cup of tea in front of them, but there were no servants.

After a long while, Xu Jingzong finally couldn't help but speak:

"Duke Zhao, what exactly did Prince Ji mean just now?"

Changsun Wuji frowned and replied:

"I've been wondering why Prince Ji's arrival is so coincidental. I've already asked the gatekeepers, and they say that Prince Ji is here today to deliver New Year's greetings to His Majesty."

In other words, he came from the inner palace after delivering the gifts.

"Fuji, do you think it's possible that His Majesty instructed Prince Ji to say these words?" Gao Jifu pondered for a moment before speculating.

"That's hard to say, Dengshan, do you know anything?"

Changsun Wuji looked at Chu Suiliang.

Chu Suiliang shook his head:

"Reporting to Duke Zhao, I am no longer by His Majesty's side. All of His Majesty's words and actions are recorded by the Imperial Diarist. I have always been by His Highness the Crown Prince's side."

Chu Suiliang held the official position of Huangmen Shilang, serving the emperor and responsible for relaying memorials from officials and participating in imperial meetings.

Therefore, the Yellow Gate Attendant knew many things that others did not.

However, since Li Shimin no longer paid attention to state affairs, Chu Suiliang did not need to follow Li Shimin and stayed by Li Chengqian's side.

"Duke Zhao, could it be that Prince Ji really meant that just now?" Seeing everyone speaking in riddles, Xu Jingzong asked anxiously.

"Minister Xu, please calm down. Perhaps this is not His Majesty's intention, but simply Prince Ji's own."

Gao Lixing offered words of comfort, explaining that he hadn't been involved and had only heard the gist of the story.

So he didn't understand why everyone was so worried just because of one sentence from Prince Ji.

"This matter is not so simple. Just as I said, Prince Ji's arrival was too coincidental."

Changsun Wuji pondered.

"Does Fu Ji mean... that His Majesty did this intentionally?" Gao Jifu's expression changed.

Everyone else looked at Changsun Wuji. If it was truly His Majesty's instruction, then the matter was indeed not simple.

Seeing that everyone was looking at him, Changsun Wuji could only nod solemnly:

"That's very possible, otherwise Prince Ji wouldn't have come to the Liangyi Hall so soon after entering the inner palace."

As you should know, when you visited Songtsen Gampo yesterday, Prince Ji and His Highness the Crown Prince had already met.

Later, His Highness the Crown Prince went to the Prince Ji's residence, and shortly afterward, His Majesty also went to the Prince Ji's residence.

If there was anything to say, it should have been said yesterday. Why is there something else to say today?

As everyone knows, Prince Ji has been absent from court for a long time and never interferes in court affairs. Every time he participates, it is at His Majesty's behest.

Therefore, I suspect that this time is no different; His Majesty wants to use Prince Ji's words to give us a warning.

After Changsun Wuji finished speaking, everyone fell silent, each lost in their own thoughts.

After a long while, Gao Lixing finally spoke and asked:

"Fuji, why did His Majesty reprimand you all? Could it be that His Majesty has some deeper meaning? Or... does His Majesty know something?"

"Forming cliques for personal gain and monopolizing power are major taboos. At this critical moment, which official from the three provinces and six ministries is not extremely cautious and dares not make any unusual moves?"

No one dared to cross the line, and even if His Majesty investigated, he wouldn't find anything, because no one had done anything wrong.

"We are all working diligently and conscientiously, fulfilling our duties and assisting His Highness the Crown Prince according to His Majesty's wishes. Why is His Majesty reprimanding us?"

Changsun Wuji couldn't understand why His Majesty had sent Prince Ji to reprimand them at this time.

The presence of representatives from three provinces and six ministries clearly indicates that this was intentional.

"Could it be that we're overthinking it? I just observed that His Highness the Crown Prince also seemed somewhat surprised."

"It's obvious they didn't know." Gao Jifu said after a moment's thought.

"His Highness the Crown Prince is indeed unaware of this, but I agree with Duke Zhao's guess that Prince Ji's visit today is ill-intentioned."

He deliberately said those words in front of us; in that setting, it seemed rather contrived.

Chu Suiliang had been following Li Chengqian for a long time, so he knew Li Chengqian quite well. He observed Li Chengqian's expression and realized that Li Chengqian was indeed unaware of the situation.

"That means it was either His Majesty's instruction or Prince Ji's personal action, but I tend to believe the former."

Although Prince Ji was fond of meddling in other people's business, he rarely paid attention to matters of the court.

It seems His Majesty's abdication is imminent; he is preparing for it.

After listening to Chu Suiliang's words, Changsun Wuji made his conclusion.

"Duke Zhao, if this happens, will His Majesty take action against us?" Xu Jingzong immediately became nervous.

Upon hearing this, Changsun Wuji glanced at Xu Jingzong, a flash of contempt crossing his eyes:

"Don't worry, His Majesty won't harm you."

Moreover, even if His Majesty takes action, it won't be a big deal. He'll just be transferred to a local post, just like the Duke of Ying.

After the Crown Prince ascends the throne, he will bestow favors and give the position to the Crown Prince.

Changsun Wuji, as expected of a prime minister, was quick-witted and saw through Li Shimin's original plan clearly.

However, he was unaware that Li Shimin intended to kill Li Shiji. Fortunately, Li Shiji left quickly, otherwise he might have been killed.

At that time, Li Shimin felt that he was terminally ill. Changsun Wuji was a relative of the emperor and also Li Chengqian's uncle, so he was relatively at ease.

Of the remaining veterans, all were old, weak, sick, or disabled, except for Duke Li Shiji, who was still relatively young and strong, and skilled in both literature and martial arts.

He was the person Li Shimin worried about the most.

"If what Duke Zhao said is true, then there is no problem. I'm just afraid that His Majesty has other plans."

His Majesty is a man of great talent and ambition; what he is truly thinking is unknown to outsiders. We should proceed with caution.

Gao Jifu offered a reminder. The current emperor is quite different from the crown prince; his ruthlessness terrifies even these veteran ministers.

“That’s right. We should focus on assisting the Crown Prince and have less contact with him in the future to avoid causing His Majesty to misunderstand.”

Gao nodded.

"This Prince Ji is something else. Why does he have to come to the palace at this time of year? Why does he always seem to be making things difficult for us?"

"Didn't he refuse to participate in court affairs?" Chu Suiliang said resentfully.

He harbored considerable resentment towards Li Shen. Initially, he and Liu Ji disagreed on political matters and had several disagreements. Liu Ji advocated for the promotion of officials from humble backgrounds, while Chu Suiliang was concerned with the interests of the Guanlong Group.

Ultimately, due to political factional struggles, Chu Suiliang framed Liu Ji for plotting against Yi Yin and Huo Qubing, something the emperor deeply feared.

Li Shimin was furious and prepared to execute Liu Ji. He was about to succeed when Prince Ji, Li Shen, suddenly appeared.

After his performance, he not only saved Liu Ji, but also caused Liu Ji to be transferred to the position of Vice Minister of Works. If it weren't for the intervention of Changsun Wuji and Gao Jifu, he would never have been able to regain his original position.

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