Li Shimin faked his death? Then I will be powerful enough to conquer the world!

The autumn in Chang'an City always carries a sense of solemnity, and the glazed tiles of the Daming Palace glow coldly in the thin sunlight.

Li Dan sat on the dragon throne in the Purple Palace, his fingertips unconsciously stroking the dragon pattern carved on the armrests. The cold touch spread along his fingertips, even worse than when he was imprisoned in another palace by Wu Zetian.

The court meeting at the steps had long since dispersed, but the silence in the hall was more suffocating than the thunderous applause of the officials - every word and every look in the argument just now were clearly engraved in his mind, like a blunt knife repeatedly cutting his remaining imperial dignity.

"Your Majesty, since the Crown Prince became Regent, his policies have been effective and the people have supported him..."

It was the voice of Cui Riyu, the Chief Censor and confidant of Crown Prince Li Longji, and it was filled with unquestionable sharpness.

"Your Majesty, the princess has assisted the government for many years and has made great contributions to the country. Now that the border is in turmoil, stability is paramount at court..."

This was the response from Dou Huaizheng, the Minister of Justice and a member of Princess Taiping's faction, and the flattery in his tone was almost overflowing.

Li Dan closed his eyes, a sweet and fishy taste rising in his throat. It was like this again, always like this.

His court had long since become a stage for the prince and princess's power, while he, the emperor, was just a spectator who had to sit in the audience and was not even qualified to cheer.

Those ministers kneeling at the foot of the altar, some looked towards the East Palace with their heads held high, while others lowered their heads and waited for the princess's signal. Not one of them actually looked at him.

"Your Majesty, it's time to serve the meal."

The chief steward of the Ministry of Internal Affairs reminded him in a low voice, with a cautious and tentative tone in his voice.

Li Dan waved his hand, his voice hoarse as if it had been rubbed by sandpaper: "Draft the edict."

The steward was stunned for a moment, then he knelt down with a pale face: "Your Majesty! You absolutely cannot do this! For the sake of our ancestors and the country..."

"Draft an imperial edict," Li Dan repeated, his tone eerily calm. "I, the Crown Prince, pass the throne to Li Longji, and I shall be the Supreme Emperor, residing in Baifu Hall."

The sound of the steward's kowtow echoed in the empty hall, but Li Dan had already stood up and walked down the steps step by step.

The hem of the dragon robe swept across the cold gold bricks, making a tiny sound, as if it was playing the final chapter of his short and humiliating imperial career.

He recalled that when he took over this broken kingdom from Wu Zetian, he had had a moment of ambition, but now all he had left was endless exhaustion.

Taiping is his biological sister and Longji is his biological son, but the swordplay between this aunt and nephew frightens him more than the poisoned wine of Wei Shuren and Princess Anle.

Being an emperor was so tiring for him that even breathing felt heavy.

Three days later, the succession ceremony was held in Taiji Hall.

Li Longji, wearing a ochre-yellow crown, walked up the steps step by step and took the heavy jade seal from Li Dan's hand.

The sunlight filtered through the vermilion lattice of the palace door, casting bright and dark shadows on his young face. His eyes contained an irrepressible brilliance, but the moment they met Li Dan's gaze, a hint of complex emotions was revealed.

"Your son, thank you, father." Li Longji's voice was loud and clear, echoing in the hall.

Li Dan just patted the back of his hand and said nothing. Some things don't need to be said, and they can't be said.

He watched Li Longji turn around and accept the worship of all the officials. Amid the thunderous cheers of "Long live the emperor", he seemed to hear a sigh in his heart.

This child finally took this position, but the road ahead is probably more difficult than his.

After the ceremony, Li Longji returned to the East Palace and dismissed everyone, leaving only an old man in a blue Taoist robe.

The old man's hair and beard were all white, and his face was full of wrinkles, but he sat straight, and a gleam of light occasionally flashed in his cloudy eyes.

"Sir, today's matter is thanks to you." Li Longji personally poured a cup of hot tea for the old man, with respect in his tone.

Mr. Qi picked up the teacup and gently blew away the foam: "Your Highness—oh no, now I should call you Your Majesty."

He paused and continued, "This old minister is only doing his duty. Your Majesty, your forbearance in the palace today is truly rare."

Li Longji tapped his fingers lightly on the rim of his teacup, his brows furrowed slightly. "Sir, did you know that the commander of the imperial guards met with me in secret yesterday?"

Mr. Qi looked up at him.

"The military token." Li Longji lowered his voice, a hint of uncontrollable excitement in his voice. "The military token that Emperor Wu entrusted to you."

"As long as you take out the military order and call the Yulin Army into the palace, Princess Taiping's followers will be nothing but chickens and dogs!"

As he spoke, he clenched his fists so hard that his knuckles turned white.

These days, Princess Taiping's power in the court has been growing. Among the seven prime ministers, five are her people, and even most of the imperial guards obey her orders.

Every time he went to court, those overt or covert provocations, those subtle contempts, were like needles piercing his heart.

He had endured for too long, so long that he almost forgot that the sword at his waist was for unsheathing, not for decoration.

Mr. Qi shook his head, placed his teacup on the table, and said with a soft ding, "Your Majesty, the military talisman can mobilize the army, but it cannot mobilize the people."

Li Longji was stunned.

"Princess Taiping has been operating for many years and has deep roots," Mr. Qi said slowly. "Her followers are spread across the three provinces and six ministries, and have even infiltrated the local prefectures and counties."

"If you touch her today, the imperial guards may not obey your orders completely, and there will be chaos in the court."

"By then, just as the Wei family disaster has been resolved, internal strife will have begun. How will the world view you?"

"As soon as the late emperor abdicated, you started killing your brothers. How do you deal with the words 'benevolence and filial piety'?"

His voice was not loud, but every word was heart-piercing.

The excitement on Li Longji's face gradually faded, replaced by deep thought.

He knew that Mr. Qi was right, but the impulse in his heart grew wildly like weeds.

"But if we let her continue like this..."

"Endure." Mr. Qi said only one word, but his eyes were extremely firm. "Your Majesty, what you need to do now is not to compete with her for a short period of time, but to accumulate strength."

"The more flamboyant she is, the more enemies she'll make. You just need to wait and see what happens and win over the people."

"When the time is right, you won't have to do anything. Someone will naturally clear the way for you."

Li Longji was silent.

He recalled the first time he met Mr. Qi. At that time, he only had a few confidants around him. It was this old man who suddenly appeared and made a detailed plan for him, contacted the imperial guards, and instigated court officials to rebel, thus putting down the rebellion in one fell swoop.

At that time, he thought this was just a wise man living in seclusion. It was not until yesterday that he saw the three words "Grand Master Qi" in the secret files left by his father.

Grand Tutor Qi during the Qianwu period.

The name exploded in his mind like a thunderbolt.

He grew up listening to legends about the "Second Emperor".

During the Qianwu period, Emperor Qianwu sent troops in three directions to conquer the Xueyantuo, the eighteen tribes of the grassland, and Tubo, while also having to deal with the threat from the aristocratic families.

It was this Grand Tutor Qi who stabilized the government with his thundering methods. He was so powerful that no one could resist him.

Later, the Grand Tutor suddenly disappeared, and everyone thought he was no longer alive. However, they did not expect that he had been living in seclusion, watching all this silently.

Li Longji looked at the old man in front of him and suddenly felt a little strange.

At the age of eighty-two, he should be enjoying his grandchildren, but the invisible pressure he exudes is more intimidating than that of any other important official in the court.

He couldn't imagine how many cards this man, who could make clouds and rain with a flip of his hand, had hidden in his hand.

Those old subordinates scattered everywhere? Those spies hidden in the city? Or... a secret force that even he didn't know about?

Fear? Of course they were. Even more so than they were afraid of Princess Taiping.

No matter how powerful Princess Taiping was, she was still his aunt, and no matter how cruel her methods were, she could not escape the royal circle.

But Master Qi is different. He is like an ancient well with no bottom. No one knows what is hidden inside.

If he could help me ascend the throne, he could naturally also easily bring me down.

But he had to believe him. Without Mr. Qi, there would be no Li Longji today.

If it weren't for Mr. Qi's strategic planning when he pacified Wei Shuren, he would have been killed long ago.

Moreover, if Mr. Qi really wanted to usurp the throne, why would he wait until today? When he was at his lowest point, when he held military power, he had plenty of opportunities.

"What is your Majesty thinking about?" Mr. Qi seemed to see through his thoughts and spoke lightly.

Li Longji came back to his senses and bowed, saying, "Sir, I... was just wondering how I could repay your kindness. I'd like to appoint you as Imperial Tutor to assist in government affairs. What do you think?"

Mr. Qi smiled, a smile that carried a hint of vicissitudes and a hint of relief: "This old minister is like a candle in the wind, unable to withstand the storms of the court."

"Your Majesty possesses great talent and vision. If you simply act according to your heart, you will naturally usher in a prosperous era." He stood up and straightened his robes. "I, your humble servant, will now take my leave."

Li Longji watched his back disappear at the door, feeling empty inside.

The first snow fell in Chang'an City.

Princess Taiping's residence was decorated with lights and there were revelries every night. She seemed certain that the new emperor was still the same young boy who could not cause any waves.

Li Longji lived deep in the palace, discussing state affairs with his confidants such as Yao Chong and Song Jing every day. To the outside world, he pretended to be addicted to music, calligraphy and painting, and did not care about the affairs of the court.

Some people laughed at him for being cowardly, some people felt sorry for him being suppressed, but only Li Longji himself knew that he was waiting.

The New Year arrived in the blink of an eye. According to tradition, the new emperor would change the reign title the following year.

Li Longji summoned all the ministers in the Purple Palace and announced the change of the reign title to "Xiantian".

"The Xiantian, born before heaven and earth, is the origin of all things." Li Longji's voice echoed in the hall. His gaze swept over the ministers below the stairs, calm yet powerful. "I, at a young age, have inherited the throne. I should use my Xiantian energy to bring eternal peace."