Chapter 116: The Crown Prince Plans a Counterattack

The Western Regions are renowned for their grapes, and the finest wines are almost exclusively brewed from them. The vintage produced beneath the Flaming Mountains of Gaochang is particularly peerless—a truly incomparable nectar. The wine Li Hong brought out to entertain his guests was this very top-tier Gaochang vintage, presented as a tribute by the Great Protector-General of Anxi, Pei Xingjian. Its flavor was so rich and mellow that it was truly extraordinary; on the open market, a single catty would easily fetch two or three hundred strings of cash. Even for those of such high status as the Crown Prince and his princely brothers, such a luxury was rarely enjoyed. However, none of the three were particularly fond of spirits. While they called it a banquet, it was mostly an occasion for idle chatter between musical performances. With no one truly focused on the wine, the atmosphere lacked any real fervor, remaining somewhat tepid.

"You may all withdraw."

After several rounds of drinks and the conclusion of the third musical act, the time for serious matters had arrived. As the performers exited, Li Hong waved his hand with a casual air, and the eunuchs and palace maids attending the hall bowed and departed. The spacious hall was left only to the three brothers, seated in a triangular formation.

"Sixth Brother, Seventh Brother, the Ministry of Personnel is the foremost of the Six Ministries. It has been vacant for too long, which is inappropriate. I believe Zhao Renben is fully capable of handling this heavy responsibility. I assume you two share this view? If so, shall we jointly submit a memorial to Father to settle this matter once and for all?" After the others had left, Li Hong paused slightly before smiling and getting straight to the point without any pretense.

"Crown Prince, your words are most reasonable. We were thinking the same, but..."

Upon hearing Li Hong make such a direct request, Li Xian’s expression shifted slightly, though he showed no further reaction. Li Xian (the Seventh Prince), however, chuckled and agreed at once, though he left a small caveat at the end of his sentence.

"Seventh Brother, rest assured. What I promise, I shall not go back on. Hmm, Vice Minister Yang Wu is loyal and diligent; he is a man of great potential. The current Minister of the Court of Judicial Review, Duan Baoxuan, has submitted his resignation due to age several times. I have held him back only because I lacked a suitable replacement. Now, with Vice Minister Yang’s exceptional ability, I believe transferring him to the position of Minister of the Court of Judicial Review would be appropriate. Do you two agree?" Li Hong answered straightforwardly. Having experienced so much, he knew Li Xian was a master of evasion. Playing coy was pointless; it was better to lay everything out in the open, which made things much smoother.

During the Tang Dynasty, the power held by the Court of Judicial Review was immense. Compared to the Ministry of Justice—which merely managed prisons, issued arrest warrants, and captured fugitives—its authority was vastly superior. It was, without a doubt, the sharpest blade of the state. Whoever held this blade possessed the foundation to navigate the imperial court. The Minister of the Court of Judicial Review sat at the helm of this blade, and everyone with ambitions for the court coveted the position. Li Xian was no exception. Upon hearing Li Hong offer such a significant prize, his eyes brightened instantly. His mouth twitched as if he wanted to speak, but in the end, he suppressed the urge, instead casting an inquiring glance at the slightly furrowed brow of Li Xian (the Seventh Prince), making it clear that he wanted him to make the call.

*Clever brat,* Li Xian thought. *He is trying to place us on the furnace. Hmph, Minister of the Court of Judicial Review? A great temptation, but this apple, while beautiful, is highly toxic—it’s not easy to accept. Wait, could it be that he is finally launching a counterattack? It makes sense; if he doesn't retaliate, he risks being completely sidelined as Crown Prince. But the timing seems rather poor!* Li Xian was sharp; he grasped the subtext of Li Hong’s words in an instant. He had intended to push things along, but a sudden realization forced him to suppress the urge.

If they could seize the Court of Judicial Review, it would be akin to severing one of Empress Wu’s arms. No matter how difficult, Li Xian would have attempted it. However, the timing was wrong. He remembered clearly that in his previous life, civil unrest would erupt in Goguryeo early next month. At that time, the Great Tang would launch a massive military campaign, obliterating Goguryeo in a single stroke. This was a matter of national survival and border stability; the imperial court could not afford internal chaos. At the very least, during the decision-making process for the war, the court had to remain stable, or they risked missing the window of opportunity. Anyone who stirred up factional strife during such a period would be a historical sinner. Li Xian dared not take that risk.

"Crown Prince, your words are indeed correct, but I believe that since Yang Wu is a veteran of the Ministry of Works and the river engineering projects are currently in preparation, transferring him now would inevitably affect their progress. If we wait until autumn, perhaps that would be better." After weighing the pros and cons in his mind, Li Xian smiled and politely declined the offer, while subtly hinting at a more suitable time to act.

"Haha, true enough. Seventh Brother is as thorough as ever. I had nearly forgotten about the river works. Hmm, but since Minister Duan is determined to leave, I cannot force him to stay. Do you two have any suitable candidates to recommend?" Li Hong clearly had not expected Li Xian to reject such a massive opportunity. He was stunned for a moment, but unwilling to abandon his goal of rallying his brothers against Empress Wu, he persisted with his inquiry.

*Tsk, this fellow is far too impatient,* Li Xian thought. *To fight that old hag, blood and courage alone won't suffice; one needs patience, or one won't even know how they died.* Though Li Xian understood the desperation behind Li Hong's push for an immediate counterattack, he did not approve of the blind move. Seeing Li Hong's resolve, he knew it would be difficult to change his mind. The trouble was that Li Xian could not sit by and watch him suffer a crushing defeat; after all, neither he nor Li Xian (the Sixth Prince) had grown their wings yet, and they needed the Crown Prince to shield them from Empress Wu’s wrath. With no other choice, his mind raced to find a balance. Just then, a familiar face flashed through his thoughts. His eyes brightened, and he smiled. "Crown Prince, I happen to know of a genius in solving cases. Though his seniority is slightly lacking, his ability is unrivaled in this generation. He might not be qualified for the position of Minister of the Court of Judicial Review, but he would be more than capable of serving as the Vice Minister."

"Oh? If he is recommended by you, Seventh Brother, he must be a talent. Who is this person?" Li Hong’s original intent was to have his brothers help him purge the Court of Judicial Review; whether Yang Wu took the lead role mattered little to him. As long as Li Xian was willing to recommend someone, it was enough. Still, he needed to know the background of the candidate.

"Crown Prince, Minister Yan is actually quite familiar with him. His surname is Di, given name Renjie, courtesy name Huaiying. He is from Taiyuan, Shanxi. He entered the civil service via the Mingjing examination in the first year of the Xianqing era. He served as an assistant in Bianzhou and is currently the Legal Officer for the Bingzhou Commandery. He is skilled at solving cases and has a reputation for virtue. Appointing him as Vice Minister of the Court of Judicial Review would be truly appropriate." Li Xian did not tease; he provided Di Renjie’s credentials clearly.

"Oh? I see. Hmm, he is currently a seventh-rank official. Promoting him to the lower fifth-rank is quite a leap, but since it is your recommendation, I will do my best to ensure it happens."

Li Hong, hearing how fluently Li Xian recited the details of this minor official, assumed Di Renjie must be one of his secret confidants. Satisfied that Li Xian had accepted the olive branch, he didn't care much about Di Renjie's actual ability and smiled his agreement.

"If that comes to pass, it will be a blessing for the court to gain such a talent." Li Xian saw that Li Hong had misunderstood, but he did not correct him. He simply smiled and rose, bowing to Li Hong. "Crown Prince, thank you for the grand banquet. However, I cannot hold my liquor well and must take my leave. I shall return another day to seek your guidance."

"I also take my leave." Li Xian (the Sixth Prince), who had been quietly listening, followed suit.

"Very well. After a morning at court, I am quite weary. You two go slowly; I shall not see you out." Li Hong had achieved his purpose—or so he believed—and did not press them to stay.

"Seventh Brother, I know Yang Wu well. There was nothing wrong with him taking charge of the Court of Judicial Review. Why did you..." Once they were outside the East Palace, Li Xian (the Sixth Prince) could no longer contain his curiosity and asked before they had even reached the carriage.

"Sixth Brother, let us speak in the carriage." Li Xian (the Seventh Prince) didn't want to discuss these sensitive matters in front of the attendants. He cut him off before he could continue.

"The Crown Prince is about to strike at the Court of Judicial Review!" As soon as they were in the carriage, Li Xian (the Seventh Prince) delivered his conclusion.

"Ah, this..." Li Xian (the Sixth Prince) had not delved that deep; he had only been lamenting that Li Xian (the Seventh Prince) had rejected the position. Hearing this shocking news, he was taken aback.

"Sixth Brother, do not be anxious. Hear me out." Li Xian (the Seventh Prince) smiled confidently. "The Crown Prince is acting out of desperation. If he does not strike back, he will lose everything. But the timing is poor. Father cannot yet handle state affairs; if he forces a move now, he will only bash his head against a wall. If he falls, there will be no peace for us. Thus, I recommended the Legal Officer from Bingzhou merely to delay the Crown Prince’s hand. In my view, the autumn is the best time to act. By then, Father will be recovered and presiding over the state. If we assist from the sidelines, we can secure the situation. I do not ask to seize the entire Court, but securing a few key positions will be enough."

"Hmm, very well. Then it is settled!"

Li Xian (the Sixth Prince) had always trusted in his brother's capabilities, especially since every plan they had executed left him with the lion's share of the gains. Hearing Li Xian (the Seventh Prince) speak with such certainty, he had no reason to doubt him.