Chapter Twenty-One: New Sorrows and Old Grievances (Part One)

In winter, trees are naturally desolate, reduced to sparse branches, making pruning an effortless task. Even though the young eunuchs were not particularly nimble, it took them little time to finish. The tree that once had three forked branches was now transformed into a sleek main trunk, straight as an arrow pointing skyward, imparting a faint sense of sharpness as if a sword were piercing the heavens. It stood out starkly from its surroundings, conspicuous and abrupt, hardly harmonious with the landscape.

"Do you know anything about horticulture, Seventh Brother?" Once the eunuchs had finished and dispersed, Li Hong, who had remained silent, glanced at Li Xian's blank expression and suddenly smiled as he asked.

"I am ignorant, Prince Brother, please enlighten me," Li Xian truly knew nothing of horticulture, but he understood well enough Li Hong's intent in having him observe the process. Of course, knowing this, he still feigned confusion, shaking his head slightly and answering in earnest.

"It's hardly worth calling it instruction. In truth, I am no expert myself, but there is one principle I do understand: a tree must be pruned to become timber, just as jade must be carved to become an artifact. Do you agree, Seventh Brother?" Li Hong looked at the pruned tree with a half-smile, his tone calm as he offered this insight.

"You are right, Prince Brother. I shall remember your words and never forget them." Hearing this, Li Xian's heart gave a painful tug, though he dared not show it on his face. Bowing, he acquiesced respectfully.

"No need for such formality, Seventh Brother. We're merely jesting among ourselves. Enough of that; it's nearly noon, why not stay and dine with me, and let's enjoy some idle conversation?" Li Hong was clearly pleased by Li Xian's respectful demeanor and waved his hand with a smile, taking his seat at the main table in the pavilion.

"I was just about to ask you for advice, Prince Brother, so I won't decline," Li Xian replied with a playful grin, sitting himself beside Li Hong with a cheerful expression.

"Ah, Seventh Brother, you remain as mischievous as ever." Seeing Li Xian's antics, Li Hong couldn't help but laugh and shook his head. He clapped his hands, and the eunuchs and palace maids swiftly brought out a variety of dishes and wine, filling the table before the brothers. With music and dance, the two began a leisurely, scattered conversation.

Li Hong, always frail and not fond of wine, and Li Xian, though possessing a strong constitution, had little interest in the wines of the era. Thus, the atmosphere was hardly lively; their conversation remained light and superficial, the semblance of harmony belying an invisible barrier between them. The days of unreserved brotherly intimacy were gone.

Their faces smiled, but their hearts ached. Faced with Li Hong's concealed yearning for reconciliation, Li Xian could only feign ignorance again and again. Yet deep within, he felt an indescribable sorrow. To outsiders, Li Hong was renowned for his benevolence and filial piety, soft in temperament, but Li Xian knew that was mere appearance. In truth, Li Hong was not only learned and talented, his virtue and ability were in no way inferior to Li Xian's. More rare, he possessed decisive judgment—gentle outwardly, strong within. If anything, he was the most suitable of the four brothers to inherit the throne; his sole flaw was his frail health. Li Xian had not a trace of resentment about Li Hong's succession. If possible, he would have liked to assist this elder brother who had always treated him kindly. Sadly, before the harsh reality, such a wish was nothing more than a fantasy.

Could Li Hong ever truly ascend the throne as emperor? The answer was a resounding no—not for lack of ability, but precisely because he was too capable, blocking the path of Wu Meiniang. Li Hong had been crown prince since the age of three, and at eight had already acted as regent. Over more than a decade, he had served as regent nearly ten times, earning great achievements, the support of ministers, and the favor of Emperor Gaozong. He was considered the indisputable heir. If nothing untoward happened, Li Hong’s succession after Gaozong’s death was assured—Li Xian, no matter how he tried, could not change this course. Yet Wu Meiniang could. As someone determined to dominate the court, she would never tolerate a strong crown prince. Given Li Hong’s temperament, he could not outmatch the ruthless Empress Wu; his demise was inevitable.

To turn the tide? A joke. Li Xian was well aware of his limitations, even though he knew the direction of history. He never believed himself great enough to stop the course of events; after all, everything depended on strength, and strength required time—a resource Li Xian lacked. He dared not gamble his fate on Li Hong, lest both be destroyed together. Thus, faced with Li Hong’s earnest expectations, Li Xian could only play dumb, no matter how much it pained him inside.

Both brothers were clever men; some things need not be spoken, yet are mutually understood. As the saying goes, when words fail, silence prevails. Though they maintained a facade of cordiality, their hearts drifted further apart with each cup exchanged. They were not yet at the point of having nothing to say, but the joy between them had vanished. After barely half an hour, Li Xian, unwilling to linger, found an excuse to take his leave, and Li Hong made no effort to keep him. Thus, their conversation ended abruptly.

"Your Highness."

Outside Chunhua Gate, Gao Miao, having just finished a meal, was joking with the guards of the Prince Zhou’s residence. He caught sight of Li Xian exiting the palace gates and hurried forward, calling softly. He asked nothing, but his face was full of puzzlement—after all, whenever Li Xian entered the Eastern Palace, he usually stayed a long time before returning, but today he was leaving early, making Gao Miao wonder.

"Mm." This visit to the Eastern Palace, though not marked by outright conflict with the crown prince, had in fact signaled a parting of ways. Li Xian's expression was calm, but his heart was full of sorrow. Seeing Gao Miao approach, he had no desire to speak, merely glanced at him and grunted, continuing towards his carriage without pause. Gao Miao, seeing this, dared not ask further and quickly followed.

"Leave the city. Go to the Qingfeng Monastery east of the city," Li Xian, feeling unsettled, had no wish to return home. As he pondered where to go, he suddenly recalled a recent conversation with Gao Miao about Li Chunfeng, and so he gave a casual order, then bent and entered the carriage.

Qingfeng Monastery was located three li east of Chang’an. Though called a monastery, it had no devotees, for it was the residence of the current Grand Astrologer, Li Chunfeng—a legendary figure of Tang. His father, Li Bo, had served as a local official during the Sui dynasty, but, dissatisfied with his low rank, abandoned his post to become a Taoist. Li Bo was a man of letters, styling himself "Yellow-crowned Scholar." Li Chunfeng studied under his father, with a special interest in astronomy, geography, Taoism, and the study of yin and yang. At nine, he traveled to Jingyun Monastery in the Nan Tuo Mountains of Henan to apprentice under the Daoist master Zhiyuan, then wandered the lands. At seventeen he returned home and, upon recommendation by Liu Wenjing, a friend of Emperor Taizong, became an advisor to the emperor. Later, he apprenticed under Yuan Tiangang, delving into numerology, calendrical science, and authored the "..." He achieved much in his life: he was skilled in martial arts and swordsmanship, participated in the coup at Xuanwu Gate, killing several prominent figures with his own hand. Over forty years in officialdom, he served three reigns, rising to Grand Astrologer. He was low-key, rarely socialized with fellow officials, and earned a reputation for eccentricity, especially as his residence was a monastery and he often wore Taoist robes. Despite criticism, all three emperors tolerated him, making him a rare anomaly in the early Tang court.

"Your Highness, please wait a moment. I will call at the door," Gao Miao carefully assisted Li Xian from the carriage, speaking cautiously.

"No, I’ll go myself," Li Xian, after the jostling journey, was already feeling the strain, but he refused to neglect proper etiquette. He waved off Gao Miao’s suggestion, instructed the guards to wait, and walked with numb legs toward the tightly closed gates of Qingfeng Monastery. Gao Miao hurried after him.

"Boundless Heaven, what business brings you here?" Upon reaching the entrance, Gao Miao strode ahead, grabbed the door ring, and knocked loudly. Soon, the door creaked open, and a young Taoist boy of thirteen or fourteen slipped out, squinting at Li Xian and his retinue, then at the nearby carriage. He showed no sign of panic, simply bowed and calmly asked.

"I am Li Xian, Prince Zhou, come to see Grand Astrologer Li. I ask you to announce my visit," Li Xian, noting the boy's extraordinary bearing, addressed him politely.

"So it is Prince Zhou. I am Yujizi; forgive my lack of manners. My master instructed me that a distinguished guest would arrive today, and said that when such a guest came, I should let them in without announcement," replied the boy, bowing again with a smile.

Impossible, thought Li Xian. His visit was a spur-of-the-moment decision—could Li Chunfeng truly have foreseen it? He stared in disbelief at the boy for a moment before nodding. "In that case, I shall not stand on ceremony. I ask you to lead the way."

"Please, Your Highness," Yujizi said, gesturing with a smile for Li Xian to follow.

Qingfeng Monastery was modest, with only three courtyards. They quickly reached the rear garden, rounded a screen wall, and saw an old man and a youth sitting silently in a small stone pavilion. The elder sat with his back to Li Xian, his face obscured, but the young man faced the gate. Li Xian caught sight of him at once—and just that single glance drained all color from his face.