Chapter 14: My Erlang, Will He Achieve Greatness in the Future?

“Absurd!”
“Preposterous!”

Du Ruhui’s expression was solemn, while Fang Xuanling had already stepped directly in front of Li Shimin, bowing with hands clasped.

“Your Highness is far too wise to believe such nonsense.”

Having spoken, he did not wait for Li Shimin’s explanation and turned to scold Changsun Wuji with displeasure, “Chancellor Changsun, it would be one thing if you did not advise His Highness, but to actually believe these words!”

Usually cautious, Fang Xuanling rarely lost his temper so completely—he was on the verge of pointing a finger at Changsun Wuji and reprimanding him harshly for failing in his duty as a minister.

“Xuanling, don’t be so hasty. I have already verified this with His Highness; it is indeed true.”

Changsun Wuji forced a smile and patiently spoke.

Fang Xuanling still refused to believe it, snorting and turning his gaze toward Wen He.

“You claim to be from the future. Then let this old man ask you: what will happen in the future? How long will the Tang dynasty endure? And who will be the future ruler of Tang?”

As he spoke, he stepped closer to Wen He. If he had his sword now, he would have drawn it without hesitation.

“If I’m not mistaken, you’ll say that the future emperor will be Prince Qin, and that the Tang dynasty will last for ten thousand years. I’ve seen many liars like you!”

He sneered, giving Wen He no chance to respond.

Wen He recalled that historically, Fang Xuanling was known for being prudent and cautious. How could his temper be so fierce now?

“Xuanling, calm yourself,” Du Ruhui hurried over and intercepted him.

“Keming, don’t you see that His Highness has already been beguiled by this scoundrel? What if he says that the Emperor will depose the Crown Prince and enthrone Prince Qin—what then?”

Fang Xuanling was genuinely afraid.

Wen He immediately understood why he was so agitated.

At this moment, Prince Qin only had one path—compete for the position.

But if Wen He were to voice Fang Xuanling’s suspicions now, there would be no movement.

If the opportunity was missed, the entire Prince Qin faction would be doomed.

“I never said such a thing! How dare you slander me? If you don’t believe me, ask Prince Qin. I was just encouraging him to proceed immediately with the Xuanwu Gate Incident.”

“The Xuanwu Gate Incident?”

The two old men who had been arguing were momentarily stunned.

Du Ruhui furrowed his brows and looked back at Prince Qin in surprise.

“Your Highness, there will be a change at Xuanwu Gate?”

“Not yet, but soon.” Li Shimin recounted everything Wen He had told him earlier in the study.

Fang Xuanling and Du Ruhui both widened their eyes in shock.

---

But they quickly regained their composure.

Du Ruhui stroked his graying goatee and questioned Wen He.

“Since you claim to be from the future, let me ask you: the commanders guarding Xuanwu Gate are seasoned veterans, and the guards are palace retainers, many of whom are originally from the imperial army. With them present, how could Prince Qin possibly take control of Xuanwu Gate?”

As Du Ruhui spoke, Wen He noticed Li Shimin and Changsun Wuji also watching him.

These two old foxes were still trying to test me.

“If I can explain this clearly, will you stop doubting me?” Wen He smiled wryly.

“Certainly.” Fang Xuanling pulled his sleeve free from Du Ruhui’s grasp and replied.

Li Shimin, curious about how much later history recorded on this event, nodded invitingly at Wen He.

With his permission, Wen He thought for a moment before continuing.

“Chang He, Jing Junhong, and Lü Shiheng... no, Lü Shiheng was sent by Prince Qin later, so he probably wasn’t on duty at Xuanwu Gate then. But when resisting Li Yuanji’s reinforcements, he and Jing Junhong fought fiercely and ultimately died because they were outnumbered.”

Wen He felt that in his previous life, most of what he knew about this history centered on Li Shimin’s deeds, and many other details were vague.

But the deaths of Jing Junhong and Lü Shiheng seemed accurate.

“Junhong and Shiheng...”

Li Shimin’s smile froze instantly.

“Why?”

He asked angrily, his gaze fierce like a wrathful guardian deity.

“When Crown Prince Li Jiancheng and Li Yuanji died, their subordinates Feng Li, Qu Zhi, Xie Shufang, the Left Cavalry Commander, and Deputy Protector Xue Wanche did not give up. Instead, they sought revenge for their brothers, gathering two thousand elite soldiers, clamoring to kill Your Highness.”

“Jing Junhong and Lü Shiheng disregarded life and death. Even when advised to wait and see, neither listened, and both died fighting against overwhelming odds.”

Wen He softened his tone slightly, seeing the sorrow in Li Shimin’s eyes, not wanting to deepen the wound.

“But Your Highness did not neglect them; after their deaths, they were posthumously honored.”

Li Shimin shook his head, unwilling to dwell on this.

It had not yet happened, so he still had a chance to change their fates.

“Now do you believe me?” Wen He said, looking at the bewildered Du Ruhui and Fang Xuanling.

Even these two brilliant men were still stunned.

They could not accept the claim that someone had traveled from the future.

Yet what Wen He had just said was undeniably true.

For example, the idea to bribe Chang He was originally proposed by these two themselves.

No one outside the four in the room could have known this.

“Has Your Highness ever mentioned this before?” Fang Xuanling asked, frowning.

“Not even Chang He’s name was brought up,” Changsun Wuji nodded firmly.

---

That was why Wen He’s prediction that the Xuanwu Gate Incident would succeed had not been doubted by him or Prince Qin.

It was not just Xuanwu Gate; there were also people from their faction among the Eastern Palace guards.

The only difference was that Wen He said it was a hastily made decision in the future, but how could such a matter be settled on a whim?

“Are you really from the future?” Fang Xuanling still doubted.

“You don’t have to believe me.” Wen He shrugged carelessly.

As long as Li Shimin believed him, that was sufficient.

“Then do you know about me in the future?”

Suddenly, Fang Xuanling changed his tone.

Du Ruhui looked at him in surprise.

Li Shimin and Changsun Wuji were caught off guard.

They did not expect Fang Xuanling to be so shameless.

He had just threatened to bury Wen He alive, and now he was asking about his own future.

“Ahem, Xuanling, I have some matters to discuss with you and Keming. As for future events, perhaps we should talk later.”

Li Shimin was worried Wen He might speak recklessly again.

Earlier in the study, Wen He’s mention of Changsun Wuji being forced to commit suicide had made him break out in a cold sweat.

And just now, in the side hall, Wen He said that after Fang Xuanling’s death, Changsun Wuji would take revenge on his family. Fortunately, Fang Xuanling did not hear that.

“Your Highness, rest assured. Both Lord Fang and Lord Du will be remembered in history. Even Lord Fang’s second son will be...”

Wen He suddenly recalled something and suddenly said, “Your Highness, I just remembered I have some matters to attend to, so I’ll take my leave.”

He knew what Li Shimin worried about.

If he did not say it, Fang Xuanling and Du Ruhui would surely keep pressing him. So he intended to brush them off.

But he could not help but slip up, thinking of how fiercely Fang Xuanling had treated him earlier.

He regretted his words immediately and planned to be vague before leaving quickly.

However, Fang Xuanling was not so easily fooled.

“Wait a moment, young Wen.”

He did not care about himself—being able to assist a wise ruler and be remembered in history was certain.

But his newborn child would also achieve great things in the future.

“My second son will have great achievements?”