Chapter 42: Well Played, Li Jing

"I really shouldn't be saying this, but since you, Young Master Wen, saved that old codger Jing Junhong, I haven't forgotten your favor."

No wonder Chang He was so warm upon seeing me and even leaked the news about Apothecary Li's arrival.

He must have thought some new turmoil was about to break out in the palace.

Or perhaps he believed Li Shimin was about to begin purging those who had not participated in the Xuanwu Gate Incident.

Yet Wen He knew that Li Jing's arrival here was likely for the purpose of taking over the defense of Shuozhou.

"Since that is the case, shall we perhaps return in a few days?"

Even Yan Liben held this view.

Wen He smoothly nodded in agreement.

He had never wanted to enter the palace right now in the first place; it was Yan Liben who had dragged him here by force.

"Many thanks, Lord Ze."

The two men paid their respects to Chang He and turned to leave.

Yet at that very moment, a palace eunuch came running hurriedly out from the palace gates.

"Is this Young Master Wen present?"

The eunuch was panting heavily. Wen He found him somewhat familiar, though he could not recall where they had met.

"It is I. May I ask which esteemed official you are?"

Fortunately, he remembered that eunuchs of the Tang dynasty were not called "grandpa" or addressed as eunuchs of lower ranks in casual speech.

The more polite term was "Lord of the Middle Chamber," while commoners called them palace officials or simply addressed them directly as eunuch.

"This humble servant dares not accept the title of 'lord.' I am merely one who attends to the Prince's daily life, and my surname is Huang." He looked quite young, around twenty or so, and must have seen Wen He at the Prince of Qin's mansion, which was why he recognized him at a glance.

By reporting his surname, he intended to draw closer to Wen He.

No one by the Emperor's side was simple, let alone a personal attendant by Li Shimin's side.

"Greetings, Official Huang." Wen He offered a bow.

Official Huang hastily stepped aside, protesting that he dared not accept it, returned the bows to Yan Liben and Chang He, and only then spoke of his true business.

"The Prince just instructed this humble servant to invite the young master into the palace, never expecting to run into you right here. The Prince summons you to the Liangyi Hall. Please accompany this humble servant without delay."

He made a gesture of invitation.

Wen He cast a hesitant glance at Yan Liben.

"Custodian Yan also has matters for an audience today. May he come along?"

After all, they had come together, and Yan Liben was here for his own affairs as well. Leaving him behind alone made Wen He feel rather embarrassed.

"Naturally, naturally." Official Huang did not dare to offend Yan Liben.

Though Yan Liben currently held only the fifth rank, he had the entire Yan family standing behind him.

The greater part of the Ministry of Works had once been recommended by his father or consisted of his father's disciples.

He was a thoroughly genuine official of the second generation.

Departing from the Xuanwu Gate, they walked all the way toward the Liangyi Hall.

Wen He had walked this same path yesterday, though back then he had no mind to admire the surrounding scenery, his nervous heart pounding rapidly.

Today, however, he felt quite differently.

He had to admit that the scenery of the Taiji Palace was indeed magnificent, with fresh air.

The distant surface of the lake rippled with gentle waves.

If placed in later generations, it would undoubtedly be a top-tier scenic spot.

It was only a pity that if there weren't so many soldiers clad in armor along the way, but rather more women dressed in court robes, it would have been even more pleasing to the eye.

Arriving at the Liangyi Hall, Official Huang invited Wen He and Yan Liben into the side hall.

Before long, palace maids served tea soup and pastries.

Looking at the Sichuan peppers floating in his teacup, Wen He felt his scalp tingle and quickly stopped a palace maid, asking her to replace it with a bowl of plain water.

"Does the young master not care for this tea soup?" Yan Liben looked on with curiosity. He took a large gulp, finding the aftertaste endless.

Wen He forced a dry laugh. "I simply cannot appreciate it. If Custodian Yan likes it, please drink more."

He pushed his own bowl across, and Yan Liben laughed heartily. "Then I shall not decline."

The pastries brought by the palace maid were also handed over entirely by Wen He.

Eating such dry food truly choked one up.

After waiting for a while without any movement, Wen He grew somewhat impatient.

Just as he stood up, he saw Official Huang, who had escorted them in earlier, step inside with hurried, dainty paces.

"Young Master Wen, the Prince summons you."

"Understood."

He followed him all the way to the Liangyi Hall.

Looking at the palace before him, he could not help feeling somewhat disappointed; the gap between reality and his imagination of a magnificent, resplendent palace was far too great.

The palace was vast and majestic, imposing enough in scale, yet it lacked a certain sense of luxury.

It fell far short of the imperial palace halls he had imagined.

He had wanted to complain when he was previously at the Xianchi Hall, but thinking it was merely a place for the Emperor to amuse himself, he assumed it was made simpler for that reason.

He had not expected the Liangyi Hall to be the same.

No matter, it was no wonder that emperors of both the Li Shimin and Li Zhilong generations constantly thought of rebuilding their palaces.

Upon entering the gates of the hall, Wen He saw Li Shimin sitting upright on the imperial dais beneath the throne.

To his lower right, in succession, were Fang Xuanling, Du Ruhui, and Zhangsun Wuji.

On the upper left side, another person sat—an elderly man with a majestic appearance and mostly white hair tied in a bun.

He sat there steadily, resembling a calm and immovable mountain.

Could this be Li Jing?

Wen He recognized the other figures in the hall, so the identity of this elder went without saying.

"This commoner pays respects to the Prince."

Wen He once again felt incomparably grateful that he had not time-traveled into the Manchu Qing dynasty.

Otherwise, having to kneel down at every turn would have made him prefer to dash his head against a pillar and be reborn.

"Rise. You rascal certainly travel fast." Li Shimin pointed at him with an amused smile.

When he sent someone to summon Wen He, he had expected it to take at least the time it takes to burn one or two incense sticks, never imagining that Huang Chun would run into him right outside.

"It just happened that Custodian Yan wished to see you and dragged me along." Wen He glossed over it with a chuckle, his gaze drifting toward Li Jing's direction.

If only I could be arranged to sit beside that grandmaster later.

A military god, after all.

Looking across history, how many people could truly hold that title?

As if seeing through Wen He's thoughts, Li Shimin indeed arranged for him to sit right beside Li Jing.

"Wen He."

"Yes."

Wen He, who had not yet seated himself, had to stand up again and face Li Shimin.

"Why were you still addressing yourself as a 'commoner' just now? In two days, once the decree from the Secretariat is issued, you will be the Viscount of Gaoyang. From now on, in front of His Majesty, you may address yourself as a subject."

Li Shimin spoke with what seemed like deliberate teasing.

Wen He offered a dry smile in return, though inwardly he felt puzzled.

In his final sentence just then, he had used neither "Zhen" (I, the Emperor) nor "this Prince," but rather "His Majesty."

Put this way, his words carried a rather intriguing implication.

Indeed, his words carried two distinct meanings.

The first was to inform Zhangsun Wuji and the others that Wen He's starting rank would be a founding county viscount. Especially with the title "Gaoyang," this was enough to shock Zhangsun Wuji and the others profoundly.

Did they not see how their current gazes directed at Wen He were filled with disbelief?

Gaoyang—this was the former capital of Emperor Zhuanxu.

A place like this could not be granted as a fief to anyone outside the imperial clan.

Even Zhangsun Wuji had not expected Li Shimin to treat Wen He as a nephew or younger kinsman.

Stared at by them in this manner, Wen He felt rather uneasy. Naturally, he also understood the significance of this peerage title, and he looked up at Li Shimin with an expression of pure innocence.

The look in his eyes seemed to ask if they could change it to something else.

Yet Li Shimin, currently in high spirits, paid him no mind and instead looked toward Li Jing: "Yaoshi, this future Viscount of Gaoyang of the Great Tang is the one this Prince wishes to introduce to you. Do not let his youth deceive you, my lord; in this matter of exposing Li Yi's rebellion and seeing through the Tujue's conspiracy to move south, this young man has rendered immensely great service."

The second layer of meaning in the words he had just used to introduce Wen He was spoken specifically for Li Jing to hear.

He was letting Wen He know that he could address himself as a subject before "His Majesty" from now on.

As to whom this "His Majesty" actually referred to, it depended entirely on how Li Jing chose to interpret it.

Li Jing narrowed his eyes. After a long moment, his stern expression softened slightly, and he stood up to cup his hands toward Li Shimin: "Since the Prince does not consider this subject too old and entrusts me with heavy responsibilities, this old subject has no words to express it, save for exhausting my loyalty to the Great Tang. In this instance where Li Yi attempts rebellion, I beg the Prince to grant this old subject five hundred elite soldiers, and this old subject will surely capture him and deliver him before the Prince and His Majesty."

Well played, Li Jing.

Even a novice like Wen He could hear it clearly.

While pledging his loyalty to Li Shimin, Li Jing still did not forget to pledge his loyalty to Li Yuan.

Straddling both sides like this—was he worried that Li Yuan might rise to power again in the future?

Wen He looked toward Li Shimin with some concern, only to see him not angry at all, but instead smiling with gratified satisfaction.

"Well played, Li Yaoshi. No wonder others say you handle affairs without a single flaw. This Prince is not a suspicious person; to those who are loyal and render meritorious service to the Great Tang, this Prince will certainly never fail them."

Li Shimin nodded in approval.

Witnessing this scene, Wen He could only feel admiration and a deep sense of emotion.

He truly was a novice in officialdom.

Li Jing's move of pledging allegiance to the new emperor without forsaking his former master was precisely the kind of loyalty rulers most wished to see.

No wonder you, Li Yaoshi, were able to meet a peaceful end in the end.

Li Jing seemed quite satisfied with his own performance and turned around, preparing to return to his seat.

Yet he noticed that the young Master Wen beside him was smiling with a rather bizarre expression.

This child—surely his mind isn't defective, is it?

"Wen He, do not be impudent!"