Chapter 55 Then Let That Insolent Fellow Wen He Come Out and Take the Blame

He understood that Zhangsun Wuji was simply trying to divert his attention.

Starting tomorrow, he would be the true ruler of this Great Tang empire, lacking only the formal title of Emperor.

Yet who would dare to defy him?

Zhangsun Wuji chuckled dryly, somewhat embarrassed at having his thoughts so easily exposed. He gave a couple of light coughs and asked with a solemn expression.

"This subject does not understand. That rascal Wen He once claimed that Your Highness would surely win over that stubborn mule Wei Zheng, but why were you in such a rush to make that wager with him just now?"

Before he could finish, Li Shimin noticed his hesitation and told him to continue.

Zhangsun Wuji pondered for a moment and proceeded. "What if, just in case, Venus in broad daylight does not appear before dawn tomorrow? What should be done then?"

It was not that he disbelieved Wen He's words, but such occurrences could well have been fabricated by later generations. Such things had certainly happened before.

Hearing this, Li Shimin burst into hearty laughter and reached out to pat Zhangsun Wuji on the shoulder.

"Shall we have that rascal Wen He step forward to take the blame?"

"This..."

Zhangsun Wuji wore a bitter expression, hesitating and unsure whether to agree or not. After all, Wen He would still be of great use in the future. He did not want to breed resentment in the youth over a matter concerning Wei Zheng.

Seeing his conflicted look, Li Shimin's laughter grew even louder. He pointed at Zhangsun Wuji and smiled.

"Fuji, oh Fuji, you who are usually the most resourceful and adaptable, what has happened to you today?"

"What does Wei Zheng know of celestial phenomena? If the Bureau of Astronomy says it appeared, how could he possibly question it?"

Zhangsun Wuji was suddenly enlightened.

Indeed, once dawn had passed, as long as the Bureau of Astronomy declared it had happened, who could dispute it? At worst, they could simply claim that Venus had vanished in the blink of an eye.

"Your Highness is truly wise." Zhangsun Wuji bowed deeply in submission.

Li Shimin smiled wryly and said, "I had no choice either. Making this wager with Wei Zheng was not meant to subdue him, but rather to make him willing to undertake certain tasks for me."

"What does Your Highness mean?" Zhangsun Wuji asked, puzzled.

Li Shimin let out a long sigh, carrying a trace of solitude. With his hands clasped behind his back, he gazed out of the grand hall into the blowing wind, his voice deep and heavy.

"Did you truly think I intended for Wei Zheng to submit memorials of remonstrance, making enemies of everyone and ruining his own reputation?"

"What good would that do me?"

Zhangsun Wuji nodded, for that was precisely what he had thought. Wei Zheng was not a military commander; making too many enemies would certainly not bode well for him.

If the Prince of Qin intended to employ him in the future, he would never let him become an isolated minister, or else he would not live long.

Did Your Highness say he intends to use him?

Zhangsun Wuji suddenly understood, exclaiming in surprise, "Is Your Highness bestowing favor upon him, and could it be to have him persuade the former officials of Li Jiancheng?"

"Fuji." Li Shimin laughed heartily, nodding in approval.

"That rascal Wen He said that in the future, you will be the pillar of the Great Tang and my most trusted official for the entrustment of the orphaned heir. It seems now that his words are entirely true."

If Wen He had been present at this moment, he would undoubtedly have agreed with Li Shimin's words and then muttered inwardly: *As if.*

An emperor never speaks the complete truth to his ministers, not even to the minister who is his closest brother-in-law.

Yet Zhangsun Wuji remained unaware, deeply moved as he bowed formally to Li Shimin.

"This subject dares not accept such lavish praise from Your Highness. I only wish to devote my utmost loyalty to the Great Tang and pray that Your Highness lives for ten thousand years."

In his heart, he felt both a surge of excitement and a touch of sorrow. He did not wish to see Li Shimin pass away prematurely, yet he could not suppress his inner craving for power.

Li Shimin took him by the arm and raised him up.

"You and I are sovereign and subject; there is no need for such formalities. My only wish now is that, with that rascal Wen He around, I might live a few years longer than in the original history, so that the Great Tang does not decline so early."

"If I can gain another century or two, I will die content."

Had he not known the future, he perhaps would not have labored with such anxious care.

The female ruler of the Wu clan, the Tibetan forces capturing Chang'an, the emperor fleeing six times, and that man named Huang Chao—even if the Great Tang were destined to fall eventually, it must never perish at the hands of foreigners or women. Otherwise, that would be the ultimate humiliation for Li Shimin!

His descendants, even in death, must never become another Emperor Hui of Jin.

"Right, Fuji, I have a matter that requires your urgent attention. Once the question of the crown prince is settled tomorrow, immediately summon the Duke of Yingguo to Chang'an. Find him an estate in Yongle Lane, and ideally, arrange an empty residence right next to it so that Wen He may reside there in the future."

The Duke of Yingguo? Wu Shiyue?

Doubt flickered in Zhangsun Wuji's mind. Why would Your Highness want Wen He and Wu Shiyue to live as neighbors? Could this Wu Shiyue possess some great utility in the future?

Zhangsun Wuji's thoughts began to race. He had not forgotten how Wen He had been spouting nonsense earlier to the Prince of Qin, claiming that in the future, he would take revenge on the family of Fang Xuanling.

Ridiculous! Was he, Zhangsun Wuji, the kind of petty person who sought vengeance for the slightest grievance?

Tomorrow, upon seeing that rascal, he would certainly give him a stern reprimand so that he would learn the value of cautious speech and guarded conduct. After all, he was to be a trusted minister entrusted with the orphan prince; how could he possibly be so petty?

At this thought, a smile broke across his face despite his best efforts to suppress it.

Li Shimin observed this, and though he did not know what Zhangsun Wuji was thinking, he could guess most of it. He did not expose him, but instead turned with his hands behind his back and walked into the grand hall.

On the next day, just after the first watch of the night, the Bureau of Astronomy fell into utter chaos.

Right in the southern sky, a star blazed with dazzling brilliance.

"Venus in broad daylight once again!"

The Director of the Bureau of Astronomy stared into the night sky with his jaw dropped in shock. Throughout history, records of such frequent appearances of Venus in broad daylight could be counted on one hand.

"Venus crossing the sky—it portends a revolution in the realm and a change of sovereign!"

He shuddered violently and ordered someone to awaken the attendants within the bureau.

"Quickly, go and inform His Majesty! Venus in broad daylight has appeared once more in the southern sky!"

The attendant, rudely shaken from his slumber, remained dazed for a few breaths before collecting his wits and sprinting frantically toward the inner palace.

A celestial anomaly was a matter of grave consequence. At any time, the Emperor had to be informed at the earliest possible moment.

In the Taiji Hall, Emperor Gaozu, Li Yuan, was holding a concubine whose name he could no longer recall, gazing listlessly upward.

Suddenly, a commotion sounded from outside the doors.

He stiffened, snatched a sabre from the bedside, and leaped up.

"Has that rebellious son come to murder me?!"

His sudden, explosive fury startled the concubine awake, causing her to curl up in a corner and shiver with fright.

The attendant outside dropped to his knees in terror, trembling as he reported.

"Re-Reporting to Your Majesty, Zhang Tu, the Director of the Bureau of Astronomy, requests an audience."

Hearing this, Li Yuan finally let out a breath of relief, though his hand never left the sabre. He bade the concubine dress and open the doors.

Upon seeing that there was indeed only a single attendant outside, he finally put his lingering fears to rest and ordered the visitor to be brought in.

The palace eunuch from the Bureau of Astronomy bowed low as he entered the bedchamber and performed a deep obeisance.

Li Yuan sat back down just as the concubine handed him a bowl of honeyed water. He had barely picked it up when he heard the eunuch's report.

"Reporting to Your Majesty, the Director of Astronomy has observed a celestial anomaly. Venus in broad daylight has once again manifested in the heavens."

"What?!"

Li Yuan cried out in shock, dropping the bowl to the floor where it shattered.

In his mind, the scene from the Xianchi Hall yesterday flashed vividly before him—the moment when Li Shimin had pointed to that youth shouting "Long live" and declared that he came from future generations.