Chapter 57: Your Highness Will Owe Me a Huge Favor This Time

The edges of the horizon were tinted with the pale white of dawn, and a crescent moon still hung faintly in the gray sky.

A modest carriage emerged from the side gate of the Prince of Qin’s Mansion, proceeding all the way along Zhuque Avenue.

At this moment, the commoners inside Chang'an City were still fast asleep.

However, the gates of all the wards had already been opened, and officials of the fifth rank and above within Chang'an City were all heading toward the imperial city.

"We are not entering through the Xuanwu Gate?"

Inside the carriage, Wen He lifted the curtain and could not help but feel puzzled.

Judging by the direction the carriage was traveling, it seemed they were heading toward the main gate of the Taiji Palace.

"If we are not entering through the Xuanwu Gate, does that mean we are not going to the Eastern Palace?"

Confused, Wen He turned his head to look at Changsun Wuji, who was sitting in the same carriage with his eyes closed and resting his mind.

Lost in his thoughts, Changsun Wuji gave a somewhat impatient reply.

"This morning, His Majesty issued an imperial decree. Today's grand court assembly will still be held at the Taiji Hall of the Daxing Palace, so the hundred officials will naturally enter through the Chengtian Gate."

The Chengtian Gate was the main gate of the Taiji Palace, connecting Zhuque Avenue with the Taiji Gate, but unless under special circumstances, it was generally never opened.

Therefore, under normal times, people mostly entered and exited from the Xuanwu Gate on the other side.

"The Daxing Palace?" Wen He was stunned for a moment, and a thought suddenly crossed his mind.

Fine, he had forgotten that the Tang Dynasty's imperial palace at this time still retained its Sui Dynasty name, called the Daxing Palace, and it was not renamed the Taiji Palace until the first year of the Jingyun era under Emperor Ruizong of Tang.

*(Note: It was the protagonist who remembered incorrectly, so the author has nothing to do with it. From now on, it will be referred to as the Daxing Palace.)*

"What is it? Future generations did not record this?" Changsun Wuji slowly opened his eyes, picked up the teapot beside him, and poured a cup of honey water.

Wen He smiled and said, "It was recorded, but most people still call it the Taiji Palace... Wait, His Majesty issued a decree that today's court debate is to be held in the Taiji Hall? Was this issued by His Majesty himself?"

He suddenly recalled what Changsun Wuji had just said and was greatly startled.

How could this be possible?

According to history, didn't Li Yuan leave the Taiji Palace—the Daxing Palace—in the third year of Zhenguan, forced out because Li Shimin drastically reduced the number of palace maids twice, making him feel that life in the palace was difficult?

Changsun Wuji was not surprised by Wen He's astonishment.

When he received the news, he had been equally baffled.

He had even suspected for a moment whether His Highness the Prince of Qin had instead been taken hostage.

But he quickly cast that thought to the back of his mind.

Given the current preparations within the palace, His Majesty had long lost any external reinforcements and certainly lacked the capability to hold the Prince of Qin hostage.

That could only mean one thing: something must have happened between the Prince of Qin and His Majesty.

He could not verify this matter right now and would simply have to ask after the court assembly concluded.

"Why are you suddenly smiling so happily?" Just as Changsun Wuji recovered from his thoughts, he saw Wen He grinning almost from ear to ear.

"Can't a person smile when they're happy?" Wen He rolled his eyes and retorted.

He let out a light hum, his smile reappearing, and continued.

"Our Highness is going to owe me a huge favor this time."

"What do you mean?"

"It's a secret."

Wen He turned his head away, ignoring Changsun Wuji's probing gaze.

It would be best to stay further away from this old schemer in the future, lest he court disaster later on.

He made this resolution secretly in his heart.

His thoughts had already drifted to the moment he met Li Yuan during the Incident at Xuanwu Gate.

Li Shimin had revealed his identity from the future to Li Yuan and predicted that on the night of the third day of the sixth month, the planet Venus would once again appear in the true southern sky of the Great Tang.

If he guessed correctly, the officials of the Bureau of Astronomy must have reported the celestial phenomenon to Li Yuan last night, and the father and son must have had a conversation last night.

Although he did not know how Li Shimin had persuaded Li Yuan, Wen He knew that his own butterfly wings had changed history once again.

Still, not being able to watch Li Shimin get deflated felt somewhat regrettable.

Ah, in this Great Tang, it seemed no one could ever make that Heavenly Khagan suffer any grievances.

While Wen He appeared to be lost in thought, Changsun Wuji kept staring at him, guessing in his heart: "Wen He seems to know something. Could it be that His Highness has been secretly corresponding with him?"

A sudden sense of crisis welled up within him.

This feeling was just like when Du Ruhua and Fang Xuanling had first pledged their allegiance to His Highness the Prince of Qin.

Although Wen He appeared to be only ten years old on the outside, his mind was long that of an adult.

The more Changsun Wuji thought about it, the stronger his sense of urgency became.

Recovering his senses, Wen He turned his head and saw him staring fixedly at himself. He couldn't help breaking out in goosebumps, feeling a chill in his heart as he thought:

"I heard the Great Tang is open-minded and men keep male favorites. Could this Changsun Wuji have taken a fancy to me?"

Fortunately, Changsun Wuji had no idea what he was thinking; otherwise, he would surely have let him experience just how formidable the fists and kicks of a Great Tang literatus could be.

The carriage arrived outside the Chengtian Gate.

Quite a few officials recognized the origin of this carriage.

As they watched Changsun Wuji step out of the carriage with his chest puffed out, their eyes were filled with envy.

In a single day, the winds and clouds had drastically changed.

Just a few days ago, the Prince's brother-in-law was someone many went out of their way to avoid; now, he had become an immensely sought-after figure.

As soon as he stepped off the carriage, numerous people crowded around him with flattery.

Looking at their ingratiating faces, while Changsun Wuji was not arrogant, his expression wasn't particularly pleasant either.

Faced with their flattering words, he merely nodded indifferently.

"Could this be the eldest young master of the Changsun family?"

Someone spotted Wen He stepping out of the carriage, immediately let out a loud call, and smiled as he prepared to step forward and suck up to him.

Only to see Wen He's face instantly turn cold as he glared at him.

You're the son of Changsun Wuji, your entire family are his sons!

Wen He let out a cold hum, didn't even call out to Changsun Wuji, and walked toward the palace gates on his own.

Just before getting off the carriage, he had already caught sight of Huang Chun's figure walking this way.

That official stood frozen in place, at a complete loss.

"He is a distinguished guest of His Highness; do not speak carelessly!" Changsun Wuji glared at the official, straightened the jade belt around his waist, and addressed the crowd around him.

"Before the palace gates, the atmosphere is solemn and strict. What propriety is there in you all gathering here? You had all best disperse."

Most of those still lingering here were individuals not qualified to attend the court assembly, much like he himself had been not long ago.

Yet now, these people were nothing more than ants in his eyes.

Striding forward with measured steps, Changsun Wuji walked with his head held high.

The officials left behind him exchanged glances, their hearts filled with a complex mixture of envy, jealousy, hatred, and a myriad of other emotions.

Over here, Wen He had already connected with Huang Chun.

"Greetings, Young Master Wen."

"Greetings, Eunuch Huang. Were you waiting for me?"

It wasn't that Wen He was overly confident, but Huang Chun had been staring fixedly in his direction just moments ago.

Hearing this, Huang Chun offered an ingratiating bow with cupped hands.

"Young master is exceptionally clever, and this humble servant is full of admiration. Indeed, His Highness instructed this servant to wait here. His Highness has a decree: please have the young master proceed first to the Bureau of Attendants."

"The Bureau of Attendants? Why?"

Before Wen He could reply, Changsun Wuji's skeptical voice came from behind him.

The Bureau of Attendants was located on the left side of the Taiji Hall, usually the place where Palace Attendants of the Secretariat awaited summons.

He was puzzled as to why the Prince of Qin would want Wen He to go there.

Seeing him, Huang Chun bowed respectfully.

"Greetings, Lord Changsun."

"Mm," Changsun Wuji acknowledged flatly, then continued to ask, "Did His Highness summon me as well?"

"This humble servant wouldn't dare conceal it from Your Excellency; His Highness only summoned Young Master Wen and..."

He suddenly hesitated. Seeing Changsun Wuji furrow his brows, he then continued: "...and Duke Wei and the County Duke of Wu'an."

Wei Zheng and Xue Wanche?!

Hearing the names of the two men, Changsun Wuji was instantly startled.

Wen He, however, smiled even more brilliantly.

Who said Li Er wouldn't be put through the wringer? Here it comes!

Once he met Wei Zheng later, he must make sure to encourage him to relentlessly remonstrate with Li Shimin in the future.

He was so looking forward to watching Wei Zheng talk back to Li Shimin while the latter could do nothing about it.

He remembered that in the future, there was once a time when Wei Zheng angered Li Shimin, yet the emperor had to swallow his anger until he returned to the inner palace to complain to Changsun Wunde, cursing Wei Zheng as an old scoundrel.

Though he couldn't quite remember what the incident was about.

Thinking of this, he grew quite impatient to meet this "human mirror."