Chapter 60: As Emperor, I have failed so miserably!

However, Wen He was not foolish enough to readily accept such a gesture of winning people over.

The core of what Li Shimin had just said focused on Li Chengqian.

"Indeed, it is entirely due to the Crown Prince's brilliance. Of course, I also played a tiny role, such as instructing the Crown Prince to remain loyal to the sovereign, serve the country, and employ the virtuous—though it is hardly worth mentioning."

He wore an expression of utmost modesty, making it sound as if every word were true.

Li Shimin had long since grown accustomed to his audacious banter.

Regardless of whether Wei Zheng believed it or not, today’s events required him to show grace and grant favor.

As for why it had to be Wei Zheng and Xue Wanche, even Wen He could figure it out easily.

Both of these men had emerged from Li Jiancheng's Eastern Palace.

Behind them gathered a faction of Li Jiancheng's former partisans.

If they wished to secure their futures, they had no choice but to cling tightly to Li Chengqian.

At the same time, as the defeated party, they posed no threat to Li Shimin.

At this thought, even Wen He could not help but admire Li Er's strategic mind.

To act as both father and ruler, and to strike a balance between those two roles—how exceedingly difficult it was.

Li Shimin gave him a sidelong glance of exasperation, finding amusement in his heart despite himself: "This rascal actually understands the situation. So be it, let Wei Zheng and Xue Wanche owe him a share of the gratitude as well."

"Many thanks, Young Master Wen." Wei Zheng, knowing how to conduct himself, cupped his hands in salute. Wen He hurriedly stepped aside to avoid it.

Putting aside Wei Zheng's status, his advanced age alone meant Wen He could not accept such a bow.

(PS: Some readers noted that during audiobook playback, the name Wei Zheng could not be easily distinguished, so it has been unified to Wei Zheng.)

"I shall also remember this favor."

Xue Wanche bowed solemnly, and Wen He returned the gesture with a smile.

He knew Xue Wanche was not thanking him personally, but rather bowing to the inevitable under Li Shimin, yet a man of Xue's stubborn temperament found such compromises exceptionally difficult.

Had Xue Wanche not been willing to submit to Li Shimin, he never would have believed what Wen He said.

Lifting his gaze, Wen He noticed the slight curve at the corner of Li Shimin's mouth not far away, and sighed helplessly in his heart: *Fine, I've become his pawn again. I just wonder if there will be any reward—a few more acres of farmland would be nice.*

Seemingly sensing the anticipation in Wen He's eyes, Li Shimin smiled and nodded at him.

Just as he was about to speak, Huang Chun at his side stepped forward anxiously and whispered into his ear, "Your Highness, it is almost time."

The sky outside was gradually brightening, and the morning sun was slowly rising over the distant high mountains.

Facing the sunlight spilling into the Daxing Palace, Li Shimin gently flicked his sleeve.

"Let us attend court."

"Understood."

……

Taiji Palace.

Within the towering and solemn hall, the civil and military officials sat separately in two distinct ranks.

At the very front, several elderly men with crane-gray hair sat with their eyes closed in meditation, remaining completely silent. Every single one of their faces bore an expression of profound gravity.

Once upon a time, they had been the most influential figures within this great hall.

Yet today, not a single person dared to approach them.

The only one who could still be considered popular was Yuwen Shiji.

"He really won his gamble." A soft voice of resentment suddenly broke the silence.

Pei Ji, seated at the very front, turned his head to glance at the speaker, then turned straight back without a word.

"What? Are you afraid the Prince of Qin will settle accounts with you?"

"Hmph, what does this old man have to fear? Whether it is the Crown Prince or the Prince of Qin who sits on that throne, which of them does not need our support?"

The elderly official who had spoken earlier remained unconcerned.

He was one of the aristocratic families' representatives at court.

Previously, he had been a supporter of Li Jiancheng.

Yet never had he imagined that overnight, the political landscape of the court would undergo such a violent upheaval.

That Prince of Qin truly feared no posthumous infamy and had raised his hand against his own brothers.

"This is the imperial court; it would be wise to mind one's words and actions," Xiao Yu, seated second in rank, frowned slightly.

The elderly official who had spoken earlier glared at him resentfully.

"The Duke of Song is certainly composed enough. Yet who does not know that you are actually a man of the Prince of Qin?"

This matter was originally supposed to be kept strictly within a small, unspoken circle, yet this man had blurted it out here today.

Even though everyone around them belonged to that inner circle, upon hearing these words, they quietly shifted their positions to maintain a distance from him.

This was no longer the former Sui dynasty, and the Prince of Qin was not the Emperor.

Did this fool truly think the Prince would hesitate to kill?

"Silence!"

Suddenly, a resounding shout rang out, and the previously chaotic hall instantly fell deathly quiet.

Everyone sat upright, straightening their backs.

"His Highness the Prince of Qin arrives!"

Accompanied by the crisp sound of a ritual whip cracking outside, Li Shimin, clad in official ceremonial robes, slowly walked into the hall.

The mid-to-low-ranking civil and military officials in the rear bowed their heads profoundly.

The nobles and dignitaries at the front hastily cupped their hands in salute.

Wen He stood outside the main hall. Given his status, let alone entering the hall, he was not even permitted to approach the Taiji Palace itself.

He could only stand in the open air under the blazing sun.

Yet even this qualification was envied by countless people in Chang'an City.

After all, the people standing around him were all fourth- and fifth-rank officials, or county counts and marquises.

Did they not see that even Duan Zhixuan was standing only a short distance ahead of him?

"His Majesty has arrived, all officials welcome and pay homage!"

A loud proclamation echoed from the front. Before Wen He could fully process the situation, he saw the people around him bowing in unison.

Fortunately, being short of stature, no one noticed that he was still standing.

"We, your subjects, respectfully wish His Majesty peace!"

"May the Sacred Person be well!"

Lagging one step behind meant lagging behind in every step. In his momentary daze, Wen He failed to keep pace with the rhythm, so he simply remained standing to watch the spectacle.

Given where he was standing, no one would pay attention to him anyway.

He stood for an unknown length of time, watching the sun, which had originally been in the east, move ever closer to the zenith directly above his head.

From Wen He's angle, it was entirely impossible to see what was happening inside the Taiji Palace.

However, since the surrounding imperial guards and Xuanjia Guards remained completely still, it meant that matters inside were proceeding smoothly.

Little did Wen He know, things were indeed proceeding smoothly.

So smoothly that even Li Shimin felt as though he were dreaming.

"My failure to appoint Erlang as Crown Prince earlier was my fault, yet it led to such a tragic outcome. My heart aches for it."

"Now, to mend the fold after the sheep have escaped is not yet too late. I have resolved to follow the will of Heaven and the desires of the people, and hereby appoint the Prince of Qin, Li Shimin, as the Crown Prince of the Great Tang."

High above, Li Yuan looked down upon the assembled officials in the hall, his expression entirely devoid of fluctuation.

It was as if the man driven to despair just yesterday had not been him at all.

If Wen He had been present, he would surely have been utterly astonished.

For today's Li Yuan finally looked truly like an emperor.

Yet his current demeanor seemed more like an effort to preserve his final shred of dignity.

"Your Majesty is wise, this subject second the motion!"

Just as Li Yuan anticipated, Xiao Yu was the first to step forward.

As the secondary chancellor, he bypassed Pei Ji to take the lead in supporting Li Shimin.

Following his lead out of the ranks, the entire court of civil and military officials—with the sole exception of Pei Ji—stepped forward one after another without a moment's hesitation to second the motion.

Looking at the bowing ministers before him, a sudden wave of profound grief washed over Li Yuan.

How utterly failed was my reign as emperor!

A bitter taste flooded his heart, and he had to steady himself against the desk to keep from collapsing.

"This subject lacks virtue and ability; I fear I am unworthy to command universal assent."

Finally, his good second son, Li Shimin, made his entrance.

Li Yuan narrowed his eyes, watching him perform this farce down below.

The routine of declining three times before finally accepting was a game he had played himself years ago.

Only now, it was his son's turn to play the role.