Chapter Twenty: Within the Hall
Inside the Cheng'en Hall of the Eastern Palace, shrouded in darkness, Li Chengqian was still discussing details with the palace officials and aides.
Suddenly, Hou Junji arrived unexpectedly to pay a visit.
Li Chengqian dismissed everyone and stared oddly at Hou Junji’s worn battle robe, a sudden unease stirring within him.
“What is this, Duke Chen Guogong?” Li Chengqian asked in a curious tone.
Hou Junji, however, was quite rude, not even bowing to His Highness. He glanced at the memorials on Li Chengqian’s desk and sneered, “I never thought Your Highness could be so naive.”
“To have reached such a critical point, yet still care about state affairs?”
“How presumptuous!” Li Chengqian’s displeasure grew; seeing such insolence, his face darkened.
But Hou Junji showed no fear, straightening his neck and speaking boldly, “If I am not presumptuous, then it seems Your Highness intends to hand the throne over to Prince Wei!”
“Hm?” Li Chengqian was indeed shocked by this, furrowing his brows. “What do you mean by that, Duke Chen?”
“What do I mean?” Hou Junji looked at the clearly intimidated Li Chengqian and shook his head. “Does Your Highness still fail to see?”
“On the court, Prince Wei has attacked Your Highness so fiercely, pushing you to a dead end.”
“Yet the Emperor turns a blind eye. Is that not enough to awaken Your Highness?”
“Consider carefully. When Prince Wei was cornered by you to the point of exile to Hexi—”
“What did the Emperor do then?” Hou Junji’s words were laced with hidden daggers as he stepped closer.
Li Chengqian instinctively took a few steps back, his gaze momentarily dazed.
He was bewildered. At the time, he had won so easily at court that he never even considered this.
Now, reflecting on Hou Junji’s words, it was indeed true.
When Prince Wei accused him, the Crown Prince, of interfering in military affairs, the Emperor remained unmoved.
He merely suggested that Li Tai be stationed in the Western Regions, yet the Emperor rejected it outright... citing reluctance to separate kin as an excuse.
Li Chengqian was soft-hearted, otherwise he wouldn’t have so easily accepted the advice of Zhao Mu, a mere commoner.
Moreover, he was facing Duke Chen Guogong Hou Junji!
For a moment, he was misled by Hou Junji’s insinuations and fell into deep thought.
A trace of resentment welled up in his heart.
Fortunately, at the critical moment, he recalled Zhao Mu’s earlier warning to be wary of Hou Junji, preventing him from falling deeper.
Li Chengqian steadied his mind and looked at Hou Junji, who wore an expression of righteous indignation, and tentatively asked, “Duke Chen, what is your intention in suddenly speaking to me like this?”
“Your Highness, do you still not understand?” Hou Junji suddenly said.
“The Emperor has never truly intended to pass the throne to you!”
“Otherwise, how could Prince Wei be so brazen in disrespecting you at court?”
“And when you merely offered a mild rebuttal, they all opposed you so fiercely.”
“There have been countless other chilling incidents.”
At this, he suddenly clasped his fists and performed a grand salute.
“Since I last advised Your Highness to strive forward, though you harshly refused, you have not reported me or sought favor.”
“I understand Your Highness must harbor grievances.”
“Today, seeing Your Highness display such formidable power in court, I was overjoyed.”
“Witnessing the Emperor’s neglect of you has left me deeply disheartened.”
With that, Hou Junji slammed down on one knee, clasped his hands, and bowed deeply, “I dare risk my life to once again urge Your Highness to advance!”
“I am willing to lead my comrades in arms to reenact the events of Xuanwu Gate!”
Li Chengqian was already the legitimate Crown Prince, heir to the realm.
Yet Hou Junji was urging him to rise further. The meaning was clear without words.
Li Chengqian was stunned!
Last time, Hou Junji’s encouragement was only subtle hints.
Why now was he playing this game? Willing to lead the army to repeat the Xuanwu Gate incident?
He stared in shock at Hou Junji kneeling before him, radiating a murderous aura, speechless for a long while.
To say he was unmoved was false.
Hou Junji was the Minister of War and also General of the Right Martial Guards.
If his words were sincere, this was the closest Li Chengqian had come to the throne in his entire decade as Crown Prince.
Before Li Chengqian’s eyes rose the golden throne, seemingly within reach.
Though his heart stirred uncontrollably, his eyes involuntarily glanced toward the stack of memorials on the desk!
Zhao Mu’s image reappeared vividly in his mind!
Once more, Li Chengqian was deeply conflicted.
With Zhao Mu’s aid, perhaps he could eventually ascend the throne.
But if he listened to Duke Chen, could he seize the realm sooner?
Rationally, he did not wish to repeat the tragedy of Xuanwu Gate.
Yet deep within, desire stirred a dark temptation, his mind filled with that chair.
A strange vision emerged before his eyes, like a mirage.
To the left stood Zhao Mu, to the right, the Dragon Throne... the entire realm!
Suddenly, Li Chengqian felt strange within.
He faintly sensed that if he chose rebellion, Zhao Mu would vanish suddenly.
How could that be!
Without Brother Zhao, even if he gained the realm, how would he govern it?
Li Chengqian broke free from this mental quagmire, his mind clear as day!
“Yes, Brother Zhao is such a divine figure. How could he support one without ruler or father, disloyal and unfilial?”
“Though he seems indifferent to imperial power, if I truly committed such disgraceful acts, Brother Zhao would surely disdain and abandon me!”
His eyes glazed over as he muttered to himself, puzzling Hou Junji, still half-kneeling.
But Li Chengqian’s voice was too soft and unclear for Hou Junji to catch all words, only fragments like “no ruler, no father” and “Brother Zhao.”
Hou Junji silently waited there for a long time, but seeing no sign of Li Chengqian returning to reason, he thought the prince was hesitating, unable to resist temptation.
Hou Junji prepared to press harder, urging again, “Your Highness, do not hesitate, time waits for no one...”
His words jolted Li Chengqian awake, who cut him off.
“Duke Chen, this matter is difficult; I must consider carefully and cannot decide lightly...”
“Please return for now. When I have thought it through, I will give you my answer.”
Hou Junji was dumbfounded.
He had expected refusal, and also imagined eager acceptance.
But never did he think the Crown Prince would give such an ambiguous reply and send him away.
Even after leaving the Eastern Palace, Hou Junji was still stunned.
Why did he suddenly tell him to leave first?
Confounded, Hou Junji could only return home to ponder.
But not long after Hou Junji’s departure, Crown Prince Li Chengqian hurriedly left the Eastern Palace with his retinue.
He headed straight to Pingkang Lane!