Chapter 7: A Playful Account

“Enough, get up quickly!” Li Shimin looked at Hou Junji, who was wailing on the ground, and said teasingly, “You should return home and rest well for a few days. Recover your health early—there are still the Right Military Guards, the Ministry of War, and many other affairs waiting for you.”

With that, Li Shimin waved his hand and turned to leave.

Zhangsun Wuji hurried to follow, but his head bowed low as his mind churned turbulently.

At first, he couldn’t quite understand why Li Shimin had suddenly changed his attitude.

But recalling the words spoken in the carriage—“Let Gao Ming decide”—he finally grasped the reason behind His Majesty’s behavior.

The two men exited the Dali Court’s gates.

Li Shimin did not get into the carriage; instead, he stood on the steps, looking up at the darkening sky, silent for a long time.

“Your Majesty… forgive me for speaking frankly,” Zhangsun Wuji stepped closer cautiously.

“Let us set aside Hou Junji’s embezzlement for now, but his blatant disrespect for the sovereign, and even inciting the Crown Prince—if we let him off so lightly, wouldn’t that only encourage his ambitions?”

“Moreover, he commands significant troops; he must be watched carefully!”

Li Shimin turned his head, casting a cold glance at Zhangsun Wuji, and said icily, “What, do you think I am too harsh on Gao Ming?”

Li Shimin could not believe that the ever-wise Zhangsun Wuji failed to see his intentions, so he bluntly put it into words.

The result startled Zhangsun Wuji so much that his heart raced suddenly.

He quickly lowered his head. “I speak presumptuously; I beg Your Majesty’s pardon!”

“I fear that… if this scoundrel uses his troops to coerce the Crown Prince and incite military mutiny…”

“I am well aware of that; there’s no need for you to worry,” Li Shimin snapped coldly and climbed into the carriage. “Return to the palace!”

Left behind at the Dali Court gate, Zhangsun Wuji watched the carriage speed away, his eyes flickering. He thought to himself that they had finally overcome this hurdle.

In truth, ever since hearing Zhao Mu reveal his scheme at the Heavenly Realm, Zhangsun Wuji’s heart had been uneasy.

As a longtime minister who had accompanied Li Shimin for decades, he knew the emperor well.

Though Li Shimin had not mentioned the matter after leaving the Heavenly Realm, the words spoken in prison to Hou Junji were also a test for him.

Fortunately, upon release, Hou Junji had awakened and used the excuse of offering counsel to express seasoned advice for the realm. Otherwise…

Zhangsun Wuji pondered swiftly, summoning his carriage as he prepared to return home.

At that moment, a voice sounded behind him.

“Lord Zhangsun, please wait!”

Zhangsun Wuji stopped and turned.

It was none other than Hou Junji, who had just been pardoned by Li Shimin’s imperial decree.

Hurriedly, Hou Junji approached Zhangsun Wuji, cupping his hands and bowing. “I shall forever remember the grace of today’s rescue. Should the Duke require any service in the future…”

Before he could finish, Zhangsun Wuji raised his hand to interrupt, shaking his head. “Hold on, Duke Chen, your words are mistaken!”

“Today you are spared not thanks to me, but because His Majesty remembers past ties.”

“I merely happened to accompany His Majesty here today.”

Seeing Zhangsun Wuji reject the gratitude so sternly, even with a hint of estrangement in his tone, Hou Junji was puzzled.

He did not understand. Although Zhangsun Wuji, once head of the civil officials, had never gotten along well with him, a military man, they had fought side by side during the Xuanwu Gate Incident—surely there was some bond.

He had tried to seize the opportunity to show gratitude, hoping to cultivate goodwill with the most powerful civil minister, with no other intention.

Why, then, did Zhangsun Wuji seem to want to draw a clear line between them?

Indeed, in the past, Zhangsun Wuji might have accepted Hou Junji’s words and, out of gratitude, recruited him on behalf of the Crown Prince.

But today, having accompanied His Majesty throughout, Zhangsun Wuji understood everything perfectly.

Hou Junji was like a locust after the harvest—his death was near! How could there be any gratitude between them? Better to break ties outright…

Having finished speaking, Zhangsun Wuji flicked his long sleeves and prepared to leave.

After a few steps, he recalled His Majesty’s plan.

His eyes flicked around, and he turned back. “Duke Chen, there is something you should know. When His Majesty came to the Dali Court today, he was filled with murderous intent.”

“You should go home and carefully consider whether you have committed any other misconduct to provoke His Majesty’s wrath.”

At these words, Hou Junji’s face changed dramatically.

“Misconduct…?” He recalled the words he had spoken to the Crown Prince and his heart nearly leapt from his chest.

“Could it be that the Crown Prince reported this to His Majesty?”

But then he shook his head.

“No, if that were the case, His Majesty would never have pardoned me—he would have torn me apart himself!”

“Then why did His Majesty come so furious, yet suddenly release me?”

For a moment, Hou Junji was lost in thought, growing increasingly bewildered.

“Heh…”

Zhangsun Wuji, already seated in his carriage, looked at the clearly paranoid Hou Junji and sneered contemptuously before ordering his servants to return to the mansion.

By the time Hou Junji finally came to his senses, Zhangsun Wuji had long since departed.

Meanwhile, upon Li Shimin’s return to the palace, in Room No. 1 of the Heavenly Realm,

Several graceful courtesans danced gently to a soothing melody.

Yet the atmosphere within the room grew heavier.

Li Chengqian, Crown Prince of the Great Tang, sat slumped in his seat, eyes vacant.

The wine in his cup had already gone cold; he was clearly somewhat intoxicated.

Nearby, Zhao Mu sensed something amiss and withdrew his gaze from the stunning courtesans.

He looked at Li Chengqian’s thoroughly disheartened appearance and knew his earlier words must have deeply wounded the somewhat insecure Crown Prince.

He shook his head gently, then picked up the wine jug and poured a cup for Li Chengqian, speaking softly, “Your Highness, you need not worry so much.”

“The road is long, and only with time can one truly see the hearts of men.”

“No matter what, Your Highness is the legitimate eldest son and Crown Prince of our Great Tang! His Majesty and the civil and military officials still hold great hopes for you!”

Li Chengqian gave a bitter smile, shaking his head as he raised the cup and drank deeply, then bitterly joked, “This Eastern Palace throne of mine has long been a seat of needles and thorns.”

Zhao Mu paused for a moment, pretending nothing had happened, quietly waiting for more.

Sure enough, Li Chengqian began to complain, “Brother Zhao, you don’t know—today, I deliberately angered the Emperor in the palace.”

“It’s been nearly a day, yet the Emperor has shown no reaction. I fear he has completely lost patience with me.”

“Oh?” Zhao Mu asked curiously, “How did Your Highness manage to anger His Majesty?”