Chapter Eleven: Unexpected Developments

Princess Taiping’s methods were far more effective and direct than those of Li Longji. Her spies and informants were spread throughout the entire court; even the Eastern Palace and Wude Hall, both under Li Longji’s control, harbored her agents. She could even tell, in meticulous detail, exactly when Li Longji ate and what he ate.

Recently, Li Longji had been repeatedly summoning his trusted aides to Wude Hall for discussions. How could Princess Taiping not be aware of this? However, Li Longji was cautious and careful; during their meetings, he stationed Gao Lishi at the door, forbidding anyone from approaching within five zhang of the hall. Thus, despite her extensive intelligence network, Princess Taiping could not discern the exact nature of their discussions.

An ominous premonition gripped her, prompting her to convene her closest confidants to deliberate and strategize their future course of action.

At her command, Prime Ministers Dou Huaizhen, Cen Xi, Xiao Zhizhong, Cui Shi, along with Crown Prince’s Tutor Xue Ji, Governor of Yongzhou Prince Li Jin, Left Yulin General Chang Yuankai, Commander of the Right Yulin Li Ci, Left Jinwu General Li Qin, Right Deputy Minister Lu Cangyong, Secretariat Attendant Li You, Right Scattered Cavalry Regular Attendant Jia Yingfu, Court Ceremonial Director Tang Jun, and the monk Huifan of the Buddhist clergy, all gathered covertly at Princess Taiping’s residence.

Seated high behind her desk, Princess Taiping looked down upon the assembled prime ministers, nobles, and generals—each a figure of immense power, almost second only to the emperor himself—bowing before her. An indescribable thrill surged within her. The desire for power was boundless; once she had tasted it, she became intoxicated, climbing ever higher until this very day. These civil and military officials before her wielded nearly two-thirds of the court’s influence. At her command, the political machinery of the Tang Dynasty could be brought to a halt. Even the Retired Emperor Li Dan’s edicts could not be effectively enforced, let alone those of the lesser Li Longji.

Yet Princess Taiping remained unsatisfied. She intended to seize the remaining one-third of power as well, to become the great empress like her mother before her.

“I have good news to share!” Her voice was soft and pleasant, devoid of any harshness or authority, yet everyone before her listened intently, not daring to move a muscle. They all knew Princess Taiping’s greatest skill lay in her calm, detached judgment over life and death; her depths were inscrutable, her emotions unreadable. To speculate rashly on her thoughts was a folly known well among insiders.

“The Retired Emperor has decided to announce at the mid-month grand court assembly a sacred edict ordering the inspection tour to the border regions. It won’t be long before Li Longji leaves Chang’an.”

Inspection tour to the border! Though these words sounded innocuous, everyone present knew it was a sign of the emperor’s impending downfall. An emperor who had never truly grasped real power, once he left the capital, his fate was clear.

The prime ministers—Dou Huaizhen, Cen Xi, Xiao Zhizhong, Cui Shi—exchanged bitter smiles. As the most important strategists, they should have been the indispensable right and left arms of the ruler. Yet Princess Taiping had done everything herself, flawlessly. Their existence seemed limited to maintaining political stability; they had no other achievements.

Lu Cangyong, ever the opportunist, quickly said, “Congratulations to the Princess. Once the Retired Emperor deposes the emperor, the court will plunge into chaos. The new emperor lacks the strength to save the dynasty; only the Princess possesses the power to stabilize it. Like the Empress Dowager before, great things await.”

The others silently cursed Lu’s cunning for voicing such bold words.

“Empress Dowager?” Who was that? Wu Zetian. To speak of the Empress Dowager’s precedent was to openly hint at Princess Taiping’s regency and her preparation to claim the throne.

Princess Taiping said nothing, but all understood she was intrigued.

After a long pause, she spoke: “It is still too early to speak of such things. I know my nephew well. As the most outstanding man of our Li family’s generation, he is not one to passively await his fate. Recently, he has been meeting frequently with Guo Yuanzhen, Wei Zhigu, Cui Riyong, and others. Surely he is plotting something. There are only a few days left; I do not want any accidents to occur.”

Xiao Zhizhong replied, “Your Highness, I have also been watching His Majesty’s movements. But the people he associates with hold no real power. There is nothing to be wary of.”

Dou Huaizhen added, “The Yulin Army is firmly under Generals Chang and Li’s control; there is no cause for concern. The Southern Court’s Imperial Guards are in my hands; without my order, no soldier can be moved. Even if Guo Yuanzhen is capable, he commands no troops—what use is that? The only force beyond our control is the Wanqi Army, but the Wanqi are loyal to the Retired Emperor and beyond His Majesty’s reach. Moreover, we have planted many spies within the Wanqi. Should there be any unrest, we would know immediately. No news has come, so their scheme is likely not with the Wanqi. His Majesty’s frequent moves without any unusual signs are strange indeed. I cannot fathom it…”

Most fell silent, heads bowed in deep thought.

Princess Taiping furrowed her brow. She too could not understand; she believed Li Longji must have a trump card, but with her influence spanning both the Northern and Southern Courts, she could not imagine where he might turn the tide.

No matter how scheming she was, she could never have guessed that Li Longji’s secret force consisted of merely three hundred men plus one Pei Min.

Unable to reach a conclusion, Cen Xi suddenly proposed a hypothesis: “Could it be that His Majesty deems matters in Chang’an hopeless and intends to imitate Emperor Taizong of old by establishing a separate court elsewhere?” During the past struggle between Li Shimin and Li Jiancheng for the crown prince’s position, Li Shimin had left himself a fallback: if he failed to seize power, he would immediately retreat to Luoyang to establish another court.

Princess Taiping recalled intelligence that Guo Yuanzhen had held an all-night conversation with Xue Ne, a former frontier commander who still commanded great respect in the borderlands. This was not impossible.

Cen Xi’s suggestion received much approval, and soon the group’s thoughts turned to how to respond should Li Longji set up a rival court.

Only Princess Taiping remained uneasy. “I recall Wei Zhigu and Cui Riyong have been recruiting skilled martial artists from the martial world. What is their purpose? Huifan, find some clever men to go undercover and see what they are hiding. In these final days, success or failure will be decided. Everyone must be vigilant. Especially Prime Ministers Xiao and Dou, and Generals Chang and Li—you command the Southern Court’s Imperial Guards and the Yulin Army. There can be no mistakes. I will arrange additional guards from the martial world to protect you all.”

While Li Longji and Princess Taiping were engaged in this intricate game of calculation and countercalculation, the man poised at the heart of the brewing storm, Pei Min, remained oblivious. Returning to his residence, he donned the official robes he had just received. Gazing into the bronze mirror, the dignified attire lent a mature and steady aura to his naturally handsome and elegant demeanor, enhancing his charm.

Before he could fully savor the moment, news arrived that Guo Yuanzhen had come to request an audience.