Chapter 179:

The hall fell silent.

Wu Zhao’s eyes narrowed, a chill creeping up her spine. She had grasped Yang Yi’s intent the moment he spoke. This move would deepen Li Shimin’s suspicion toward Li Tai. For an emperor to discipline his son and have the entire court rise in protest—what did that mean? It was a direct challenge to his authority. Did they all believe it was time to stake their claim in a future reign?

Li Shimin would be furious. And at the same time, he would begin to guard himself against Li Tai.

After all, he had walked this path before. Step by step, he had forced his own father into retirement, seized the throne for himself. A man who had once usurped power would always be the most vigilant against the same.

Li Tai’s connections with the court officials had been cultivated with Li Shimin’s tacit approval. But if the number of those standing by his side had grown to seventy or eighty percent—perhaps even more—then it had already exceeded the emperor’s expectations.

Wu Zhao took a slow breath, pressing down the storm surging in her chest. Yang Yi’s strategy was ruthless to the extreme. On the surface, it looked like assistance. In truth, it was pushing the Prince of Wei straight into the fire.

Shangguan Wan’er was just as shaken, her gaze locked onto Yang Yi in astonishment. No wonder he was Prime Minister Yang—his methods were terrifying.

Wu Zhao exhaled lightly. “With these two strategies combined, Li Shimin will become wary of Li Tai. He will never indulge him as he once did.”

Yang Yi nodded. “Precisely.”

“The first strategy ensures that Li Shimin realizes Li Tai is ruthless enough to harm his own brother. At the same time, it proves that if Li Tai wished, he had the ability to manipulate the military forces under his influence.”

“The second strategy shows that beyond military power, Li Tai’s extensive ties to the court have given him both loyal followers and the means to sway military control.”

“No matter how much an emperor favors his child, once he perceives that child as a threat, wariness will inevitably set in.”

“However, years of favor will not allow Li Shimin to depose Prince Wei so easily. A catalyst is needed.”

Wu Zhao’s phoenix-like eyes gleamed. She had not forgotten—he had said he had prepared three strategies.

“What is that catalyst?”

Yang Yi’s lips curved slightly. There was a glint in his eyes, sharp as a blade.

“Li Chengqian has two sons. One, Li Xiang, is eight years old. The other, Li Jue, has just turned a month old. Your Majesty, if Li Tai, resentful of his brother’s hypocrisy, were to smother his infant nephew in a fit of rage—do you think Li Shimin would still hesitate to strip him of his title?”

A deadly silence fell over the hall.

Shangguan Wan’er’s eyes widened.

Wu Zhao’s noble, frosty face remained rigid. She felt a chill seep into her bones.

“Minister Yang… what do you mean by this?”

Yang Yi remained calm. Slowly, he rubbed his fingers together, his expression unreadable.

“Your Majesty, why wouldn’t he?

“Li Tai is widely regarded as a virtuous prince, known for his courtesy and his displays of benevolence. After the officials rally behind him, he will undoubtedly go to the Eastern Palace to express his affection for Li Chengqian and, naturally, visit his newborn nephew.

“As long as he steps into the Eastern Palace, if Li Jue dies soon after, there will be no escaping the blame.”

The hall remained eerily still.

Though Yang Yi’s words were few, the implications behind them sent chills down Wu Zhao’s spine. So long as Li Tai had been to the Eastern Palace, his nephew’s death would be pinned on him.

Wu Zhao’s pupils constricted. “You mean to say that Li Jue will certainly die, and then…”

Yang Yi smiled. “Just as Your Majesty suspects.

“As long as Li Chengqian makes up his mind, once Li Tai leaves the Eastern Palace, he only needs to personally smother his own son. With that, Li Tai will have no way to defend himself.

“Because… no one would ever believe that Li Chengqian would kill his own child. Would they?”

A hush fell over the chamber.

Shangguan Wan’er could hear her own heartbeat pounding in her ears. Never had she imagined that Yang Yi’s third strategy would be this deadly.

This was cruelty beyond measure.

No—this was the very embodiment of ruthless calculation. Forcing Li Chengqian to kill his own son just to frame his brother?

Her breath turned shallow.

Wu Zhao’s usually composed expression faltered. She had never expected Yang Yi’s third move to be this merciless. Even a tiger does not eat its own cubs. Yet this plan demanded that Li Chengqian personally suffocate his son—to shift the blame onto Li Tai.

Just imagining such a thing made her scalp tingle.

This was not just ruthless. It was inhuman.

And if Li Chengqian truly carried it out—Li Tai would be beyond redemption.

No matter how many doubted the circumstances, no one would believe that Li Chengqian was responsible.

Because in this world—what kind of father would smother his own child?

If not Li Chengqian, then the only other possibility was Li Tai.

Between believing that a father had killed his own son to frame his brother or that an uncle had lashed out in anger and killed his nephew, the court would choose the latter every time.

This was a flawless psychological trap.

Once Li Tai was tainted by suspicion, he would never wash away the stain of killing his nephew.

At that point, Li Shimin’s wrath would be unimaginable.

A long silence stretched in the hall.

Wu Zhao reined in her turbulent emotions. She met Yang Yi’s gaze.

“Will Li Chengqian do as you say?”

Yang Yi spread his hands, his smile mild.

“If he does, and eliminates Li Tai, the throne is his.” If he doesn’t, his future on the throne remains uncertain. He has two sons now. He may have more in the future. But there is only one throne.”

Wu Zhao’s chest tightened.

Yang Yi was right.

Sons could be many. But there would only ever be one emperor. How brutal a truth that was.

She pursed her lips. “With these three interwoven strategies, no matter how favored Li Tai once was, he will no longer have a chance to compete for the throne.

“Li Shimin will have no choice but to depose him. And with his strongest rival gone, Li Chengqian will undoubtedly ascend as the next emperor.

“The temptation…” she murmured, “is one that Li Chengqian will not be able to resist.”

She exhaled lightly.

Such a ruthless scheme. No wonder the ministers secretly called this man the Living King of Hell.

Even the King of Hell would have to raise a toast to Yang Yi.