Chapter 180

Yang Yi smiled faintly.

“The strategy will be given to Li Chengqian. Whether he follows my advice is up to him. I’m just wasting some words. Even if it doesn’t work, I won’t lose anything. But for Li Chengqian, this will be an opportunity to change his destiny. Whether the strategy succeeds or not, this Crown Prince will certainly cause a stir in the Tang Dynasty.”

Wu Zhao nodded in agreement.

Yang Yi’s three strategies were intricately connected. Even if the final plan failed, Li Shimin would still suffer a headache for quite some time.

Half an hour later, Yang Yi left the palace.

After Wu Zhao instructed Shangguan Wan’er to deliver the imperial edict granting Yang Yi his noble title, she couldn’t help but say,

“Wan’er, Yang Yi has already been promoted to Duke. But he has made repeated meritorious contributions. How should I reward him in the future?”

Shangguan Wan’er blinked. Having served the Empress for years, she could roughly guess Her Majesty’s thoughts.

This Prime Minister Yang was simply too talented.

So much so that Her Majesty the Empress was beginning to worry—if she could no longer satisfy Yang Yi, what if he ended up in someone else’s hands? That would be a disaster.

After all, they had witnessed Yang Yi’s methods time and time again.

A rare smile flickered across Shangguan Wan’er’s usually cold and elegant face.

“Your Majesty, I don’t think you need to worry about that…”

Wu Zhao’s brows lifted as she looked at her chief lady-in-waiting in confusion.

“Why?”

Shangguan Wan’er’s eyes glimmered with mischief.

“From what I’ve observed, Prime Minister Yang seems to have a rather unique attitude toward Your Majesty…”

She lowered her voice slightly, her smile deepening.

“Your Majesty is graceful and captivating, capable of bringing down a nation. Prime Minister Yang is undoubtedly infatuated. If there are no more titles to bestow, why not simply make him your husband?

“Wouldn’t that make for a marvelous story? And it would also ensure that Prime Minister Yang devotes himself wholeheartedly to Great Zhou. What does Your Majesty think?”

Wu Zhao’s fair and coldly elegant face seemed to be tinged with a faint blush. She shot Shangguan Wan’er a sharp glare.

“Nonsense.”

Shangguan Wan’er giggled.

Her Majesty did not seem entirely opposed to the idea.

…

HALF A MONTH LATER. TANG DYNASTY. EASTERN PALACE.

“Your Highness, a letter for you…”

A servant approached quietly and spoke in a hushed tone.

Li Chengqian’s eyelid twitched. He nodded imperceptibly before taking the letter.

A moment later, once the room was empty, he opened it. After reading a few lines, his eyes lit up, and a smile crept onto his lips.

As expected of Yang Yi. The first two strategies alone were brilliant. How clever.

His gaze fell upon the last plan.

Suddenly. Li Chengqian’s expression changed, his pupils contracting as a deep sense of shock flooded his features. His fingers clenched around the letter, the veins on the back of his hand bulging as he tightened his grip.

Though the chamber was warm as spring, a faint sheen of sweat formed on his forehead. A shiver ran down his spine, as if he had been plunged into the depths of an icy abyss.

Too ruthless.

Li Chengqian prided himself on being a man of the world, but in the face of Yang Yi’s strategy, he felt a chill seep into his bones.

Is this the true mind of the world’s most ruthless strategist?

Too cruel.

He swallowed hard, his hair standing on end, his back drenched in cold sweat. Yet, a thought he had never dared entertain before slowly took root.

If I truly follow Yang Yi’s plan, I might actually be able to defeat Li Tai and claim the throne.

His throat felt dry. Wiping the cold sweat from his brow, he took a deep breath, trying to steady himself. His expression darkened, his bloodshot eyes flickering with uncertainty.

One line from Yang Yi’s letter echoed in his mind.

There can always be more heirs in the future, but there is only one throne.

His jaw tightened.

A long silence passed.

Then, he suddenly stood.

Stepping toward the candle on the table, he held the letter to the flame. The parchment curled and blackened, turning to ash within moments.

Then, he called for a servant.

In a steady, deliberate voice, he said, “Summon Prince Han, Du He, and Duke Chen.”

The servant bowed hurriedly. “Yes, Your Highness.”

…

HALF AN HOUR LATER—EASTERN PALACE.

Li Chengqian smiled as he studied the three men seated before him.

Prince Han, Li Yuanchang.

Captain of the Imperial Guard, Du He.

Duke Chen, Hou Junji.

Li Yuanchang, the seventh son of Emperor Gaozu of Tang, Li Yuan, was technically Li Chengqian’s uncle, though they were only a year apart in age. Despite their familial bond, Li Yuanchang remained deferential—after all, their statuses were vastly different.

Du He, son of Du Ruhui, had long been one of Li Chengqian’s closest allies.

Hou Junji, a celebrated Tang general, wielded considerable military power and openly supported Li Chengqian’s claim to the throne. Naturally, Li Chengqian valued him greatly.

These were his most trusted confidants.

As for Lu Deming, Kong Yingda, Yu Zhining, Du Zhenglun, and the other prominent ministers—they were loyal to his father, Li Shimin. Whatever was discussed here, they could never know.

Du He, who had always been straightforward, was the first to speak.

“Your Highness, why have you summoned us so suddenly?”

Li Yuanchang and Hou Junji also turned to him expectantly.

Li Chengqian smiled faintly, his expression composed.

“Today, I have called the three of you here to discuss how we shall deal with my fourth brother.”

The room fell silent.

Li Yuanchang, Du He, and Hou Junji stared at him in surprise.

Since his return from Luoyang, the Crown Prince seemed like a completely different person.

They knew him well. Before, when it became clear that Li Tai had his father’s support and ambitions for the throne, Li Chengqian had simply given up, resigning himself to his fate.

But now? Now, he wanted to fight back?

It was an unexpected—yet welcome—change.

Du He was the first to respond. “If the Crown Prince gives the order, I will not hesitate to lay down my life!”

Li Chengqian chuckled, his eyes glinting. “That will not be necessary. I have two strategies in mind to deal with my fourth brother.”

Li Yuanchang, Du He, and Hou Junji exchanged glances.

The Crown Prince… had strategies?

Li Yuanchang hesitated before asking, “Your Highness, what are these plans?”

Du He and Hou Junji leaned forward, their curiosity piqued.

They knew Li Chengqian well.

Intelligent? Yes.

But ambitious? Determined?

That had never been his nature.

Yet now, the man before them was no longer the same Crown Prince they had once known.

Meeting their expectant gazes, Li Chengqian smiled.