Chapter 582 - 382: Power Struggle_2 - Miss Truth - NovelsTime

Miss Truth

Chapter 582 - 382: Power Struggle_2

Author: Sleeve Tang
updatedAt: 2025-08-29

CHAPTER 582: CHAPTER 382: POWER STRUGGLE_2

Li Shimin let out a faint, inscrutable chuckle, "Let’s discuss this matter another time."

Changsun Wuji felt a chill in his heart; this issue was likely going to be thorny. In fact, he had become increasingly disappointed in the Crown Prince, but for the sake of the Changsun family, he had to ensure the Crown Prince’s position was secure, no matter what.

The hall fell into silence, with no one else speaking out.

"The Crown Prince..." Li Shimin’s voice resonated, and though everyone was poised calmly, eyes downcast and hands clasped, they all pricked up their ears in unison, only to hear Li Shimin mournfully say, "You have disappointed me greatly!"

The crowd remained composed on the surface, but inside they were reeling. Those words... unmistakably conveyed a sense of dispensability!

Changsun Wuji grew even more anxious, but he needed to remain composed and speak at just the right moment, without seeming too eager.

Xiao Song, on the other hand, was quite indifferent. Whether the Crown Prince was deposed or not, it made little difference to him; instead, his interest lay in who the new Crown Prince would be.

"In recent years, the Crown Prince has indulged in pleasure and idleness without making any achievements. How can I entrust the Great Tang to him if this continues?" Li Shimin was increasingly aggrieved. What could have turned Li Chengqian, who was once an excellent child, into a figure of such folly?

Li Shimin, whether as a father or a sovereign, had never found the reason.

Changsun Wuji, Hou Junji, and others may have faced great upheavals before, but hearing these sentences still made their hearts skip a beat.

"What do you think of Prince Wu’s talents, virtues, and character for the throne?" Li Shimin asked.

The crowd had their surprise written all over their faces, looking at Li Shimin in astonishment. Xiao Song’s heart sank as well. Li Ke certainly had the potential to be an emperor, not only that but he might very well become a highly accomplished one. But...

"Xuanling, speak your thoughts!" Li Shimin called out, seeing the hesitation from the others.

All eyes turned to Fang Xuanling, who thoughtfully began, "Prince Wu Ke’s talents and character are indeed impressive, and he has a bearing reminiscent of Your Majesty."

Even Li Shimin himself had used the phrase "similar to myself," a well-observed fact. But perhaps it was for this very reason that Li Shimin had always guarded against him.

Li Shimin had risen to power through a sea of his brothers’ blood, his illustrious military achievements far outshone those of the former Crown Prince. If the former Crown Prince had ascended the throne, he might not have tolerated Li Shimin. For self-preservation and power, it finally came down to fratricide. Often in the dead of night, he dreamt of the days when he fought shoulder to shoulder with his father and brothers, overturning the Sui Dynasty and establishing the Great Tang realm bit by bit, waking up in tears every time. He did not want his own sons to re-enact the Xuanwu Gate Incident.

Now, both the Crown Prince and Prince Wei had deeply disappointed him, so it might be better to just establish Prince Wu as the new heir.

Fang Xuanling’s one sentence was like a drop of water in a hot oil pan. Changsun Wuji might still keep his composure, but Hou Junji could hardly remain seated.

"However," Fang Xuanling changed his tone, "traditionally, the empire is vested in the eldest, not the youngest, in the legitimate, not the illegitimate. If this is changed lightly, it may lead to disorder in the court and state."

What Fang Xuanling meant was clear: Li Ke was good and had the ability to be the Crown Prince, but the Crown Prince was the legitimate heir, rightfully next in line for the throne. The clever use of the word "lightly" suggested that all could be this way or that, everything depending on the Emperor’s will.

His words touched on critical issues, yet he didn’t actually take a stand—it was as if he had said nothing at all.

"Let Xiao, the minister, speak," Li Shimin called upon Xiao Song, the youngest, clearly desiring to hear an honest opinion.

The expressions of the others became rather animated. Xiao Song’s father, Duke Song, had served as the Crown Prince’s Young Master, and they shared a mentor-student relationship. Moreover, Xiao Song’s family was related by marriage to Li Ke; it was a difficult question to answer. Everyone was keen to see how he would handle it.

Xiao Song respectfully replied, "What the Prime Minister said is critical. After hearing it, I have gained some insight and find myself in full agreement."

The old ministers were all slightly taken aback; this response was even more cunning—a declaration of: I’m young and don’t quite understand these matters; I’m here to humbly learn from the insights of my elders.

Li Shimin was also momentarily stunned. If this issue had landed on Duke Song, he would certainly have received a more definitive answer; at the least, if Duke Song had not wished to respond, he would have said he did not know. Xiao Song’s disposition was truly the opposite of his father’s.

"In that case, let’s consider establishing Prince Wu Ke," said Li Shimin, whose original intention wasn’t actually to establish Prince Wu, but such sensitive matters of succession required these shrewd and worldly men to offer useful opinions, and none would do so without some strong provocation.

"I object to this!" Even if Hou Junji knew it was a trap set by the Emperor, he had to jump into it.

Li Shimin leaned back into his chair, finding a more comfortable position, and raised an eyebrow, "Why?"

Hou Junji said, "As the Prime Minister stated, although Prince Wu Ke has talent, he is not the legitimate heir. To choose the younger or the illegitimate contradicts what Your Majesty asserted in the past."

When Li Shimin ascended to the throne, he indeed had asserted the principle of prioritizing the legitimate and the eldest over the illegitimate and the youngest.

Cen Wenben stepped forward and said, "Your Majesty, I believe the throne should be inherited by the virtuous. If the Crown Prince is capable and virtuous, that is naturally best. But if the legitimate and eldest is not virtuous, would it not be a tragedy to let the realm, built through sweat and blood, perish? As for the legitimate and illegitimate, it comes down to the status of their mothers."

Cen Wenben typically kept a low profile, yet when it was time to take action, he did. His words were not explicit, but his meaning was evident. A small leap of inference revealed his point: what determines legitimate vs illegitimate? Those born of the principal wife are legitimate. Li Ke’s mother, Lady Yang, was a former princess of the preceding Sui Dynasty, carrying the noble blood of both the Yang and Dugu families; even crowning her as Empress would be fitting.

As soon as these words were said, immediate objections arose.

The hall grew noisy with clamorous voices, a stark contrast to the quiet that preceded. (To be continued. If you like this work, you are welcome to vote for it with a monthly ticket or recommendation ticket at Qidian. Your support is my greatest motivation.)

Novel