CHAPTER 605: CHAPTER 395: CAN’T AFFORD TO GAMBLE, EVEN LESS CAN AFFORD TO LOSE

"They were all killed in their own homes, reportedly tortured to death, their deaths too gruesome to behold. However, I did not participate in the investigation, so I did not see the scene. But to torture and kill court officials, and not just one person, is a crime punishable by the extermination of three clans," Xiao Song said.

Ran Yan suddenly leaned forward slightly and lowered her voice, "Could it be that a prince is planning a coup?"

The murder of the courtiers was serious, but it was not enough to make Xiao Song so cautious, to the point of sending her and the children to Lanling for refuge.

Xiao Song paused for a moment, then the corners of his lips curved up, "That is one reason, but not the most important one. The Emperor has the capability, these princes are far from what the Emperor was back in his days."

Li Shimin had forced Li Yuan to abdicate after the Xuanwu Gate Incident, and naturally, he would guard against facing such a day himself.

The only one now capable of a coup, Li Ke, was tightly controlled by Li Shimin, so he could only rely on subtle maneuvers, and a real enhancement of his own prestige and strength. Li Ke’s wife’s family was the Xiao family, and it was hard to say whether the initial dismissal of Duke Xiao was meant to guard against Li Ke.

As for Li Tai, he himself did not have the ability to command troops, and Li Shimin had arranged for him to marry the daughter of Yan Lide, the Minister of Public Works. Unlike the Xiao family, the Yan family only had prestige and lacked the power to support a prince in usurping the throne.

Without absolute military power for a rebellion, "the Emperor’s favor" is an important factor in the struggle for succession.

Li Shimin admired Li Ke the most but favored Li Tai the most. Ran Yan didn’t know how much of it was genuine. Perhaps Li Tai appeared obedient and intelligent, strikingly talented, deserving of affection, but his excessive favoritism towards Li Tai indeed balanced out Li Ke’s excellence. At least for the time being, the court’s senior officials dared not casually take sides.

So looking back now, although every move of Li Shimin seemed careless and naturally occurring, he had actually firmly controlled the entire situation in his hands from the beginning.

Li Shimin had the ability to force an abdication, and he certainly had the ability to prevent others from forcing him out as well.

Seeing that Ran Yan seemed to understand, Xiao Song said, "I heard that He Sizheng is in charge of this case. I am not sure if it’s true, but the Emperor certainly had private meetings with him several times. He Sizheng, this person... particularly likes to shift the burden onto others’ shoulders."

Clearly touching on a sensitive issue, as Assistant Minister of Ministry of Criminal Justice, Xiao Song was recognized for his abilities in solving many complex cases, and he would definitely become a prime target for He Sizheng to shift blame. Even if he couldn’t shift blame, he would definitely try to drag him down as well.

"I, Xiao Yuezhi, have always dared to gamble. I also believe I am capable of protecting my wife and children," Xiao Song looked at Ran Yan and softly said, "But Yan, even if there’s a slight chance of getting involved, I wouldn’t want to leave you and the children in Chang’an. I can’t afford to gamble with you and the children, nor can I afford to lose."

Ran Yan was emotionally moved, and after a moment of silence, she said, "Okay."

In this regard, Ran Yan was very much like Xiao Song; she was not someone who feared trouble. Otherwise, she wouldn’t have chosen the path of being a forensic doctor. If it weren’t for these three children, she would definitely have stayed to face it together with Xiao Song. But as Xiao Song said, for her, in this world, it was only Xiao Song and the children, she couldn’t afford to gamble, nor afford to lose.

"It may be half to a full year at least, maybe three to four years at most, change is bound to occur," Xiao Song sighed, feeling a weight on his lap, only to see Xiao Number Two had dropped his toy and climbed onto him.

Xiao Song laughed and lifted him from under his armpits, "Let me see, has our Ji’er gotten any chubbier?"

Xiao Number Two happily waved his little hands, babbling as if responding to him.

Seeing her brother happy, Ruoruo also happily slapped the mat with her little hands, grinning so wide that neither teeth nor eyes were visible.

Ran Yan looked at her crescent moon-like eyes and felt warmed, reaching out her hand, "Ruoruo, come to Mommy."

Ruoruo might not have understood, but as soon as she saw Ran Yan stretch out her hand, she wobbled over.

Ran Yan didn’t wait for her to get close before scooping her up, and Ruoruo happily kicked her legs a few times against her legs.

"It’s just Shu’er who has the biggest head," Ran Yan looked back at Xiao Number One, who was still sound asleep.

Xiao Shu had been the largest of the three at birth, and by now Ran Yan had already started adding vegetable puree and egg yolk to their diet, not just milk. Xiao Shu was growing the fastest among them, now seeming to have reached the height and weight that a singleton born child should achieve.

The size difference among the three children had become pronounced, and their appearances seemed to start showing slight differences too. Seeing them lined up from largest to smallest, lying or sitting there playing, was always particularly amusing.