Chapter 178: |
Chapter 178
Late at night, Li Er sat alone at his desk in the grand hall. He had expected to feel immensely satisfied after the imperial court assembly with envoys from various nations. Still, as the music faded and the crowd dispersed, he felt alone with complex feelings. The day's assembly hadn't brought him as much contentment as he had anticipated. His emotions were intricate at this moment, and he couldn't deny a certain truth.
In his heart, Li Er knew that the gathering of envoys from all nations was primarily built upon Su Li's triumph in the northwest. Regardless of any embellishments, this fact remained undeniable. Even though Su Li hadn't attended the assembly that day, the envoys still held deep fear and respect for him.
“Your Majesty, it's late. Why are you still not sleeping?” Zhangsun Wu Fei entered the hall, carrying a bowl of lotus seed porridge, and gently placed it on the table. Over the years of their marriage, whenever Li Er worked late at night, she prepared a bowl of lotus seed porridge for him.
Li Er consumed the porridge in one gulp and then sighed deeply. “What's on your mind? You seem troubled,” Zhangsun Wu Fei asked, showing genuine concern.
Li Er glanced at her and confided, “Wu Fei, do you think I'm making the right decisions?”
She sat beside him and tenderly touched his hand. “Your Majesty, your wisdom and thoughtfulness have always guided your decisions. I believe everything you've done is in the best interest of the dynasty.”
Li Er sighed once more. “But at what cost? I know the reality of it all. These envoys, the praise—they all stem from Su Li's achievements. Yet, it feels like he’s the one receiving all the attention.”
Zhangsun Wu Fei smiled softly. “Isn't that a good thing? Su Li's feats are exceptional, showing the strength and prosperity of our dynasty. As his father-in-law, you should take pride in that.”
Zhangsun Wu Fei looked into his eyes, waiting for him to continue.
Li Er hesitated briefly, then said, “It's about Gaoyang, our daughter.” I’ve been contemplating… what should we do with her?”
Li Er had a subconscious habit. If he felt that certain matters were best kept from Zhangsun Wu Fei, he wouldn’t reveal any emotions in her presence. However, when he believed she could offer advice, he would unintentionally reveal his feelings. Though he wasn’t aware of this habit, Zhangsun Wu Fei knew it well. Seeing Li Er sigh and pose this question indicated his deep self-doubt.
Li Er was the emperor, and emperors rarely admitted to mistakes. Their words were like commands, unchangeable once spoken. Zhangsun Wu Fei might offer counsel, but only on minor matters. If Li Er’s decision had already taken the form of an imperial edict, Zhangsun Wu Fei wouldn’t dare to advise otherwise. Li Er posing this question revealed his profound uncertainty.
After supporting each other for so many years, this was the first time Zhangsun Wu Fei had seen Li Er in such a state.
“Initially, I strongly desired Su Li to join the army. He possessed the strength to throw an elephant, no weaker than Xiang Yu. I believed I could mold him into the Western Chu Overlord of the Tang Dynasty,” Li Er spoke with a hint of melancholy.
“Later, due to the Tibetan issue, Su Li led the army on an expedition, and my wish seemed to have been fulfilled,” Zhangsun Wu Fei said as she walked up to Li Er and gently held his hand. She had a sense of what Li Er wanted to express. Throughout his reign, Li Er had been a proud and discerning ruler. As an emperor, he valued talent and ability above all else. He had even entrusted Li Jing, who had a criminal record, with significant authority and had been proven right. As an emperor, his tolerance was indeed expansive.
Yet, having a broad tolerance did not equate to limitless tolerance. Zhangsun Wu Fei understood that Li Er had a strong desire for control, and his control was indeed formidable. Until now, he hadn’t encountered anyone whose abilities exceeded the limits of his control, which had bolstered his confidence.
However, an exception had emerged now. Realizing this, Zhangsun Wu Fei gently shook her head at Li Er. “Your Majesty, Su Li is, after all, Changle’s husband. Regardless of your roles as ruler and subject, you’re also connected as father-in-law and son-in-law. Moreover, he isn’t someone who seeks power and authority. Why must you go to such lengths…” She whispered.
Li Er wore a bitter smile. He had once held a similar perspective, but it seemed irrelevant now. Trying to find solace in the father-in-law relationship, especially for someone like Li Er, was nearly a jest. He had been willing to eliminate his own blood brothers, so what significance did a son-in-law hold for him?
Regarding Su Li, Li Er felt that, as an emperor, he didn’t carry much weight. He had scrutinized Su Li closely. Su Li’s demeanor remained as calm as water when facing anyone, whether the emperor himself or servants in the princess’s residence. Only when facing Changle, did Su Li reveal a different side. This sense of equality unsettled Li Er.
Initially, Li Er had tried to deceive himself. However, the Gaoyang incident had abruptly awakened him. They could coexist when there were no issues, but in times of trouble, he couldn’t ignore Su Li’s opinions. Su Li was the Prince of Yongle, not just a mere companion.
“Empress, do you remember when Changle fell ill…” Li Er began to recount the past events leading to Changle’s illness. As Zhangsun Wu Fei listened, her face paled.
“Gaoyang, that scoundrel!” Zhangsun Wu Fei uttered through clenched teeth. When Changle had fallen ill, the couple had endured sleepless nights and exhausted all methods, desperate to awaken their daughter. They had even resorted to the happiness-boosting technique suggested by Yuan Tiangang. Changle was their flesh and blood, and her illness had caused indescribable pain in Zhangsun Wu Fei and Li Er’s hearts. They had always believed it to be an unfortunate accident, never suspecting someone had orchestrated it from behind the scenes.
Although Zhangsun Wu Fei cursed Gaoyang, she knew deep down that they couldn’t execute her. Moreover, they couldn’t let this incident become public, as it would tarnish Li Er’s reputation. At that moment, Zhangsun Wu Fei couldn’t think of an appropriate punishment.
“Su Li brought this matter to my attention,” Li Er said with a bitter smile.
Hearing this, a chill ran down Zhangsun Wu Fei’s spine. She finally comprehended Li Er’s emotions. It was the kind of pressure that Su Li, a true nemesis to many, exerted on ordinary people. Su Li didn’t need to do anything. Merely expressing his dissatisfaction could make the Emperor and Empress anxious and uneasy.
“What… What did he say?” Zhangsun Wu Fei asked, her expression complex.
“He didn’t explicitly state that he wanted Gaoyang killed. Without consideration for Changle’s feelings, he simply suggested that Gaoyang should not appear before her in the future,” Li Er explained with a touch of helplessness.
Anger flashed across Zhangsun Wu Fei’s face. Su Li’s intention could be seen as a request, an order, or a threat, but it lacked any semblance of asking. After all, he was addressing Li Er, who was not just his father-in-law but also his sovereign. Su Li was not only Li Er’s son-in-law but also his subject. From any perspective, he shouldn’t have expressed such sentiments to Li Er, but he had nonetheless.
“How did you respond?” Zhangsun Wu Fei inquired, believing that Li Er wouldn’t easily concede.
At this point, the issue had transcended concerns about Gaoyang. It had become a confrontation between Su Li and Li Er.
In the next moment, Zhangsun Wu Fei’s eyes widened. “You’ve decided to arrange a marriage alliance with the Silla Kingdom and send Gaoyang there,” Li Er disclosed with a complex expression.
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