Chapter 32: Li Xian, in Peril

With the death of Empress Wu and the subsequent collapse of her faction, the court officials raised no objections to Li Xian’s ascension to the throne.

What followed was a ruthless, thorough purge.

Under the witness of two generations of emperors, Li Xian was formally enthroned, adopting the reign title "Shaosheng." The term "Shao" implies inheritance, signifying that he would carry on the legacies of his predecessors, the two Sages, Li Shimin and Li Zhi. Li Qing grandly recommended a series of renowned officials to Li Xian—such as Di Renjie and Zhang Jianzhi—effectively building a foundation for his administration.

Shangguan Wan'er, having learned the truth from her mother, Zheng Qinyun, was consumed with remorse for having served her enemy for so many years. Moved by Li Qing’s benevolence, Zheng Qinyun pledged her loyalty and service. Li Qing, naturally, accepted. Considering the sustainable potential for harvesting emotional points from "Little Wu," he kept Zheng Qinyun—who harbored a deep vendetta against her—by his side, gifting both mother and daughter a Marrow-Cleansing Pill and a Beauty-Preserving Pill. Upon discovering the miraculous effects of these elixirs, the two became utterly devoted. When Li Qing revealed that he also possessed a younger version of the maid Wu Meiniang, Shangguan Wan'er’s eyes lit up. She had followed Li Qing out of gratitude, but she never expected such unexpected gains.

Before returning, news arrived at court regarding the uprisings of Prince Yue, Li Zhen, and Prince Han, Li Yuanjia, against the Wu regime. Upon hearing this, Li Shimin stroked his beard and smiled with relief. "It seems there are still capable men within my Great Tang royal family."

"If you hadn't come, Brother Li, your entire royal family would have been wiped out by Empress Wu like a game of Candy Crush," Li Qing remarked, casting a pitying look at the old emperor.

"What do you mean, brother?" Li Shimin asked, failing to grasp the reference.

"Do you know why there are no issues with the feudal princes in the Great Tang?" Li Qing patted Li Shimin on the shoulder, his gaze filled with a pity that made Li Shimin uncomfortable. "Because Wu Meiniang killed them all."

With that single sentence, Brother Li contributed nearly ten thousand emotional points. Watching the notification of the increase, Li Qing smiled from the bottom of his heart.

"No, I must go to the Wu Zhou dynasty!" Li Shimin said, growing agitated.

"I’m afraid that’s not possible, Brother Li," Li Qing said with deep regret. "My magical powers are insufficient; I can only travel to the era of the Great Tang, and this Wu Zhou is not the Great Tang..."

Li Shimin’s blood pressure rose once again.

Princess Taiping and the Prince of Xiang, Li Dan, arrived at the palace. Li Qing noted that Li Dan was a decent man with a good son, though he himself was far too soft-hearted. Li Dan only smiled nonchalantly, believing that simply staying alive was good enough.

"Father." Princess Taiping, then still a carefree girl untouched by conspiracies, was overjoyed to see her beloved father back among the living. Upon seeing Li Shimin, she wrinkled her nose and teased, "Grandfather certainly has more of a heroic air than Father does," drawing boisterous laughter from everyone.

At this point, Princess Taiping had not yet experienced the forced execution of her husband, Xue Shao, nor had she realized the importance of power, and she still held some sympathy for the late Empress Wu. "Father, why not spare Mother’s life? Even sending her to the Yeting Palace would have been enough..."

"You are truly naive, grandniece," Li Qing said, clicking his tongue. "If not for your father, your dear mother would have had your husband, Xue Shao, thrown into prison and starved to death in a few years, all because your brother-in-law, Xue Yi, got involved in Li Chong’s rebellion."

"Impossible! Mother loves me most; if I begged for mercy, she would never execute Xue Lang!" Princess Taiping’s first reaction was disbelief.

"You don't actually think you were more favored than Li Hong or Li Xian, do you?" Li Qing looked at this white lotus, as yet uncorrupted by power, with pity. "Surely not?"

Princess Taiping wanted to retort but found herself speechless.

"Your mother was a beast of power. In her eyes, there were no children, only obstacles in her path. To climb to the highest seat, she would stop at nothing," Li Qing concluded.

Li Shimin sneezed. Truth be told, the incident at the Xuanwu Gate wasn't really his fault; it was just that Li Yuan was far too incompetent at being a father.

"Xue Shao is your grandson," Li Qing said to Li Shimin. "He is the son of your youngest daughter with Empress Zhangsun, Princess Chengyang."

In Li Shimin's memory, Princess Chengyang was still a little brat with a runny nose who followed Li Zhi and Li Mingda around calling them brother and sister. Hearing suddenly that her son had married a princess left him momentarily stunned. Yet, it also proved that Li Zhi did value family; at least when Princess Chengyang was once embroiled in witchcraft scandals, Li Zhi had personally pardoned her, treated her as before, and even married his beloved youngest daughter to her son. One should not underestimate the gravity of witchcraft scandals; in ancient times, they were crimes on par with treason. Empress Chen A Jiao was deposed for it, Wei Zifu committed suicide because of it, and Crown Prince Liu Ju died in such a calamity.

Just then, it was announced that the Prince of Luling was requesting an audience. Li Shimin flashed a grin that looked like a toothache. Li Zhi caught it clearly and couldn't help but shiver involuntarily.

"Ah, brother," Li Shimin looked around, failing to find his rattan whip. "I left the whip with Zhinu. Do you have another one?"

"This... I actually don't," Li Qing checked his system shop and, after a long search, found a brand new 'parental weapon'—the Seven Wolves belt. He exchanged five of them and handed one to Li Shimin. Li Shimin pulled on the leather strap, which snapped with a crisp sound.

He was extremely satisfied; this thing was far better than a rattan whip.

"What is this? It feels so handy," Li Shimin asked with satisfaction.

"Seven Wolves. As the poem goes: 'When the father sees the son is not yet dead, he pulls out the Seven Wolves,'" Li Qing laughed, demonstrating for Li Shimin. "It can also be used as a belt."

"Excellent, excellent."

Seeing Li Zhi trying to sneak away, Li Shimin asked, "Zhinu? Why are you hiding so far away?"

"Haha..." Li Zhi laughed awkwardly and shuffled back.

"Come here," Li Qing beckoned Li Zhi and handed him a Seven Wolves belt as well. "Take it."

"Ah?" Li Zhi asked, confused. "Uncle, what do I need this for?"

Li Qing patted his shoulder and said earnestly, "To beat Li Xian, of course. Think about the beastly things he did—actually wanting to hand the empire over to his father-in-law? What kind of insect is he?"

"But... wasn't that just him speaking in anger?" Li Zhi stammered.

Seeing that Li Zhi wasn't getting it, Li Qing sighed at his lack of resolve. "Why are you so thick-headed, child? You’re given an opportunity and you can't even use it. Think about how your father beat you. Think, did it hurt?"

"It hurt..." Li Zhi replied instinctively.

"Ah, that’s right," Li Qing said, as if teaching a promising student. "Now, you have a chance to beat your son just like your father beat you..."

Li Zhi thought of how his imperial father had thrashed him, and then imagined himself thrashing Li Xian. The expression on his face grew increasingly wicked, his eyes nearly glowing red. *Damn it, I shouldn't be the only one suffering this beating! Today, I shall vent all the frustration I've endured these past few days!*

Li Xian was in grave danger.