The Empress Dowager’s expression was extremely ugly. Prince Li was Li Qitian’s cousin, while Marquis Qingyang was her own brother. Having her natal family perform so poorly in front of her husband’s family made the Empress Dowager feel humiliated.
Prince Li still maintained that gentle, timid appearance, half-lowering his eyes as he consoled her in soft tones: “The Empress Dowager need not worry. Marquis Qingyang is a hero on the battlefield who has always been fiery by nature. When encountering such cunning rogues skilled in rhetoric, how could he endure it? Becoming ill from momentary rage and fury is understandable.”
Though the Empress Dowager felt Marquis Qingyang’s current behavior seemed like shirking responsibility, she still had to maintain face in front of Prince Li. She was very satisfied that Prince Li was so tactful, feeling that choosing Prince Li to serve as regent and handle court affairs was truly a wise decision.
Prince Li was weak-natured and would be an easily controlled puppet. And she had placed the Huben Army in her own family’s hands. Thus both court administration and military power were firmly grasped in her hands. If the Emperor was fine, that would naturally be good—when he returned, she would naturally hand over power.
But if something happened to the Emperor, she wouldn’t be too passive either. With all power in her hands, at least she wouldn’t be controlled by court ministers.
Thinking of her recent decisions, the Empress Dowager couldn’t help feeling proud and looked upon Prince Li even more favorably.
“This dowager was not wrong about you. You truly are a worthy talent who knows when to advance and retreat and understands righteousness.”
Prince Li was flattered by the praise and quickly stood to return the courtesy: “The Empress Dowager overpraes me. I don’t possess His Majesty’s abilities and am now only following the Empress Dowager’s instructions to do what I can. I have no other talents—I only know how to be obedient.”
The Empress Dowager thought “being obedient is good” while smiling and praising Prince Li further. She kept him for lunch and rewarded him with pastries and fruits before letting him leave.
Prince Li left the Ci’an Palace, traveling unobstructed in a small sedan chair out of the palace.
Arriving outside the palace gates, he transferred to his own carriage and returned to his residence in the capital.
As soon as he entered the main gate, he saw a middle-aged scholar in blue robes wearing a “Pacifying the Four Directions” cap smiling as he approached.
This was Prince Li’s advisor named Dai Chun, courtesy name Zhinan.
“Your Highness.” Dai Chun approached and bowed.
“Master Dai.” Prince Li smiled warmly. “Why is Master Dai standing here?”
“This humble one was waiting for Your Highness to return.”
“Oh? Does Master have urgent business?”
“Indeed.”
Prince Li smiled: “Shall we move to the study for detailed discussion?”
Dai Chun smiled and nodded: “This student had the same thought.”
The two went to the study. Prince Li dismissed the servants, then lifted his robe hem and sat casually in a round chair. His expression naturally carried several degrees of arrogance, completely different from when he was before the Empress Dowager.
Dai Chun stood below and cupped his hands: “Did Your Highness gain anything from entering the palace today?”
Upon hearing this, Prince Li actually burst out laughing.
Thinking of how the Empress Dowager was clearly almost fainting from anger at Marquis Qingyang yet still had to pretend composure and find excuses for herself—Prince Li laughed more heartily and loudly.
Seeing this, Dai Chun could already guess the situation.
“Allow this student to guess—could it be that Marquis Qingyang has caused some amusement again?”
“Exactly.” Prince Li laughed and shook his head appreciatively: “Master’s strategy from back then was truly excellent. Whether it’s Marquis Qingyang or that old woman above who presumptuously tries to grasp power, they’re all equally stupid! One overestimates himself, the other treats her natal family like treasures. Following Master’s advice to recommend Marquis Qingyang as Huben Army commander before the Empress Dowager was truly beneficial in multiple ways.”
Dai Chun smiled and shook his head: “Your Highness overpraises. That idea originally wasn’t this student’s—it was Your Highness’s own far-sighted planning. Now the Dragon Guard Army urgently awaits rescue at Tianmen Pass, yet Marquis Qingyang suddenly develops fear. When this news spreads, not only will he lose face, but the Empress Dowager will be angry too.
“Then you can take advantage of everyone despising Marquis Qingyang’s battlefield desertion to personally take control of this power—that would be perfectly justified.”
Prince Li put away his smile and shook his head: “This idea is good, and I think it’s feasible. But I fear long nights bring many dreams and unexpected changes. That old woman’s heart is greedy, and she doesn’t only have one incompetent brother—she has so many Zhou surname nephews at home. I fear this power still won’t belong to me.”
Prince Li stood and paced to the window with his hands behind his back: “Now is an excellent opportunity to establish a firm foothold. If His Majesty is truly found and brought back before my power is stabilized, what I might face is His Majesty’s reckoning. I know His Majesty’s temperament all too well.”
Dai Chun also became serious: “Your Highness need not worry. Though Chong Mountain is tightly guarded by Prince Consort Ji’s people, even tigers have moments when they doze. We just need to keep watching there. If we discover people who shouldn’t appear, have them eliminated. We absolutely cannot let your efforts fail at the crucial moment.”
Prince Li nodded: “In my opinion, it would be better to burn that mountain with fire.”
“Your Highness, burning the mountain is inappropriate. There are still so many people that Prince Consort Ji brought for excavation. If they’re all wiped out, outsiders will inevitably criticize this as someone deliberately setting fire to harm His Majesty.”
“How could it be considered harming him? Who knows if he’s even alive? Maybe this wouldn’t be harming—it could even be helping with cremation.”
Dai Chun smiled: “Your Highness speaks truly. But we should still be cautious now. We cannot let the Empress Dowager become suspicious. Once you can stand firm in the regent position, there will be much more we can do.”
Prince Li nodded, placed both hands on the chair’s armrests, and breathed out deeply with satisfaction: “Li Qitian and I are brothers of the same clan. There’s no reason he can be emperor while I cannot. How much inferior am I to him? The imperial throne belongs to the Li family—does the Empress Dowager want to put it in Zhou family hands? How presumptuous!”
Dai Chun nodded in agreement.
Prince Li envisioned his future, his smile becoming even more confident.
If the Empress Dowager saw Prince Li in this state, she would never feel comfortable entrusting regent power to him. But Prince Li concealed himself too deeply before others.
With Marquis Qingyang claiming illness and avoiding court, the Empress Dowager was furious. For three consecutive days she sent people to visit the marquis’s manor, but Marquis Qingyang remained bedridden.
The Empress Dowager was quite angry and personally left the palace to see Marquis Qingyang.
Who knew what Marquis Qingyang said to the Empress Dowager, but when she returned, she summoned Minister of War Wang Zhi.
“Now Marquis Qingyang’s health shows no improvement. Having him campaign to Tianmen Pass probably isn’t good. This dowager sees that though Ji Zeyu’s personality is unlikeable, he did serve as Huben Army commander for a time and should understand everything. This dowager can feel at ease with him leading troops. Why don’t you go to Chong Mountain shortly and tell Prince Consort Ji that this dowager is restoring his position as Huben Army commander?”