Yang Guang’s eye twitched repeatedly as he said harshly: “My decree has been issued. Regardless of whether you have an existing engagement, you must marry Princess Yongfeng. Otherwise, it is defying the imperial decree, and I’m sure you understand what the consequences would be.”
Li Shimin bowed with cupped hands: “Your Majesty, if Shimin were to betray the Zhangsun daughter today, he would be an unfaithful, heartless, and ungrateful person. How could such a person be worthy of joining in matrimony with Princess Yongfeng?!”
Li Yuan also said: “Your Majesty’s grace fills your subject with tears of gratitude, but…”
“Enough!” Yang Guang interrupted him, staring at Li Shimin: “I ask you one more time—will you marry her or not?!”
Li Shimin gritted his teeth tightly and kowtowed: “In response to Your Majesty, Shimin truly cannot marry Princess Yongfeng!”
Yang Guang’s expression was as dark as iron. He hadn’t expected Li Shimin to be so stubborn, preferring death to marrying Princess Yongfeng. This put him in a difficult position. Killing Li Shimin would certainly be simple, but doing so would ensure Li Yuan would never again be loyal to him. When the time came to suppress the rebellions in Xi’an and Hedong, to whom could he entrust this task? No matter how he looked at it, Li Yuan was the most suitable candidate.
But if he didn’t kill them, he couldn’t save face. What should he do?
After a long while, he forcefully struck the dragon-head armrest and said harshly: “Li Yuan, I give you three days to persuade Li Shimin. If after three days he still refuses to marry Princess Yongfeng, not only will Li Shimin die, but the entire Li family will accompany him in death!” With that, he shouted: “Guards!”
Soon, two Imperial Guards in full armor with long swords at their waists entered and bowed: “We pay respects to Your Majesty!”
Yang Guang pointed at Li Yuan and his son, saying coldly: “Take these two to the imperial prison and lock them up. Without my orders, no one is permitted to see them!”
The guards acknowledged and each escorted one of the Li father and son away. After they left, Yang Guang swept everything on the imperial desk to the floor with force, terrifying the palace attendants who all knelt and begged Yang Guang to calm his anger.
Yang Guang paid them no attention, only staring coldly at the six-paneled flower hall doors, gritting his teeth: “Li Shimin, I hope after three days you will have thought things through. Otherwise, I will certainly annihilate your Li clan!”
Once he acted, he would certainly exterminate them completely, not allowing any member of the Li family to survive, including daughters who had married out, and even… Consort Wang, whom he had made one of the Nine Consorts. Only by cutting grass and eliminating roots would there be no remaining party to cause trouble in the future!
Shortly after Li Yuan and his son were dragged away, An Jiatuo entered. Before the latter could pay respects, Yang Guang was already complaining: “It’s all your brilliant idea. Now Li Shimin refuses to accept the decree and marry Yongfeng, making me wrong on all sides. What can be done about this?”
After learning the full story, An Jiatuo said: “Your Majesty, don’t worry. If after three days Li Shimin truly refuses to marry Princess Yongfeng for the sake of a mere Zhangsun daughter, it shows the Li clan’s loyalty to Your Majesty is insufficient. Killing such people is no loss.”
Yang Guang frowned: “That may be so, but this way there would be no one to suppress the situations in Hedong and Shanxi, and even the Guanzhong situation might become unstable!”
An Jiatuo thought for a moment: “Losing Li Yuan is indeed regrettable, but the court doesn’t necessarily lack suitable candidates. This poor monk recalls that Left Guard General Yuwen Shu and several of his sons are all fine military talents.”
Yang Guang thought this made sense and said: “Very well, let’s see how Li Yuan and his son answer after three days.”
News of Li Yuan and his son being imprisoned in the imperial prison quickly spread, and even the rear palace heard of it. When Consort Wang learned of Yang Guang’s marriage decree, although she had anticipated there would be trouble, she hadn’t expected it to deteriorate to this extent. From Yang Guang’s words, it seemed that after three days, if Shimin still refused to marry Princess Yongfeng, the Li family would face great disaster.
Consort Wang was anxious and hurried to Qianyuan Hall, wanting to plead for Li Yuan and his son. But as soon as she reached the hall entrance, palace attendants blocked her way. One of them said softly: “Consort Shun, please stop. His Majesty has decreed that he will see no one today.”
“I have urgent matters that require an audience with His Majesty. Please announce me, Eunuch.” With Consort Wang’s words, the palace attendant who had come with her pressed a gold ingot of pure quality into the eunuch’s hand. If it were any other day, the eunuch would certainly have accepted it and then announced her, but this time, he pushed it back: “This servant would very much like to help Consort Shun, but is truly powerless. Please return, Your Ladyship.”
The eunuch’s attitude made Consort Wang’s heart sink. It seemed this time Yang Guang was truly furious, refusing even to see her. She waited outside Qianyuan Hall for over two hours but never saw Yang Guang emerge, so she had to lean on her maid’s hand and leave.
While passing Jiuzhou Pond, she unexpectedly encountered Yunyi feeding fish by the pond. The brocade carp in the pond competed to surround and fight over the fish food, with several even leaping out of the water, their tails bringing up strings of crystal-clear water droplets—quite beautiful to see.
Seeing Consort Wang approaching, Yunyi handed the fish food in her hands to Ruyi and stepped forward to curtsy: “I pay respects to Consort Shun.”
Consort Wang forced a slight smile: “Princess, please rise.”
Seeing Consort Wang’s troubled appearance, Yunyi asked in confusion: “What’s wrong, Your Ladyship? Why do you look so worried?”
Consort Wang recounted how Yang Guang had decreed Li Shimin’s marriage and the latter’s refusal, sighing: “His Majesty’s marriage decree was originally a good thing, but unfortunately Shimin already has an engagement and deep feelings for the Zhangsun young lady. This child has always been honest and kind—how could he bear to break the engagement and harm Miss Zhangsun?”
Yunyi was shocked, not expecting such a major incident to occur in just two short days. She quickly asked: “How are Li… Governor Li and the others now?”
“They have already been imprisoned in the imperial prison by His Majesty. His Majesty has given them three days. If by then Shimin still refuses to marry Princess Yongfeng, heads will roll!” Saying this, Consort Wang said worriedly: “I just went to see His Majesty about this matter, but unfortunately His Majesty refused to see me.”
Yunyi asked nervously: “Father Emperor… will he really kill Governor Li and the others?”
Consort Wang said bitterly: “Given His Majesty’s temperament, if after three days Shimin still refuses to comply, I fear they will be hard-pressed to escape death!”
Yunyi’s mind reeled with dizziness, and she staggered several steps. Ruyi and Jixiang quickly supported her, asking with concern: “What’s wrong, Princess?”
“I’m fine.” After a casual response, Yunyi looked at Consort Wang: “Why did Father Emperor suddenly issue a marriage decree?” Although this matter had been rumored in the palace, Yunyi had been staying in Changsheng Hall for the past two days and only learned of it now.
“I don’t know either. I suppose he valued Shimin, so in a moment of happiness decreed Princess Yongfeng’s marriage to him. Who would have thought that of all things… sigh.” Consort Wang shook her head, then said: “I’ll go to Qianyuan Hall again later, hoping His Majesty will have calmed down somewhat by then and will agree to see me.” With that, she shook her head and left. Concerned only with Li Yuan and his son’s safety, Consort Wang didn’t notice Yunyi’s unusual behavior.