“Marriage… what?” Li Yuanji thought he had misheard. Was his unhealed brain injury now causing deafness or hearing problems?
“Marriage alliance,” Li Chengqian’s smile carried a hint of schadenfreude. “The King of Gaochang, Qu Wentai, has a beautiful princess, born of the queen and cherished like a pearl in the palm. They want to take in a son-in-law to reside permanently in Gaochang…”
Li Yuanji endured another wave of mild headaches, suppressing his anger to listen carefully to Li Chengqian’s explanation. The Emperor had been quite angry with Gaochang for two reasons: first, while marriage discussions were still undecided, Qu Wentai had independently arranged for his crown prince to marry a Western Regions Turkic princess, showing disrespect to Tang; second, Gaochang’s proposal for a Tang prince to become a “live-in son-in-law” in the Western Regions was practically an insult in the Central Plains and might be seen by other countries as Tang sending a hostage to Gaochang, effectively lowering their status. Initially, the court had intended to refuse outright, but…
“If we refuse, we must be prepared for war on two fronts,” Li Chengqian frowned. “At that time, the Tuyuhun campaign’s outcome was uncertain, and three thousand li away. If Gaochang had become angry and sent troops to aid Khagan Murong, attacking our forces from the flank, it would have been a major problem. Even now, though General Yaoshi and others have achieved a great victory, capturing Fusi City and routing the Tuyuhun main force, His Majesty considers we still cannot lightly start a war with Western Region states…”
Is that so? Li Yuanji thought silently. The Emperor had considered ordering Li Jing and others to continue attacking Gaochang in one sweep, but probably after being severely rebuked by Wei Zheng and others, he was forced to face the reality of “insufficient manpower and supplies within the passes,” abandoned this idea, and returned to diplomatic maneuvering with Gaochang. And Li Yuanji… was to become the Emperor and Crown Prince’s pawn, thrown into the Western Regions to buy time, scout enemy information, and serve as a future insider.
Traditionally in Han-barbarian marriage alliances, it was usually the Han side marrying daughters beyond the frontier to become foreign queens and matriarchs; occasionally foreign princesses would enter the Central Plains to become empresses, like when the rulers of Zhou and Qi competed to marry the Turkic Khagan’s daughter during their coexistence, but that mostly happened during times of Central Plains division and national decline. As for Central Plain’s rulers sending sons to marry into barbarian states… at least as far as Li Yuanji knew, he couldn’t think of a single precedent. As Li Chengqian had just said, this move would not only humiliate Li Yuanji as the live-in son-in-law but would bring shame to the entire Great Tang.
That must be why the Crown Prince had also assigned him the task of “taking responsibility for court deliberations and persuading the officials in debate”? In plain terms, not only did he have to go beyond the frontier as a live-in son-in-law, effectively exiling himself to a barbarian state three thousand li away, but he also had to publicly declare it was his wish and convince the ministers and officials that this action accorded with propriety and didn’t constitute a loss of national power and dignity?
For a moment, Li Yuanji briefly considered whether imprisonment and execution or suicide to follow his father might be easier…
“I leave you with one sentence: Think carefully about who you are, and cultivate blessings for your family and friends.”
The Emperor’s voice immediately echoed in his ears, making the younger brother shake his head with a bitter smile. As expected of the former number one general in the world, calculating and gauging others’ thoughts more accurately than anyone… While dying would indeed be easier for him, there were still so many people and matters in this world he couldn’t let go of.
“May your servant ask,” Li Yuanji asked Li Chengqian, “when this matter was discussed before His Majesty, which ministers opposed it? And for what reasons?”
“Many opposed it, but their reasons can be summarized in three points.” The Crown Prince smiled. “Sun Fugai, Minister of Justice, believes that the Prince of Wu violated national law, committing grievous crimes and that rather than properly executing him, hiding his crimes to deceive a foreign state violates ancient systems and breaks faith with the world. Gao Biaoren, Minister of Protocol, believes that having a Great Tang prince travel to a barbarian state, marry a barbarian woman, and permanently reside abroad as a hostage shows weakness to the barbarians, damaging the Heavenly Khagan’s prestige and national face, setting a bad precedent for future foreign affairs. As for Minister Wei Zheng…”
Li Yuanji’s body trembled. Li Chengqian looked at him meaningfully, took a breath, and paused briefly before continuing:
“Minister Wei supports sending a royal family member for the marriage alliance, but objects to His Majesty’s candidate. Minister Wei says if His Majesty is willing to sacrifice his flesh and blood abroad, it should at least secure twenty years of peace between the two countries, allowing people within the passes to avoid conscription and recuperate. The Prince of Wu is young and impetuous, has always been focused on military matters, and is eager for frontier achievements. If sent to Gaochang for the marriage alliance, Minister Wei fears that within three to five years, he would provoke armed conflict between the two countries, reigniting the flames of war…”
So… that’s how Uncle Wei’s father viewed him.
The much-criticized Tang prince lowered his head in thought, took a deep breath, and had the question “When does Your Highness plan to convene the court debate” on his lips, but suddenly swallowed it back.
He saw flickering light in Li Chengqian’s dark pupils, carrying hints of testing and satisfaction… In relating so many others’ contempt and dissatisfaction with him, wasn’t the Crown Prince trying to provoke him?
If Li Yuanji, in shame and anger, immediately agreed to debate those ministers face to face and convinced them, ultimately going through with the Gaochang marriage alliance, who would benefit most?
If he thoughtlessly agreed right away, then Wei Zheng’s judgment of him as “young and impetuous” would be completely accurate.
“I understand His Majesty’s and Your Highness’s expectations,” Li Yuanji responded slowly, suppressing his temperament. “Though your servant, awaiting punishment, does not qualify to participate in state affairs discussions, since Your Highness inquires about this assignment, I shall certainly take full responsibility. However, there is one matter I must petition, hoping Your Highness will first approve.”
You’ve assigned me such a difficult and inhuman task, I must at least state my conditions—this was his meaning, not hard to understand, and Li Chengqian understood, pursing his thin lips to ask: “What matter?”
“Before leaving my homeland, I must first arrange my Seventeenth Sister’s marriage,” Li Yuanji said through gritted teeth. “My sister’s fate is bitter, losing both parents young, standing alone in the world. I cannot go beyond the frontier with peace of mind without seeing her properly settled.”
Li Chengqian raised an eyebrow, smiling coldly: “Fourteenth Uncle still doesn’t trust me?”
“Correct.” Li Yuanji didn’t bother hiding it, throwing out a single word. Their current siblings’ situation was entirely due to Li Chengqian’s perverse actions—how dare this boy question him?
Faced with such direct defiance, Li Chengqian’s expression darkened, for a moment looking like he would slam the table in rage—but he ultimately controlled his temper, probably knowing he was in the wrong.
“The Emperor Emeritus has been gone only days, and Fourteenth Uncle already wants to arrange Seventeenth Aunt’s marriage?” The Crown Prince smiled coldly. “Do you think this is proper? Reasonable?”
“No need for formal matchmakers and betrothal letters,” Li Yuanji responded immediately. “I just need… just need… the Empress to promise in person that after the mourning period, she will allow my sister to marry the brother-in-law I choose. That would suffice.”
A formal imperial edict for marriage was indeed impossible. His thoughts turned between the Emperor and Crown Prince for a moment before deciding that for just an oral promise in such matters, the most reliable person would still be… Empress Zhangsun.
“The Empress is unwell…” Li Chengqian said reluctantly with furrowed brows, then stopped and asked instead: “Even if the Empress agrees, whom do you intend to choose as Imperial Son-in-law for Seventeenth Aunt?”
Without much thought, Li Yuanji blurted out: “Yang Xinzhi.”