The Human Emperor Chapter 2464 - Side Story Chapter 37: EaChapter With Their Own Plans!

Li Chengyi had successfully obtained what he desired and soon exited Taiji Palace. Several shadowy figures emerged to greet him.

“How did it go?” Li Chengyi inquired.

“His Highness the Crown Prince has been informed and will arrive shortly,” a hoarse voice replied. “If our plans hold, upon hearing of His Majesty’s demise, he will act immediately. Furthermore, the Third Prince has been vigilantly monitoring the palace. Any unusual activity should be detected by him swiftly.”

“Excellent!”

Li Chengyi let out a sinister chuckle, his face alight with pride and satisfaction.

“With my Imperial father gone, my First Brother has no reason to hesitate. As for my Third Brother, the news of his mother’s detainment will surely enrage him, leaving no room for compromise between us. A grand spectacle is about to unfold. Come, First Brother, Third Brother, in this grand play, who among us will be left victorious upon the summit!”

His arrogant declaration hung in the air as Li Chengyi led the figures away, vanishing like phantoms.

……

As night enveloped the land, a flash of lightning illuminated the sky. Soon, dark clouds gathered, obscuring the heavens above the capital.

Taiji Palace glowed with light.

The Tang Emperor’s body had already been removed. At this moment, a heroic figure in armor, his cape billowing, stood within the grand hall.

The gates of Taiji Palace stood ajar. First Prince Li Xuantu, a saber at his hip, was like an unshakeable mountain. Yet, within his heart, a tempest of emotions raged.

His father was dead; the old order had yielded to the new. The day he had longed for over many years had finally arrived.

Li Xuantu was unsure if he felt joy, sorrow, or an admixture of both.

A vast empire now lay before him, yet Li Xuantu knew that several crucial matters required his attention before he could ascend the throne.

“Have you located it?” Li Xuantu asked.

A court official emerged from Taiji Palace. “We have searched, but the jade seal is not in Taiji Palace, nor have we found any decree from His Majesty.”

Upon hearing this, Li Xuantu’s brow furrowed, his expression turning grim.

Though he was the Crown Prince and the rightful heir, the absence of the jade seal or a decree would introduce numerous unforeseen complications. More critically, the Tang Emperor had previously expressed his intention to make the Third Prince the Crown Prince. This was a fact known to many court officials.

“What have our informants in Jade Dragon Palace reported? Could the jade seal be there?” Li Xuantu inquired.

“Our informants lack sufficient access, so we cannot dismiss this possibility. After all, Virtuous Empress Dou remained by His Majesty’s side throughout. It is difficult to ascertain whether His Majesty entrusted the jade seal and decree to the Third Prince,” Li Xuantu’s close aide stated.

“Have you located Virtuous Empress Dou?” Li Xuantu suddenly asked.

“Yes. The Second Prince found her in a secret passage to the southeast. It appears His Majesty sent her away while he was still alive, and judging by the direction, she was likely headed towards the Third Prince. Unfortunately, he was too late, and she was discovered by the Second Prince.

“Following Your Highness’s directive, we instructed the Second Prince to transfer Virtuous Empress Dou here. However, the Second Prince reported that Virtuous Empress Dou had seemingly fallen unconscious due to overwhelming grief. He has procured an imperial physician to attend to her and will send her over shortly,” the trusted aide informed him.

“Hmph.”

Li Xuantu let out a cold snort. He was aware of his second brother’s petty schemes, but certain matters were beyond his prerogative to decide.

“Inform Chengyi that I wish to see Virtuous Empress Dou immediately. His involvement is not required for matters of this nature.”

“Your Highness, while Virtuous Empress Dou is significant, this humble subject believes that addressing the Third Prince should be the utmost priority. With His Majesty’s passing, unusual movements have been observed within the palace, and the Third Prince will likely realize what has transpired soon, if he hasn’t already.

“If he indeed possesses the decree or the jade seal, he will act swiftly. In warfare, speed is paramount. Virtuous Empress Dou is within Your Highness’s grasp; therefore, Your Highness should seize this opportunity to act decisively, eradicating all sources of potential unrest, thereby securing the throne with haste and ushering in an era of peace for the realm!” the subordinate solemnly declared.

Li Xuantu chuckled. He fully grasped the logic behind these arguments.

“Rest assured; he cannot escape. We have already made all the necessary arrangements.”

Li Xuantu had begun to employ the royal plural. Upon the former Emperor’s death, the Crown Prince inherently became the next Emperor. All of this was according to proper succession.

Li Xuantu shifted his gaze towards Jade Dragon Palace.

……

Jade Dragon Palace was bathed in light.

Clad in full armor, Wang Haibin bowed solemnly. "Your Highness, the Imperial Army has commenced its movements. Furthermore, our spies report the First Prince has already reached Taiji Palace. He will likely make his move tonight. Your Highness's survival hinges on this coming battle!"

The atmosphere within the hall crackled with tension.

The Tang Emperor had breathed his last. Although Jade Dragon Palace realized it belatedly, they too had received the grim reports. The moment the news arrived, Jade Dragon Palace became a hive of activity, soldiers filling its courts, and the air thick with palpable tension.

All present understood that this night would mark the most critical juncture in the contest for the throne. By the time the sun dawned the following day, Great Tang would finally have its true sovereign.

Only one among the Princes could claim the Supreme Throne of the Nine and Five within Taihe Palace, and prior to that ascension, the Imperial Palace was certain to overflow with the blood of the fallen.

Li Taiyi stood resolute and unwavering.

Wang Jiuling stepped forward. "Your Highness, suppress your sorrow. Swift action is paramount; you must move without delay."

Despite his scholar's robes, it was evident he wore armor concealed beneath them.

Their very lives hung in the balance, the victor destined to be a king, the vanquished a mere outlaw. The fate of every individual, including the Third Prince himself, would be determined by the conflict unfolding tonight.

Li Taiyi drew a deep breath, his focus sharpening instantly.

His father had indeed departed from this world. Though Li Taiyi had anticipated this outcome from the moment the Tang Emperor lost consciousness, the reality still brought a pang of profound sorrow.

Nevertheless, Li Taiyi understood that this was not the time to succumb to his grief.

"Have all the preparations been finalized?" Li Taiyi inquired, his voice swift.

His tone was deep and controlled, imbued with a potent force, having forcefully expelled all traces of negative emotion.

"Your Highness, Zhangchou Jianqiong and Zhang Shougui are en route with reinforcements. However, their military authority is restricted, limiting the number of soldiers they can bring. In total, they command approximately ten thousand men. They are expected to reach the city gates within the hour," Abusi reported.

As seasoned border generals, Zhang Shougui and Zhangchou Jianqiong were not easily dispatched, nor could they be readily summoned to Jade Dragon Palace. Only Abusi, being of Turkic descent, found himself in a more accommodating situation.

"It will suffice," Li Taiyi stated impassively.

While ten thousand soldiers might seem insignificant against the might of the Imperial Army, this was no conventional battlefield. The true deciding factor would not be the sheer number of troops deployed.

"And the guards within the palace grounds?" Li Taiyi pressed.

"Your Highness, amidst the hundred thousand strong Imperial Army, we currently hold sway over approximately seven thousand. I have already instructed them to remain vigilant and ensure Your Highness's safety," Wang Haibin replied with a bow. "However, as the First Prince is the Crown Prince, he commands the entirety of the Imperial Army. With our current strength, opposing the First Prince will prove... exceedingly difficult." His expression was grim.

The Imperial Army comprised one hundred thousand elite soldiers. The Third Prince, counting on his battlefield successes and the assistance of Virtuous Empress Dou, had managed to secure the loyalty of only the seven thousand men positioned around Jade Dragon Palace. This was achievable largely due to Wang Haibin's successful outreach to his old comrades within the Imperial Army.

Such a meager contingent was far from sufficient to confront the First Prince in open conflict.

Wang Haibin paused before adding, "His Majesty has passed, yet the Crown Prince has not yet found a justifiable pretext to deploy the Imperial Army against Your Highness. However, that moment is rapidly approaching."

The First Prince had consistently maintained an impeccable public image and wielded considerable societal influence. Should he deploy the Imperial Army against the Third Prince without a legitimate cause, it would cast a significant shadow upon his reputation once he ascended the throne. This, and this alone, was the reason the Imperial Palace remained relatively tranquil at this juncture.

Yet, all understood this deceptive quietude to be merely the calm preceding the inevitable tempest.

Li Taiyi clasped his hands behind his back, a discerning glint in his eyes.

"Soon," Li Taiyi declared suddenly.

The sound of beating wings echoed from outside, and a bird swiftly entered through the window, landing in Li Taiyi's hand.

Li Taiyi unfurled the scroll, and as his gaze swept across the contents, his heart plummeted.

"Reporting!"

A rush of footsteps sounded from the corridor, and a guard burst into the hall, his demeanor frantic.

"Your Highness, His Majesty requests an audience."

This pronouncement struck like a thunderclap, sending ripples of astonishment through the entire hall.

Everyone present knew the Tang Emperor had passed; from whence, then, did this imperial summons originate?

"It is the First Prince! He has forged an imperial decree!"

Wang Haibin's face drained of color as he turned his gaze towards Li Taiyi.

This was a blatant scheme. Although the Emperor had passed away, all news was suppressed, known only to the First Prince, Second Prince, and Third Prince.

Under the current circumstances, if the Third Prince refused, he would be defying an imperial edict. This would give the First Prince ample justification to act against the Jade Dragon Palace.

Conversely, if he attended the audience, the Third Prince would be walking into a trap alone.

The First Prince was finally poised to make his move!

“Your Highness, what does the letter convey?” Wang Jiuling inquired, his gaze fixed on the letter clutched in Li Taiyi’s hand.

“Our operatives within the Eastern Palace have reported that Virtuous Empress Dou is being held captive there. Furthermore, this letter… while it originates from our people, it lacks our secret insignia,” Li Taiyi revealed.

Upon hearing this, Wang Jiuling instantly grasped that the author was not their informant but the First Prince, Li Xuantu. The letter served as a direct message, informing Li Taiyi that Virtuous Empress Dou was in his possession and that Li Taiyi needed to carefully deliberate his decision.

Facing a perilous choice where entering the palace meant death, and not entering also carried dire consequences, Li Taiyi was left with few viable options, especially when considering the fate of Virtuous Empress Dou.

“Your Highness.”

Wang Jiuling looked towards Li Taiyi, his heart heavy with the grim reality. This news was unequivocally bad, regardless of the perspective.

“I am aware of the course of action. Let us first address the matter of Taiji Palace,” Li Taiyi stated.

His expression was composed, suggesting he had already meticulously planned every contingency.

With a flick of his finger, Li Taiyi sent two streaks of purple Qi hurtling forward, severing two threads that held a scroll. As the threads snapped, a detailed map of the Great Tang capital unfurled, positioned opposite the main entrance of Jade Dragon Palace.

The map clearly depicted the capital's defensive fortifications and the deployment of the Imperial Army, with numerous annotations added in red ink.

This was a strategic map, its true significance understood only by the members of Jade Dragon Palace.

The unrolling of this map seemed to possess a mystical quality, captivating everyone's attention.

“Wang Jiuling, Wang Haibin, Abusi… I entrust this next phase to you,” Li Taiyi declared with gravity.

“Yes!”

All present bowed in acknowledgment.