Chapter 17: The Minister of Destiny

Li Longji, Li Longfan, and Li Longye chatted and laughed without restraint.

Pei Min initially paid them no mind, but upon hearing the words "red arrow powder," he couldn't help but shiver. A thousand thoughts flashed through his mind, and he blurted out, "Is that palace maid surnamed Yuan? A woman of the Yuan clan?"

Li Longji stopped in his tracks. Li Longfan and Li Longye looked at Pei Min with strange expressions. They only knew that their third brother had a habit of consuming red arrow powder and that he was assisted by a palace maid skilled in medicine who was quite attractive. As for her name or surname, they were oblivious. Gao Lishi was equally stunned.

Li Longji said in a deep voice, "How did you know that?" His tone was unfriendly. These were matters of his inner palace; if an outsider knew everything about his maids, what did that make him? Where would his secrets as an emperor be?

Pei Min patted his forehead and gave a bitter smile. "I will explain slowly. Quickly, go and apprehend her. She is a pawn of Princess Taiping, an informant planted by her at your side."

Li Longji’s expression changed abruptly. Regardless of whether it was true or false, in the current climate, it was better to believe it than ignore it. He signaled to Gao Lishi, who understood immediately and walked toward the inner courtyard with a solemn face.

Pei Min gestured for Li Longji to continue walking while they spoke, using the time to organize his words. He couldn't exactly tell Li Longji that he had read it in history books! Historical records clearly stated that Princess Taiping had dominated Li Longji in many ways, planting numerous informants and contingencies around him. Among them, a woman of the Yuan clan had gained his favor. During their power struggle, the Princess's most desperate measure was poison. However, her methods were crude and traceable, a last resort she only turned to when desperate. Li Longji took a cup of red arrow powder—essentially gastrodia elata powder, used to strengthen the waist, knees, and energy—every morning, which provided the Yuan woman her opportunity. The history books didn't record her fate, but since it was documented, she must have been discovered.

Pei Min remembered this so clearly only because, in the twenty-first century, his first girlfriend happened to have the rare surname Yuan, which made the woman in the story particularly memorable.

"I thought I would keep this buried in my heart forever, but who would have thought—the cycle of karma is real!" Pei Min sighed.

Li Longye, the most impatient of them, urged, "Just tell us!"

Pei Min lowered his voice, speaking only to Li Longji, Li Longfan, Li Longye, and Wang Maozhong. "It’s a long story, so I’ll be brief. Princess Taiping has a black-market merchant named Jiang Bo. Using her connections, he traveled between Youzhou and the Changbai Mountains in Silla without hindrance, keeping a group of thugs. Two friends of mine once stole a treasure Jiang Bo was eyeing. They infiltrated his home, stole the treasure, and incidentally swiped a stash of poison kept with it. The other friend overheard snippets of a conversation—something about a woman of the Yuan clan and poisoning the red arrow powder. Jiang Bo was furious when he discovered the poison was missing and sent men to hunt them down. I helped them escape, and they told me everything. Jiang Bo is clearly one of Princess Taiping's men. A person of such immense power—why would she use such a lowly method as poisoning unless her target was no ordinary person?"

His story was a blend of truth and fabrication, rooted in reality to make it sound plausible.

Li Longfan said angrily, "Why didn't you say something sooner about such a major matter?"

Li Longji raised a hand to stop him, shaking his head. "Back then, Jingyuan was just a scholar. How could he have spoken? Should he have traveled thousands of miles to Chang'an to denounce my aunt? That would have been suicide. Haha, yet he knew of this secret. It shows that there is a predestined connection between you and me, Jingyuan; it is a great gift from Heaven!" He even changed how he addressed him, using his courtesy name with newfound warmth.

Pei Min was taken aback, but upon reflection, he understood. In ancient times, everyone had a courtesy name. When Pei Min first arrived, he didn't have one, but the civil service examination papers required one. He had filled in the name he used in the twenty-first century: Jingyuan—"tranquility to reach far"—a famous quote by Zhuge Liang. Li Longji must have read his exam paper and remembered it.

Pei Min nodded. "Exactly. I had no evidence, and the way my friends obtained the information was improper. Besides, it was all speculation; I had no basis to speak. I buried it in my heart and eventually forgot. If the Prince of Qi hadn't mentioned the red arrow powder, I wouldn't have remembered."

Li Longfan’s anger dissipated.

"One should not concern oneself with affairs outside of one's position," Li Longji said, nodding. "It is not too late to say it now. If we had ignored it, the consequences would have been disastrous." A cold light flashed in his eyes. The Yuan woman had earned his trust, even becoming his lover, though he had not yet given her a title. Even if Li Longye hadn't asked for her today, he wouldn't have given her away. Though she was no match for his brothers in his heart, she was his woman, and he wouldn't just hand her over. If what Pei Min said was true, the thought alone made him shudder.

The group arrived at the back courtyard of the Wude Hall.

"Fourth Brother, Fifth Brother, Jingyuan, General Mao, and all you righteous men, everything is in your hands now!" Li Longji bowed deeply to them.

Such a grand gesture from a monarch filled Wang Maozhong and the soldiers with pride and high spirits.

Exiting the Wude Hall, the streets were indeed empty. Li Longfan, Li Longye, Pei Min, and Wang Maozhong proceeded toward the Xuanwu Gate as planned. Li Longji watched them go before turning back to the main hall of the Wude Hall. He had his own mission: to summon the chancellors Xiao Zhizhong, Cen Xi, and Dou Huaizhen, who were under Princess Taiping’s influence, in the name of the Emperor, and execute them on the spot.

On his way, he met Gao Lishi. "How did it go?"

Gao Lishi replied, "Everything was as Master Pei said. The woman is indeed one of the Princess's people. When I entered, she was trying to hide a secret message inside a basket used for the red arrow powder." He handed the note to Li Longji.

Li Longji read the eight words: "Changes in the palace, prepare quickly." He clenched his fist, grinding his teeth. "Interrogate her. See if there are accomplices. If she stays silent, don't be polite—kill her."

Gao Lishi nodded. Li Longji rubbed his aching temples and sighed, "Fortunately, we had Pei Min. If this message had gotten out, we would have been in danger. Lishi, do you think there is truly a divine will? I’ve never believed in fate, but today I must. Otherwise, how could it be such a coincidence that Pei Min learned of the Yuan woman? If I hadn't chosen to use him, we would have failed today."

Gao Lishi smiled. "I believe there is, Your Majesty. You are the Sovereign of Heaven, and naturally, Heaven protects you."

Li Longji laughed heartily. "Well said. Let’s go—let's meet those treacherous chancellors, Xiao Zhizhong, Cen Xi, and Dou Huaizhen!"

Behind the Wude Hall stood the Lingyan Pavilion. Pei Min looked up at the towering structure, wondering if he would ever be honored with a place there. If he could, there would be nothing better.

They did not linger, passing through the Ningyun Pavilion and heading west toward the edge of the West Inner Garden, walking openly toward the Xuanwu Gate. There was no need to hide anymore.

As the Prince of Qi and the Prince of Xue, Li Longfan and Li Longye faced no obstruction. They reached a point a thousand paces from the Yulin Guard camp stationed at the Xuanwu Gate.

"Fifth Brother, Master Pei, General Mao, it's all up to you! I will provide support from the outside!" Li Longfan parted ways with them. As the General of the Left Yulin Guard, he would appear at the critical moment to pressure the Right Yulin Guard.

After walking a few more steps, Li Longye, seeing the nearby camp, whispered, "Master Pei, Third Brother is gone, and Fourth Brother has left. I’m suddenly feeling a bit panicked. What do we do?"

Pei Min looked at the pale-faced Li Longye and said, "What are you afraid of? It’s just forging an imperial decree. Think about it: the Retired Emperor only has five sons. Four of you are forging his decree, and one is deceiving him. Who is he going to punish? He can't execute all of you, can he? The law doesn't punish the masses, and we aren't afraid."

Li Longye realized he was right. All five brothers were in this together, and his father was always soft-hearted. His courage returned. "Master Pei, you have a point. It’s just a forged decree. Because of what you said, I’ll count you as a friend. We should get closer in the future... I’m a regular at Pingkang Ward; I’ll take you to taste the ultimate joys of the world."

Pei Min was speechless. Wasn't the Pingkang Ward the red-light district where they used to hang out? He thought of the beautiful Jiao Chen and couldn't help but wonder, *I wonder how she is now?*

Li Longye, his heart settled, puffed out his chest and marched toward the camp of the Right Yulin Guard. At the gate, the guards blocked his path with crossed halberds.

Li Longye shouted, "Get out of the way, you blind fools! I carry the Retired Emperor's decree. Do you want to lose your heads? Move aside and tell Chang Yuankai and Li Ci to come and receive the decree immediately!" He strode into the camp, ignoring the weapons, his arrogant princely demeanor on full display.

Though it was a restricted military camp, the guards dared not strike, especially since he carried an imperial decree!