The Emperor Reigns Them All

Chapter 79 The Unexpected Change

Li Ye did not answer Shangguan Qingcheng’s question. Shangguan Qingcheng also knew that she had asked an improper question. So, she asked for forgiveness and then left.

In short, there were two reasons why Li Zhen would like to work for Li Ye. One was that Li Ye was worthy of trust, and the other was that he was in a difficult situation and had nowhere to go. Not one of the two reasons could be dispensed with. For Confucian scholars who aspired to pass the civil examination, they were unwilling to give up their goal of becoming an Imperial Scholar.

Soon after Shangguan Qingcheng left, Song Jiao came to report on her daily affairs which included the placement of Rui Mengmeng. Song Jiao wanted to take her with her. On the one hand, it would be convenient. After all, Li Zhen was a man and not suitable to take care of a little girl. On the other hand, Song Jiao thought Rui Mengmeng was quite talented and wanted to try to train her so as to see whether she could recruit her to the White Deer Sect.

“I have no objection to this matter. You can talk to Li Zhen. I don’t think he will object either.” Li Ye nodded. Song Jiao was the most outstanding alive disciple of the White Deer Sect of this generation. She thought Rui Mengmeng was talented, which was also fortunate for Rui Mengmeng.

Speaking of Li Zhen, Song Jiao asked, “If Li Zhen knew about the matter of the inn, would his opinion of you change?”

Li Ye took a look at Song Jiao and turned back as he said lightly, “Do you really think that Li Zhen doesn’t know that the incident at the inn had been intentionally arranged by me? If Shangguan Qingcheng was able to realize this, Li Zhen should also, if not then he is not the great talent I value.”

Song Jiao nodded slightly. “You’re right. So, Li Zhen doesn’t care that you arranged his expulsion from the inn so he would have no choice but to accept your kindness.”

Li Ye smiled lightly and said, “Of course he doesn’t care. I arranged everything carefully just to invite him to work for me. He should be aware of how highly I think of him. Moreover, it’s good for him to work in Prince An’s Manor. Are you still feeling guilty?” Li Ye smiled lightly and said, “Of course he doesn’t care. I arranged everything carefully just to invite him to work for me. He should be aware of how highly I think of him. Moreover, it’s good for him to work in Prince An’s Manor. Are you still feeling guilty?”

“When a man is poor, his ambition is not far-reaching. Those who still put on airs when they are poor, don’t do it because their minds are great and firm, but because they are not poor enough. When they are so poor that they have no food to eat, have no place to live, and wouldn’t dare face their parents, would give up on their ambitions. After all, ambition can’t fill their stomach.”

The reason why Li Ye was so sure was that he knew Li Zhen well. The other side was not a pedantic scholar. According to Li Ye’s experience in Last Life, Li Zhen didn’t stick to trifles. He still had insidious suggestions when he made plans for Zhu Wen.

Song Jiao’s gaze was somewhat strange. She looked up and down at Li Ye and suddenly smiled. “You really amaze me more and more. A young twenty-year-old man who seldom goes out would never say that.”

Li Ye didn’t take her words seriously. “In your opinion, young people are full of ambition, ideas, and simply think that where there is a will, there is a way?”

Song Jiao smiled. “I don’t care about that old saying, where there is a will, there is a way. Everyone has different Luck. So, they are doomed to have different lives. There are many people in distress and poverty in this day, and some of them are still hard-working.”

Speaking of this, Song Jiao suddenly sighed. She always looked at Li Ye with her watery eyes. “You are really different from my Senior Brother. He was uptight and showed disdain towards conspiracy. I now doubt whether you are his son or not.”

Her Senior Brother was Li Xian. But, there was no need to take her words seriously.

Li Ye did not say much. Before the transmigration, he had an extremely high cultivation and his state of mind was big-hearted. There were not as many shackles of secular morality for him. Those plans were not different for him. Effectiveness was the most important thing.

The two stood still for a moment, then Song Jiao asked, “Currently, Wang Duo and Lu Yan are gathering evidence to prove Wei Baoheng’s dereliction of duty to impeach him. What should we do? Does the Black Office need to help them?”

Li Ye shook his head. “There’s no need. If I need to do anything, what should Wang Duo and Lu Yan do? The Black Office cannot be exposed. Now I am only the Vice Magistrate of the Chang’an Office. I have limited status and power. I can’t do anything beyond my due strength. The current tenant is to hide our strength and bide our time.”

Speaking of this, he paused and then continued, “I can set up a person from the Black Office to do information work. Wang Duo and Lu Yan also can. What the Black Office can do, their people can do too. We needn’t interfere with their work.”

Song Jiao nodded, then smiled and said, “You’re afraid that they will find out that you killed Kang Chengxun?”

Li Ye laughed and said, “In the big Chang’an City, I am nobody. My cultivation is ordinary and I have limited followers. Kang Chengxun, a great official of the court, died in Luoyang. What’s the relationship to me? Who would think of me?”

Song Jiao noticed that Li Ye’s smile was really strange.

He was like a wolf hiding in the dark waiting for an opportunity to move, seeing the wind and clouds surge outside. He just looked past other people’s trouble with indifference and avoided being influenced by them. But, the rising wind and scudding clouds were provoked by him and had great benefits for him. He just needed to wait for the opportunity to reap those benefits.

Song Jiao could not describe the strange feeling that Li Ye had suddenly given her. It was something she had never felt when she followed Li Xian. Li Xian acted straightforwardly and frankly and was always secretly schemed on by others. He had troubles without end. In the end, he was killed on Bagong Mountain.

The following days, according to the memory of Last Life, Li Ye visited those people who would make impressive performances in the situation of the world’s great disputes but were currently not outstanding. After two months of hard work, he had successfully recruited three people. With the help of these people’s Luck, Li Ye successfully upgraded to Level 5 Qi-refining.

Scholars were different from the cultivators in Jianghu. It was difficult to get loyalty from the latter. Different identities led to different tempers and different values. But, for those scholars who needed to be an official, as long as they were willing to be loyal to Li Ye, the Dragon Qi in Li Ye’s body could immediately converge their Luck.

Yes, it was convergence, not absorption. Man’s Luck was different from Taoist’s Luck in Taoist texts. Man’s Luck could not be absorbed, but could only be converged. That is, the convergence would not affect the other party. This was the truth of gathering people and having more power.

While Li Ye had been keeping himself in the dark and secretly accumulated strength, Wang Duo, Lu Yan, and Wei Baoheng in the court were already in competition. But, for a while, no one could pull down anyone. Time passed quickly, and it was time for the Imperial Court to assess the performance of the officials in vassal states.

Excellent officials in vassal states, who were expected to be promoted and reused by the imperial court, gathered in Chang’an in mid-October, hoping to get the approval of the Ministry of Appointment, the Prime Ministers, and achieve great success.

Officials with strength in the Imperial Court had chosen their teams. Under the situation that Wang Duo, Lu Yan, and Wei Baoheng were equally powerful, striving for new forces that would soon be used by the Imperial Court and entering the Imperial Court became the key to breaking the balance.

Because of the fierce competition, each of the two parties showed his special prowess. They looked for proper officials and promised them that they could help them get the recognition from the Ministry of Appointment. For the officials of vassal states, getting the approval and support of the Prime Minister was also a most welcome matter. At present, the atmosphere of the Imperial Court was dim and corrupt. It would be impossible for them to work easily if they didn’t join a party.

For a while, the Prime Minister’s Manor was visited by many officials and the whole Chang’an City had been busy too.

In contrast, Prince An’s Manor was much quieter.

When Li Ye was on duty, he either sat at the Chang’an Office or went to make an inspection tour on the streets. He knew clearly everything that happened in Chang’an City, but was not involved. It seemed that he was watching sights and plays.

Of course, the connection with Wang Duo and Li Yan was indispensable. However, Li Yan, the Vice Magistrate of the Chang’an Office, was not the chief magistrate of the Chang’an Office. He had limited strength. So, no one imposed any tasks on him. Wang Duo drew Li Ye together because he valued Li Ye’s potential in the future. Li Yan often came to Prince An’s Manor. Originally, he had a strong friendship with Li Ye and they often played around together. Even if Li Ye didn’t support him, he would still come.

Li Ye’s seemingly peaceful life did not last long. Soon, unexpected news prevented him from staying out.

On this day, Li Yan arrived at Prince An’s Manor early with a serious look, followed by Tian Lingzi. As soon as he entered the door, he sat down with Li Ye and didn’t even have the time to drink tea. He said to Li Ye in a low voice, “Somebody is going to marry the Duchess of Li!”

Li Ye was shocked. He had not heard this. “Who?”

“Li Keyong, the eldest son of the Zhenwu Commissioner Li Guochang!” Li Yan said heavily and full of anger. It seemed that he shared a bitter hatred for the enemy with Li Ye.

After the fall of the Tang Empire, Li Keyong, the Emperor of the Jin Dynasty, dominated the Jin areas and contended for hegemony with Zhu Wen. The two contended for decades. At last, his son Li Cunxu defeated Zhu Wen and established the Post Tang Dynasty in the Central Plains.

Li Ye was familiar with the name, Li Keyong, in his two lives, especially in his Last Life.

After the Huang Chao Uprising, Li Ye ascended the throne in the Last Life. At first, he was not a puppet emperor who was hijacked by Zhu Wen. Before that, he had been in Chang’an and had thought about reviving the Tang Empire. He also had had some tactics of civil and military, but all of them were destroyed by the failure of the attack on Li Keyong.

Li Ye fell into Zhu Wen’s hands in his Last Life. Li Keyong was the chief culprit. Because he defeated the Regal Guards and ruined them, Li Ye lost the last reliance to overthrow Zhu Wen and the other feudal princes of the world. So, Zhu Wen had a firm hold over the emperor, Li Ye, and oppressed the princes. Eventually he replaced Li Ye.

“The Imperial Court is going to assess the performance of officials. Many officials came from Zhenwu. When Li Keyong entered Chang’an City, I saw him. But, I didn’t hear about this before. Why the sudden change?” Li Ye frowned and asked Li Yan.

Li Yan gritted his teeth and said. “Because of Wei Baoheng!” Then he looked at Tian Lingzi who had been behind him and asked him to explain in detail to Li Yan. Li Yan was not lazy, but it was hard for him to make the whole thing clear.

Tian Lingzi made an obeisance by cupping one hand in the other before his chest to Li Ye, then he said, without haste in a sharp voice, “Some time ago, Wei Baoheng allowed Kang Chengxun to take office in Hedong in order to restrain the three vassal states in Hebei and Li Guochang, especially Li Guochang. Unexpectedly, Kang Chengxun had been weaker and he failed to do this so he was forced to leave the vassal state. What’s more, he was assassinated on the way back!”

“When Kang Chengxun was assassinated, Li Guochang was the prime suspect, so no one dared to take office in Hedong for fear of being dealt with by Li Guochang. Wei Baoheng realizes that Li Guochang can’t be controlled anymore and is afraid that this matter will become a political stain for him, so he sent someone to contact Li Guochang to make friends with him privately. Now Li Guochang doesn’t want to offend the Imperial Court openly and also wants to clear up the suspicion of assassinating Kang Chengxun, so he has agreed to make friends with Wei Baoheng.”

Speaking of this, Tian Lingzi paused and looked at Li Ye. Li Ye nodded and said, “Wei Baoheng’s power decreased after he lost Li Guanshu and Kang Chengxun. Now, facing the combination between Duke Wang and Duke Lu, he has not gained the upper hand. As the ruling prime minister, he naturally does not want to wait and die.”

“At this time, colluding with the vassal state and letting the powerful vassal state listen to him is undoubtedly the best choice to expand his power. It’s well-known that the Zhenwu Army is obstinate and unruly and they always overtly agree but covertly oppose the orders of the Imperial Court. If Wei Baoheng can tame the Zhenwu Army and get Li Guochang to obey orders from him and the Imperial Court, this will be a great achievement for Wei Baoheng and will greatly enhance his prestige. Then Wei Baoheng will be more powerful than Duke Wang and Duke Lu in the court. Wei Baoheng’s plan is brilliant.”

“Prince An, you can think about the causes and consequences as soon as you hear this matter. You’re wise.” Tian Lingzi immediately flattered Li Ye, and then said, “Wei Baoheng wants to make an alliance with Li Guochang. Naturally, he needs to provide the right benefits. Li Guochang is not easy to fool. He decided to make an alliance with Wei Baoheng in order not to be oppressed by the Imperial Court so that he can continue to grow bigger and become the biggest force among the northern vassal states.”

Li Ye nodded and said, “As the youth of the Imperial Clan, Duchess of Li has a high status. Besides, she is endowed with a good talent. She’s outstanding. If she marries with Li Keyong, the Zhenwu Army will become a kinship of the emperor, and their position will improve. In the future, who would dare to oppose Li Guochang’s domination of the north? Even the three vassal states in Hebei will bow their heads and listen to Li Guochang.”

“That’s what it is!” Tian Lingzi stamped his feet, feeling regret. The eunuch’s feminine attitude was unveiled.

Li Ye frowned and said, “So, Duchess of Li’s father chose to join the team of Wei Baoheng? Otherwise, he would not agree with this matter. I remember he didn’t form a party with anyone before.”

“That was before. Now, Duke Wang and Duke Lu are competing with Wei Baoheng fiercely. Officials with weight will no longer have the possibility of being worldly wise and making themselves safe. They must choose a team! Wu Hongshan has always been afraid of Wei Baoheng and dared not disobey him. Wei Baoheng mentioned the marriage between the Duchess of Li and Li Keyong in front of His Majesty and was accepted by His Majesty. After all, it can restrict the Zhenwu Army. His Majesty has no reason to disagree with it. So, Wu Hongshan dares not say anything more!!” Tian Lingzi was indignant as if someone had robbed his woman.

Li Yan could not bear the anger when he heard this. He gritted his teeth and patted the table. “This Wu Hongshan is really cowardly to the extreme. He knows that the Duchess of Li is in love with Elder Brother Ye. He also knows that Elder Brother Ye is close to Duke Wang. But he chose to help Wei Baoheng and he’s willing to sacrifice the Duchess of Li for his own power. That poor Duchess of Li, she’s only sixteen years old!”

Li Ye was silent.

In Wu Hongshan’s opinion, his daughter would marry one day. The importance was into whom she would marry.

If his daughter married Li Keyong, he would benefit more than Wei Baoheng. After all, no one would dare to bully him after Li Guochang became his relative by marriage. Besides, Li Keyong was a genius recognized by the world. It would not be a loss for Wu You to marry him.

Seeing that Li Ye was silent, Li Yan could not help but feel anxious. “Elder Brother Ye, this matter cannot be allowed to transpire! Not to mention that the Duchess of Li and you are childhood sweethearts. If the Duchess of Li really marries Li Keyong, Wei Baoheng will be as stable as Mount Tai in the court.”

Li Ye gave Li Yan a look.

“Yes!” Tian Lingzi clapped his hands. “The Zhenwu Army is powerful and obstinate and unruly. If Wu Hongshan really stands with Wei Baoheng, the force of Zhenwu will expand again. The power of the vassal state will be great. This will do great harm to the Dynasty and society... In those days, An Lushan became powerful, then...”

Speaking of this, Tian Lingzi covered his mouth and did not go on talking. The An-shi Disturbances shouldn’t be mentioned.

Although Tian Lingzi was a eunuch, his knowledge and experience were rich.

Li Ye stood up. “They all said that Li Keyong is a genius who is expected to reach the Foundation-building Stage and then enter the Spiritual Master Realm successfully. I want to see what kind of person he is!”