Chapter 34: Brilliant! Absolutely brilliant!

Du Chuke heard these words and looked at Prince Wei, Li Tai, with a curious expression.

"Your Highness... are you intending to plead for the Crown Prince?"

"But why would you...?" In truth, Du Chuke knew perfectly well that Li Tai was being hypocritical; he certainly did not want to save the Crown Prince. However, as an advisor to a prince, one must sometimes act a bit dim-witted to allow the prince’s own brilliance to shine.

One must build the stage so the prince can perform his grand play!

Sure enough, seeing Du Chuke’s reaction, a flash of complacency crossed Li Tai’s face, which had just been filled with affected heartbreak. Yet, he still put on a show of scolding, "You fool!"

"Do you think I should kick my own elder brother while he is down?"

"If I were to do such a thing, how would the Emperor view me?"

"How would the entire imperial court and the public view me?"

"If I were to defeat the Crown Prince fair and square in the middle of the court, in front of everyone, and even use national law to have him sentenced to death, then the Emperor and all the civil and military officials would only acknowledge that I am more capable than he is."

"But as it stands... that cripple has been foolish enough to court his own death!"

"At a time like this, it is inconvenient for me to act personally, lest I invite trouble upon myself..."

"Therefore, having others serve as my blade is more than enough."

After Li Tai finished speaking with an air of self-importance, Du Chuke’s face shifted into a look of sudden, profound realization!

"This subordinate understands!" He forced a sly smile to the corners of his mouth and exclaimed with extreme flattery, "When the Crown Prince is being impeached and judged by the officials, Your Highness will speak eloquently in his defense, expressing deep brotherly affection. By then, the Emperor will surely be moved by Your Highness's pure filial piety, and the ministers will be won over by your benevolence!"

"In this way, you not only manifest your virtue but also cast the Crown Prince into the abyss, ensuring he can never rise again!" Du Chuke continued, shaking his head in feigned admiration, "As expected of Your Highness!"

"Such profound strategy truly fills this humble servant with awe!"

"Moreover, for Your Highness to be so benevolent, filial, and mindful of fraternal bonds is truly a blessing for our Great Tang!"

"Such a magnanimous heart only further highlights your grandeur as the future sovereign!"

"Brilliant! Truly brilliant!" Du Chuke gave a thumbs up, his expression exaggerated to the point of pure sycophancy.

And this Prince Wei, Li Tai—who had been pampered and portly since childhood—happened to eat this up completely.

However, considering himself a refined man of letters, he would never reveal the pride in his heart openly.

Li Tai simply nodded slowly, though the hypocritical look of pity on his bloated face grew even thicker, as if he were truly a pure, unsullied, and caring younger brother.

"Go."

"Remember, tomorrow’s impeachment of the Crown Prince must strike like a bolt of lightning!"

"It would be best to ensure that dead cripple is left with no place to be buried!"

"As you command!" Seeing the performance conclude, Du Chuke bowed and immediately vanished outside.

In the vast hall, only Li Tai remained.

He paced over to a massive bronze mirror, gazing at his reflection—dressed in the formal attire of a prince, handsome of face, yet distorted by extreme excitement. He straightened his collar with his own hands.

Then, facing the mirror, he practiced the expression of "heartbreak" and "having done all one could" for the court the next day. He frowned and sighed, then softened his eyes to appear "sincere," muttering to himself, "Father... my elder brother acted in a moment of confusion and committed a great mistake..."

"Yet, father and son are bound by nature, and brothers are of the same flesh and blood..."

"I implore you, Father... consider his first offense and deal with him leniently!"

"Father, please grant my brother a way to survive..." Prince Wei, Li Tai, examined his tone and demeanor with meticulous care, striving for a deeply moving effect.

Yet, the overwhelming joy in his heart caused his eyes to betray a wild ecstasy from time to time, and the corners of his mouth twitched, clearly struggling to suppress his laughter!

After practicing more than a dozen times, the Prince was finally able to control his surging joy, making his expression more fluid and natural.

After one last attempt, he felt quite satisfied. He could no longer restrain himself!

The corners of his mouth curled upward, erupting into a laugh that sounded almost deranged.

"Hahahaha...!"

"Li Chengqian, my good brother!" Li Tai’s face twisted into a savage grin, his eyes wild and reckless. "After tomorrow, this Eastern Palace... will have a new master!"

"I wonder what you will have left to compete with me!"

"This world, in the end, belongs to me, Li Tai!" He seemed to see himself already draped in the imperial robes of the Crown Prince, receiving the worship of a hundred officials and the admiration of the masses, his eyes filled with the radiance of absolute triumph.

However, what he did not know was this:

Inside the Taiji Palace at this very moment, a storm had already subsided.

What remained was a conversation between his "foolish" elder brother and their father—a dialogue filled with complex emotions and reassessment that he would never be able to understand.

His meticulously planned "thunderbolt" and his world-class performance of "filial piety" were destined to strike a silent, immovable wall in the court tomorrow—a wall he had never anticipated.

Meanwhile... in Pingkang Ward.

Near the "Heaven on Earth" establishment, in a small, inconspicuous courtyard, Zhao Mu, who had changed into a loose, plain linen robe, lay lazily on a soft mat covered with a reed mat, his hair loose and his feet bare. He let the bright moon hanging in the sky spill its clear light upon him.

His posture was relaxed, his gaze languid, as if the turmoil of the world could not touch his heart.

He drank a pot of clear, crisp rice wine, accompanied by a small dish of salted edamame.

Ever since arriving in the Great Tang, Zhao Mu had found that the local alcohol was to him much like the famous snacks of the Northwest; it tasted like fine wine, but it never made him drunk...

Yet, he didn't bother doing what other transmigrators did, like creating distilled high-proof spirits; after all, he was accustomed to being lazy.

Besides, although the wine didn't make him drunk, it was quite pleasant to drink.

Thus, Zhao Mu enjoyed the feeling... otherwise, he wouldn't have been drinking a little wine every day since he set up "Heaven on Earth"...

Besides, this way he could occasionally pretend to be a man who could drink a thousand cups without getting tipsy; wasn't that satisfying?

Anyway, if he ever got tired of it, he could improve it later...

Zhao Mu lay in the courtyard, drinking and eating with supreme comfort, idly toying with a warm jade pendant between his fingers, while his gaze drifted vaguely in the direction of the Imperial Palace.

"I wonder if that silly boy, Li Chengqian, will get a spanking from Li Er for the trouble he caused today?" Zhao Mu murmured with a faint smile on his lips.

Yes, he was waiting.

But he was not waiting for a predetermined result.

He was waiting for a grand play that he had casually ignited, the ending of which would depend entirely on the will of Heaven and the hearts of men!