Chapter 44: The Crown Prince's Astounding Transformation

As the civil and military officials slowly ascended the long stone steps before the Taiji Hall, the eastern dawn broke, and the morning sun rose, abruptly banishing the darkness that had shrouded the earth all night.

A myriad of morning clouds instantly spilled over the towering palace walls and the upturned eaves of the great halls, making the entire imperial palace appear as though draped in a shimmering robe of golden radiance.

So breathtaking was the scene that the officials on the steps could not help but pause in their ascent to gaze at the rising sun.

In truth, such a magnificent view was something they could behold almost every morning before court.

Yet, for some reason, today’s spectacle was far more dazzling and vibrant than ever before!

Especially the young sun, slowly revealing its full form atop the distant peak, accompanied by the colorful clouds on the horizon, resembling a dormant dragon ascending from the abyss.

It left everyone in a momentary state of trance.

So much so that they failed to notice Crown Prince Li Chengqian, stepping upon the golden light that blanketed the stone steps, walking leisurely upward, bypassing the senior ministers, and arriving ahead of the others into the hall.

It was not until the three sharp cracks of the ceremonial whip suddenly echoed that the officials abruptly snapped back to their senses. Realizing they were nearly late for court, they hurried to quicken their paces, scrambling up the steps.

This threw the usually impeccable order into utter disarray.

The imperial censor in charge of court etiquette at the front of the hall frowned repeatedly. Clearly, the law could not punish the multitude, and since the high-ranking ministers at the head of the procession were also in a chaotic state, he dared not speak out, though his heart was tangled in distress.

Fortunately, clad in court robes of various hues, the officials quickly sorted themselves out according to their ranks. The flashes of crimson, purple, deep red, and dark green flowed through the hall until everyone reached their respective positions, holding ceremonial tablets of various materials, lowering their gazes, and standing quietly to await the Emperor's arrival.

However, upon noticing that Crown Prince Li Chengqian was already standing quietly beside the imperial throne, almost all gazes were instantly drawn toward him.

Li Chengqian was dressed in the dark everyday attire of the Crown Prince, his figure appearing slightly slender.

The purplish-blue bruise on his temple looked exceptionally glaring under the morning light.

Yet what truly made many ministers' hearts turn cold was the entirely different aura emanating from the Crown Prince!

He no longer kept his eyes lowered, nor did he carry that lingering, gloomy cowardice.

Standing quietly, his posture upright, his chin slightly raised, his calm gaze even swept across the officials waiting in the hall. It was serene and profound, carrying a clarity tempered by storms and an indescribable, sharp confidence.

Seeing this, the officials in the hall cast sidelong glances, not daring to speak aloud, but undercurrents surged within their hearts.

"Could it be... that the rumor of the Crown Prince forcing his way into the palace last night was false?"

"Yet, if it truly was a rumor..."

"How do we explain the obvious injury on the Crown Prince's forehead, clearly caused by a beating?"

Who among the officials did not understand that even if the Crown Prince had indeed rebelled and forced his way into the palace, until an explicit imperial decree was issued to depose the Eastern Palace, there was only one person in the entire world who would dare to strike the heir apparent!

Thus, the internal discussions among them grew even more chaotic.

His Majesty had been so enraged that he personally struck the Crown Prince, yet why did the Crown Prince appear as though he had emerged victorious from a fierce battle, stepping into the imperial court with an aura completely unlike his past self?

"..." The civil and military officials were in a state of inner turmoil.

Standing at the head of the ranks leaning on a sandalwood dove-headed staff, the veteran minister Xiao Yu was the closest. His cloudy old eyes narrowed imperceptibly as he carefully scrutinized the injury on Li Chengqian's forehead, trying to glean some insight from it.

In his heart, he could not help but ponder: What on earth happened in the palace last night?

Several famously neutral ministers, such as Cui Dunli, Gentleman-in-Waiting of the Chancellery, and Wang Gui, the former Grand Tutor to the Crown Prince, were exchanging looks of startled suspicion.

Was the injury on the Crown Prince's forehead inflicted by His Majesty?

Then why was there no resentment or panic on the Crown Prince's face, but rather a composure akin to a rebirth?

Compared to their bewilderment, the officials who considered themselves members of the Crown Prince's faction were beaming as if their faces were blossoming with flowers!

Figures like Yu Zhining, Left Administrator of the Eastern Palace, and Kong Yingda, Right Administrator, felt their hearts ripple with excitement and admiration. They knew the Crown Prince's usual state all too well, and looking at his calm, abyss-like posture with its restrained sharpness, they were moved almost to tears.

Conversely, the faction of King Wei, Li Tai, felt as though they had lost their parents, drooping their heads in profound dejection.

The Crown Prince's transformation today was far too bizarre!

He had clearly committed a monstrous crime by forcing his way into the palace last night!

Yet at this moment, he was so calm, even faintly carrying an air of absolute control?

Recalling King Wei's strict orders from the previous night, which demanded that they impeach the Crown Prince by all means today...

Looking at the Crown Prince's bearing at this moment, a crushing sense of disparity and a latent remorse seized them. If they rashly launched an attack today, they would likely be kicking an iron plate.

Silent, cold sweat soaked their undergarments.

Among the nobles, Duke Chen, Hou Junji, kept his head lowered. Beneath the wide sleeves of his purple court robe, his fists were clenched tightly.

He felt the earth-shattering change in the Crown Prince more acutely than anyone else! Last night, the Crown Prince had left the palace unharmed, even with "spirited bearing"!

Yet he desperately controlled his breathing, attempting to shrink himself inside his purple robe and hide away.

"Dong... Dong... Dong!" The solemn bells of Jingyang echoed heavily nine times, and the shrill cry of the palace eunuch reverberated through the grand hall: "His... Majesty... arrives!"

"We, your subjects, respectfully wish His Majesty peace!" The officials lowered their heads, averted their eyes, bowed, and chanted in unison.

Heavy footsteps came from behind the screen of the throne.

Li Shimin, dressed in dark black imperial robes and crown, slowly ascended to the throne.

The jade beads of his crown swayed, concealing his expression.

"All is well," his voice was cold and steady. "Rise, ministers."

"Thanks to His Majesty!" The officials stood up, solemn and upright.

Li Shimin sat high upon the throne, his gaze slowly sweeping over the officials—there was the feigned composure of civil officials masking unshakable worry, the unyielding indifference of others, the deep and unfathomable gravity of figures like Changsun Wuji. His gaze lingered for a fleeting second on the desperately composed Hou Junji before shifting away, finally landing beside the imperial steps, taking a careful and deliberate look at the glaring injury on the Crown Prince's head.

"State any memorials; if none, court is dismissed," the eunuch chanted smoothly without haste.

Yet once that shrill voice faded, the hall fell into an eerie and profound silence.

For a long time, no one dared to make the slightest sound.

Amidst this suffocating silence, King Wei, Li Tai, was nearly crushing the ivory ceremonial tablet in his hand!

With no other choice, he cast a subtle sidelong glance, clearly urging someone forward. Sure enough, the very next moment:

"This subject has a memorial to present!"

A clear voice, carrying a trace of imperceptible tremor, broke the suffocating silence. It was Supervising Censor Chu Suiliang, who, holding his jade tablet, stepped out steadily.

He stood firm in the center of the hall, bowed deeply, and spoke with the unyielding uprightness of a censor: "This subject, Supervising Censor Chu Suiliang, has a memorial to present to His Majesty!"

Countless gazes converged. Fang Xuanling slightly furrowed his brow.

The hearts of King Wei's faction leaped into their throats.

"Minister Chu, what is your memorial about?" Li Shimin's gaze narrowed slightly, his voice flat.

Chu Suiliang bowed deeply and said, "This subject has heard that last night within the forbidden palace grounds, at the Xuanwu Gate, a sudden upheaval occurred. It was none other than the Crown Prince who led a multitude in the dead of night to forcibly breach the palace gates, nearly causing a catastrophic disaster!"

"Yet the Xuanwu Gate is the portal of the Son of Heaven, tied directly to the safety and survival of the state!"

"For the heir apparent to act in such a manner, where does he place the laws of the palace gates?"

"Where does he place His Majesty's safety? Where does he place the stability of our Great Tang empire?"