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In the Eastern Palace, Li Jiancheng was deep in thought, racking his brain on how to further weaken Li Shimin's influence. At that moment, Wei Zheng requested an audience. Knowing Wei Zheng's exceptional intellect, Li Jiancheng immediately ordered him to be brought in.
Wei Zheng strode into the study and, seeing Li Jiancheng lost in contemplation, understood part of the situation. He respectfully bowed and said, "Your Highness, are you troubled by matters concerning Prince Qin?"
Li Jiancheng nodded slightly and replied, "Lord Wei, although we have launched an offensive against Li Shimin in the court, he has deep roots. It is not easy to completely bring him down. Do you have any good strategies?"
Wei Zheng smiled faintly, a glimmer of wisdom flashing in his eyes. "Your Highness, the difficulty in dealing with Prince Qin largely stems from the group of resourceful advisors by his side. In my humble opinion, we should aim to 'weaken Prince Qin's wings' by gradually eliminating his capable assistants, leaving him isolated and helpless."
Li Jiancheng was intrigued and quickly asked, "What do you suggest we do specifically?"
Wei Zheng stepped forward and spoke confidently: "Fang Xuanling and Du Ruhui are the most trusted advisors of Prince Qin. They are both clever and have contributed significantly to his plans. If we can remove them from Prince Qin's side, he will be like a bird without its wings. Your Highness could collaborate with His Majesty to demote them under various pretexts, preventing them from serving Prince Qin any longer."
Li Jiancheng pondered for a moment and found this plan quite clever but expressed some concerns: "Fang and Du also hold considerable influence in the court. Sudden demotions might provoke discontent among other officials, making it difficult to persuade Father."
Wei Zheng assured him confidently: "Your Highness need not worry. The Emperor already harbors suspicions about Prince Qin. We can leverage this. First, gather evidence of Fang Xuanling and Du Ruhui's inappropriate actions in court—no matter how trivial—and exaggerate them before presenting them to His Majesty. We can then suggest that their presence around Prince Qin may lead him to act against the interests of the court. Given His Majesty's concern for the Tang dynasty, he will surely consider this carefully."
After hearing this, Li Jiancheng felt enlightened and smiled with satisfaction. "Your plan is indeed brilliant! We shall proceed as you suggest."
Thus, Li Jiancheng began collecting evidence against Fang Xuanling and Du Ruhui. He secretly arranged for people to closely monitor their every move, meticulously recording any actions that could be used against them. After some time, he finally found several seemingly exploitable incidents.
With this collected material in hand, Li Jiancheng entered the palace to meet Li Yuan. He respectfully presented the documents and said, "Father, your humble son has recently discovered that Fang Xuanling and Du Ruhui from Prince Qin's mansion have acted improperly. They have formed factions in court and maintained close ties with certain officials, which raises concerns about their intentions. As matters regarding Prince Qin remain unresolved, I worry they may assist him in actions detrimental to the court; I hope Father will investigate."
Li Yuan took the materials and read through them carefully; his expression gradually darkened. He had already harbored doubts about Li Shimin's affairs, and these documents only fueled his suspicions towards Fang Xuanling and Du Ruhui.
"Jiancheng, is what you say true?" Li Yuan asked.
Li Jiancheng quickly replied, "Father, every word is true; I would never deceive you. This information has been thoroughly verified by your humble son. Fang and Du's presence around Prince Qin could pose a hidden danger to the court; I implore you to decide."
After a long period of contemplation, Li Yuan finally said, "I will send someone to investigate this matter. If it is indeed as you say, I will not be lenient."
Not long after Li Yuan's investigation began, although there was no solid evidence of Fang Xuanling and Du Ruhui's so-called "crimes," he decided to demote them for precautionary reasons.
"Proclaim my decree: Fang Xuanling and Du Ruhui have failed to act cautiously as officials of the court and are suspected of forming factions for personal gain. Henceforth, they shall be demoted to commoners and expelled from Chang'an!" With this edict from Li Yuan, an uproar erupted throughout the court.
Upon hearing this news, Li Shimin was furious but felt powerless. He knew this was undoubtedly Li Jiancheng's scheme but could not change the situation at that moment.
"Li Jiancheng, you have a cruel heart!" Li Shimin slammed his hand on the table in Prince Qin's mansion. "Fang Xuanling and Du Ruhui have been with me for years, advising me diligently; yet they have fallen into such a trap! I vow not to rest until I avenge this!"
Before leaving Chang'an, Fang Xuanling and Du Ruhui came to bid farewell to Li Shimin.
"Your Highness," Fang Xuanling said with reluctance yet determination in his eyes, "we are truly unwilling about our demotion. But please rest assured; even if we are not by your side, we will keep a close watch on the situation. If there is an opportunity, we will surely return to assist you."
Du Ruhui added, "Yes, Your Highness. You must take care of yourself and avoid acting impulsively. As long as there are still mountains standing tall, there will be no shortage of firewood."
Li Shimin looked at his two trusted aides with deep emotion and said, "You both need not worry; I will not be easily defeated. Be cautious outside as well; once I weather this storm, I will certainly bring you back."
After bidding farewell to Fang Xuanling and Du Ruhui, Li Shimin's resolve to confront Li Jiancheng intensified. He understood that the current situation was extremely unfavorable for him, but he would never sit idly by.
"Li Jiancheng, do you think this will be enough to bring me down? You underestimate me," Li Shimin said, his eyes gleaming with determination. "I will find the evidence to prove my innocence and make you pay for your actions!"
Meanwhile, in the Eastern Palace, Li Jiancheng felt a slight sense of relief upon hearing the news of Fang Xuanling and Du Ruhui's demotion. The plan was progressing according to historical trajectory, and with continued pressure, Li Shimin would surely find himself in a desperate situation, at which point he might act recklessly.
"Lord Wei, thanks to your strategy, Fang Xuanling and Du Ruhui have been expelled from Chang'an. Prince Qin has now lost two major supporters," Li Jiancheng said to Wei Zheng.
Wei Zheng replied cautiously, "Your Highness must not let your guard down. Prince Qin is no ordinary opponent; he will not give up easily. We need to strengthen our defenses further and seek opportunities to completely eliminate this threat."
Li Jiancheng nodded in agreement. "What you say is true. I will continue to closely monitor Prince Qin's movements and ensure he has no chance to rise again."
As Wei Zheng anticipated, Li Shimin did not falter after losing Fang Xuanling and Du Ruhui. Instead, he became more proactive behind the scenes, reaching out to various factions and searching for crucial evidence that could turn the tide. Meanwhile, the court appeared temporarily calm due to the demotion of Fang and Du, but beneath the surface, turbulent currents were brewing—a larger storm was quietly forming. All factions were waiting for an opportunity, a moment that could change the fate of the Tang Dynasty.
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