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After Li Deqian returned, Xu Zhen no longer needed to take care of Li Jing, giving her more free time. Besides cultivation, she spent most of her time accompanying Li Mingda.
Due to Li Shimin's deteriorating health, Li Mingda looked increasingly haggard, thinner than a withered flower. Xu Zhen could only comfort her gently and took her out for relaxation during their leisure time.
Li Mingda gradually became accustomed to having Xu Zhen by her side. With Caesar and Zhang Suling not in Chang'an, Li Mingda felt she had Xu Zhen all to herself, which brought her immense satisfaction. Although they spent every day together, they still treated each other with respect and did not dare to overstep boundaries.
However, this peaceful life was soon to end. Li Zhi, through Yuan Tiangang's predictions, learned that Li Shimin's time was limited and began devising ways to transfer Xu Zhen away from Chang'an.
In January of the twenty-third year of Zhenguan, on the sixth day of the first month, Asena Sher and Qibi Helix returned triumphantly, escorting the king of Kucha Kingdom, He Li Bu Shi Bi, and Prime Minister Nali along with other key figures to the capital. The Sovereign reprimanded them but then reassured them and appointed He Li Bu Shi Bi as Left Guard General before releasing them.
Li Zhi did not expect Asena Sher and Qibi Helix to be so formidable, managing to subdue Kucha Kingdom in just a few months and even invading the capital, capturing the Sovereign in the process.
These two were so brave and loyal to Li Shimin that they made Li Zhi wary. Unfortunately, as they were meritorious subjects, it would be quite difficult to transfer them away from Chang'an in a short time.
Thus, he turned his attention back to Xu Zhen.
Coincidentally, the southwestern tribes such as Tumo Zhi submitted to Tang. The court planned to designate their territory as the four states of Bang, Wang, Lan, and Qiu under the Langzhou Governor's Office. Changsun Wuji took this opportunity to propose that Xu Zhen be appointed as the Governor of Langzhou to manage the newly settled tribes.
Li Zhi readily agreed; however, Li Shimin forcefully suppressed this idea.
By February, the court established the Yaochi Governor's Office under the Anxi Protectorate. Li Zhi again wanted Xu Zhen to serve as Yaochi Governor. Fearing that Li Shimin would refuse again, he simply suggested that Xu Zhen take on the role in the Anxi Protectorate instead. Yet Li Shimin ultimately rejected this proposal as well and appointed Left Guard General Ashina Helu as Yaochi Governor.
Seeing that Li Shimin was unwilling to compromise infuriated Li Zhi. In March, when the court set up Fengzhou Governor's Office, Li Shimin appointed Yanran Protectorate's Li Sulih as concurrent Governor of Fengzhou, consistently refusing to let Xu Zhen leave the capital.
The court officials were not foolish; they recognized that this Crown Prince aimed to usurp power while Li Shimin's health had severely declined. Aside from loyal supporters like Qibi Helix, many expressed allegiance to Li Zhi as he gradually lost control over the court.
At the end of March, Li Zhi proposed that Turkic Chabi Khan refused to come to court for an audience and harbored ulterior motives. He suggested appointing Xu Zhen as Chief of Military Operations with Right Valiant Colonel Gao Kan as her deputy to send troops from Uyghur and Pugu against Turkic forces.
Chabi Khan Ashina Hubo was originally from a Turkic noble family and held a minor khan title. After his downfall, he was forced by Xue Yantuo to retreat to Altai Mountain. Following Xue Yantuo's defeat, he established himself as Chabi Khan with ambitions of ruling over various Tiele tribes in the northern desert without paying tribute to Tang.
In a situation like this, with the Turkic remnants being few in number and poorly equipped, it would have sufficed to send Colonel Gao Kan to handle them. However, the Xu Zhen, the Left Tunwei Grand General, had to take matters into her own hands. The implications of this were clear to everyone.
Li Shimin wanted to oppose this decision, but he had already been sidelined. The ministers were resolutely against him, and the neutral faction remained silent. Ultimately, unable to withstand the pressure, he had no choice but to allow Li Zhi to have his way and transfer the Xu Zhen from Chang'an.
The Xu Zhen was well aware of Li Zhi's ulterior motives. Before leaving, she instructed Li Mingda to move all of her Female Knights to guard outside Li Shimin's palace. She also consulted with Li Shimin and entrusted the Five Hundred Riders to Xue Rengui, while Beitun Camp was handed over to Qibi Helix and Asena Sher.
Though still uneasy, the Xu Zhen had no choice but to depart.
After packing her belongings, the Xu Zhen lay on her bed, tossing and turning in sleeplessness. This was not the first time she contemplated her life’s trajectory. If she had supported Li Zhi during the struggle for the crown prince position against Li Chengqian, she would not now be a thorn in Li Zhi's side. After all, Li Zhi aspired to be emperor; the tide of history could not be resisted, and she felt she was merely asking for trouble.
However, at that time, being harmed by Li Zhi and choosing to oppose him was a passive decision born out of necessity; one could only say it was fate. Furthermore, she truly could not commend Li Zhi's character.
Thinking about her future made the Xu Zhen anxious. Once Li Zhi ascended the throne, how long could her glory last? Although Li Chunfeng, Qingxiazi, Yan Lide, and others were hastening their progress on a certain project, it was only half completed. If she lost power, she would no longer be able to mobilize such vast resources for its construction; at that point, there would be no retreat!
Since entering the military core, the Xu Zhen's salary had continually increased, and her fiefdom accumulated considerable wealth. Coupled with the riches amassed from years of campaigns, she had built up a substantial fortune. Yet now she had nearly exhausted all her resources; that project was only halfway done. If Li Zhi stripped her of her official position and title, how could she continue with this grand plan?
Moreover, Caesar and others were dealing with matters in Tuguhun; it was uncertain how things were progressing there. If things unfolded as anticipated, it would pose a significant problem—she might need to take the opportunity to visit Tuguhun herself.
With these thoughts swirling in her mind and feeling increasingly restless, the Xu Zhen found it harder to sleep. Just then, she heard a faint noise outside her window. Xu Zhenxin tensed up and quickly rolled out of bed with a weapon in hand, only to see a graceful figure appear on the windowsill—it was Li Mingda!
Although Li Mingda had always been regarded as the Xu Zhen's sister, nearly every high-ranking county official who attended court knew that she was not Xu Sier but rather the beloved of the current Sovereign.
The Xu Zhen did not expect that Li Mingda, who had received court education since childhood, would sneak into her room late at night!
Li Mingda was exceptionally intelligent and keenly aware of court dynamics; how could she not know that Li Zhi intended to deal with the Xu Zhen? She worried that if the Xu Zhen left this time, she might never return. After struggling for most of the night with her thoughts, she finally gritted her teeth and came over.
Recalling how she had saved Li Mingda from Moya and Caesar’s hands and reflecting on their shared experiences over the years—the separations and reunions—and thinking about yet another impending farewell made the Xu Zhen set down her long knife and embrace Li Mingda tightly in her arms.
It was a night that broke hearts and enchanted souls. Under the wild storm of passionate love and intimacy, the two transformed years of accumulated affection into an unceasing flow of tenderness.
When Princess Jinyang woke up, Li Mingda had quietly left the room, leaving behind a fallen red petal on the sheets, stirring her fiery heart.
In April, Princess Jinyang departed from Chang'an to join the military campaign against Chabi Khan. This distant journey inevitably filled her with melancholy, pondering that by the time she returned, the Tang Dynasty would have a new ruler.
As the army entered the vast grasslands in May, Xu Zhenxin recalled that according to the Historical Records, Li Shimin had passed away in May.
Thinking of how much Li Shimin had invested in him, it was all to ensure that after his death, Princess Jinyang could assist Li Zhi well, preventing the timid Li Zhi from being controlled by old ministers like Changsun Wuji. However, this son was not as weak as he had imagined and did not need Princess Jinyang; instead, he wished to banish her far away.
Chabi Khan's forces were utterly weak. With many concerns weighing on her mind, Princess Jinyang entrusted various military affairs to Gao Kan. At that moment, she received urgent news from Chang'an.
On April Twenty-Third, Duke of Wei Li Jing suddenly passed away at the age of seventy-nine. The sovereign mourned deeply and posthumously honored him as Minister of Works and Governor of Bingzhou, providing him with ceremonial swords, drums, and feathered banners for burial at Zhaoling. He was given the posthumous title of Jingwu. His tomb was constructed in a manner reminiscent of Wei Qing and Huo Qubing's stories, shaped like the mountains of Yanzhan in Turkic territory and Jishishan during the Tuguhun to commemorate his achievements.
Xu Zhenxin understood clearly that according to Historical Records, shortly after Li Jing's death, Li Shimin also passed away. Even if he set off immediately and rode non-stop for eight hundred miles back home, he would likely be too late.
Thinking of Li Jing's kindness and teachings towards him brought tears to Princess Jinyang's eyes as she bowed three times in the direction of Chang'an.
At this moment, Chang'an was shrouded in gloom. The court officials remained tight-lipped about Li Jing's cause of death, but those with insight knew full well that this matter was closely related to Li Zhi. Yet who dared to speak ill of the soon-to-be ruler?
Li Shimin felt despondent; Li Jing's death left him disheartened. The power within the court had been completely undermined; he was merely surviving—what difference was there from being dead?
Now he felt somewhat fortunate; it was thanks to Li Zhi's disdain for Princess Jinyang that she remained in Chang'an. Otherwise, she might have suffered a similar fate at Li Zhi's hands.
He had been wise all his life but had been foolish at times. He had recognized and utilized talents throughout his life yet failed to see his own son's true nature. He had painstakingly nurtured Princess Jinyang with hopes that she would assist Li Zhi well and prevent those old men from bullying him.
But now he realized that Li Zhi was not the one being bullied; rather, he was the one who bullied others.
"If only the Xu Zhen were my son, how wonderful that would be..." Li Shimin sighed, unable to remain in the Tai Chi Palace any longer. He ordered his carriage to head to the Emerald Palace.
The Emerald Palace was originally a summer retreat, but after several months of drought, many regions faced water shortages. Fortunately, the national treasury was full, preventing famine.
As Li Shimin stepped out of the palace and looked up at the oppressive sky, tears welled in his eyes as he murmured, "Wren, Azure Sparrow, Sister Si, Pharmacist, Xuanling, I have let you down, and I have failed the Xu Zhen..."
The Sovereign felt a deep sense of sorrow and frustration as a single crystal tear slid down his face, chillingly cold—not his tears, but raindrops!
On May 17th, a day of heavy rain.
"Pharmacist, is it you who has manifested?"
Li Shimin murmured to himself. Without waiting for the rain to stop, he supported his frail body and ventured out into the downpour to pray at the temple, deciding to grant a general amnesty.
The people were not focused on the amnesty but rather on the manifestation of Li Jing. Perhaps it was from this moment that Li Jing began to be deified among the common folk, leading to the establishment of temples dedicated to him in various places.
Perhaps due to excessive grief or catching a chill from being out in the rain, Li Shimin finally collapsed onto his sickbed.
This emperor of ages did not die gloriously on horseback as imagined; instead, he lay on his sickbed in his final moments, watching as his old ministers either passed away or were demoted one by one.
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