Chapter 59: Do You Harbor a Grudge Against the Imperial Household?

Locking the palace gates at night took place slightly later than the curfew within the city. Palace maids in every quarter were busy checking for overlooked precious and fragile items, as well as unextinguished candles. Fire was the greatest terror within the forbidden deep palace; these sprawling halls were entirely made of wood. Especially in the current dry winter season with raging northern winds, a single stray spark could ignite a prairie fire and brew catastrophic consequences. Only after every inspection was completed would the hall doors be closed. High-ranking nobles and imperial consorts slept somewhat later, but they were restricted to their respective quarters, strictly forbidden from entering or leaving.

After the gates were locked, anyone with an emergency requiring entry into the inner palace could only be hoisted up in a basket from outside the imperial city walls, and lowered back down in the same manner once their business was concluded.

The duty eunuch was already waiting beneath the Chengtian Gate, watching for the bell announcing the gate-locking to ring so he could close the doors and drop the bolts.

A flurry of hurried footsteps drew the eunuch's attention. He looked out curiously beyond the Chengtian Gate to see several manservants carrying a sedan chair, swiftly crossing the avenue in front of the gates and charging straight toward the Chengtian Gate.

At the sight of the swaying sedan chair, the eunuch knew the newcomer must be a member of the imperial clan. Because the laws of the Tang Dynasty largely inherited those of the former Sui, regulations dictated that apart from members of the imperial clan, everyone else was restricted to carriages or horses and prohibited from riding in sedan chairs; otherwise, it would be an overstepping of ranks and a violation of state law.

Yet, why would any imperial clansman be in such anxious haste to enter the palace and seek an audience with the Emperor at this hour of the night?

Could it be one of His Majesty's imperial sons?

When the sedan chair reached the outside of the Chengtian Gate, the eunuch dared not delay. He hurried forward and asked respectfully, "May I ask which exalted noble is gracing us with your presence?"

The sedan-bearers had marched briskly all the way from Jingchan Ward, traversing nearly the entirety of the Zhuque Avenue. They were breathless and perspiring, white mist spewing from their mouths and nostrils, and it even seemed as though white steam was rising from the tops of their heads.

Li Yuanjia burst out of the sedan chair and said to the eunuch, "Quickly go and report to His Majesty! Tell him I have an urgent audience to request—it is a matter of life and death!"

The eunuch first bowed, saying, "Greetings, Your Highness the Prince of Han..."

Then, hearing Li Yuanjia's words and seeing his anxious expression, he said no more, turning to instruct a young eunuch behind him with a few words. The young eunuch nodded and trotted away toward the inner palace.

At that moment, the bell signaling the locking of the palace gates began to ring. The duty eunuch smiled apologetically at Li Yuanjia and said, "Your Highness, the hour for locking the gates has arrived. As for you..."

Li Yuanjia was a close blood relative of the imperial family and knew the palace rules all too well. Hearing this, he nodded and stepped back outside the Chengtian Gate.

The duty eunuch instructed the guards to close the city gates, drop the bolts, and lock up.

To travel from the Chengtian Gate to Emperor Li Er's sleeping quarters, the Dragon Ascension Hall, one had to pass through the Taiji Palace and the Liangyi Hall, then cross the Yongxiang Lane, enter the Ganlu Gate, obtain the Emperor's consent, and then retrace the exact same path...

Half an hour later, Li Yuanjia—who had been shivering with a pale face outside the imperial city gates, having avoided hiding inside the sedan chair to maintain proper decorum—finally saw a bamboo basket being lowered slowly from the ramparts. The Prince of Han, Li Yuanjia, leaped into the bamboo basket and tugged on the rope. The guards atop the wall understood his intent and hoisted the bamboo basket back up with all their might.

Upon reaching the ramparts, he was led by a eunuch through palaces and halls. After the span of another incense stick's burning, he finally entered the warm-as-spring Dragon Ascension Hall.

However, Li Yuanjia was no longer cold. Accustomed to high status and long lacking in physical exertion, he had been left breathless and drenched in sweat from the journey. Entering the warm Dragon Ascension Hall felt like stepping into a steaming steamer basket, suffocatingly hot.

Emperor Li Er was already preparing for bed. Hearing that Li Yuanjia was requesting an audience, he casually draped a robe over his shoulders, sat in the hall, and ordered a eunuch to bring a cup of hot tea. Looking at the fine, exquisite foam floating on the surface of the tea broth, he took a gentle sip. The pungent flavor of ginger, the rich and slippery sheep fat, and a hint of salinity from grey salt were delicately blended together. In a single sip of tea, one seemed to taste all the flavors of life.

Emperor Li Er closed his eyes slightly, savoring the pungent, spicy, rich, and salty notes lingering on the tip of his tongue. The expression on his face was simply wonderful.

As Li Yuanjia approached the doorway, he saw Emperor Li Er with his eyes half-closed, holding a celadon teacup and sipping his tea with a deeply contented expression.

With a loud thump, Li Yuanjia dropped to his knees before Emperor Li Er's couch and cried out, "Imperial Brother, save me!"

"Hiss—"

Emperor Li Er was thoroughly immersed in the marvelous taste of the tea broth when he was abruptly startled by Li Yuanjia's sudden cry. His hand shook, causing the teacup in his grip to jerk, and some of the scalding tea splashed onto the back of his hand, making him wince in pain.

"Eleventh Brother, what has happened?"

Though somewhat annoyed in his heart, it was not enough to make him blame Li Yuanjia. This brother had always shared a very good relationship with him. It was just that Li Yuanjia was an exalted Prince of the First Rank; what kind of grave matter could possibly cause him to lose his composure to such a degree?

With a mournful expression, Li Yuanjia said, "My brother-in-law has stormed into the Prince's Mansion..."

Emperor Li Er was stunned for a moment, then understanding dawned upon him. For Li Yuanjia's brother-in-law to have a reason to make a scene at the Prince's Mansion, it had to be none other than Fang Jun.

"You, you are making a fuss! It's not that I want to lecture you, but taking in a concubine out of a craving for novelty is no big deal. Didn't the Fang girl herself say nothing about it? But you shouldn't have favored the new bride alone and neglected your principal wife. That is a dereliction of duty and will damage the bonds between husband and wife. Now that Fang the Second is resentful and has stepped forward to champion his sister by making a scene at your estate, what use is it for you to come running to me? This is a family matter, and I will not interfere."

Emperor Li Er wore an expression of displeasure and lectured Li Yuanjia thoroughly.

This old Eleventh of his was good at everything—he had a tranquil disposition devoid of ambition, quick wit, and vast learning—yet he was somewhat too bookish and lacked worldly sophistication. Even though he, as the Sovereign of Nine and Five, possessed the entire world, he could not possibly manage every trivial matter!

Li Yuanjia was somewhat bewildered. He had run to the palace in frantic haste seeking backup, but instead of gaining support, he had been lectured instead. This...

Growing desperate, Li Yuanjia stepped forward, threw his arms around Emperor Li Er's leg, and pleaded bitterly, "Your Majesty, Imperial Brother, you cannot simply ignore this! You know what kind of temper that fellow Fang Jun has! Once his unbridled stubbornness flares up, he cares for no one and is determined to carry out whatever he sets his mind to! That scoundrel smashed Cao's boudoir, beat Cao's two brothers black and blue, and even dared to curse my name directly, shouting that he is going to give me a severe thrashing... Imperial Brother, that fellow isn't just making threats; he truly dares to beat me..."

For a dignified Prince of the First Rank like himself to genuinely receive a beating from his brother-in-law would utterly ruin his prestige. It would be the ultimate disgrace to the imperial House of Li; he might as well just drop dead.

Hearing him put it this way, Emperor Li Er actually nodded in agreement. That scoundrel Fang Jun was indeed outrageous, with boldness towering to the heavens. Grabbing a prince and beating him up was something he was entirely capable of doing...

Wait.

Something was wrong!

Emperor Li Er suddenly recalled a matter and asked suspiciously, "Are you certain Fang Jun is at your estate?"

Wiping away tears and snot, Li Yuanjia nodded frantically. "Without a doubt! He is right at my mansion, having beaten my concubine, smashed her chambers, and even kicked down one of the gates of the Prince's Mansion..."

Emperor Li Er's expression shifted drastically, and he flew into a rage. "Such audacity! I ordered him confined outside the city and barred from returning, and yet—well! Not even a single day has passed, and he already dares to openly defy an imperial decree and return to the city?"

He simply treated imperial majesty like worn-out shoes, showing utter disdain!

Then, old grudges and new hatred welled up in his heart all at once. First, the scoundrel had beaten his fifth son, Prince Qi Li You; then, he had stripped his fourth son, Prince Wei Li Tai, of his dignity; and now, he was going to beat his own brother...

Emperor Li Er wished he could tear this lawless Fang the Second to pieces. Gritting his teeth, he roared angrily, "Fang the Second, do you have a blood feud with the imperial family?!"