Volume One, Chapter Five: The Healing Poultice
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“This Crown Prince’s residence will change hands soon, won’t it?” Xiao Deyan smiled slyly as he stared at the steward. “It would be good for you to stay here—you know this place better, don’t you?”
The steward’s face flushed with shame, but he could only force a smile and reply, “Lord Xiao, you jest.”
“No, no, no…” Xiao Deyan shook his head solemnly. “I’m serious. How about this—I’ll recommend you privately? Haha, no rush to answer now. There’s plenty of time.”
After the humiliation came the sweetener.
Even if Li Chengqian was confined within the residence, would he just wait to die? No.
Then the plan was to turn all his people into Li Tai’s men.
The steward swallowed hard. “Is this… truly what you intend, my lord?”
“Heh, would I lie to you? Is there any need? But think it over carefully and give me your answer later—no need to rush.”
…
A moment later, at Luyuan Court.
Li Chengqian poured himself a pot of Chang’an’s finest brewed Sanlejiang wine.
This wine was mellow and rich; once uncorked, its fragrance drifted for miles.
Taking a long draught, Li Chengqian stood boldly and recited loudly:
“Bitter winds cut beyond the frontier, frost binds the rivers at Jiaohe. The vast desert’s waves rise in layers, snow blankets the Yinxian mountains for a thousand miles. Remote outposts flare with beacon fires, rugged peaks reach lofty heights. Banners flutter endlessly, horses drink beyond the Great Wall…”
“The Emperor’s ‘Riding Horses Beyond the Great Wall’ poem? Heh… the Crown Prince’s ambition is no small matter.”
Watching Li Chengqian standing by the pond, Xiao Deyan’s lips curled into a mocking smile.
“Lord Xiao awaits here; allow your humble servant to notify first,” the steward quickly signaled Xiao Deyan to wait, not to disturb Li Chengqian.
After all, he was still the Crown Prince—his status had not yet been stripped.
“Huh? Notify what? It’s only a few dozen steps—do we need this?” Xiao Deyan shoved past the steward and strode forward.
The steward tried to block him, but Xiao Deyan’s expression turned cold. “Have you forgotten our conversation just now?”
The steward, gasping for breath, stammered, “N-no…”
Xiao Deyan let out two dry chuckles and approached Li Chengqian. “Minister Xiao Deyan pays respects to the Crown Prince!”
He came up behind Li Chengqian, neither kneeling nor bowing, simply clasping his fists and calling out.
In such a sensitive moment, he should have said “your servant,” not “minister”—this was a trap laid for Li Chengqian.
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Under normal circumstances, it was not improper for Xiao Deyan to call the Crown Prince “minister,” since Li Chengqian was the heir apparent, the future emperor.
But today was different. Though he was not yet deposed, he was under house arrest. If he accepted, it meant he harbored rebellious and usurping intentions—a point Xiao Deyan could exploit to slander him.
By now, Li Tai had entered the palace and received the Emperor’s audience. He pleaded on behalf of the Crown Prince, and the Emperor, already favorably inclined towards Li Tai, would now have a sharp contrast between the two:
One, risking punishment by approaching the enraged Emperor to plead for his brother; the other, confined at home yet still coveting imperial power.
Who would the Emperor prefer? The answer was obvious.
What a clever move!
“I am no longer the Crown Prince. You call yourself ‘minister’—are you trying to harm me?” Li Chengqian asked with a smiling face, not even turning his head.
Though smiling, his words made Xiao Deyan shudder.
This Crown Prince was so devious, refusing to fall for the trap? He had been whipped by the Emperor in a fit of rage; Xiao Deyan expected him to be furious and easily incited, yet he remained so astute.
“T-this…” Xiao Deyan hurriedly apologized, “Your Highness… minister… your servant misspoke. Please forgive me, Your Highness.”
Li Chengqian’s words implied he was inciting rebellion. If this reached the Emperor’s ears, Xiao Deyan’s entire clan would be doomed.
Li Chengqian’s lips curled into a smile. “Oh? Misspoke? If a mistake can be forgiven, then you don’t understand court etiquette either. The steward did not notify you, yet you took it upon yourself to stand behind me, neither bowing nor kneeling, merely clasping your fists. Lord Xiao, do you look down on me, Li Chengqian?”
Xiao Deyan had come to intimidate Li Chengqian, to provoke him into a mistake in anger.
He never expected Li Chengqian to articulate his every thought.
When did Li Chengqian become so composed?
Though under house arrest, if charged with great disrespect or inciting rebellion, or accused of ulterior motives, he would be finished.
Not only did he fail to aid Li Tai, but now his own head was at risk.
Cold sweat trickled down his temples; legs trembling, Xiao Deyan knelt heavily and begged for forgiveness. “Crown Prince, I at fault. I was overly concerned about Your Highness’s injuries and thus spoke improperly. Crown Prince, please forgive me!”
He knocked his head against the ground several times, not daring to raise it.
The steward watched anxiously.
Since the Crown Prince’s return today, he seemed like a different man—so calm, composed, unshaken by crisis. Was this really him?
The steward wavered—should he really side with Li Tai?
He needed to think carefully; no mistakes could be made. If the Crown Prince erred and was exiled, at least his life might be spared, but the steward’s fate would be uncertain.
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Li Chengqian turned around, sweeping his embroidered robe with a flourish, and sat casually before the stone desk, not allowing Xiao Deyan to meet his gaze.
Xiao Deyan’s heart leapt to his throat.
Li Chengqian said nothing, leisurely sipping his wine.
Finally, Xiao Deyan could no longer contain himself and crawled toward the Crown Prince. “Your Highness, I heard you were struck by the Emperor. Fearing scars might remain, I entrusted someone to procure a special medicinal ointment for Your Highness’s recovery. I apologize for disturbing you at night, Your Highness!”
Xiao Deyan was clever.
He had prepared two plans; the ointment was his way to defuse the crisis.
However, he did not really intend to give the ointment to Li Chengqian.
This ointment was made with the gallbladders of four-year-old wild bears, combined with other ingredients—and from true wild bears, no less.
It took the gallbladders of three wild bears to make one bottle of this golden wound medicine.
In the Tang dynasty, bears were strictly protected; even the emperor could only hunt one bear every three years, while officials could hunt one every eight to ten years.
This meant the ointment took decades to produce. It was a precious gift secretly given by an official from a southern vassal state, and the small bottle was quite valuable.
To give it to Li Chengqian would be painful indeed.
But it was better than losing his life; this silent loss he could bear alone, regretting only that he had been so ambitious to promise Li Tai that this task was his alone.
Now he had lost both position and favor.
If Li Chengqian allowed him to stay, it would be fine; but if he were driven away, how could he explain himself to Li Tai?
Foolish, indeed!
Li Chengqian smiled faintly. “Steward, present it.”
“Oh… oh,” the steward snapped back to attention and hurriedly brought the golden box forward.
Li Chengqian regarded the kneeling Xiao Deyan with amusement. “Heh heh… this medicine is excellent, thank you. It seems I misunderstood you.”
After a pause, he added cheerfully, “It’s getting late, and this Crown Prince’s residence is unsettled now. Coming and going easily invites gossip. Since Lord Xiao is well-intentioned, how could I harm you? When my house arrest is lifted, you should visit again. I will hold a banquet specially in your honor. Steward, see him out.”