Chapter 6: The Debate Over the Authenticity of the Will
The next morning, Chang’an City seemed shrouded in a heavy gloom, the tense atmosphere thick like mist weaving through every street and alley.
Outside the Hall of Supreme Harmony, civil and military officials gathered with solemn expressions, hastening toward the court. Some whispered among themselves, others furrowed their brows deeply, all wondering whether today’s assembly would unleash a storm of upheaval.
Li Tai was adorned in the most exquisite garments, patterns embroidered in golden thread gleaming brilliantly in the morning light, radiating supreme nobility. Surrounded by his trusted retainers, he strode proudly to the hall’s entrance.
His eyes sparkled with barely contained excitement and anticipation, as if the exalted throne was already within his grasp.
A faint smile curved his lips, betraying his inner satisfaction.
Wei Zheng entered the hall with a cold, impassive expression, like an iceberg moving silently through the crowd.
When his sharp gaze landed on Li Tai’s elated face, a surge of disgust welled up within him.
The Crown Prince still lived, yet the Prince of Wei was so impatient to seize the throne—truly the ambition of a wolf’s cub.
He shot a furious glare at Wei Wang, determined never to tolerate such blatant coveting of the imperial seat.
Li Tai’s actions were a desecration of the Tang dynasty’s succession tradition, a betrayal of ancestral laws!
Immersed in his daydream, Li Tai suddenly felt a chill sweep through him, as if a cold wind raced up his spine.
Instinctively, he turned toward the source of the chill and met Wei Zheng’s blazing, almost fiery stare.
The anger and hatred in that gaze startled him deeply.
Yet he quickly suppressed his panic.
Everyone in Chang’an knew Wei Zheng’s temper—fearless and unyielding.
Anyone who crossed him was sure to meet misfortune; Li Tai did not intend to provoke conflict at such a critical moment and ruin his grand plans.
One by one, senior ministers entered the hall, and the atmosphere inside the Hall of Supreme Harmony grew increasingly oppressive.
Fang Xuanling, Zhangsun Wuji, Cheng Yaojin, Yuchi Jingde, Hou Junji, Li Ji, Li Jing, Ma Zhou, and other key officials all arrived.
Each familiar face added weight to the stifling air.
Among them stood a somewhat unfamiliar official beside Fang Xuanling, but given the frequent changes in court personnel, his presence drew little attention.
Everyone busied themselves speculating on the day’s political direction.
Once all had gathered, Zhangsun Wuji strode to the center of the hall with measured steps.
His expression grave, he swept a commanding gaze over the officials before raising his voice: “You are all surely aware that His Majesty has passed away.”
“The death of our sovereign is a grievous blow to the nation. By imperial command, I have kept the mourning secret to prevent turmoil in Chang’an caused by this sudden tragedy.”
“Now, three days have passed.”
His voice faltered slightly, a flicker of sorrow crossing his eyes before he continued, “Today, the late emperor’s coffin will be sealed. From this day forward, you must visit the Daming Palace daily to pay your respects, expressing your mourning.”
“Meanwhile, all entertainment must cease nationwide; weddings, sacrifices, and the slaughter of livestock are forbidden. Any violations will be punished severely according to law.”
Zhangsun Wuji’s words fell heavily upon the hall. Many senior ministers’ eyes reddened; their bodies trembled slightly as if they had lost their bearings, dazed and hollow.
They still could not grasp how His Majesty, always robust, had suddenly died.
Their hearts brimmed with grief and reluctance, many secretly wiping away tears, their suppressed sobs faintly echoing in the hall’s corners.
Zhangsun Wuji’s gaze briefly flicked toward Li Tai, who understood and stepped forward boldly.
“Lord Zhangsun,” Li Tai proclaimed, “before His Majesty’s passing, he left two wills with you and me, did he not?”
“Now is the perfect moment to reveal His Majesty’s commands and confirm the rightful heir!”
As soon as Li Tai spoke, Wei Zheng, like a lion roused to fury, took a large step forward.
His eyes blazing, he glared fiercely at Li Tai and demanded, “What does the Prince of Wei mean by this?”
“According to the Tang ancestral law, upon His Majesty’s death, naturally the Crown Prince succeeds before the ancestral tablet. The succession is clear and undisputed; why must the heir be reconfirmed?”
“Does Your Highness harbor ulterior motives?”
Wei Zheng’s words were righteous and sharp, each syllable a blade piercing Li Tai.
Standing firm in defense of Tang orthodoxy, his momentum was overwhelming, leaving others unable to retort.
He turned to Zhangsun Wuji, eyes questioning: “Lord Zhangsun, I do not understand. If His Majesty has died and you concealed the mourning to avoid chaos in Chang’an, why then has the Crown Prince not appeared by the ancestral altar?”
“You must explain! Tell us, where is the Crown Prince?”
His gaze was piercing, suffused with authority and pressure that caused Zhangsun Wuji to hesitate briefly.
The ministers, stirred by Wei Zheng’s questioning, suddenly awakened to the gravity of the situation.
Indeed, on such a crucial day, the Crown Prince—the designated heir—should have ascended by the altar, yet was nowhere to be seen.
A kingdom cannot remain without a ruler even for a day; without the Crown Prince, the court lost its pillar and descended into chaos.
The ministers whispered anxiously, speculation and worry spreading like a rising tide, the noisy chatter threatening to engulf the entire Hall of Supreme Harmony.
Zhangsun Wuji furrowed his brow and waved his hand.
Immediately, two eunuchs stepped out swiftly from the sides, each striking a golden gong with force.
The clear, resonant clang echoed through the hall.
“Silence!” Zhangsun Wuji’s commanding voice rang out.
Under the combined weight of his voice and the gong’s clamor, the crowd gradually quieted, order returning.
Clearing his throat, Zhangsun Wuji spoke slowly: “The Crown Prince’s absence is not due to lack of notice, but because he is gravely ill, beyond medicine’s help.”
“The Crown Prince, knowing his condition, entrusted me to oversee the court and manage affairs following His Majesty’s passing.”
Upon hearing this, ministers’ expressions shifted unpredictably.
Especially the official beside Fang Xuanling—actually Emperor Taizong in disguise under the miraculous transformation of Sun Simiao—dressed in a fourth-rank official’s robes, skillfully blending into the court.
When Zhangsun Wuji mentioned the Crown Prince’s dire illness, it felt as if a sharp thorn had pierced his heart.
“Chengqian… how could this be?”
He pondered silently. The young Crown Prince had always been strong; how could he suddenly be terminally ill?
He could not accept this news.
“I am still alive. Could my son really precede me in death?”
Pain and confusion filled his heart, his hands clenched involuntarily.
Sensing the emperor’s unease, Fang Xuanling subtly hooked his little finger, signaling calm.
Li Shimin was startled briefly, then looked up, finding solace in Fang Xuanling’s steady gaze, his mind settling somewhat.
Zhangsun Wuji continued: “I do possess a will from the late emperor, personally entrusted to myself and the Prince of Wei. I ask the Prince of Wei to bear witness.”
Upon hearing this, Li Tai nodded eagerly, speaking quickly: “Indeed, I testify that this will was given by our late father to Lord Zhangsun and me. It contains two edicts.”
“One abolishes the Crown Prince; the other establishes the successor!”
The hall erupted in murmurs as officials exchanged doubtful glances.
This matter reeked of strangeness, far from genuine.
Fang Xuanling glanced at the disguised emperor, who subtly shook his head, his eyes disbelieving the will’s authenticity.
Simultaneously, Li Ji, Cheng Yaojin, Yuchi Jingde, and others keenly caught the emperor’s silent signal.
What did this mean?
It clearly indicated that Zhangsun Wuji and the Prince of Wei had conspired, falsifying imperial orders—and that the Crown Prince’s life might be in danger, perhaps already struck down by their schemes!
Yuchi Jingde’s face flushed with rage; his fists clenched tightly, ready to erupt, but he suddenly felt Emperor Taizong’s piercing gaze warning him.
Though burning with fury, Yuchi Jingde restrained himself, stepping back slowly, eyes still fiercely fixed on Zhangsun Wuji and Li Tai.
Li Shimin calmly observed the expressions of all gathered, having swiftly scanned the room.
He noted that fewer than twenty percent wore confused looks; the remaining eighty percent appeared confident, composed as if fully prepared for this outcome.
His heart jolted—undoubtedly, the powerful clans were fueling this plot.
These noble families sought to manipulate the court to install a prince favorable to their interests.
Li Shimin’s eyes grew icy as he glanced once more at the smug Li Tai, filled with disappointment.
In his mind, Li Tai’s conduct had disqualified him utterly from succession.
He resolved silently to intervene should matters spiral out of control—mobilizing the army to suppress those in the hall and revealing his true identity to restore clarity to the Tang dynasty.
“Now, I shall read the edict abolishing the Crown Prince,” Zhangsun Wuji announced solemnly, unfolding the document.
His voice echoed through the hall, each word striking the hearts of some ministers like a heavy hammer.
When the edict concluded, Wei Zheng could no longer contain his fury.
Like a raging bull, he lunged forward and delivered a swift, fierce kick to Zhangsun Wuji.
Caught off guard, Zhangsun Wuji staggered back several steps but was quickly restrained by his supporters and pulled aside.
Wei Zheng roared, “Zhangsun Wuji! Do you know what you are doing? You are forging imperial decrees!”
“The Crown Prince has always been diligent and loyal to Tang, without fault. How could His Majesty arbitrarily depose a faultless heir?”
“You are forcing a palace coup, committing treason! Do you not fear divine retribution?”
His eyes blazed with fury, his voice resounding, ringing painfully in the ears of all present.
Yet Zhangsun Wuji remained calm, adjusting his robes and meeting Wei Zheng’s gaze steadily.
“You know well that I, Zhangsun Wuji, act with fairness and would never commit such treason.”
“Minister Wei, do not act rashly. Hear the edict naming the successor before passing judgment.”
Wei Zheng snorted coldly, glaring daggers at Zhangsun Wuji, his anger unabated.
But he understood that first, the identity of the successor must be clarified to face this sudden upheaval effectively.
Ignoring Wei Zheng’s wrath, Zhangsun Wuji solemnly produced the succession edict, unfolding it and began to read aloud: “Edict proclaiming Prince of Jin as Crown Prince: In former days, the wise king received the mandate, the sacred sage set the example…”
Li Tai, once jubilant and lost in dreams of ascending the throne, was struck dumb at Zhangsun Wuji’s opening words, his face turning ashen.
He stared wide-eyed, trembling lips unable to form a word.
To the onlookers, anyone might challenge the authenticity of Zhangsun Wuji’s will, but Li Tai could not.
He was one of its witnesses—if it were a forgery, he would become the target of scorn and accusation.