Chapter 35 Princess’ Conspiracy: Dethrone the Current Crown Prince or Enthrone a New Emperor?

Author: Jin Xifeng Translator: Fanglin Louis

Introduction of the novel "The Great Khan" from the author:A modern Chinese soul-travels to the Tang Dynasty 1300 years ago and merges into the body of Xue Chongxun, the eldest son of Princess Taiping of the Tang Dynasty of China. He tragically discovers that he and his families will be killed by the then Crown Prince Li Longji in a coup within the forthcoming two year later according to the original historical development. Therefore, Li Longji becomes his destined mortal enemy since he soul-travelled back to the world. So, as the protagonist of this novel, how can he sort out to avoid that disaster? In order to survive, is he qualified to be the opponent of Li Longji, the original great man in Chinese history? How should he reinterpret the prosperous Tang poetry in this time and space he traveled to? ……

Message from the transaltor:If you really want to understand the Chinese people and the so-caled "Chinese Culture",please patiently read my translation of this Chinese Novel because it surely will tell you what they are thinking in most cases while you are communicating or dealing with them -Chinese people has never change their cruel, brutal and inhuman mindset since 2000 years ago while China was just established by the First Emperor.Thanks! Meanwhile ,due to strong language and sexual content of the orginal source texts, this book is not intended for readers under the age of 18. All contents posted here is my Enlgish transaltion of the Chinese novel ,which was oringinally posted in the website as https://www.xiguasuwu.com/bookread/3704055759/405887.html.

(Continued)Dozens of beautiful and graceful dancers sang and danced in the hall. What was even more wonderful was that they were all wearing very little and translucent dresses, and their skin was as smooth and beautiful as cream, which was really dazzling.

Seeing this, Xue Chongxun seemed to be in a better mood and immersed in the joyful atmosphere. Princess Taiping noticed the change in his expression, and she couldn't help but smile and said, "There are so many beauties, you can pick one to accompany you tonight."

Although Princess Taiping was his mother, as a member of the royal family, it was not inappropriate for her to do so. Instead, it was a means of expressing closeness - when Wu Zetian was in power, Princess Taiping had given tomboys to her mother as a gift.

Xue Chongxun couldn't refuse, so he had to say, "Mother, there are really a lot of good things in your house. There are so many beauties here. I think their looks are similar. It's really hard to choose at the moment. Otherwise, I'll just pick one at random."

Princess Taiping shook her head: "Take a look again, and you won't say that in a while."

With fine wine and delicious food, and so many beautiful women around him, Xue Chongxun felt very relaxed. But he was still very depressed: he felt that he had not accomplished anything in Chang'an in the past two months, although he had been trying to persuade his mother to launch a coup - because he knew one thing based on his memories of his previous life: that is, although he didn't know whether he could successfully change the fate of his family by a coup, he knew that if he didn't launch a coup, his family would definitely be slaughtered... As a result, he racked his brains and did so many things but still couldn't convince his mother. How could this not be frustrating?

There was no way: with a pitiful strength, like an ant trying to shake a tree, how can he compete and confront with the state machine of the Tang Dynasty, so he could only pin his hopes on his mother.

He thought carefully for a while, remembering that Li Longji in the original history only served as the crown prince for about two years before he ascended the throne, and soon after he wiped out all the people of Princess Taiping's party... So it would be this time next year, and everyone in Princess Taiping's party would be killed and eliminated. But what can he do in just one year? Raise the banner of rebellion? He would probably be destroyed by the local army or killed by his own men before he even started, because he really didn't think he would succeed in doing so during the heyday of the Tang Dynasty...

Just then, Princess Taiping asked, "Chongxun, what are you thinking about?"

Xue Chongxun hurriedly smiled and said, "No, I'm thinking about which dancer is more beautiful."

At this time, the dancing girls in the hall gathered together to form a circle, leaning forward like flowers about to bloom. Then, accompanied by a melodious sound of the piano, they swung their long sleeves, and their flexible waists supported their upper bodies and slowly leaned back, like the petals of a huge flower slowly blooming.

Suddenly, Xue Chongxun's eyes lit up, and he saw a beautiful woman like Chang'e emerging from among the beautiful women. She raised her white jade feet, and her graceful body spun and danced. The jade belt on her skirt also fluttered, as if she was walking on water, like a fairy in the moon palace.

She danced lightly like a swallow. Xue Chongxun didn't see what her face looked like, but just based on her posture and temperament, he felt that this beauty was really beautiful. So he turned to look at his mother and said, "I know, she is the best and most beautiful among these dancers. No wonder you asked me to choose."

Princess Taiping smiled slightly: "Do you think she is the best among them?"

Xue Chongxun nodded without hesitation. Princess Taiping said calmly: "Have you heard of Cheng Wuting?"

"I have heard of him. He turned out to be a famous general... He interceded with my grandmother on behalf of the other but got into trouble and was killed? It seems that their whole family is dead. Could this woman be the descendant of Cheng Wuting?"

Princess Taiping said, "Her name is Cheng Ting."

"Oh..." Xue Chongxun was startled, and realized again how cruel the power struggle was. He could not help him thinking: If I was unlucky in the future, would my woman also be degraded to a lowly person and be humiliated and abused by others?

After eating and drinking, they enjoyed singing and dancing for a while. At this time, Princess Taiping dismissed the people around her, but it seemed that she had no intention of leaving immediately. Xue Chongxun also sat quietly because he felt that his mother seemed to have something to say to him.

At this time, because the servants all followed Princess Taiping's wishes and retreated, the entire hall was left with only the mother and son, and it looked empty.

Princess Taiping finally broke the silence and said, "Chongxun, you have given me advice many times. I have considered it again and again and feel that what you said is not wrong, but I did not immediately agree with you. Do you know why?"

This sentence immediately made Xue Chongxun a little surprised and happy. He hurriedly said, "Mother, as long as you can see the hidden dangers and foresee the danger of our family, it's good... As for your disagreement, I guess it is too difficult to launch a coup, and it is not legitimate for you to launch a coup as a princess, and the risk is too great, right?"

Princess Taiping pondered for a long time. Xue Chongxun didn't know what she was thinking at this time. After thinking for a long time, she said, "I often think of your grandmother... From ancient times to the present, she is the only female emperor. It was before, and it will be difficult to repeat it in the future. Empress Wei and Princess Anle did not see this clearly. They both wanted to learn from her to be female emperors, but they all died; I realized this a long time ago, so our family is still fine now, and we have not suffered the fate of being exterminated like them."

Xue Chongxun persuaded anxiously, "Mother, you may think so, but others may not! We all know that you are fighting with Li Longji not to become the empress, but just to protect yourself! After the Shenlong coup that caused Empress Wu Zetian to abdicate and the Tanglong coup that overthrew the rule of Empress Wei, you survived the crisis safely. That's because Emperor Zhongzong and the current emperor, who ascended the throne after the coup, were both emperors without strength and courage. But Li Longji is different: he is not only young, but also courageous. What's more serious is that he is now fighting with you in the court so fiercely. If Li Longji ascends the throne and becomes emperor, it will be impossible for you to maintain the status quo.... Mother, if you didn't realize this, you wouldn't have tried every possible means to get the emperor to abolish his position as the crown prince, right?"

Princess Taiping said: "This is why I'm talking to you tonight. We have to prepare for both situations. If we fail to get the current emperor to abolish Li Longji's position as the crown prince, we must plan to launch a coup early to prevent the whole family from encountering an unexpected fate or even being killed in the future. But I'm a woman, what reason can I use for a coup? After thinking about it, this matter also requires an alliance with the royal family of the Li surname... But now nearly all the royal family hopes that Li Longji will ascend the throne to stabilize the overall situation. Therefore, there is only one royal family member who can be used, Li Shouli!"

Li Shouli? Xue Chongxun had almost never thought about this marginal figure among the royal family, but he had to admit that his mother was indeed insightful. When she mentioned this, he suddenly realized that he is the son of Prince Zhanghuai, that is, the grandson of Emperor Gaozong and Emperor Wu Zetian-Actually Prince Zhanghuai is more qualified and popular than the current emperor Li Dan, but he is dead... But Li Dan's son Li Longji can be the emperor, why can't Prince Zhanghuai's son be the emperor?

Li Shouli's father and brother were killed by Wu Zetian. His younger brother was said to have died of illness, but it is not known whether he really died of illness. He himself did not die because he acted crazy and stupid. He was imprisoned for more than ten years and was released during the reign of Emperor Zhongzong. Soon after, he was appointed to a remote place and became a marginal figure, and no one mentioned him anymore.

Because Xue Chongxun finally changed some of his mother's ideas, he was in a very good mood and saw hope again. He asked seriously: "Where was Li Shouli assigned? I never thought of this person, so I didn't pay attention. What kind of person is he? Can he agree to form an alliance with us?"

Princess Taiping said: "He was named Prince of Bin and is now in Youzhou(note 1). I don't know what kind of person he is. I haven't had much contact with him, and I haven't heard anyone talking about him. If you hadn't asked me to think about the coup during this period, I wouldn't have thought of him... I will talk to you in detail tonight, just to arrange a job for you so you can handle this matter secretly."

"Mother, please speak."

"Among the people I can trust around me, you should be the most suitable to do this. You go to Youzhou, find out Li Shouli's background, and persuade him to return to Beijing to participate in the coup if necessary, and let him become emperor after the success. Can you do it?"

Xue Chongxun said: "Mother, please rest assured. Since this matter concerns the lives of our whole family, I will do my best. But I am the director of Taichang Department, so there is no reason for me to leave the capital Chang'an City to Youzhou, so we must find a reason, and don't let people know my real purpose."

"I have thought about it for you. The capital has been short of food for the past two years, and the situation was even worse last year- at that time the imperial guards were hungry and almost mutinied but fortunately the grain had not been delivered in time! Therefore, this is a very important matter. The court has been looking for effective solution to increase the volume of grain transport so Liu An, the assistant minister of the Ministry of Revenue, was transferred to take charge of this matter last year. But so far, it has had little effect. So I want to use this excuse to let you serve as another assistant Minister and go to these regions to inspect the canal, and assist Liu An in rectifying the canal transportation affairs... Of course, this kind of thing cannot be done in a short time, and you don't have to worry too much. Just use the excuse of inspecting the Yongji Canal so you can go north to Youzhou along the canal and try to contact Li Shouli. "

Xue Chongxun thought for a while and said, "This is very good idea. I have no achievements before, and no one pays much attention to me. It's just right for me to do this."

Princess Taiping smiled and said, "Among you brothers, you are the most considerate of my heart. Chongxun, you don't have to be sad every day, because your mother is here. "

"Mother..." Xue Chongxun felt a little sad in his heart. During this period of time, he was in fear and anxiety day and night, so he rarely felt happy... Men can feel helpless and sad, but they just hide it in their hearts. At this time, his mother's words made him feel like he had found a warm embrace, feeling both sad and warm.

Princess Taiping's expression became kind. At this time, she looked more loving than the majestic princess who looked high and mighty at ordinary times, more like a mother. She looked at Xue Chongxun's face and smiled, "Okay, I see you are still crying at this age. When you grow up, you have to learn to be calm and don't show everything on your face, and worry all day long. Do you understand?"

"Yes, mother." Xue Chongxun replied respectfully.

Princess Taiping stood up, stroked her sleeves gently, and said, "It's getting late, go back to your room and rest. The girl named Cheng Ting just now has been sent to your room."

Xue Chongxun politely said, "I will see you off first."

Princess Taiping then walked to the palace gate alone and called the servants over. The eunuchs and palace maids held lanterns and surrounded her. Another team of servants was also waiting at the door, waiting for Xue Chongxun to serve him. Xue Chongxun straightened up after his mother left. Only then did he realize that his chest didn't hurt anymore, and he didn't need to sit all the time.

It was not until then that he realized that the night suddenly became beautiful. The cool breeze blowing on his face made him feel particularly comfortable, and the bright lights in the princess's mansion, the lights and the stars in the sky, reflected each other. Xue Chongxun suddenly understood why Yuwen Ji was willing to sacrifice everything for her father.

（To be continued)

Note:

1.?? Youzhou( 幽州 in Chinese), also called as You Prefecture or You Province, was a prefecture (zhou) in northern China during its imperial era. Youzhou was cited in some ancient sources as one of the nine or twelve original provinces of China around the 22nd century BC, but You Prefecture was used in actual administration from 106 BC to the tenth century. As is standard in Chinese, the same name "Youzhou" was also often used to describe the prefectural seat or provincial capital from which the area was administered, which is located at the area near Guang'anmen in the southwest of Beijing today. You was first created in 106 BC as a province-sized prefecture during the Western Han dynasty to administer a large swath of the dynasty's northern frontier that stretched from modern-day Shanxi Province in the west and Shandong Province in the south, through northeastern Hebei Province, southern Liaoning Province and southern Inner Mongolia to Korea. The prefectural capital was the City of Ji in modern Beijing.( Data Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Youzhou_(ancient_China)