Side Story Chapter 27: A Meeting of Brothers!
Translated by: Hypersheep325
Edited by: Michyrr
Gallop!
The sounds of horse hooves and clanging armor rang out in the Great Tang Imperial Palace.
The Imperial Palace was the home of the Son of Heaven, and no one except the Imperial Army that guarded the Imperial Palace was allowed to wear armor. All generals that entered the Imperial Palace, unless they had the approval of the Emperor, were not permitted to wear armor. Riding horses around the Imperial Palace was even more forbidden, and anyone who did would be gravely disrespecting the Son of Heaven.
But at this moment, when the Imperial Army soldiers saw that caped figure in silver armor riding his horse through the Imperial City, appearing like a god of war, none of them tried to stop him. On the contrary, they respectfully bowed to the man as he passed.
This horseman was around twenty-six years old, and he had an energetic and vigorous expression. He appeared like a god descended from the heavens, and the majestic aura radiating from his body would make anyone want to submit to him.
This was the First Prince of the Great Tang, Li Xuantu!
At the same time, he was the heir apparent of the Great Tang, the future True Dragon Son of Heaven!
After ten-some years of training in the army, Li Xuantu naturally exuded a mountainous pressure that intimidated those around him.
“Your Highness, the central gate is up ahead,” a muscular and imposing general behind Li Xuantu said.
Upon entering the palace, Li Xuantu first needed to have an audience with the Emperor in Taiji Palace.
The central gate was the middle axis of the Imperial Palace and had a special status. Although they were Li Xuantu’s trusted subordinates, they could only follow him up to here.
“Mm.”
Li Xuantu gave a slight nod and spurred his horse forward. After traveling another several dozen feet, Li Xuantu suddenly raised his thick eyebrows.
The generals behind him also spotted those two figures in the distance.
“This… the Second Prince and Fourth Prince?”
Standing in front of the central gate were Second Prince Li Chengyi and Fourth Prince Li Longfan, and it appeared that they had been waiting for some time.
When these two saw First Prince Li Xuantu, they appeared rather hesitant, and even more fearful.
“First Imperial Brother is here,” Li Longfan softly said.
Even though they had already made up their minds, Li Longfan still find it hard to suppress his instinctive fear.
They were all Princes, but Li Xuantu was simply too dazzling. In front of this bright son, all of the other Princes lost their luster.
Second Prince Li Chengyi pushed Li Longfan and urged, “A loosed arrow can’t be taken back. There’s no such thing as compassion in the depths of the Imperial Palace. Think about it. Third Brother is ascendant, and he knows what we did in the past. Do you think he’ll just let us go?”
“It’s you guys!” A cold and aloof voice rang out.
The two of them shuddered and raised their heads, only now realizing that Li Xuantu had already ridden up to them. His face had a cold and arrogant look, and his body stood tall like a mountain, casting a shadow over the two of them and exerting a formidable pressure.
In a flash, Second Prince Li Chengyi’s behavior became somewhat unnatural.
“Chengyi pays respects to First Brother!”
“Longfan pays respects to First Brother!”
The two of them lowered their heads and hastily bowed, not even daring to breathe too loudly.
First Prince Li Xuantu’s domineering attitude had long ago branded itself into their souls.
“No one courts favor for no good reason. You were not waiting here just to greet me, yes?”
His armor clattering, Li Xuantu looked down on the two, his sharp eyes penetrating into the depths of their souls and seeing through all their schemes.
Both of them trembled, their expressions turning awkward.
Li Xuantu remained unperturbed and unmoved.
Normally, when a Prince returned from a campaign, he needed to see the Emperor first.
If Li Chengyi and Li Longfan simply wanted to meet him, they would have a chance at the evening feast to be held afterward, or they could meet at any other place in the Imperial Palace.
It was clear that the two had an ulterior motive if they were waiting for him here.
Li Chengyi and Li Longfan shared a glance before finally admitting it.
“I knew that I could not hide it from Imperial Brother!”
“Talk quickly. I still have to see Imperial Father.” Li Xuantu glanced behind Li Chengyi as he indifferently spoke.
He was already used to seeing such things in the Imperial Palace.
Saying this, Li Xuantu walked past the two of them and began to remove his armor, acting like Li Chengyi and Li Longfan simply weren’t there.
Li Chengyi’s gaze darkened at this sight.
First Prince Li Xuantu was accomplished in military arts, martial arts, tactics, politics, administration… He excelled in every field, and seemed to study and train with half the time and double the efficiency. He appeared to advance a thousand li in a single day, and he could comprehend even more things by simply comparing them to his past experiences. He far surpassed the other Princes, and even the Emperor was inferior in some aspects.
This was precisely why Li Xuantu was so arrogant, acting like a high master when it came to all things.
“Since Imperial Brother is pressed for time, your brother will get straight to the point.”
As Li Xuantu turned to face him, Li Chengyi regained his composure and smiled.
“First Imperial Brother should know about Third Brother, yes?”
Li Chengyi watched Li Xuantu as he spoke, but Li Xuantu continued to ignore him and take off his armor.
He didn’t even respond to Li Chengyi’s question, acting as if he hadn’t heard.
The air became somewhat stagnant.
Li Longfan looked embarrassed, and Li Chengyi frowned. The First Prince’s reaction was clearly not what they had expected.
Li Chengyi quickly regained his composure and continued to speak.
“Your brother was ignorant. In Imperial Brother’s eyes, Third Brother should still be that pleasure-seeking and brutish Prince. First Imperial Brother is different from us.” Li Chengyi paused a moment before he began to speak in a profound and suggestive tone. “Imperial Father has already made you the Crown Prince, the future true dragon, and these matters presumably are not worthy for your eyes.”
“What is it that you want to say?”
Li Xuantu put on his outer robe and raised his chin as he arrogantly looked at Li Chengyi.
“Your brother has spent these days managing the affairs of the palace in First Brother’s place, and though I am not as outstanding as Imperial Brother, everything is proceeding in an orderly fashion, and I have not brought shame on Imperial Father and First Brother. With Imperial Brother back in the capital, these matters will naturally be returned back to Imperial Brother. But… your brother worries that Imperial Brother is too magnanimous and that you will not pay attention to the people that should be deserving of your attention.”
Li Chengyi lowered his head and said, “Third Brother’s personality has undergone a massive change. If Imperial Brother looks down on him as before… your brother worries that Imperial Brother will take a tumble.”
Li Chengyi furtively raised his head to glance at the First Prince, but he discovered that the man remained unperturbed and indifferent. His expression instantly froze. He knew that the First Prince was a sharp and composed individual who would never be moved by just these words.
The First Prince clearly knew all the tricks and schemes of the Imperial Palace like the back of his hand.
A moment later, Li Chengyi regained his composure and casually said, “In addition, your brother has heard that Virtuous Empress Dou is becoming more and more diligent as of late…”
Buzz!
These words instantly made Li Xuantu’s pupils constrict, and his face grimaced.
“Are you done?
“If so, I will go and see Imperial Father!” Li Xuantu coldly said, quickly getting a hold of himself. Ignoring the pair, he passed through the central gate and vanished in the direction of Taiji Palace.
“Second Brother, this…”
Fourth Prince Li Longfan’s jaw dropped as he glanced at Li Chengyi.
They had waited for so long for their first brother to return to the Imperial Palace, intending to use him to deal with Li Taiyi, but it appeared that they had failed.
It was clear that Li Xuantu had not cared for their arguments.
Li Chengyi said nothing, his brow creasing in thought.
But a moment later, Li Chengyi turned his head in the direction that the First Prince had gone, the smile of a victor on his lips.
“There’s no need to worry. He was convinced. Though Imperial Brother appeared to not care, I happen to know that the more he feigns indifference, the more he actually cares.
“Come on; we still have other things to attend to.”
Li Chengyi coldly laughed and walked away.
After a moment’s hesitation, Li Longfan followed.
……
Li Chengyi and Li Longfan disappeared into the distance.
As for Li Xuantu, wearing his imperial robe, he drew back his divine sense from the distance, his expression darkening.
“Virtuous Empress Dou…”
That figure emerged in Li Xuantu’s mind.
He was the Crown Prince of the Great Tang, the future True Dragon Son of Heaven, the true holder of the Mandate of Heaven, blessed with talent and ability.
Li Chengyi and Li Longfan were trying to incite a quarrel between him and Li Taiyi with just these few words? He had truly overestimated their ability.
His third brother did not deserve his attention.
But there was one thing that the two were right about.
Li Taiyi had an advantage that he did not: Virtuous Empress Dou.
Unlike Li Taiyi, while Li Xuantu was born in wealth, was the eldest son, and had the favor of the Tang Emperor, his mother had passed away when he was young. There was no one to speak up for him in front of the Tang Emperor.
He had gotten his current status entirely through his own efforts, step by step.
For Li Xuantu, this was a source of eternal heartache.
Li Taiyi was completely different.
Amongst the consorts of the harem, the Tang Emperor favored Virtuous Empress Dou far more than all of the others.
The Third Prince had a wicked personality and had done a series of absurd things that even Li Xuantu had heard about. His conduct was despicable, but because of Virtuous Empress Dou, all of his wrongdoings had been minimized.
It had long been said in the palace that the Tang Emperor so favored Virtuous Empress Dou that he had already granted her the title of Empress Consort, replacing Li Xuantu’s mother.
So long as Virtuous Empress Dou remained, Li Xuantu’s status in the palace would never be stable.
Since ancient times, there were numerous cases of Crown Princes being deposed due to scenarios like this.
Perhaps Li Chengyi and Li Longfan were right—perhaps he should pay some attention to his third brother!
“Your Highness, Your Highness… His Majesty is waiting inside.” A familiar voice entered his ears, and Li Xuantu’s eyes flickered as he raised his head and saw Eunuch Li standing atop the white jade steps.
“I will go at once.”
Breaking out of his stupor, Li Xuantu began to stride toward Taiji Palace.
……
An hour later, he emerged from Taiji Palace.
Li Xuantu stood at the top of the stairs, his back erect as he stood tall. There was a look of recollection in his eyes as he looked out over the vastness of the Imperial Palace.
His eyes flashed, and then he began to head down the steps and toward the Eastern Palace.
But Li Xuantu had only gotten halfway down the steps when a figure emerged at the bottom of the stairs.
Looking over, Li Xuantu immediately raised an eyebrow.
At almost the same time, Li Taiyi saw the figure on the steps, and his heart thumped in dismay.
First Imperial Brother? How is it him!?