Chapter 111: Power and Influence

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Yan Dong stepped forward, bowed slightly to the lead old eunuch, and smilingly asked, “What is this about...?”

“The Marquis of Chang’an, the Retired Emperor requests your presence,” the old eunuch said coldly, not even glancing at Yan Dong, then sneered darkly at Cai Cong.

Cai Cong’s expression immediately soured. His poem had caused countless families to shy away from offering talented women, and in the final collection presented, nine out of ten paintings depicted peasant girls—an outright humiliation to the royal family. Even the Empress had been so angered she had lost sleep for several nights.

“Must I go?” Cai Cong asked bravely, albeit nervously. He had written poetry to insult others, and now that he was cornered, the trouble was severe.

“Heh heh heh... What do you think? Come with us, don’t keep the Retired Emperor waiting too long,” the old eunuch chuckled coquettishly, his slender fingers as delicate as a woman’s. Cai Cong immediately felt a chill run down his spine.

Li Yuan resided in the Taiji Palace. Upon entering, it felt as if he had stepped into a kingdom of women; eunuchs were few, and palace maids were stunningly beautiful. Li Shimin wished he could gather all the beautiful women in the realm for his father, hoping to prevent him from getting drunk and engaging in his usual quarrelsome antics.

Cai Cong even suspected that Li Yuan might die within a few years, perhaps because his body was utterly drained. In fact, this was not an unreasonable assumption.

Lost in thought, he suddenly felt a kick to his knee and collapsed to the ground. Looking up, he saw an imposing elder dressed in a dragon robe appraising him sternly. Standing beside the elder was Changsun, glaring fiercely at Cai Cong, holding a rattan cane that seemed painful just to look at.

“I am Cai Cong, Marquis of Chang’an, paying respects to the Retired Emperor and Her Majesty the Empress,” Cai Cong immediately performed a deep bow, his eyes darting around. A wise man adapts to circumstances; he hurriedly considered how to flatter his way to safety.

“Cai the flower picker, bring me wine,” Li Yuan’s voice came, but he did not order Cai Cong to rise. Sneaking a glance, Cai Cong saw a young girl transfer the wine from her mouth to Li Yuan’s in a lip-to-lip manner. This girl was familiar—she was the youngest daughter of the Cai family.

“Heh heh, Marquis of Chang’an, I’m curious—what is there in this world that you don’t know? ‘The roadside corpse left unclaimed, drawing tears from all under heaven.’ ‘Pear blossoms overshadowing crabapples’—I am embarrassed to face anyone. How do you do!” Li Yuan wiped his mouth with satisfaction, sneering coldly. He had conquered the world and faced countless enemies, yet none had humiliated him this way.

“Why so silent? I have decreed that the Retired Emperor’s beauties be gathered, and now you have become a villain harming women across the land. Is this how you repay me, Cai Cong?”

“I do not know what to say,” Cai Cong replied calmly, kneeling on the floor. Different worldviews rendered explanations futile.

“Say whatever is on your mind. If you convince me, you will remain unharmed; otherwise, I will send someone to have you dragged before the Emperor,” Li Yuan chuckled. Several old eunuchs grinned with sticks in hand.

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“Then I shall speak. I did not write those poems to disgust the Retired Emperor. The other day, I saw villagers trying to send their daughters into the palace; I was furious and beat them. These people are not poor, yet you push their daughters into a pit of fire—is that humane?”

Before Cai Cong finished, Li Yuan slammed the table and shouted, “Guanyin maid, is this the favored son of you and Erlang? Is my palace a pit of fire?”

“Retired Emperor, please calm your anger. I did not say this is a pit of fire; I meant the entire palace is a pit of fire,” Cai Cong hurried to clarify before Changsun could speak.

This only irritated Changsun more, his brow furrowing as the rattan cane twitched in his hand.

“Gentlemen, please restrain yourselves and listen. Let me ask: once inside the Taiji Palace, can one become the Retired Emperor’s consort? And if so, can they enjoy eternal favor?”

“I know what you mean. But I tell you, even a single favor from me is the greatest honor,” Li Yuan said proudly. As the founding emperor, he was entitled to such words.

“You speak rightly; becoming your woman is indeed an honor,” Cai Cong said, fighting nausea. Then he shifted tone, “But the endless loneliness and desolation of the harem are the days these women must face. If I may speak disrespectfully, after the Retired Emperor passes away, these women will be confined to the Ganye Temple to grow old and die. To me, this is cruel, and that is why I was furious when villagers acted thus.”

“Silence! Who gave you the audacity to speak disrespectfully to the Retired Emperor?” Changsun shouted fiercely, raising his cane, only to be stopped by Li Yuan’s outstretched hand.

Li Yuan shook his head with a smile and said to Cai Cong, “I can tell this is your honest opinion, but it is insufficient. I have conquered the world, and I deserve these beautiful women.”

Li Yuan spoke bluntly. Now, he no longer feared officials or historians. Having disgraced many, what harm came from uttering foolish words?

“The world belongs to the Li family. If Your Majesty acts thus, I have nothing to say. Come on!” Cai Cong lay on the ground, urging the old eunuchs to act.

“Not so fast! I heard you are famous for eloquence. Why have you run out of words today?”

“It’s not that I have no words. If the Retired Emperor were still the benevolent sovereign who loved his people, my words would have been heard by now. But you are punishing me and even sparing no young girl. I am speechless,” Cai Cong said calmly, glancing at Cai Cairen standing silently nearby. By her appearance, she was barely fit to be a palace maid, yet Li Yuan titled her Cairen, signaling, “I overshadow the pear blossoms; what can you do?”

“Heh heh, quite clever, knowing I must punish you today,” Li Yuan said, surprised by Cai Cong’s insight as several eunuchs stripped him and prepared to flog him.

Changsun immediately attempted to intercede, but Li Yuan said coldly, “Don’t worry, I know Erlang still has business with him; I won’t be too harsh.”

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Cai Cong’s heart screamed in alarm—Li Yuan was surely intent on finishing him. The last time, Zhang Sizhan only sought to drive a wedge between him and Li Shimin’s family. At that time, Li Yuan still dreamed of reclaiming the throne. Now, in the Taiji Palace, aside from a few old eunuchs, everyone else had just arrived. Without support, Li Yuan had no chance left.

Thus, he bore murderous intent toward Cai Cong: “If I cannot live well, neither shall you.” What this man could do for the world no longer mattered. After his death, let the floods rage—this was Li Yuan’s mindset.

“Retired Emperor, I have thought it over—I wish to speak.”

Cai Cong called out urgently. Li Yuan’s lips curled into a cold smile. He waved his hand, and the old eunuch’s cane descended slowly. Though it seemed soft and weak, the dull thud against Cai Cong’s bare flesh was accompanied by the sharp crack of breaking bones.

Cai Cong screamed in agony. That light blow crippled him; his bones were fractured, perhaps broken. Sweat poured from his brow, his mind racing, but no strategy came to mind.

Changsun was frantic; as the overseer of the harem, she knew the old eunuch’s method aimed to kill without leaving marks. Just as she was about to plead, a clear voice rang out:

“The Emperor has arrived~”

The melodious voice echoed. Except for Li Yuan and Changsun, everyone knelt to greet. Li Shimin bowed to Li Yuan, smiling, and said, “Father, I heard this Cai Cong offended you. Is this your way of dealing with him?”

“Erlang must be reluctant to see him go, right?” Li Yuan smiled warmly at Li Shimin, his eyes full of affection. With Li Shimin here, the historians had arrived; they needed to put on a show to preserve the imperial family’s dignity.

“Of course not! That foul-mouthed brat always offends others and deserves punishment,” Li Shimin said cheerfully. Then, looking at the eunuchs, he continued, “But these old servants seem lacking in strength. Bring me some young ones. Beat him with thirty strokes to teach him a lesson.”

Li Shimin spoke sternly. Several younger eunuchs pushed aside the old ones and swung their sticks with great force. Each strike rang out sharply, and Cai Cong cried out in pain repeatedly.

(End of chapter)