HLnovel Chapter 67 Smashing Street Stalls and Casual Chatting About Xuanwumen
Chapter 67 Smashing Street Stalls and Casual Chatting About Xuanwumen
Si Zi asked curiously, "Just who exactly is Du Ruhui?"
Li Zhi smiled slightly and replied mysteriously, "We have to start with our father. You've heard of the Xuanwu Coup, haven't you?"
“I’ve heard it eight hundred times! It’s a well-known story. Back then, our father was suppressing rebellions everywhere, and his prestige in various places skyrocketed, right?!” Si Zi said confidently.
Li Zhi nodded, his eyes gleaming with recollection: "That's right. Father quelled many rebellions at the time, and his prestige was at its zenith, which attracted the envy, jealousy, and hatred of Li Jiancheng and Li Yuanji."
"Hmm, what relatives?! These two are really scheming," Si Zi exclaimed.
"That's right. They secretly colluded with Zhang Jieyu and Yin Defei, the concubines of our grandfather Li Yuan, in an attempt to trip up our father Li Shimin."
Li Zhi continued, "Once, Prince Li Shentong of Huai'an obtained a piece of land because of his military achievements. Consort Zhang's father coveted that land and wanted to get it from my grandfather, Li Yuan. In the end, my grandfather agreed, but Li Shentong refused to give it up."
Si Zi frowned: "Then Consort Zhang won't be happy, will she?"
Li Zhi smiled and said, "Of course, Consort Zhang ran to complain to her grandfather Li Yuan, saying that her father Li Shimin was bullying her father. Things became more and more complicated, and within a few days it became a big scandal throughout the city."
"Is there anything else?" Si Zi asked anxiously.
"Another time, Du Ruhui rode his horse past the house of Consort Yin's father, Yin Ashu," Li Zhi recounted slowly, a teasing expression on his face. "When Yin Ashu saw Du Ruhui riding so gracefully, he ordered his servant to pull him down, beat him up, and yelled, 'Who do you think you are? I told you to get down, and you still dare not! I'll teach you a lesson!' He was really going too far, acting all aggressive!"
"That Yin Ashu has gone too far!" Si Zi said indignantly.
Li Zhi continued: "Moreover, Yin Ashu also had Consort Yin tell our grandfather Li Yuan to turn around and accuse him of instigating Du Ruhui to bully them."
Even though our father Li Shimin could explain it logically, our grandfather Li Yuan just wouldn't believe it.
It is evident that the power struggles at that time were already extremely complex and rife with undercurrents, and Du Ruhui was thus deeply entangled in them, becoming one of the key pawns in this power game.
Si Zi sighed, "What a complicated situation! It seems that Du Ruhui's story is not simple at all. No wonder it became the era of anti-poisoning."
"Haha, it's not anti-poison, it's 'Fang Du'!!" Li Zhi corrected.
Yes, yes. Haha.
Having just finished chatting with his elder brother, Emperor Yonghui Xiaosi was about to go to sleep.
Not long after, she seemed to have left the palace and ran into Liu Xu and Zeng Gong, who invited her to have barbecue and chat in the alley behind the palace!
“Wow, that’s awesome!”
Liu Xu: "I heard that things have been quite lively in the Prince of Qin's mansion lately. Fang Xuanling and Du Ruhui have become Li Shimin's right and left hands, discussing things until late at night every day."
Upon hearing this, Si Zi realized they were still talking about the "anti-poison era."
Zeng Gong: "Yes, Crown Prince Jiancheng couldn't stand it anymore and said to Yuanji, 'Only those two can worry about the Prince of Qin's affairs.' As a result, the two of them were banished from the capital."
Xiao Si quickly interjected, "That Li Jiancheng really underestimated my father. In the ninth year of the Wude era, he tried to win over Yuchi Gong, but my father's character is not easily swayed by them. In the end, he turned the tables on them! Humph!"
Liu Xu: "That's right. He even tried to assassinate Yuchi Gong, but failed. Then he complained to your grandfather Li Yuan, and it really worked. Yuchi Gong was imprisoned."
Xiao Si asked curiously, "Are you talking about Yuchi Jingde?"
“Yes, that’s right, his name was also Yuchi Gong!” Liu Xu nodded with a smile. “He was born in the same year as Du Ruhui, but he lived a little longer than Lord Du!”
Zeng Gong interjected: "It is said that after Yuchi Gong came out, Li Jiancheng and Li Yuanji even wanted to make a move by Kunming Pool! That was truly a place where things could change rapidly. Fortunately, Yuchi Gong reacted quickly and ran away to seek help from Changsun Wuji."
Xiao Si hurriedly asked, "Is my father hesitating about the Xuanwu Gate matter? He's such a good person!"
Liu Xu nodded: "That's right. Both Changsun Wuji and Yuchi Gong advised him to strike first, but Li Shimin still hesitated. Seeing this, Yuchi Gong said earnestly: 'We can't let petty sentiments overshadow the greater good! If you don't make a decision, Changsun Wuji and I will have to run away!'"
Zeng Gong put on a thoughtful expression and said, "It must have been tough for your father. Back then, his superego had to fight against his id! He was thinking 'Don't do it,' but on the other hand, he was thinking 'I want to do it.' Both sides have their reasons."
While eating tendon, Liu Xu said, "Back then, your father Li Shimin was still hesitant. Yuchi Gong and Hou Junji were like salesmen, tirelessly persuading him day and night. Li Shimin, constantly being brainwashed, suddenly remembered Fang Xuanling and Du Ruhui, these two 'super warriors'!"
Sizi took a bite of the sweet and crispy toast and said, "Holy crap!! Father asked Uncle Changsun Wuji to summon these two people."
"Yes, your father gave his personal sword to Yuchi Gong, and had him take Fang Xuanling and Du Ruhui disguised as Taoist priests to infiltrate the Prince of Qin's mansion."
Si Zi laughed, "Disguised as a Taoist priest? That's really interesting! I understand, just like if I disguised myself as a little eunuch and sneaked back to the new emperor's side, it would be the same!"
It's getting late. Zeng Gong picked up a glass of wine and summarized, "Xiao Si, after much deliberation and planning, your father finally gritted his teeth and launched the Xuanwu Gate incident, eliminating Li Jiancheng and Li Yuanji in one fell swoop. It was truly swift and decisive! I'll drink this, Brother Xu, please feel free to drink as you please."
Liu Xu chimed in, "Things are settled. Li Shimin became the Crown Prince, and Du Ruhui smoothly became the Crown Prince's Left Vice Minister. When Li Shimin began to reward everyone for their contributions, Du Ruhui was appointed Minister of War and also received the title of Duke of Cai, with a fief of 1,300 households! I did it too, Xiao Si, are you full?"
"I'm full! I'm full! Lord Du has really struck it rich!" Little Si said, rubbing his round belly. "He could write a new book called 'From Taoist to Duke: My Life of Comeback'! Let's go!"
Xiao Si woke up suddenly and quickly asked her brother Zhi Nu to have the palace maid fetch some delicious food for a late-night snack: "Oh, nothing beats barbecue! 'Xiao Shao Kao' (a type of grilled snack), oh 'Xiao Shao Kao', it's something you can't wait for!"