The Human Emperor

Chapter 2440 Side Story Chapter 13: The Western Mausoleum of the Great Tang!

Wang Jiuling did not spend very long in the prison.

Li Taiyi’s efforts succeeded in allowing Wang Jiuling to leave half a month later.

The Tang Emperor had never intended to punish him with a specific crime.

His words had been overly intense, so he had been imprisoned within the jail of the Bureau of Punishments to wear away at his sharpness.

Li Taiyi’s few words of advice simply pushed the boat along the current.

After getting out of prison, Wang Jiuling joined Li Taiyi’s side.

But on the other side, Second Prince Li Chengyi kept an even closer eye on Li Taiyi, discrediting him in court, causing a fire in the imperial library… Yet rather than back down, Li Taiyi counterattacked again and again.

With Wang Jiuling assisting him with strategy, all of these dangers were neutralized.

Their relationship also began to gradually improve.

Li Taiyi would ask Wang Jiuling’s opinion on many things and would always be extremely respectful to him.

Though Wang Jiuling had not paid Li Taiyi much regard in the prison, he slowly began to understand this ‘unfilial Prince’ more and more, and he grew more and more surprised.

There were even many things that they completely agreed on.

At this moment, in Jade Dragon Palace, after the ending of a court session…

“Your Highness, after this counterattack, the Second Prince should be much more obedient,” Wang Jiuling said from his seat next to the sandalwood table.

“Second Brother probably didn’t think that it would be Fourth Brother that would be holding him back.”

Li Taiyi softly chuckled as he raised up his tea cup and took a sniff.

“If not for your reminder, I would not have thought about using my opponent’s own methods to get back at them. Huoyuan wanted to frame me, so he planted a handkerchief with a five-clawed golden dragon on me. It’s a pity for him that not only did I not throw it away, I even found the person who wove it.”

“We owe our success to Your Highness’s foresight. Not only have we succeeded in placing the Fourth Prince under house arrest, even the Second Prince has had his movements restrained,” Wang Jiuling nonchalantly said as he raised his tea cup and took a sip. His eyes gleamed with surprise as he said, “This tea isn’t bad.”

Li Taiyi saw this and ordered Gao Lishi with a smile, “Gao Lishi, give Lord Wang some Yinchen.”

“For this subject to refuse would be impolite!”

The relationship between Wang Jiuling and Li Taiyi was much improved, so rather than refusing, he accepted with a smile.

Li Taiyi put down his porcelain tea cup and said with a frown, “Right, though I have recently been rising higher and higher in the court, Imperial Father is still unwilling to favor me. What is the reason for this?”

Wang Jiuling put away the Yinchen tea leaves with a smile and patted them before slowly beginning to speak to Li Taiyi.

“Your Highness has many achievements in court, but have you thought about your achievements in other fields?”

Li Taiyi was confused and looked over at him.

“Achievements on the battlefield!” Wang Jiuling solemnly said.

“!!!”

Li Taiyi was startled, and then he smiled.

Military achievements!

Truly, great minds thought alike. On this matter, he once more agreed with Wang Jiuling.

Though the First Prince was not in the capital, the Tang Emperor viewed him with unusual favor. Not only was there an empty spot near the front of the court reserved for him, there had even been a seat for him at the Spring Rain Banquet. All of this was because the First Prince was pushing back the barbarians on the frontier and gaining military achievements.

Most importantly, the Great Tang had strong enemies on all sides: the Turks to the north, Ü-Tsang to the west, Mengshe Zhao to the south, and also Goguryeo, the Xi, and the Khitans to the northeast. All of these were a threat to the Great Tang.

The Great Tang expended much of its wealth to deal with the aggression of these countries, and this was a heavy burden on the empire.

Resolving this problem meant defeating these countries, which involved the military.

This was why his father favored his first brother and second brother!

Moreover, Li Taiyi wanted to change the world and avert that dark doomsday, to once more bring glory to the Han people. This was his only way of reaching this aspiration.

This thought made Li Taiyi smile, and he gave Wang Jiuling a glance of praise.

Time slowly passed, and as sunset approached, Wang Jiuling said farewell and left the Imperial Palace.