"Marry... what?" Li Yuangui thought he had misheard. Had his head injury not yet healed, or had he developed a new symptom of deafness or hearing loss?
"Marriage alliance," Li Chengqian replied with a somewhat gloating smile. "King Qu Wentai of Gaochang has a beautiful princess, born to the queen and cherished like a pearl in the palm. He seeks a son-in-law to reside permanently in Gaochang..."
Suppressing another wave of mild headache and restraining his rising anger, Li Yuangui listened carefully as Chengqian explained. The Son of Heaven had initially been furious with Gaochang for two reasons: first, while marriage negotiations between the two nations were still unresolved, Qu Wentai had unilaterally arranged for his crown prince to marry a Turkic princess from the Western Regions, showing clear disrespect toward Tang. Second, Gaochang's proposal for a Tang imperial prince to become a "live-in son-in-law" in the Western Regions was practically an insult in Central Plains culture—it could easily be interpreted by other states as Tang sending a hostage to Gaochang, lowering its own status. Thus, the court had initially intended to outright refuse, but...
"If we reject it, we must prepare for war on two fronts," Li Chengqian frowned. "At that time, the Tuyuhun campaign's outcome was uncertain, and it was three thousand li away. If Gaochang were to retaliate by sending troops to aid Khan Murong and attack our Celestial troops from the flank, it would be disastrous. Even now, though Duke Yaoshi and the expeditionary forces have achieved great victories, capturing Fuqi City and crushing Tuyuhun's main forces, the Emperor still believes we must not rashly provoke conflict with Western Regions states..."
Is that so? Li Yuangui thought silently. The Emperor had clearly considered ordering Li Jing and others to press onward and attack Gaochang in one sweep. But after being harshly admonished by Wei Zheng and others, he had reluctantly acknowledged the reality of "insufficient population and provisions in Guanzhong," abandoning the idea and returning to diplomatic pretense with Gaochang. And now, Li Yuangui himself... was to be the pawn the Emperor and his son would toss into the Western Regions to buy time, scout the enemy, and serve as an inside agent in the future.
Historically, marriage alliances between Han and nomadic tribes mostly involved Han daughters being sent beyond the frontier to become queens or matriarchs in foreign lands. Occasionally, princesses from foreign countries would enter the Central Plains to become empresses—such as during the concurrent reigns of Zhou and Qi, when rulers of both states competed to marry daughters of Turkic khans—but those were usually during times of division and decline in the Central Plains. As for a Central Plains sovereign sending a royal family member to become a live-in son-in-law in a foreign land... Li Yuangui couldn't recall a single precedent. As Chengqian had just said, this wouldn't just humiliate Li Yuangui personally—it would disgrace the entire Tang dynasty.
So this was why the Crown Prince had assigned him the additional task of "leading court deliberations and persuading ministers through debate"? In plain terms, not only would he be sent beyond the frontier as a live-in son-in-law, exiled to a barbarian land three thousand li away, but he would also have to publicly declare it was his own choice and convince senior ministers that this move complied with ritual propriety and wasn't a surrender of sovereignty?
For a brief moment, Li Yuangui considered whether imprisonment, execution, or suicide to follow his father in death might be easier.
"I leave you with just one thought: remember who you are, and cultivate blessings for those close to you."
The Emperor's voice instantly echoed in his ears, making the younger brother shake his head with a bitter smile. Truly worthy of being the greatest general of his time—no one could gauge another's thoughts more accurately than he. Death would indeed be an easy escape, but in this world... there were still so many people and matters he couldn't abandon.
"This subject dares to ask," Li Yuangui addressed Chengqian, "which ministers opposed this matter during court discussions, and what were their reasons?""There are quite a few objections, which can be summarized into three points," the Crown Prince said with a faint smile. "Sun Fu-jia, the Minister of Justice, believes that Prince Wu has violated national laws, with offenses severe enough to warrant capital punishment. Instead of openly administering justice, concealing his crimes to deceive foreign nations violates ancient customs and betrays the trust of the people. Gao Biao-ren, the Minister of State Ceremonial, argues that sending a Tang imperial prince to a foreign land to marry a barbarian woman and reside there as a hostage would demonstrate weakness to the tribes, tarnishing the prestige of the Heavenly Khan and the dignity of the state, while setting a dangerous precedent for future foreign affairs. As for Wei Zheng, the Chief Minister..."
Li Yuangui stiffened. Li Chengqian looked at him meaningfully, pausing to catch his breath before continuing.
"Chief Minister Wei actually supports sending a royal clansman for diplomatic marriage, but he disagrees with His Majesty's choice of candidate. Wei Zheng stated that if His Majesty is willing to sacrifice his own flesh and blood abroad, it should at least secure twenty years of peace for the empire, allowing the people within the passes to avoid conscription and recuperate. However, Prince Wu is young and impulsive, with a keen interest in military affairs and a desire to distinguish himself on the battlefield. Sending him to Gaochang for marriage might provoke renewed conflict between the two nations within a few years..."
So... this was how Wei Shufen's father viewed him.
The maligned Tang prince lowered his head in thought, took a deep breath, and was about to ask, "When does Your Highness plan to convene the court debate?" when he suddenly swallowed the words.
He noticed a flicker in Li Chengqian's dark eyes—a mix of probing and smugness. After hearing so many disparaging remarks about himself, was the Crown Prince deliberately provoking him?
If Li Yuangui, in a fit of shame and anger, rashly agreed to debate those ministers face-to-face and convinced them, ultimately going to Gaochang for the marriage himself—who would benefit the most?
If he agreed without hesitation, then Wei Zheng's assessment of him as "young and impulsive" would be proven entirely accurate.
"His Majesty and Your Highness's expectations are clear to me," Li Yuangui replied patiently, suppressing his temper. "As a mourning official under censure, I have no right to discuss state affairs. But since Your Highness has deigned to consult me, I will shoulder the responsibility. However, I have one request to make first, which I hope Your Highness will grant."
After assigning him such a harsh and unreasonable task, he deserved to negotiate terms—this was his unspoken message, and Li Chengqian understood. The Crown Prince pursed his thin lips and asked, "What is it?"
"Before leaving my homeland, I must settle the future of my seventeenth sister, born of the same mother," Li Yuangui said through gritted teeth. "She has suffered misfortune, losing both parents young and standing alone in this world. I cannot depart for the frontier with peace of mind unless I see her happily wed."
Li Chengqian arched his sword-like brows and sneered, "So the Fourteenth Uncle still doesn't trust me?"
"Correct," Li Yuangui retorted bluntly, not bothering to hide his disdain. The current plight of his siblings was entirely due to Li Chengqian's tyrannical actions—how dare this brat question him?
Faced with such direct defiance, Li Chengqian's expression darkened. For a moment, he seemed on the verge of slamming the table in rage—but he restrained himself, likely aware he had no moral high ground.
"The Supreme Emperor's passing was only days ago, and the Fourteenth Uncle already seeks to arrange a marriage for the Seventeenth Aunt?" the Crown Prince scoffed. "Do you find this reasonable? Appropriate?"
"There's no need for formal betrothal rites," Li Yuangui countered. "All I ask... is for the Empress to personally promise that once the mourning period ends, she will grant my sister's hand to the man I choose. That will suffice."Formally issuing an edict to confirm the marriage was indeed impossible. His thoughts wavered between the Emperor and the Crown Prince for a moment before finally deciding that if only a verbal promise was needed, the most reliable person in such matters would still be... Empress Zhangsun.
"Her Majesty is unwell..." Li Chengqian reluctantly frowned as he spoke, then paused and asked instead, "Even if the Empress were to grant permission, who do you intend to choose as the consort for the seventeenth aunt?"
Without much thought, Li Yuangui blurted out, "Yang Xinzhi."
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