Chapter Thirteen: The Sole Heir of Celestial Strategy

Li Fu asked three questions in quick succession, casting out all the doubts in his heart, hoping to find answers from the Grand Secretary.

The Grand Secretary looked at Li Fu, smiled, and then said earnestly, “I know you have many questions in your heart, but there are some things I cannot tell you just yet. You are not ready for them.”

Having said this, he stood up and walked over to sit in front of Li Fu. With a gentle smile, he continued, “Let me give you a general outline first.”

Li Fu felt a tinge of disappointment but nodded respectfully.

Without any further preamble, the Grand Secretary patiently offered explanations.

“Your master’s name is Li Bai. He is not only the current Grand Tutor and my junior brother, but also the head of the Shangling Academy and the lord of the Tiance Manor. In other words, you are my grand-nephew in the sect, and one of the candidates to inherit the title of the Three Dukes.”

“However, sixteen years ago he did something we all strongly opposed at the time, which led to his withdrawal from the court. Only later did we realize that he had been right.”

“Since he has now sent you back to the Eastern Capital, it means he still has unfinished business that he wants you to carry on. As for what that is, you will discover it in time. For now, you are the only recognized disciple of our lineage, so the Grand Guardian and I will naturally look out for you here. Already, after the incident on Chang’an Street, quite a few ministers have petitioned for your severe punishment. The Grand Guardian is rushing to the palace over this as we speak and hasn’t yet returned.”

“But you need not worry about these things. The Grand Guardian and I will handle matters in the Eastern Capital. Once the Marquis of Martial Valor returns from the northern frontier, I doubt anyone will dare to openly oppose you. Still, you must be cautious. The great families are never short of underhanded means.”

“As for the proposed marriage alliance with Southern Chu… Your master wrote to me about that. It is an old alliance, agreed upon years ago between Great Tang and Southern Chu. Now, Tang’s strength has waned; our foundations were all but depleted in those struggles over imperial power, and we can no longer face multiple enemies at once. The northern tribes constantly harass our borders, the Barbarian Emperor of the northwest covets our land, and Northern Yan has grown stronger year by year—perhaps even secretly colluding with the tribes. On the southern frontier, Tang has no natural defenses; if war breaks out, we will face calamity.”

“So, twenty years ago, the royal family signed an alliance with Southern Chu: Tang would send a princess in marriage to the Chu royal house, and Chu would send a princess to us. But now there are no suitable princes in our royal line. Last year, Southern Chu sent an embassy and offered to amend the terms: any son of a regional prince or any noble family in the Eastern Capital with a lineage of five generations or more could be chosen. In other words, wherever the Chu princess marries, it would be a house of great influence at court.”

Here, the Grand Secretary paused, his gaze complex as he looked at Li Fu. “But the court is riddled with factions, and some ministers secretly harbor disloyalty. If the Chu princess were to marry into one of those families, it would play right into Southern Chu’s hands and spell disaster for Tang. Your master sent you to the Eastern Capital much earlier than planned, I suspect for this very reason.”

Li Fu listened closely, deeply shocked. The inner workings of the court were far more treacherous than he had imagined.

No wonder his master had been so uneasy before his departure. No wonder he had been told to cut down the commander’s banner outside the Shangguan residence the moment he arrived in the Eastern Capital. Even after such a bold act, no one had come to trouble him—not even the royal family had voiced any objection. Clearly, his master had arranged everything in advance.

But why had his master left the Eastern Capital sixteen years ago?

The Grand Secretary said nothing about this, and the conversation was not as straightforward as Li Fu had hoped. His words were shrouded in ambiguity, brimming with meanings that required careful thought to unravel. Yet those very mysteries were what Li Fu most wished to understand.

“Do you have any other questions?” the Grand Secretary asked, seeing Li Fu’s confused expression, after a moment of contemplation.

Li Fu had many questions, but did not know where to begin. The original mysteries were still unresolved, and now even more had surfaced.

He pondered the Grand Secretary’s words, noticing several points he did not fully comprehend. After a moment’s thought, he asked seriously, “Why did my master leave the Eastern Capital back then? What happened that night sixteen years ago? Does it have anything to do with me?”

The Grand Secretary seemed to be recalling those distant events, his expression growing wistful as he replied, “Those matters go way back—if we trace their origins, we must begin with Emperor Taizong. It was, as ever, all about imperial power… As for you, yes, it does concern you. Years ago, the court diviner told your master that your fate… was most unfortunate.”

“My fate? In what way?” Li Fu’s confusion deepened. It seemed the truth was far more grave than he had imagined.

“Two hundred years ago, your father, your master, the Marquis of Martial Valor, and His Majesty—then still a prince—were all close friends. But due to certain matters, their relationships gradually became strained. Twenty years ago, His Majesty launched a campaign against Northern Yan, and perhaps because of this, the bonds among the four frayed even further. In the end, on that night sixteen years ago… your master bathed half of Chang’an Street in blood.”

“What!” Li Fu stared at the Grand Secretary in shock. His master had never spoken of this.

The Grand Secretary’s voice was calm. “Though it was more than a decade ago, it still feels as if it happened only yesterday. The power structure of the Eastern Capital changed greatly because of it. Back then, we all believed your master was wrong. Now we see he was right—though his methods were too harsh, too hasty. Still, that ensured nearly twenty years of stability for Tang’s court.”

Li Fu calmed his shock and asked, “What about now? Is the court unstable again?”

“Not yet, but His Majesty grows old and shows favoritism to Shangguan Yan; the Shangguan family is becoming a second Wu clan. If this continues, Tang may soon see a second Saint Empress. Should that happen, the regional princes will surely rebel, and Tang is in no position to withstand civil strife.”

Li Fu listened in silence for a long time before he asked, “But you are the Grand Secretary and the Emperor’s tutor. If you counsel His Majesty, would he not listen?”

“The Emperor is no longer the man he once was. If there were still hope, your master would never have acted as he did. Sending you here early is to prepare you to take charge of the Tiance Manor, so that if disaster should ever threaten Tang, there will be someone of the younger generation to lead Tiance and preserve the realm.”

At this, Li Fu’s expression grew dazed. Even now, he could not fully grasp the plans of his master and the others. Did they truly believe he alone could save Tang?

Within Tang, four powerful armies hold sway: Tiance, Divine Strategy, Cangyun Black Armor, and Yuling. Four great Marshals, eight Divine Generals, more than thirty veteran commanders, and hundreds of battle-hardened officers—why would the Three Dukes place their hopes on him?

He did not know how long he sat in his daze before he came to, looking at the Grand Secretary and asking, “Why me?”

His voice was tense, hoarse, and dry.

“Because you are the most suitable, and the only one qualified to inherit Tiance Manor.” The Grand Secretary looked at Li Fu, eyes tranquil and profound, with a hint of kindness and sorrow.

The sole heir to Tiance Manor?