Chapter 37

As the night grew darker, under the gloomy weather, there was no sunset casting its afterglow. Only the increasingly low and heavy clouds suggested that it would snow again tonight!

The Taiji Palace was now brightly lit, and the snow had already begun to fall, covering the dome of the grand hall. The eaves were adorned with icicles a foot long, like inverted swords. The dim yellow palace lamps cast a glow, making the icicles even more crystal clear.

Emperor Li Yuan sat high on his dragon throne. No fire was lit in the palace, making it as cold as an ice cellar. His long breaths formed white vapor in the air, condensing. Li Yuan felt this icy chill, just like the sorrow in his heart: It has finally happened, but not as he had expected. Instead of the eldest and the third joining forces against the second, the eldest and the third are now at odds with each other!

"Truly, they are my good sons! Haha... How can they be so unlike each other? You three are blood brothers! The second is as cunning as a fox, yet you two are as stupid as pigs!" Li Yuan didn't know what to say. Could he really be wrong? Could his chosen crown prince not see such a simple situation? To actually fight with the third at this time, not knowing that the second is the greatest threat?

At this moment, a dim figure appeared at the entrance of the grand hall, blending into the surrounding shadows. "Your Majesty, this servant has something to report!" The eunuch's voice was sharp, like the cry of an owl in the night.

"Come in!" Li Yuan said solemnly, knowing that this visit could not be good news.

"Your Majesty, news from the city gate: Prince Qin left the city this afternoon with a group of about thirty people. There seems to be some unusual activity in the direction of Leye Plain outside the city!" The old eunuch seemed accustomed to hiding in the shadows, even in the brightly lit grand hall, he stood in a dark corner.

"Is that so? The second is indeed quick to act. He hurriedly paid such a high price to exchange for Blackstone Mountain this afternoon, and before nightfall, he has already begun to make arrangements!" Hearing about Li Er's movements, Li Yuan once again felt that the eldest was far from him, but he still couldn't make up his mind. The eldest had not made a mistake, how could he depose the crown prince? That would be against the rites and laws!

It was precisely because of Li Yuan's indecision that the subsequent events became so complicated, setting a precedent for future generations, making the succession of the Tang Dynasty always bloody.

At this moment, Li Er and Li Kuan were still in the carriage, slowly heading towards the Qin王府.

Li Kuan's face showed a hint of excitement. He couldn't help it, as it felt like winning a lottery of five million. The immense joy was constantly impacting his rationality. If it weren't for Li Er watching him, Li Kuan might have done something unexpected. He had previously imagined how much energy he would gain from absorbing Blackstone Mountain, but it was just a fantasy, like many people dreaming of winning the lottery. The difference between imagination and reality was significant, and Li Kuan was now experiencing this.

Previously, he had gained only a few points each time, with the most being fifty points on the first occasion. He never expected to gain thirty million points this time, with several hundred thousand as the remainder. Just the last few digits were more than all the previous points combined. Li Kuan had thought that he shouldn't absorb it directly and should find someone to dig it out slowly, but the system had done it all in one go, and the surprise was overwhelming!

Li Er also kept wanting to speak but held back. He really wanted to ask if Li Kuan's master was truly from a fairy sect. Li Kuan's actions seemed more and more like those of a fairy. He still vividly remembered the scene at Blackstone Mountain: the entire mountain was covered with red light bands floating in the air, like a giant net enveloping the mountain. Li Kuan sat in mid-air, like a legendary fairy child, with flames on his head, controlling the net to extract the essence of Blackstone Mountain. Li Er had confirmed this: he ordered a piece of coal to be dug out, and it could no longer burn.

Li Er speculated that the coal under the light net could no longer burn. This meant that Chang'an would have no coal to burn in the future, although not many people used it before, the sudden loss of the source would cause many inconveniences. However, Li Er thought this was a good thing; at least there would be no more people dying in their sleep, and the woodcutters and coal sellers could have a better winter.

As the carriage approached the Qin王府, Li Er couldn't hold back. He knew that if he didn't ask now, he wouldn't be able to ask later. Seeking immortals and Daoist teachings had always been a taboo for the royal family. Many emperors had been destroyed by this, no matter how wise and powerful they were. Once they believed in Laozi and Zhuangzi's teachings and practiced non-action, they lost their ambition and were not far from losing their kingdom. This was no longer the pre-Qin period; such a philosophy was no longer suitable. The Tang Dynasty was now fraught with internal strife and external threats, and it couldn't afford to be obsessed with the teachings of immortals.

But Li Kuan's behavior made Li Er think that immortals might exist, which troubled him. However, he still asked, "Kuan, is your master a human or an immortal? How can his methods be so extraordinary and astonishing?"

"Father, I can't really explain, but I believe there are no immortals in this world, as my teacher told me!" Li Kuan didn't expect Li Er to ask such a question. It seemed he was not yet the great emperor who would rule for generations but was still an ambitious prince.

"What do you mean?" Li Er was puzzled. "Your teacher is clearly over a hundred years old, and the methods you used just now are not something a mortal could do. What are you, if not an immortal? Could you be a demon?"

"How could Father think such things? There are many wondrous things in this world. Once you understand the secrets, what seems magical is actually quite simple. It's just that those who don't understand find it incredible and think it's beyond the capabilities of mortals!" Li Kuan said calmly, using Li Er's question to divert his attention. He was afraid that constantly thinking about the energy points might lead him to do something shocking.

"Can a person really live over a hundred years?" Li Er didn't believe it. The oldest people he had seen were Yuan Shoucheng and Yan Zhitui, both in their eighties. Yuan Shoucheng still ran from his home in the north of Chang'an to the mountains outside the city every morning to absorb the first rays of the sun. Yan Zhitui, though not as physically fit, was still energetic and could live for another ten to twenty years. These two could live to be a hundred, but they hadn't yet. Chen Tuan, Li Kuan's mysterious teacher, claimed to have played a game with Emperor Wu of Liang, making him over a hundred, possibly even over a hundred and twenty.

"Father, living over a hundred years is not rare. It's just that the constant wars have caused many who could have lived longer to die. Young men die in battle, and the elderly are too busy with farm work to enjoy their old age, leading to premature death. My teacher, however, lives a carefree life, with a regular routine and a healthy diet. Of course, he can live longer. Besides, I believe there are still some old scholars in the Tang Dynasty who can live to be a hundred." Li Kuan didn't know much, but at least Cheng Yaojin lived a long time, not quite a hundred but close.

"Then, how do you explain your ability to float in the air?" Li Er still didn't believe it. He knew that a carefree life was good for health, but being born into the imperial family, how could one have such a life? Li Er was not the type to enjoy leisure; if he had nothing to do, he would feel restless and even fight with his generals to pass the time.

"Father, it's just an illusion. I believe Father knows some of these secrets. They are the closely guarded mysteries of various schools. My school, though inclusive, does not easily share such techniques. I was chosen to seek energy in the world, so my teacher taught me this method." Li Kuan now realized how difficult it was to deceive a smart person. They would keep asking questions, making you busy with lies. If you made a mistake, it would be over. So, Li Kuan decided to avoid using the system's features lightly, as Li Er's repeated suspicions could be fatal.

The carriage stopped at the front gate of the Qin王府. Li Kuan quickly got up to help Li Er lift the curtain. Li Er had asked many questions on the way but got no answers, feeling a bit frustrated. However, seeing Li Kuan's face, which resembled that of a certain woman, his anger dissipated. He just sighed and got out of the carriage.

Li Kuan followed closely, and Changsun was waiting at the door. Behind him were Yang Fei, Yin Fei, Wei Fei, and others, as well as Li Chenggan, Li Ke, Li Tai, and other young princes. A few young girls, including Li Lizhi, were also there.

These people were there to welcome Li Er, as there would be a banquet at the Qin王府 that night, a gathering of the Tiance Mansion, so all of Li Er's wives and children would attend.

The Li family had Xianbei blood, so their lifestyle was similar to the Xianbei. Unlike Han banquets where only men attended and women did not meet guests, the Xianbei brought their wives and children to show respect to their guests, the highest form of courtesy.

This was evident even in the Three Kingdoms period: When Lü Bu invited Liu Bei and Guan Yu, he, being from Bingzhou, had a custom similar to the Xianbei. During the banquet, Diaochan accompanied them, but Liu Bei thought Lü Bu was looking down on him by having a woman at the table. Liu Bei didn't say anything but hated Lü Bu. Guan Yu thought Lü Bu was using a beauty trap to confuse his brother, and he hated Diaochan. Later, when Diaochan fell into Cao Cao's hands, Guan Yu, who was in Cao Cao's camp but loyal to Liu Bei, was given Diaochan, leading to the story of Guan Yu slaying Diaochan under the moonlight. Of course, there are different versions of this story, but this is one perspective.