I, Am a Living Yama; Empress Advises Me to Stay Calm

Li Shimin’s breathing grew rapid, his eyes turning bloodshot. Could this really be retribution?
Fighting to control his anger, he demanded coldly, “Where is the Crown Prince?”
The guard trembled. “The Crown Prince was overcome with grief and fainted.”
Li Shimin’s vision darkened, his eye twitched uncontrollably, and his head spun. He bit the tip of his tongue, forcing himself to stay clear-headed.
“And Prince Wei?”
The guard whispered, “He returned to his residence.”
“Beast, and he still had the nerve to return home so calmly.” Li Shimin’s eyes turned a deeper shade of red, his gaze as sharp as a blade. “Someone, bring Prince Wei to me immediately.”
“Yes!” the guards responded in unison.
Half an hour later, Li Tai was dragged before him. He looked at his father in utter confusion. The guards had stormed into his residence without explanation, seizing him before he could understand what was happening.
They had ignored his protests the entire way.
“Father, I—” Before he could finish, a heavy slap struck his face.
A sharp
echoed in the hall. Li Tai let out a pained cry as he tumbled to the ground. His face stung, his mind reeled, and when he looked up at his father, he saw nothing but fury.
Li Shimin stood over him, eyes cold and piercing.
“Why did you kill your elder brother’s son, Li Jue?”
The question stunned him. He looked at his father in disbelief.
“What are you saying? When did I ever kill Li Jue?”
Li Shimin’s rage became almost tangible, his breath quick and ragged. His bloodshot eyes bore into Li Tai.
“You claim you never laid a hand on him?”
Li Tai hesitated, his throat tightening. “I… I did touch him, but—”
Before he could explain, Li Shimin’s fury erupted. He took several swift steps forward and kicked Li Tai viciously.
Li Tai let out a gut-wrenching scream as the force of the kick sent him flying. He rolled across the floor, coughing up blood. Having lived a life of luxury, he had never suffered such a blow before. His body ached, his mind spun in desperation.
“Father, I swear I didn’t kill Li Jue!”
Li Shimin halted, his expression dark with fury and grief.
“Li Jue was suffocated. After you left, the palace maids found him dead.” His voice grew even colder. “If it wasn’t you, are you suggesting your elder brother did it?”
Li Tai’s pupils contracted, and he fell silent.
Suffocated? He hadn’t harmed Li Jue at all. Yet, when he thought back to their argument, his mind became chaotic. Li Jue had been in his arms the entire time. Could he have accidentally smothered him without realizing it?
Or… was it possible that Li Chengqian had done it and framed him? Would his brother truly be capable of killing his own son?
His expression flickered between confusion and horror.
Li Shimin watched his silence and saw it as confirmation. His heart burned with grief and rage. He closed his eyes, voice heavy with pain.
“How did I raise a son like you?” His hands clenched into fists. “I’ve spoiled you too much.”
A shudder ran through Li Tai. He scrambled forward, clutching his father’s leg.
“Father, I’m innocent! It must have been my brother! He must have smothered Li Jue and framed me!”
Nearby, Fang Xuanling, Du Ruhui, and Wei Zheng frowned, unable to remain silent. The palace maids had seen Prince Wei argue with the Crown Prince and storm out of the Eastern Palace. Now, he was not only admitting he had touched the imperial grandson, but also accusing Li Chengqian of the murder.
To twist truth and lies so shamelessly—how could a father possibly smother his own child? Prince Wei’s character was beyond contempt.
Li Shimin’s expression turned colder, his jaw tightening as his already sharp features twisted with rage. His breath came hard and fast, his lips quivering with fury. He fixed Li Tai with a gaze full of disappointment and pain.
Then, without warning, he kicked him again.
Li Tai let out another agonized scream as he crashed against the threshold, rolling several times before coming to a stop.
His father’s voice rang through the hall, as cold as death.
“From this day forth, you are never to set foot in Chang’an again. You will go to Bazhou.”
His voice grew harsher, more resolute. “I decree that Prince Wei, Li Tai, has lost all virtue. He is to be banished to Bazhou as a commoner, never again allowed in Chang’an.”
Li Tai clutched his chest, his face twisting in despair. Being stripped of his title, his status, his very identity—this was a fate worse than death. He wailed, his body shaking uncontrollably.
The ministers exchanged glances. The struggle for the throne had just lost one contender. Prince Wei was finished.
The guards stepped forward and dragged him away. His desperate cries echoed down the corridors, fading into the distance.
Li Shimin’s vision darkened. His body swayed. Then, without warning, he collapsed.
“Your Majesty!” The ministers rushed forward in alarm.
Wu Zhao’s phoenix eyes gleamed with contempt. “Your plan worked. Li Chengqian turned out to be utterly ruthless.”
She despised people like him—men who would even abandon their own children for the sake of power.
Across from her, Yang Yi arched an eyebrow. “He’s a man of extremes—both arrogant and deeply insecure.”
“From the esteemed Crown Prince of Tang to a crippled outcast, then a male concubine, and now a man masquerading as a Turk. Time and again, he has enraged and disappointed Li Shimin.”
A faint smile played on Yang Yi’s lips. “From the heights of power to the depths of disgrace, yet his hunger for power remains insatiable.
“Such a man will either become utterly broken or a madman willing to do anything for the throne.” His tone was laced with certainty. “I have no doubt that he will take the bait.”
Wu Zhao’s heart trembled. Her gaze on Yang Yi deepened.
This man had predicted Li Chengqian’s every move.
She pursed her lips. “You helped him get rid of Li Tai. Do you want him to secure the Crown Prince’s position and eventually become emperor? Then, once he’s in power, you’ll use this secret to blackmail him into sacrificing Tang’s interests for Great Zhou?”
Yang Yi blinked in mild surprise before chuckling.
“Your Majesty thinks too highly of me. Am I really that sinister?”
Wu Zhao said nothing, her dark lashes fluttering slightly, as if answering him in silent amusement.
Yang Yi’s smile deepened. He shook his head. “Threats only work while Li Shimin is alive. Once Li Chengqian becomes emperor, leverage like this will be meaningless.”
Wu Zhao frowned. “You have a point.” Then, narrowing her eyes, she mused, “But if he’s only the Crown Prince, he can’t help Zhou on a national scale. Are you simply going to let him go?”
Yang Yi’s grin widened. “Of course not. A mere Li Chengqian is not worth my effort.”
“Your Majesty seems to have forgotten—I said I would bring chaos to the Tang Dynasty. Tang can survive without Li Chengqian, but it cannot survive without Li Shimin.” His voice dropped to a whisper. “Li Chengqian is a blade I’ve planted. Sooner or later, it will pierce Li Shimin’s heart.”
Wu Zhao inhaled sharply, her eyes widening.
She suddenly recalled something—when Li Chengqian had left Luoyang, Yang Yi had promised to bring another Xuanwu Gate incident to Tang.
Now, she realized, he had been preparing for that moment all along.
This man had never been interested in Li Chengqian. His real target had always been Li Shimin.
A chill ran down her spine. Her mind stirred with unease and admiration.
This man truly lived up to the title of the “Most Poisonous Strategist Under Heaven.”
She tilted her head slightly, deep in thought.
Perhaps she should reconsider Shangguan Wan’er’s suggestion.