CHANG'AN: THE ROYAL CAPITAL
The Dragon Temple stood on the outskirts of Chang'an on Mount Taiping, from which the dynasty took its name, on Qinling Shan (shan means mountain, so basically Qinling mountain). Unlike other temples on the same mountain, this was reserved for the royal family. Two thousand and twenty-six steps led up to the enormous gate of the temple. Two equally large golden dragon guardian statues stood before the gates. Inside the temple was unadorned and elegant, exuding peace and promoting relaxation with the assortment of flowers and medicinal plants.
The Dragon Temple had two sections: the inner courtyard and the outer courtyard. The outer courtyard was for ordinary royal family members and others with relationships with the royal family, while the inner courtyard was for the main royal family. It was precisely in the inner courtyard that Emperor Zhongzong was having his retreat.
At the moment, Emperor Zhongzong sat cross-legged in meditation. Who knew what the emperor was doing in the Dragon Temple? Maybe he had demons he had to cleanse? These questions were asked internally by Princess Royal Li Rouxue.
*Remember, I introduced the Princess Royal in Chapter 1. She is the daughter of the empress, and biological sister to the eldest prince, Li Guangda.
Her eyes went to Lord Qing Jun, who was leisurely sipping tea. After weighing him seriously, she had to admit that power looked good on him. But anything given by the emperor came with too many cons. This made her grateful for her brother's personality and, at the same time, worried.
After a short while, Lord Qing Jun spoke up, "Your majesty, these are the military reports from the northern border."
Emperor Zhongzong nodded and said, "Speak up."
Lord Qing Jun put down the scroll, "From all the reports sent from the border in the past three years, I have noticed that there is a decrease in the number of skirmishes compared to the years back."
The emperor raised an eyebrow. "Oh? Isn't that a good thing?"
"It seems too good to be true; maybe there is a conspiracy somewhere."
"Maybe the eldest prince's tactics are working and the northerners are losing morale," Li Rouxue cut in immediately, "or perhaps the northerners are going through some kind of internal unrest."
Lord Qing Jun turned to her as he refilled his teacup. "Your second guess is plausible; however, I can't agree with your first guess; we all know what the eldest prince is like."
"If you truly know what my brother's personality is, then what were you trying to suggest with the 'there is a conspiracy somewhere', huh?"
Emperor Zhongzong slowly opened his eyes and adjusted himself into a comfortable position. "If you came here to argue, please leave; you are already disrupting my beauty rest."
Lord Qing Jun stood up and bowed to their father. "Your majesty, I ask that you send me to the northern border to figure things out."
"How very convenient for you, second brother. What will happen to the capital if you leave? You seem to have forgotten FuWang is in retreat, and you are regent." Li Rouxue scoffed and turned to the emperor. "Your majesty, I suggest that you send the fourth prince, Li Jun, instead. Our didi will be turning fourteen soon; it is imperative that he gain some experience."
*Didi means younger brother.
Lord Qing Jun still sipped his tea leisurely, but Li Rouxue noticed his knuckles had turned white. "That is inappropriate; Jun'er is just twelve."
"Why is it that Li Jun regresses in age every year? Last year, he was thirteen; this year, he is twelve. Are you trying to play his majesty?" Li Rouxue asked.
Emperor Zhongzong raised a hand to silence them; he could care less if his last son was twelve or ten. He gestured to his head, eunuch, who was sometime ago, and he appeared with a decree and his royal stamp, with which he would stamp the decree. As he saw the official robes his head eunuch wore, he remembered the old head eunuch who had escaped his grasp years ago. "Eunuch Liu."
"Yes, your majesty."
"Tell the head monk to provide you with their attire; your uniform presents a sore sight."
"Yes, your majesty." Eunuch Liu bowed and retreated backward.
Emperor Zhongzong signed the decree amidst Lord Qing Jun's pleas and handed it over to the Princess Royal to be announced at the morning assembly. Then he ordered someone to see them out and bar the door.
Princess Roayl Li Rouxue exited the temple after the distraught Lord Qing Jun had been carried out. "Congratulations, your highness. You have successfully separated Lord Qing Jun from his brother," her trusted maid servant, Zhou Bing, praised.
Li Rouxue sighed. "It is not that simple. Li Qing knew he would not be allowed to leave the capital, but he still wanted control over the border, so he used me to send his brother there."
Zhoui Bing paled. "Then that is..."
Li Rouxue smiled and said, "There is no problem; having Li Jun at the border aligns with my plans. Li Qing thinks he understands us well, but he forgot that people change, especially someone he had not seen in three years."
At the northern border, on an outpost close to the defense walls, was a tall, strong man surveying the distant tents beyond the horizon. A pigeon flew towards the outpost and circled around a bit before perching. The tall man grabbed the bird and removed the small tube from its feet before releasing it. He removed a piece of paper from the tube and looked at it before throwing it into the fire. Throughout the motions, not once did the man's expression change; his eyes looked dead in the glare of the fire.