Chapter 129: Life Is Like a Play

On this day, Li Longji, the Prince of Linzi, invited the court officials to a theatrical performance at the Pear Garden. It was said that the play had been written by Li Longji himself, and that he would take to the stage to perform the grand finale.

Had any other prince extended such an invitation, the civil and military officials would have hesitated. They might have declined, citing urgent matters, as private meetings between princes and high-ranking officials were a major taboo that could easily provoke the suspicion of the Empress Dowager Wei. But Li Longji was different; he was known throughout the capital as a dissolute prince with a passion for theater and music. It was rumored that he had even established an acting troupe within the Pear Garden, where he would personally paint his face to teach the performers.

Who could fear a man like that? Thus, the Empress Dowager Wei felt at ease with him, and the officials were more than happy to attend—why not enjoy a play and flatter the prince at the same time?

As the wine flowed and dusk settled, Li Longji ordered lanterns to be lit, flooding the Pear Garden with light. After the percussionists finished a thunderous overture, the play began. Various actors and actresses took their turns on stage, interspersed with performances by Western Region fire-breathers. The show was magnificent, leaving the audience dazzled and full of praise.

When the hour of the Pig (between 9:00 PM and 11:00 PM) arrived, Li Longji stepped onto the stage and bowed deeply to the audience. As a prince of the imperial blood, no one dared to receive his bow; the officials scrambled to their feet to return the gesture.

Li Longji laughed and said, "It is a great honor that you all could come to support me today." The officials replied in unison, "Your Highness is too kind; how could we dare not to come?"

Li Longji waved his hand and said, "Do not speak; simply listen to how this song is sung. I dare not say it is the greatest of all time, but it is certainly unprecedented. Please, sit and enjoy." With that, Li Longji stepped off the stage. Eunuchs quickly extinguished the lanterns, plunging the stage into total darkness. The officials whispered among themselves, "How are we supposed to watch a play in such darkness?"

Someone whispered, "This prince’s actions are always unpredictable. Perhaps there will be a new spectacle once the lights come back on." As they spoke, a sharp, wailing voice cried out from the stage: "I have failed the late Emperor! I deserve to die a thousand deaths!"

The crowd was stunned. "What play is this? We have never heard of such a script." Amidst their confusion, the man on stage continued to wail: "I followed the orders of Princess Anle to seek out the Yin Bone Lily from the Western Regions, along with peacock bile and crane-crest poison. I even procured the wondrous incense powder from the Miao border regions and entrusted a master perfumer to create the Soul-Severing Incense. That day, Princess Anle took advantage of the late Emperor’s bath to offer the incense. The Emperor only smelled it once and immediately passed away. Fearing that the Princess would silence me, I fled the palace that very night. Only a few days ago was I captured by the Prince. I deserve to die!"

Suddenly, the lights flared up. The crowd finally saw clearly: kneeling on the stage was Liu Bin, the former personal eunuch of Princess Anle. The officials were seized with shock and terror.

Li Longji strode back onto the stage, sneering coldly: "The Empress Dowager Wei and Princess Anle have murdered the Emperor and usurped the throne. With both human and material evidence at hand, who dares to deny it!"

Among the officials, some of Empress Wei’s loyalists realized the situation was dire and tried to slip away, only to find the area tightly surrounded by the Imperial Guards. There was nowhere to run. A large group of men in black, wielding blades, moved in to make arrests according to a list. These men were ruthless; those who resisted were cut down on the spot. Within moments, all of the Empress's partisans had been apprehended.

Li Longji shouted, "Gentlemen! Tonight is the night we eradicate the traitorous Wei clan and restore the Li Tang dynasty. I intend to lead my troops into the palace. Who is with me?" The officials raised their arms and roared, "We shall follow your lead, Your Highness!"

Xue Chongjian, who had been waiting nearby on horseback, immediately ordered the Imperial Guards to march toward Daming Palace.

At the Suzhang Gate, General Ma Sicong paced anxiously. He had received secret orders from Li Longji to launch the coup that night and had been waiting in readiness. Because Buddhist rituals were being held in the palace, monks were frequently entering and exiting, leading Empress Wei to order that the Suzhang and Xuanwu Gates remain open until the hour of the Rat (11:00 PM) to accommodate them.

Strategically, the Suzhang Gate stood in front and the Xuanwu Gate behind; once past the Suzhang, it was but three miles to the Xuanwu Gate, which led directly into the heart of the palace. The walls of the Xuanwu Gate were exceptionally high; once locked, even an army of thousands could not break through. It was at this very gate that Li Chongjun had failed in his past attempt. The success of this uprising hinged entirely on passing through the Xuanwu Gate, which in turn depended on perfect timing.

The gate was guarded by Wei Bo and Gao Song, both loyalists of the Wei faction, skilled in archery and horsemanship, and formidable foes. Li Longji had strictly set the timing for the transition between the hour of the Pig and the hour of the Rat—the moment the guards would be at their most relaxed. Any delay, and the gates would be locked, sealing their fate as rebels to be executed.

As time ticked away, Ma Sicong’s heart felt as if it were about to stop. Just then, a dull, thunderous sound echoed from afar—the sound of horseshoes muffled by thick felt cloth striking the stone road. Li Longji’s trusted generals, Xue Chongjian and Liu Youqiu, arrived with the cavalry right on schedule. Ma Sicong breathed a sigh of relief and ordered his infantry to march toward the Xuanwu Gate. Xue and Liu followed at a steady pace; galloping was forbidden in the imperial city, and they dared not let the sound of hooves alert the guards.

The three-mile distance passed quickly. As they reached the gate, Wei Bo and Gao Song happened to be riding out for their final patrol before locking the gates for the night.

Ma Sicong prayed, "Heaven, protect me!" Seeing Ma Sicong approach with his men, Wei Bo grew suspicious and shouted, "General Ma, you are supposed to be on duty at the Suzhang Gate—why are you here?"

Ma Sicong cried out, "By the Empress Dowager’s decree, I have come to retrieve the Buddha’s bone relic from Baochang Temple!" Wei Bo turned to Gao Song and asked, "Brother, I know nothing of this. Have you heard anything?"

Before Gao Song could answer, the infantry parted like a tide. Xue Chongjian and Liu Youqiu charged forward like lightning, their blades flashing. Gao Song screamed, "It’s a trap! They mean to—"

Before he could finish, Liu Youqiu’s spear pierced him, knocking him from his horse, and a second strike ended his life. Shocked, Wei Bo swung his gilded axe at Liu Youqiu, only to be blocked by Xue Chongjian’s blade. Knowing that Wei Bo was a master of the axe and would be unstoppable once he found his rhythm, Liu Youqiu lunged with his spear, thrusting directly at his chest.