Chapter 29: The Azure Sparrow Eager to Claim Credit

The ministers could not believe that Li Shimin had agreed so readily. This was no child's play; should anything go wrong, what would become of the dignity of the Great Tang, and what would become of the dignity of the Emperor himself? More importantly, how would they deal with the Turks in the future? Would they truly have to offer tribute and submit as vassals? These insulting demands were something that not even a normal emperor would accept, let alone the "Heavenly Qaghan," Li Shimin. The ministers were bewildered as to why Li Shimin had agreed; it felt profoundly bizarre, and they were completely unable to fathom the situation.

Zhangsun Wuji, in particular, sensed that something was amiss. He hurriedly stepped forward, knelt on the ground, and pleaded in a mournful tone, "Your Majesty, you must not. This is the imperial court; how can this be treated as a game? Once His Highness the Crown Prince..." He did not finish his sentence, but Li Shimin understood his implication. Should the Crown Prince fail, the consequences would be unthinkable.

"Minister Zhangsun, please rise. I have already consulted with the Crown Prince, and I have chosen to trust him." Li Shimin waved his hand, while secretly casting a glance at Zhangsun Wuji.

Zhangsun Wuji, however, was as stubborn as a mule; once he had made up his mind, he was set in his ways. "Your Majesty, I strongly advise you to retract your decree while there is still time." Zhangsun Wuji remained kneeling, looking at Li Shimin with expectant eyes.

"The monarch and ministers of the Great Tang are truly interesting. Is there no one who can take charge here? If not, we shall step out and return once you have finished your deliberations." The leader of the Turkic envoys grew impatient, his tone sharpening.

Li Shimin’s face flushed red, the heat spreading to his neck. "I have said that I accept this wager. Let there be no further discussion!" Li Shimin spoke with irritation, turning his back to the court.

Zhangsun Wuji opened his mouth, intending to say more, when a large hand suddenly patted his shoulder. "Do not worry, Uncle. I have confidence and certainty. Just watch." The voice was low, yet steady and resonant. Zhangsun Wuji recognized it as Li Chengqian’s.

Thus, Zhangsun Wuji hurriedly kowtowed toward Li Shimin. "Yes, Your Majesty. I obey your decree."

"Rise and step aside." Li Shimin turned around and placed his jade ruyi on the table.

"Yes, Your Majesty." Zhangsun Wuji stood up, feeling rebuffed, and retreated to the side.

"Envoys of the Turks, did you hear that? My father has agreed. Do you still dare to go through with this wager?" Li Chengqian turned to face the Turkic envoys, his face full of confidence.

"We dare not? What a joke! When have we Turks ever been afraid?" The leader of the Turkic envoys shook his head and agreed immediately.

"Words are not enough. Do you dare to put this in writing?" Li Chengqian waved his hand, and attendants quickly brought pen and paper.

"We shall write it!" The leader of the Turkic envoys was instantly incited by the challenge.

"Uncle, I must trouble you to draft this document." Li Chengqian picked up the paper and handed it to Zhangsun Wuji.

"Yes, Your Highness. I am honored to serve." Zhangsun Wuji hurriedly agreed, took up the brush, and began to write. Before long, he finished and handed the document to Li Chengqian, bowing deeply, "Your Highness, does this meet with your approval?"

"Let me see." Li Chengqian took the document from Zhangsun Wuji, examined it carefully, and nodded. "Uncle is truly a man of great talent; I am very satisfied."

"I am glad you are satisfied, Your Highness. This is merely my duty." Zhangsun Wuji blushed slightly, smiled, and bowed to Li Chengqian.

"Thank you, Uncle."

Li Chengqian then took the document and handed it to the Turkic envoys. "Come, you ignorant envoys of the Turks, take a look. How is this?"

The Turkic envoy snatched the document, glanced at it haphazardly, and expressed his satisfaction. "Fine, no problem." In truth, the envoy had barely looked at it, declaring it acceptable after a mere glance.

"Good. Then sign it and press your thumbprints." Li Chengqian said, bringing over the ink paste.

"Sign and thumbprint? Very well!" The Turkic envoy approached and, without a moment's hesitation, signed and pressed his prints. Li Chengqian then stepped forward and did the same for both copies.

"This document must have a witness. It shall be kept by the witness until the outcome is decided," the Turkic envoy said, suddenly looking up.

"That is simple. I shall keep it." Zhangsun Wuji said, reaching for the documents.

"You? In such a massive wager, can you be held responsible?" The Turkic envoy cast a look of disdain at him.

"Then what do you suggest?" Zhangsun Wuji asked, feeling helpless.

"Let the Great Tang Emperor keep it. That is best," the Turkic envoy blurted out.

Zhangsun Wuji froze in his tracks.

"Very well. Bring it here; I shall keep it safe." Li Shimin waved his hand, agreeing immediately.

"Good. If the Great Tang Emperor keeps it, I am at ease." The Turkic envoy nodded with great satisfaction. The guards brought the documents and placed them respectfully on the table before Li Shimin.

Li Shimin secured the documents and looked quietly at Li Chengqian and the Turkic envoy.

"Your Highness, you may speak now. It is all written in black and white on the paper." The leader of the Turkic envoys glanced at Li Chengqian with utter contempt. He did not believe for a moment that Li Chengqian possessed such knowledge. He had gone to great lengths to purchase this animal from a merchant. Li Chengqian was merely a Crown Prince of the Great Tang; how could he possibly recognize this creature, let alone have the audacity to claim he knew its origins and habits? It was laughable. The envoy was triumphant, convinced that Li Chengqian could not possibly succeed. He never imagined that a slap to the face would come so quickly, nor did he know that the Li Chengqian standing before him was not the original, but a soul from a future era—one who knew more about this animal, and indeed the habits of the Turks, than they knew themselves.

"Ignorant and arrogant, like a frog in a well!"

Li Chengqian smiled faintly, took two steps forward, and said in a clear voice, "The name of this animal is not a 'Holy Sheep,' nor is it a camel, nor a sheep. It is an alpaca!"

Li Chengqian’s voice was not loud, but everyone in the great hall heard him clearly. The smiles on the faces of the Turkic envoys, who had been laughing and mocking, froze instantly. They could not believe that the name of this animal had come from Li Chengqian’s lips. Even among the Turks, few recognized this creature; they had brought it here under the orders of their Qaghan, who had explicitly stated that the people of the Great Tang would never know what it was. Yet, here it was, named by Li Chengqian on the spot.

The expressions of the Turkic envoys changed instantly, their faces twisting in disbelief. They refused to accept it.

"Yo... Your Highness... you..." The leader of the Turkic envoys could no longer speak clearly, his eyes wide with trembling shock.

"Whatever you wish to ask, feel free. If there is anything I do not know, I shall concede the victory to you."

"How... how do you know this?" The Turkic envoys were all struck with astonishment; their leader was now pale as a sheet. They realized they had lost, and lost thoroughly.

"That is simple. I possess the gift of foresight, and I can even deduce how you obtained this creature," Li Chengqian said calmly, his face composed.

"Can you... can you tell us its origins? If you can explain where this animal comes from, we shall be convinced of our defeat." The Turkic envoy, unwilling to give up, tried to challenge him further.

"Its origins?" Li Chengqian scoffed. "If I did not know its origins, how could I have known its name?"

At this moment, it was not just the Turkic envoys who were stunned, but also Li Tai, who stood nearby. Li Tai was deeply frustrated, for he already knew the answer. The answer Li Chengqian had given—that it was an alpaca, differing from his own "Holy Sheep" by only one character—was a world of difference. Li Chengqian was stealing the spotlight, while he was losing face.

"I am not convinced! He is merely lucky," Li Tai thought. He stepped forward, looked at Li Chengqian, and said coldly, "Indeed, Your Highness, the envoys are right. As I said earlier, it is a 'Holy Sheep'; it only differs from your answer by one character. And this creature does look quite holy, so calling it a 'Holy Sheep' is not unreasonable."

Watching Li Tai step forward, eager to prove himself, Li Chengqian found it amusing. "The 'Holy Sheep' you spoke of was merely a guess. Do you know its origins? Or, to go a step further, do you know the habits and characteristics of this alpaca?"

Thinking of this, Li Chengqian’s eyes widened as he turned to Li Tai. "Qingque, is it your place to interrupt when I am speaking?"

"Your Highness, I only wish to share the burden for our Father. You and I are both his sons; why can you speak, while I must remain in the shadows?" Li Tai’s face was filled with resentment. Recently, he had been competing in everything; he no longer wanted to hide behind Li Chengqian.

The Turkic envoys nearby suddenly felt a flicker of hope. Seeing the brothers infighting was their chance. They hadn't lost completely yet; Li Chengqian had only named it. He had not yet touched upon its habits or its habitat.

"If that is the case, Qingque, I shall ask you: since you are so bold, does this alpaca have any other names?" Li Chengqian looked at Li Tai calmly and sternly.

"This..." Li Tai stood frozen, stammering, unable to provide an answer.