Emperor Xuanzong, darkened by wrath, convened an emergency council in the hallowed Xuanzheng Hall. Summoning Chancellor Zhang Jiuling, Minister Li Linfu, and an assemblage of his most trusted advisors, he delivered his decree with the gravitas of a storm breaking over the horizon: the Crown Prince, along with the Princes E and Guang, were to be stripped of their titles and cast from grace.

　　Zhang Jiuling knelt, pressing his forehead to the cold floor, and spoke with unwavering sincerity:

　　“Your Majesty, for nearly thirty years you have graced the throne, and throughout this time, the Crown Prince and the Princes have remained within the depths of the palace, daily receiving Your Majesty’s sacred teachings. The people of the realm rejoice in the long years of your reign and the flourishing prosperity of your sons and heirs. Now, these three have come of age, and none have committed any grave transgression. How, then, could Your Majesty, on the basis of unfounded words, in a moment of anger or delight, contemplate the complete dismissal of them all?

　　The Crown Prince is the foundation of the nation; his position must not be shaken lightly. In ages past, when Duke Xian of Jin heeded the slanders of Li Ji and executed Prince Shensheng, chaos reigned for three generations. When Emperor Wu of Han trusted the false accusations of Jiang Chong and condemned Crown Prince Ju, blood stained the streets of the capital. When Emperor Hui of Jin acted on Empress Jia’s defamation to depose Crown Prince Minhuai, the Central Plains fell into ruin. And when Emperor Wen of Sui heeded Empress Dugu’s persuasion to depose Crown Prince Yong in favor of Yang Guang, the empire itself was lost.

　　From these precedents, it is clear that such matters demand the utmost caution. If Your Majesty is resolute in this course of action, then I, your humble servant, dare not comply.”

　　Li Linfu remained silent throughout the court session, his face betraying no emotion. Yet, once the assembly had dispersed, he confided to Gao Lishi in private, “This is a matter of the Emperor’s household—why should outsiders meddle?”

　　After the court adjourned, Emperor Xuanzong found himself wavering, his mind clouded with indecision. Meanwhile, Consort Wu Hui, seeking to draw Zhang Jiuling into her fold, secretly dispatched Niu Guier to the chancellor’s residence. Approaching Zhang Jiuling with a respectful bow, Niu Guier relayed her mistress’s veiled offer: “With every deposition comes an ascension. Should you, Chancellor, lend your hand to this endeavor, the noble Consort would ensure the longevity of your position as Prime Minister.”

　　Niu Guier thought to himself, “With Consort Wu Hui basking in imperial favor, the court officials are scrambling to curry favor with her. Even someone as upright as Zhang Jiuling would surely not dare to offend her. Now that I’ve been sent to deliver her message, Zhang Jiuling will undoubtedly recognize the wisdom of submission.”

　　Little did he expect that Zhang Jiuling, unyielding in his integrity, would defy all fear of power and influence. Not only did he rebuke Niu Guier with stern words, but he also reported the incident directly to Emperor Xuanzong. Deeply moved by Zhang Jiuling’s unwavering loyalty, the Emperor abandoned his plan to depose the Crown Prince and replace him with Prince Shou.

　　Yet Consort Wu Hui was not one to concede defeat so easily. In secret, she dispatched Niu Guier to the residence of Li Linfu, bearing a calculated message:

　　“Minister Li, you and Zhang Jiuling have long been at odds. His Majesty once expressed an interest in appointing you as Chancellor, but Zhang Jiuling obstinately opposed the idea. Every candidate you have recommended has been maligned by him. Most recently, he even orchestrated the demotion of your nominee, Vice Minister of Revenue Xiao Jiong, to the minor post of Prefect of Qizhou.

　　As long as Zhang Jiuling remains in power, I fear there will be no path forward for you. However, our noble Consort has always valued true talent and stands ready to support your rise to the chancellorship—on the condition that Zhang Jiuling is removed from office.”

　　Li Linfu had long harbored resentment toward Zhang Jiuling, who seemed to overshadow him at every turn. Now, with Consort Wu Hui offering her support to eliminate this thorn in his side, the opportunity was simply too perfect to pass up. He promptly instructed Niu Guier to relay his response to the Consort: “Linfu is honored to shoulder this burden for Her Ladyship.”

　　Zhang Jiuling, known for his forthrightness, often opposed Emperor Xuanzong’s will with unflinching counsel. On one occasion, the Emperor sought to promote Niu Xianke, the Military Governor of Shuofang, to the position of Minister. Zhang Jiuling resolutely objected, forcing the Emperor to relent and propose a compromise: “Then may we at least confer upon him an honorary title with a fief?”

　　Zhang Jiuling, steadfast in his refusal, remained unmoved by the Emperor’s offer. Xuanzong, his anger smoldering but unspoken, withheld his wrath. Meanwhile, Li Linfu, ever vigilant, kept a watchful eye on even the smallest missteps of Zhang Jiuling, reporting them to the Emperor day and night. Slowly, over time, Emperor Xuanzong began to distance himself more and more from Zhang Jiuling.

　　Consort Wu Hui, from within the imperial harem, whispered malicious rumors, tarnishing Zhang Jiuling’s reputation by suggesting that he had formed an alliance with the Crown Prince, engaging in covert schemes. Emperor Xuanzong, ever sensitive to the idea of ministers forming ties with imperial heirs, was quick to believe the worst of such accusations, preferring to trust the rumor rather than dismiss it.

　　This suspicion was deeply rooted in the history of the Tang Dynasty. Since the time of Emperor Taizong, with the infamous Xuanwu Gate Incident, the Tang court had witnessed numerous struggles for the throne. Even Xuanzong’s own ascension had been secured through two political upheavals. As a result, he harbored an acute fear of the very same treachery that had once threatened his own reign, and thus, the idea of such a conspiracy seemed all too plausible.

　　Zhang Jiuling’s close friend, Yan Ting, had seen his former wife remarried to Wang Yuanyan, the Prefect of Weizhou. That year, Wang Yuanyan was investigated by the Three Departments for charges of embezzlement. In an attempt to save his ex-wife, Yan Ting sought to intercede on Wang Yuanyan’s behalf, sending someone to the Three Departments to plead for his pardon.

　　Seizing the opportunity, Li Linfu, ever scheming, instructed his informants within the palace to quietly bring this matter to the attention of Emperor Xuanzong.

　　Emperor Xuanzong summoned Zhang Jiuling and brought up the matter of Yan Ting. Zhang Jiuling replied, “This concerns Yan Ting’s former wife, with whom he has no further ties; there should be no emotion involved.”

　　The Emperor, his displeasure evident, retorted sharply, “Though they may have parted, there remains an illicit connection.”

　　Consort Wu Hui had already sown discord by accusing Zhang Jiuling of conspiring with the Crown Prince. In addition, there were numerous instances where Zhang Jiuling had openly defied the Emperor’s wishes, most notably his refusal to promote Niu Xianke and others. These offenses, both old and new, weighed heavily against him.

　　Emperor Xuanzong, suspicious of the alliance between Pei Yaoqing and Zhang Jiuling, issued an imperial edict. He appointed Pei Yaoqing as the Left Chancellor and Zhang Jiuling as the Right Chancellor, while simultaneously stripping them of all governmental duties. Li Linfu was appointed as the Chancellor of the Central Secretariat, and Niu Xianke was named Minister of Works.

　　Yan Ting was demoted to the position of Prefect of Mingzhou, while Wang Yuanyan was exiled to Lingnan.

　　Upon assuming power, Li Linfu, having already surmised Emperor Xuanzong’s intentions regarding the deposing of the Crown Prince, sought to prevent any interference from the court officials. Fearing that the censors might speak out, he seized the opportunity to manipulate the Emperor’s perception.

　　In an audacious move, Li Linfu gathered the censors and issued a blunt command: “The wise ruler reigns above, and the ministers should be too occupied with their duties to speak of anything else. Do you not see the punishment of those who speak out of turn? You are fed and clothed by the state; a single word of dissent will see you dismissed, and any regret will come too late.”

　　Du Xin had once submitted a memorial to address matters of the state, only to be demoted the following day to the post of Prefect of Xia Gui. From that moment on, his path of counsel was effectively closed.

　　Li Linfu, having entrenched himself within the Ministry of Personnel, ensured that even the most talented or diligent officials were often relegated to routine postings, their prospects of promotion forever stifled. Meanwhile, those who flattered with sweet words, or who engaged in bribery and underhanded schemes, were regularly promoted beyond their merits, rising through the ranks despite their dishonorable ways.

　　That year, Yang Muzhi was seventeen years old and wished to take the imperial examination. He spoke to his father, saying, “The court is overrun with treacherous officials, while loyal ministers and capable generals are all relegated to obscurity. Those with talent and ability are denied promotion, while those who flatter and engage in bribery are the ones who rise. Even if I succeed in the examination this year, what will it matter?”

　　Yang Muzhi’s father replied, “Since the days of the ancient emperors Yao and Shun, throughout China’s thousands of years, periods of peace and prosperity for the common people have rarely lasted more than a few decades. The rest have been marked by war, famine, and suffering. Li Linfu, though his words are sweet yet his heart treacherous, and though he removes his rivals, is nonetheless adept in governance. In his administration, he maintains order, enforces laws carefully, and upholds discipline. There are no factional struggles in the court, and the people are well-fed and clothed.

　　The current emperor is a sage ruler, leading the empire to an unprecedented golden age, the likes of which have never been seen before. As scholars, it is our duty to serve the country. Though the government may have its flaws, we should not demand perfection. Even the moon has its phases of waxing and waning, so how can we expect the same of the court?”

　　“Father, your teachings are wise,” Yang Muzhi replied. “I have studied the I Ching and understand that nothing in the world is without its limits. Thus, I accept the principle of ‘Wei Ji,’ which teaches that even the unfinished must ultimately reach its end.” He nodded thoughtfully, his words reflecting both respect and contemplation.

　　Upon arriving in Silla, Huang Mengliang was escorted by the elder to meet Park Won-jeong, the renowned master of the Silla art of disguise. The elder requested that Park treat the scars on Huang’s face.

　　Huang Mengliang, though unable to understand the conversation between the elder and Park, which was laced with “Silmida” and “Ibunika,” could tell from Park’s gestures—waving his hands and shaking his head—that the master was unwilling to help him with his scar.

　　Huang Mengliang suddenly dropped to his knees before Park Won-jeong and pleaded, “Master Park, I beg you, show me your great compassion and treat the scars on my face. If it is truly beyond your ability, I implore you to give me a mask, one identical to that of Emperor Li Longji of the Tang Dynasty. I shall return to the China, find a way to enter the palace, assassinate the emperor, and take his place.”

　　Upon hearing this, Park Won-jeong burst into a hearty laugh. Mixing Silla and Chinese, he said to Huang Mengliang, “You young man are quite amusing, daring to replace the Emperor of the Tang Dynasty. I wonder what motivates you to make such a bold claim? Come, tell me the reason behind this idea.”

　　Huang Mengliang recounted his story in full to Park Won-jeong, explaining his circumstances. He then added, “At first, I wanted a mask of Prince Shou’s face. After returning to China, I planned to assassinate him and take his place, thereby securing a life with Yang Yuhuan. But upon further thought, I realized this plan was not foolproof. The prince might be executed by the emperor at any moment, and if Prince Shou loses in the struggle for the throne, the Crown Prince might have him killed.

　　It would be far more reliable to go straight for the emperor himself. By assassinating him and taking his place, I would become the most powerful person in the Tang court. At that point, if I wished to marry Yang Yuhuan, even Prince Shou would have no choice but to hand her over.”

　　Park Won-jeong chuckled and said, “Interesting, interesting! I wasn’t planning on helping you with your injury, but after hearing such an absurd scheme, I’m tempted to give it a try myself. However, you must first pledge to be my disciple. Not only will I help you heal your scars, but I will also teach you martial arts to aid in your assassination of the Emperor of the Tang. If you succeed, the Emperor of the Tang will become my disciple, and even the Heavenly Khan[ It refers to the Emperor of the Tang.] will be my disciple. I would gain much prestige!”

　　Huang Mengliang immediately bowed in gratitude. Park Won-jeong, continuing in a mix of Silla and Chinese, said, “Do not rejoice too soon. I am not going to teach you the art of disguise or make you a mask. Instead, I have been researching a new form of facial transformation. It involves using a knife on the face. I call it ‘plastic surgery’. I’ve never tested it on a living person before, but now that you’ve come to me, you’ll be my first subject. If this surgery succeeds, your face will permanently resemble that of Li Longji, and you will never be recognized again. However, since I have never performed this on a living person, the procedure is risky. If something goes wrong, your life may be in danger. So, I must ask—are you brave enough to try?”

　　Huang Mengliang, tears welling in his eyes, said, “If I cannot have Yang Yuhuan, then I might as well die. Besides, my face is already ruined; there’s little difference between living and being dead. Senior, please, treat this as a desperate gamble.”

　　“Very well, very well,” Park Won-jeong replied, his voice tinged with a hint of satisfaction. “You will stay here in Silla, and while I perform the plastic surgery, you can also practice martial arts. To make your face truly resemble Li Longji’s, I will need to operate on your face multiple times, and the wounds must heal in between. This will take at least a year, or perhaps two or three. During this time, you can focus on learning martial arts. After all, without the strength to even crush a chicken, how will you carry out an assassination?”

　　Huang Mengliang thus bowed to Park Won-jeong as his master, staying in Silla to undergo his plastic surgery while simultaneously training in martial arts. Park Won-jeong bestowed upon him the Dharma name Tianbao.

　　That year, the King of Silla passed away, and the Crown Prince, Kim Seung-gyeong, ascended to the throne.

　　When Kim Seung-gyeong was still the Crown Prince, he was particularly fond of gathering talented and unusual individuals as his retainers. Park Won-jeong, being an expert in the art of disguise, was naturally invited by the Crown Prince to become one of his esteemed guests.

　　Park Won-jeong informed Kim Seung-gyeong about the plastic surgery he was performing on his disciple, Huang Mengliang, and told him of Huang’s plan to transform his face into that of Li Longji’s, with the aim of returning to the Tang Dynasty to assassinate the emperor and take his place.

　　Kim Seung-gyeong laughed heartily. “This plan is absurd, but if it were to succeed, it would indeed be highly advantageous for our kingdom of Silla.”

　　He thought to himself, “The Tang Dynasty has always looked down on our small kingdom. My father’s name was originally Kim Longji, but because it was the same as the Tang Emperor’s, they forced him to change it, to avoid the emperor’s name. And yet, every year, Silla sends tribute to the Tang, enduring their humiliation.”

　　Kim Seung-gyeong then said to Park Won-jeong, “If your esteemed disciple succeeds, our kingdom of Silla will finally have the chance to lift its head in pride. I have already placed several spies within the Tang imperial court. At that time, they will assist your disciple in infiltrating the palace’s inner chambers.”

　　Park Won-jeong bowed deeply and said, “I, as a humble servant, thank Your Majesty on behalf of my disciple for your great kindness.”

　　This was the fourth and final time that Park Won-jeong performed surgery on Tianbao (Huang Mengliang). Once the wounds healed and the scars disappeared, Tianbao would resemble Li Longji so perfectly that even the keenest eye would be fooled.

　　To learn how Park Won-jeong performs his plastic surgery, please stay tuned for the next chapter.