17: a show of force

He grabbed Fang Xuanling's arm to steady himself.

He had lost.

In this silent confrontation, he was utterly defeated.

He couldn't stay any longer.

If he stayed, his imperial authority would be stripped bare by his own son in front of these future generals.

"Good... a very good way to train soldiers and command generals for the Great Tang!"

Li Shimin squeezed out a few words through gritted teeth, the killing intent in his eyes almost solidifying, "I hope you... always remember what you said today!"

With that, he flung his sleeve, no longer looking at Li Chengqian, and turned to stride away.

His retreating figure carried an undisguised sense of embarrassment and haste.

Fang Xuanling and Du Ruhui dared not speak, quickly bowed, and hurried after him, disappearing into the night.

It wasn't until the suffocating pressure completely dissipated that the people in the courtyard came back to life.

They gasped for air, their bodies already drenched in cold sweat, clinging to them, wet and cold.

Everyone slowly raised their heads, looking at Li Chengqian, who still stood with his hands behind his back, with a complex gaze mixed with awe, fear, and extreme adoration.

Their Crown Prince had actually... openly defied His Majesty!

And His Majesty had ultimately... retreated?

This... this was simply unheard of, unseen!

"Your... Your Highness..."

Yuchi Baolin's voice trembled. He got up and walked to Li Chengqian's side, wanting to say something, but didn't know where to start.

The sternness on Li Chengqian's face slowly faded. He patted Yuchi Baolin's shoulder and smiled faintly: "Scared?"

Yuchi Baolin was startled, then stiffened his neck and declared loudly: "Not scared! To follow Your Highness, even if it means climbing a mountain of knives or plunging into a sea of fire, Baolin will not flinch!"

"Right! We are willing to die for Your Highness!"

The others also chimed in, their voices even more fervent than before.

That scene just now, far from scaring them away, instead showed them a Crown Prince who dared to face heavenly might!

A true strongman worthy of their lives to follow!

Li Chengqian nodded with satisfaction. Just as he was about to speak, a sharp, announcing voice suddenly came from outside the palace gate.

"An imperial edict arrives—"

Everyone's hearts jumped again. The emperor, who had just left, had sent someone so quickly?

Was it to punish them?

Everyone's hearts were once again in their throats.

A ceremonial eunuch in a scarlet official robe, holding a roll of bright yellow imperial edict, quickly walked into the courtyard, escorted by a team of imperial guards.

The eunuch glanced at the scene in the courtyard, his eyes showing no fluctuation. He walked directly to Li Chengqian, unrolled the imperial edict, and read aloud in his characteristic, emotionless voice: "By the Mandate of Heaven, the Emperor decrees: Crown Prince Chengqian, concerned for the nation and diligent in military preparations, has trained generals within the Eastern Palace, forging pillars of the country. My heart is greatly pleased. I hereby bestow five hundred taels of gold as a reward. May you continue the great succession and forever secure the Great Tang's rivers and mountains. Respect this!"

"..."

"..."

As the reading ended, the entire courtyard fell into a silence even more eerie than when the emperor himself had been present.

Everyone was stunned.

Yuchi Baolin's eyes were wide, his mouth agape enough to fit an egg.

Qin Huaiyu and Luo Tong looked at each other, their faces filled with the bewilderment of "Who am I, where am I?"

A reward... a reward?

Five hundred taels of gold?

Was the emperor's murderous look just now their imagination?

What... what exactly was going on?

Li Chengqian stepped forward, calmly took the imperial edict, and said indifferently: "Your son thanks Father Emperor for his great grace."

The eunuch handed the imperial edict to him, then looked at him deeply again, bowed, and said: "Your Highness, His Majesty also has a message for you, which this servant is to deliver."

"His Majesty said, 'Well done.'"

After speaking, the eunuch bowed, then turned and quickly left with his retinue, coming and going swiftly.

In the courtyard, only a group of completely petrified young men remained, along with the heavy imperial edict radiating the glow of gold.

"Gulp."

Someone swallowed hard.

Everyone's gaze once again focused on Li Chengqian.

This time, there was no longer fear or doubt in their eyes, only a reverence akin to looking up at a Divine Being.

In their view, their Crown Prince was no longer a Mortal.

He could not only directly withstand the Son of Heaven's wrath but also, in an instant, turn a towering disaster into a magnificent imperial favor!

What unfathomable depth of mind!

What means to turn the clouds and rain with a flick of his hand!

"Your Highness... a Divine Being!"

Yuchi Baolin held back for a long time, finally squeezing out these few words through gritted teeth, his tone filled with prostrate adoration.

Li Chengqian looked at their fervent eyes, the corners of his mouth slightly upturned, but he didn't explain anything.

He knew that his father's five hundred taels of gold was not a reward.

It was a challenge.

It was a colder warning: I see through your disguise, and I know your ambition, but I won't move against you now.

I want to see what tricks you can pull.

This was far more deadly than direct punishment.

The veil of tender affection between father and son was completely torn apart tonight.

From now on, it would be a naked struggle, a contest of life and death.

Just then, a guard in black close-fitting attire, covered in dust, rushed in from outside the courtyard. His face showed anxiety as he knelt on one knee, holding up a black sealed tube with a wax seal.

A black feather was conspicuously stuck on the tube.

The highest Rank in the military, an urgent matter!

The smile on Li Chengqian's face instantly vanished, his eyes suddenly becoming sharp.

He stepped forward quickly, snatched the tube, tore open the wax seal, and pulled out a thin silk scroll.

With just a glance, his pupils sharply contracted.

"Your Highness, what's wrong?"

Qin Huaiyu, sensing the wrong atmosphere, asked anxiously.

Li Chengqian slowly raised his head, his gaze sweeping over everyone, his voice low and solemn.

"Something has happened in the north."

Northern Frontier, Yanmen Pass.