34: Questioning Li Shimin

Boom!

A myriad of thunderclaps exploded simultaneously in Li Shimin's mind.

His body swayed violently, and he instinctively took half a step back, his face turning ashen in an instant.

Xuanwu Gate!

These three words were the glory of his life, and also his lifelong nightmare.

It was the ladder by which he ascended to the pinnacle of power, and also a wound in his heart that would never heal.

He could accept the frank admonitions of his subjects, and tolerate the attacks of his political enemies, but he could not face this topic.

Especially when it came from the mouth of the son he had placed the most hope in.

This was no longer an explanation, nor a justification.

This was a naked provocation, a cold declaration!

Li Chengqian was telling him: You and I are the same kind of people.

If you could do it back then, why can't I?

You stained the path to the throne with blood, so what right do you have to question me?!

Li Shimin opened his mouth, wanting to scold, wanting to roar, but found that his throat was stuffed with a burning hot branding iron, unable to utter a single word.

He looked at his son before him, that face which bore a seventy percent resemblance to his own when he was young, those eyes that were equally deep and burned with ambition.

He saw himself from over twenty years ago, standing before Xuanwu Gate, covered in blood, holding a long sword.

A bone-chilling coldness instantly surged through his entire body from the soles of his feet.

It turned out that his proud son was no longer the lamb he had kept in the Eastern Palace.

But a wolf that had already sharpened its claws, ready to devour its master at any moment!

Dead silence.

Inside Ganlu Hall, a pin drop could be heard.

Li Shimin's breathing became heavy, his chest heaving violently, like a beast trapped in a cage.

He stared intently at Li Chengqian, his eyes, which had once witnessed the world's shifting tides, now held only raging waves.

Anger, shock, disbelief, all finally solidified into a bone-chilling coldness.

He wanted to retort, to roar, to crush this rebellious son with the majesty of the Son of Heaven.

But his throat felt as if it had been filled with lead; every word was as heavy as a thousand jun, simply unable to be uttered.

Xuanwu Gate... the achievement he had personally forged, and also the bloody shadow that would forever haunt his dreams in the dead of night.

He had never imagined that one day, this blade, once plunged into his brothers, would be turned by his own son, in an even colder manner, to point at himself.

Li Chengqian stood there, his posture as straight as a pine.

The smile had faded from his face, leaving only an indifferent calm; that soul-piercing remark earlier was merely a casual mention.

He did not say another word.

Sometimes, silence is more powerful than any words.

He was waiting, waiting for his Imperial Father, this Khan of Heaven, to awaken from the illusion he had personally created.

Time passed bit by bit, the air in the hall solidified into amber, forever preserving the father and son in this moment of confrontation.

Finally, Li Shimin's parched lips moved, emitting a broken syllable.

"You..."

His voice was hoarse, unlike his own.

"You... are very good."

These three words were practically squeezed out from between his teeth, carrying a scent of blood.

This was not praise, but the most vicious curse, the most powerless roar a father, an emperor, could unleash upon an out-of-control heir.

Li Chengqian bowed slightly, his posture impeccably humble: "Your son thanks Imperial Father for the praise."

He paused, then raised his eyelids, his gaze sweeping over the 'Qian' character iron plaque that had fallen to the ground, his tone as calm as if he were speaking of someone else's affairs.

"If Imperial Father has no other commands, your son will take his leave first."

Having said that, without waiting for Li Shimin's response, he turned directly and walked steadily out of the hall, one step at a time.

His silhouette, stretched long by the flickering candlelight, resembled a lone wolf about to step into the darkness to hunt.

"Bang!"

It wasn't until Li Chengqian's figure completely vanished outside the hall door that Li Shimin felt all his strength drain away, slumping back onto the Dragon Throne.

He trembled all over, cold sweat beading on his forehead.

An unprecedented fear, like a cold viper, tightly coiled around his heart.

He had lost.

In this confrontation between father and son, ruler and subject, he had lost utterly.

Outside Jing Province city, beside the official road, the temporary porridge stall was bustling with people; rather than simply receiving porridge, it was more like a venue for airing grievances.

A group of ragged, emaciated commoners surrounded the porridge stall, making it impenetrable, their cries, curses, and pleas mixing together like a pot of boiling bitter water.

"Oh, upright official! Please uphold justice for us!"

"That beast surnamed Huang seized our family's land and even broke my husband's leg!"

"My daughter... my daughter is only fifteen, and she was snatched away by his manor's steward! Wuwuwu..."

Several constables, hands on their sword hilts, looked impatient, rebuking the pushing commoners, but with little effect; the accumulated resentment was like a mountain torrent, once an outlet was found, it was difficult to block it again.

Qin Huaiyu stood on the periphery of the crowd, dressed in ordinary martial attire, with a long saber at his waist.

He had originally been dispatched by the Crown Prince to inspect the local conditions in Jing Province, but he hadn't expected to encounter such a scene.

His brows were tightly furrowed as he listened to the heart-wrenching wails; each word was like a needle, piercing his heart.

He was from a family of generals, and from a young age, he had been taught loyalty to the emperor, service to the country, and eliminating tyranny to bring peace to the people; the tragic sight before him made his blood rush to his head.

"Everyone, move aside!"

Qin Huaiyu pushed through the crowd and strode to the very front.

His voice was like a great bell, carrying an undeniable authority, and the chaotic scene fell silent because of it.

The commoners looked at this tall, imposing young man, a hint of confusion and fear in their eyes.

"Your grievances, this general has heard them all."

Qin Huaiyu surveyed the surroundings, his gaze lingering briefly on a haggard woman holding a child and an old man leaning on a crutch, covered in injuries.

His voice was steady, carrying a power that could soothe people's hearts: "Everyone, rest assured, His Highness the Crown Prince is currently in Jing Province! His Highness is benevolent and loves his people; he will never tolerate such evil acts of oppressing the villagers and disregarding human life!"

"His Highness the Crown Prince?"

"His Highness the Crown Prince is here?"

A stir went through the crowd, and a spark of hope reignited in their desperate faces.

Li Chengqian, the Crown Prince of the Great Tang, was a legendary figure, the Crown Prince of the imperial family.

"Sir, is what you say true?"

The old man asked tremblingly, his cloudy eyes full of anticipation.

Qin Huaiyu nodded solemnly: "Absolutely true. I am a personal guard of His Highness the Crown Prince, the son of Duke Yiguo, Qin Huaiyu. Here today, I guarantee to all of you that I will report your grievances, word for word, to His Highness the Crown Prince!"

He took out a token from his in arms, on which intricate Dragon patterns were carved—it was the Eastern Palace's insignia.

"His Highness the Crown Prince has said that on the land of the Great Tang, no commoner shall ever suffer innocently! I have received your petitions! His Highness will personally wipe away your tears of blood!"

His words were resonant and forceful, like a heavy hammer striking everyone's heart.

The long-suppressed commoners could no longer control themselves, and many immediately knelt on the ground, weeping loudly.

This time, it was the sound of weeping that saw the light.

Qin Huaiyu collected the petitions, each bearing a bloody handprint, feeling an immense weight in his hands.

The anger in his chest had already erupted into a prairie fire; he wished he could immediately grab his saber and storm into the prefect's mansion, tearing that dog official Huang Jianzhong to pieces.

Eastern Palace, study.

The flickering candlelight cast Li Chengqian's shadow on the wall behind him, stretching it into a huge and distorted silhouette.

He had just returned from Ganlu Hall; the silent confrontation with his Imperial Father filled his entire being with a cold excitement.

A "Net" assassin in black knelt on one knee, his head bowed deeply, reporting the intelligence from Jing Province in full detail.

...General Qin has appeased the commoners outside the city and has received 314 petitions, all accusing Huang Jianzhong, the Prefect of Jing Province, of corruption, illegal land seizure, and disregard for human life. According to our verification, Huang Jianzhong has, over three years in Jing Province, embezzled over five thousand qing of fertile land, levied exorbitant taxes, and enriched his personal coffers. His personal assets now exceed one million guan. Additionally...