The banquet featured not only all the rare delicacies that Goguryeo could gather, but also song and dance performances contributed by Silla and Baekje. In fact, to please His Majesty, they even captured a few minor kings from the Mohe tribe to dance for Li Shimin.

Li Shimin, watching the energetic performance below, finally revealed a happy smile.

However, just as he was about to raise a toast with everyone, the Hundred Knights rushed in and said...

"Your Majesty, the Crown Prince's congratulatory gift has arrived!"

"oh?"

Li Shimin immediately became interested upon hearing this.

"Bring it here immediately!"

"promise!"

Before long, the Hundred Cavalrymen entered the palace carrying two wooden boxes.

Li Shimin personally walked down the steps, cut open the mud seal with a single stroke, and then opened the box.

"clothing?"

"Your Majesty, there is another letter..."

Li Shimin casually opened the letter and read it carefully. Before long, tears welled up in his eyes.

"Child slave!"

"My dear son, sob sob sob!"

Upon hearing this, Yu Chi Fan quickly craned his neck to look over, and after seeing it, his eyes also reddened slightly.

Although Yuchi Fan preferred Li Jue, Li Zhi's birthday gift was indeed more touching.

Upon seeing this, Li Jue quickly stepped forward.

"Grandpa, what's wrong? Is my Ninth Uncle sick?"

"without!"

"Your Ninth Uncle only said he missed me, and even had the Crown Princess personally make a cloak and send it over..."

Upon hearing this, Li Jue showed a hint of surprise on his face, and casually picked up the cloak to look at it.

"So it was Aunt Jiu who made it herself!"

"yes!"

Li Shimin valued blood ties the most, so naturally, his children with Empress Zhangsun had to be the first priority.

He was fond of Li Tai in his early years, mainly because Li Tai and his wife had a deep and loving relationship, much like his relationship with Empress Zhangsun.

Seeing the deep affection between Li Zhi and the Crown Princess, he felt both happy and heartbroken.

Therefore, when Li Shimin looked at Li Jue again, his mood became somewhat gloomy.

It's all that bastard's fault!

If this grandson hadn't been so outstanding, I wouldn't have even considered deposing the crown prince!

"Li Jue, you'll be twelve after the New Year, right?"

"ah!"

"It's twelve!"

Upon hearing this, Li Shimin replied leisurely.

"I should start thinking about finding you a wife!"

"What?"

"Grandpa, how old am I to be getting married?"

Upon hearing this, Li Shimin snorted coldly, then raised his foot and kicked the rebellious grandson aside.

"Get out of my way!"

"I don't want to see you today!"

Li Jue rolled to the side, looking confused. He wondered if he had offended the old man. Why was the old man getting angry at him?

Although Li Jue was completely puzzled, no one could explain it to him. He could only sit to the side, feeling wronged and sullen as he watched the song and dance performance.

After receiving Li Zhi's gift, Li Shimin lost much of his interest in watching the song and dance performance. He had only one thought in mind: to return to Chang'an as soon as possible and reunite with his beloved son!

Therefore, the banquet that Li Shiji and others had painstakingly organized was forced to end after only two dances.

The next day, Li Shimin issued a series of orders and set a date for the return journey.

After learning that the Tang army's departure date had been set, Yeon Gaesomun eagerly awaited it. Once the Tang army was gone, he could once again become the local tyrant of Goguryeo.

But his joy was short-lived, as he was jolted back to reality by a few words from Changsun Wuji.

"Yeon Gaesomun, do you really think that once His Majesty is gone, you can continue to wield power in Goguryeo?"

“Lord Sikong, I have never dared to think that way. I will have to rely on your help in the future…”

Changsun Wuji snorted coldly upon hearing this.

"You don't need to tell me all that. I'll just tell you one thing: the day His Majesty leaves Pyongyang will be the day your family and clan are exterminated!"

"ah?"

"Lord Sikong, I consider myself utterly loyal to the Tang Dynasty, why does Your Majesty treat me this way?"

Upon hearing this, Changsun Wuji gave Yeon Gaesomun a cold look.

"You really don't understand?"

Yeon Gaesomun nodded blankly.

"I truly don't understand..."

"snort!"

"Your death was sealed the moment you killed King Yeongnyu of Goguryeo!"

Why?

"Even killing the Prince of Rongliu is an act of loyalty to the Tang Dynasty!"

"snort!"

"Even a ghost wouldn't believe that!"

"Furthermore, even if you killed Prince Rongliu for the sake of the Tang Dynasty, His Majesty would never spare your life."

"You killed Prince Rongliu, violating a taboo of the emperor!"

"A taboo for emperors?"

Changsun Wuji's words completely baffled Yeon Gaesomun, who had never heard of any taboos for emperors.

"Do emperors still have taboos?"

"Of course!"

"A king can be killed, but not humiliated!"

"Moreover, a king can only die at the hands of another king, never be killed by an ant!"

"This...this..."

Although Yeon Gaesomun couldn't understand what he was saying, he did understand one thing: he was doomed to die.

"Please, Lord Sikong, save me!"