Chapter 491 The Xuanwu Gate Incident (Part 2)
"Why send a fire phoenix to guard the royal palace?"
“Grandpa, this shouldn’t be a question, right?”
...
As dusk turned blood-red, the fiery phoenix that had been flying over the Qin Prince's mansion disappeared. Amidst the clamor of the onlookers, Li Yuan pulled Li Chengqian out.
The two figures slowly stepped off the stone steps, their black dragon robes fluttering in the breeze, and the jade belt buckles at their waists making a soft, clear sound.
Li Jiancheng and Li Yuanji stood in the shadows under the eaves, looking up to meet Li Yuan's complex gaze, and instinctively looked away.
Li Yuan's gaze swept over his two sons, his Adam's apple bobbed but he didn't utter a single word, only letting out a sigh.
After a moment, he released Li Chengqian's hand, stood alone at the entrance of the Prince's Mansion, and spoke first to a group of curious onlookers before they paid their respects.
"The phoenix has descended upon the Prince of Qin's residence; this is an omen of divine blessing upon the Tang Dynasty! The Turks have been defeated, and the nation will prosper forever!"
In front of the people, Li Yuan announced the news of the Turks' defeat, and everyone couldn't help but cheer and shout, "May Heaven bless the Tang Dynasty and may the nation prosper forever!"
Upon seeing this, Li Yuan revealed a genuine smile.
He turned and walked toward the imperial carriage, but stopped just as he lifted the curtain. He turned back and gave the order again: "No one is allowed to mobilize the Prince of Qin's personal guards without authorization. Anyone who disobeys will be executed!"
The sound of the carriage wheels rolling over the stone road faded into the distance. Li Jiancheng stared in the direction he had left, a smile that was more like a grimace tugging at the corners of his mouth.
Unable to stay any longer, Li Jiancheng and Li Yuanji hurriedly left.
Sitting in the carriage, Li Yuanji's hand gripping the hilt of his sword bulged with veins: "What does Father mean by this?"
If it's an auspicious omen, then so be it. But putting the fire phoenix and the Turks together, is it to make the rumors on the battlefield seem true?
Li Jiancheng did not answer his question. Gazing at the palace walls passing by outside the window, he suddenly laughed self-deprecatingly: "May Heaven bless the Tang Dynasty and the nation prosper forever. But who is truly blessed, and whose nation is it?"
As he watched the setting sun gradually disappear beneath the palace walls, Li Jiancheng had a premonition that this was perhaps his end as well.
...
Meanwhile, Li Shimin led his army back to Chang'an as fast as he could.
Li Yuan immediately held a celebration banquet for them.
The gilded palace lanterns illuminated the Linde Hall as if it were daytime. Amidst the sounds of silk and bamboo instruments, jade chopsticks tapped on bowls, and glass cups clinked together, producing delicate, clear sounds. The courtiers throughout the hall exchanged toasts, but their peripheral vision was fixed on the two sides of the main table—Crown Prince Li Jiancheng, dressed in brocade robes, exuded a humble demeanor, while Prince Qin, Li Shimin, still in his black armor, radiated a chilling aura.
When Li Shimin stood up with his wine cup and walked towards the Crown Prince, everyone in the hall couldn't help but turn their attention to him.
"Have a drink, brother." Li Shimin's smile was dazzlingly bright, and the wine shimmered coldly in the glass.
Looking at the newcomer, Li Jiancheng remained silent for a moment, then picked up his wine glass and stood up.
Li Shimin suddenly reached out, and the crisp sound of the two cups colliding startled everyone around. The wine splashed onto the hem of Li Jiancheng's brand-new dragon-patterned robe, leaving dark stains.
"What do you mean?!" Li Yuanji slammed his fist on the table and stood up, but when he met Li Shimin's suddenly cold gaze, the hairs on the back of his neck stood on end.
Those eyes, once sharpened to take enemy heads on the battlefield, now gleamed with an icy light as they swept over the two brothers, as if they could rip out their internal organs and expose them to the elements.
"This is the last time." Li Shimin swallowed the last drop of wine, his smiling eyes turning completely cold, as if they were being sliced across their faces with the sharpness of swords. "This is the last time I'll toast you."
As he turned, his black robe fluttered, causing the wine pot on the table to tip over, and the amber wine flowed like a river on the ground.
Thinking of Li Shimin's meaningful words, Li Jiancheng sat down somewhat stiffly, his fists clenched tightly under the table, his knuckles turning white.
Li Yuan, on the high platform, gripped the wine cup tightly, his knuckles white as frost. His cloudy pupils reflected the flickering candlelight. Finally, he tilted his head back and drank the contents of the cup, no longer paying attention to their movements.
The court officials held their breath, not daring to breathe too heavily. Only the candle tears dripped down the dragon-carved candlesticks, congealing into dark red scabs on the blue bricks.
...
In the dead of night, candlelight piled up like a pale mountain on the candlesticks, half of Li Shimin's face hidden in shadow, his knuckles unconsciously rubbing the thumb ring on his hand. A dozen or so people sat around in the study, even their breathing deliberately held low. Only the ticking of the water clock cut through the stagnant air.
Changsun Wuji's Adam's apple bobbed, and he was about to open his mouth to take the blame for the mastermind when Li Shimin suddenly raised his hand to stop him.
"Make your move. I will no longer tolerate this." His hoarse voice, as if tempered with rust, made the candlelight flicker slightly.
In the deathly silence of the room, Fang Xuanling asked directly, "When does Your Highness plan to make your move?"
Li Shimin pressed his fingertip heavily on the unfolded map of the palace, the candlelight staining the bloodshot veins in his eyes red: "Before the morning court tomorrow, we must finish this quickly."
Du Ruhui's finger traced the Xuanwu Gate mark, the candlelight reflecting a cold light in his eyes: "Then let's choose Xuanwu Gate; this is the most suitable place for an ambush."
Before the words were even finished, Yuchi Jingde volunteered without hesitation: "Your Highness, let me do it! I am willing to die for Your Highness!"
Cheng Yaojin, Qin Shubao, and other military generals rose to their feet, their armor clashing with a resounding clang.
"I'll go!" "Let this humble general serve!"
They weren't fighting for military merit, but for the crime of stabbing the crown prince with a knife.
Li Shimin slowly rose, his black cloak sweeping across the still-wet ink on the table. "All of you, step back." His gaze swept over the crowd. "Our feud with him will be settled by ourselves."
Stroking the jade paperweight Chengqian had given him, Li Shimin's gaze softened for a moment, then he looked at Qin Qiong, "Shubao, you are a steady and reliable person. Tomorrow, I will entrust the Qin Prince's residence to you. If... I trouble you to protect the Princess and the child... if it's not possible, have Chengqian go to find the Emperor..."
Li Shimin's eyes reddened as he spoke, and the others were also moved to tears. Qin Qiong gritted his teeth and accepted the order: "Your Highness, rest assured, Qin Qiong swears to defend the Prince's Palace to the death."
As Changsun Wuji stared at the shattering candle flame, he knew this was a high-stakes gamble with his life at stake. "I will win! I haven't yet achieved Chengqian's small goal of making the Changsun family the number one family."
“That’s right,” Fang Xuanling and Du Ruhui smiled at each other. “The young master is a genius, and we are not at ease entrusting him to others to teach him.”
Li Shimin burst into laughter through his tears. Thinking of Chengqian, he felt boundless courage and pride. "That's right, we won't lose. Chengqian trusts me so much, my choice will never be wrong!"
...
As dawn approached, on the Xuanwu Gate tower, Li Shimin's Xuanjia Army, clad in black cloaks soaked with morning dew, drew their bowstrings to a full moon.
Yuchi Jingde leaned his iron spear against the battlement, its cold gleam reflecting on his tense jaw; Changsun Wuji stroked the broken blade at his waist, his expression inscrutable.
The lingering mist on the moat resembled congealed blood.
As the sound of horses' hooves grew closer, Li Shimin's Adam's apple bobbed, and he tightened the bowstring in his hand.
Li Jiancheng and Li Yuanji rode side by side, followed by dozens of personal guards.
Li Jiancheng looked up at the open gate of Xuanwu Gate, a sense of unease passing through his heart, but he forced himself to remain calm and talked with Li Yuanji.
"I wonder what Li Shimin will do at the morning court session?"
Li Yuanji was filled with irritation, gripping the reins tightly, and was very reluctant to face Li Shimin.
A hint of helplessness crossed Li Jiancheng's brows. "He must know what we're doing. He's capable of anything if we completely break off relations."
"If it weren't for that fire phoenix..." Li Yuanji hesitated, clearly wanting to seize the initiative, but the appearance of a fire phoenix disrupted their plans.
When their cavalry reached the barbican of Xuanwu Gate, suddenly there was a loud creak, and the city gate slammed shut.
Li Jiancheng's expression changed drastically. Before he could react, arrows rained down from all sides, and his guards screamed in agony.
His pupils contracted sharply as a sharp arrow shot straight at him!
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