Chapter 18 The Xuanwu Gate Incident
June 4th of the ninth year of the Wude era (July 2nd, 626 AD)
At approximately 4:45 AM, as dawn approached, Chang'an was still shrouded in its final slumber. The Prince of Qin's residence was already imposing, with armored soldiers standing guard, horses and men gagged, an atmosphere thick with a suffocating chill of impending doom. Li Shimin, clad in black armor, bow and arrows at his side, stood before the courtyard. His final gaze swept over the warriors—Yuchi Jingde, Hou Junji, Zhang Gongjin, and others who would soon die alongside him—and over the solemn, resolute faces of Fang Xuanling, Du Ruhui, and others. He nodded slightly, saying nothing more; everything was understood without words. He mounted his horse, its hooves wrapped in thick cloth, and the group, like phantoms of the night, silently disappeared into the Xuanwu Gate north of the palace.
Meanwhile, within the Imperial Palace, in the Qinghui Garden, Wang Yi had barely slept a wink. She remained seated, listening intently to her surroundings. According to the plan, the assassins from the Prince of Qin's residence would try to approach Qinghui Garden during the Xuanwu Gate Incident and the chaos in the palace, using three partridge calls as a signal to facilitate her evacuation. However, plans never keep up with changes.
The upheaval began with the dying struggle of the Eastern Palace. Although Li Jiancheng and Li Yuanji hadn't fully grasped the defection of Chang He, the general guarding Xuanwu Gate, they weren't entirely unprepared. They too had placed spies within the palace, paying particular attention to those possibly connected to the Prince of Qin. Wang Yi, the "Lady Mingzhen," was already in a precarious position due to her unique background and delicate stance. Last night, an informant planted by the Eastern Palace near Qinghui Garden vaguely sensed unidentified night travelers spying there (actually preliminary reconnaissance by Prince of Qin's personnel). Although no concrete evidence was obtained, it had already aroused suspicion, and the report was relayed to the generals close to the Eastern Palace responsible for some of the palace guards.
Therefore, when shouts of killing faintly came from the direction of Xuanwu Gate and unrest began to break out in the palace, a group of about ten imperial guards from the Eastern Palace, led by a low-ranking general, bypassed the normal notification process and went straight to the outside of Qinghui Garden. They claimed to be acting on the orders of the Crown Prince (in reality, it was a false order or an act of taking advantage of the chaos) to "protect" Lady Mingzhen and "invite" her to a "safe place." In reality, they intended to control this potentially key figure or use her as a bargaining chip against the Prince of Qin.
The eunuchs and palace maids guarding the garden were terrified and at a loss. Wang Yi, inside the room, heard everything clearly, her mind racing. She knew that the Qin Prince's reinforcements might not have arrived yet, or might have been disrupted by this sudden turn of events. To resist or to go with them would both lead to certain death.
At the critical moment, she displayed astonishing adaptability. Instead of panicking, she quickly loosened her hair, made her clothes slightly disheveled, grabbed a decorative jade ruyi given to her by Li Yuan from the bedside, and smashed it violently against an exquisite bronze lamp stand in the hall!
"Bang—!" The loud noise was particularly jarring in the pre-dawn silence. At the same time, she mustered all her strength to let out a shrill and terrified scream: "Assassins—! Protect the Emperor! Protect His Majesty!!" Her voice was sharp and extremely penetrating, completely out of character for her usual aloof demeanor.
This not only startled the imperial guards outside the garden (their orders were "please" or "control," not to create a commotion for an assassination), but also alarmed the guards and palace staff of other nearby palaces. In particular, she shouted "protect the emperor!" and "protect His Majesty!"—the most sensitive and potentially triggering phrases in the palace.
In the few seconds that the Eastern Palace guards hesitated about whether to force their way in, Wang Yi rushed to the window, pushed it open, and shouted in a terrified but clear voice to the other guards and eunuchs who were vaguely visible outside, who had been alerted and gathered around: "There are thieves trying to kidnap me! Quickly report to His Majesty! Go to Xuanwu Gate for help! His Highness Prince Qin is guarding the Emperor at Xuanwu Gate!" She deliberately confused the public by characterizing the "Eastern Palace guards breaking into the palace" as "thieves kidnapping" and brought up Li Shimin's location (Xuanwu Gate) and the possibility that Li Yuan might be alerted, further creating chaos and delaying time.
The Eastern Palace general was both shocked and furious. He hadn't expected this woman to be so difficult to deal with, and to react so quickly and ruthlessly. If he forced his way in to arrest her, confirming his identity as a "thief," it would inevitably lead to a larger conflict and waste time; if he retreated, the mission would fail. In that moment of hesitation, guards from other systems nearby had already surrounded them. Although they didn't know what was going on, seeing "Lady Mingzhen" disheveled and crying for help in terror, while a squad of armored soldiers blocked the garden gate, they naturally first confronted her with their weapons and inquired about the situation.
Wang Yi seized the opportunity, retreating to her inner chamber. She quickly concealed the prepared brocade pouch close to her body and tucked the white jade bracelet deeper into her sleeve. She knew her actions would only buy her a moment; she had to escape in the chaos or wait for reinforcements from the Prince of Qin's residence. She listened intently, trying to discern if the agreed-upon partridge call could be heard.
Almost simultaneously with the brief stalemate outside Qinghui Garden, the battle at Xuanwu Gate was nearing its end. Li Shimin personally shot and killed Li Jiancheng, Yuchi Jingde killed Li Yuanji, and the guards of the Eastern Palace and the Prince of Qi's residence were routed. However, the commotion and bloodshed of the battle had inevitably begun to spread into the palace.
Li Yuan was on a painted boat in the palace's central pond, boating with several close ministers, awaiting the outcome of Chang He's demand to "summon the Crown Prince and the Prince of Qi to the palace for questioning." He felt a vague unease, unaware that tragedy had already unfolded. When the sounds of battle faintly reached the direction of Xuanwu Gate, followed by a eunuch stumbling in to report that "the Prince of Qin, the Crown Prince, and the Prince of Qi are fighting at Xuanwu Gate," Li Yuan was so shocked that he dropped his fishing rod. His head throbbed with pain; he was filled with both shock and rage.
"Rebellion! Rebellion!" Li Yuan roared in fury, pacing anxiously on the pleasure boat. "Quickly dispatch the Imperial Guards! Seize that rebellious son for me!" However, at this moment, Xuanwu Gate was already under Li Shimin's control, and the Imperial Guard system within the palace was in chaos and indecisive due to the sudden upheaval. The emperor's decree could not be quickly transformed into an effective force for suppression.
In this extremely chaotic and tense moment, Wang Yi's earlier shout, "Go to Xuanwu Gate for help! His Highness Prince Qin is guarding the Emperor at Xuanwu Gate!" was spread and distorted by the alarmed palace servants, reaching the vicinity of Haichi and even Li Yuan's ears. It became a confusing mess of information: "Thieves have broken into the palace and taken concubines hostage, claiming that Prince Qin is guarding the Emperor at Xuanwu Gate." This further clouded Li Yuan's judgment, leaving him unable to distinguish between the "thieves" and the "guardians." Anger and panic mingled within him, and he felt a splitting headache.
Outside Qinghui Garden, the Imperial Guards of the Eastern Palace, seeing that the situation was hopeless and hearing that Xuanwu Gate had been breached and the Crown Prince might be dead, immediately lost morale. After a brief clash with other guards, most of them scattered and fled. Taking advantage of this, Wang Yi, under the cover of a few relatively loyal eunuchs from Qinghui Garden, left the main hall, attempting to move to a more secluded and easily hidden corner of the garden in hopes of reuniting with the Qin Prince's personnel.
However, as she passed through a corridor, she unexpectedly encountered a small group of remnants of the Eastern Palace soldiers, who were running rampant in the palace, trying to find a way out or seek revenge. These men, blinded by rage, saw that the distinguished-looking Wang Yi was not accompanied by a large number of guards, and their viciousness flared, so they swung their swords at her!
In that critical moment, Wang Yi displayed a composure and quick wit far ahead of her time. Instead of trying to escape (she knew she couldn't), she swiftly threw a small cloth pouch hidden in her sleeve (containing a mixture of irritating powder and a small amount of gold and silver ingots, intended for creating chaos or bribing if necessary) at the face of the last remaining soldiers charging at the front! The powder flew, blinding them, while the clinking gold and silver ingots drew some of their attention. Taking advantage of the momentary pause and confusion, she quickly slipped into a crevice in a nearby artificial rockery, holding her breath.
The remaining soldiers cursed and rubbed their eyes, then, attracted by the gold and silver on the ground, they hesitated for a moment. By the time they remembered to pursue Wang Yi, he had vanished. They dared not linger, hastily picked up the gold and silver, and continued their escape, cursing all the while.
Behind the artificial rockery, Wang Yi's heart pounded, and cold sweat soaked her inner shirt. She knew it wasn't safe here either; she had to leave as soon as possible. She listened intently, and finally, amidst the faint shouts and commotion in the distance, she caught three extremely faint yet rhythmic partridge calls—a signal from the Qin Prince's residence!
She cautiously peeked out, discerning the direction, and discovered the signal was coming from an abandoned small garden near the palace wall behind Qinghui Garden. She took a deep breath, lifted her skirt, and, using the garden's vegetation as cover, quickly moved in that direction.
Just as she was about to reach the small garden, a sharp shout suddenly came from ahead: "Halt! Who goes there!" It was an old eunuch who was close to Li Yuan, accompanied by two guards. It seemed that he was on Li Yuan's orders to check the situation in the palace and deliver orders, and just happened to be passing by.
The old eunuch recognized Wang Yi and his eyes widened immediately: "Madam Mingzhen? What are you doing here? And in such a state? His Majesty is furious on the pleasure boat in Haichi, and you..." Before he could finish speaking, his suspicious gaze swept over Wang Yi's disheveled appearance, and recalling the chaotic rumors he had heard earlier, his expression gradually changed.
Wang Yi knew things were going badly. This old eunuch was Li Yuan's confidant. If he were taken to see Li Yuan, before Li Shimin had completely taken control of the situation, his stance would be scrutinized by Li Yuan, especially if Li Yuan found out that he had private dealings with the Prince of Qin... The consequences would be unimaginable.
She made a quick decision, her face showing a look of shock and impending tears, and said before the other party could become completely suspicious, "Your Excellency! There are thieves... rebels have broken into Qinghui Garden and tried to kidnap me! I escaped with my life on the line... I ran blindly... Your Majesty... Is Your Majesty alright? I am worried about Your Majesty's safety!" She steered the conversation toward concern for Li Yuan, trying to divert attention.
However, the old eunuch was not someone to be trifled with. He narrowed his eyes and said in a deep voice, "Madam has been frightened. In that case, come with me to see His Majesty. His Majesty needs someone to attend to him and comfort him." As he spoke, he gestured for two guards to step forward.
Wang Yi's heart sank; she knew delaying tactics were ineffective. She slowly retreated, searching for an escape route out of the corner of her eye, her mind racing. A direct confrontation was impossible; she could only try to create chaos or wait for backup.
Just as the two guards were about to touch her, hurried and orderly footsteps and the clanging of armor came from afar! Yuchi Jingde, wielding a long spear, clad in heavy armor and covered in blood, led dozens of elite Xuanjia soldiers, rapidly approaching in this direction! He was clearly acting on Li Shimin's orders, having secured Xuanwu Gate and stabilized the palace gates, to immediately lead troops into the palace to "protect" Li Yuan, and also to meet and eliminate any remaining resistance.
The old eunuch and the guards were terrified when they saw the menacing Yuchi Jingde and his fierce soldiers. Yuchi Jingde spotted Wang Yi, who was surrounded. Although he wasn't entirely clear about the specific relationship between the King of Qin and this woman, he knew that she was one of the important figures whose safety the King of Qin had strictly ordered to be ensured.
"Who are you? How dare you disturb the palace!" Yuchi Jingde's voice boomed like a bell, pointing his long spear.
The old eunuch forced himself to remain calm and said in a trembling voice, "General Yuchi! This old servant is acting on His Majesty's orders..."
“Your Majesty needs peace and quiet right now!” Yuchi Jingde interrupted him, saying in an unquestionable tone, “This matter will be handled by His Highness Prince Qin! You all leave now!” With a wave of his hand, the Xuanjia soldiers stepped forward and separated the old eunuch and the guards.
Seeing this, Wang Yi immediately seized the opportunity and quickly moved towards Yuchi Jingde. The old eunuch was both anxious and angry, but dared not confront the ferocious Xuanjia soldiers, and could only watch helplessly.
However, the commotion eventually reached the nearby painted boat on the lake. In his extreme shock, anger, and headache, Li Yuan heard that Yuchi Jingde had led armored soldiers into the palace, and that his trusted eunuch reported seeing Lady Mingzhen looking disheveled and seemingly having contact with Yuchi Jingde. His already chaotic mind was struck by a sudden, overwhelming realization! The scattered rumors about this woman's possible connection to the Prince of Qin, the subtle inclinations in her daily words, even whether her insistence on the ten-year promise had ulterior motives… all these doubts instantly coalesced, forming a possibility that fueled his rage and shame—this woman he considered a "fateful connection," whom he revered and trusted, might have already betrayed him and sided with his rebellious son!
"You vile woman! How dare you deceive me!" Li Yuan roared in fury, his head throbbing and his eyes bloodshot. "Bring her to me! I will personally tear apart this treacherous vixen who has wreaked havoc in the palace!" In his rage, he spoke without thinking, venting all his frustration and anger at Wang Yi.
The ministers on the pleasure boat looked at each other, not daring to utter a sound. A guard tried to obey the order and leave.
Just then, a heavier, faster sound of hooves approached from afar! Li Shimin, also clad in blood-stained black armor and wielding a sword, rode a magnificent warhorse, escorted by a troop of elite cavalry, breaking through the scattered obstacles along the way and galloping towards the sea! He had already resolved the main battle at Xuanwu Gate, secured the palace gates and key passages, and upon learning that Yuchi Jingde had entered the palace ahead of him, and receiving news that Wang Yi might be in danger, he immediately rushed over in person.
Li Shimin immediately spotted Wang Yi, who was being protected by Yuchi Jingde and looking in his direction, as well as Li Yuan, who was furiously pointing and cursing in this direction on the painted boat on the sea pond. He instantly understood the situation.
Without any hesitation, Li Shimin spurred his horse forward, heading straight for Wang Yi amidst the astonished gazes of the crowd. The horse's hooves shattered the morning tranquility, its armor reflecting the cold light of the rising sun. He abruptly reined in his horse before Wang Yi, and the horse reared up, letting out a neigh.
Li Shimin, looking down from his vantage point, first quickly glanced at Wang Yi, confirming that although she was disheveled, she seemed unharmed, a hint of relief flashing in his eyes. Then, he turned his head, his gaze unabashedly and forcefully fixed on Li Yuan on the pleasure boat with an unprecedented coldness and dominance.
"Father!" Li Shimin's voice was not loud, but it carried a strength honed on the battlefield that pierced through the noise. "The rebellion in the palace has been quelled, and the Crown Prince and Prince Qi have been executed. Your son has arrived late to protect you, please forgive me, Father!" He first characterized the situation as "the rebellion has been quelled," placing himself in the position of a meritorious official who "suppressed the rebellion and protected you."
Li Yuan trembled with rage, pointing at Li Shimin and then at Wang Yi: "You...you...what a pair of unfilial sons and adulterous women! You killed your own brother and still dared to lead troops into the palace! And this vile woman..."
"Father!" Li Shimin interrupted sharply, his voice rising abruptly with an undeniable air of authority. "Lady Mingzhen, amidst the chaos of the army, wisely and bravely protected herself and even attempted to warn the emperor, thus rendering meritorious service to the nation! Today, the palace is in turmoil, with many treacherous individuals trying to confuse the public and sow discord within the imperial family! Your Majesty is unwell and agitated, making you susceptible to being deceived by petty people!" He directly defined Wang Yi's actions as "meritorious," attributing Li Yuan's accusations to "treacherous individuals sowing discord" and "your health being poor," completely blocking any possibility of Li Yuan taking immediate action against Wang Yi.
Having said that, he didn't give Li Yuan a chance to continue roaring. Under the dumbfounded gazes of all the ministers on the painted boat, the guards around him, the eunuchs and palace maids, he suddenly bent down, stretched out his strong arms, and lifted Wang Yi from the ground by the waist, placing him lightly and steadily on the horse in front of him!
Wang Yi gasped and instinctively grabbed his cold arm guard. This action, under the watchful eyes of everyone, was filled with an unmistakable sense of possession and protection, and completely confirmed the extraordinary relationship between the two.
“This area has not been completely pacified yet, and I fear it may alarm Your Majesty. Your Majesty, I will first escort Lady Mingzhen to a safe place. Please rest assured, Your Majesty, I will come shortly to report to you in detail on the ‘suppression of the rebellion’ and discuss the aftermath!” Li Shimin spoke rapidly, yet his tone was unusually calm, carrying an air of complete control. He deliberately emphasized the words “suppression of the rebellion” and “discussion”.
Having said that, he no longer looked at Li Yuan, who was so angry he was almost fainting and pointing at him, unable to speak. He turned his horse around and shouted to Yuchi Jingde and the others, "Jingde, lead the men to protect His Majesty and ensure his safety! The rest of you, follow me!"
The sound of hooves rang out again. Li Shimin, accompanied by Wang Yi, surrounded by Xuanjia cavalry, left the sea pool with the same swiftness and force as when they arrived, leaving behind a deathly silence and unbelievable shock.
On the pleasure boat, Li Yuan watched helplessly as Li Shimin so arrogantly took away his nominal concubines, publicly refuted him, and used "protection" as a pretext to actually imprison and monitor him. The extreme anger, humiliation, and powerlessness, coupled with his already severe headache and the series of shocks, finally caused him to black out and fall straight backward!
"Your Majesty!!" A panicked cry rang out on the pleasure boat.
On horseback, Wang Yi, leaning against Li Shimin's strong chest, felt the man's rapid heartbeat and taut muscles behind him, and listened to the faint sounds of commotion caused by Li Yuan's fainting in the distance. He slowly closed his eyes. The exhaustion of surviving a close call, the complex emotions of pushing forward with the plan, and the assessment of a more uncertain future yet a vague sense of control over the initiative were all intertwined.
She knew that the most dangerous moment had temporarily passed. Li Shimin, in such an unquestionable, even somewhat brutal, manner, declared her allegiance and heralded the arrival of a new era. And she, this soul from a thousand years in the future, carrying the secrets that might be conceived, officially stepped onto the stage of Zhenguan's history. The road ahead was still fraught with thorns, but the power had quietly shifted.
Li Shimin tightened his arms, holding her even closer in his embrace. His chin gently brushed against the top of her head, his low, husky voice carrying a barely perceptible tremor and lingering fear, yet filled with an even stronger determination to control everything: "It's alright, I'm here."
Wang Yi didn't respond, but buried her face even deeper between his blood-stained armor and clothes, smelling the strong scent of blood and feeling the burgeoning life force and the scorching heat of power about to ascend beneath. At an angle unseen by anyone, a very subtle smile curved her lips. In this high-stakes gamble, it seemed... she had won again.
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