Datang: Rebirth of Li Chengqian, the beginning of the treason interrogation

Chapter 155: Disobeying the Imperial Order and Returning to the Court

Wu Xing accepted the order and retired.

Li Chengqian stood quietly in the hall, his face gloomy, but his heart was like a turbulent sea and could not calm down. The thing he was most worried about finally happened - Li Shimin did not completely trust him.

From Li Shimin's perspective, Li Chengqian, as the crown prince, is too powerful, and his actions have exceeded the limits of power and etiquette. How can he not be worried?
Li Chengqian sighed silently: "Well, I still have to go on alone in the end."

The trust between father and son is so fragile. Since ancient times, the imperial family has indeed been the most ruthless place.

Although Li Shimin was known for his wisdom, he was ultimately the monarch of a feudal empire, no different from other emperors. Even if Li Chengqian's plan was perfect, Li Shimin would never allow him to challenge his authority.

Li Chengqian didn't have to wait long. Just as Pei Yan said, someone came from Chang'an.

"Your Highness, someone has come from Kyoto, and they are accompanied by the imperial guards? They are not here with good intentions."

Lin Zhi hurried over with a look of panic on his face, and breathlessly reported the situation to Wu Xing.

Wu Xing's heart tightened, and he quickly asked, "Are we there yet?"

Lin Zhi took a deep breath and said, "We are already outside the gate of the mansion!"

Wu Xing's face changed drastically, and an ominous premonition arose in his heart.

"Your Highness, please accept my order!"

At this moment, a loud shout came from outside the door, and then a group of people dressed in imperial guard uniforms rushed into the mansion like a tide. They were aggressive and holding weapons, forcing the guards in the mansion to retreat again and again.

In the blink of an eye, a group of people had rushed to the front of the main hall. All the palace guards were stopped aside. Faced with these entourage, they were unable to stop them at all.

The appearance of this group of people made the whole scene extremely tense and the atmosphere was extremely solemn.

Li Chengqian stood there, his face calm, without the slightest panic. He knew in his heart that all this was arranged by Li Shimin, and this was Li Shimin's attitude.

"Receive an order? Who are you? How dare you break into my residence without permission? Are you planning to assassinate me?"

Li Chengqian's eyes were cold as he shouted loudly. His voice was like thunder, resounding throughout the mansion, instantly suppressing the arrogance of the imperial guards.

"I am General Feng Li, the commander of the Yulin Army. I am here on the orders of His Majesty. Your Highness, please accept the orders."

Feng Li raised his head and held the emperor's edict high in both hands with a firm look, not afraid of Li Chengqian's majesty and momentum at all.

Like Li Junxian, Feng Li commanded the left and right Yulin Army in the imperial palace respectively and was directly responsible to Li Shimin.

Feng Li's background was similar to that of Wei Zheng and Xue Wanche, both of them were old subordinates of Li Jiancheng. However, because of his outstanding abilities, he was trusted by Li Shimin and became the commander of the imperial guards.

He is both wise and brave, and is as good as any general in the Qin Palace. He and Xue Wanche are Li Jiancheng's right-hand men.

Now that Li Shimin has sent his troops here, it is more than just a simple matter of conveying an imperial decree.

"Read it! I accept your order!"

Li Chengqian stood up, took a few steps forward, and showed enough respect.

Feng Li opened the imperial edict without looking away.

"Crown Prince Li Chengqian destroyed Baekje, pacified Goguryeo, and pacified Silla. His achievements are unparalleled. He will return to the court today and receive a title and reward. The full power to manage the affairs will be handed over to Duke Ying Li Ji."

He said little, but only affirmed Li Chengqian's achievements and did not mention a word about the so-called transgressions.

"Your Highness, please accept the order!"

Feng Li immediately delivered the imperial edict to Li Chengqian.

"If your Highness has nothing to do, please follow us back to Chang'an." Feng Li immediately continued. The imperial guards around him also had a tacit understanding and took a few steps forward, surrounding Li Chengqian in the middle.

"Looking at General Feng's attitude, I'm afraid he's not asking me to go back, but to escort me."

Li Chengqian replied coldly, his eyes sweeping over the group of people.

"I dare not. We are here to protect the safety of His Royal Highness the Crown Prince."

Feng Li lowered his head. This was the order he received. "If I don't want to leave, I'm afraid General Feng can't escort me away with his limited manpower."

As soon as Li Chengqian finished speaking, a large number of soldiers rushed in from outside the mansion and surrounded Feng Li's troops.

"I am the general of the Imperial Guards, and I am here to carry out the emperor's orders. Who dares to stop me?"

Feng Li shouted loudly, not afraid of the troops that outnumbered him by several times.

"Where did this rebel come from who dares to assassinate the crown prince?"

Lin Zhi and Wu Xing stood on Li Chengqian's left and right, with swords drawn and horses ready, and the situation became tense.

"Disobeying the Emperor's order is treason. Does Your Highness really want to do this?"

Feng Li warned.

"Go back and tell His Majesty that I will return to the court after I have resolved the matter here."

Li Chengqian waved his hand, trying to drive away the imperial guards.

"Your Highness, please think twice. You know the consequences of doing this."

A trace of surprise flashed across Feng Li's face. It was indeed beyond his expectation that Li Chengqian dared to openly disobey the order.

"I naturally know the consequences!"

Li Chengqian's face was gloomy. He knew that he had no way out now. If he didn't fight, he would only wait for death.

"Then I will be offended!"

Feng Li's face changed and he waved his hands. More imperial guards came up. Holding spears in their hands, they surrounded Li Chengqian and others and tried to take Li Chengqian away by force.

"I am the commander of the Imperial Guards, carrying out the orders of His Majesty. Do you intend to rebel?"

Facing the prince's personal guards who were also coming forward, Feng Li shouted again.

"General Feng, these people are my personal guards and will only obey my orders. I will leave now because of your hard work and contributions, and will not make things difficult for you."

As Li Chengqian spoke, he slowly retreated and gradually left the battle circle.

"Your Highness, your merits are greater than the heavens. Even if you have made some mistakes, His Majesty will show mercy. But if Your Highness openly defies the imperial decree, then even if His Majesty wants to show mercy to Your Highness, it will definitely not be possible."

Faced with Li Chengqian's absolutely tough attitude, Feng Li's tone became much weaker.

The head start didn’t work.

"If you really think that my achievements are unparalleled, I'm afraid General Feng wouldn't have come here. When it's time to return to the capital, I will naturally return."

Li Chengqian knew what was going on, but Li Shimin still softened his ears.

The letter that he specifically asked Li Dejian to deliver now seemed to be of little use.

"Your Highness, this is all I have to say! Farewell."

Feng Li also understood that Li Chengqian had already made up his mind, so it was absolutely impossible for them to take him away here.

Feng Li waved his hand and turned away with a group of guards.

"General Feng, please stay!"

On the Liao Plain, several fast horses blocked Feng Li's cavalry.

"Who dares to stop the imperial guards?"

Feng Li shouted angrily, but returned empty-handed, which made him very angry.

(End of this chapter)