Datang: Just been appointed as the crown prince, the counterattack system is here

Not long after Yun Duan left, Wu She cautiously walked in again.

"His Majesty."

The tongueless voice was kept extremely low, carrying the submissive tone characteristic of eunuchs.

Li Shimin didn't open his eyes, but only let out a muffled "Hmm?" from his throat.

"Just received the message."

Wu She bowed and replied in a steady and clear voice: "After His Highness the Crown Prince left the palace, he 'accidentally' met His Highness the Prince of Wei in the west corridor leading to the East Palace. The two talked for a while."

Li Shimin's eyes snapped open, his sharp gaze fixed on Wu She: "What did you say?"

The tongueless creature lowered its head even further, repeating the words verbatim, even mimicking the tone perfectly:

"His Highness the Crown Prince told the Prince of Wei that His Majesty had stripped him of his military power and that he might be sent to the frontier... Upon hearing this, the Prince of Wei looked regretful and offered words of comfort..."

He recounted in great detail Li Chengqian's self-deprecating remark that he might have to go herd horses, Li Tai's indignant performance, and Li Chengqian's sudden attack at the end.

For example, the old order "not allowed to return to the capital" was mentioned, and even the earth-shattering statement "Didn't you ever think that your elder brother would kill you one day?" and the final warning "I don't like disobedient younger brothers" were repeated verbatim without any omissions.

Throughout the entire process, Wu She's tone remained completely flat, as if he were merely reciting an unimportant document.

Li Shimin listened quietly, his face expressionless, only his hands resting on the armrests of the dragon throne, his knuckles turning slightly white from the force.

After Wushe finished speaking, the hall fell into dead silence once again.

After a long silence, Li Shimin finally let out a soft, enigmatic laugh, a low laugh filled with endless mockery and coldness:

"Heh...good, very good."

"One of them killed his brother and then dared to openly threaten his other brother, disregarding my decrees, acting arrogantly and lawlessly!"

"The other one appears honest and kind, but is actually treacherous. He couldn't contain his joy upon hearing of his brother's downfall, and panicked when threatened. He's all bark and no bite, utterly useless!"

With each word he spoke, his voice grew colder.

"Do they still see me as their father? Do they still see the laws and principles of the Tang Dynasty?!"

The tongueless creature lay prostrate on the ground, not daring to speak.

Li Shimin took a deep breath, forcibly suppressing his surging blood, and asked in a cold voice, "Where is Li Tai now?"

He did not address her as 'Qingque', which clearly indicated his dissatisfaction with Li Tai.

But then Wu She said tremblingly:

"Your Majesty, His Highness Prince Wei has already left the palace in haste and returned to his residence by carriage. He seemed to be in a hurry and in a state of panic."

"Go check it out!"

Li Shimin commanded, his voice resolute:
"Keep a close eye on the Prince of Wei's residence! I need to know who he met and what he said when he returned! And the Crown Prince's residence, keep a close watch on it!"

"After Li Chengqian returns, I will know everything about him, from his every move to who he meets and what orders he issues, even how many bowls of rice he eats at night and how many hours he sleeps!"

"Old slave obeys the order."

Wu She bowed and then, just as she had come, quietly withdrew from the main hall to arrange the 'eyes' and 'ears' hidden inside and outside the palace and in every corner of the royal residence.

Inside the hall, only Li Shimin remained once again.

He slowly stood up, walked to the sword that had fallen to the ground, and bent down to pick it up.

The cool hilt of the sword brought a sense of clarity to my hand.

He stroked the exquisite dragon pattern on the scabbard, his eyes dark and unfathomable.

Li Chengqian relinquished power too readily, to an unreasonable degree.

Given his vindictive and controlling nature, how could he possibly give in so easily?

He must have someone else backing him up!

What is it?
Are they those unpredictable firearms and hidden weapons? Or are they the loyal samurai in the navy who remain devoted to him?
Or... has he secretly taken control of something else?
As for Li Tai... this son, who usually appears gentle and refined, and is very filial, I never expected him to be so impatient in his heart!
It seems that summoning him back to the capital was both a right and a wrong move.

The good thing is that it can indeed restrain Chengqian, but the bad thing is... it may have introduced another ambitious young wolf.

"Everyone wants to compete, everyone wants to grab..."

Li Shimin muttered to himself, the sarcasm in his eyes deepening: "I'm not dead yet!" He slung his sword back into its sheath beside a pillar with a clang, the clear sound echoing in the empty hall.

"Gao Yao!"

"The servant is here."

Gao Yao's figure appeared at the palace gate like a ghost.

"Send my imperial edict to Dai Zhou!"

Li Shimin's voice regained the calmness and majesty of an emperor:
"The Chang'an epidemic case involves members of the imperial family and court officials; it is of great importance. Have him investigate it thoroughly and slowly for me!"

"No matter who is involved, no matter how far the investigation goes, the case must not be closed without my explicit decree!"

He wanted to keep this dangling sword hanging over the heads of certain people.

Let those who are tempted to take action think twice about the consequences before they reach out.

"in addition!"

He paused, then added, "I will personally preside over the grand court assembly tomorrow. The rewards for the wars in Liaodong and Japan should also be addressed."

"Yes, Your Majesty."

Gao Yao immediately accepted the order and withdrew.

Li Shimin walked to the window and looked out at the palace city as dusk fell. His gaze seemed to penetrate through the layers of palaces and halls, and he saw the seemingly calm but actually turbulent Crown Prince's residence, as well as the Wei Prince's residence, which must be plotting something at this moment.

A storm has only just begun.

And he, the ruler of this empire, must stand at the center of the storm, firmly grasping the scepter that can determine the wind's direction.

He wanted to see just how much trouble his two sons, one a tiger and the other a wolf cub, could stir up on the chessboard he had drawn.

"His Majesty!"

Just as he was lost in thought, a report came from outside the hall:
"The Minister of Works has submitted a memorial, saying that he cannot make a decision regarding His Highness the Crown Prince's edicts, and requests Your Majesty's wise consideration!"

"The Minister of Works? He can't make the decision?"

Li Shimin frowned deeply, then turned around and ordered, "Bring it in so I can take a look!"

"Yes!"

Soon, a young eunuch brought in the memorial.

Li Shimin took the memorial and immediately unfolded it to examine it.

The memorial mentioned that His Highness the Crown Prince urged the Academy of Sciences and the Ministry of Works to speed up the construction of the Daming Palace for the Emperor Emeritus, and that the specifications and materials used far exceeded the old system, making it extremely magnificent and luxurious.

"Daming Palace..."

Li Shimin stared at those three words, his eyes blazing with fury.

He remembered that when he tried to renovate the Luoyang palace, he faced tremendous opposition and was even forced to apologize to his ministers. Now, Li Chengqian was building a new palace, and surprisingly, no one objected.

What the hell is this?! Differential treatment?!

Just because he killed his brother, he's constantly being pointed at and gossiped about?!
That rebellious son also killed his brother, so why doesn't anyone treat him like that?!
In just a moment, Li Shimin 'understood' it.

Li Chengqian is trying to win people's hearts!

He was demonstrating to the world Li Chengqian's 'filial piety,' while subtly criticizing the emperor for not being devoted enough to his father!

Furthermore, it was an attempt to win over the retired emperor, who, despite his abdication, still wielded considerable influence among the imperial clan and former officials!
A surge of intense jealousy and resentment welled up inside me.

He, Li Shimin, was the true master of this Tang Dynasty!
But his son, who frequently clashed with him, tried to please his father instead!
So what?!

The bond between father and son, and the distinction between ruler and subject, seemed so ridiculous and fragile at this moment.

"Ready to go!"

Li Shimin suddenly stood up, his voice hoarse from the suppressed anger: "Go to Da'an Palace!"

He was going to see Li Yuan; he wanted to ask his father in person what he really meant!

Does he, like his good grandson, feel that he wasn't a good enough emperor?
Are they plotting something big again? Planning to replace him as emperor?! (End of Chapter)