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

Three days later, a massive royal procession slowly departed from Chang'an, with banners obscuring the sun and carriages rumbling along, heading towards Qishan.

As ordered, Emperor Li Shimin, accompanied by some close ministers and members of the imperial harem, set off first.

The carriages of the Crown Prince and the King of Wei departed half a day later.

Li Chengqian sat in the simple yet exceptionally sturdy Crown Prince carriage, closing his eyes to rest.

Pei Xingjian led three hundred elite guards from the Eastern Palace, who stood guard around the caravan like an iron barrel, their armor gleaming and their killing intent subtly concealed.

It seemed somewhat out of place with the group heading to the summer resort.

When the convoy reached a relatively open section of the official road, it slowed down slightly and met up with a portion of the emperor's support and family convoy ahead.

Just then, Li Chengqian keenly noticed that among the high-class carriages next to him, one phoenix carriage looked particularly familiar.

That's the carriage of Empress Zhangsun!
A corner of the curtain on the car window was lifted by a gentle breeze, revealing a glimpse of Empress Zhangsun's pale and tired profile.

[The Empress Dowager has come too?]

Li Chengqian's heart stirred slightly.

This time, the Emperor has even brought his mother, who rarely goes out, along on his summer retreat.

To his surprise, in a smaller carriage next to the imperial carriage, accompanied by a wet nurse, a beautifully sculpted little boy was peering curiously out the window.

Upon seeing Li Chengqian's carriage and banners, her eyes lit up, and she waved her little hands, calling out in her tender, clear voice, "Big Brother Crown Prince!"

It was none other than Prince Li Zhi of Jin!

Sitting next to him was Li Lizhi, who was equally excited.

A gentle smile instantly appeared on Li Chengqian's face. He nodded slightly in the direction of Li Zhi and Li Lizhi, but his heart sank suddenly, and alarm bells rang.

【Childhood slave?! What's he doing here too?!】

A five-year-old child brought here to escape the summer heat? This is anything but ordinary!

Why did Li Shimin bring along a young child who was still naive about the ways of the world?
Could it be... that the Emperor has truly lost faith in both him and Li Tai, and has begun to turn his attention to this youngest legitimate son?

【impossible! 】

Li Chengqian immediately rejected the idea in his mind.

[This servant is only five years old and has no power base. Even if Li Er is dissatisfied with me and Qingque, there is absolutely no way he would favor him at this moment!]

This doesn't make sense!

However, the trajectory of history flashed through his mind like a ghost.

The ultimate victor was indeed the seemingly harmless Prince Li Zhi of Jin.

I've done so much—destroyed Goguryeo, pacified Japan, built a navy—yet... is it still impossible to reverse this predetermined fate?

What was Li Er's true intention in doing this? Was it a warning? Or a test?

Or... has he really begun planning for a more distant future?

Countless thoughts flashed through his mind like lightning, but the smile on Li Chengqian's face remained impeccable.

He even responded gently to Li Lizhi's few words of concern, and then respectfully bowed to Empress Zhangsun, who peeked out, with a composed demeanor, as if he had just encountered a family member, and they were like brothers.

Empress Zhangsun looked at her eldest son's calm and composed demeanor through the carriage window, a complex and unspeakable heartache and worry flashing in her eyes. She nodded gently and signaled the wet nurse to take Li Zhi and Li Lizhi back into the carriage.

Just as Li Chengqian's mind was in turmoil, the carriage of Prince Wei, Li Tai, caught up from behind.

The two carriages rode side by side for a moment, and then the curtains on Li Tai's carriage window were lifted, revealing his still somewhat gloomy face.

He looked at Li Chengqian with cold, emotionless eyes, and gave a stiff, almost perfunctory bow as a greeting.

Then she abruptly pulled the curtains shut, as if she found even a second glance unbearable.

Li Chengqian didn't care at all; Li Tai's reaction was exactly what he expected.

However, what he saw next caused a slight crack to appear on his calm mask once again.

Among the princesses' entourage, he caught a glimpse of a figure who should never have been there.

Su Wan!

The daughter of Su Dan who, in the original historical trajectory, would have become his Crown Princess!
She was sitting quietly in Princess Chengyang's carriage at this moment. Although her head was down, Li Chengqian would never mistake her beautiful and gentle profile!

What's she doing here?! And she's even going to Jiucheng Palace with the princesses' caravan?!

These successive "accidents" deepened the suspicions in Li Chengqian's mind. His mother, the young servant, and this former Crown Princess...

It could not have been a coincidence that Li Er took all these people to Jiucheng Palace!

This is more like a carefully orchestrated... scheme.

What exactly does Li Er want to do?
Is it to keep all potential candidates for the position under close observation and control?
Or is he really brewing some plan that he hasn't yet figured out?

Li Chengqian slowly leaned back in his chair, his fingers unconsciously stroking the jade pendant at his waist, his eyes deep and unfathomable.

He originally thought that the trip to Jiucheng Palace was mainly a contest between him and Li Tai.

Now it seems that his father's chessboard was far larger than he had imagined, and the moves were far more unpredictable.

【interesting……】

A faint, cold smile curved the corners of Li Chengqian's lips.

Since you want to see it, then I... will play this game of chess with you.

Let's see in the end whether you, the one holding the pieces, will control the entire game, or whether I, this single piece, will be able to overturn your chessboard!

The convoy continued on its way, kicking up a fine layer of dust.

Li Chengqian suppressed all outward emotions and regained his calm and composed demeanor.

"Pei Xingjian!"

Li Chengqian suddenly shouted out.

"My subordinate is here!"

Pei Xingjian immediately stepped forward to await orders.

But Li Chengqian said calmly, "What's been happening in Chang'an these past three days? What's the reaction in court regarding the poisoning incident at the Crown Prince's residence?"

"Your Highness, the reaction in the court is strong, but it is all happening in secret. Many court officials are discussing this matter privately, including the Duke of Zhao, the Duke of Fang, and Doctor Chu."

"Ah."

Li Chengqian nodded without surprise, and then asked, "Is there any movement from the Prince of Wei?"

"According to our scouts, it seems that the King of Wei's men are secretly contacting the army!" Pei Xingjian replied.

Li Chengqian laughed, a laugh filled with disdain.

"It seems that Qingque wants to follow in his father's footsteps. Well, they are both the second sons, so it's like the sons inheriting their fathers' business!"

"Uh."

Pei Xingjian's lips twitched, unsure how to respond, so he could only change the subject, saying, "However, besides the movement from the Prince of Wei, it seems there's also some activity from the Duke of Lu's mansion."

"Oh?"

Li Chengqian raised an eyebrow and asked, "What's that noise?"

"According to reports from the informants of the Duke of Lu's mansion, it seems that the Duke of Lu has invited several other dukes and princes to the martial arts hall of his mansion to spar!"

"The dukes and princes you mentioned, could they be the fathers of those traitors I killed?"

"Exactly!"

Pei Xingjian nodded and said, "Their resentment towards His Highness has never been resolved. If His Majesty hadn't forcibly suppressed it, they probably would have already started making trouble!"

"Noisy?"

Li Chengqian sneered, "What a fool! He can't even tell the difference between the death of one person and the death of an entire family!"

“Perhaps they dared to act this way because they were taking advantage of His Majesty’s dissatisfaction with the Crown Prince,” Pei Xingjian pondered.

Upon hearing this, Li Chengqian replied noncommittally, "Send men to keep a close eye on them and report back to me immediately!"

"Yes!"

Pei Xingjian responded and then withdrew.

Li Chengqian then turned his gaze toward Jiucheng Palace.

Although he remained calm throughout, his inner vigilance was taut to the extreme.

Jiucheng Palace was no longer merely a summer retreat; it was more like a grand stage, where all the actors were in place, awaiting the curtain to rise and a grand drama concerning the future fate of the Tang Dynasty to unfold. (End of Chapter)