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

Li Shimin's reminiscences about the past of the Prince of Qin's residence were like a pebble thrown into a seemingly calm lake; though the ripples were not intense, they subtly altered the atmosphere within the palace.

Li Tai lowered his head, poking at the bamboo shoots in his dish with his silver chopsticks, his resentment and bitterness almost overflowing.

He felt that every word his father uttered about the past was a silent accusation that he had destroyed this 'harmonious' atmosphere.

Li Chengqian remained calm.

He even gestured to the palace maids standing behind him to refill his wine cup, his movements calm and unhurried.

He seemed completely oblivious to the 'knocking', or rather, he didn't care.

Li Shimin took in the reactions of his two sons, and his gaze finally fell on Prince Li Zhi of Jin, who was being carefully fed soup by his wet nurse.

The little guy ate with great concentration, his cheeks puffing out, occasionally looking up with a pure and innocent smile.

“The treatment for the child has made great progress recently.”

Li Shimin suddenly spoke, his tone clearly showing affection:
“Two days ago, I tested him on the Thousand Character Classic. He was able to recite most of it and recognize quite a few characters. He seems to be even better than you brothers were at the same age.”

Upon hearing this, Empress Zhangsun looked at Li Zhi tenderly, her eyes filled with pride:
“Zhi’er is hardworking, and Mr. Chu Suiliang also praised him for his intelligence, saying that he can understand things very quickly.”

"Oh? So you say the same thing, Chu Qing?"

Li Shimin seemed quite satisfied.

He personally used serving chopsticks to pick up a piece of tender, deboned fish meat and placed it on the small plate in front of Li Zhi, saying gently:

"Eat more, Zhi'er, so that you can grow strong and healthy and help your father in the future."

This seemingly ordinary interaction between father and son appeared particularly jarring in the Ziyun Palace at that moment.

Li Tai's fingers tightened suddenly around the silver chopsticks, his knuckles turning white.

[What does Father mean by this? To so highly praise a mere child in front of me and Li Chengqian?!]

Is this implying we're inferior to a child? Or... does it have another meaning?

For some reason, he suddenly remembered the message Liu Ji had sent, and a sense of unease began to creep into his heart. He couldn't help but look at Li Chengqian.

Li Chengqian held the wine cup with a steady hand, then slowly took a sip. His gaze swept over Li Zhi, who was happily eating the fish that his father had put on his plate. The innocent smile on Li Zhi's face did not stir up the slightest ripple in his deep eyes.

Instead, he turned his gaze to Su Wan, who was standing beside Empress Zhangsun, her head slightly bowed, her expression unreadable.

The fleeting strangeness she showed when she returned with the cloak was no illusion.

Li Shimin seemed unaware of the undercurrents surging below.

He continued to look at Li Zhi, his tone carrying a seemingly casual sigh:
"The heart of a child is the purest, untouched by the dust of the world."

"Sometimes I envy Zhi'er, who only needs to focus on studying and playing, without having to pay attention to the outside world's disturbances, schemes, and intrigues."

His voice wasn't loud, but it reached everyone's ears clearly.

"The greatest wish of parents is nothing more than for their children to be safe and well, for their siblings to be loving, and for their families to be peaceful."

These words seemed to be addressed to Li Zhiyu, but also to everyone present.

Li Tai's face grew even uglier; he felt as if every word his father uttered was a needle piercing his heart.

[Brotherly love? Peaceful home? If Li Chengqian hadn't been so aggressive, how could he have ended up like this?!]

Li Chengqian finally put down his wine cup.

He knew it was time to speak up, otherwise his father would find it boring to perform a monologue.

So, Li Chengqian raised his eyelids slightly, meeting Li Shimin's seemingly gentle but actually unfathomable gaze, a very faint, almost imperceptible smile curving his lips:
“Father is absolutely right. Children are innocent and truly enviable. However…”

He subtly changed the subject, his tone remaining calm but carrying a hint of confrontation:

"Your subject believes that it is precisely because this world is not a pure and innocent place that there are conspiracies and schemes, and that there are villains hiding in the shadows."

“If everyone were as clear-minded as the Prince of Jin, the world would be at peace. What need would there be for laws or weapons?” He subtly steered the conversation from brotherly love back to the reality of conspiracy and framing, implying that the current situation was caused by the existence of enemies lurking in the shadows.

This was both a rebuttal to Li Tai's earlier implication and a reminder to Li Shimin that the root of the problem was not discord among the brothers, but rather that someone had ulterior motives.

A sharp glint flashed deep in Li Shimin's eyes.

He looked at Li Chengqian, his smile fading slightly:
"Chengqian never forgets national affairs and the law. It seems that these days of self-reflection have not made you slack off."

It's unclear whether this statement is praise or criticism.

"Your subject dares not slacken his efforts."

Li Chengqian bowed slightly: "As the crown prince, I should always be vigilant to prevent treacherous officials from harming the country and petty people from causing chaos."

“Otherwise, if we can poison the prince’s guests today, what will happen tomorrow? I am truly terrified when I think about it.”

He directly linked the 'poisoning case' to national affairs and treacherous officials, emphasizing once again the seriousness of the incident and the legitimacy of his pursuit of the matter to the end.

The conversation between the father and son appears peaceful, but in reality, every word is witty and full of hidden meaning.

One used the innocence of a young child to give a warning and admonition, while the other used the pretext of treacherous officials in state affairs to retaliate and establish authority.

The atmosphere inside the hall grew increasingly subtle and tense amidst this silent exchange.

Empress Zhangsun looked at the situation with even deeper worry in her eyes.

She gently held Li Zhi's small hand beside her, as if trying to draw warmth and strength from the child's innocence.

Li Tai stared intently at Li Chengqian, his eyes practically spitting fire.

He felt that Li Chengqian was simply making unfounded claims and distorting the truth!
Su Wan, who stood by the side, kept her head down and looked demure throughout, as if the invisible swordplay in the hall had nothing to do with her.

However, when she occasionally glanced in Li Chengqian's direction, a complex and elusive emotion seemed to flash through the depths of her eyes.

Li Shimin was silent for a moment, then suddenly smiled, a smile that seemed somewhat listless. He waved his hand:

"Alright, this is a family dinner, let's not talk about this anymore. The food is getting cold, let's eat."

He abruptly ended the conversation, as if the tense exchange had never happened.

But everyone knows that some words, once spoken, can never be taken back.

Li Shimin, through Li Zhi's reprimands of Li Chengqian and Li Tai, and Li Chengqian's unyielding counterattack, had already torn open the warm veil of the Jiucheng Palace family banquet, revealing a clear crack.

The picture is not yet complete, but the dagger has already been subtly revealed.

The subsequent trip to Jiucheng Palace was destined to be far less pleasant than the mountain breeze.

When the banquet finally ended and everyone took their leave, Li Shimin watched Li Chengqian and Li Tai's departing figures with a deep and unfathomable gaze.

Li Chengqian walked with composure, his back as straight as a mountain.

Li Tai's steps were slightly hurried, carrying an barely suppressed anxiety.

Li Shimin picked up the now-cold tea, took a small sip, and said calmly to Empress Zhangsun beside him:
"Guanyinbi, look at my sons, don't they resemble me and Jiancheng and Yuanji back then?"

Empress Zhangsun trembled, her face turned deathly pale, and she could barely hold onto the fan in her hand.

"Second...Second Brother..."

Li Shimin did not look at her again, but instead cast his gaze into the deep night outside the palace.

It was as if, through the darkness of the night, one could see the bloody storm that had determined the fate of everyone many years ago.

"got windy……"

He muttered to himself. (End of Chapter)