Tang Dynasty: A Guide to Avoiding Pitfalls for Li Er at the Start

Chapter 24 The Crown Prince and the Prince of Qi plot a rebellion
"no no!"

Seeing the severed head rolling down in front of him, Li Yuanji roared furiously.

His eyes were bloodshot as he stared at the soldiers around him, shouting maniacally, "Li Shimin, you murdered your brothers, you will die a horrible death!"

"Ah! Elder brother, elder brother!"

The moment Hou Junji killed Li Jiancheng, Li Yuanji knew he was doomed.

Li Shimin, his good second brother, would not let him go.

"Li Shimin, you will never be able to wash away this infamy in your lifetime. You will be despised by future generations, just like Yang Guang. The Tang Dynasty will surely perish in your hands!"

He roared, and upon hearing this, Hou Junji's expression changed instantly. He gripped his knife and charged forward.

Li Yuanji tried to resist and reached out to take the knife, but the former was stronger than him. With a single slash, blood gushed out, and a head fell to the ground, its eyes staring unwillingly at Hou Junji.

ended?
Wen He, standing in the haystack, was utterly astonished.

Recalling what had just happened, he never expected that Li Jiancheng would die so calmly.

Perhaps he had long anticipated this day would come?

Wen He didn't know, but as the crown prince, it has to be said that he at least preserved his integrity.

In this respect, Wen He admired him quite a bit.

"stop!"

A loud shout was heard, followed by a series of hurried footsteps from behind Hou Junji. He was forcefully pushed aside, and a figure passed by him.

"Eldest brother, fourth brother!"

Li Shimin suddenly knelt on the ground, looked at the two bloody heads, and wailed loudly.

"Who, who killed my brother? Who was it?!"

His eyes were red, and tears welled up in them.

This moment felt like a genuine outpouring of emotion.

Wen He, who witnessed this scene from a short distance away, couldn't help but feel admiration.

This acting skill, if it were performed in later generations, would absolutely crush a whole host of young heartthrobs.

"Your Highness, the Crown Prince and Prince Qi are plotting a rebellion, intending to assassinate the Emperor and Your Highness. I have no choice but to take action!"

Hou Junji threw the knife aside and stepped forward to apologize.

"How dare you!" Li Shimin turned around and shouted angrily at him.

"How dare you! Guards, take Hou Junji away!"

He was so heartless, as if this had nothing to do with him.

But Hou Junji was actually quite happy.

If I kill the Crown Prince and the Prince of Qi, I'm afraid the Emperor will be furious and will surely kill me.

His Highness the King of Qin has imprisoned me to protect me. Once things have calmed down, he will surely remember my contribution.

He was secretly pleased with himself, but he didn't notice the coldness that flashed in Li Shimin's eyes when he looked at him earlier.

"Wen He said that you will harbor resentment towards me in the future, so I will reward you with a merit."

Li Shimin thought to himself as he watched Hou Junji's retreating figure.

He wanted to elevate Hou Junji to a very high position, even to the level of a Duke.

But that's about it.

Let Hou Junji enjoy his wealth and glory in Chang'an from now on.

Li Shimin could admit that he had murdered his brothers.

Those powerful clans who once stood behind Li Jiancheng dared not retaliate against him, or even criticize him.

But Hou Junji, who personally killed Li Jiancheng and Li Yuanji, will become the target of their vengeance.

Even if Li Shimin wanted to promote him in the future, he would inevitably face opposition from Li Jiancheng's faction.

"Your Highness, this tragedy was truly an accident. Please accept our condolences."

It's time for Changsun Wuji to perform.

"Please accept my condolences, Your Highness."

The rest of the entourage also bowed.

Looking at the two heads lying in a pool of blood on the ground, Li Shimin let out a long sigh.

The dust has settled.

"Your Highness, we should inform the Emperor immediately!" Changsun Wuji hurriedly reminded him when he saw him relax.

This matter is not over yet.

They needed the emperor's edict immediately, or things would change today. Although Li Shimin was the legitimate son, if there were no legitimate sons, wouldn't all the illegitimate sons have a chance?

Which of the other princes wouldn't want that supreme position?

"Yes, it is time to inform Father Emperor. Attendant Yuwen requests that you and Jingde proceed ahead. I will arrive shortly."

He needed to have Li Yuan under control to prevent anyone from leaking information to the outside world.

The imperial edict in the belt worn by Emperor Xian of Han is a famous historical anecdote.

"This old minister understands."

"The general will obey the order!"

Yuchi Gong mounted his horse, took a long spear, and called a hundred or so men to go with him to the lake.

Yuwen Shiji stroked his beard, bowed to Li Shimin, and then mounted his horse.

He didn't even glance at the bodies of Li Jiancheng and Li Yuanji.

He was a veteran official of the Sui Dynasty, and one of the survivors of that palace coup.

These things are nothing new.

"Zhang Shigui".

"Your subordinate is here!" An old general strode over.

Is this Zhang Shigui?
Wen He glanced at him deliberately.

It's not that he's anything special, it's just that Wen He watched a TV series called "The Legend of Xue Rengui" when she was little.

It completely vilifies Zhang Shigui.

Historically, Zhang Shigui successively held positions such as Right Grand Master of the Palace, Right General of the Imperial Guard, and Left General of the Imperial Guard, and was enfeoffed as Duke of Guo and Duke of Xun.

Even at sixty, he was still able to conquer Goguryeo. After his death, his epitaph reads: "His strength surpassed the sea, his spirit overshadowed the three armies; his achievements traversed the fields, his courage surpassed a hundred battles."

Unfortunately, the extent to which he was vilified in later generations is perhaps only something Su Dingfang could truly understand.

As Zhang Shigui walked past him, being stared at by him, he felt somewhat bewildered.

However, he didn't think much of it and went to Li Shimin to ask for permission.

Li Shimin also noticed Wen He's strange look, but he didn't have time to think about it anymore. He suppressed his thoughts and said to Zhang Shigui, "Go to Xuanwu Gate immediately to deliver the imperial edict. Send someone to tell Cheng Zhijie to lead the Left Guard troops to the East Palace. Then, order Qin Qiong and Xue Wanjun to lead their troops to Xuanwu Gate and Chang He to capture Xue Wanche."

Both of them were brave generals under Li Jiancheng, and the Eastern Palace Guards were also elite troops. Taking them down would not be an easy task.

Fortunately, Wen He had given me a heads-up.

Li Shimin did indeed only have eight hundred Xuanjia Guards under his command, but he was issuing the decree in the name of Li Yuan.

His subordinates, Yuchi Gong, controlled the Left Guard, while Qin Qiong and Cheng Zhijie commanded the Right Guard. Therefore, as long as he controlled the palace and prevented Li Yuan's decrees from leaving the Taiji Hall, he could control the entire city of Chang'an.

"Leader!"

Zhang Shigui did not hesitate and quickly mounted his horse, heading towards Xuanwu Gate.

After doing all this, Li Shimin finally turned his gaze to Wen He.

"Young Master Wen, it will be difficult for you to accompany me to see the Emperor now."

"You really want me to go? I feel a little uncomfortable."

Wen He swallowed hard.

From the beginning, he had been trying his best to avoid the corpses of Li Jiancheng and Li Yuanji.

In his previous life, he had never killed a chicken; the bloodiest scene he had ever witnessed was the slaughter of a pig.

Now that two living people were lying in front of him, he felt nauseous.

"Afterwards, I will have the imperial physician treat you. Now, I want you to accompany me!"

Li Shimin did not consult with him, but gave him an order.

Without waiting for a reply, he lifted Wen He onto his horse as if he were a chick, then mounted himself and rode off towards the lake.

at the same time.

In the very center of Chihai Lake, on the deck of a small boat.

Li Yuan felt the cool breeze and heard the pleasant sound of the pipa.

Holding a wine cup, he sang loudly with a group of old ministers, reminiscing about the past.

Just then, a horse came hurrying along the shore.

Upon seeing the newcomer, he immediately pointed and laughed, "Look, the benevolent man has arrived! He's been long overdue. All of you, you must join me in giving him a good drink later."

The person on the shore was none other than Yuwen Shiji.

Not far behind him, around the corner, Yuchi Gong was waiting there with a menacing expression.

(End of this chapter)