Transmigrated into Li Chengqian, he effortlessly ascended the throne and became emperor.

Although Li Jiancheng was imprisoned in a makeshift kitchen and ate coarse prison food, his performance of suffering a head injury and bleeding ultimately had an effect.

Li Yuan still softened his heart.

After all, he had been the crown prince for many years, and it hadn't really come to the point of drawing swords against each other.

In the main hall, Li Yuan's expression was no longer as furious as it had been the night before, but rather gloomy and uncertain.

He was turning two walnuts in his hand, and the "crackling" sound was particularly jarring in the deathly silent hall.

Li Chengqian remained obediently seated on his small embroidered stool, watching this scene while inwardly muttering a speechless complaint.

This old man is still not giving up.

Even at this point, we still need to double-check.

As expected, Li Yuan stopped eating walnuts and said in a deep voice, "Summon Yuwen Ying, the Minister of Agriculture."

A moment later, a thin official strode into the hall.

"Yuwen Ying," Li Yuan stared at the people below, his tone chilling, "I order you to immediately go to Qingzhou and summon Yang Wengan to Renzhi Palace for an audience with the Emperor. Tell him that if he has nothing to hide, he will come with you; if he does not come…"

Li Yuan paused, a ruthless glint in his eyes, "That confirms the treason!"

"Your humble servant obeys the decree!" Yuwen Ying kowtowed and accepted the order, then hurriedly withdrew.

Li Chengqian secretly lifted his eyelids and watched Yuwen Ying's departing figure, his lips twitching almost imperceptibly.

This is like throwing a meat bun to a dog—it's gone forever.

Li Yuan, that old man, was muddle-headed. Of all the people he could have sent, he sent Yuwen Ying, who was just adding fuel to the fire.

Li Shimin sat opposite him, seemingly noticing his son's gaze, and looked up at him.

Seeing Li Chengqian in a daze, she assumed he was unwell again, so she gave him a reassuring look. Her gaze lingered for a moment on her son's smooth, jade-like neck, and the gloom in her eyes dissipated somewhat.

In the following days, the atmosphere inside Inji Palace became extremely tense.

Li Yuan didn't even have the mind to interrogate Li Jiancheng at Maifanting. Like a restless trapped beast, he paced around the palace every day, waiting for news from Qingzhou.

He both hoped that Yang Wengan would come and prove that it was a misunderstanding; yet he also feared that Yang Wengan had really rebelled, proving that his crown prince had truly betrayed him.

Li Shimin, on the other hand, remained unusually calm. Apart from handling necessary official duties, he spent his days by Li Chengqian's side, feeding him medicine and reading to him, as if the storms of the outside world were irrelevant to him.

Until the afternoon of the third day.

The tranquility of Inji Palace was shattered by the rapid sound of horses' hooves.

"Report—!!!"

The messenger, covered in dust, stumbled and crawled into the hall, his voice distorted with extreme fear.

"Your Majesty! Something terrible has happened! Yang Wengan... Yang Wengan has rebelled!"

The walnut in Li Yuan's hand fell to the ground, he swayed, and slumped onto the dragon throne.

"They've rebelled...they've really rebelled..." Li Yuan muttered to himself, his face turning ashen instantly.

Gyeongju is located on the outskirts of the capital, and Yang Wengan commands a large army. If he were to attack now, how could the defenses of Inji Palace possibly withstand him?

"Where is Yuwen Ying? Where are the people I sent?!" Li Yuan roared.

"Yuwen Ying... has defected to the enemy! He's currently reorganizing the army with Yang Wengan, vowing to... purge the court of corrupt officials and save the Crown Prince!"

"Bastards! They're all bastards!"

Li Yuan abruptly swept the memorials off the table, his hands trembling violently.

Fear overwhelmed him like a tidal wave. He looked around and finally thought of his son, who was not in the hall at the moment.

Half of the Tang Dynasty's territory was conquered by this son.

When it comes to warfare, no one in the world can surpass him.

"Jiro..."

Li Yuan's voice was hoarse, with a hint of pleading, "Where is Erlang?"

Li Shimin seemed to sense something, strode into the hall, knelt down, clasped his hands, and said, "Your subject is here!"

Looking at his exceptionally brave and heroic son, Li Yuan felt a mix of emotions.

If the eldest son had half the skill of the second son, how could things have come to this?

If Erlang were the eldest son, why would things have come to this?

But now, there's no time for regrets.

"That traitor Yang Wengan has rebelled." Li Yuan took a deep breath, staring intently into Li Shimin's eyes. "Of all the officials in the court, only you can quell this rebellion. Second Prince, I order you to immediately lead the troops to suppress the rebellion!"

Li Shimin suddenly looked up, his eyes gleaming with the excitement of a hunter finally capturing his prey, yet his face remained filled with grief and indignation: "Your subject obeys the decree! I will surely cut off the traitor's head and present it before the palace to appease Your Majesty!"

"well!"

Li Yuan seemed to have made up his mind. He stood up from the dragon throne, walked to Li Shimin, and helped his son, who had made great military achievements, up with both hands.

"Erlang, you may go."

Li Yuan's voice was low, just loud enough for the father and son to hear, "Since Yang Wengan has rebelled, it proves that Jiancheng indeed harbors rebellious intentions. If we win this battle..."

Li Yuan paused, glanced at the direction of the wheat rice pavilion outside the hall with a complicated expression, then turned his head and solemnly promised:

"When you return in triumph, I will make you the crown prince!"

Li Shimin's pupils suddenly contracted, and his heart pounded like a drum.

He had waited far too long to hear those words.

"As for my eldest son..." Li Yuan sighed, his expression desolate. "I cannot kill my own son. After you become the crown prince, I will enfeoff him as the King of Shu. Shu is a remote and strategically important place. If he is not convinced, it will be easier for you to send troops to attack. I only wish to spare his life and let him live out his days there."

This is practically a blatant disclosure.

Li Shimin suppressed the overwhelming joy that threatened to spill from his throat, and kowtowed again, his forehead striking the ground with a resounding thud: "Your subject thanks Your Majesty for your great favor! Your subject will certainly not fail in your mission!"

After returning to Feiyutai, Li Shimin dismissed his attendants.

He could no longer maintain that composed and sorrowful mask. He lifted Li Chengqian above his head and kissed his delicate, beautiful face several times. The stubble on his beard made Li Chengqian want to dodge.

"Hahahaha! Yu Nu! My good Yu Nu!"

Li Shimin's eyes gleamed with fanaticism, making no attempt to conceal his ambition and desire to ascend to the pinnacle of power. "You are truly Father's lucky star! A truly great lucky star!"

Li Chengqian's face was covered in saliva from the kisses. He pushed Li Shimin's big face away with his little hands in disgust, but he had to cooperate by uttering in a soft, childish voice, "Father, it tickles..."

Li Shimin, disregarding everything else, held his son in his arms, sat on the couch, and gently stroked his son's soft, long hair as he excitedly said, "Do you know? Your grandfather just promised your father! As long as your father quells Yang Wengan's rebellion, he will make your father the crown prince! This Tang Dynasty will then belong to us, father and son!"

Seeing Li Shimin's energetic appearance, Li Chengqian silently rolled his eyes.

This naive old father of his actually believed in such empty promises.

But it's good that we didn't experience this disappointment; otherwise, Xuanwu Gate wouldn't have been so cruel that day.

While thinking this to himself, Li Chengqian smiled exceptionally sweetly on his face.

"Really? Aye is amazing!"

Li Chengqian's voice was soft and sweet, carrying the innocence unique to children, yet possessing a strange magic that made Li Shimin feel completely comfortable. "Yu Nu loves it when Father becomes the Crown Prince! That way, no one will dare to bully Yu Nu, and no one will dare to make Father suffer!"

These words struck a chord with Li Shimin.

Looking at his obedient and sensible son in his arms, the last bit of guilt he felt towards his brother vanished.

Yes, for Yu Nu, for Guanyinbi, for the lives of hundreds of people in the Qin Prince's mansion.

Li Shimin was more than qualified to take the position of Crown Prince!

Li Shimin lowered his head, his forehead touching Li Chengqian's forehead, and his nose brushed against his son's little nose.

"Yu Nu, wait here obediently. Father is going to kill a few thieves and will be back soon."

"When Father returns, he will take you to the Eastern Palace to see the splendor of Chang'an."

Li Chengqian blinked, nodded obediently, and then gave Li Shimin a quick kiss on the cheek.

"Yu Nu is waiting for Father to return."