In my dream of returning to the Tang Dynasty, I snatched Wu Zetian from my lap.

Li Yuanchang didn't believe such nonsense; it was obvious that Li Chengqian was stalling for time and trying to send the person away.

He was speechless. At this time, Li Chengqian still dared to outwardly comply but inwardly defy him. If those two male favorites didn't die today, Li Shimin would definitely not let it go.

They still felt Li Shimin's anger wasn't big enough.

"His Majesty's token is here! Open the door immediately!" Li Yuanchang roared, his powerful voice resonating throughout the room.

The waist tag worn by the emperor himself was a pass.

If this thing doesn't obey, then it's like playing a game of elimination.

The guards of the Eastern Palace were all shocked!

They dared not delay any longer and quickly opened the palace gates to let them pass.

"Seal off the Eastern Palace! No one is allowed to enter or leave, and no one is allowed to inquire!"

"If anything goes wrong, your head will roll!" Li Yuanchang grabbed a general from the Eastern Palace and gave him a stern warning.

He wasn't targeting Li Chengqian, nor was he showing off; he was trying to minimize the situation for the benefit of everyone.

The general trembled, nodded heavily, and dared not ask any questions.

Immediately afterwards, Li Yuanchang led his team straight in, quickly approaching the depths of the East Palace.

The arrival of a large number of imperial guards armed with swords, including a hundred cavalrymen who were Li Shimin's personal guards, naturally caused immediate turmoil in the Eastern Palace.

From top to bottom, people were in a state of panic, unaware of what had happened, and were simply being evacuated continuously.

The main hall of the East Palace.

boom!

The massive vermilion gate was pushed open by a hundred riders, and sunlight shone in, dispelling the decadence within.

Li Yuanchang went directly to Li Chengqian.

But at that moment, a guard and some eunuchs blocked the path of the hundred riders.

Li Yuanchang glanced at him, then turned his gaze to Li Chengqian, who was sitting in the hall. His handsome face was pale, showing fear, unease, and apprehension.

Ugh……

Li Yuanchang sighed inwardly.

"Your Highness, would you like to speak with me privately?"

These eight words were already an offer, but Li Chengqian seemed not to realize it. His face was very ugly, and he even asked, "Seventh Uncle, can you promise me that your people won't come in?"

Li Yuanchang said directly, "This is not my man, but His Majesty's man."

Li Chengqian was struck dumb and turned to look at the silent rear hall.

Li Yuanchang also caught this look, and he immediately gave a signal to the Hundred Riders, who quickly dispersed and blocked the palace from the left and right.

Li Chengqian's face was grim: "Seventh Uncle, what did His Majesty send you here for?"

Let's talk privately.

"The Crown Prince has ordered your men to withdraw."

"I will not harm you," Li Yuanchang subtly reminded him. If this didn't work, he would have to resort to force.

When Li Shimin finds out, the consequences for Li Chengqian will be even more troublesome.

A struggle and hesitation flashed across Li Chengqian's pale and dejected face.

Finally, he waved his hand and said, "Step down."

Li Yuanchang breathed a sigh of relief.

As the staff of the Eastern Palace gradually withdrew, the entire hall suddenly became quiet and empty. The hundred cavalrymen merely blocked the way; without Li Yuanchang's order, they had not yet taken action.

Li Yuanchang went inside alone and closed the door.

He approached Li Chengqian from within a few meters and said in a deep voice, "Your Highness, hand over the person."

Li Chengqian's expression changed drastically, his eyes filled with vigilance, and he jumped to his feet: "People? Who are they?"

"Your Highness, His Majesty already knows, so you don't need to pretend to be ignorant."

"It would be better for everyone if you handed the person over yourself," Li Yuanchang advised kindly.

Li Chengqian, who had always been afraid of Li Shimin, was now extremely resistant and defiant.

"What does His Majesty need you to do?"

Li Yuanchang remained silent.

Li Chengqian suddenly erupted.

"They were just my playmates, why, why is Your Majesty so heartless, why?"

"They're all I have left. Only they care for me and look after me like a mother!"

He was manic and out of control, completely losing the composure expected of a crown prince, and even tried to resist for the sake of his two male favorites.

Li Yuanchang watched quietly, his heart filled with endless sighs.

He didn't know whose fault it was.

"Your Highness, please don't put me in a difficult position."

"Let them come out."

"What if I don't?" Li Chengqian's eyes were bloodshot.

"You can't change the outcome, so don't make the same mistake again," Li Yuanchang said in a deep voice.

Li Chengqian staggered three steps, his body slumped backward as if the force had been released, then suddenly grabbed Li Yuanchang, hysterically pleading, "Seventh Uncle, help me!"

"Help me!"

"We used to be such good friends!"

"Please help me this once! Don't take away what I desire and what I wish for!"

Li Yuanchang shook his head.

"Your Highness, I have already helped you. Just hand over the person and deal with it yourself. That might make His Majesty feel better."

"If you keep delaying, I will have no choice but to force you. This is His Majesty's will."

"Finally, I'll give you ten breaths to consider!"

Li Chengqian was struck as if by lightning, staggered backward, feeling as if his whole body had been hollowed out.

At this moment, two young boys who had been hiding in the back hall rushed out, crying, "Your Highness, we're going with the Prince of Han!"

"We will go with the King of Han."

"Your Highness, please take good care of yourself in the future."

Li Chengqian was heartbroken and embraced the two of them, weeping bitterly.

The two young men were fair-skinned and delicate-looking, no more than fourteen years old, with light rouge on their faces, making them look like young girls.

Their weeping was heartbreaking, and Li Chengqian was also deeply saddened.

It seems there is indeed a morbid dependence between them.

Li Yuanchang witnessed all of this firsthand. He could understand Li Shimin's fury and also sensed the despair emanating from Li Chengqian.

Perhaps for him, contentment is his only haven.

Even in the 21st century, this would be an unacceptable scandal, let alone in a feudal royal family.

These two must die.

Otherwise, he would not be able to answer to Li Shimin.

Li Chengqian will also have to pay a greater price, and many more people in the Eastern Palace will die.

Thinking of this, Li Yuanchang slowly drew his sword, and the cold light emanating from the blade gradually shone before the eyes of the weeping Li Chengqian.

Li Chengqian was filled with despair, fear, and resentment.

He knew better than anyone that without his father's decree, Li Yuanchang would not have drawn his knife here; it meant he was to be executed right in front of him.

The two boys, who were crying helplessly and seemingly without any sense of propriety, were actually just immature and somewhat effeminate young men.

"Can you at least give me a complete corpse!" Li Chengqian gritted his teeth, his voice tinged with pleading.

Li Yuanchang's hand paused slightly.

Li Shimin only said to kill him in front of everyone, but did not specify how to do it.

He glanced at the curtain on one side of the offering hall, then reached out and ripped off a large piece of cloth with a tearing sound.

"..."