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

Its daybreak.

When the first rays of golden light shone into the magnificent and imposing palace, the rebellion was already completely under control.

Outside the Xuanwu Gate, where the cold air was thick, the civil and military officials who had come to attend court were unaware of the situation and were all blocked outside the gate.

The Imperial Household Department is reading out the edict announcing the end of the court session.

The term "ban on court" simply means not attending court.

"Huh? What's going on? We didn't receive any notification last night. Why was court suddenly canceled?"

"Yes, His Majesty has always been diligent."

"That's strange, they didn't specify a time for this strike."

"Has something happened? Last night, the streets of Chang'an were filled with the sounds of carriages and horses, and this morning the court was closed again."

"Who says otherwise? I heard they even mobilized troops from the Southern Army headquarters last night!"

"hiss!!"

The ministers gasped in shock upon hearing this, their faces filled with horror.

"..."

Outside the Hall of Supreme Harmony.

A somber, silent, and oppressive atmosphere.

After Li Yuanchang and Changsun Wuji took over the Eastern Palace, they gradually brought under control some of the people involved in the rebellion.

They escorted Li Chengqian here.

Li Chengqian was still wearing the crown prince's robes, but he looked desolate, with his hair disheveled and his face downcast.

Without shackles or weapons, he limped up the steps.

It was only ninety-nine steps, but it took him a long time to walk them, as if he had walked through his entire life, and his whole body was filled with an aura of death.

Upon entering the Hall of Supreme Harmony, the spacious hall was completely empty.

Li Shimin sat alone on the dragon throne, one hand supporting his forehead, his eyes showing exhaustion and loneliness. He had clearly not slept all night and seemed to have aged ten years in an instant.

"Your Majesty, the Crown Prince has arrived." Li Yuanchang bowed.

Li Shimin didn't speak, he just waved his hand.

Li Yuanchang and Changsun Wuji understood each other and slowly withdrew from the Hall of Supreme Harmony.

In the entire palace, only the father and son remained, facing each other.

Nobody knows what happened inside.

Even those of Li Yuanchang and Changsun Wuji's stature could only retreat and wait.

Here, Li Yuanchang also encountered several court generals and ministers who had come to report back. Because the crown prince was inside, everyone could only stand outside and wait.

Fang Xuanling was among them.

"Master Fang." Li Yuanchang approached.

Fang Xuanling's aged face was solemn, clearly indicating that he already knew about what happened last night.

"Is the Crown Prince inside?"

Li Yuanchang nodded.

They found out: "Hou Junji and the others?"

"They've all been arrested," Fang Xuanling said, sighing, "What a fine military commander! Now his life is completely ruined."

"Du He is also in the group."

As he spoke, his face turned pale, revealing his heartache.

The story of Fang Xuanling and Du Ruhui's strategic planning and decisive action was once a celebrated tale in the Tang Dynasty. Fang Xuanling and Du Ruhui were close friends, but after the old friend passed away, his son took his own life.

Fang Xuanling was in extreme distress at that moment.

Li Yuanchang comforted him, saying, "Take care of yourself, Master Fang."

"I am fine, but Your Majesty..." Fang Xuanling hesitated, looking into the hall.

The eldest son rebelling against himself, and the crown prince rebelling against the emperor—this is too dramatic, and the blow is too great.

Li Yuanchang remained silent.

Perhaps this is cause and effect.

The imbalance between father and son cannot be attributed solely to Li Chengqian.

At this moment, Fang Xuanling seemed to remember something, glanced around, and suddenly whispered, "Your Highness, did you go to the Southern Office to mobilize troops last night?"

Li Yuanchang nodded: "The matter was urgent, and I was afraid something might happen, so I mobilized troops without prior order."

Fang Xuanling frowned.

"But I have already reported this to His Majesty," Li Yuanchang said.

Fang Xuanling nodded.

He reminded him, "Your Highness, please remember to remain silent during the subsequent proceedings."

"It is a major taboo to send troops out of one's rank. In addition, you had a close relationship with the Crown Prince in your early years. Although I know that Your Highness is in a hurry to save the Emperor, I am afraid that someone might try to sabotage you."

"Never plead for anyone, remember that!"

He said seriously.

Li Yuanchang felt a chill run down his spine; he sensed something ominous from Fang Xuanling's serious gaze.

Fang Xuanling was a figure of great stature, one of the founders of the Zhenguan era, and his reminder was certainly not unfounded.

He didn't mention Li Shimin at all, but every sentence he said was a reminder to be careful about the opinions of those above him.

"Thank you, Lord Fang. I will remember this." He became serious, which drew attention to him.

Fang Xuanling nodded and said nothing more.

All the bigwigs were waiting outside the Hall of Supreme Harmony, none of them daring to go in.

A short while later, faint shouts of anger could be heard coming from the Hall of Supreme Harmony.

Everyone turned to look.

The angry shout did not come from Li Shimin, but from Li Chengqian!

Many people looked horrified. Did the rebels have a point?

Only Li Yuanchang remained calm. He didn't even need to go inside to guess what kind of conversation was taking place.

Inside the hall at this moment.

The air felt suffocating.

"I'm asking you, why did you rebel?!" Li Shimin roared, like an angry father, whipping half of Li Chengqian's handsome face.

Li Chengqian didn't scream, but trembled in pain, covering half his face with one hand, laughing bitterly for no reason, and then angrily rebuked.

"Then why did you rebel, Father?!"

boom!

Having fallen ill once before, Li Shimin staggered back in anger, pointing at Li Chengqian with wide, furious eyes: "Shut up!!"

Li Chengqian slowly stood up. His face, which bore a striking resemblance to Li Shimin's, was now devoid of fear, showing no apprehension towards the oppressive patriarchal authority.

"Father, you killed your brother!"

"Shut up!!"

"You've taken Princess Yang as a concubine!"

"I told you to shut up, you unfilial son!!" Li Shimin was furious and almost wanted to chop Li Chengqian down with a single blow, but he couldn't bring himself to do it.

"Hahaha!" Li Chengqian laughed bitterly, looking up at the sky, fearless, and tearfully accused.

"I rebelled to protect myself."

"And as for self-preservation, it's all because you, Father Emperor, forced me to!"

"I forced you? What did I force you to do?" Li Shimin roared, his anger unprecedented.

Is nurturing the same as forcing?

"You want to make the Prince of Wei the crown prince!"

"You let him live in the Martial Virtue Hall, you let him establish the Hongwen Hall!"

"The King of Wei was imprisoned, and you summoned the King of Wu back!"

"For over a decade, I've lived as the Crown Prince, walking on thin ice. I've worked day and night, neglecting everything else. I'm exhausted, so exhausted!!"

He roared.

"Since my mother's death, I have never felt warmth. Only Chengxin and Ruyi cared about me, but you sent people to kill them in front of me!"

"During the Xuanwu Gate Incident, it was my mother who stayed by my bedside to protect me. My life was given to you by my mother; you cannot judge me!!"

Li Shimin was struck dumb, slumped on the dragon throne, his eyes filled with disbelief.

Looking at her son, she felt an unprecedented sense of estrangement.

At this moment, there are no rulers and subjects, only fathers and sons.

There is no compassion, only accusation.

Tears streamed down Li Chengqian's face, but he showed no sign of stopping.

"I know I'm no longer the crown prince! I also know I'm about to die, but I'm happy because I'll soon be able to see my mother."

"I will kneel before my mother and tell her that you whipped her son with a horsewhip, that you used your blood to warn her son that you broke your promise and that you were going to cripple me!"

Li Shimin closed his eyes: "Chengqian!!"

"Isn't that right?" Li Chengqian clenched his fist, biting his lip until it bled.

Li Shimin struggled to restrain himself and refused to admit it, saying, "The Prince of Wei has already been punished for his mistake!"

"I appointed Wei Zheng as Grand Tutor to the Crown Prince; when will I depose you?"