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

At this moment, pain and complex emotions appeared on Li Shimin's weak face, and he finally closed his eyes tightly.

"Take him away!"

"yes!"

Hou Junji was taken away.

Next came Du He, and then Li Anyan.

Li Shimin personally interrogated each of the masterminds.

Li Yuanchang witnessed the entire process.

Aside from Li Chengqian's self-destructive attitude and refusal to admit his mistakes, and Hou Junji's unruly demeanor and willingness to readily admit his errors, almost everyone who came after them was crying and begging for mercy.

A rebellion led to the downfall of many, and the different attitudes displayed were quite realistic.

At the end of the interrogation, Wei Zheng and others requested an imperial decree to execute Hou Junji and his entourage.

However, Li Shimin hesitated repeatedly, considering that Hou Junji was one of the twenty-four meritorious officials of Lingyan Pavilion, had made numerous unparalleled contributions, and had also participated in the Xuanwu Gate Incident.

He wanted to spare Hou Junji once.

However, this matter was met with strong opposition from Wei Zheng and others.

They believed that treason was a capital offense, and that killing the guilty was insufficient to uphold the law.

And so, the situation reached a stalemate.

This stalemate lasted for three whole days.

Li Yuanchang was almost always present, but he heeded Fang Xuanling's advice not to say anything or plead for anyone.

On the fourth day of the rebellion, the court and the public were filled with discussion and rumors.

The repeated abolition of the court, coupled with the arrest of the crown prince and other important figures, gradually made it impossible to cover up the news, causing turmoil in the country.

The prolonged delay in the matter was detrimental to the entire Tang Empire.

Therefore, at the repeated requests of his senior officials, Li Shimin made a final decision after several deliberations.

"The deposed crown prince is demoted to commoner status and exiled to Qiannan!"

"Hou Junji participated in a rebellion, a heinous crime, and is hereby sentenced to death."

"In consideration of his past merits and outstanding achievements, Hou Junji is granted a special pardon, allowed to keep one son to continue the family line, and is exiled to Lingnan."

"Du He participated in a rebellion..."

The voices echoed throughout the Hall of Supreme Harmony, marking the final verdict and the end of the matter. The relevant officials were busy recording the events with their pens.

In the entire treason case, everyone except Li Chengqian and one of Hou Junji's sons was executed, and not only them, but their entire families were also executed.

Li Yuanchang stood there, his heart filled with countless sighs.

This infamous feud between father and son, which has been passed down through the ages, has finally happened. The victor and the vanquished are the ones who will be judged, and opinions will vary.

But Li Yuanchang, through years of self-preservation, managed to escape his inevitable death!

Subsequently, Chang'an fell into a deathly silence, and Li Shimin continued to suspend court sessions and refuse to see his officials.

……

On the morning Li Chengqian was exiled and left Chang'an, a light drizzle fell.

A dilapidated carriage, guarded by a dozen imperial guards, drove out of Chang'an City in a very hasty manner.

Li Yuanchang requested permission to escort the emperor, which was granted by Emperor Taizong of Tang (Li Shimin).

It is worth mentioning that Li Ke and Li Zhi, who were accompanying Li Shimin, also requested permission and eventually went to the outskirts of Chang'an with Li Yuanchang.

In the suburbs, a light rain fell continuously, and pedestrians were heartbroken.

The former Crown Prince has fallen into prison, a fate no one dared to imagine.

"Your Highnesses."

"His Highness the Crown Prince says he only wishes to see the Prince of Han," a member of the Imperial Guard said, bowing.

The three of them were taken aback.

"Why is this?" Young Li Zhi didn't understand, looking at the prison cart in the distance with worry.

At this moment, he still had some affection for his older brother.

This is mainly because Li Zhi has never been considered as a successor so far, and there is no animosity between them, unlike with Li Tai.

"Ugh."

"Ninth Brother, perhaps our Crown Prince is feeling unwell and doesn't want us to see him in such a sorry state. Let's just leave it at that."

"Let Seventh Uncle go over there and give the things to him." Li Ke, now more mature and wise, guessed Li Chengqian's thoughts and did not insist.

"This..." Li Zhi's eyes reddened, and he choked up.

In the end, the two handed over some food and clothing to Li Yuanchang.

Li Yuanchang dismounted and walked to the prison cart.

Li Chengqian suffered a lot, but not that much. Li Shimin probably felt guilty and, out of consideration for Empress Zhangsun, didn't go all the way.

This carriage can also provide shelter from the wind and rain, and it is not shackled.

"Chengqian," Li Yuanchang said softly.

Li Chengqian slowly lifted the curtain of the prison cart. His pale, sickly face was devoid of color, covered in stubble, and he looked utterly dejected.

He smiled and said, "I never expected that the person who kept rejecting me was Uncle Qi, and that in the end, it was also Uncle Qi who came to see me off."

"I used to think that Uncle Seven was a heartless and ungrateful person."

Li Yuanchang took a deep breath. According to the course of history, Li Yuanchang should indeed be a staunch supporter of Li Chengqian, and he has already been ordered to commit suicide at home.

"Chengqian, it's not just me, there's also the Prince of Wu and the Prince of Jin."

Upon hearing this, Li Chengqian glanced at the figure in the distance.

He was alright when he saw Li Zhi; he just didn't want to look disheveled. But when it came to Li Ke, he only ignored him.

He hated Li Tai the most, and Li Ke the second most.

"Take these things with you on the way."

"Take good care of yourself; there might still be a chance to come back."

Li Yuanchang comforted him, even though he knew Li Chengqian was going to die of illness in Qianzhou, he still encouraged him, saying, "What if he survives?"

Li Chengqian just gave a bitter smile.

"Seventh Uncle, take it back. I don't want anyone's things."

Li Yuanchang's outstretched hand froze in place. After hesitating for a long time, he finally withdrew it. This might be Li Chengqian's last bit of dignity. He didn't want to force the issue.

"Seventh Uncle, can I ask you for a favor?"

Another rebel who came to him for help. Li Yuanchang smiled bitterly: "Go ahead."

"I think I won't be coming back from this trip."

"I have no regrets."

"I only wish that in my next life I will not be born into an imperial family."

Li Yuanchang frowned. Li You had said the same thing. Perhaps from the moment they were born, they were destined to have both glory and pain.

"If I had to say what I regret, it would be the Crown Princess. She tried to dissuade me many times, but I ignored her and didn't speak to her for years."

"Looking back now, I realize I've wronged her."

Li Yuanchang was shocked and remained silent for several years.

"she……"

"She is fine. You were only demoted to a commoner, so she also saved her life, but lost her status as the Crown Princess. She is now temporarily working at the Dali Temple."

"Working" is a euphemism; it actually means being a maid.

Tang Dynasty law stipulated that married women would not be implicated in the crime. Generally, for such offenses, the wife and daughters would be sent to the palace as slaves or to places where they had to serve others.

However, given Su Qing's special status, Li Shimin obviously couldn't be so heartless, so he temporarily placed her in the Court of Judicial Review.

Li Chengqian sighed, perhaps a dying man's words are kind: "Seventh Uncle, can you help her?"

Li Yuanchang did not refuse this time. In fact, he would have done it even if Li Chengqian hadn't said so.

"It's not the right time yet. I will wait until things calm down."

"Thank you." Li Chengqian cupped his hands in thanks.

"Please pass on a message for me, Seventh Uncle: if it is permissible in the future, let her marry into a good family, but she should not enter the royal family again."

Li Yuanchang nodded, and he was actually a little embarrassed when the matter was brought up.