My cultivation disguise has been exposed by Xiao Sizi.

Inside the Taiji Hall, there was complete silence.

The imperial censor, who came from the Cui family of Qinghe, lay on the cold gold bricks like a lump of mud, his eyes rolled back, foaming at the mouth, and his body twitching slightly unconsciously.

A high-ranking official of the fourth rank was so frightened by a single glance from the Crown Prince that he fainted!

The powerful officials who had previously been clamoring and questioning the authenticity of the battle report were now trembling with fear. They shrank back as if they wanted to hide in the ground, not daring to even breathe.

terrible!

At this moment, Li Chengqian stood in the center of the main hall. The tattered black armor he wore exuded a strong, nauseating stench of blood.

The tangible killing intent that came from crawling through mountains of corpses and seas of blood, and from personally reaping countless lives, was like an invisible mountain, pressing down on the hearts of all the civil officials.

At the very front of the military officers' ranks.

Duke Lu, Cheng Yaojin, stared wide-eyed, swallowing hard. He turned and exchanged a glance with Duke E, Yuchi Jingde, both of them seeing deep shock in each other's eyes.

"Good heavens..."

Cheng Yaojin was secretly shocked, and the hairs on the back of his head stood on end.

"I, Old Cheng, have fought my whole life, killing hundreds, if not thousands. But the murderous aura emanating from His Highness the Crown Prince is ten times stronger than when I was at Xuanwu Gate!"

Li Jing, the military genius of the Tang Dynasty, stroked his beard in silence, his eyes gleaming with admiration.

His military prowess was unparalleled, and he could naturally see that the Crown Prince's aura was genuine. That was the kind of spirit only a truly unparalleled general, one who had galloped through thousands of troops and experienced life-or-death battles, could possess!

The battle report's account of single-handedly charging into enemy lines and capturing the commander alive is absolutely true!

In the center of the hall, Li Chengqian withdrew his cold gaze.

He ignored the unconscious censor on the ground and turned to face Li Shimin on the dragon throne.

"thump!"

Li Chengqian knelt heavily on one knee, the armor clashing together with a crisp, resounding clang.

"Your subject, Li Chengqian, has fortunately fulfilled his mission!"

His voice was hoarse and deep, yet it carried a soaring, heroic spirit: "The 300,000 barbarians of the Northern Frontier have been pacified! The rebel commander has been escorted to the capital and is waiting outside the palace gates! Your son has come to deliver the decree to Your Majesty!"

On the dragon throne.

Li Shimin looked down at his eldest son, who seemed to have risen from the ashes, and tears welled up in his eyes.

"Good! Good! Good!"

Li Shimin suddenly stood up and said "good" three times. He strode down the steps and, disregarding Li Chengqian's blood and mud, pulled him up from the ground and patted him heavily on the shoulder.

"Truly worthy of being my son! Truly worthy of being the Crown Prince of my Great Tang!"

Li Shimin laughed loudly, his laughter filled with unparalleled pride and domineering power. He turned his head, his dragon eyes flashing like lightning, and swept over the trembling civil and military officials below.

"Who just questioned the authenticity of the battle report? Step forward! Let me see who is so blind as to doubt the illustrious military achievements of my Great Tang Crown Prince!"

The entire room fell silent.

The officials from those powerful families who were jumping around the most earlier now had their heads bowed so low they were almost touching their toes, not daring to utter a single word.

What a joke! The Crown Prince's murderous gaze is still fresh in my mind. Anyone who dares to cross him now is truly asking for trouble!

"Issue my decree!"

Li Shimin returned to the dragon throne, waved his hand, and his voice resounded throughout the hall.

"The Crown Prince has rendered meritorious service in suppressing the rebellion, enhancing the prestige of our Great Tang Dynasty! He is hereby awarded ten thousand taels of gold and a thousand bolts of brocade! All soldiers under the Eastern Palace's command will be rewarded according to their merits!"

A controversy that could have triggered turmoil in the court was completely crushed by Li Chengqian's simple, brutal, and unreasonable use of force.

From that day on, no one in the entire Tang Dynasty, from the court to the common people, dared to utter a single word of criticism against the Crown Prince. Those officials who had previously secretly supported Prince Wei, Li Tai, were so frightened that they immediately distanced themselves from him.

The position of Crown Prince of the Tang Dynasty was as secure as Mount Tai.

……

A few days later.

The joy of the border victory gradually subsided, and Chang'an returned to its former tranquility.

It was nearing noon that day.

After finishing his morning's official duties, Li Shimin felt hungry and thought of the mouthwatering hot pot at the Prince of Qin's residence.

He immediately changed into civilian clothes and took Empress Zhangsun and Princess Changle with him. The family of three didn't even bring any ceremonial guards, only a few of his personal guards, and excitedly headed towards the Prince of Qin's residence.

"Guanyinbi, today we're going to give Chen'er a good beating."

In the carriage, Li Shimin was in high spirits. Holding the Empress's hand, he laughed and said, "Chengqian has made such an unparalleled contribution this time, and that boy Chen'er deserves a lot of credit. Let's go to his residence for a good meal as a celebration for his victory."

Empress Zhangsun covered her mouth and chuckled softly, her eyes and brows radiating undisguised joy.

Her eldest son returned safely and even performed a great service; her youngest daughter was well taken care of at the Prince of Qin's residence and was lively and energetic; her eldest daughter had also resolved her inner conflicts. This Empress of the Tang Dynasty had never felt so at ease in her entire life.

Soon, the carriage stopped outside the gate of the Prince of Qin's mansion.

The guards at the gate already recognized the emperor, who often came incognito, and quickly opened the gate.

Li Shimin waved his hand, indicating to the guards that they did not need to announce his arrival, and led the Empress and Chang Le, familiar with the way, towards the warm pavilion in the backyard.

"That kid is probably lounging in his rocking chair sunbathing right now."

Li Shimin walked along, laughing and joking.

I just stepped through the moon gate into the backyard.

A warm, spring-like atmosphere wafted over me.

Just as Li Shimin was about to shout at Li Chen to prepare dinner, he caught a glimpse of a scene in the center of the courtyard, under the big locust tree.

Just one glance.

The voice of the Great Khan of the Tang Dynasty seemed to have been abruptly cut off, stuck in his throat!

"Buzz—"

Li Shimin's mind went completely blank for a moment.

Empress Zhangsun and Princess Changle, who were following behind, looked in the direction Li Shimin was looking.

"ah--!!!"

Princess Chang Le let out a terrified scream, staggering backward and collapsing against a nearby stone pillar.

Empress Zhangsun was struck dumb, her face turning deathly pale in an instant.

There, not far ahead, was a bamboo rocking chair.

The little ox was lying quietly on it.

Her eyes were closed, and she remained motionless.

What was most horrifying was that the little girl's delicate, pretty face was covered in a shockingly bright red liquid!

The thick, red liquid kept flowing down her lips, staining her chin, her pink clothes, and even the snow-white fox fur blanket she was lying on had a large, glaring pool of "blood" on it!

Those chubby little hands were covered with bright red, mottled marks, hanging limply at the edge of the rocking chair.

"My little Sizi! My little Sizi!!!"

Empress Zhangsun let out a heart-wrenching cry.

She didn't know where the strength came from, but she suddenly pushed aside Li Shimin who was blocking her way and lunged at the rocking chair like a madwoman.

With a "thump".

Empress Zhangsun knelt down beside the rocking chair, her hands trembling. She wanted to hug her daughter, but dared not touch the glaring "blood." She was in a state of utter collapse.

"How could this happen... how could this happen! Imperial Physician! Quickly summon the Imperial Physician!" Empress Zhangsun cried her heart out.

Li Shimin's eyes instantly turned blood red!

A boundless, earth-shattering, and violent killing intent erupted from this emperor on horseback!

"Who?! Who did this?!"

Veins bulged on Li Shimin's forehead, his fists clenched so tightly that his knuckles turned white, and he let out a hoarse growl like a wounded wild beast.

He strode forward, drew the short sword he always carried at his waist, and looked around like a madman, as if he wanted to tear the murderer who had secretly harmed his daughter to pieces.