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Li Yuan fell into deep contemplation after receiving the evidence sent from Prince Qin's mansion. He felt anger and disappointment towards the actions of Li Jiancheng and Li Yuanji, yet he hesitated to take immediate action. After all, they were his sons, and he did not want to witness a fratricidal conflict.
Meanwhile, in the side hall of Tai Chi Palace, Li Shimin was filled with anxiety during his days of house arrest. He was acutely aware of the danger surrounding him; not only did it concern his own life, but also the fate of everyone in Prince Qin's mansion and many who supported him. Each day, he paced back and forth in the hall, contemplating how to escape this predicament and turn the situation around.
At that moment, Li Shimin's wife, Changsun Clan, learned of her husband's house arrest and was frantic with worry. Understanding the gravity of the situation, she decided to take the risk of entering the palace to plead with Li Yuan on behalf of Li Shimin. After carefully preparing herself, with a face full of concern and determination, she arrived at Tai Chi Palace.
At the palace gate, Changsun Clan was stopped by the Imperial Guards. "Halt! This is a forbidden area of the palace. Who are you, and why do you intrude?" the captain of the guards asked sternly.
Changsun Clan replied with poise, "I am Consort Qin, Changsun Clan. I seek an audience with His Majesty on urgent matters; please allow me to pass."
The captain of the guards hesitated. "Your Highness, I’m truly sorry, but without His Majesty's decree, no one is permitted to enter the palace."
Feeling anxious, Changsun Clan understood that if she could not meet Li Yuan, her husband’s situation would become even more perilous. With tears in her eyes, she earnestly said, "General, my husband Prince Qin has always been loyal. He must be a victim of scheming. I implore you to let me see His Majesty and clear my husband's name."
Seeing her sincerity stirred some compassion within the captain. However, he dared not disobey orders. Just then, a close eunuch of Li Yuan happened to pass by. Recognizing Changsun Clan and understanding her intentions, he knew she was virtuous and had a deep bond with Li Shimin; perhaps she could persuade Li Yuan. The eunuch stepped forward and said, "Your Highness, please wait a moment. I will report to His Majesty and see if I can make an exception."
After a while, the eunuch returned with Li Yuan's decree allowing Changsun Clan to enter the palace. Overjoyed, she thanked him profusely and followed him to Li Yuan's chamber.
Upon seeing Li Yuan, Changsun Clan immediately knelt down, tears streaming down her face. "Your Majesty, please save Prince Qin! He has been loyal to you and to the Tang Dynasty; he would never conspire against you. This must be a deliberate frame-up; I beseech you to see through it."
Li Yuan looked at Changsun Clan and felt somewhat moved. He knew her to be virtuous and that Li Shimin’s achievements were partly due to her support. However, he maintained a stern demeanor as he replied, "Hmph! If he were truly loyal, why is there so much evidence against him? How do you explain the assassination attempt on me at the hunting grounds?"
Changsun Clan cried out, "Your Majesty! Prince Qin was also a victim in that assassination attempt. The evidence against him was fabricated by Li Jiancheng and Li Yuanji out of jealousy for his accomplishments; they resorted to such insidious means."
As she spoke, Changsun Clan took out some evidence collected from Prince Qin's mansion and handed it to Li Yuan. "Your Majesty, this is evidence we have gathered that can prove Prince Qin's innocence. Please believe in him."
Li Yuan took the evidence and examined it closely. This evidence corroborated what had been sent from Prince Qin's mansion earlier and made him more suspicious of Li Jiancheng and Li Yuanji’s actions. Yet doubts lingered in his mind: "Can this really prove Shimin's innocence?"
Changsun Clan quickly replied, "Your Majesty, these are indisputable pieces of evidence. Prince Qin has fought valiantly for the Tang Dynasty; his heart is solely for its stability—how could he harbor treasonous thoughts? I implore you to consider his past merits and spare him this time."
Seeing Changsun Clan’s heart-wrenching expression softened Li Yuan's anger gradually. He sighed deeply: "Alas! I too hope this is all a misunderstanding. However, this matter is serious; I cannot let it go lightly."
Noticing a shift in Li Yuan's attitude gave Changsun Clan a glimmer of hope. She continued earnestly: "Your Majesty, if Prince Qin is indeed guilty, I am willing to share his punishment. But please ensure that you uncover the truth and give Prince Qin justice."
Li Yuan remained silent for a long time before finally saying slowly: "You may rise. I will investigate this matter further; if it is as you say, I will not wrong Shimin. But if he truly harbors treasonous intentions, I will not show leniency."
Changsun Clan was overwhelmed with gratitude: "Thank you, Your Majesty! I believe Prince Qin is innocent; I hope you uncover the truth soon."
After leaving Li Yuan’s chamber, Changsun Clan felt uneasy in her heart. She did not know if Li Yuan would truly believe her words or what fate awaited Li Shimin. But she knew she had done everything possible; now all she could do was wait for destiny’s arrangement.
Upon hearing that Changsun Clan had entered the palace to plead for Li Shimin’s case, Li Jiancheng remained calm while Li Yuanji was furious. He rushed over to Eastern Palace to confront Li Jiancheng. "That woman dared to speak on behalf of Li Shimin before our father! She must have brought evidence from Prince Qin's mansion; we need to find a way to counter this."
Li Yuanji continued inciting: "Elder brother, we cannot let Changsun Clan ruin our plans. Let us devise another scheme to make Father believe even more firmly in Li Shimin’s treasonous intentions and completely dispel any doubts he may have about him."
After pondering for a moment, Li Jiancheng replied: "We can spread rumors claiming that during his house arrest, Li Shimin colluded with outsiders in an attempt at rebellion. At the same time, we must strengthen surveillance over the palace to prevent anyone from Prince Qin's mansion from contacting Father again."
Thus, Li Jiancheng and Li Yuanji began a new conspiracy. They sent people to spread rumors both inside and outside the palace while intensifying their surveillance of Tai Chi Palace. Whether Li Shimin could escape his predicament with the help of the Changsun Clan depended on Li Yuan's final decision. The struggle for power grew increasingly intense, and the future of the Tang Dynasty seemed more uncertain than ever.
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