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While efforts were being made at the Eastern Palace to weaken Li Shimin's influence, Yuwen Bao was in a state of anxious turmoil within Prince Qi's Residence. His mind was consumed with thoughts of avenging his brother, Yu Wen Ying. Now that Li Shimin had emerged from the turmoil relatively unscathed, the anger within him burned like an uncontrollable flame, increasingly difficult to suppress.
Since returning from Luoyang, Yuwen Bao had devoted himself entirely to plotting revenge against Li Shimin. He closely monitored every shift in the court's dynamics, leaving no stone unturned for any opportunity that might turn against Li Shimin. However, despite Li Jiancheng launching a series of attacks against Li Shimin, the latter skillfully navigated each crisis, thanks to the connections and power he had built over many years in the court.
"Are we really going to let him get away with this? When will my brother's vengeance be fulfilled?" Yuwen Bao paced back and forth in his room, his fists clenched tightly, knuckles turning white from the pressure. The image of his brother Yu Wen Ying constantly flashed through his mind—his most respected figure, brutally murdered by Li Shimin. This hatred pierced his heart like a sharp blade.
Finally unable to contain his urgency any longer, Yuwen Bao sought out Li Yuanji once more. He hurried to Li Yuanji's study and upon seeing him, immediately knelt on one knee and said, "Your Highness, although Li Shimin is currently in a predicament, he has yet to face any real punishment. I implore you to give me a chance to devise a plan to kill Li Shimin and avenge my brother!"
Li Yuanji regarded Yuwen Bao thoughtfully. He understood that Yuwen Bao's hatred for Li Shimin ran deep; using him against Li Shimin could be a clever move. Yet he also worried that Yuwen Bao's reckless actions might jeopardize his own plans.
"General Yuwen," he began, "I understand your feelings; I too wish to eliminate Li Shimin at once. But this matter is not trivial; we must proceed with caution. The Crown Prince is currently working to gradually diminish his power in court. If we act rashly and fail, not only will you lose your life but it will also jeopardize our entire plan."
Yuwen Bao remained undeterred. He lifted his head, determination shining in his eyes as he replied, "Your Highness, I am not afraid of death. As long as I can avenge my brother, I would gladly sacrifice myself. Moreover, I already have a detailed plan that will not easily fail."
Seeing Yuwen Bao so resolute made Li Yuanji waver slightly. After some thought, he said, "Since you are so insistent, I will trust you once more. But you must be careful and not act impulsively. Let us first go to the Eastern Palace and discuss this matter with His Highness the Crown Prince; we need to hear his opinion."
Thus, Yuwen Bao and Li Yuanji made their way to the Eastern Palace. Upon meeting Li Jiancheng, Yuwen Bao reiterated his determination.
"Your Highness the Crown Prince, I beseech you to grant me an opportunity to assassinate Li Shimin. I have been observing him for quite some time and know some of his routines; I am sure I can find an opportunity to strike."
Li Jiancheng frowned slightly upon hearing this. He understood Yuwen Bao's feelings but was acutely aware that now was not the right time for such an action.
"General Yuwen," he said patiently, "I appreciate your loyalty, but now is not the moment. Li Shimin is surrounded by numerous guards and is undoubtedly on high alert; if you act recklessly, the chances of success are slim. We should continue with our previous plan of suppressing him from within the court until he completely loses our father's trust before we make our move."
Yuwen Bao felt deeply disappointed but dared not defy Li Jiancheng's orders. Gritting his teeth, he replied, "Your Highness the Crown Prince, I understand your intentions. But I simply cannot wait any longer; until my brother's vengeance is fulfilled, I cannot find peace."
Li Jiancheng looked at Yuwen Bao with some sympathy. He placed a hand on Yuwen Bao's shoulder and said, "I understand your feelings. Rest assured that Li Shimin’s crimes will eventually receive their due punishment. For now, please endure for a while longer; when the time is right, I will ensure you have the chance to avenge your brother."
Yuwen Bao reluctantly nodded and said, "Very well then, Your Highness; I will follow your arrangements. But I hope you can find an opportunity soon; I have waited far too long."
Li Yuanji interjected from the side, "Elder Brother, General Yuwen is eager for revenge; we cannot keep him waiting indefinitely. We must accelerate our actions and quickly find a way to completely bring down Li Shimin."
Li Jiancheng pondered for a moment before responding, "I know. Recently I've been considering ways to gather more evidence of Li Shimin's treasonous acts so that our father will become thoroughly disillusioned with him. At the same time, we must strengthen our own power in case Li Shimin becomes desperate and takes action against us."
After discussing some specific plans among themselves, Yuwen Bao and Li Yuanji left the Eastern Palace. On their way back, Yuwen Bao remained heavy-hearted. He knew he had to adhere to Li Jiancheng’s plans but found it impossible to calm the hatred burning within him.
"Do I really have to wait that long?" Yuwen Bao thought grimly to himself. "No! I cannot just sit idly by like this. I must find a way myself and seek out opportunities; even if there’s just a glimmer of hope, I must try."
Upon returning to Prince Qi's Residence, Yuwen Bao began secretly plotting an assassination attempt against Li Shimin on his own. Utilizing his connections within the underworld, he discreetly contacted several assassins and prepared an ambush along one of Li Shimin’s regular routes outside the city. He knew this was fraught with danger but felt he could no longer afford to hesitate for the sake of revenge.
However, Yuwen Bao's actions quickly caught Li Shimin's attention. Although currently in a difficult position himself, Li Shimin had numerous informants throughout Chang'an City who kept him vigilant about every movement from rival factions. Upon learning of Yuwen Bao's plan, a cold smile crept across his face.
"Yuwen Bao," he scoffed at Wei Chi Gong beside him, "do you really think you can kill me like this? You are too naïve."
"But his actions do serve as a reminder; Li Jiancheng and his faction will certainly not back down easily—we must bolster our defenses."
Wei Chi Gong nodded in agreement and said confidently, "Rest assured Your Highness; I will increase security personnel to protect you. If Yuwen Bao dares come after you, I'll ensure he never returns!"
Meanwhile, Li Jiancheng also sensed that Yuwen Bao might act on his own. He worried that Yuwen Bao's recklessness could ruin everything, so he dispatched people to closely monitor Yuwen Bao's every move, ready to intervene before he could take any action.
The struggle for power grew increasingly intense, with various factions secretly vying for advantage. Yuwen Bao's urgent actions were like a fuse, potentially igniting a larger crisis. The competition between Li Shimin and Li Jiancheng was gradually entering a new phase, with no one knowing what would happen next. The future of the Tang Dynasty remained fraught with uncertainty.
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