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Zhang Suling and Moya discussed for a long time but could not come to a conclusion. After all, without Xu Zhen as a backbone, many matters were difficult to finalize. After some hesitation, Zhang Suling decided to go to Shuyi Hall to find Li Mingda.
This was a reluctant move. The Court Ladies, seeing the disguised Zhang Suling, all thought that Xu Zhen had returned from Qizhou and hurriedly opened the palace doors to let her into Shuyi Hall.
Li Mingda had Caesar as her personal guard, which was quite thorough. However, she was preoccupied with worries about her brothers, and the young girl had matured considerably.
Upon hearing that Xu Zhen was visiting, Li Mingda was both surprised and astonished. She quickly dressed up and came out to meet him. When she saw that this Xu Zhen did not have a ring on her finger, an odd feeling surged in her heart. Unable to help herself, she asked, "Are you really... my Brother Xu?"
Zhang Suling noticed that only Caesar was present and recalled Xu Zhen's instructions to reveal the truth to Li Mingda when necessary. Not wanting to meet Li Mingda's mournful gaze directly, she calmly removed her disguise, revealing her beautiful face, and explained apologetically, "I am Lord's substitute..."
Li Mingda's mouth fell open in shock as she stood there dumbfounded. She thought about how Xu Zhen's brother should be pacifying the rebellion in Qizhou and wondered how he could return to meet her. Realizing that Xu Zhen had deceived even her, tears welled up in her eyes as she angrily exclaimed, "That damned big liar!"
As soon as she said this, she remembered Xu Zhen mentioning that she had no choice but to go to battle. The words felt ominous, so she covered her mouth and began to feel wronged.
Zhang Suling did not want to see Li Mingda in such a state. She conveyed all of Xu Zhen's previous instructions and shared everything she and Moya had overheard.
Li Mingda was also a girl of great understanding; she knew the gravity of the situation. Setting aside any romantic feelings, she began to worry about her brother engaging in dangerous activities and felt utterly helpless.
When Zhang Suling mentioned that Xu Zhen had visited Jin Wangfu before leaving, they hurriedly took Zhang Suling and Caesar along with several eunuchs to Jin Wangfu overnight.
After hearing the details, Li Zhi was also shocked. This revelation confirmed that the Crown Prince was about to force a confession regarding the rebellion. However, everything was merely hearsay; if he reported it to Sage, the Crown Prince would surely deny it, leading to disputes where Sage might suspect he was trying to usurp power.
Li Zhi was just an average talent without the decisiveness of Crown Prince Li Chengqian. He hesitated and felt at a loss until Zhang Suling reminded him that many traitors had written Secret Letters and sent them to the Eastern Palace.
These traitors left bloodstains on the Secret Letters as proof and signed their names as declarations of loyalty. If they could find a suitable person to sneak into the Eastern Palace and steal those Secret Letters for Sage, even if the Crown Prince tried to deny it with words alone, he would not be able to explain away such facts!
Li Zhi suddenly understood but realized that his relationship with his brother had grown increasingly distant. He truly could not find a suitable candidate for theft. Although Li Mingda was friendly with him, she also relied on the Crown Prince; it would be difficult for him on both sides. He only sought peace and advised the Crown Prince to abandon the rebellion.
However, Li Zhi worried that if Li Mingda truly went to persuade him, Tubo would surely learn of the exposure. Given the Crown Prince's decisive nature, it might not bode well for Li Mingda; thus, he dared not let her go to the Eastern Palace.
After much contemplation, a sudden idea struck him, and he hurried to the secret chamber in the study, where he retrieved a letter!
This was the Secret Letter that Princess Jinyang had entrusted to him, which was taken by Princess Jinyang and Zhang Jiunian during the covert communication between the old minister Li Gang and Chief Historian of the Wei Wang Mansion, Du Chuke!
Li Gang did not favor the Crown Prince due to his character but held great admiration for the talented King Wei Li Tai. He had little interaction with the mediocre Li Zhi. Now that Li Zhi possessed the Secret Letter, it was hard to believe that Li Gang would not come; he quickly dispatched a trusted aide to summon him.
Upon hearing from Jin Wangfu's confidant about Li Zhi obtaining the Secret Letter, Li Gang was terrified and rushed to Jin Wangfu in a panic.
Li Zhi did not waste words with him but intended to offer him great wealth. Although Li Gang was not well-liked, he was part of the Eastern Palace and served as the teacher of Crown Prince Li Chengqian. It would not be difficult for him to enter the Eastern Palace to steal the Secret Letter related to the Rebellion.
However, Li Zhi underestimated the conflict between Tubo and Li Gang. At this critical moment, Tubo was wary of any unrelated individuals, especially those like Li Gang who often monitored and reported on him; thus, Li Gang could not enter the Eastern Palace!
Nevertheless, Li Gang was not without cunning. He had always maintained a good relationship with Yuzhining, so he agreed with Li Zhi's plan and summoned Yuzhining to enter the Eastern Palace to steal the Secret Letter.
Yuzhining, like many aides in the Eastern Palace, had long been dissatisfied with Tubo. She frequently reported on the Crown Prince's misconduct. Upon hearing about this significant matter, she was shocked beyond measure. Without waiting for five drumbeats, she entered the Eastern Palace and stealthily searched through the Crown Prince's study.
The Crown Prince was not someone who lacked vigilance. Upon learning that Yuzhining had entered the Eastern Palace, he urgently ordered people to monitor her movements. When he heard that Yuzhining had sneaked into his study, thinking that the Secret Letter was still hidden in the secret chamber, he hurried over only to find that Yuzhining had already stolen it. Enraged like thunder, he commanded his men to pursue Yuzhining!
Meanwhile, outside the Eastern Palace, Li Gang awaited Yuzhining's return. After some time, he finally saw her rushing out. The two fled together as numerous guards from the Eastern Palace pursued them. However, as dawn broke, Tubo worried about attracting attention and quickly recalled his guards.
Once this Secret Letter was lost, it would not be long before their conspiracy was exposed. Tubo felt despondent but still sought a desperate gamble by summoning Hou Junji and others. Many troops gathered at the Eastern Palace while hundreds of Turkic assassins were brought in to storm the palace!
On another note, Zhang Suling entrusted the task of stealing the Secret Letter to Prince Li Zhi while following Princess Jinyang's prior instructions to go to the northern gate encampment and meet Qibi Helix.
Upon seeing Zhang Suling after her disguise, Qibi Helix thought that Princess Jinyang had once again used her doppelgänger technique to appear from distant Qizhou with her magical powers, causing him to break into a sweat.
Zhang Suling did not play tricks on this loyal warrior but clearly explained everything regarding the Eastern Palace's actions. Qibi Helix understood Sovereign's concerns; having witnessed Sage's distress over those involved in the Rebellion daily, he had long harbored hatred for these treacherous ministers. He immediately assembled the Northern Guard Army and secretly fortified their defenses around the palace, waiting for news from the Eastern Palace!
There was an external minister, Asena Sher, who was also a loyal subject to His Majesty. Having some connections with Qibi Helix, he went to the Eastern Palace to gather information. He found that the Eastern Palace had been sealed off. Just as he was about to return to report, he encountered He Gan Chengji, who had come in response to a summons.
Asena Sher had a favor to ask of He Gan Chengji, who understood that the situation was dire and decided to switch sides at the last moment. He revealed all the details regarding the Rebellion in hopes of redeeming himself.
After learning the truth, Asena Sher still allowed He Gan Chengji to enter the Eastern Palace to avoid raising suspicion from the Crown Prince. He then took the information to Qibi Helix, who had already set up defenses and quickly sent the intelligence to Tai Chi Hall.
At this time, Zhang Liang and Li Zhi were also waiting, all of them there to deliver news!
Meanwhile, a trap had already been laid out, waiting for Tubo and Hou Junji, those wolves and tigers, to fall into it. However, Crown Prince Li Chengqian was currently gathering his forces within the Eastern Palace, making impassioned oaths and engaging in blood brotherhood rituals.
If there was a flaw in this plan, it was that Hou Junji's son Hou Polu and Duan Zhi Xuan's son Duan Zan were absent!
Duan Zan had been affected by family circumstances; his father Duan Zhi Xuan could not withstand prolonged hardship and ultimately passed away. He refused the invitation from the Eastern Palace under the pretext of mourning.
On the other hand, Hou Polu believed that with matters at the Eastern Palace coming to a head and power within reach, he brought dozens of servants disguised as commoners. Taking advantage of Xu Zhen's absence from her residence, he planned to burn down Brave Count's Mansion completely to vent his anger!
In his mind, if today's events at the Eastern Palace unfolded as expected, he and his father could enjoy the fruits of their labor and ascend to positions of authority in the new dynasty. With a Crown Prince like this, he would undoubtedly be manipulated by his father Hou Junji like a puppet. What fear would they have when wealth and power awaited them?
Xu Zhen had taken many Brothers along with Divine Fire Camp to Qizhou, leaving only a handful of servants at Brave Count's Mansion. Caesar was closely guarding Li Mingda while Moya remained in Li Zhi's residence. Zhang Suling no longer dared to disguise herself as Xu Zhen; she changed into a lady's attire and accompanied Li Mingda.
Hou Polu arrived at Brave Count's Mansion but did not dare to act rashly. He waited for any movement from the Eastern Palace; as soon as there was any change in the court, he would completely uproot Xu Zhen's foundation!
The vast imperial palace was about to face another rebellion following Han Wang Li Yuanchang's chaos. It was heartbreaking that this time the protagonist was Tubo, once favored most by the Sovereign!
Li Shimin did not attend court; he locked himself in the Celestial Hall's Imperial Study. His hair was disheveled, his robes unkempt, and documents lay scattered across the floor. He sat there before the portrait of Empress Wende, the Holy Long Sun, shedding tears.
He questioned himself about being a good ruler both at home and for his country. The nation was governed with laws and order; citizens lived in peace and prosperity; military leaders expanded territories; civil officials taught etiquette; nations came to pay tribute—he took pride in all of it.
He treated his ministers with great favor and was even more generous to his family with his power. However, ever since Empress Changsun passed away, no one has listened to his heart or alleviated his worries.
Li Mingda was considerate, but after experiencing a false death, she is now known as the sister of Xu Zhen, Xu Sier. Although she has entered the palace, they cannot meet every day due to the need to avoid the scrutiny of many Civil Officials. As a ruler, he remains cautious and does not dare to be too dictatorial.
But what about now?
Whether it is his brothers or his offspring, one by one they have begun to resent his teachings. First, Seventh Brother Li Yuanchang attempted to assassinate him, and now the rebellious son Li You foolishly raises an army to seek death. To make matters worse, even his eldest son Tubo is turning against him!
Initially, Changsun Wuji and other old ministers wanted to depose the Crown Prince and establish a new Crown Prince. Li Shimin still could not bear to abandon this crippled eldest son and repeatedly tried to retain him, enduring much criticism in the court while protecting Tubo.
And now, it is this very eldest son whom he has painstakingly guarded who has been incited to demand a confession of Rebellion. It is said that even a mighty emperor like Li Shimin, let alone the head of an ordinary family, cannot tolerate such rebellion!
Thinking of this, Li Shimin could not help but scream in madness, tearing apart the piles of secret memorials on the ground. When he finally walked out of the Imperial Study, however, he appeared composed as usual, showing no signs of distress; only his bloodshot eyes bore witness to the pain within.
He gazed toward the direction of the Eastern Palace and instructed those beside him: "As for my descendants, if they do not heed my heart, let us end all of this..."
As soon as he spoke these words, he seemed instantly aged.
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