Chapter 22: The Xuanwu Gate Incident in Progress

In the woods not far from the Lakeside Palace by the Sea Pool, Li Shimin and his troops arrived silently.

"Your Highness, half a joss stick ago, the Saint departed for the Sea Pool," reported an attendant who had been bribed, emerging from the direction of the sleeping quarters.

Li Shimin remained unmoved by the news. Beside him, Zhangsun Wuji gave a slight nod, signaling the attendant to step aside.

"Jingde!"

"I am here!"

Yuchi Gong dismounted with such force that it startled Wen He, who was still on his horse. Wen He scrambled to grip the reins, narrowly avoiding a fall. However, his worry was unnecessary; as Yuchi Gong dismounted, soldiers had already moved in to steady the horses. Without their intervention, the animal would surely have been spooked by the sudden movement.

Li Shimin leaned in and whispered to Yuchi Gong. Understanding the order, Yuchi Gong turned and commanded the Black Armor Guards to conceal themselves.

Wen He wished to dismount as well. Before he could even ask for help, a pair of strong hands lifted him from the saddle.

"Thank you," Wen He began, but as he looked up, he found himself staring into the face of Li Shimin.

"Your Highness? I am truly terrified. Could you please put me down?"

Being held like that, with his feet dangling in the air, made Wen He feel quite uncomfortable. Li Shimin squinted, smiling silently as he carried him to a secluded corner. There was no one else around; the nearest Black Armor Guard was at least a dozen paces away.

Wen He was puzzled. "Do you have something to ask me?"

"Yes," Li Shimin nodded. This was not a spur-of-the-moment decision; it was something he had been suppressing in his heart. Having been preoccupied with the day's events, he had found no time for other matters, but now, with a brief window of opportunity, he wanted to speak with Wen He alone.

"You previously said that Gaoming would rebel." Li Shimin looked at him with burning intensity.

Wen He was surprised by the sudden shift in topic. "Even if Gaoming becomes the Crown Prince, he has no troops at his command. How could he rebel? The people here today are destined for great power and influence in the future—are there any among them who support Gaoming?"

Li Shimin’s gaze was dark and brooding, sending a chill down Wen He's spine. Suddenly, a realization struck him, and he gasped, quickly covering his mouth to suppress a cry.

"Your Highness, you don't mean to send that person to..." Kill Li Jiancheng and Li Yuanji?

Li Shimin shot him a sharp glare, forcing Wen He to swallow the rest of his words.

"You mean to say, that person is... who?" Li Shimin gripped Wen He’s shoulders.

"Hou Junji, as well as Lu Wang Li Yuanchang and Du He, the son of Du Ruhui. Those are the three I know of. Historical records suggest Hou Junji instigated it because he was imprisoned for corruption and held a grudge against you." Wen He blurted it out without hesitation. He truly couldn't recall anyone else at that moment.

The muscles in Li Shimin’s face twitched. He had never expected it to be these three—he had even harbored suspicions about Yuchi Gong and Qin Qiong!

"And what of Keming..."

"Du Ruhui had already passed away by then. He died in the fourth year of Zhenguan," Wen He quickly explained, not wanting Li Shimin to harbor a wrongful grudge against the man.

"Ah, that is, in a way, a consolation," Li Shimin sighed deeply. He had truly feared that his closest friend might one day become his enemy. Thank goodness.

"Let it be. Du He is only five years old; he can be disciplined strictly in the future. But the Seventh Brother and Hou Junji..." Li Shimin did not finish, but Wen He felt a thick, murderous intent in his words. If his memory served him right, Lu Wang Li Yuanchang was Li Yuan’s seventh son, a child of a concubine. Li Shimin, who could strike down his own biological brothers, would certainly show no mercy to a half-brother. As for Hou Junji, it seemed Li Shimin intended to grant him a "great service" before his demise.

Indeed, after Li Shimin sent Wen He to join Yuchi Gong, he summoned Hou Junji. Whatever he said to him left Hou Junji weeping with gratitude, bowing deeply to Li Shimin.

"What did His Highness say to you just now?" Yuchi Gong asked, his voice low and displeased.

Wen He smiled without answering, taking a wooden bit and holding it in his mouth. Many things were better left unspoken; the more one knew, the faster one died. Yuchi Gong wanted to press further, but seeing Li Shimin cast a cold glance in their direction, and noting that everyone else had already put their bits in their mouths, he had no choice but to drop the matter and pull Wen He into hiding.

Half an hour later, the sky began to break.

The rooster had only crowed three times when silence descended upon the street outside the Xuanwu Gate. At the main entrance, Chang He gripped his sword hilt, his hands trembling slightly. The time to open the gates was approaching—why had Li Jiancheng and Li Yuanji not yet arrived?

He looked over at Jing Junhong, who stood beside him with a calm, indifferent expression, and couldn't help but feel astonished. Not daring to ask, he kept his anxiety bottled up.

Suddenly, the rapid sound of hooves echoed from ahead. Seeing the two young men in brocade robes at the lead, Chang He’s face lit up with surprise, and he shouted for the guards to open the gate. The heavy doors groaned open with a deafening roar. Chang He and Jing Junhong stepped forward to welcome them with deep bows.

"We, your humble servants Chang He and Jing Junhong, pay our respects to the Crown Prince and the Prince of Qi."

The two who arrived were none other than Li Jiancheng and Li Yuanji. Mounted on a tall horse, Li Yuanji glanced contemptuously at the two men bowing before him, letting out a sharp "Hmph" through his nose. Li Jiancheng was far more cordial, though he did not dismount, merely lifting his riding crop in a gesture of acknowledgment.

"Marquis of Qianchang and Duke of Leize, there is no need for such formalities."

"Thank you, Your Highness."

Though Chang He and Jing Junhong were displeased, they maintained a respectful facade.

"What time is it already? Why is the gate opening so slowly today? Chang He, do you intend to slight the Crown Prince and myself?" Li Yuanji demanded impatiently.

Chang He panicked and hurriedly apologized, "I would not dare, Prince of Qi. Please understand, the Xuanwu Gate is vital to the safety of the palace. Ordinarily, one must present an imperial token to pass, but I dared not delay the Crown Prince and the Prince of Qi, and have already acted against the regulations."

"What is this? Are you saying my brother and I are in the wrong?" Li Yuanji, known for his fiery temper, reached for his riding crop as if to strike, but stopped when Li Jiancheng shot him a warning glare.

"The Duke of Leize is merely doing his duty. I shall certainly report this to the Emperor and ensure he is rewarded. However, the Emperor summoned us on short notice and there is no written decree. May the Prince of Qi and I proceed?" Li Jiancheng’s words were polite, yet the underlying threat was clear: if Chang He blocked them, they would surely file a complaint with the Emperor.

Chang He looked fearful and offered a strained smile. "The two Highnesses may naturally pass, but those men..." He pointed nervously at the guards behind Li Jiancheng and Li Yuanji. Even in normal times, private troops were forbidden from entering the Xuanwu Gate without an imperial decree; not even the Crown Prince was exempt.

Li Jiancheng smiled and nodded. "I understand. May we station them outside the Xuanwu Gate?"

"Naturally, that would be appropriate." Chang He feigned relief and bowed his thanks. "Thank you for your understanding, Your Highness."

"Hmph, troublesome," Li Yuanji muttered as he rode past, lashing his whip in frustration. Chang He kept his head bowed, following silently behind them as they entered the Xuanwu Gate.