“I… I won’t leave!” Despite being heavily drunk, his strength was considerable. He pushed away the driver’s hand with one swipe and leaned close to Li Shimin, reeking of alcohol: “Tell me, who… are you? I’ve never seen you before. I know now—you’re a thief. Come… let’s go see the magistrate!” As he spoke, he made a move to grab Li Shimin.

Li Shimin didn’t get angry with him: “Where is your home? I’ll have someone escort you back.”

The drunkard couldn’t listen to reason at all, only mumbling incoherently: “See the magistrate… come with me to see the magistrate!”

By now, the driver had called over several guards who forcibly pulled the drunkard aside, and the carriage continued forward.

After the wheels began turning again, Li Shimin took out a small piece of paper from his clothes. When unfolded, it showed a line of small characters: “Yuelai Inn, eastern part of the city, Room Nine in the Di section.”

After Li Shimin put it away, he said quietly: “Father, Xue Wanche and the others have arrived. The contact person is staying at Yuelai Inn in the eastern part of the city.”

“Good.” Li Yuan nodded slightly. Before long, the carriage stopped once more. Duan Zhihong lifted the curtain and said respectfully: “Governor, Second Young Master, we’ve arrived at the post station.”

“Father, take your time.” Li Shimin helped Li Yuan down from the carriage. The post station staff were already waiting outside. Besides them, there was also a middle-aged man in eunuch attire holding a horsetail whisk.

Li Yuan was momentarily stunned upon seeing this person. After recovering, he quickly stepped forward and bowed: “Li Yuan, Governor of Honghua Commandery, pays his respects to Eunuch Zheng!”

Hearing this, Li Shimin had already guessed the eunuch’s identity. Someone surnamed Zheng who commanded such respect from his father must undoubtedly be Zheng Ying, the chief supervising eunuch by Yang Guang’s side.

Over there, Zheng Ying was already smiling broadly: “Lord Li is too courteous. This servant has come on His Majesty’s orders to specifically welcome Lord Li and your esteemed son!”

Li Yuan’s eyelids flickered slightly as he said in alarm: “His Majesty shows such great favor—Li Yuan truly feels unworthy of it!”

“Lord Li is a pillar of the court. How can you speak of being unworthy?” As Zheng Ying spoke, Li Shimin stepped forward to pay his respects. The latter looked him over carefully and praised: “Mm, I’ve long heard that Lord Li’s sons are all dragons among men. Seeing the Second Young Master today, he’s indeed heroic and extraordinary—he’ll surely achieve great things in the future.”

Li Yuan smiled: “My son is ordinary. He hardly deserves such words from Eunuch Zheng.”

“Lord Li is too modest.” Saying this, Zheng Ying welcomed them inside. After servants served fragrant tea, Zheng Ying said: “Lord Li, was your journey here smooth?”

Li Yuan bowed: “Thanks to His Majesty’s blessing, everything went well. Tomorrow morning, I will enter the palace to have an audience with His Majesty.” Then he probed: “Does Eunuch know for what matter His Majesty has specifically summoned me to the capital?”

Zheng Ying flicked his whisk and said with a smile: “After Lord Li enters the palace tomorrow to see His Majesty, you’ll naturally know. Why be anxious about it now?”

Seeing him deflect neither lightly nor heavily, Li Yuan tactfully didn’t ask further. After some idle conversation, Zheng Ying rose: “Lord Li must be tired from the long journey. Rest early. This servant should also return to the palace to report to His Majesty.”

Hearing this, Li Yuan and Li Shimin personally escorted him to the door. Just as he was about to board his carriage, Zheng Ying suddenly walked back, slapping his forehead: “Look at this memory of mine—I nearly forgot what His Majesty instructed.” After a pause, he said: “His Majesty has decreed that tomorrow Lord Li and your son shall both enter the Ziwei Palace for an audience!”

A moment of wariness flashed across Li Yuan’s face, though his expression remained as respectfully composed as always: “Subject Li Yuan respectfully obeys His Majesty’s edict!”

After another round of bowing farewells, Zheng Ying boarded his carriage. Only after the carriage disappeared from view did the Li father and son turn back to the post station. Upon entering the guest room prepared for them at the post station and having Duan Zhihong and the others guard the door, Li Shimin was about to speak when Li Yuan made a gesture for silence, then took paper and brush to write four characters: “Beware of walls having ears.”

Although Duan Zhihong and the others were guarding the door, their guest room was in the middle with rooms on both sides. No one knew if someone might be lying against the adjacent wall listening to their conversation.

Li Shimin nodded understandingly and took the brush to write on the paper: “Father, His Majesty knew as soon as we arrived in Luoyang and sent Zheng Ying in advance. It seems our movements have been under His Majesty’s surveillance all along.”

“I know, which is why we must be even more careful and not let our guard down.” Saying this aloud, Li Yuan said: “Shimin, do you think the treasure I brought this time will catch His Majesty’s eye?”

“That treasure is extremely rare—surely His Majesty will like it.” As he spoke, Li Shimin wrote again: “His Majesty specifically had Zheng Ying relay the edict summoning both father and son to the palace together—I fear he harbors ill intentions.”

“Not necessarily!” Li Yuan pondered for a moment and wrote: “If His Majesty intended to harm you and me, what we’d encounter upon entering the capital wouldn’t be Zheng Ying but the imperial guards. Still, we can’t be careless—the emperor’s heart is hard to fathom. In any case, tomorrow we’ll act according to circumstances and respond carefully.”

Li Shimin nodded. While exchanging trivial conversation with Li Yuan, he walked to a nearby silk lantern, removed the lampshade painted with eight beauties, and burned to ashes both their written dialogue and the note the drunkard had given him in the marketplace earlier, leaving no trace.

When the sky grew somewhat dark, the post station manager came upstairs to invite them down for dinner. Li Yuan said: “No need. It’s rare to be in the capital—I want to visit an old friend. You go ahead and eat.”

After the manager acknowledged this, Li Yuan left the post station with Li Shimin and several guards. They hadn’t walked long when Duan Zhihong quickly came to Li Shimin’s side and whispered: “Second Young Master, someone is following us.”

Li Shimin said quietly: “Don’t look back. Act as if you know nothing.” The earlier conversation with Li Yuan had already made him understand that his and his father’s every move was under Yang Guang’s surveillance.

After about the time it takes to burn a stick of incense, Li Yuan stopped before an unremarkable residence. Li Shimin smiled: “Father really did come to see Uncle Xiahou.”

Li Yuan smiled: “Xiahou and I have had over ten years of friendship. Since we’re in the capital, how could I not visit him? Come to think of it, our last meeting was in the ninth year of Daye. Last time I really owed it to him that I could preserve my life.”

Li Shimin’s expression stiffened slightly, then he said: “Yes, I’ve always remembered Uncle Xiahou’s kindness.”

As they spoke, a doorkeeper opened the door. After receiving Li Yuan’s calling card, he went inside. Soon, a figure appeared before the Li father and son accompanied by hurried footsteps—it was Xiahou Duan. Seeing Li Yuan, he appeared very happy. After formal greetings, he welcomed the Li father and son inside.

After they were seated, Xiahou Duan dismissed the servants and personally handed tea to Li Yuan: “I thought Brother Li would arrive in a few more days.”