While in the midst of this difficult situation, Li Yuan’s voice reached his ears: “Subject Li Yuan and my son thank Your Majesty for this great grace. May Your Majesty live ten thousand years, ten thousand years, ten thousand times ten thousand years!”

Seeing Li Yuan say this, Li Shimin had no choice but to express gratitude and accept the decree. Zheng Ying smiled and said: “His Majesty truly holds the Li family in the highest regard, specially designating Princess Yongfeng to marry down. This exceptional favor makes countless people green with envy!”

Li Yuan nodded repeatedly, his face full of gratitude: “His Majesty’s grace—even if Yuan died ten thousand deaths, it would be difficult to repay even one part of it.”

Zheng Ying smiled: “As long as Master Li understands. Well then, this servant must return to report back. Master Li and Young Master Li, remember to enter court tomorrow to express gratitude.”

“I understand. Thank you, Eunuch Zheng.” After seeing Zheng Ying off, Li Yuan’s smile faded from his face as he looked at the decree on the table and sighed continuously.

Li Shimin said in a serious tone: “Does Father truly want your son to marry Princess Yongfeng?”

Li Yuan didn’t answer but instead asked: “What are your thoughts?”

Li Shimin was silent for a moment, then said: “Your son has a prior engagement with Wugou. The person your son should marry is Wugou, not Princess Yongfeng.”

Li Yuan sighed deeply: “I understand, and I never expected His Majesty to suddenly issue such a decree.”

Li Shimin gritted his teeth hard: “If Father considers the bigger picture and insists that your son marry Princess Yongfeng, then your son will agree.” He was naturally filial, not to mention this matter concerned the lives of the entire Li family clan. If Li Yuan spoke up, let alone bearing the reputation of being unfaithful and heartless, even if it cost him his life, he would definitely comply.

Li Yuan sighed again: “I know your thoughts, but even if you truly marry Princess Yongfeng, the Li family may not necessarily be safe.”

Li Shimin asked in confusion: “Why does Father say this?”

“Have you forgotten about Zhangsun Shunde?” Li Yuan’s words jolted Li Shimin awake. Indeed, when elder brother was in Hedong, he befriended Zhangsun Shunde. Seeing this person had both courage and strategy, as well as anti-Sui intentions, he recruited him into his ranks and even had him command the thousands of recruited able-bodied men at Xingguo Temple.

Once he married Princess Yongfeng, it would mean turning against the Zhangsun family. How could Zhangsun Shunde, who was Wugou’s clan uncle, stand by and watch his niece be humiliated? At that time, he would only need to publicly reveal the Li family’s private recruitment of soldiers in Hedong, and Yang Guang would absolutely not let any member of the Li family live.

After much consideration, they discovered that regardless of which path they chose, death awaited them ahead.

Li Shimin took paper and brush and wrote: “So Father is planning to act early?”

Li Yuan contemplated with lowered eyes for a long time, then took the brush and wrote: “If there’s truly no other way, we can only do this. You should contact Xue Wanche.”

Li Shimin nodded. After writing a new note and tucking it in his sleeve, and burning the previous written paper, he left the post station. Not far from there, both he and Duan Zhihong felt they were being followed.

Duan Zhihong said in a low voice: “Ever since entering Luoyang, I’ve constantly felt like we’re being followed. This feeling is really uncomfortable.”

“Just bear with it,” Li Shimin said softly. They made their way to Yuelai Inn, a rather famous establishment in Luoyang that not only provided lodging but also served excellent food and drink.

Li Shimin entered the shop and went upstairs with Duan Zhihong, finding a seat by the window. They ordered a pot of wine and several of the establishment’s signature dishes.

After chatting idly with Li Shimin for a while, Duan Zhihong couldn’t help but ask: “Second Young Master, what are we doing here?”

Li Shimin took the wine brought by the server, and using the opportunity of pouring wine, he quietly passed the paper ball hidden in his sleeve to Duan Zhihong, saying in a low voice: “Xue Wanche is in room number nine of the Earth section. Find a way to deliver this note to him. The people following us should be those two sitting diagonally behind you right now. Don’t turn around.”

Although Duan Zhihong still didn’t understand how Xue Wanche from elder brother’s side came to be here, this was clearly not the time to ask such questions. He quietly pocketed the paper ball and whispered: “This subordinate understands.”

Afterward, the two drank wine and talked. This inn had quite good business, with people constantly coming in to dine, and soon it was packed full. Servers moved continuously among the tables.

When another server passed by their table, Duan Zhihong quietly extended his foot that had been resting by the table edge. The server didn’t notice this at all and was immediately tripped, falling forward and landing right on the table diagonally behind Duan Zhihong. Bowls and dishes scattered to the floor with crashes and clatters, and the table surface became a complete mess, instantly making that table the focus of everyone’s attention.

The server was also startled by the chaos he had caused. Not caring about the dirt on his body, he quickly apologized to the customers at that table: “This humble one didn’t do it on purpose. Please forgive me, sir!”

Taking advantage of this commotion, Duan Zhihong was able to openly turn around and look. There were two men about thirty years old, both with sinister gazes. One of them had a hooked nose, and as soon as his eyes met Duan Zhihong’s, he immediately looked away.

At this moment, the innkeeper also heard the commotion and came upstairs, striking the server’s head hard and scolding: “You little rascal, how do you do your work? How did you make such a mess?”

The server said with a bitter face: “Innkeeper, I didn’t do it on purpose either. Just now I accidentally tripped over a table leg, and then… it became like this. I’m sorry! I’m sorry!”

“What’s the use of apologizing to me?” The innkeeper struck him again and walked to the hooked-nose man, apologizing with a smile: “Please forgive us, sir. It’s all because he’s careless and clumsy, disturbing your drinking pleasure. I’ll have someone clean this up immediately and prepare a new serving. Everything you eat today will be on the house.”

The man didn’t want to say much to the innkeeper and simply said: “Alright, just have someone clean it up quickly.”

Seeing that the man didn’t take the opportunity to make trouble, the innkeeper breathed a sigh of relief and quickly had people clean up the mess, then wiped the table clean and had the spilled dishes remade.

When everything returned to normal, the man sat back down at the table, but in the next moment, he tensed up. In just that moment of distraction, only Li Shimin remained at the diagonal table—Duan Zhihong had disappeared.

Just as one of them was about to get up to search, footsteps came from the stairway, and the missing Duan Zhihong appeared in their sight.

He returned to the table, smiling: “This inn really hides the privy well. I searched for quite a while before finding it.”

Li Shimin smiled and raised his cup: “Let’s continue drinking. This Wucheng Ruoxia wine is really good. When we go back, we must buy a few jars to take back for elder brother and the others to try.”

The so-called Wucheng Ruoxia was a type of clear wine brewed from rice. It wasn’t very intoxicating but rather gave one a sweet and fragrant feeling.

Hearing that Duan Zhihong had gone to the privy, the two men behind relaxed and continued using drinking as cover while monitoring Li Shimin and his companion.