“You… how could you do such a thing?” Li Shimin said with difficulty accepting the truth. “Although Zhiyun was not born of our mother, he is still our brother, and he has always been good to us, never harboring any ill will, and he even saved elder brother’s life.”

“I know, I wanted to protect him, but Yuanji… he acted on his own without consulting me at all. What could I do? Should I tell father the truth and then watch as father punishes or even kills Yuanji?”

Li Shimin stared at him with a pained expression. “In your eyes and Yuanji’s, what exactly are brothers? Why can you raise your blade against each other without hesitation?”

Li Jiancheng walked up to him, and amidst the swirling snowflakes falling from the sky, he said mournfully, “Shimin, elder brother knows he was wrong, and so does Yuanji. Please give us another chance. Elder brother swears that he will never do such foolish things again, or else let me die an unnatural death. I believe mother’s spirit in heaven would not want to see us brothers killing each other!”

His last words struck Li Shimin’s heart like a thunderbolt. Yes, mother’s greatest wish before she died was for father to be healthy and for them brothers to be harmonious and respectful to each other. If today he told father everything, it would mean completely severing their brotherhood, even destroying their brotherly bond. Mother’s spirit would surely not rest in peace.

Moreover, aside from this mistake, elder brother had not been unkind to him. Years ago, he knew that he had let Yunyi go, yet still helped him conceal it from father.

Thinking of this, he took a deep breath and said, “Are elder brother’s words truly sincere?”

Li Jiancheng, knowing that he had been moved by his words, quickly replied, “Having already sworn an oath, how could it be false?”

“Good.” Li Shimin nodded. “I will tell father that Liu Wen, greedy for wealth and power, informed Yuwen Zhiji in hopes of exchanging our lives for merit and profit. Fortunately, heaven protected us and his scheme did not succeed. As for the others in the camp, knowing Liu Wen’s suspicious behavior but failing to report it in time, nearly causing a great disaster, they should all be executed according to military law.”

Hearing this, Li Jiancheng let out a long sigh of relief and said gratefully, “Thank you, second brother, for giving your foolish elder brother this chance. I will not disappoint you.”

Li Shimin looked at him and said, “I have never thought of competing with elder brother for anything. Not before, not now, and never in the future.”

“I know.” Li Jiancheng said with shame. “It was elder brother who judged a gentleman by a petty person’s standards. Elder brother guarantees that he will never have such despicable thoughts again. We brothers will unite as one to help father achieve his great enterprise!”

After rejoining the main army, Li Shimin kept his promise and blamed everything on the dead Liu Wen and others, not mentioning a single fault of Li Jiancheng and Li Yuanji.

When he finished speaking, Li Yuan stroked his beard and said, “So you’re saying Princess Jinyang also came?”

Li Shimin replied, “Yes, the princess is waiting outside the tent now. Would father like to see her?”

Li Yuan pondered for a moment and said, “Please let her come in.”

“Yes.” Li Shimin responded and walked out of the tent. After a while, he brought Yunyi in. She stopped in the center of the tent and curtsied to Li Yuan, saying, “Jinyang thanks Duke Li for saving her life. In the past, Jinyang was young and inexperienced, committing grave errors. Looking back now, I truly regret it deeply. Fortunately, Duke Li is magnanimous and willing to extend aid to save Jinyang from danger. Jinyang is truly grateful beyond words.”

Li Yuan said with emotion, “You once killed my beloved son, but you also saved my father and son in Luoyang city. The grievances between us are truly difficult to explain clearly.”

Yunyi lowered her eyes and said, “In the past, Jinyang listened to the sorcerer Angjiatuo’s words, thinking that Duke Li would destabilize the realm and bring suffering to the people. But in fact, the one who truly brought chaos to the world and made the people suffer unbearably was none other than Yang Guang. Fortunately, Duke Li is unharmed, otherwise even if Jinyang died a hundred or thousand times, it would be difficult to atone for the sin committed.”

Li Shimin interjected, “Father, the princess cares for the people and has repeatedly spoken for them before Yang Guang. Unfortunately, Yang Guang was foolish and not only refused to listen to her advice but also scolded the princess many times.”

Li Yuan glanced at him and said to Yunyi, “Let us not speak of past matters. Princess, you have had a hard journey. I will have someone take you to rest.” Speaking to an attendant nearby, he said, “Take good care of the princess, and do not show the slightest negligence.”

“Yes.” After the attendant led Yunyi out, Li Yuan looked at Li Shimin and said, “How do you plan to arrange for her?”

Li Shimin knew he was referring to Yunyi and immediately said, “Father is about to attack Chang’an. Your son was thinking that after taking Chang’an, we could welcome Princess Jinyang back into the palace. This would not only provide for Princess Jinyang but also tell the world once again that father only opposes Yang Guang and still reveres the Yang clan.”

“Good.” After a pause, Li Yuan suddenly said, “Do you still remember who killed Xuanba?”

Li Shimin didn’t expect him to suddenly ask this and was stunned for a moment before replying, “Your son naturally remembers.”

“Good that you remember.” Li Yuan’s voice turned slightly cold. “I know that when you were in Honghua Commandery, you were quite close to her. Yes, she did save my father and son’s lives, but she is also the murderer who killed Xuanba. Rescuing her from Jiangdu was already my greatest tolerance and concession. I will not agree to anything else. Do you understand?”

Li Shimin’s heart chilled. Li Yuan’s words were clearly warning him not to get entangled with Yunyi. He lowered his head and said, “Your son understands.”

Li Yuan nodded with satisfaction and then said, “You must have heard about Xiuning recruiting seventy thousand soldiers.”

“Yes, third sister truly does not yield to men. With her own strength, she recruited seventy thousand righteous soldiers. Your son truly admires her.”

“When Xiuning came, she said she would hand over these seventy thousand soldiers to your command. However, since you had gone to Jiangdu at that time, these seventy thousand soldiers temporarily fell under my command. Now that you have returned, I will place them under your command to help me take Chang’an!”

“Father, rest assured, your son will not disappoint you.” Li Shimin originally had fifty thousand troops like Li Jiancheng. Adding these seventy thousand, he now commanded one hundred and twenty thousand, more than Li Yuan directly controlled.

While following the attendant to her quarters, Yunyi unexpectedly saw Jirong, who was equally surprised to see her and blurted out, “Meixue?”

Yunyi walked over and said calmly, “It has been a long time since we last met.”

Jirong had now composed herself. Meixue was dead; how could she still be alive? But she had just heard that Li Shimin had brought Princess Jinyang, so this person who looked exactly like Meixue must be her. Thinking of this, she curtsied slightly and said, “This humble woman greets Princess Jinyang.”

“No need for formalities. I thought we would never meet again after Honghua Commandery, but unexpectedly we are so fated.” Speaking thus, she examined Jirong’s jeweled and brocaded appearance and said, “Looking at your attire, you should no longer be a mere dancing girl.”