He had always thought that even if he died, it would be on the battlefield, on horseback. He never imagined it would be in this manner. And he didn’t even know who had harmed him.

Lost in contemplation, Li Shimin didn’t hear the prison door open again until a jailer accompanied someone to the door of his cell, and only then did he notice, saying in surprise, “Uncle Pei, why have you come?”

After signaling the jailer to leave, Peiji looked Li Shimin up and down, saying, “I’ve come to see you at your father’s request.”

Li Shimin’s expression darkened, and he said in a low voice, “Father didn’t come—is he angry with me?”

“The Prince of Tang has always believed you were framed by someone, but unfortunately lacks evidence to prove His Majesty was not killed by you.” Having said this, Peiji added, “I just encountered Jiancheng and the others. Have they told you everything?”

“Yes, eldest brother said father is under pressure from the court and will issue the order for my execution within days.”

Peiji looked at him for a long while, then asked, “Do you blame the Prince of Tang?”

“This matter was due to my own carelessness. I can blame no one.” Speaking thus, Li Shimin took a light breath, “I only regret that I can no longer fight for father and unify the realm.”

“That you can think this way shows you haven’t wasted the Prince of Tang’s efforts.” With these words, Peiji quietly slipped a small porcelain bottle into Li Shimin’s palm. Looking left and right to ensure no one was watching, he whispered, “Do you remember how Zhaoren escaped?”

Li Shimin naturally remembered and understood what he had placed in his hand, asking in surprise, “How does Uncle Pei have such a thing?”

Though this matter wasn’t exactly a secret, only Imperial Physician Zhao possessed this medicine, and Jiangnan was over a thousand li away—it would be impossible to obtain it in such short time. Moreover, as far as he knew, Peiji had no dealings with Imperial Physician Zhao.

Peiji smiled slightly, “I naturally don’t have it, but the Prince of Tang does.”

Li Shimin was startled, then his face lit up with joy, “Uncle Pei, you mean this is… this is…” Halfway through his words, he saw Peiji make a gesture for silence and quickly stopped speaking. After his emotions had somewhat settled, he lowered his voice, “This is father’s intention?”

“Of course.” Peiji said in a low voice, “I came today also at the Prince of Tang’s request. He has always been concerned about you. When you first got into trouble, he sent people on swift horses to find Imperial Physician Zhao to obtain this medicine, precisely to prevent today’s situation.”

Li Shimin clutched the porcelain bottle tightly, choking out, “Please thank father for me, Uncle Pei.”

“What the Prince of Tang most hopes to see is your safety.” Peiji patted his shoulder, whispering, “If nothing unexpected happens, the execution will be tomorrow. You control the timing yourself.”

Li Shimin understood his meaning and nodded, saying gratefully, “I know. Thank you, Uncle Pei.”

Peiji smiled, “I’m merely a messenger. There’s nothing to thank me for. It’s just a pity that we won’t see you galloping on battlefields, expanding territory for the Prince of Tang anymore. What a shame.”

Li Shimin felt equally regretful, but being able to preserve his life was already great fortune in misfortune—how could he dare ask for more? Shortly after Peiji left, Li Yuan’s order came down: Li Shimin was sentenced to death, to be executed tomorrow at noon.

In Mingse Hall, Yunyi was reading through the documents and case files she had collected over the past few days while pondering ways to save Li Shimin. Beside her sat thick stacks of records, all related to the twenty-seventh of March, including duty rosters for guards and palace servants.

Just then, the hall door was suddenly pushed open, and Jixiang rushed in with a panicked expression, shouting as she ran, “Terrible news! Princess, terrible news!”

Seeing her like this, Yunyi’s heart sank, “Has something happened to Shimin?”

Jixiang nodded frantically. She had run too urgently and couldn’t speak for a moment. After taking several deep breaths, she said in panic, “This servant just heard from the guards that Second Young Master has been sentenced to death and will be executed tomorrow… tomorrow at noon!”

“Ah!” Ruyi cried out, saying urgently, “Has the Prince of Tang gone mad? Second Young Master is his biological son, yet he sentences him to death?!”

Jixiang said bitterly, “I suppose the Prince of Tang had no choice either. I heard that these past days, the court officials have been putting pressure on the Prince of Tang.” Before she finished speaking, there was a crash of “ping li pa la” as Yunyi swept everything from the table to the floor. Papers flew everywhere, and she herself collapsed to the ground, her face completely drained of color, her gaze unfocused and vacant.

Seeing this, Ruyi quickly helped her up, “Princess, don’t be like this. Everything will be fine. Second Young Master will surely be fine.” Apart from these words, Ruyi didn’t know what else to say. Most sadly, even she didn’t believe her own words.

Previously, when Li Yuan hadn’t issued the execution order, though things looked bad for Li Shimin, there was still a glimmer of hope. But now…

Jixiang crouched down, looking at the silent Yunyi with concern, “Princess, if you want to cry, just cry. You’ll feel better after crying… Princess, what are you doing?”

While Jixiang was speaking, Yunyi suddenly pushed away Ruyi beside her, then crawled on the ground collecting the scattered papers and documents, muttering, “There’s a way, there must be a way to save Shimin. He cannot die, especially not because of me!” By the end, she was becoming somewhat hysterical.

Seeing Yunyi like this, Ruyi and Jixiang were heartbroken. They knew better than anyone how deep their mistress’s feelings for Second Young Master Li were. To make the Princess watch helplessly as Second Young Master was beheaded was truly… too cruel.

Since regaining her freedom, the Princess had never gone to the prison to visit Second Young Master—not because she was heartless, but because she had devoted all her time to finding evidence to overturn his case. Unfortunately, before she could find any, Second Young Master was already…

“Evidence… evidence…” Yunyi muttered while frantically flipping through the documents, tears already brimming in her eyes, yet she stubbornly held them back, unwilling to let them fall.

Jixiang watched with heartache and pressed down on her trembling hands, “Princess, don’t do this. You’ve already done your best. It’s heaven that’s blind, insisting on taking away someone as good as Second Young Master!” Before she finished speaking, Yunyi had already forcefully pushed away her hands and shouted sternly, “I won’t let it take Shimin away! If you dare say such things again, get out!”

Jixiang had never seen her looking so fierce and didn’t know what to do. Yunyi continued to bow her head and flip through the documents, reading the same book over and over again. Ruyi couldn’t bear to watch and reached out to snatch the document from Yunyi’s hands, saying hoarsely, “Princess, you’ve read these documents no less than ten times. It’s useless. Stop reading them!”

“No, there must be something I haven’t discovered yet. Give it back to me, quickly give it back!” Faced with her grabbing, Ruyi held the document behind her back, shaking her head with tears, “It’s useless, Princess. It’s already useless!”

Yunyi’s eyes suddenly turned red with madness, and she pounced on Ruyi, trying to snatch the document back, “Give it to me! There must be something I missed! There must be!”

The two struggled on the ground, with Jixiang trying to help separate them while crying, “Princess, please stop! Please stop!”

Just then, rapid footsteps sounded outside the hall, and someone shouted, “Princess! Princess!”

The three women paused their struggle and looked toward the door. A guard rushed in, his face flushed with urgency, “Princess, this subordinate has urgent news!”

Yunyi immediately released Ruyi and grabbed the guard’s arm, “What news? Is it about Second Young Master? Speak quickly!”

The guard caught his breath and said, “Princess, this subordinate just heard from a colleague that someone saw a person who looked very much like Xiao Liuzi near the east gate yesterday!”

Yunyi’s eyes instantly blazed with hope, “Where? Where exactly?”

“At a wine shop near the east gate. The shop owner said this person came to buy wine and looked very much like the portrait that’s been circulated!”

Without hesitation, Yunyi stood up, “Prepare horses immediately! We’re going to the east gate!”

“Princess!” Ruyi quickly grabbed her, “It’s already dark outside, and even if we go now…”

“I don’t care!” Yunyi’s voice was resolute, “Even if there’s only a thread of hope, I must try! Shimin will be executed tomorrow at noon—I have no time to waste!”

She turned to the guard, “How reliable is this news?”

The guard hesitated, “Princess, this subordinate cannot guarantee its accuracy. It’s just that the person looked similar…”

“Similar is enough!” Yunyi’s eyes burned with determination, “Ready the horses! We leave immediately!”

“Princess,” Jixiang said with concern, “even if we find this person, there’s no guarantee…”

“There’s no guarantee, but I must try!” Yunyi’s voice was fierce, “I will not let Shimin die! I will not!”

As she spoke, she had already started toward the door. Ruyi and Jixiang quickly followed, both worried about their mistress’s state but understanding that this might be their only chance.

The night was deep, but in Mingse Hall, hope had been rekindled. Tomorrow’s execution was approaching, but tonight, they would not give up the fight.