Xin’an laughed bitterly: “No matter what the Tang King says, you still want my life.”

“It’s not that this king wants it, but what the princess did was too excessive.” Speaking thus, he said with some impatience: “This king will ask the princess one more time – who exactly instigated you to do this? If the princess still refuses to speak, don’t blame this king.”

Li Jiancheng also pretended to persuade from the side: “If the princess doesn’t want to suffer physical pain, please speak truthfully.”

Seeing the act had gone far enough, Xin’an feigned helplessness: “Very well, I’ll tell you. Over a month ago, someone infiltrated the palace to see me. He said his name was Duan Li and he was Wang Shichong’s subordinate. If I cooperated with him to help them capture Luoyang, they would honor me as Grand Princess and grant me lifelong wealth and glory. I… originally refused to agree, but seeing His Majesty favor Jinyang everywhere while ignoring me, his aunt, I agreed in a moment of anger.”

Li Shimin frowned: “So Duan Li was the mastermind behind this?”

Xin’an nodded: “Though you returned without victory from the Luoyang campaign, it still made Wang Shichong afraid. To him, you are the greatest threat. Only with your death would he have a chance to capture Chang’an.”

“So Duan Li conspired with you to kill His Majesty and frame Jinyang and me?” Facing Li Shimin’s inquiry, Xin’an said: “Correct. Duan Li had considered assassination, but never had complete confidence. He discovered I had grievances with Jinyang, so he came to seek my cooperation. Originally everything went smoothly, but at the last moment, that wretched girl Jinyang outsmarted us, making all my efforts futile. Truly hateful!”

“His Majesty was your close relative, yet you personally killed him and framed innocent people without any remorse. You’re truly beyond redemption!”

Xin’an scoffed at his words, paying them no heed. Li Yuan observed all this, cold intent gathering in his eyes: “Those who harm others ultimately harm themselves. Today’s events are all your own doing. You deserve death!”

“My own doing… heh heh heh!” Xin’an sneered for a moment, then suddenly shrieked: “If Li Shimin and Xin’an hadn’t schemed to harm me back then, how would I have come to this point? They’re the ones who deserve death! They are!”

“Death is too good for you!” After saying these four words, Li Yuan called over a nearby palace servant and said coldly: “Go prepare three chi of white silk and send Princess Xin’an on her way!”

The palace servant tremblingly acknowledged and departed. Xin’an wasn’t surprised by Li Yuan’s words, but Li Jiancheng… hadn’t he said he would plead for her? Yet from entering until now, he hadn’t spoken a single word of intercession. Could it be… he wanted to go back on his word?

Just as heavy suspicions arose in Xin’an’s heart, Li Jiancheng suddenly said: “Father, though Princess Xin’an has committed a grave error, she is still of imperial blood. Killing her like this – wouldn’t it be inappropriate?”

“When she killed His Majesty, she was no longer a princess. Moreover, the Son of Heaven breaking the law is the same as commoners breaking it. Those who kill should pay with their lives.” Speaking thus, his gaze turned sharp as he said coldly: “Don’t tell me you don’t understand even this principle?”

Li Jiancheng’s heart chilled as he lowered his head: “Your son spoke foolishly. Please forgive me, Father.” Taking advantage of Li Yuan and Li Shimin’s inattention, he gave Xin’an a helpless look.

Though Xin’an still felt dissatisfied with him, her anger diminished somewhat, and she swallowed the words on her lips.

After a while, the palace servant entered carrying a tray with white silk, keeping his head lowered, not daring to look at anyone: “Your Highness, it’s ready.”

Xin’an’s legs trembled as she instinctively stepped back, saying in a shaking voice: “Li Yuan, if you kill me today, you’ll forever bear the infamy of forcing your former master to death. Is that really good?” Seeing Li Yuan remain silent, she added: “Why don’t you spare me today? I promise I’ll immediately leave Chang’an, change my name, live in seclusion, ask nothing about worldly affairs, and no one will know of my existence.”

“What about His Majesty’s matter?” Seeing Li Yuan hadn’t refused, Xin’an immediately perked up and hurriedly said: “You can just find any female prisoner from the Ministry of Justice prison to take my place.”

Li Yuan smiled slightly: “The princess truly has fine thoughts.” Just when Xin’an thought he feared bearing infamy and agreed to her proposal, Li Yuan’s smile suddenly vanished as he said coldly: “Unfortunately, in this king’s view, nothing is more important than letting His Majesty rest in peace. Do it yourself!”

Hearing his last few words and the killing intent in his voice, Xin’an was so frightened she kept backing away: “No, I don’t want to die! I don’t want to!” She looked toward Li Jiancheng in panic – he was her only lifeline.

Li Jiancheng knew he couldn’t stand by at this moment, so he had already prepared his words and said quietly: “Father, looking at Princess Xin’an’s state, having her commit suicide is absolutely impossible. Why not let your son handle this matter?”

Li Yuan nodded: “Very well. Remember, this woman’s crimes are heinous – absolutely no mercy!”

“Your son understands.” After seeing Li Yuan off, Li Jiancheng said to the palace servant still holding the white silk: “You may leave as well.”

The palace servant couldn’t wait to leave this place and quickly put the white silk on the long table before withdrawing. After closing the palace doors, Xin’an impatiently asked: “Should we leave now? Where’s the carriage? Which palace gate did you arrange? I’ll go change clothes right now. Do you think it’s better to disguise as a palace maid or a eunuch?”

Li Jiancheng smiled: “No need to be so hasty.”

Seeing his confident appearance, Xin’an assumed he had arranged everything and gradually calmed down. She stepped forward to take Li Jiancheng’s arm: “How did I answer about Duan Li just now? Was it good?”

“Father didn’t have the slightest suspicion, so it was excellent.” His praise made Xin’an very happy as she pouted: “I wholeheartedly helped you, but you just stood there for so long and only said one sentence for me. You’re so heartless.” She lightly pinched his arm as punishment.

“You saw Father’s attitude too. I only gave one piece of advice and nearly made him angry. How could I dare persuade more?”

Xin’an knew he spoke the truth – she was just taking the opportunity to act coquettish. She then said: “By the way, where do you plan to send me? I don’t want to be too far from Chang’an, or else I won’t be able to see you often.”

“Of course, I can’t bear to part with you either.” This sentence delighted Xin’an immensely. Just as she was about to speak, she saw Li Jiancheng pick up the white silk from the tray. For some reason, her heart suddenly panicked greatly. She hurriedly reached out to snatch it and threw it on the ground, saying coquettishly: “Why take such an inauspicious thing?”

Li Jiancheng bent down to pick up the dust-covered white silk from the ground and smiled: “This thing is meant to send the princess on her final journey – how can it be thrown away!”

Hearing these words, Xin’an’s body suddenly stiffened as she stared at Li Jiancheng: “What did you say?”

Li Jiancheng’s smile remained as he said: “Has the princess so quickly forgotten what Father just said? Murdering His Majesty – crimes heinous beyond redemption – absolutely no mercy!”