Li Yuanji persisted relentlessly: “No way! If I said thirty cups, it must be thirty cups. At most, if Second Brother gets drunk, I’ll have someone carry you back.”

Li Jiancheng spoke up: “Enough, don’t make things difficult for Shimin. Drinking thirty cups would make him pass out immediately – how could he still talk with us? It’s rare for us to gather like this, and I don’t want to waste it. If it comes to that, I’ll drink the remaining twenty cups for Shimin. That should be acceptable, right?”

Seeing him say this, Li Yuanji reluctantly agreed: “Fine, then drink ten cups. But for the remaining twenty cups, if anyone’s going to help, it should be Zhao Jin and the others drinking together. That would be fair.”

“You’re so troublesome!” Li Jiancheng scolded him helplessly. “Shimin, just go along with him. Otherwise, neither of us will have any peace. Though this wine is rather strong, the cups are small – Zhihong and Zhao Jin should be able to handle ten cups each.”

Before Li Shimin could speak, Duan Zhihong said: “Please forgive us, Crown Prince and Prince of Qi. We are on duty and cannot drink alcohol.”

Li Yuanji dismissed this: “If you won’t drink, then Second Brother drinks it all. Choose one or the other – think it over.”

Faced with Li Yuanji’s almost forceful tone, both Duan Zhihong and Zhao Jin frowned with displeasure, but due to Li Yuanji’s status, they didn’t dare show it openly.

Just as the atmosphere was becoming somewhat tense, Li Shimin said: “Since Prince of Qi has spoken, you two should help me drink this wine. Breaking the rules once in a while won’t matter. Even if we all get drunk, naturally Prince of Qi’s guards will escort us back.”

“But…” Before Duan Zhihong could continue, Li Shimin said coolly: “What, you won’t even drink a few cups of wine for me?”

“That’s not what I meant, sir.” Under Li Shimin’s gaze, Duan Zhihong and Zhao Jin reluctantly picked up their filled wine cups and drank them one after another. By the time they had each consumed ten cups, Li Shimin had also finished his portion.

“Excellent!” Li Yuanji clapped his hands and picked up the wine pot to pour more. This time, before he could finish pouring one cup, the pot was already empty. He glared at the steward: “What are you standing there for? Hurry and get another one.”

The steward didn’t dare delay and quickly brought an exquisite wine pot. After Li Yuanji filled Li Jiancheng’s cup, as if fearing the wine lid would fall, he pressed it down with one hand before pouring wine for Li Shimin. When it came to his own turn, he slightly lifted his finger, releasing the wine lid.

Li Yuanji raised his cup: “Come, let me toast my two elder brothers again. Apart from Father, you two brothers have contributed the most to bringing the Great Tang to where it is today. Unlike me – I’ve accomplished nothing!”

“You need to be more steady in handling matters from now on, and stop being so impetuous all the time.” Faced with Li Jiancheng’s scolding, Li Yuanji chuckled and drained his cup first, with Li Jiancheng following suit. Only Li Shimin stared at the pale yellow liquid in his cup, lost in thought.

Li Yuanji quickly exchanged a glance with Li Jiancheng: “Second Brother, why aren’t you drinking? Don’t tell me you’re actually drunk?”

Li Shimin smiled slightly and shook his head: “Not drunk, just suddenly remembering things from the past. I remember when Father sent you to Zhongnan Mountain, you were only four years old. You cried then, and Master Zhang was very strict with you – he only allowed you to come home for a few days during New Year. Before you turned ten, I always went to Zhongnan Mountain to fetch you. When you were eleven, you told me very seriously that you had grown up, that you were a man now and could go home by yourself without needing me to fetch you. I remember you barely reached my chest then.”

Li Yuanji laughed: “I remember. For the next two years, I always went home alone and returned to Zhongnan Mountain by myself.”

Li Shimin stared at his face and said slowly: “But do you also know that during those two years, when New Year was approaching, I would still go to Zhongnan Mountain to secretly protect you? I would only rush back home just before your arrival, pretending I had been home all along.”

“There was such a thing?” As he spoke, he looked toward Li Jiancheng, who said nothing but merely toyed with his empty wine cup.

“What, you think I’m lying to you?” Li Shimin’s words brought Li Yuanji back to his senses, and he quickly said: “Of course not. I just never realized that Second Brother cared so much about me.”

“You and I are blood brothers – if I don’t care about you, who would I care about?” At this point, Li Shimin sighed deeply. “Xuanba’s death has always been a knot in my heart. If I had been more careful back then, or watched him more closely, such a thing wouldn’t have happened. But alas, the dead cannot return – no matter how sad and grieved I am, I cannot bring Xuanba back to life. All I can do is protect those around me and fulfill the promises I once made to Mother.”

Li Jiancheng spoke up: “Don’t bring up the past anymore.”

Li Shimin shook his head: “I don’t know why, but lately I’ve been thinking often about the old days. Though we didn’t have today’s honor and wealth, we brothers were united in heart, without any divisions.”

Li Jiancheng raised an eyebrow and said slowly: “Whether then or now, we brothers are all of one heart – this has never changed. At least I haven’t changed.” Then he added: “But Shimin, why do you think this way? Do you believe that Yuanji and I have changed?”

Li Shimin lowered his head and smiled: “No, I was just speaking casually. Don’t take it to heart, Elder Brother!”

“Of course not.” After this statement, the room suddenly became extraordinarily quiet. The three men lowered their heads, lost in their own thoughts. Only the wine cup in Li Shimin’s hand flickered with colors under the lamplight.

After an unknown amount of time, Li Yuanji was the first to break the silence: “Second Brother, after saying so much, you still haven’t drunk the wine I poured for you. What’s wrong – don’t you want to drink it?”

“Of course not.” Li Shimin looked at him, his eyes containing an indescribable emotion. “Even if what you poured for me was poisoned wine, Second Brother would still drink it!”

His words made Li Yuanji’s heart skip a beat, and he said with some discomfort: “What are you saying, Second Brother? How could I pour poisoned wine for you? Besides, the wine in your hand came from the same pot as ours – would I poison Elder Brother and myself too?”

“It was just a joke – yet you’re taking it seriously.” With these words, Li Shimin raised the wine cup that was eight-tenths full to his lips.

Li Yuanji’s eyelid twitched, and he suddenly called out: “Second Brother…”

Li Shimin paused and looked up: “What is it?”

“I…” The usually impulsive and combative Li Yuanji now seemed hesitant and indecisive. His hands hanging at his sides clenched tightly together. After a long moment, he secretly gritted his teeth and forced out a smile: “Nothing. I just wanted to say that if Second Brother likes this wine, take a jar with you when you leave. I have plenty more.”