Li Jiancheng looked at Li Shimin with complex emotions and said: “Father, Shimin is right. For you to enter the capital alone is truly too dangerous. We sons really cannot rest easy!”

Their words made Li Yuan sigh: “If we truly reach that point, even if Shimin were there, how could he alone rescue me when surrounded by imperial guards? It would just mean one more person dying.”

Li Jiancheng pondered for a moment and said: “I can transfer a thousand soldiers from Taiyuan to disguise themselves as ordinary civilians and wait outside Luoyang city. If you and Second Brother return safely, that’s fine. Otherwise, they’ll join Second Brother to charge in and rescue you. As long as we can get out of Luoyang city, we can definitely return to Honghua Commandery.”

Seeing Li Yuan remain silent, Li Shimin said: “I know Father is worried that if I leave, Elder Brother alone won’t be able to maintain the overall situation.” At this point, he turned his gaze to Li Jiancheng with firm trust: “But I believe in Elder Brother. Even without me, Elder Brother can definitely shoulder everything Father entrusts to him!”

With their eyes meeting, Li Jiancheng’s expression trembled slightly, then he bowed to Li Yuan and said solemnly: “I swear on my life that I will do everything in my power to protect the Li family and will never disappoint Father!”

Li Yuan looked at the two brothers for a long time before finally nodding: “Very well, let’s do as you say. Jiancheng, remember, what you must protect includes not only the Li family but also the people of Honghua Commandery. As long as there’s still a bit of strength left, you must ensure their safety. In the future, when we take other territories, we must also treat the people who submit to us well. Where the people’s hearts go, there the realm goes. The current emperor lost the people’s hearts, which is why the Great Sui is riddled with problems!”

Li Jiancheng nodded: “I will strictly follow Father’s teachings!”

As Li Yuan nodded with satisfaction, Li Shimin said: “Father, Fourth Brother has been studying martial arts away from home for many years. He’s now thirteen years old. When he returned last year, I saw that his prowess far exceeds that of ordinary adult men. Why don’t we summon him back to assist Elder Brother and lend him support?”

“Yuanji…” Li Yuan thought for a moment and nodded: “That’s good. I’ll write a letter later, and you can have someone deliver it to Master Zhang at Mount Zhongnan.”

Afterward, the three discussed for a long time. Because the journey was long and Yang Guang had specified they must reach the capital before the third month, Li Yuan decided to depart the day after tomorrow.

Coming out of Songtao Residence, the two brothers walked side by side without a word. Since Li Jiancheng learned of Li Shimin’s secret release of the assassin, though he had covered for him, the relationship between the brothers had become much more distant than before, as if separated by an invisible wall. Except for necessary matters, they barely communicated. During this period, Li Shimin had tried several times to reconcile, but Li Jiancheng had refused each time—the knot in his heart remained difficult to untie.

After walking for an unknown length of time, Li Jiancheng suddenly said: “This journey is fraught with danger. Besides taking care of Father, you must also be careful yourself.”

Li Shimin looked at Li Jiancheng with surprise. The latter felt somewhat uncomfortable under his gaze and said with a stern face: “What are you looking at? Did I say something wrong?”

Li Shimin came back to his senses and hurriedly said: “Elder Brother naturally said nothing wrong. I just… I just didn’t expect Elder Brother to specifically remind me.” As he spoke, he probed: “Elder Brother, are you no longer angry with me?”

Li Jiancheng snorted coldly: “You secretly released the assassin, disregarding Xuanba’s vengeance, and then turned around to lecture me afterward. How could I not be angry? But after being angry for so long, it’s about enough.” At this point, his voice softened: “After all, you and I are brothers. This blood connection cannot be severed by anyone.”

His words made Li Shimin’s eyes slightly red as he said hoarsely: “I thought Elder Brother would never acknowledge me as a brother again. I’m sorry, Elder Brother, I’m sorry!”

“Enough!” Li Jiancheng patted his shoulder forcefully and said solemnly: “Remember, on this trip to Luoyang, you must take good care of Father and yourself. Elder Brother will be here waiting for you both to return safely!”

“I know.” After Li Shimin agreed, he continued: “I’ll have Xue Wanche lead those thousand soldiers and camp outside the city. When the time comes, he’ll enter the city to see you, and you can arrange signals with each other!”

After Li Shimin agreed to everything, Li Jiancheng said earnestly: “Shimin, I know you have a kind nature, but you must understand that sometimes kindness can win people’s hearts, but sometimes it can bring deadly disaster. This trip to Luoyang doesn’t concern just your safety alone, so if necessary, you absolutely cannot be soft-hearted. Elder Brother doesn’t need another incident like what happened with Xuanba.”

Li Shimin understood his meaning and said solemnly: “I promise Elder Brother that I will fight to the death to protect Father and not let him face even the slightest danger!”

Li Jiancheng smiled and said: “You said it wrong—fight to the death to protect Father and yourself!”

Li Shimin was startled, then laughed and nodded heavily: “Yes, Elder Brother, rest assured. Father and I will definitely return safely. Then we’ll help Father establish his great enterprise together!”

“Good!” The two brothers clapped hands forcefully, and the past unpleasantness and conflicts vanished like smoke at this moment…

On the fourteenth day of the second month, Li Shimin accompanied Li Yuan as they set out for Chang’an. On the same day, Li Jiancheng sent a message by carrier pigeon for Xue Wanche, who was stationed at Taiyuan Prefecture, to select a thousand elite soldiers and quietly proceed to Luoyang.

Because they only had half a month, Li Yuan’s party maintained a tight schedule. Of the twelve hours in a day, at least eight were spent traveling. Along the way they encountered rebel armies, but fortunately Li Yuan and his son traveled light and simple, not attracting the attention of those forces, passing through without incident.

Rushing day and night like this, they finally reached Luoyang city on the twenty-eighth day of the second month. Although the Great Sui had been at war for years with civil unrest everywhere and people throughout the land living in misery, Luoyang, as the capital, was still relatively prosperous. All along the way it was bustling with many pedestrians.

Li Shimin lifted the carriage curtain for a look and said: “Father, the post station isn’t far ahead.”

Li Yuan nodded: “Good. It’s getting late now. Let’s go to the post station to rest for the night and enter the palace early tomorrow morning to have an audience with His Majesty.”

“Mm.” Just as Li Shimin finished speaking, the carriage suddenly stopped, causing them to lurch forward unprepared. Fortunately, both men managed to steady themselves by grabbing the carriage frame.

As they stabilized themselves, the driver also lifted the curtain and said nervously: “Governor, Second Young Master, are you both alright?”

Li Yuan shook his head: “We’re fine. Why did we suddenly stop?”

“In response to the Governor, a drunkard suddenly rushed out ahead. If I hadn’t stopped in time, we would have collided with him.” As the driver spoke, a drunken voice could also be heard outside, slurred and unclear. Looking up, they saw a middle-aged man with a scruffy beard holding a wine pot and staggering as he walked, clearly quite drunk.

As they observed the drunkard, the latter also noticed them. He took a swig from his mouth and walked over, burping with the smell of alcohol: “You… who are you? Why are you in my house?”

The driver was at a loss whether to laugh or cry, pushing him away: “How did this become your house? Get away quickly!”