The next moment, someone rushed onto the execution platform, grabbed him by the collar, and said hatefully, “The Turkic dog thieves robbed everything from my family and defiled my younger sister, causing her to die in grief and resentment. Yet here you are saying to act as if nothing happened – are you even human?”

Wang Wei was accustomed to throwing his weight around daily and had never been questioned by a common citizen like this. He said angrily, “The Turkic invasion has nothing to do with us two. You should go question Li Yuan about why he didn’t send troops out earlier. What’s the point of scolding us? You’ve all been played like fools by Li Yuan and still think he’s a good person – truly a bunch of ignorant troublemakers!”

Wang Wei wasn’t lying, but unfortunately his words fell on the people’s ears as mere sophistry, and his last statement especially aroused public anger. Countless citizens shouted, “Kill them! Kill them!”

Wang Wei’s face turned pale as he said to Li Yuan with outward strength but inner fear, “Li Yuan, your Li family has received imperial favor for generations. Everything you have today was granted by His Majesty. You absolutely cannot betray His Majesty! Also…” He thought frantically for a moment, then said, “Look at those who rebelled – which one had a good ending? Why must you follow in their footsteps? There’s still time for everything now.” Li Yuan’s decision at this moment would determine their life or death, so he naturally used all his ability to exercise his silver tongue.

Gao Junya nodded frantically, “That’s right, Li Yuan, don’t continue making mistakes!”

No matter how much they shouted and yelled, Li Yuan paid no attention to half a word. Wu Shihuo glanced at the time and said softly, “General, it’s the third quarter of noon!”

Li Yuan nodded and stood up. Wang Wei thought Li Yuan had been moved by their words and felt joy in his heart. Just as he was about to speak again, unexpectedly Li Yuan reached into the lot container, drew out a red lot, and threw it on the ground, coldly uttering one word: “Execute!”

Wang Wei and his companion’s vision went dark in waves. This… this Li Yuan was actually going to kill them. It seemed he was determined to rebel. This… what could be done? Were they truly going to die here?

While they hadn’t yet recovered their senses, the executioner had already raised high the steel blade that gleamed with dazzling cold light under the summer sun. Though the blazing sun was overhead, Wang Wei felt as if he were in the depths of winter. The shadow of death had never been as close as this moment, making his whole body tremble as he said in a shaking voice, “No! Don’t kill me, I beg you, don’t kill me!”

Gao Junya was even more pathetic, trembling as he said, “Lord Li… Lord Li, spare our lives. As long as you’re willing to spare us two, we… we are willing… willing to follow Lord Li from now on, swearing to the death…” Before he could say the word “loyalty,” two steel blades fell together, cutting into both their necks and completely ending their lives.

Seeing Wang Wei and his companion beheaded, the people cheered and applauded, but Li Yuan wasn’t as happy as they were. The Turkic invasion had made him understand that his foundation was too weak. To overthrow the Sui Dynasty and establish the Li family dynasty would be an extremely arduous path.

In the following days, Li Shimin noticed Li Yuan’s constant frowning and knew he was worried about how to proceed. So he told Li Yuan the strategy he had previously conceived. The latter was both surprised by Li Shimin’s boldness and impressed by the plan’s uniqueness. The Turks could be enemies or could become friends – everything depended on how one handled it.

“Father, your son knows that asking you to deal falsely with the Turks is very humiliating, but…” Li Shimin had only spoken halfway when Li Yuan shook his head, “If I can’t even endure such humiliation, how can I accomplish great things?”

Li Shimin was stunned, then said with delight, “So Father agrees?”

Li Yuan nodded, “The method you spoke of is indeed worth trying, but how to contact the Turks and what to say to them both require careful consideration. Acting rashly will only be counterproductive.” After Li Shimin nodded, he said, “By the way, is there any news from your elder brother?”

“Not yet, but calculating the time, they should arrive in Taiyuan in the next few days.” As soon as he finished speaking, the steward walked in with a face full of joy, saying, “Master, look who has come!”

Following his words, several figures walked in – it was Li Jiancheng and others whom Li Yuan had just been asking about. Seeing them arrive safely in Taiyuan, not only was Li Yuan overjoyed, but Li Shimin was also extremely happy, especially seeing Zhangsun Wugou walking behind.

The two had only recently married when he followed his father to Taiyuan. Because this place was extremely dangerous, for Zhangsun Wugou’s safety, he had left her in Hedong, entrusting Li Jiancheng and the others to care for her. Now seeing her safe and sound, his heart finally settled.

Li Yuan said joyfully, “I was just asking Shimin if there was any news of you, and in the blink of an eye, you’ve arrived – what a coincidence! How was it? Did you encounter any dangers on the road? Were any of you injured?”

Facing Li Yuan’s words, Li Jiancheng and the others all lowered their heads without saying a word. Their appearance made Li Yuan sense something was wrong, “What’s the matter? Has something happened?”

Before he finished speaking, Li Jiancheng had already fallen to his knees with a “thump,” saying hoarsely, “Your son is useless. Please punish me, Father!”

“What punishment for no reason? Get up quickly!” Facing Li Yuan’s attempt to help him up, Li Jiancheng refused to rise no matter what, only repeatedly asking Li Yuan to punish him.

The more he acted this way, the more uneasy Li Yuan became, “What exactly happened? Speak!”

Li Jiancheng gritted his teeth and said chokingly, “On the way to Taiyuan, we unfortunately became separated from Zhiyun and don’t know where he is!”

“What?!” Li Yuan was horrified and his gaze frantically searched among the people who had entered. Indeed, he didn’t see his youngest son Li Zhiyun. He staggered backward and collapsed into his chair. Li Shimin quickly consoled him, “Father, don’t worry too much. It’s just being separated – nothing will happen. Your son will immediately send people to search along the road to Hedong. We should be able to find Zhiyun.”

Under Li Shimin’s persuasion, Li Yuan gradually recovered and stared at Li Jiancheng, saying sternly, “Didn’t I repeatedly instruct you in my letter to take good care of the family? Why did Zhiyun get lost? What kind of elder brother are you?”

Li Jiancheng said with a sorrowful expression, “It’s your son’s fault. Your son didn’t take good care of Zhiyun. Your son deserves death!”

Li Yuanji quickly said from the side, “Father, this matter can’t be blamed on elder brother. It was Zhiyun who didn’t listen to elder brother and left the inn on his own. When elder brother and I discovered he was missing, we immediately searched everywhere. We searched continuously for several days but never found Zhiyun. During those days and nights, elder brother never closed his eyes once – he really did his best!”

Li Jiancheng said with red-rimmed eyes, “Fourth brother, you needn’t plead for me. No matter what, I’m the one who lost Zhiyun and should be punished!”

Li Yuanji shook his head, “Elder brother, don’t take all the blame on yourself. It was Zhiyun who was playful and willful, not knowing proper limits – it can’t be blamed on you at all.” Speaking thus, he knelt down, “If Father wants to punish elder brother, please punish your son as well. Your son is Zhiyun’s fourth brother – when he went missing, your son bears equal responsibility. Elder brother originally wanted to stay and search for several more days, but your son feared continuing to stay would be dangerous and forcibly persuaded elder brother to leave.”