Although he was dissatisfied, since Li Yuan had spoken, he could only comply. Just as he was about to leave, a soldier hurried over, knelt on one knee, and cupped his hands, saying, “Reporting to the General, First Young Master, and Second Young Master, a person has suddenly arrived at the military camp, claiming to be from Honghua Commandery, saying he has urgent business and must see the Second Young Master.”
“Honghua Commandery?” Li Shimin said in surprise, “What is this person’s name?”
The soldier replied accordingly, “This humble soldier also asked him, but he refused to say, only insisting that he must see the Second Young Master.”
Li Jiancheng frowned and said, “We left Honghua Commandery two years ago. We brought all the people we needed to bring, and there are no acquaintances left there.” Speaking to this point, his expression changed, and he said urgently, “Could this be a spy sent by the Sui Dynasty, using urgent business as a pretext but actually intending to assassinate Shimin?”
“Whether he’s a spy or not, we’ll know once we go back and see.” Speaking thus, Li Yuan led the way toward the military camp, with the two brothers Li Jiancheng following behind. As soon as they entered the camp, they saw a crowd of people gathered not far away. Li Jiancheng shouted, “What are you all crowding around for? Don’t you need to drill?”
Hearing his voice, those soldiers quickly dispersed, revealing Li Yuanji inside. He was kicking someone with his foot while shouting, “Speak quickly! Why exactly did you come to our army? What is your purpose? Why do you want to see second brother? Did the dog emperor send you?”
Li Jiancheng stepped forward to pull him away, saying, “Yuanji, what are you doing?”
After forcefully kicking the person on the ground once more, Li Yuanji said, “This person suddenly appeared in our army, claiming to be from Honghua Commandery. When I asked him for travel documents, he couldn’t produce them. When I asked him what business he had here, aside from saying he was looking for second brother, he wouldn’t say a single word. He’s clearly suspicious, and I also tested him and found out he knows martial arts.” Speaking thus, he added, “Big brother, step aside a bit. Hmph, I don’t believe his mouth is harder than my fists!”
Li Yuan walked over and shouted, “Nonsense! Who gave you permission to beat people?”
Li Yuanji said dismissively, “A Sui army spy—anyone can beat him. What’s wrong with that?”
“How do you know he’s a Sui army spy? Perhaps he really has urgent business to discuss with Shimin.” Speaking thus, Li Yuan gave a meaningful look to a soldier nearby, who understood and stepped forward to help up the person who had been beaten and covered in wounds, saying, “What is your name? What business do you have with Shimin?”
This person was precisely Du Ruhui. He had finally managed to travel from Jiangdu to this place, only to be treated as a Sui Dynasty spy by Li Yuanji because he couldn’t produce travel documents. Although he also knew martial arts, he was no match for Li Yuanji and was soon overpowered by the latter, suffering his punches and kicks.
Du Ruhui swayed as he straightened his body, wiped the fresh blood from the corner of his mouth, and after examining Li Yuan said, “I presume you are the former Hedong Pacification Commissioner Li Yuan, Lord Li. However, I won’t say anything unless I see the Second Young Master.”
Li Shimin frowned slightly and said, “I am the Li Shimin you’re looking for, but I don’t recognize you.”
Du Ruhui carefully examined Li Shimin. Although he was from Honghua Commandery, Li Yuan had taken office not long before he went to Luoyang for the examinations. Therefore, although he had long heard the name, he had never seen him, just as Li Shimin had never seen him.
“You don’t recognize me, but you must know Meixue, right?” Du Ruhui’s words greatly astonished Li Shimin. Since the female assassin escaped and Wu Laosan died, no one had mentioned the name Meixue again. After a long silence, he said, “Who exactly are you? How do you know about Meixue?”
Du Ruhui glanced at the crowd gathered around and said, “I will only speak with you alone.”
Hearing this, Li Yuanji immediately shouted, “If you have something to say, say it quickly. Don’t play tricks here, or you’ll taste my fists again.”
Du Ruhui paid no attention to his words and only stared silently at Li Shimin. After a moment of silence, the latter said to Li Yuan, “Father, may I take him to the tent for questioning?”
Li Yuan nodded and said, “Naturally you may, but be careful yourself in case of deception.”
“I understand.” Speaking thus, he ordered someone to escort Du Ruhui to the tent. After the soldiers withdrew, he said, “Now there are only the two of us here. You may speak. What… is your relationship with Meixue?”
His words caused a flash of deep pain in Du Ruhui’s eyes. Four years—Meixue had left him for a full four years. Yet in these four years, he had never forgotten her for a moment. Even after following Yunyi’s advice and marrying Xianyue as his wife, Meixue’s shadow would still appear in his mind from time to time. Sometimes upon waking in the morning, he would even mistakenly see Xianyue beside his pillow as Meixue.
“Meixue and I were childhood sweethearts who grew up together. I loved Meixue and wanted to marry her as my wife, but mother minded Meixue’s background and adamantly opposed it. She even spoke hurtful words that greatly saddened Meixue and Uncle Wu. Later, when Lord Li took office as Governor of Honghua Commandery, Meixue went to work as a dancer at the governor’s residence to help supplement the family income. On the first day of the eleventh month in the ninth year of the Daye era, Meixue returned home. I went to see her and told her that I would go to the capital for the examinations, and when I achieved scholarly honors, I would return to marry her. Even if mother opposed it again, I would definitely marry her as my wife. But Meixue refused.” After pausing for a moment, he said, “The Second Young Master should know who the Meixue I saw that day really was.”
Li Shimin nodded and said, “Meixue had already been killed by Chunxiu long before her first return home. The so-called Meixue we saw afterward was all the female assassin in disguise.”
“Correct.” Du Ruhui drew a light breath and said, “I was very fortunate—not only did I pass the metropolitan examination, but I also achieved first place in the palace examination and took office in the Court of Imperial Stud. I was full of hope that I could marry Meixue, never expecting to receive news that Meixue had long since died, and even Uncle Wu was dead.”
Mentioning Wu Laosan, Li Shimin said guiltily, “From beginning to end, I never intended to kill Uncle Wu. It was unavoidable that he insisted on helping the female assassin escape, which led to his accidental death by arrow.”
“I know. She told me.” Du Ruhui’s words caused Li Shimin’s expression to change as he stared at him and said, “She? Have you actually seen that female assassin?” Although he had deliberately avoided thinking about Yunyi these past few years, occasionally during midnight dreams, he would still involuntarily recall the details of their time together, and also remember… the fact that she had killed Li Xuanba.
Du Ruhui nodded and said, “Not only have I seen her, but Second Young Master, you have seen her too.”
“Impossible!” Li Shimin immediately denied, “Ever since the tenth year of Daye, after she escaped, I have never seen her again.”
Du Ruhui didn’t rush to explain but said calmly, “Does the Second Young Master still remember what happened in Luoyang in the eleventh year of Daye?”
Li Shimin looked at him with confusion, not understanding why the latter suddenly shifted the topic to this matter. “What exactly are you trying to say?”
Du Ruhui rubbed his swollen cheek and said, “At that time, His Majesty bestowed Princess Yongfeng upon the Second Young Master. A talented man and beautiful woman—it should have been a match made in heaven. However, because the Second Young Master was bound by his engagement to Miss Zhangsun, he defied the imperial decree and refused this marriage, preferring death to marrying Princess Yongfeng. This enraged His Majesty, who threw the Second Young Master and Lord Li into prison and declared in the great hall that he would give you three days. If after three days you still refused to agree to this marriage, not only would the Second Young Master lose his head, but the entire Li family would pay the price for you. Second Young Master, am I correct?”