Yuwen Zhiji thought about it and agreed, snorting coldly: “It better be so, otherwise watch out for that thing on your shoulders.” Saying this, he waved his hand: “Continue the pursuit!”

As Yuwen Zhiji led his troops forward in pursuit, he didn’t know that Li Shimin, whom he desperately sought, was currently watching him from a nearby mountaintop.

Li Shimin’s face was dark as water. Liu Wen… had actually gone to report to Yuwen Zhiji. If not for Duan Zhihong receiving Liu Hongji’s earlier instructions to keep watch on those men and discovering Liu Wen’s disappearance in time, they would now be surrounded. Looking at the mass of dark heads behind Yuwen Zhiji, there were about ten to twenty thousand.

Last night, after pondering for a long time, although he still didn’t believe Li Jiancheng would harm him, he decided to avoid the situation anyway. As Duan Zhihong had said, he couldn’t risk the lives of these two thousand soldiers. He immediately gave orders for all officers and men to rise, pack their belongings, and hide in the nearby Niutou Mountain. Originally it was just a precaution, but he never expected to actually see Yuwen Zhiji bringing troops, with Liu Wen among them. Seeing it with his own eyes, he had no choice but to believe.

Liu Wen had followed their Li family for over ten years, always being Big Brother’s trusted man. Without Big Brother’s orders, he would never do such a thing. Big Brother… he actually truly wanted to harm him…

Thinking of this, it felt as if knives were stabbing forcefully at his chest. Since childhood, his relationship with Li Jiancheng had been very good. Except for the dispute over Yunyi, they had never quarreled. He could never have imagined that the big brother he had called for over twenty years would actually want his life.

Actually, he should have realized it. Li Jiancheng hated Yunyi so much – how could he agree to let him risk coming to Jiangdu to rescue her, and even assign his own trusted men to him? Rescuing Yunyi was false; seeking an opportunity to take his life was true. And the best, simplest method was to tell Yuwen Zhiji the truth. With Yuwen Zhiji’s arrogant and conceited nature, he definitely wouldn’t be willing to swallow this loss, thus pursuing them out of Jiangdu to eliminate them.

“You had us enter the mountains overnight because of them?” Yunyi’s voice awakened Li Shimin from his deep thoughts. After he nodded, she continued: “How did you know in advance that Yuwen Zhiji would pursue us?”

Looking at the army passing by at the foot of the mountain, Li Shimin said: “Do you see that person beside Yuwen Zhiji? His name is Liu Wen. He was originally one of my men. Last night Zhihong discovered he had disappeared and had taken a horse to leave. Worried he might do something harmful to us, so…”

Yunyi took over: “He advised Second Young Master to enter the mountains overnight to hide?”

“Correct.” Li Shimin took a deep breath, looking at a bird with brilliant red plumage perched on a branch: “If not for this, we would probably already be Yuwen Zhiji’s prisoners by now.”

Yunyi raised her hand to move the branch. The bird, startled, quickly spread its wings and flew away, soon disappearing from sight. Only a bright red feather fell from midair, which Yunyi caught and played with in her hand, saying slowly: “I guess that although Liu Wen belongs to the Li family, he is… the eldest young master’s man.”

Li Shimin said in surprise: “How do you know this?”

Yunyi smiled: “So I guessed correctly?” Seeing Li Shimin remain silent, she continued: “Actually, this isn’t difficult to guess. Although I’m not in Hedong, I’ve heard many stories about Duke Li from storytellers. Duke Li is strict yet benevolent in commanding his subordinates, showing both grace and authority. Not one of his officers and men doesn’t respect Duke Li. They would absolutely never betray Duke Li without reason. Even if there truly were ungrateful people among them, they wouldn’t go so far as to collude with someone like Yuwen Zhiji, whose background is completely unknown. Moreover, I really can’t think what benefits could be gained from joining Yuwen Zhiji. At best, he’s a general who controls a hundred thousand troops and occupies Jiangdu. At worst, he’s a rebellious subject and traitor who murdered his sovereign and plotted rebellion. In neither aspect does he compare to Duke Li, or even to Dou Jiande, Li Mi and others. Furthermore, his temperament is perverse – following him means constantly worrying about losing one’s head. So, thinking it through, there’s only one possibility: Liu Wen didn’t betray Duke Li, but Second Young Master. And the one who most cannot tolerate Second Young Master is the eldest young master.”

Li Shimin said nothing, only: “Continue.”

“Actually, the eldest young master and Yuwen Zhiji are the same type of person – conceited and obstinate. At least that’s what I saw when I was in Honghua Prefecture. However, at that time, he truly had brotherly feelings toward you, Second Young Master. But later…” She paused: “As far as I know, it was Second Young Master who helped Duke Li break the siege at Yanmen Pass, forced back the Turks, and kept Taiyuan stable, correct? At least from the storytellers, I rarely heard Li Jiancheng’s name.”

“Correct.” As soon as Li Shimin finished speaking, Yunyi said: “That’s it then. How could such a conceited person be willing to be overshadowed by Second Young Master? Moreover… once Duke Li conquers the realm, what you’ll face in the future won’t be a struggle for heir apparent, but… the imperial throne, the power to make all lands bow at one’s feet. Who wouldn’t be moved by that?”

Li Shimin said somewhat excitedly: “I haven’t! I’ve never thought of competing with Big Brother for anything!”

“But the eldest young master doesn’t think so. The more outstanding your performance, the more uneasy it makes him, the more he wants to eliminate you. Additionally…” Yunyi raised an eyebrow: “I encountered Guard Duan last night and spoke with him briefly. He mentioned that Li Jiancheng already knows you released me, Li Xuanba, Feng Li – old grudges plus new hatred naturally make him even less able to tolerate you and me living.”

Li Shimin said self-mockingly: “To think everyone around me knew, while only I myself remained like a fool, kept in the dark without knowing.”

“Those involved are confused, while observers see clearly. Besides, Second Young Master has always valued emotion and righteousness. Unless you saw it with your own eyes, how could you believe the eldest young master wanted to harm you? Fortunately Guard Duan was alert, allowing you and me to avoid this calamity.” Speaking to this point, she turned her head: “What does Second Young Master plan to do?”

Li Shimin shook his head, his expression pained: “I don’t know. Big Brother has taken great care of me since childhood. The first bow and arrow I used was even made by Big Brother’s own hands. I never imagined that one day I would have to cross swords with him.”

“I understand. Just as I never imagined that the person I had called Father Emperor for nearly twenty years would actually be my enemy. But since there was a first time, there will be a second, even a third. Hesitation when decisive action is needed will surely bring harm – Second Young Master must think this through first.”

Li Shimin forcefully wiped his face: “I don’t want to talk about this now. Let’s go back.”

Yunyi understood that he couldn’t accept this reality for the time being and didn’t force the issue. She walked with him, one in front of the other, toward the troops camped in the mountains. They hadn’t gone far when they saw thick smoke accompanied by flames rising from the nearby mountain forest. There must be a fire, and they could vaguely see figures moving about in the vicinity.

Li Shimin saw something was wrong: “Let’s hurry and take a look.”