Li Yuan struggled to suppress the anger in his heart but couldn’t manage it. He swung his whip fiercely at a nearby tree and shouted sternly, “This damned bastard!”

The whip tip swept across Li Jiancheng’s face, immediately leaving a thin line of blood on his right cheek. Despite the pain on his face, he knelt on the ground and said, “It’s your son’s fault. Your son shouldn’t have said these things to anger Father. Please punish your son!”

“You deserve punishment!” Li Yuan said with dark eyes, “Such a major matter, and you actually concealed it from me for four whole years. Do you still consider me your father?”

Hearing this, Li Jiancheng quickly knelt and said, “Your son has never dared show the slightest disrespect to Father. It’s just that Shimin begged your son desperately, and your son couldn’t bear to see him punished, so I agreed to help him conceal it.” Seeing Li Yuan remain silent, he continued, “Four years ago, Shimin’s feelings for her were already so deep. Four years later, one can imagine… Father, please agree to this.”

“Unless I die, Yang Yunyi will never set foot in the Li family gates!” After saying this, Li Yuan turned his horse around and galloped back.

If Li Jiancheng hadn’t revealed the matter of Li Shimin releasing Yunyi four years ago, Li Yuan might still have been persuaded to agree. Now, it was absolutely impossible.

Watching Li Yuan’s retreating figure, Li Jiancheng slowly stood up, a sinister smile playing at the corners of his mouth. Wasn’t Shimin very good at pleasing Father? He wanted to see how he would please him this time.

In his fury, Li Yuan immediately ordered upon returning to the mansion that from now on, Yunyi was forbidden from entering the Tang Prince’s mansion. That evening, at Li Jiancheng’s prompting, Li Yuanji also went through the motions of pleading with Li Yuan, but the result was predictable – Li Yuan was determined not to let Yunyi through the door.

At that time, Li Shimin was still kneeling in the study. Seeing Li Jiancheng and Li Yuanji enter, he quickly asked, “Big Brother, Fourth Brother, how did it go? Did Father agree?”

Li Yuanji spread his hands, “Big Brother and I said every nice word we could think of, but Father just won’t budge. It’s really giving us a headache.”

Li Jiancheng said guiltily, “Actually, there was originally a chance to persuade Father, but it’s all my fault. I originally wanted to say how deeply you cared for the Princess, but in my haste, I accidentally mentioned how you released the Princess four years ago, which made Father furious. Even though I later had Yuanji go plead, it was useless. I’m sorry.”

Li Yuanji added, “Second Brother, don’t blame Big Brother. He really didn’t do it on purpose, and because of that incident, his own face was accidentally injured by Father.”

Li Shimin smiled bitterly, “It seems Father is truly angry.”

Li Jiancheng said uneasily, “Shimin, if you want to scold me, go ahead. It’s all Big Brother’s fault. Big Brother is sorry.”

He forced a slight smile, “Big Brother, don’t say such things. I did indeed release Yunyi back then, and you helped me keep the secret for four years, which is already precious. How could I blame you?”

Li Yuanji said, “I knew Second Brother was the most reasonable and would never blame Big Brother.”

“Sigh.” Li Jiancheng sighed, “Don’t worry too much. After Father’s anger subsides, we’ll try to persuade him again. Perhaps we can convince him.” He then continued, “You’ve been kneeling for so long that your legs must be numb. Get up quickly. Looking at Father’s attitude, he won’t be coming tonight.”

Li Yuanji also said, “Yes, Second Brother, even if you kneel for another whole night, Father won’t see it. Why don’t you come back tomorrow?”

“I’m fine.” Li Shimin shook his head, refusing their words, “It’s very late. Big Brother and Fourth Brother should go back and rest early. Don’t let my affairs affect you.”

Li Jiancheng said helplessly, “Very well then, but don’t be too hard on yourself.” After they left, the study returned to quiet, with only a lonely lamp silently accompanying Li Shimin.

After walking some distance, Li Yuanji stopped and looked back at the orange glow coming from the study. Li Jiancheng asked, “What is it?”

Li Yuanji withdrew his gaze and smiled, “Nothing, just watching someone dig his own grave.”

Li Jiancheng smiled silently and patted his back, “Let’s go.”

After arriving together at Li Jiancheng’s courtyard, Li Yuanji casually sat in a chair and said, “If Big Brother hadn’t mentioned it today, I still wouldn’t have known that Second Brother deliberately released Princess Jinyang back then.”

“I’ve stopped pursuing what happened back then and even let him rescue Princess Jinyang, yet he still wasn’t satisfied. He actually wants to marry Princess Jinyang as an equal wife, completely disregarding the deaths of Xuanba and Feng Li. It’s truly unbearable.”

“Exactly!” Li Yuanji picked up an empty teacup to play with and suddenly laughed again, “We’ll definitely help him well, won’t we, Big Brother?”

“Naturally!” Li Jiancheng said with cold eyes, “I want to see how long Father can tolerate him.”

Li Yuanji tossed the empty cup while saying, “Regardless, after this incident, combined with the great defeat in Luoyang before, his position in Father’s heart will surely plummet. He’ll no longer be Father’s most trusted person.”

The night slowly passed amid such brotherly scheming, while Li Shimin, whom they spoke of, remained kneeling in the study in the same position as before.

“Clang! Clang! Clang!” The sound of the night watchman came from outside – it was already the third watch. Shortly after the watchman’s call, Li Shimin heard the sound of a door opening behind him. Under the cold moonlight, a figure walked in and stopped one step away from Li Shimin, “How long do you plan to kneel?”

Hearing Li Yuan’s voice, Li Shimin’s body trembled. With difficulty, he moved his numb legs to turn around, his voice hoarse as he said, “Until Father agrees!”

Li Yuan stared at him coldly, “What if I never agree? Will you kneel forever?”

“Yes.” Li Shimin knew that if he retreated today, it would be even more impossible to seek Li Yuan’s agreement to this marriage in the future. So no matter how dim the hope, he had to try with all his might.

“Very good.” Li Yuan slowly uttered these two words. He had wanted to give Li Shimin another chance, but unfortunately, all the latter left him was disappointment. He turned and left, not setting foot in the study again until the next day.

That night, Zhangsun Shi didn’t sleep well, constantly having strange dreams that left her body aching and indescribably uncomfortable. After Xiuzhu helped her sit up properly, she wrung out a cloth and handed it over, “Miss, please wipe your face.”

“Mm.” Zhangsun Shi wiped her face to wake herself up. After glancing at the sky outside, she casually asked, “Where did my husband spend the night?” Her sleep had always been light – if Li Shimin had returned during the night, she would have known.

Xiuzhu’s movements faltered as she shook her head, “Master didn’t return last night.”

“Didn’t return?” Zhangsun Shi asked in surprise, “Then where did he go?”

“Master has been kneeling in the Prince’s study all night and hasn’t returned yet.” With her quick mind, Zhangsun Shi immediately understood upon hearing this and frowned, “His Lordship doesn’t agree to my husband marrying the Princess?”