After taking just one sip, Xin’an threw the teacup and its contents at the palace servant, roaring, “Worthless thing! Are you trying to scald me to death?”

The palace servant didn’t dare look at where she was scalded, hastily kneeling and saying, “This servant brewed it at the same temperature as usual, and didn’t…”

“How dare you talk back!” With these words, her foot in gold-threaded embroidered shoes stomped hard on the servant’s right hand that was braced against the ground, grinding forcefully. The pain made the servant’s face turn deathly pale as she begged for mercy repeatedly.

Lüli felt sympathy but knew Xin’an’s arrogant nature well—openly advising would only add fuel to the fire. So she said, “Princess, please calm your anger. It’s not worth ruining your health over such a person.”

Xin’an said nothing, grinding her foot for a while longer before finally lifting it, scolding, “Get out of here immediately!”

The servant didn’t dare speak, quickly covering her swollen and red right hand as she retreated. After Lüli cleaned up the porcelain fragments on the ground, she said softly, “Should this servant go prepare a bowl of bird’s nest soup for the Princess?”

Xin’an said impatiently, “No need. Even if you cooked dragon meat for me to eat right now, I wouldn’t have the appetite.” She continued hatefully, “What a cunning Jinyang! To think she could escape even like this—I truly underestimated her!”

Lüli didn’t dare remind Xin’an at this moment that her words about “cooking dragon meat” were highly disrespectful. Instead, she agreed with her, “Actually, Princess Jinyang is only temporarily safe. As the Princess said, even if she’s not the main culprit, she’s still an accomplice. Sooner or later, she’ll be convicted.”

“I’m afraid some people don’t think so.” Thinking of Li Yuan’s attitude earlier made Xin’an angry. “I don’t know if the Tang King has become senile, but he so easily believed Jinyang. What injury, what soreness and weakness—hmph! In my opinion, those imperial physicians were clearly all bought off by her, which is why they all spoke with one voice to help her. And also…” Xin’an had originally wanted to complain that Li Jiancheng hadn’t helped her speak earlier, but suddenly remembering that Lüli didn’t know about her relationship with Li Jiancheng, she quickly stopped her words and said instead, “In any case, I will never let this matter rest!”

At this time, outside Chang’an City, a figure was running through the night. When he reached a hillside, he stopped, put his fingers to his lips, and blew a whistle.

Before long, another figure emerged from the darkness, saying in a hoarse voice, “Is there movement in Chang’an City?”

The man nodded and said, “Reporting to sir, Yang You is dead!”

The latter’s body shook as his eyes burst with brilliant light, “How did this happen?”

“I heard that Li Shimin and Princess Jinyang were engaging in improper conduct in Mingse Palace, and when His Majesty discovered them, they killed His Majesty. Li Shimin has now been imprisoned in the heavenly prison, awaiting punishment!”

The latter was silent for a moment, then suddenly burst into loud laughter, startling the night owls perched on the branches, “Excellent! Excellent! Heaven is truly helping us!”

The man chuckled softly, “Your subordinate felt this was an unmissable opportunity, which is why I rushed to report to you, sir.”

The latter nodded with satisfaction, “I indeed didn’t misjudge you. If we capture Chang’an this time, you will be the greatest contributor. His Majesty is clear in his rewards and punishments and will definitely not shortchange you.”

A flash of joy crossed the man’s face as he quickly said, “That your subordinate has the opportunity to achieve such great merit is all due to your promotion, sir. Your subordinate has never forgotten this.”

The latter smiled, “Alright, I’ll go report this matter to His Majesty immediately. If there are no accidents, we’ll dispatch troops to Chang’an within days. At that time, we’ll coordinate from inside and outside to capture Chang’an in one stroke.” He remembered something and asked, “Do they suspect your identity?”

The man chuckled softly, “Li Shimin did send people to investigate, but with such a perfect identity that you arranged for your subordinate, sir, how could they find anything? They only think your subordinate is truly an ordinary hunter.”

At this moment, the waning moon emerged from the clouds, and the pale moonlight fell on the man’s face—it was none other than Duan Li, who had sought refuge with Li Shimin over a month ago. From the current situation, his identity was not as simple as he claimed.

“Very good. When the time comes, I’ll use fireworks as a signal. Once you see them, immediately head to the area near Chunming Gate and wait for the opportunity to open the city gates.”

“Your subordinate understands.” After Duan Li bowed, he left this place, and the other person also melted back into the darkness. The area returned to tranquility again, as if nothing had happened.

Yunyi, Eldest Sun Shi, and even Liu Hongji, Du Ruhui, and others were all conducting their own investigations, but the matter had reached a deadlock. Whether it was regarding Xiao Liuzi or Xin’an’s side, there were no clues whatsoever. As for other people, they could provide very few leads. With just these, it was impossible to clear Li Shimin of suspicion.

On the afternoon of the fifth day of the fourth month, Li Jiancheng came to the study and said to Li Yuan, who was sitting behind the desk, “Father, you summoned me?”

Li Yuan nodded and said in a heavy voice, “How is the investigation into His Majesty’s case progressing?”

Upon hearing this, Li Jiancheng’s expression immediately darkened, “After we couldn’t find Xiao Liuzi in the palace that day, I had people take his portrait and inquire house by house. These past days, we’ve practically asked throughout all of Chang’an City, but not one person said they’d seen this person.”

His words made Li Yuan’s brow furrow even tighter, “What about other places? Are there any leads?”

Li Jiancheng sighed, “I’ve asked about and investigated everything that could be asked and investigated, but… the situation is truly unfavorable for Shimin.”

“So you’re saying there are no useful leads at all?” Faced with Li Yuan’s question, Li Jiancheng hesitated, “There is one matter—I don’t know if I should tell father.”

Li Yuan couldn’t stand this kind of hesitant behavior and immediately said, “If there’s something to say, then say it.”

“Yes.” Li Jiancheng responded, then said hesitantly, “Actually… I questioned the guards who were responsible for gate duty that night, as well as the palace guards. They said… they never saw this person Xiao Liuzi.”

Li Yuan was stunned and asked puzzledly, “What does this mean?”

“It means…” Li Jiancheng glanced at him and lowered his head, “Actually, no one came to invite Shimin to the palace. He went on his own…”

Hearing this, Li Yuan understood completely and said heavily, “You’re saying that this person Xiao Liuzi doesn’t exist at all—it’s just a lie Shimin made up?”

Li Jiancheng sighed, “I don’t believe Shimin would engage in improper conduct with Princess Jinyang before his wedding, much less that he would kill His Majesty. But from what we’ve investigated so far, the situation really doesn’t look optimistic.” After pausing, he probed, “Father, if… I mean if this was all truly Shimin’s doing, how would you deal with Shimin?”

His words made Li Yuan clench his fists, his knuckles white as the paper on the desk. After a long while, he slowly said, “A life for a life—especially when the person he killed was His Majesty!”

Li Jiancheng was secretly delighted but put on an expression of shock and panic, “No! Father, no!” After pausing, he said, “Although Shimin appears highly suspicious, I still believe Shimin isn’t the murderer. I beg father to give me more time—I will definitely find a way to prove Shimin isn’t the killer.” With these words, he knelt on both knees, tears falling as he said, “Shimin is father’s son. Over these years, he has constantly helped father campaign east and west, repeatedly achieving military merits. Though he may have made occasional mistakes, he is ultimately your blood son. Surely father doesn’t wish to see Shimin die unjustly.”