“Are you blaming me then?” Duan Li said coldly. “If not for me providing support inside the city, you probably wouldn’t have even gotten close to Chunming Gate!”
The deputy general heard the sarcasm in his words and felt anger rising in his heart. Just as he was about to argue with him, Duan Da said impatiently: “Stop arguing, all of you! Right now the most important thing is to find a way to solve the current problem.”
The deputy general suppressed his anger and said: “General, as long as the green hills remain, we need not worry about firewood. The most important thing is to preserve our strength and not make meaningless sacrifices.”
Duan Li’s opinion was completely opposite: “We’ve already attacked to this point. To give up now would be such a waste. If we attack with full force, we might be able to break into Chang’an before the reinforcements arrive!”
The deputy general stared at him and sneered: “We’ve been attacking all night without getting in—you think we can break into the city in just half an hour? What boastful nonsense!” Duan Li and he were both under Duan Da’s command, and the two had never gotten along well. Now he naturally wouldn’t pass up any opportunity to mock him.
Duan Li’s face turned iron-blue: “If I hadn’t been shot and wounded in the shoulder by that scoundrel, I would have already broken through the city gate!”
The deputy general laughed mockingly: “You also say you were shot and wounded in the shoulder—that means everything you’re saying now is empty talk!”
Duan Da was getting annoyed listening to them and shouted: “Have you two argued enough?!”
The deputy general cupped his hands: “General, this subordinate’s meaning is to withdraw first, avoid their sharp edge, and then seek another opportunity to attack Chang’an!”
“General…” Duan Li had just said two words when Duan Da raised his hand to interrupt him. After pondering for a long time, he finally made up his mind: “Fine, withdraw!”
Duan Li said urgently: “General, if we withdraw now, all our previous efforts will be wasted!”
Duan Da’s expression was cold: “Do I have any other choice? Or are you going to go smash open Chunming Gate right now? If you can’t do it, then stand down!”
Duan Li was rendered speechless by his question and could only reluctantly step aside. Duan Da gritted his teeth fiercely: “Pass the order down—immediately sound the drums to withdraw!”
Chang’an City, I will definitely return and present you to His Majesty with my own hands!
With this unwillingness, Duan Da led his remaining soldiers away. Li Yuan and the others, who had stood on the city wall for the entire night, all breathed a sigh of relief when they saw Duan Da withdrawing.
Although the city gate had not been breached and they had over two hundred thousand troops inside and outside combined, not fearing Duan Da’s forces, the people in the city were unsettled, and this was truly not a good time for battle.
Before the tens of thousands of reinforcements arrived, Duan Da had already withdrawn from Chunming Gate. To prevent any tricks ahead, Li Yuan did not order the reinforcements to pursue, only to firmly defend Chunming Gate in case Duan Da made a surprise return attack.
By the hour of mao, Li Jiancheng walked to Li Yuan’s side: “Father, scouts report that Duan Da’s army has been traveling toward Luoyang all along without turning back. It seems he knows breaking into Chang’an is hopeless and has withdrawn to Luoyang. There should be no more danger.” Speaking with concern, he continued: “Father hasn’t slept all night. Now that there’s nothing to worry about, why not go back and rest for a while? Your son will handle things here.”
Li Yuan had already been sleeping uneasily these past few days due to Li Shimin’s matter, and with last night’s events, he was utterly exhausted. Just as he was about to nod, he suddenly remembered something: “The matter of Princess Xin’an’s assassination of His Majesty has not yet been handled. Let’s enter the palace first.”
Li Jiancheng couldn’t let him go now and immediately said: “Your son has already imprisoned Princess Xin’an in Shuangyue Palace, not allowing her to leave even a step. There’s no need to rush this moment. Moreover, your son was thinking of going to release Shimin from prison later, then entering the palace together—that would thoroughly resolve this matter.”
Li Yuan pondered for a moment and nodded: “Very well, do as you suggest. I’ll write a decree for you to take to the Ministry of Justice officials.”
After seeing Li Yuan off, Li Jiancheng ordered people to count the casualties from last night’s battle and sent craftsmen to repair the city walls damaged by the catapults.
After arranging all this, he rode away from Chunming Gate with Xue Wanche. When passing a corner, Xue Wanche, with a trace of confusion, spurred his horse forward a few steps: “Crown Prince, aren’t we going to the Ministry of Justice prison to release the Second Young Master?” If they were going to the Ministry of Justice prison, they should have turned at the last intersection.
Li Jiancheng said in a low voice: “Before bringing Shimin out, I need to enter the palace first. You’re coming with me.”
Hearing this, Xue Wanche immediately understood and said knowingly: “This subordinate understands.” He and a few trusted confidants like Xie Shufang were among the only ones who knew the truth about Yang You’s death.
Li Jiancheng rode to an inconspicuous residence—this was a property he had secretly acquired, known only to a few trusted subordinates like Xue Wanche.
Li Jiancheng changed into a eunuch’s clothing inside, then entered the Great Xing Palace with Xue Wanche. Under Xue Wanche’s deliberate concealment, no guards discovered Li Jiancheng’s identity. Their destination was naturally Shuangyue Palace.
Arriving outside Shuangyue Palace, before the guards could stop them, Xue Wanche had already taken out the token Li Jiancheng had given him earlier: “I come on the Crown Prince’s orders to ask Princess Xin’an a few questions. Stand aside immediately!”
After the guards verified the token was authentic, they immediately cleared the way, allowing them to enter. Inside the main hall, they saw only Lüli secretly weeping as she knelt on the cold golden bricks, with no sign of Xin’an.
“What’s wrong?” At Xue Wanche’s inquiry, Lüli choked out: “The Princess is angry about what I said to the Tang King last night, so she’s punishing me to kneel here without getting up.” Yesterday, right after the imperial physician left, Xin’an punished her to kneel on the ground. She had been kneeling all night, and her legs had gone from initial pain to numbness.
Xue Wanche looked around: “Where is the Princess?”
“The Princess said she was going to the greenhouse just now. She should still be inside.” After learning Xin’an’s whereabouts, Xue Wanche immediately went to the glazed greenhouse built in the front courtyard, where he indeed saw Xin’an standing with her back to them, unaware of their arrival.
After ordering the palace servants to leave, Xue Wanche closed the door and then bowed his head with hands hanging down, stepping aside like a clay or wooden bodhisattva statue in a temple.
Li Jiancheng quietly walked behind Xin’an and suddenly embraced her slender waist: “Why are you here alone?”
Xin’an was startled, but when she saw it was Li Jiancheng, she immediately showed a trace of delight: “How did you come here?” Before Li Jiancheng could speak, she showed a trace of fear: “Has the Tang King returned and sent you to summon me?”
Li Jiancheng smiled: “If father had sent me, would I be dressed like this? Don’t worry, I persuaded father to go back and rest. He probably won’t enter the palace until tomorrow.”
Hearing this, Xin’an breathed a sigh of relief, then asked in confusion: “If it’s not the Tang King’s intention, what are you doing here? And this person…” She pointed at Xue Wanche standing by the door, looking worried. If anyone discovered her relationship with Li Jiancheng, it would be terrible.