Pei Ji smiled slightly and said, “Your Highness was still in Hedong when Liu Wenjing escaped from the jaws of death, so naturally you wouldn’t know the circumstances.”

Under Li Jiancheng’s puzzled gaze, he slowly explained, “At that time, Liu Wenjing came to pledge allegiance to the Tang King, wanting to follow him in conquering the world and establishing merit. Who would have thought that Wang Wei and Gao Junya would use Liu Wenjing’s marriage connection with Li Mi as grounds to force the Tang King to execute Liu Wenjing, threatening to report to Yang Guang and impeach the Tang King otherwise. The Tang King, under pressure, had no choice but to agree and execute Liu Wenjing!”

Li Jiancheng truly didn’t know about this matter. He frowned tightly and asked, “If that’s the case, why is Liu Wenjing still alive and well? Did Father secretly send people to rescue him from the execution ground?”

Pei Ji shook his head: “If that were the case, Wang Wei and the other would definitely suspect it was the Tang King’s doing and would still submit the impeachment.”

Li Jiancheng also felt such action would be too risky – to gamble the entire Li family’s fate for one Liu Wenjing would be unwise. But apart from this, he couldn’t think of any other way to save Liu Wenjing.

“The Tang King recognized Liu Wenjing as a talent and wanted to keep him to serve under his command. But Wang Wei and the others pressed relentlessly, and our power at that time was insufficient to contend with them. So the Tang King finally decided to use the method of feigned death.”

“Feigned death?” As these two words left his mouth, Li Jiancheng felt an ominous premonition rising in his heart.

“Correct. The Tang King obtained poison that induces feigned death from Imperial Physician Zhao, having Liu Wenjing take it before execution to create the illusion of sudden death, thus deceiving Wang Wei and the other. While under the drug’s effect, he would appear dead – no breathing, no pulse – but once the drug’s effect wore off, everything would return to normal without any lasting effects.”

Hearing this, Li Jiancheng’s heart had already sunk to the bottom. With a barely audible tremor, he asked, “Are you saying that Shimin is also in feigned death?”

“Precisely.” Pei Ji recounted in detail how Li Yuan had come to find him yesterday, then continued, “The Tang King has always believed the Second Young Master is innocent, so he couldn’t bear to let him die wrongfully. He sent people to travel a thousand li to obtain feigned death poison from Imperial Physician Zhao, having the Second Young Master take it before execution to make everyone believe he had died suddenly, thus avoiding the beheading. However, this way, there could no longer be a person named Li Shimin in the world. No one expected that Princess Jinyang would find the real culprit at the last moment, thus clearing the Second Young Master of the charge of killing His Majesty. This way, the feigned death poison that was originally meant to save his life became a source of trouble.”

Li Jiancheng said somewhat numbly, “Once someone sees Shimin rise from the dead, they’ll guess he wanted to use feigned death to escape.”

Pei Ji nodded: “Not long after the Tang King handed the edict to Your Highness, he remembered this matter and immediately ordered me to come. I wouldn’t let the Second Young Master return to the Tang King’s residence, nor would I let anyone summon a physician – all to preserve this secret. The fewer people who know about this matter, the better.”

Li Jiancheng said indifferently, “I understand. That’s why Father didn’t even tell me.” Beneath his seemingly calm exterior raged thoughts bordering on madness.

Father had been unwilling to kill Shimin from beginning to end. The noon execution was just a charade he used to deceive those court officials and common people. And he, like a monkey, had been played by Father without knowing it.

“The Tang King wasn’t unwilling to tell Your Highness. First, you had never encountered this feigned death poison before; second, you were investigating the murderer of His Majesty, and the Tang King didn’t want to distract you.”

Li Jiancheng forcefully wiped his face, took a deep breath, then bowed to Pei Ji, “I understand. I was rude to Uncle Pei just now – please don’t blame me!”

Pei Ji smiled: “The ignorant are not at fault. Besides, Your Highness acted this way because you were worried about the Second Young Master. How could I blame you?”

Because the feigned death poison’s effect would last nearly three hours, and the recently attacked Chang’an had many urgent matters requiring attention, Pei Ji left first, leaving Li Jiancheng to keep watch.

After seeing Pei Ji off, Li Jiancheng walked to the bedside and looked down at Li Shimin, who was now no different from a dead man. Deep hatred and jealousy flashed through his eyes.

He had thought this time he could achieve his wish, never expecting it would again be all for nothing. Li Shimin… why did he always refuse to die, always have such good luck?

His hands behind his back clenched tighter and tighter. Several times he wanted to act, to turn Li Shimin’s feigned death into real death, but unfortunately, he couldn’t do so!

After a long time, Li Jiancheng loosened his hands and let out a long sigh. Very well, let him live a few more days. No one can have good luck their entire life!

After about two hours, Li Shimin’s eyelids, previously rigid as death, twitched, then slowly opened as he looked around in confusion at the unfamiliar surroundings.

Memories from before losing consciousness gradually returned to his mind. Following Pei Ji’s instructions, he had taken the drug with water on the day of execution. Not long after, he felt waves of intense pain, as if countless sharp needles were moving through his limbs and bones – not a single place didn’t hurt.

He vaguely remembered that elder brother had come, and Uncle Pei too. They had brought him out of the prison cell. As for what happened after that, he couldn’t remember.

That’s right – Uncle Pei had said that after using feigned death poison to escape, he would have to leave Chang’an and could no longer claim to be a descendant of the Li family. Could it be that he was now already outside Chang’an?

When he turned his head, he saw a familiar figure standing by the window and tentatively called, “Elder brother?”

Li Jiancheng’s body shook, and deep hatred flashed across his face. When he turned around, it had already transformed into complete joy as he strode over: “You’re finally awake.”

Li Shimin supported himself on his still-aching body to sit up: “Elder brother, how are you here? And… where are we now?”

Li Jiancheng tucked a soft pillow behind him: “This is Uncle Pei’s residence.”

“Uncle Pei?” Li Shimin furrowed his brows: “So when do we leave the city?”

Li Jiancheng smiled ambiguously: “What, are you so unwilling to see elder brother?”

Li Shimin was startled, then smiled: “Elder brother, what are you saying?” After a pause, he continued, “Since elder brother is here, you must already know about my feigned death. In everyone’s minds, Li Shimin has died suddenly – he’s a dead man. So absolutely no one can discover I’m still alive.”

Li Jiancheng smiled and patted his shoulder: “Don’t worry, you didn’t die suddenly – you just had a strange illness.”

Li Shimin was completely confused and asked puzzledly, “What does that mean?”

Li Jiancheng sat down beside the bed: “It means you have no problems now. You can still return to the royal residence to see your brothers and sisters, and you can still be your Duke of Qin, helping Father expand the territory.”

Li Shimin became even more confused. Just as he was about to ask, a flash of inspiration suddenly struck his mind, and he blurted out, “Did you find the real culprit?”