“I…” Li Shimin wanted to refute but found himself speechless. After a long while, he finally said: “If all this was truly elder brother’s doing, why did he plead for us in every way before?”

“Was it truly pleading in every way?” Yunyi sneered: “He was merely doing Father Emperor a favor. He knew very well that after such an incident, His Majesty would absolutely not spare me, and the same goes for you. Even if His Majesty truly softened his heart and prepared to let it go, Fourth Prince, the Yin ladies, and Zhang Shi would naturally pull His Majesty’s thoughts back.”

“Although His Majesty made him Crown Prince after ascending the throne, you’ve repeatedly achieved military merits, and your prestige in the court far exceeds what he can match. In such circumstances, do you think he wouldn’t be afraid?”

Li Shimin’s brows were tightly furrowed as he said heavily: “I never thought of competing with him for the Crown Prince position.”

“I know, but he won’t believe it. To him, your very existence is a threat. But now it’s different – now you’re despised by His Majesty, stripped of your duties, reduced to an idle prince. He can sleep peacefully now.”

Li Shimin didn’t want to admit this was fact, but… he couldn’t find words to refute it. After pondering for a long time, he could only think of one fundamentally untenable reason: “We are blood brothers – he wouldn’t do such things.”

“Wouldn’t he?” Yunyi scoffed: “How did Li Zhiyun die? On the return journey from Jiangdu, who tried to harm our lives? Have you forgotten all of this?”

“I haven’t, it’s just…” Li Shimin had barely begun when Yunyi interrupted him, “It’s just that you’re blinded by brotherly affection and refuse to believe he has no intention of reforming!” Speaking to this point, she said painfully: “Li Shimin, must you wait until the entire Prince of Qin’s residence is destroyed by him with no survivors before you’re willing to believe this fact?”

“You cherish brotherly affection, but he doesn’t. In his heart, what’s most important has always been the Crown Prince position. For this, he can sacrifice everything, including you, his so-called brother!”

Each of Yunyi’s words was like a giant hammer, striking hard at Li Shimin’s chest, causing him unbearable pain. Elder brother… was it really him?

“There’s also the matter of You’er. Although Xin’an confessed that her collaborator was someone sent by Wang Shichong, I’ve always felt that the person truly hiding in the shadows should be Li Jiancheng!”

Li Shimin staggered backward, part of him not wanting to believe Li Jiancheng had become such an unscrupulous person, while another part understood that Yunyi spoke the truth – elder brother had long since become unrecognizable, and only he still stubbornly believed everything remained as before.

Yunyi took a deep breath and said: “And this time, you pacified Western Qin and achieved great merit, but His Majesty’s reward was merely an appointment as Grand Protector with an additional two thousand households in fief, and it was delayed for over a month. Do you think this is reasonable? Appropriate?”

Li Shimin remained silent. By this point, he had no words left to refute, and could find no more words to defend Li Jiancheng.

Zhangsun Shi had heard most of the story from the side and said nervously: “So younger sister and Consort Shu both fell into the Crown Prince’s trap and were scolded by His Majesty?”

Yunyi wept without speaking. Ruyi said tearfully: “It was more than just scolding. His Majesty not only had Jixiang executed by waist-cutting, but also forced the Princess to become a nun at Mingyue Convent. After the child is born, it will immediately be brought to you, Princess Consort, to raise. He also said that people from the Prince of Qin’s residence are forbidden from visiting the Princess at Mingyue Convent!” She wiped her tears and continued: “Even so, this was only because Noble Consort helped plead for mercy, and because the Princess carries a dragon heir. Otherwise, by now… her life would probably already be lost.”

Zhangsun Shi never expected Li Yuan to punish so severely this time. Growing old in Mingyue Convent – for a woman in the prime of her youth, this was such a harsh punishment, not to mention forcing Yunyi to separate from her husband and be parted from her flesh and blood!

After a long time, Zhangsun Shi finally came to her senses, murmuring: “No, His Majesty cannot do this. I’ll enter the palace right now to petition His Majesty for a lighter punishment.”

“Don’t go!” Yunyi grabbed Zhangsun Shi, choking back sobs and shaking her head. “It’s useless. His Majesty never liked me to begin with, and now with this incident, he hates me to the bone, believing I’m the culprit who framed the Crown Prince. If you go, you’ll only drag yourself down too.”

Zhangsun Shi said excitedly: “But I can’t just watch you be sent to Mingyue Convent like this!”

Yunyi wept without speaking. How could she be willing to go? But this matter wasn’t for her to decide. Seeing Yunyi’s silence, Zhangsun Shi turned to Li Shimin: “Your Highness, please think of another way. Younger sister cannot go to Mingyue Convent.”

Before Li Shimin could speak, Yunyi said: “It’s useless. His Majesty is determined to do this. Further pleading will only backfire, and moreover… Your Highness has already been stripped of all duties by His Majesty.”

Zhangsun Shi swayed, and Wenlan quickly supported her, saying: “Princess Consort, be careful.”

Zhangsun Shi steadied herself and said hoarsely: “Is there… truly no way at all?”

Before she finished speaking, the characteristic shrill voice of a eunuch came from outside: “Your Highness, time is about up. Please have Lady Yang depart quickly.”

Yunyi glanced at the shadowy figures outside the door, walked to Li Shimin who looked pained, and said: “Your Highness, do you hope for my return?”

Li Shimin replied without hesitation: “Of course I hope so, but…”

Yunyi waited a while but didn’t hear him continue, so she smiled bitterly: “They’ve already driven us nearly to death, yet Your Highness still cannot harden your heart?”

After a moment of silence, Yunyi sighed: “Your Highness’s loyalty and devotion – the Crown Prince and even His Majesty can no longer see them. All they see are the two words ‘threat.'”

Li Shimin was silent for a moment, then quietly uttered: “But they are still my father and brother.”

“In the imperial family, there are only rulers and subjects, no fathers and brothers. The Crown Prince understands this better than Your Highness.” Saying this, Yunyi continued: “While His Majesty lives, the Prince of Qin’s residence might still be safe. But once the Crown Prince ascends the throne, I can guarantee that with his temperament, he will raze the Prince of Qin’s residence to the ground. Your Highness… and everyone connected to Your Highness, he will spare none. I, the Princess Consort, and the child in the Princess Consort’s womb – we will all have our blood spilled here. By then, Your Highness’s regret will come too late.”

The urging voice came from outside again, this time sounding more impatient than before. Clearly, those people’s patience was nearly at its limit.

Every word Yunyi spoke terrified Li Shimin. He could almost see the Prince of Qin’s residence flowing with blood. Must he… truly become enemies with elder brother, and even Father Emperor from now on?

Zhangsun Shi took a light breath and said: “Your Highness, over these years, you’ve done enough for His Majesty and the Crown Prince. Now… please consider yourself, consider me and younger sister, and the children in our wombs, won’t you?”