“Then your son first thanks Father Emperor.” Saying this, Li Shimin pondered for a moment, then stood up and said: “Your son requests that Father Emperor restore Fourth Brother’s princely title!”

No one had expected Li Shimin to make such a request. Everyone was stunned for a moment, including Li Yuanji himself. Though he very much wanted to restore his princely title, he had never thought of asking through Li Shimin’s mouth.

Li Yuan knitted his brows. “This is the reward you want?”

“Yes.” Li Shimin lowered his eyes and said: “Your son knows that Yuanji once committed a great mistake, but he is still young after all. It’s inevitable that he would have moments of poor judgment, so he cannot be entirely blamed. These two years of punishment have been enough for Yuanji. Therefore, your son boldly requests that Father Emperor restore Yuanji’s princely title.”

Li Yuan pondered for a moment, then turned to look at Li Jiancheng. “You are the Crown Prince and also Yuanji’s elder brother. Tell me, should this princely title be restored or not?”

Li Jiancheng quickly glanced at Li Shimin, whose expression was earnest. “Reporting to Father Emperor, actually after the defeat at Qianshui Plain, Yuanji has been deeply reflecting on his mistakes and has changed his character considerably. In that battle in Shanxi, it was because Liu Wuzhou was too cunning—he really cannot be blamed for that.”

Although Li Jiancheng didn’t say it explicitly, with Li Yuan’s intelligence, how could he not understand? “So you also think Yuanji can have his title restored?”

Li Jiancheng bowed with clasped hands: “Whether to restore it or not should be decided by Father Emperor’s sacred heart. Your son dares not speak rashly.”

Li Yuan’s gaze wandered between Li Jiancheng and Li Shimin’s faces. After a long while, he shifted his gaze and said: “Yuanji!”

Hearing this, Li Yuanji quickly stood up and said: “Your son is here.”

“Since both your elder brother and second brother are pleading for you, I will be lenient and restore your title as Prince of Qi. From now on, you must serve the Great Tang well and not act willfully again. Do you understand?”

Li Yuanji’s heart filled with joy, and he quickly said: “Your son understands. Thank you, Father Emperor!” Although this matter came suddenly and unexpectedly, being able to restore his princely title was ultimately a good thing.

After taking his seat, Li Yuanji took the jade wine pot from a palace maid, walked to Li Shimin’s side, personally filled his cup, and said gratefully: “Thank you, Second Brother, for pleading for me. Come, I toast Second Brother.”

Li Shimin raised his wine cup but didn’t drink. “Elder Brother also helped plead for you. It wouldn’t be right to thank only me.”

Hearing this, Li Jiancheng smiled and said: “I only spoke casually—it’s not comparable to your great merit.”

“Whether great or small, both should be thanked.” Saying this, Li Yuanji filled Li Jiancheng’s cup and said: “Yuanji toasts both elder brothers. Thank you, both elder brothers.”

This victory banquet ended in an atmosphere of harmonious father-son relations and brotherly unity. As they were leaving the palace gates and preparing to board their carriages, Duan Zhihong suddenly tensed up, staring into the dim distance and shouting: “Who’s there?”

A figure emerged from the darkness. After seeing the visitor’s appearance clearly, Duan Zhihong relaxed and released his grip on his sword hilt, saying: “So it’s Deputy General Du.” Having returned victorious from this campaign, Du Ruhui had also received a reward, being promoted from Staff Officer to Deputy General.

Du Ruhui paid him no attention, only staring at Li Shimin and saying: “This subordinate has something to ask Your Highness the Prince of Qin.”

Li Shimin didn’t ask what it was, only saying: “Whatever it is, let’s talk about it in the carriage.”

Du Ruhui nodded and boarded the carriage with him. After they were seated, the carriage slowly moved forward. A small lantern was lit in the carriage compartment, casting dim light.

Li Shimin was the first to break the silence. “Are you perhaps wondering why I didn’t request Father Emperor to forgive Yunyi at the banquet and let her return to the Prince of Qin’s residence?”

“Exactly. Your Highness knows very well that Consort Yang was harmed by the Crown Prince, resulting in her being forced to practice at Mingyue Nunnery, unable to return home or see her child. For Consort Yang, every day at Mingyue Nunnery is as long as a year. Now that there’s finally an opportunity to request His Majesty’s grace to let her return to the Prince of Qin’s residence, why did Your Highness give this excellent opportunity to the Prince of Qi instead? Has Your Highness already forgotten…”

Li Shimin sternly interrupted him: “I have never forgotten Yunyi!”

“If that’s the case, why didn’t Your Highness mention it, and instead helped the Prince of Qi? Although the matter of framing Consort Yang was the Crown Prince’s doing, the Prince of Qi has always been close to the Crown Prince. This subordinate doesn’t believe the Prince of Qi wouldn’t have participated.”

Li Shimin stared at him, his eyes unfathomably deep in the dim lamplight. “Everything you’ve said, I know. But even if things were to happen again, I would still make the same choice.”

This time, Du Ruhui didn’t question Li Shimin as he had before, because he could hear there was more to Li Shimin’s words. “Why?”

Li Shimin lifted the carriage curtain and looked back. The Taiji Palace in the darkness was like a silent giant beast, watching menacingly, ready to strike.

After a long while, he lowered the curtain and stared at Du Ruhui: “Do you think Father Emperor truly wanted to reward me just now?”

Du Ruhui was puzzled by his question. “Wasn’t that the case?”

Li Shimin shook his head. “The reward was just surface talk. Father Emperor’s real intention was to see whether I still remembered Yunyi. If I had made that request, Father Emperor would definitely have agreed, but what I would have brought back would only be a corpse!”

Du Ruhui’s eyelids suddenly twitched, and he said in disbelief: “Your Highness is saying that His Majesty would… would agree openly but kill secretly? This… how is this possible? He is the current Emperor, the Son of Heaven—how could he break his word?”

Li Shimin gave a bitter laugh. “How has he broken his word?”

“If he assassinated Consort Yang, wouldn’t that be breaking his word?” Before Du Ruhui could finish speaking, Li Shimin had already said: “What evidence do you have to prove he broke his word? What evidence do you have to accuse him of killing Yunyi?”

Du Ruhui was left speechless by his questions. Before he could think of a response, Li Shimin continued: “Sudden death, suicide, accident—he has plenty of ways to make Yunyi die. Even if we clearly know it was his doing, it’s useless because we have no evidence at all. Even if we took a step back and had evidence, what then? As you said, he is the current Emperor, the Son of Heaven. Accuse him?” Li Shimin sneered. “Apart from seeking death, I can’t think of any other way to describe it.”

Under his words, Du Ruhui gradually calmed down. Yes, if Li Yuan wanted to kill Yunyi, they would have no way to stop him. After understanding the hidden murderous intent, Du Ruhui gritted his teeth and said: “His Majesty has such a vicious mind. Fortunately, Your Highness saw through it.”

Li Shimin shook his head. “I didn’t see through it. This matter was thanks to Imperial Consort Wan’s reminder.”

“Imperial Consort Wan?” Du Ruhui puzzledly recalled the earlier events. He had also been at the victory banquet, but he didn’t remember Imperial Consort Wan giving any warning. Just as he was confused, Li Shimin said: “Do you remember what Imperial Consort Wan said when Father Emperor asked me to make a request?”

After he said this, Du Ruhui remembered and said: “This subordinate remembers. Imperial Consort Wan told Your Highness to just make any request, but how is that a reminder?”