Without asking, these people must be Li Jiancheng’s men. He was doing all this to watch over her, preventing her or anyone around her from having a chance to contact the Prince of Qin’s mansion.

Xianyue entered the residence calmly. Du Ruhui and Father Du and Mother Du were all in the main hall, each with anxious expressions. As soon as Du Ruhui saw her enter, he hurried forward to examine her carefully. After confirming she was unharmed, he finally breathed a sigh of relief, then nervously asked: “Did you deliver the message to Noble Consort Wan?”

Before Xianyue could speak, Mother Du had already said: “What’s going on with those people outside? Make it clear to me – what are you all doing? Not only did you suddenly say you had to enter the palace early this morning, but now there’s a group of people of unknown origin outside.”

Xianyue had no time to answer her question and said to Du Ruhui: “I’ve delivered the message to Noble Consort Wan exactly as it was. She will find a way to help the Prince of Qin escape. Also, she asked me to bring a message to the Prince of Qin.”

Du Ruhui paused in thought and said gravely: “You didn’t see the Prince of Qin, did you?”

“Correct. I hadn’t even reached the Prince of Qin’s mansion when the Crown Prince and Prince of Qi blocked me. They threatened me with the Du and Wang families, forcing me to return.” Saying this, she said to Mother Du: “Those people outside should all be sent by the Crown Prince.”

“The Crown Prince?” Mother Du was completely confused. “What? Have you offended the Crown Prince?”

“What message did the Noble Consort ask you to bring?” Du Ruhui knew that at such a time, any message from Wan Shi would be extraordinary and might even concern Li Shimin’s life.

Xianyue glanced at Father Du and the other, then said in a low voice: “She asked me to tell the Prince of Qin that if it truly comes to desperate times, use extraordinary means!”

Father Du and the other heard this but didn’t understand its meaning. Mother Du frowned: “What desperate times? What extraordinary means? What exactly are you talking about?”

Du Ruhui had no mind to answer their questions now. Besides, the more they knew, the more dangerous it would be. “For the Noble Consort to say such words, the situation must have deteriorated to the edge of losing control.”

“When I went to Shangyang Palace, the Noble Consort wasn’t in the palace. Palace servants said His Majesty suddenly fainted last night and the situation was very dangerous. The Noble Consort stayed in the imperial study all night before returning. Also… Lord Xia Hou and Daoist Wang are both in the imperial study.”

Du Ruhui bit his teeth: “The Noble Consort’s message must be made known to the Prince of Qin.” Saying this, he stood up to go outside. Xianyue quickly grabbed him: “They have superior numbers – husband, you can’t beat them.”

“Even if I can’t beat them, I must fight. We absolutely cannot sit here waiting for death. The Crown Prince…” Du Ruhui laughed coldly: “As soon as something happens to the Prince of Qin, he’ll immediately want our lives. Since death awaits either way, better to fight him.”

Hearing his words, Xianyue not only didn’t let go but gripped tighter: “Husband, don’t go!”

“Xianyue, I know you’re worried about me, but…” Du Ruhui steeled his heart and said firmly: “Even if it’s a dead end ahead, I must try to break through. You should understand this.”

Xianyue quickly nodded: “I understand. Precisely because of this, I won’t let husband go. In fact, the message the Noble Consort asked me to deliver – the Prince of Qin should already know it by now.”

Du Ruhui said in surprise: “Didn’t you say you were intercepted halfway by the Crown Prince and others and never saw the Prince of Qin? How can you now say he knows? What exactly happened?”

Xianyue showed her first smile since entering: “Though the Crown Prince and Prince of Qi acted carefully, there are always people beyond people and skies beyond skies. They still fell short by one move and lost to Master Liu.”

“Lost to Master Liu?” Du Ruhui repeated her words in confusion. “How so?”

“Actually, when I just left Taiji Palace, I encountered someone sent by Master Liu. Master Liu anticipated that the Crown Prince and Prince of Qi would likely obstruct us, so he had someone wait outside Taiji Palace. I’ve already told him the Noble Consort’s message to pass on. So… didn’t the Crown Prince lose?”

Hearing this, Du Ruhui’s heart finally returned to its proper place as he clapped his hands and laughed: “Master Liu is truly meticulous in thought and anticipates the enemy’s moves. This move, the Crown Prince probably never expected.”

Xianyue nodded: “We’ve done everything we can. I hope the Prince of Qin has Heaven’s protection and safely passes this trial.”

Du Ruhui put away his smile and said worriedly: “The Prince of Qin is filial, righteous, loyal, and brave. Heaven surely won’t force him to a dead end. I just worry… that the one path to survival, the Prince of Qin won’t take.”

Xianyue sighed: “We’re trapped here now with no options. We can only hope Master Liu can persuade the Prince of Qin.”

While they worried about Li Shimin, the servant Liu Hongji had sent out was already hurrying back to the Prince of Qin’s mansion and repeated Noble Consort Wan’s message word for word.

As soon as the servant finished speaking, Li Shimin refused: “No, I absolutely cannot do such a thing!”

After dismissing the servant, Liu Hongji said: “But having reached this point, Your Highness has no way back. I’m afraid it won’t be long before His Majesty summons Your Highness to Taiji Palace. From the current situation, this trip will surely be more dangerous than safe.”

Li Shimin said excitedly: “But that’s my father, my brothers! How… how can I do such a thing?”

“The imperial family has no father and sons, no brothers!” Liu Hongji said coldly: “Have you forgotten what was just said so quickly, Your Highness?”

“I…” Li Shimin certainly hadn’t forgotten, but no matter what, these were relatives who had depended on each other for thirty years. Blood was thicker than water – he truly couldn’t do it.

After a long while, he wiped his face and said heavily: “Are there no other options?”

Liu Hongji shook his head: “If there were, Noble Consort Wan wouldn’t have said such words. Things have reached the edge of life and death. Your Highness, you don’t have much time left to consider.” Seeing Li Shimin remain silent, he said earnestly: “I know Your Highness is kind-hearted and unwilling to cross swords with relatives, but the current situation no longer allows you to choose. Hesitation brings harm!”

Li Shimin pressed his thin lips tightly. He understood in his heart that over these years, because of his accumulated military achievements, the so-called father-son and brotherly feelings had faded to almost nothing.

The father sitting high on the Taiji Hall throne was deeply wary of him, guarding against him everywhere. As for Li Jiancheng and the other, they were both jealous and hateful toward him, even going so far as to poison his wine to harm him. It was truly disheartening.

“If Your Highness doesn’t act decisively, the one who will die will be Your Highness, everyone in the Prince of Qin’s mansion, me, Ruhui, Zhihong, and others, including… Yang Consort who was forced to practice in Mingyue Convent years ago. May I ask Your Highness, is this what you wish to see?”

Yunyi… The person Li Shimin owed most in this life was Yunyi. When she was harmed by Li Jiancheng years ago and forced to practice in Mingyue Convent, he was powerless. When mother and son were forced to separate, he was equally powerless. And these past years, to avoid being discovered and reported to Li Yuan, he hadn’t even… gone to see her once, only able to watch from afar on the city tower or learn bits and pieces from others.