Li Yuanji sneered: “Does Second Brother truly have no such thoughts, or are you putting on an act before Father Emperor?”

This sentence immediately ignited the rage in Li Shimin’s heart. He had not yet settled the score with Li Yuanji over those two cups of poisoned wine, and now he spoke such words again. Without question, Fu Yi was also arranged by them – they truly would not be happy unless they destroyed him completely!

Li Shimin forcibly suppressed the resentment in his heart and said: “Why does Fourth Brother speak thus?”

Li Yuanji snorted lightly: “Ever since pacifying Luoyang, Second Brother has frequently boasted of his achievements before us, even showing no respect for Elder Brother. Why? Because you feel the Great Tang realm was conquered by you, and the one who should reside in the Eastern Palace is not Elder Brother, but you – am I right?”

Seeing him so completely reverse black and white, slandering him before Li Yuan, Li Shimin, no matter how good his temper, could not help but darken his face: “I have never said such words, never even thought them. Rather, Yuanji, you and I are brothers – why must you harm me so?”

“Precisely because you and I are brothers, I have been holding back, not exposing your thoughts. But you have become increasingly excessive, truly beyond my endurance!”

“Who is being excessive – you or I?” Li Shimin said in anguish: “A few nights ago, I kindly came to celebrate your birthday, and you – you actually put poison in the wine, wanting to kill me. Brothers… haha, Yuanji, have you ever truly considered me a brother?” Since Li Yuanji had torn off the pretense first, he had nothing left to be concerned about. All brotherly affection ended here!

Li Yuanji stiffened his neck: “Yes, I did poison you, but why did I do this? It was for the Great Tang realm, for Father Emperor and Elder Brother. My conscience is clear!”

Li Shimin quietly glanced at Li Yuan seated high on the dragon throne. Seeing the latter’s indifference toward him, he knew Li Yuan already knew. As a father, knowing Li Yuanji had poisoned his own son, yet only remembering “he wants to seize the realm,” neither reproaching nor punishing Li Yuanji – such partiality was truly chilling.

Seeing him silent, Li Yuanji said coldly: “What, nothing to say?”

Li Jiancheng shook his head and shouted: “Yuanji, enough! I have told you that Shimin is not that kind of person. Why do you refuse to believe it, insisting on targeting him everywhere?”

“Elder Brother, now it is not I targeting him, but the Grand Astrologer personally telling Father Emperor that Second Brother is plotting against the imperial throne Father Emperor intends to pass to you. How is it that at this point, you still cannot see his true face? Must blades and axes be upon you before you will believe?”

Li Jiancheng gritted his teeth: “In any case, I do not believe it is Shimin.”

“Enough!” Li Shimin shouted sternly: “You need not put on acts here. From beginning to end, I have never thought of seizing anything. It is you who press me step by step, repeatedly trying to kill me!”

Li Yuan’s eyelid twitched as he said flatly: “What do you mean by this?”

Li Shimin took a deep breath: “Does Father Emperor still remember Fifth Brother?”

“Zhiyun?” Li Yuan said puzzledly: “I naturally remember him. Why suddenly bring him up?”

“Since you remember, then when Father Emperor raised troops in Taiyuan, Zhiyun followed Elder Brother and Fourth Brother rushing from Hedong to Taiyuan. En route, Zhiyun was captured by Sui army soldiers, taken all the way to Luoyang, and finally died at Yin Shishi’s hands. Presumably Father Emperor remembers all of this as well.”

Li Yuan sensed something amiss and frowned: “What exactly are you trying to say?”

Li Shimin laughed coldly: “After Zhiyun was captured, what we heard was that Zhiyun had wandered off playing, which is why he was caught. But the truth is not so – it was Elder Brother and Yuanji who deliberately sought to destroy Zhiyun!”

At these words, even Li Yuan was greatly shocked. He suddenly rose, staring hard at Li Shimin: “You… say that again!”

Li Yuanji hastily said: “Father Emperor, do not listen to his nonsense. He…”

Li Shimin sternly interrupted him: “Am I speaking nonsense, or are you heartless and mad?” With these words, he walked before Li Jiancheng: “You have always disliked Zhiyun. Why? Because you dislike Second Mother, and he happened to be Second Mother’s son. You worried he would affect your position, so even though he once saved your life, even though he shared Father Emperor’s blood, you still ruthlessly pushed him into irredeemable death!”

Li Jiancheng had not expected Li Shimin to bring up this old matter. His face turned deathly pale as he shouted: “I absolutely never did such a thing. Do not slander me!”

Li Shimin was about to speak when suddenly cries of alarm came from outside the hall. Looking back, he saw Wan Shi leaning against Zhaixing with a snow-white face, the latter frightened stiff, not daring to move, only crying out continuously.

Lanyue appeared somewhat calmer, forcefully pressing Wan Shi’s philtrum acupoint. Under her emergency treatment, Wan Shi slowly revived. At this time, Li Yuan had also walked to her side, supporting her: “Beloved consort, how are you? Are you better?”

Wan Shi ignored these words, only staring hard at Li Yuan and saying excitedly: “Zhiyun… was he really killed by the Crown Prince and the others?” After sending someone to deliver a message to Li Shimin, she felt uneasy thinking about it, so she found an excuse to come to the Taiji Palace. Who knew that just as she reached the palace gates, she heard Li Shimin reveal the truth about Zhiyun’s death, so she had a sudden inspiration and pretended to faint.

Li Yuan did not know whether this matter was true or false, so he could only say: “Do not get excited first. Whatever you have to say, speak after sitting down.” Saying this, he personally helped Wan Shi into the hall. Gaoyang had already knowingly brought over a chair for Wan Shi to sit.

Over there, Li Yuanji pointed at Li Shimin and shouted: “How dare you! At this point, you still slander Elder Brother and me.”

Li Shimin said solemnly: “If I wanted to slander you, why would I wait until now? I cherished brotherly affection and believed in you time and again, only to be framed by you in return. It is truly disappointing.”

“I am the one who should be disappointed!” Li Jiancheng said in anguish: “To think I kept speaking for you before, yet you bite the hand that feeds you. Shimin, you claim I harmed Zhiyun – do you have evidence?”

Li Shimin stared at him for a moment, then turned his gaze to Li Yuan: “Father Emperor, your son has no evidence, but Zhiyun was your son. Whether he was a playful, active person who did not understand propriety, you know best. Do you think in those chaotic wartime circumstances, he would have wandered off to play?”

Before Li Yuan could speak, Wan Shi said urgently: “He would not. Though Zhiyun was young, he was always sensible and would never act willfully or run about recklessly.”

Seeing Li Yuan frown without speaking, Li Yuanji hastily said: “Father Emperor, actually Zhiyun was not at all as well-behaved as the Noble Consort describes. From Hedong to Taiyuan, all along the way, he caused no end of trouble. If you do not believe it, you can ask the soldiers who accompanied us then – many are still here.”

Li Shimin laughed coldly: “They are all yours and the Crown Prince’s men. What could be learned from asking them?” Without waiting for Li Yuanji to argue, he continued: “Besides Yuanji, there is another matter Father Emperor does not know. When your son went to Jiangdu to rescue the Yang clan, before leaving, Elder Brother assigned a squad of his trusted men to your son. At the time, your son fully believed Elder Brother had good intentions, not realizing it was simply to take your son’s life at the opportunity. Liu Wen informed Yuwen Huaji – had your son not had some luck, he would have died eight years ago! Your son originally intended to tell Father Emperor of this matter, but Elder Brother pleaded bitterly, and your son, remembering brotherly affection, agreed to conceal this matter and tell no one.”