Li Yuan never expected so many matters to suddenly emerge. His face darkened as he stared at Li Jiancheng: “Is this true?”

“No!” Li Jiancheng denied without hesitation: “Your son can swear to heaven that he has absolutely never done such things. Otherwise, may your son be struck by lightning and die a terrible death!”

Li Shimin said coldly: “The Crown Prince naturally would not admit it, but Liu Wen’s death is the best proof. If not, one could seek out Yuwen Huaji’s former subordinates – surely something could be learned from them.”

Li Jiancheng had not expected him to think of approaching Yuwen Huaji’s former subordinates. His face paled and he momentarily did not know how to refute. Li Yuan discerned some clues from this and said sternly: “Is this matter true?”

“No!” Li Yuan hastily denied. Not to mention there was still no concrete evidence, even if there was, he would never admit to this matter. “Your son swears to Father Emperor as I just did – I have absolutely never done anything to wrong Father Emperor.”

Li Shimin smiled coldly: “The Crown Prince should wait until I finish speaking before saying these things, lest you have to say them again and again.”

At this point, Li Yuan’s brows had furrowed into a “川” character as he said incredulously: “There are still more matters?”

“In the third year of Wude, Father Emperor banished Yang Shi to become a nun at Mingyue Nunnery under the pretext that she slandered the Crown Prince and Consort De. But in truth, Consort De and Zhaoyi were indeed from brothels. She did not lie – the one who lied was Xingniang!”

Li Yuanji sneered: “I wondered why the Prince of Qin suddenly spoke so much, constantly fabricating stories to pin blame on Elder Brother and me. So it was all for Yang Shi – how painstaking indeed.”

“You need not reverse black and white here. You have always been cruel by nature, never knowing how to sympathize with the people’s suffering. When Father Emperor had you campaign against Liu Wuzhou, what happened? You hunted all along the way, even shooting and killing common people, earning widespread hatred. If not for you, how would the later campaigns have been so difficult? Tell me yourself – how many common people died directly or indirectly by your hand?” Speaking to this point, Li Shimin sneered: “If not for Father Emperor’s protection, how would you still have the life to stand here!”

Li Yuanji never knew Li Shimin possessed such sharp eloquence. Both angry and annoyed, he blurted out: “They were merely lowly commoners. If they died, they died – what’s the big deal!”

To his words, Li Shimin responded with a cold smile: “Father Emperor, you heard it all. Yuanji does not regard human life as human life at all – just like the former Emperor Yang of Sui!”

Hearing this, Li Yuanji jumped up like a cat whose tail had been stepped on, ignoring Li Jiancheng’s attempts to stop him, and shouted: “You dare compare me to Emperor Yang of Sui? Are you mad?”

“I think… my comparison was not wrong!” Saying this, Li Shimin returned to the matter of Yin Shi: “These past few years, your son has been investigating the Xingniang affair and discovered she had intricate connections with the Crown Prince’s mansion. The events of that year were very likely because the Crown Prince discovered someone investigating Consort De’s matter, so he turned the situation to his advantage, having Xingniang recant before Father Emperor and falsely accuse Yang Shi of harming the Crown Prince and imperial concubines.”

“Shimin, you…” Li Jiancheng sighed heavily and said nothing.

Li Yuanji said angrily: “All of this is your speculation. You have no concrete evidence at all.”

Li Shimin said coolly: “Indeed I do not, but regarding your so-called speculation, I happen to have another one. Do you want to hear it?”

“If you have the ability, just say it. Would I be afraid of you?” Li Yuanji indeed was not afraid. Although Li Shimin’s current words made them somewhat uneasy, with Xia Houduan, Wang Yuanzhi, and Fu Yi present, even if Li Shimin had the greatest abilities, he could not stir up waves to overturn everything.

Li Shimin cupped his hands toward Li Yuan: “Your son only learned of this matter recently. This matter concerns the imperial family’s reputation. Your son originally intended to investigate thoroughly before speaking, but it seems there is no time to wait.”

Li Yuan asked puzzledly: “What matter?”

Under everyone’s gaze, Li Shimin said word by word: “The Crown Prince has violated the harem!”

At these words, it was truly earth-shattering. Everyone stared at Li Shimin with shocked expressions, even Wan Shi stopped crying and sat there in a daze.

Li Jiancheng was the first to recover, shouting sternly: “Shimin, I have been tolerating you because I still consider you a brother. Do not become increasingly excessive!”

Before his words finished, Li Shimin had already raised his hand and pointed at him: “The excessive one has never been me. Your Highness the Crown Prince, even now, do you still want to deny everything?”

Li Jiancheng hatefully gritted his teeth and said to Li Yuan, who was still stunned: “Father Emperor, do not believe his nonsense. He clearly wants to divert our attention so he can escape!”

Damn it, this matter was extremely confidential. Besides him and Jirong, only Yin Shi and the palace attendants he arranged to serve Yin Shi knew about it. How did Li Shimin learn of it? Yin Shi would never speak, and Jirong would not betray him either. Could it be that palace attendant?

Li Shimin sneered: “Wasn’t the Crown Prince always wanting to help me? How is it that now you suddenly changed your face? Are you truly guilty?”

“Li Shimin!” This time, Li Jiancheng was truly about to lose control. If not for Li Yuan’s presence, he would have had the heart to kill Li Shimin outright.

“All of you shut up!” Everyone’s words were cut off by Li Yuan’s shout. They stood awkwardly in the hall as Li Yuan’s cold, penetrating gaze swept over those below the throne, finally stopping on Li Shimin: “Where did you hear of this matter?”

This matter was too shocking, causing Li Yuan’s entire attention to focus on it, temporarily forgetting even the matter of Li Shimin seizing the Great Tang realm.

It was no wonder he reacted this way. Any man in the world who heard that his wife was having an affair with another man would be unable to sit still, let alone when that man was his most valued son.

Li Shimin pondered while saying: “Your son recently entered the palace to pay respects to Noble Consort Shu. While passing by Consort De’s palace, I inadvertently saw Elder Brother coming out from there. Consort De personally saw him off, and their behavior was intimate – absolutely not the normal relationship between an imperial concubine and the Crown Prince.” Although fabricating this made him somewhat uneasy, he was completely disappointed in Li Jiancheng.

“There is no such thing! Father Emperor, Shimin is wrongly accusing your son!” Facing Li Jiancheng’s protests, Li Yuan remained silent with lowered eyes. At this moment, Wan Shi said softly: “Your Majesty, there is one matter – this consort does not know whether she should speak of it or not.”

“Just speak freely.” Li Yuan was thinking about Yin Shi’s matter, so his tone was somewhat harsh.

Wan Shi timidly glanced at him and said quietly: “Does Your Majesty still remember when sister Consort De fell ill last year?”

“I naturally remember. She caught a cold and rested in her palace for over half a month before recovering.” Speaking thus, Li Yuan frowned: “Why bring this up for no reason?”