Although Li Jiancheng was not yet injured, the personal guards surrounding him were becoming fewer and fewer. Defeat… was only a matter of time. Once Li Shimin captured him…

No, even if he couldn’t obtain that position in the Taiji Hall, he absolutely couldn’t sit and watch his elder brother fall into Li Shimin’s hands. He had to find a way to help his elder brother escape from this place, otherwise it would truly be a complete loss!

Only by staying alive would there be a chance for a comeback!

But with so many people here, how could he help his elder brother escape?

Right, those death warriors still had some stationed outside the palace gate, and there were horses they had ridden there. As long as his elder brother could mount a horse and have the death warriors cover his retreat, there should be a chance to escape from Chang’an City!

Thinking of this, he suddenly abandoned Yuchi Jingde, with whom he had yet to determine victory or defeat, and rushed toward Li Jiancheng’s direction. He blocked the Imperial Guards charging forward and shouted loudly: “Elder brother, you must go quickly! Our people are still outside. Go quickly, I’ll cover you!”

Upon hearing this, Li Jiancheng also remembered the men he had left outside the Xuanwu Gate. Yes, now that defeat was certain, unless a heavenly god descended to help, they would surely lose!

While there was still a chance, he should leave quickly so there would be opportunities for a comeback later!

Thinking this, he no longer hesitated and quickly retreated toward the palace gate. Li Yuanji and those death warriors all fought desperately to block Chang He and others who were pursuing from behind.

Indeed, under their desperate obstruction, they truly carved out a path. Li Jiancheng took advantage of this opportunity and quickly rushed toward the palace gate. When he saw the horses tethered outside the palace gate, his heart rejoiced, and his steps quickened even more. Those death warriors, seeing Li Jiancheng rushing out swiftly, also came forward to assist, jointly blocking the Imperial Guards and Zhangsun Wuji and others who were pursuing.

With these death warriors joining in, Chang He and others’ pursuit was forced to slow down. Li Jiancheng took advantage of this opportunity to quickly cut the reins, flip onto the horse’s back, and before he could sit steadily, he had already squeezed the horse’s belly with his legs, urging the horse to gallop away.

Seeing this scene, Li Shimin finally drew the longbow he had been gripping in his hand. A black-feathered arrow was nocked on the bowstring, with the arrowhead pointing directly at Li Jiancheng!

“Whoosh!” As Li Shimin released his grip, the feathered arrow carried a sharp sound of cutting through the air, shooting toward Li Jiancheng like a meteor chasing the moon. By the time Li Jiancheng heard the sound and wanted to dodge, it was already too late. The arrow entered from his back and emerged through his chest!

Having taken such an arrow, how could Li Jiancheng still ride steadily on his horse? He immediately fell from the horse. Li Yuanji, seeing this scene, instantly went mad. Disregarding his own wounds and the swords and blades cutting toward him, he charged toward Li Shimin like a madman, shouting: “You dare injure elder brother with an arrow, I’ll kill you!”

Yuchi Jingde, seeing his fierce approach and fearing he might harm Li Shimin, immediately raised his blade to strike at Li Yuanji. If this blade hit its mark, Li Yuanji would surely die!

When there was still an inch of distance remaining, Li Shimin finally felt reluctant and forcefully called out to stop the momentum: “Don’t kill him!”

The cost of not harming Li Yuanji’s life was allowing him to pounce before Li Shimin. The steel blade in his hand, stained with countless blood, struck forcefully toward Li Shimin, who had no sword or blade in his hands.

Yuchi Jingde and others wanted to stop him again, but it was too late. In this critical moment, Li Shimin raised the longbow in his hand to block that steel blade: “You have no way out. Surrender!”

“Surrender?” Li Yuanji’s blood-stained face was as ferocious as a demon: “Even if I die, I will never surrender to you!”

Zhangsun Wuji, standing beside Li Shimin, said coldly: “Do you think you still have a way to live?”

Li Yuanji paid no attention to his words and just recklessly continued slashing at Li Shimin. He wanted to avenge his elder brother and kill this villain who forced the palace and usurped the throne!

He single-mindedly thought of Li Shimin forcing the palace and usurping the throne, but forgot that their own purpose in appearing here was likewise to force the palace and usurp the throne. There was no difference between the two.

Li Yuanji was already severely wounded after all. After losing his only chance, he was soon surrounded by blades and axes, unable to move. As for Li Jiancheng, although he was hit squarely in the chest, Li Shimin had deliberately avoided vital points before releasing the arrow, so it wasn’t fatal, though he no longer had the strength to fight!

As for those personal soldiers and death warriors, under the siege of Yuchi Jingde and Chang He and others, they were soon brought under control. However, those death warriors all had poison sacs hidden in their mouths. As soon as they were captured, they immediately bit through the poison sacs and committed suicide.

Du Ruhui walked to Li Shimin’s side and said in a low voice: “Your Highness, there’s no time to waste. While His Majesty doesn’t know yet, quickly go to the inner palace and force His Majesty to abdicate!”

Li Shimin nodded and, bringing the trusted generals who had fought bloody battles alongside him, rushed toward the inner palace. At this time, Li Yuan didn’t know that a military coup had already occurred at the Xuanwu Gate, much less that Li Jiancheng and the other had been captured. He had been waiting for a report from Chang He, the Imperial Guard commander.

Therefore, when Yuchi Jingde, covered in blood and carrying a long spear, entered first, Li Yuan was extremely shocked. According to Tang law, those who trespassed in the imperial palace were uniformly sentenced to death by decapitation, and carrying weapons into the palace was an even more serious crime!

Besides Li Yuan, Pei Ji, Xiao Yu and others were also present. They were equally shocked. Although Yuchi Jingde was rough in manner, he couldn’t possibly be unaware of such a major taboo!

Li Yuan came to his senses and said: “Jingde, why this appearance?”

“Your Majesty, the Crown Prince and Prince of Qi have rebelled and have now been captured by the Prince of Qin!” Following his words, Li Shimin and others entered.

Li Yuan was greatly astonished. When he saw Chang He, who had entered together with Li Shimin, he hurriedly asked: “What exactly happened?”

Chang He, likewise covered in blood, cupped his hands and said: “In response to Your Majesty, just as General Yuchi said, the Crown Prince and Prince of Qi committed rebellion. When they were about to force the palace, the Prince of Qin happened to learn of it and led men to capture both of them along with all their accomplices. Please rest assured, Your Majesty.”

“Happened to?” Li Yuan’s face was full of suspicion, his gaze sweeping across Chang He and Li Shimin’s faces: “With such an incident occurring, why didn’t you immediately report to me?”

“The Prince of Qin feared Your Majesty would be frightened, so he didn’t allow this subject to disturb you. Please forgive this crime, Your Majesty!” Upon hearing these words, Li Yuan’s pupils slightly contracted, and his gaze toward Chang He changed somewhat, though he didn’t reveal this. He said indifferently: “Since everything is already resolved, you may all withdraw.”

Facing his words, not a single person left, all still standing in the palace hall. Li Yuan’s gaze turned cold as he raised his voice: “What’s this? Are you all deaf?”

Liu Hongji cupped his hands and said: “Your Majesty, since the Crown Prince committed treason and rebellion, he is unworthy to remain in the Eastern Palace. Please establish another Crown Prince to ease the people’s hearts!”

Zhangsun Wuji immediately continued: “Since Your Majesty raised troops, the Prince of Qin has always led from the front, commanding armies in campaigns everywhere. This is what brought about the Great Tang’s current territory and stability. This subject believes Your Majesty should establish the Prince of Qin as Crown Prince!”