Li Shimin looked at him for a while, then turned and walked out. After him, Liu Hongji and others also withdrew. Soon, in the vast hall, only Pei Ji and Li Yuan remained.

Li Yuan spoke first: “Xuanzhen, do you have any way to deal with that rebellious son?”

Pei Ji sighed: “What Lord Liu said just now wasn’t wrong. Even if Your Majesty could notify the army, they might not come to protect the emperor! In our Great Tang’s military, the two words ‘War God’ are probably more effective than military tallies!”

These words were like a basin of cold water poured over his head, chilling Li Yuan to the bone. After a long while, he came to his senses and said tremblingly: “What do you mean?”

“Your Majesty, since things have reached this point, why not just agree to establish the Prince of Qin as Crown Prince?” Before he finished speaking, Li Yuan had already shouted sternly: “Impossible! Even if I die, I will never establish that treasonous rebellious son!” Speaking thus, he pointed at Pei Ji again and said hatefully: “Good! I’ve always trusted you most. When you were defeated by Liu Wuzhou, I never punished you, and there was also that matter with Liu Wenjing, yet you actually side with that evil spawn. How can you face me?”

Pei Ji shook his head: “This subject’s loyalty has always been to Your Majesty, and I have not sided with the Prince of Qin!”

“Lies!” Li Yuan breathed heavily several times: “If you haven’t sided with him, why do you speak for him? Pei Ji, I truly trusted you wrongly!”

Pei Ji sighed again: “This subject is not helping the Prince of Qin. The reason I spoke thus is because I don’t want Your Majesty and the Prince of Qin to become too estranged. Based on the current situation, the Prince of Qin’s succession to the throne is already a foregone conclusion. No matter how Your Majesty obstructs, it cannot be changed!”

Li Yuan said excitedly: “Who says it cannot be changed? Outside Chang’an City, there are hundreds of thousands of troops, and there are also garrison troops in various prefectures and counties. As long as I show the military tally, they will immediately gather in Chang’an to protect the emperor!”

“Your Majesty!” Pei Ji said painfully: “Why do you still not recognize the situation even now? If the Prince of Qin doesn’t rebel, that’s one thing, but if he rebels, no one can stop him. Military tallies are just dead objects – how can they compete with people’s hearts? Moreover, the Taiji Palace is now heavily surrounded by the Prince of Qin’s people. Who can take the military tally out, and who would dare to take it out?”

“Furthermore, even if reinforcements were truly summoned, as long as you are in the Prince of Qin’s hands, who would dare act rashly? The saying ‘holding the emperor to command the feudal lords’ – Your Majesty should understand this better than anyone.”

Every word Pei Ji spoke was like an invisible hammer, striking Li Yuan heavily, scattering his remaining strength. He fell to the ground in despair, and Gaoyang knelt beside him, not daring to speak.

After a long while, Li Yuan raised his head and said unwillingly: “Is there truly… no way left?”

“If there were a way, would this subject say such things to Your Majesty?” After a pause, Pei Ji said softly: “Your Majesty, you have lost!”

“Lost… I have lost…” Li Yuan repeated these words, then suddenly burst into loud laughter. In this early autumn evening, it sounded extremely sharp and piercing, startling the birds perched on the branches outside the hall.

Only after laughing until his voice became hoarse did he stop, saying to Gaoyang who knelt beside him: “Help me up.”

“Yes.” Gaoyang responded softly, supporting Li Yuan’s arm to help him stand. In this short time, Li Yuan looked as if he had aged ten years. His originally straight back had become hunched, like a flickering candle in the wind, an elderly man in his twilight years.

In fact, Li Yuan was indeed an old man, but usually, he was always surrounded by imperial majesty, making everyone forget his age.

“Let them come in.” Following Li Yuan’s words, Li Shimin and others entered the Taiji Hall again. As soon as Yuchi Jingde entered, he spoke: “Has Your Majesty thought it through?”

Li Yuan ignored him and stared at Li Shimin: “How do you plan to deal with Jiancheng and Yuanji?”

Li Shimin pondered for a moment: “Although they committed grave errors, they are still this son’s brothers. As long as they behave themselves from now on, this son will treat them well!”

“Good, remember your words!” After saying this, Li Yuan closed his eyes, and with infinite unwillingness, gritted his teeth: “For many years, the Prince of Qin has campaigned north and south, expanded territory, and made great contributions to the Great Tang. Today, he has also quelled the rebellion of the Crown Prince and Prince of Qi. Therefore, I have decided to establish the Prince of Qin as Crown Prince. Additionally, as I am advanced in years, after the Prince of Qin becomes Crown Prince, he shall act as regent. After becoming familiar with court affairs, he shall ascend to the imperial throne!”

Li Shimin listened quietly. After he finished speaking, Li Shimin lifted his robes and knelt down, saying solemnly: “This son thanks Father Emperor for his great kindness!”

After he rose, Liu Hongji and others all knelt down and said in unison: “We subjects pay our respects to Your Highness the Crown Prince. Long live Your Highness!”

After them, the soldiers outside the hall also knelt in salute, their voices of respect coming in waves, echoing throughout the entire Taiji Palace.

At this moment, Li Yuan finally extinguished even his last bit of hope. Pei Ji had not deceived him – Li Shimin indeed had more popular support than he did. The Great Tang’s imperial throne… no one could compete with him for it, not even himself!

Yunyi had been kneeling before the Buddha for an entire day and night, not touching a drop of water, reciting sutras over and over again, praying for the heavenly Buddhas to bless Li Shimin with victory.

Although Ruyi was worried about Yunyi, she also understood that at this time, no matter what she said would be useless and couldn’t persuade Yunyi at all. The only thing she could do was accompany Yunyi in prayer.

When darkness swallowed the last ray of sunset, the door to the side room was suddenly pushed open. A figure with flowing robes appeared in Yunyi’s sight as she turned to look.

Shimin! It was Shimin!

Upon seeing who it was, infinite joy filled Yunyi’s heart. His appearance here meant… he had won, defeated Li Jiancheng, defeated Li Yuan, defeated the entire Great Tang world!

And she could return to Li Shimin’s side, no longer having to endure the pain of separation!

Yunyi wanted to rise and run to Li Shimin, but because she had been kneeling too long, her legs had long since gone numb and she had no strength to stand. Instead, she fell to the ground.

Li Shimin took a quick step forward and supported her: “What’s wrong? Are you hurt?”

“No, I just knelt too long, so my legs are somewhat disobedient. I’ll be fine after resting a while.” Saying this, Yunyi smiled brightly: “Congratulations, Your Highness!”

Li Shimin carried her to sit in a chair, rubbing her numb legs while saying: “Father Emperor has already issued an edict establishing me as Crown Prince. The investiture ceremony will be held in three days. After some time, Father Emperor will abdicate and pass the throne to me!”

Yunyi smiled slightly: “I imagine His Majesty is not willing.”

Li Shimin’s movements paused as he smiled bitterly: “More than unwilling – Father Emperor wishes he could kill me. Such a father and son relationship is truly tragic.”

Yunyi leaned forward and embraced Li Shimin’s shoulders: “It was His Majesty who disregarded father-son affection first. Your Highness did nothing wrong in acting thus. Moreover, this concubine believes that only with Your Highness as emperor will the Great Tang become better and stronger!”