“You also said ‘previously.’ The former khagan was Shibi. According to my knowledge, Jieli is far more brutal than both Shibi and Chuluo, almost comparable to Xue Ju of the past. The five words ‘massacre Yanmen Pass’—I wouldn’t be surprised at all if applied to him.”

After returning to Xiande Palace, Li Shimin immediately issued an edict to mobilize troops. Just as Chang’an city entered complete martial law, an uninvited guest appeared in Liangzhou.

In a horse ranch, Li Jiancheng and Li Yuanji sat leaning against a fence. The latter took a steamed bun and handed it to Li Jiancheng, “Elder brother, have one.” Although they were in exile, after arriving in Xiliang, aside from not being allowed to leave the horse ranch, there were no other restrictions.

Li Jiancheng shook his head: “I’m not hungry. You eat it.”

Li Yuanji bit into the bun, swallowed it with water, then said: “Is elder brother thinking about Chang’an?”

Li Jiancheng gazed toward an unknown distance and said slowly: “Today is September 19th, the day Li Shimin ascends the throne. From today onward, he has truly become the emperor of the Great Tang.”

Li Yuanji sighed deeply, “I know elder brother feels unwilling. In truth, how could I be content either? But we have already lost everything and cannot even return to Chang’an. How can we fight him? Better not to think about it anymore.”

Li Jiancheng was silent for a moment, then suddenly said: “Is it truly impossible to fight anymore?”

“Didn’t elder brother already understand this when leaving Chang’an?” Before he finished speaking, Li Yuanji suddenly frowned because he realized that Li Jiancheng’s previous question was not merely a simple inquiry but seemed to have hidden meaning. He glanced around and, after confirming that the nearest person was over ten zhang away, whispered: “What do you want to say, elder brother?”

Li Jiancheng withdrew his gaze and looked at Li Yuanji: “Fourth brother, do you truly intend to spend the rest of your life here accompanying these beasts?”

Li Yuanji answered without hesitation: “Of course I’m unwilling.” As he spoke, he deflated like a punctured ball, hanging his head dejectedly: “But what good does unwillingness do? He now commands hundreds of thousands of troops, holds the power of life and death, and has a group of capable generals. What about us? Apart from this herd of horses, we have nothing. How can we fight him?”

Li Jiancheng plucked a withered yellow grass and chewed it, bitter taste quickly spreading in his mouth, “I understand what you mean, but I still want to fight him one more time!”

Hearing this, Li Yuanji stood up abruptly, looking at Li Jiancheng with disbelief. After a long while, he finally recovered and, seeing no one had noticed him, quickly crouched down and said in amazement: “Elder brother, hadn’t you already given up? How come you’re again…”

Li Jiancheng sneered: “If I didn’t say that, do you think Li Shimin would spare us? Even if he didn’t kill us, he would imprison us in jail for life.”

Li Yuanji struggled to process his words: “So elder brother, what you said to Li Shimin in Chang’an was all false?”

“Of course!” Li Jiancheng’s expression turned sinister: “He seized my Eastern Palace position and helped the Zheng family harm Rong’er and Chengdao. The hatred between him and me is irreconcilable. If I don’t avenge this, I, Li Jiancheng, swear I am not human!”

Li Yuanji said with a complex expression: “But… elder brother, what do we have to fight him with?”

Li Jiancheng looked at him: “Having no opportunity now doesn’t mean there will never be one. I will wait, keep waiting until the opportunity appears. What about you? Are you willing to assist me once more?”

Li Yuanji hesitated briefly, then said: “I still say the same thing—wherever elder brother goes, I go!”

His answer made Li Jiancheng’s expression relax. He patted Li Yuanji’s shoulder: “Fourth brother, thank you.”

“So the deposed Crown Prince still has such ambition and determination. How admirable!” This unfamiliar voice from behind made their faces change drastically. They turned around hastily, only to see a middle-aged man standing behind them at some unknown time. From his clothing, he appeared to be a servant of the horse ranch, though they had never seen him before.

If not for seeing it with his own eyes, Li Yuanji would never have believed that someone could approach within three zhang of him silently while he was deliberately on guard. For this person to accomplish this, his martial arts must be superior to theirs.

“Who are you?” Facing Li Yuanji’s tense questioning, the man smiled slightly: “Who I am doesn’t matter. What matters is what I heard.”

This sentence made Li Yuanji’s scalp tingle. If Li Shimin knew about their conversation just now, no matter how merciful he was, he would absolutely not spare them: “If you dare speak nonsense, I’ll kill you right now!”

“Kill me?” The man laughed: “Does Prince Qi think you have that ability?”

“If you don’t believe it, feel free to try!” Before finishing his words, Li Yuanji had already attacked with a palm strike. The man shifted his body sideways, avoiding his attack. Before Li Yuanji could change his move, he had already said: “If Prince Qi wants to draw people over, please continue.”

Reminded by him, Li Yuanji also realized this, but he was unwilling to give up just like that: “Do you think saying this will make me fear you?”

The man’s gaze shifted to Li Jiancheng, who remained silent with lowered eyes: “What does the Crown Prince think?”

After signaling Li Yuanji to step back, Li Jiancheng walked before the man and said coldly: “Since you deliberately revealed yourself, you presumably don’t intend to report us. Speak—what do you want to do?”

The man smiled and cupped his hands: “The Crown Prince truly observes people with keen insight. This humble person admires you greatly.”

Li Jiancheng said coldly: “I am no longer the Crown Prince. You may address me by name.”

“This humble person wouldn’t dare.” Saying this, the man raised his eyebrows: “The Crown Prince is the legitimate successor of the Tang Dynasty. Though currently in decline, this humble person believes it’s merely a temporary dragon trapped in shallow waters. Once the winds and clouds stir, the Crown Prince will soar upward and transform into a true dragon again!”

These words were undoubtedly pleasant to Li Jiancheng’s ears, but he did not lower his guard: “If what you want to say is only this, forgive me for not keeping you company.” After a pause, he slowly uttered three words: “Foreign tribesman!”

For the first time, the man’s expression changed, and the smile that had been on his face disappeared. He stared at Li Jiancheng and said solemnly: “What does the Crown Prince mean by this?”

Li Jiancheng sneered: “Although you wear Han clothing and speak no differently from us, your facial features are somewhat deeper than ours. Additionally, you just referred to our Great Tang as ‘Tang Dynasty’ with a sense of rejection and unfamiliarity. Therefore, I conclude that you are not Han!”

“Clap, clap, clap!” The man applauded: “This humble person has studied the Han language since childhood and deeply understands Han customs. All the way to Xiliang, not a single person has doubted this humble person’s identity. The Crown Prince is the first. The Crown Prince’s thoughtfulness and ability to read people truly makes this humble person admire you immensely!”

Li Jiancheng said coldly: “You need not speak such flattering words. I ask you once more—why have you come here?”