“What Eunuch Gao said is all Wu Yu’s one-sided account. Whether it’s true or false, you can’t be certain, can you?”

“This…” As Gaoyang was struck speechless, Li Yuan said with forced composure: “You say Wu Yu’s words are one-sided, but aren’t yours the same?”

“Black characters on white paper – how could this be false?” Before Liu Hongji’s words ended, Li Yuan said: “Of course it’s false. The handwriting on this isn’t mine and Jiancheng’s at all – it’s clearly your deliberate forgery to deceive the many soldiers.”

“Not yours?” Liu Hongji spoke coldly and drew a memorial from his sleeve: “This one is a memorial Li Jiancheng submitted three years ago. You wrote a vermillion endorsement on it and stamped it with the imperial seal – it cannot possibly be false. I’ll have someone compare the handwriting right now to see whether I forged it or whether you, Grand Emperor, deceived everyone!”

Li Yuan’s face turned pale. It seemed Liu Hongji had prepared early, even bringing memorials with his and Jiancheng’s handwriting. Upon comparison, they would surely find the handwriting identical to that on the letters. What could be done? Though anxious as an ant on a hot pan, he absolutely dared not voice opposition, only allowing Liu Hongji to invite over ten literate soldiers to examine the letters.

Those soldiers gathered together to compare the letters and memorials. After comparing for a full cup of tea’s time, they unanimously agreed that the handwriting on the memorial and letters came from the same source.

After confirming this, those soldiers walked away while shouting loudly: “Fellow brothers, the handwriting on the memorial and letters is identical – they were indeed written by the Grand Emperor and deposed Crown Prince. They colluded with the Turks to seize our Great Tang’s prefectures. Everything they said is false and untrustworthy!”

This statement rang out again and again, with soldiers voluntarily repeating and spreading it so that distant soldiers could also hear.

“However careful you are, you would naturally find people to copy our handwriting.” Li Yuan’s face was deathly pale, but he still refused to change his story, because he knew in his heart that changing it would mean complete defeat. At least now there was still a glimmer of hope.

“This old servant also believes Wu Yu – he cannot be a spy, absolutely not.” Over ten years of master-disciple relationship made Gaoyang still choose to believe Wu Yu despite the doubts.

Liu Hongji said from the side: “Eunuch Gao, think carefully – what did Wu Yu say when he went to Taiji Palace?”

Gaoyang’s mind was now in chaos, unable to recall. Only after Liu Hongji’s repeated questioning did he organize his thoughts: “Wu Yu went to Taiji Palace yesterday to persuade the Grand Emperor to assist His Majesty. He also asked this old servant to help persuade His Majesty together.”

“He persuaded the Grand Emperor… did Eunuch Gao witness this personally, or did he tell you about it afterward?”

“He told me afterward. When he came to see the Grand Emperor, he said he had other matters to discuss, then the Grand Emperor sent this old servant out.”

“That explains it. If he truly came as His Majesty’s advocate, why would he need to dismiss Eunuch Gao? Furthermore, doesn’t Eunuch Gao find it strange? The Grand Emperor previously refused no matter what, but suddenly agreed. I know Eunuch Gao once advised the Grand Emperor, but you should understand his character – is he someone who easily accepts advice?”

“This…” Gaoyang was momentarily speechless. Indeed, Li Yuan had always been decisive and unwavering. When he agreed to Wu Yu’s request earlier, he had no confidence at all, yet things went surprisingly smoothly. Thinking back carefully, it was indeed abnormal. Could it truly be as Liu Hongji said?

At this moment, Li Shimin signaled Du Ruhui to step aside, then said: “Everyone, the city gate is here. If you still choose to open it and let the ill-intentioned Turkic army enter the city, causing Bingzhou and other places to suffer Turkic harassment or even slaughter from now on, then go ahead – I absolutely will not stop you!”

The soldiers who had originally been determined to open the city gates now hesitated. After a long while, one suddenly knelt down: “This humble one was possessed by demons and nearly committed acts harmful to the nation and people. This humble one deserves death – please forgive me, Your Majesty!”

With his kneeling, others also knelt down, begging Li Shimin’s forgiveness. Seeing this scene, Li Shimin’s eyes showed a trace of relief. Though he had long known of Li Yuan and Li Jiancheng’s conspiracy and prepared accordingly, he had still worried until the outcome was clear.

“You were also misled by villains and timely repented without committing grave errors. I pardon your crimes – all rise!” The soldiers who had been anxious about potential punishment felt relieved upon hearing this, also grateful for Li Shimin’s benevolence. The first soldier to kneel rose and said to the others: “Brothers, we should advance and retreat with His Majesty, vowing to defend Chang’an City to the death and never let the Turkic dogs set foot in Chang’an!”

“Vow to defend Chang’an to the death! Vow to defend Chang’an to the death!” This voice spread in waves, countless soldiers shouting these six words in unison, the sound shaking the heavens. The originally low morale surged at this moment, even greater than before.

Hearing the soldiers’ deafening roars, Li Yuan’s face was ashen. He knew he had lost. Under current circumstances, the Turks absolutely could not break into Chang’an, and once reinforcements arrived, the Turks would have to flee with their tails between their legs.

The Turks could run, but he and Li Jiancheng had nowhere to flee. Their fate afterward would be predictably tragic.

Li Shimin stood before him, speaking in a voice cold and devoid of emotion: “You lost!”

Li Yuan stared at him blankly. After a long while, he smiled bitterly: “Yes, I lost, lost to you once again, Li Shimin!”

Over there, Wu Yu said hoarsely: “How did you know my identity? Was it because I said I could borrow my master’s help to persuade the Grand Emperor?”

“No, at that time, I truly believed you.” Li Shimin’s words made Wu Yu even more puzzled: “If so, then why…”

Liu Hongji interrupted him: “You can only blame yourselves for thinking Chang’an’s defenses too simple. Did you think it was merely closing the city gates and posting guards? In fact, not only the gates but also waterways and even the sky are under our surveillance. So when the Turks’ carrier pigeon appeared in Chang’an’s range, it immediately aroused our vigilance. When it flew over a grove of trees, we caught it. Sure enough, we found the deposed Crown Prince’s letter on that carrier pigeon. However, at that time we didn’t know where the pigeon was flying to. To find the spy, I copied the letter and placed it back in the bamboo tube on the pigeon’s leg, then released it again while having people follow it. But we truly didn’t expect the pigeon to fly into the Eastern Palace, much less that the person would be you. You hid really deep!”

Wu Yu never imagined they had guarded Chang’an so tightly that even a small pigeon wasn’t overlooked. Unfortunately, knowing this now was too late. He said helplessly: “So it was that carrier pigeon that exposed me?”