“It’s not nonsense!” Li Jiancheng dared not hold back anything at this moment and poured out all the methods he had thought of. “I know you have many powerful crossbows here, with enough force to shoot over the city walls.”

Jieli Khan said nothing, only stared at Li Jiancheng. Clearly, the next words would determine whether the latter lived or died.

“We can carve words on the hail, then use the powerful crossbows to shoot them into Chang’an City. The hail is falling densely right now, so those soldiers will only think they fell from the sky together with the rest, and won’t suspect us at all. As long as one of them sees the words on the hail, it will quickly spread from one to ten, from ten to a hundred. By dawn, many people will know about it. Though it won’t make Chang’an City surrender without a fight, it can at least weaken their soldiers’ morale and give us a chance to attack into the city!”

Seeing Jieli Khan’s dark eyes and silence, Li Jiancheng added, “The Khan must decide quickly, otherwise once the hail stops, the plan I just mentioned won’t work.”

Jieli Khan was not one to drag his feet. Hearing these words, he made an immediate decision, “Good, we’ll do as you suggest. I hope it’s truly effective, otherwise the flesh on your bodies will be carved off piece by piece!”

Li Jiancheng repeatedly agreed, then said, “We can help the Khan carve the words together!”

Jieli Khan smiled coldly, “No need. You two just stay here properly. Rest assured, as long as we capture Chang’an, I will definitely release you!”

At this moment, he made no mention of helping Li Jiancheng ascend to the throne. Chang’an was a piece of fat meat—for a wolf, how could there be any reason to give away what had been delivered to his mouth?

As he lifted the tent flap, Jieli Khan paused and turned back, “What words should we carve?”

Li Jiancheng pondered for a moment and said, “An immoral ruler, the Great Tang must perish!”

“Very good!” Dropping these two words, Jieli Khan walked out. After guessing he had gone far away, Li Yuanji let out a long breath and said with lingering fear, “Fortunately, Big Brother, you thought of a solution in time, otherwise we would already be dead where we stand.”

Li Jiancheng stared at the curtain that had stopped swaying, his face expressionless as he said, “How long do you think we can still live?”

Li Yuanji was startled, then said, “Big Brother, why do you ask such a thing? Didn’t he just say that as long as they attack into Chang’an, he’ll let us go?”

“He did say he would spare us, but he didn’t say others would spare us.” Seeing Li Yuanji staring at him blankly, Li Jiancheng said coldly, “Still don’t understand? This is a word trap. I’m certain that whether Chang’an City falls or not, he will kill us.”

Hearing this, Li Yuanji’s heart, which had just settled back into his stomach, immediately rose again. At the same time, he said angrily, “This despicable villain! As a ruler of a nation, he does such things. He’s the one who deserves to die!”

Hatred was hatred, but it didn’t help their current situation at all. After barely suppressing his anger, Li Yuanji said, “Then what do we do now? Just wait for death?”

“Of course not.” Li Jiancheng said coldly, “Tomorrow at dawn, they’ll attack the city. At that time, the guards will surely be lax. We’ll take that opportunity to escape!”

“Escape?” Li Yuanji smiled bitterly as he looked at himself and Li Jiancheng, tied up like dumplings, “How can we escape?”

Li Jiancheng ignored his words and shouted loudly, “Someone! Someone!”

Li Yuanji hadn’t expected him to suddenly do this and was momentarily stunned. After coming to his senses, he urgently said, “Big Brother, what are you doing?”

“Someone! Someone!” Li Jiancheng said nothing and continued shouting. After a long while, a Turkic soldier finally walked in, saying impatiently, “What’s all the noise about? Do you want a whipping?”

“I’m thirsty. Could you give me a bowl of water?” Hearing this, the Turkic soldier sneered, “You still think you’re the Crown Prince? Water? Hmph, do you want me to bring you a chicken leg and a bowl of rice too?”

Faced with his mockery, Li Jiancheng said nothing, only, “I just want to drink a bowl of water. I’m really too thirsty.”

“You want to drink water?” The Turkic soldier looked down at him condescendingly, “Beg me! If I’m in a good mood, maybe I’ll get you a bowl of water.”

Seeing his attitude, Li Yuanji understood he was deliberately making things difficult and said angrily, “Don’t go too far!”

The Turkic soldier snorted coldly, “If you think I’m going too far, you don’t have to drink water. I don’t have time to bother with you anyway.” Saying this, he turned to leave. Li Jiancheng looked at his back, his eyes flashing, and said in a low voice, “Please, please give me a bowl of water!”

The Turkic soldier stopped and turned back with a pleased expression, “Louder, I didn’t hear you.”

“Soldier sir, please, give me a bowl of water. I’m really suffering from thirst.” Under Li Jiancheng’s repeated pleas, the Turkic soldier was finally satisfied and said, “Alright, wait here. I’ll go get you water.”

“Thank you, soldier sir, thank you, soldier sir.” Amid Li Jiancheng’s repeated thanks, the Turkic soldier left the tent. As soon as he left, Li Yuanji couldn’t wait to say, “Big Brother, what are you doing? For a sip of water, you’re humbling yourself and begging such a lowly soldier—is it worth it?”

“I have my own plan.” After saying these few words, Li Jiancheng closed his mouth and no matter what Li Yuanji said, he refused to say another word.

After a while, the soldier came in and placed a bowl with half a bowl of water in front of Li Jiancheng, “Here, drink up. Don’t make noise anymore, or I won’t be so polite next time.”

Li Jiancheng repeatedly agreed. When only the two of them were left in the tent, Li Jiancheng didn’t drink the water but instead turned sideways, used his hands tied behind his back to pick up the bowl, and quietly smashed it on the ground. Because his movements were restricted, he tried several times before breaking the bowl. He controlled his strength well, not making too much noise, and with the hail raging outside, the sound was so small it could be ignored.

Li Jiancheng picked up a piece of broken porcelain and said to Li Yuanji, who was staring blankly, “Hurry up and extend your hands.”

Seeing this scene, Li Yuanji finally understood his meaning and quickly extended his hands, saying excitedly, “Big Brother, you really have a way. I thought before that…”

“You thought I was bowing and scraping to someone for a sip of water?” Faced with Li Jiancheng’s words, Li Yuanji grinned, “Misunderstanding, misunderstanding.”

While they were talking, Li Jiancheng had already cut through the rope. As soon as Li Yuanji gained freedom, he wanted to untie the rope on his feet, but Li Jiancheng quickly said, “Don’t untie it, otherwise if someone comes in, we’ll be exposed.”

Li Yuanji thought about it and agreed, then went to untie Li Jiancheng’s rope, saying in a low voice, “Should we leave now?”

“No rush.” Li Jiancheng listened to the movement outside and said, “There are people everywhere outside now. Once we go out, we’ll easily be discovered. Let’s wait until after they attack the city.”