After dismissing the servants, Li Jiancheng looked at Li Yuan sitting on the bed and asked urgently, “Father, you called us here so urgently – has something happened?”

Li Yuan was about to nod when he noticed Li Shimin’s right shoulder and arm wrapped in gauze, and his expression immediately became tense. “What happened to you? Did the assassin appear again?”

“No, it was just my own carelessness that caused the injury. It’s nothing serious.” Seeing him say this, Li Yuan felt relieved and took out a letter from under his pillow, handing it to Li Jiancheng. “His Majesty has received my memorial and exempted me from going to the capital, ordering me to recover well at home and only proceed to the capital after my injuries heal.”

Li Jiancheng opened the letter and saw it was indeed as Li Yuan had said. He said joyfully, “It seems His Majesty doesn’t suspect father, so we have time to prepare.”

Li Yuan shook his head and said, “Look at those two lines at the bottom.”

Li Jiancheng followed his words and moved his gaze to the bottom of the letter, where it read: “I constantly think of beloved Minister Li’s injuries, and I cannot taste food or sleep at night, truly worried and concerned. Therefore, I specially dispatch Wang Wei and Gao Yajun to visit beloved Minister on my behalf.”

Li Shimin also saw those two lines and frowned, saying, “When did His Majesty become so concerned about father?”

Li Yuan said nothing but took another letter from his sleeve and handed it to the two brothers. “This is a secret letter that Lady Shunyi just had delivered.”

The Lady Shunyi that Li Yuan spoke of was his niece, Lady Wang, who entered the palace during the Daye period to serve the emperor and was quite favored by Yang Guang. In just a few years, she had risen from a talented lady to Lady Shunyi, first among the nine consorts.

Lady Wang’s letter was very simple, only a few sparse lines, but it made the Li brothers turn pale with shock. The letter stated that Yang Guang had been waiting to see Li Yuan come to the capital, but had never received news of his departure, so he asked Lady Wang why Li Yuan had not come yet. Lady Wang replied that she didn’t know clearly, and Yang Guang didn’t ask much more. The next day, Li Yuan’s memorial arrived in Luoyang. After Yang Guang read the memorial, he said to Wang Wei beside him – “Can he be killed?”

Lady Wang happened to overhear these words while standing outside the door. She keenly sensed that Yang Guang had developed murderous intent toward Li Yuan, so she wrote this letter and secretly sent it to Li Yuan, warning him to be careful of mortal danger.

Li Jiancheng set down the letter and let out a long breath, saying, “So His Majesty’s murderous intent toward father has not subsided.”

Li Shimin said gravely, “His Majesty’s dispatch of Wang Wei and Gao Yajun to Honghua Commandery is less about visiting than monitoring and investigating – to see whether father is truly severely injured or just making excuses to avoid going to the capital, or even… to attempt another assassination!”

Li Jiancheng clenched his fists and said through gritted teeth, “This dog emperor! Father has been completely loyal to him, yet he repeatedly seeks to harm father. How is such a person fit to be the ruler of a nation!”

Li Yuan sighed with a sorrowful expression. He didn’t want to rebel, but Yang Guang was forcing him to have no choice. Now he truly had no path of retreat left.

“Elder brother, anger is useless. What’s urgent now is to dispel His Majesty’s suspicions about father. Only then can we buy more time.”

“How could I not know what you’re saying? But the dog emperor has always been suspicious by nature. He’s long suspected father, and with the Li Mi affair adding to his desire to harm father, how can we just dispel his suspicions as we please?”

“There must be a way.” Li Shimin looked at the letter again and said slowly, “Father, perhaps we can work on Wang Wei and his companion.”

Li Yuan pondered, “You want to bribe them?” Before Li Shimin could speak, he continued, “These two are His Majesty’s trusted confidants. They’re not so easily bribed, and if we’re not careful, they might catch us in the act instead.”

Li Shimin smiled slightly and said, “I know, so what I’m suggesting isn’t bribery.”

“Then what is it?” Under Li Yuan’s puzzled gaze, Li Shimin said, “His Majesty fears father because father has both military talent and benevolent martial wisdom, earning more love from the people than he does as emperor. But if he discovered that father is actually someone who enjoys pleasure and indulges in wine and women, do you think he would still fear him so much?”

Hearing this, Li Yuan immediately understood. “You want me to act like a dissolute person in front of Wang Wei and the others to dispel His Majesty’s suspicions?”

“Exactly. Though this move may not completely dispel His Majesty’s suspicions, it should alleviate them somewhat and buy us time. Moreover, His Majesty still needs father to stabilize the situation in Hedong and even Guanzhong. I believe that as long as there’s no concrete evidence of rebellion, he won’t issue an order for execution. As for assassination…” He paused for a moment and said, “From today on, I will rearrange the military guard forces in the manor and absolutely won’t let assassins have another chance to harm father.”

Li Jiancheng thought carefully and said, “Father, I think Shimin’s suggestion is worth trying. Also, I want to go to Taiyuan.”

His words startled Li Yuan, who asked in amazement, “What would you do there?”

“What we lack most now is manpower. I received a letter the day before yesterday saying there are many anti-Sui rebel armies in Taiyuan recruiting soldiers. I also want to take the opportunity to recruit some, and with their cover, we won’t be discovered.”

“But your injury…” Before Li Yuan could finish, Li Jiancheng had already stood up and walked a few steps, saying, “Father, look – my leg wound has mostly healed, and there’s quite a distance from here to Taiyuan. I believe by the time I get there, the wound will have completely healed.”

Watching Li Jiancheng’s slightly limping steps, Li Yuan sighed inwardly. Though the foot injury could heal, this lameness would be difficult to cure. Jiancheng was his eldest son and talented in both civil and military affairs, yet he had contracted this ailment – truly the tricks of fate.

Seeing Li Yuan remain silent, Li Jiancheng thought he was still hesitating about his proposal and persuaded, “Father, recruiting soldiers is an urgent matter that cannot be delayed further. As long as we have troops in hand, if Shimin’s plan doesn’t work and His Majesty truly wants the Li family’s lives, we’ll at least have the strength to fight.”

Li Yuan collected his thoughts and said, “I understand. I was just thinking that perhaps Taiyuan isn’t the best place for recruitment.”

Li Jiancheng asked puzzledly, “Why? Aren’t many people recruiting soldiers in Taiyuan?”

Li Shimin pondered for a moment and said, “I think it’s precisely because too many people are crowding into Taiyuan that father feels it’s not a good destination.”

Li Yuan looked at Li Shimin with approval. “Exactly. Taiyuan’s situation is complex now, with rebel armies from all regions gathering there. Those with thoughts of rebellion have probably already been recruited. Moreover, I suspect the court has also sent people there to monitor the situation. Rather than risk competing for what others have left behind, we might as well turn our attention to other places in Hedong – we might have greater gains.”

Li Jiancheng nodded and said, “I understand. I’ll do as father says and depart in a few days.”