Volume Three: The Xuanwu Gate Upheaval, Chapter 105: Capriciousness

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Seeing Mingyu’s great fondness for the blade, Li Yuanji smiled outwardly but felt as if his heart was bleeding inside. A treasured sword is hard to come by, priceless yet unsellable. Secretly, he vowed, “Boy, if it weren’t for my grand plan and the need to silence you for now, I wouldn’t be so kind as to entrust you with this beloved weapon! Just wait. This sword is only temporarily kept by you. One day, I will reclaim it with interest, in full!”

Li Yuanji then praised Mingyu further with hollow compliments about a treasured sword gifted to a hero, a beauty accompanied by a rose. With this blade, Mingyu would indeed be like a tiger with wings, extraordinary and valiant—mere empty flattery about a promising young hero.

Then Li Yuanji shifted the topic abruptly, asking, “Enough of this chatter. Brother, what brings you here?”

Li Shimin thought, finally to the point. Clearing his throat, he answered gravely, “Fourth brother, yesterday an assassin came to my residence. Are you aware of this?”

Feigning shock, Li Yuanji exclaimed, “Such a thing? Who dares so boldly to attempt an assassination at the Prince of Qin’s mansion?”

Li Shimin’s eyes blazed as he fixed Li Yuanji’s face, seeing his feigned surprise, he sneered inwardly. “You, Fourth brother! Haven’t you learned that too much acting is just as bad? The assassin who came to my house yesterday killed indiscriminately, wounded many, causing a great uproar throughout Chang’an. I refuse to believe you know nothing at all!”

He retorted, “Who was it? Fourth brother, do you truly not know?”

Li Yuanji shook his head, “I really don’t.”

“But the assassin we caught wore clothes and used weapons clearly bearing your Prince Qi Mansion’s seal!” Seeing Li Yuanji still playing dumb, Li Shimin stopped dancing around the issue and got straight to the point.

Realizing there was no avoiding this matter, Li Yuanji smiled bitterly and said, “Second brother! If I say it wasn’t my doing, would you believe me?”

Li Shimin said nothing, eyes sharp, searching every twitch on Li Yuanji’s face.

With a sigh, Li Yuanji said, “This assassin was truly not sent by me! Why else would I be so angry today? Brother, you must understand, I am wrongly accused! Someone is deliberately framing me to sow discord between us brothers!”

Seeing Li Shimin remain silent, Li Yuanji grew anxious, pleading, “Brother, you must believe me! Think about it—if I had sent the assassin, would I be foolish enough to have them carry weapons stamped with my own seal?”

Suddenly, Li Shimin said, “It was the Crown Prince who sent them.”

“The Crown Prince? Eldest brother? Why would he frame me?” Li Yuanji’s face changed drastically, this was no act—he was genuinely shocked.

Li Shimin fixed him with a half-smile. “Fourth brother, let’s not beat around the bush. Don’t you really know why our eldest brother would do this?”

Though arrogant and quick-tempered, Li Yuanji was not foolish. Hearing this, his expression darkened and he lowered his head in thought.

Li Shimin said nothing, smiling as he watched Li Yuanji wrestle with his thoughts.

The atmosphere in the room thickened. After a long silence, Li Yuanji finally spoke in a dry, hoarse voice, “All these years, I have obeyed him devotedly, never questioning. Who would have thought he could not tolerate me either, and would even betray me!”

Li Shimin fanned the flames of discord between Li Yuanji and the Crown Prince, sneering, “In our eldest brother’s eyes, nothing is more important than his position! Anyone who might become a stumbling block is a target for elimination. That includes me, and certainly you!”

Grinding his teeth, Li Yuanji hissed, “Crown Prince Li Jiancheng! I will never let this go!”

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Seeing his plan unfolding, Li Shimin added fuel to the fire, “Fourth brother, you know how our eldest is. Didn’t our third brother get driven away by him? We don’t seek his position, but we cannot be his pawns either. We must stand together to protect ourselves!”

“That’s right!” Li Yuanji nodded in agreement.

At that moment, Hu Xi, the steward of Prince Qi’s mansion, hurried in, calling out, “Your Highness, you should come quickly. The Princess has suddenly fainted!”

Li Yuanji was still angry and glared, yelling, “If she’s fainted, summon the imperial physician! What the hell do you want with me? Don’t you see I’m in the middle of a matter?”

Hu Xi trembled under the scolding but quietly urged, “The physician has already been summoned, but Your Highness should go see for yourself.”

Li Shimin, hearing this, felt a knot tighten in his chest—he was even more anxious than Li Yuanji. He joined in the persuasion, “Fourth brother, when I arrived earlier, I noticed your wife looked unwell. You should go check on her first. I’ll wait here.”

“Fine! Everyone’s a worry!” Li Yuanji muttered, then saluted Li Shimin, “Second brother, wait here. I’ll be back soon.” With that, he followed Hu Xi out.

They expected Li Yuanji to return quickly if there was no serious problem. Yet, left waiting, Mingyu grew impatient. He hated kneeling so long; his legs were numb and aching. He stood up, stretching, watching Li Shimin and Yuchi Gong.

Li Shimin’s plan exceeded expectations. Not only had he sown discord between Li Yuanji and the Crown Prince, he might even win Li Yuanji to his side, brightening his mood. Calmly holding his tea bowl, he savored his drink.

Yuchi Gong sat upright like a monk in meditation, seemingly able to wait for hours more without moving.

Li Shimin chuckled at Mingyu’s restlessness. “What’s the matter? Can’t sit still? A person who does great things must be calm and composed. Look at you, scratching and fidgeting like a monkey!”

Mingyu smiled wryly, “Second uncle, it’s not that I can’t keep still. It’s just that kneeling so long has made my legs numb. I hate this the most. I really have to move around!”

Meanwhile, Li Yuanji, escorted by Hu Xi, left the study and headed toward the rear hall.

Outside the courtyard, Hu Xi lowered his voice, whispering into Li Yuanji’s ear, “Your Highness, actually, the Princess hasn’t fainted. The Crown Prince’s people sent word, insisting on seeing you immediately. They say it’s a matter of utmost importance.”

Li Yuanji exploded in anger, kicking Hu Xi down. “Damn you! You dare lie to me! I won’t see them! Tell them to get lost!”

Hu Xi kowtowed rapidly. “Please calm down, Your Highness. I wouldn’t dare lie. I told them you were entertaining honored guests, but they insisted. They said if you don’t see them now, you’ll regret it for life!”

Having been swayed by Li Shimin’s words and hating the Crown Prince, Li Yuanji was ready to refuse. But the thought of “regret for life” made him pause. What could be so urgent that they had to see him now? Could it be that the Crown Prince learned of Li Shimin’s visit and hurried to win him over?

Deciding it was best to hear what the eldest brother was offering, Li Yuanji said, “Where are they?”

“In a secret chamber in the rear hall,” Hu Xi replied.

“Lead the way!” Li Yuanji’s attitude shifted, eager to hear the Crown Prince’s terms. After all, the Crown Prince had just betrayed him and now was trying to win him over again—surely the offer wouldn’t be small.

As expected, the Crown Prince had learned of Li Shimin’s arrival at Prince Qi’s mansion.

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He guessed correctly that with Li Yuanji’s reckless and arrogant temper, the two brothers would quarrel further.

At first, things went as the Crown Prince predicted. In line with Li Yuanji’s impulsive nature, he clashed harshly with Li Shimin.

But for some unknown reason, Li Yuanji soon changed his tune. When the Crown Prince received secret reports that Li Yuanji and Li Shimin were conversing amicably, he grew restless.

If Li Yuanji fully sided with Li Shimin now, the latter’s already strong position would be greatly strengthened, creating serious trouble for the Crown Prince, even threatening his claim.

In desperation, Li Jiancheng wrote a letter himself and entrusted it to his close aide, Pei Ju, instructing him to meet Prince Qi immediately.

Pei Ju wasted no time, galloping to Prince Qi’s mansion. After a substantial bribe, he secured the cooperation of Hu Xi, the steward.

Unable to refuse the bribe, Hu Xi tried to summon Li Yuanji but, with Li Shimin present, dared not speak the truth. Instead, he fabricated the story of the Princess fainting.

After leaving the study, Hu Xi confided the true matter to Li Yuanji. Being fickle and self-interested, Li Yuanji agreed to see the Crown Prince’s messenger.

Pei Ju waited anxiously in the secret chamber until the door opened and Li Yuanji entered.

Hu Xi gave Pei Ju a meaningful glance—now the rest depended on him, and he must not forget the promised reward.

Seeing Li Yuanji, Pei Ju ignored the steward and hurried forward, bowing deeply, “Greetings, Your Highness Prince Qi!”

Though determined to hear the Crown Prince’s offer, Li Yuanji maintained his posture, hands behind his back, sneering, “What urgent matter brings you to see me?”

Pei Ju smiled and drew a letter from his sleeve, handing it over. “I carry a letter penned by the Crown Prince himself. Your Highness will understand upon reading.”

Li Yuanji took the letter and unfolded it.

The message was brief, just a few words, but unmistakably the Crown Prince’s handwriting.

After reading, Li Yuanji’s expression changed dramatically, overjoyed. His face flushed red, clutching the letter tightly, hands trembling slightly as his voice shifted with excitement, “The Crown Prince truly means this?!”

Pei Ju smiled mysteriously. “Of course! The Crown Prince’s words are golden promises—no turning back once spoken!”

Li Yuanji laughed triumphantly, ecstatic beyond measure. He treasured the letter as if it were a priceless gem, patting it gently.

His attitude then shifted, and he spoke courteously to Pei Ju, “Please convey to the Crown Prince that I have been close to him since childhood. Everyone near and far knows this. Naturally, I would not side with others!”

Pei Ju, expecting such a response, nodded with a smile and asked, “And what of Prince Qin’s side?”

Li Yuanji paced excitedly in the secret chamber. Nonchalantly, he replied, “Hmph! Let him go back where he came from!” Then his eyes glinted fiercely, “Since Second brother came here, I say there’s no letting him leave now!”