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"Father, Fourth Brother says you haven't taken us out hunting in a long time. Tomorrow night, the three of us will discuss it and persuade you," Li Shimin said. "Instead of that, how about inviting you to drink together? It would be even better for us four to come up with a time together."
"Oh, if that's the case, I might as well go. The weather has turned cool, and I don't want to go hunting. But if you three brothers want to go, I'm still willing," Li Yuan thought that since he had nothing planned for tomorrow night, it would be nice to drink with his three legitimate sons. He hoped they, especially the Crown Prince and Prince Qin, would stop their open and covert struggles against each other. So he agreed.
"Then it's settled! Tomorrow night, I'll come to pick you up to go to Prince Qi's Residence," Li Shimin immediately finalized the plan.
"Good! Since I have agreed, I will certainly go," Li Yuan nodded.
"Then I take my leave!" Li Shimin achieved his goal and did not linger.
...
A day later, after lunch, Li Yuanji summoned Yuwen Bao to his study.
"Your Highness, is it time to act?" Yuwen Bao's mood was somewhat anxious.
Li Yuanji nodded. "Yes, General Yuwen. Tonight, I will invite Li Shimin for drinks. You will hide behind the screen. After I persuade him to drink a few cups, you will rush out from behind the screen and kill him!"
"Understood! I will complete the task! Your Highness, how should I time my entrance?" Yuwen Bao asked after nodding.
Li Yuanji replied, "At that moment, I will pretend to accidentally knock over a cup that falls to the ground. When you hear the sound of the cup hitting the floor, rush out immediately."
"I understand!" Yuwen Bao replied with a salute.
"General Yuwen, assassinating Prince Qin is not difficult, but have you thought about what happens afterward?" Li Yuanji asked, staring at Yuwen Bao.
Yuwen Bao shook his head. "I haven't thought about it! As long as I can avenge my brother, I will follow your orders."
"Good! Listen carefully: since you are assassinating Prince Qin in my residence, I will have someone capture you afterward. At that time, you must insist that you were actually sent by the Crown Prince and that he instructed you to kill Prince Qin. Do you understand?"
"I understand clearly! But why should we say it was at the Crown Prince's behest?"
"If it wasn't at the Crown Prince's behest, do you think it was mine?"
"That's not what I meant. I am avenging my brother without being instructed by anyone!"
"Yuwen Bao, do as I say!" Li Yuanji was somewhat angry.
"Yes!" Seeing Li Yuanji's expression, Yuwen Bao had no choice but to agree. He truly did not want to frame Crown Prince Li Jiancheng, but with Prince Qi commanding him like this, Yuwen Bao felt he could not disobey.
In the evening, Li Shimin dressed up and added a layer of soft armor underneath his clothes before setting off with his trusted general Qin Shubao. He did this as a precaution. Although the Emperor was going and Li Yuanji would not dare carry out an assassination plan, one could never be too careful in case a killer took a risk!
Wearing a layer of soft armor, along with Li Shimin's own martial skills, made it difficult for an assassin to kill him instantly. With Qin Shubao accompanying him, it was even more secure. Qin Shubao and Wei Chi Jing De were the two most skilled generals under his command.
Qin Shubao was somewhat more handsome than Wei Chi Jing De and was also more cultured and reasonable. This time, when visiting Prince Qi's Residence, he had invited his father to join them, which was why Li Shimin chose to bring Qin Shubao instead of Wei Chi Jing De.
The two arrived at the entrance of Tai Chi Palace first, waiting for Emperor Li Yuan.
Upon learning that Prince Qin was already waiting at the door, Li Yuan made some preparations and stepped out.
"Greetings, Father!"
"Greetings, Your Majesty!"
Li Shimin and Qin Shubao both bowed respectfully.
"Ah, General Qin, are you also going to Prince Qi's Residence?" Li Yuan asked, somewhat surprised to see Qin Shubao. It seemed unnecessary for Li Shimin to bring a prominent general just to visit his fourth brother for drinks when a regular guard would suffice.
"Yes, Your Majesty. This humble general is accompanying Prince Qin to Prince Qi's Residence," Qin Shubao replied respectfully.
Li Yuan looked at Li Shimin in confusion.
"My humble son is going with Father to Prince Qi's Residence because I am concerned about your safety on the way, so I brought General Qin along!" Li Shimin had naturally prepared this explanation.
"Oh, then let us go!" Li Yuan did not pursue the matter further but felt a sense of doubt rising within him: It was not far from here to Prince Qi's Residence; what danger could he possibly face? Moreover, his personal guards were always by his side. Was Li Shimin's action meant to guard against Prince Qi?
It was entirely possible! Inviting me along likely had that intention as well.
But did Prince Qi truly harbor ill intentions toward Prince Qin? That seemed unlikely! Although the brothers were not on good terms, they would not go so far as to want each other dead. The Crown Prince Li Jiancheng might fear that Prince Qin would usurp the throne and could wish harm upon him, but what motive would Prince Qi have against Prince Qin?
Could it be that the Crown Prince was instigating Prince Qi against Prince Qin? Or was Prince Qin being overly suspicious?
Li Yuan's mind raced with thoughts.
Li Shimin and Qin Shubao followed behind Li Yuan as they made their way toward Prince Qi's Residence.
At Prince Qi's Residence, Crown Prince Li Jiancheng had arrived first. He had only brought Niu Fu as his guard.
"Brother, you arrived quite early!" Li Yuanji welcomed Li Jiancheng into the hall. The guard Niu Fu did not enter; he couldn't join his master for drinks!
"Is your second brother not here yet? He wouldn't dare miss this occasion, would he?" Li Jiancheng asked deliberately.
"He should be coming; he promised to attend and didn't say he wouldn't come. Perhaps he's just running a bit late!" Li Yuanji replied with a smile, feeling a surge of excitement as his plan was about to unfold!
"Oh, that's good!" Li Jiancheng nodded, pondering over how Li Shimin would respond.
Li Shimin certainly would not willingly come to his own death. If he were to come, how would he guard against assassination? They would discuss that when he arrived.
While waiting for Li Shimin, Li Jiancheng and Li Yuanji began to chat. Neither of them mentioned the plan to assassinate Prince Qin tonight, as there were servants from Prince Qi's Residence present in the hall, making such discussions inappropriate.
Li Jiancheng glanced at the screen and sensed a shadow lurking behind it; he understood perfectly well that an assassin arranged by Li Yuanji was hiding there.
"The Emperor has arrived!" a shout at the door startled Li Yuanji, causing him to change color.
Upon hearing this, Li Jiancheng realized that his younger brother had brought their father along as a protective charm. Clever!
Feigning surprise, he asked Li Yuanji, "Fourth Brother, why did you call Father here too?"
"I... I didn't!" Li Yuanji stammered in response.
"Then why is Father here?"
"It must have been Li Shimin who called him."
"Come on, let’s go greet Father!" Li Jiancheng understood the situation.
"Right, right!" Li Yuanji finally caught on.
As they reached the entrance of the hall, Li Yuanji suddenly remembered something and seemed to shout at the servants in the hall, "The Emperor is here! You all behave yourselves and take your positions!"
Li Jiancheng couldn't help but chuckle inwardly; it was clear that Li Yuanji was addressing the person hiding behind the screen with that remark.
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