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墨書 Inktalez
Time quickly approached the end of October.
After the morning court, Li Yuan summoned the three princes. “I have constructed a Hunting Ground to the south of Chang'an. On November Sixth, I will take you there for a grand hunting event. What do you think?”
“Great! Thank you, Father!” Li Jiancheng, Li Shimin, and Li Yuanji replied in unison.
“Then I will issue the decree tomorrow. You three should prepare well in the coming days!”
“Yes!” The three princes naturally agreed.
The next day, at the end of the court session, Li Yuan issued a decree for a grand hunting event to be held on November Sixth at the hunting ground south of the capital, primarily for the three princes to hone their martial skills and physical fitness.
After court, Li Yuanji followed Li Jiancheng to the Eastern Palace.
Once inside the study, Li Yuanji said, “Elder brother, I have been thinking these past few days—can we take advantage of this hunting opportunity to eliminate Li Shimin?”
“Hmm, I was also considering using this opportunity. Have you thought of any methods, fourth brother?” Li Jiancheng asked with a smile. At this moment, he had begun to guard against Li Yuanji but still maintained a friendly demeanor towards his fourth brother.
Li Yuanji shook his head. “I haven’t come up with a good plan either. How about we send someone to infiltrate the hunting ground?”
Li Jiancheng immediately waved his hand. “That definitely won’t work. Let’s not even mention whether our person can infiltrate the hunting ground; even if they do, during the hunt, fully armed as he is, Li Shimin is no slouch in martial arts—at least better than you and me. How could we possibly kill him?”
Li Yuanji scratched his head. “If that’s the case, it’s quite troublesome! Elder brother, eliminating Li Shimin is mainly to secure your position as crown prince; you can’t always rely on me!”
“Hmm, I understand your intentions, fourth brother,” Li Jiancheng nodded. “I have thought of a plan as well, but it’s not very reliable.”
“Oh? What’s your plan? Tell me about it!” Li Yuanji perked up.
“I have a horse—well-fed and strong but prone to throwing its rider. I want to gift it to Li Shimin. He will likely ride it during the hunt. If that horse throws him off during the hunt, he’ll fall off and get injured—if not dead!” Li Jiancheng said.
“Hmm, that plan isn’t bad; it’s just not very reliable. However, if Li Shimin gets injured, he will be easier to deal with. The biggest advantage of this plan is that Father won’t hold you responsible,” Li Yuanji said approvingly but felt a twinge of regret at his last statement.
While it would be great if Li Shimin were killed or injured, it would be even more perfect if Li Jiancheng faced punishment from their father as well!
“Since you also think it’s a good idea, then let’s go with it!” Li Jiancheng declared.
“Good! But…”
“But what?”
“What if Li Shimin doesn’t want your horse?”
“That’s unlikely. Having fought on battlefields for years, he is a horse lover. My horse is an excellent steed; there’s no reason he wouldn’t like it,” Li Jiancheng replied confidently.
"That's good!"
Time quickly arrived at November Sixth. Chang'an City was enveloped in the chill of early winter, with snowflakes fluttering down, draping the ancient capital in a layer of silver.
On that morning, Crown Prince Li Jiancheng, Prince Qin Li Shimin, and Prince Qi Li Yuanji rode to the hunting grounds, surrounded by civil and military officials. Dressed in splendid brocade robes and adorned with swords at their waists, they appeared gallant and imposing. The hunting grounds were bordered by dense woods and rolling hills, where the cold wind rustled through the treetops, as if welcoming their arrival.
Before the hunt began, Li Jiancheng had a horse led to Li Shimin. "Second Brother, this horse runs very fast and can leap over a stream several zhang wide. You are skilled at riding, so I will give it to you. Ride it for today's hunt!"
"Thank you so much, Brother!" Upon seeing the horse—well-fed and robust—Li Shimin felt an instant fondness and gladly accepted it. Although he was unsure of his brother's intentions, receiving such a fine horse seemed harmless enough on the surface. Thus, he felt he couldn't refuse.
Li Yuan observed this scene with great satisfaction. His greatest concern was the discord between Li Jiancheng and Li Shimin, fearing they might harm each other in their quest for the throne. Seeing his eldest son extend goodwill to his second son naturally pleased him.
With a command from Li Yuan, the hunt commenced. The three princes galloped forward on horseback, bows in hand, chasing into the depths of the forest. They alternated between speeding up and slowing down to aim, showcasing their exceptional horsemanship and archery skills. Arrows rained down like droplets of rain upon their prey, accompanied by sounds of animals being struck and cheers from their companions.
During the chase, Li Jiancheng and Li Yuanji competed against each other, eager to display their bravery and skill. Meanwhile, Li Shimin's martial prowess surpassed both his elder brother and fourth brother; combined with his magnificent steed, he appeared calm and collected. He adeptly observed the movements of the game and chose the right moments to strike. His aim was precise and decisive, quickly bringing down several large deer and wild boars.
As time passed and the sun rose higher in the sky, tracks of hoofprints and arrows marked the snowy ground. The hunting expedition reached its climax.
Suddenly, a massive black bear burst from the woods and charged at Li Shimin. The horse beneath him reared up unexpectedly. Fortunately, Li Shimin reacted swiftly; he leaped off to land a few steps away before shooting an arrow that struck the bear's vital spot, causing it to fall.
After regaining its footing, the horse reared again as Li Shimin mounted once more; it bucked again, forcing him to jump off again. This happened three times before the horse was finally tamed.
Yuwen Shiji from the Tian Ce General's Office rushed over after witnessing this scene and asked, "Prince Qin, are you hurt?"
Li Shimin turned to Yuwen Shiji and replied, "No. It seems that His Highness intended to use this horse against me, but life and death are determined by fate; how could they harm me?"
Yuwen Shiji nodded but did not respond further. As Prince Qin and General of Heavenly Strategy, Li Shimin could speak ill of the Crown Prince; however, Yuwen Shiji could not.
Li Jiancheng and Li Yuanji were too far from Li Shimin to hear him clearly; upon seeing he was unharmed, they couldn't help but feel disappointed.
Li Yuan did not witness this scene nor hear Li Shimin's words.
After the hunt concluded, Emperor Li Yuan praised the performances of all three princes highly. He commended Li Shimin for his bravery and keen observation skills while also recognizing the efforts and progress made by Li Jiancheng and Li Yuanji. This hunting expedition not only honed their martial skills but also strengthened their familial bonds.
Regardless of whether Li Yuan's praise was sincere or exaggerated, most observers saw it as such on the surface.
In front of Li Yuan, the three princes naturally put on a harmonious facade. None wished to leave a negative impression on their father; any schemes would have to be conducted in secret.
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