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After the banquet, Li Shimin's heightened vigilance did not escape Li Jiancheng's watchful eyes. Li Jiancheng believed that Li Shimin's ostentatious behavior must indicate some ulterior motive, and this presented a prime opportunity to further slander him in front of Li Yuan. Thus, Li Jiancheng entered the palace to secretly report to Li Yuan, claiming that Li Shimin had been acting unusually lately, frequently mobilizing personnel and stockpiling supplies within Prince Qin's mansion, suggesting he harbored treasonous intentions. He urged Li Yuan to be cautious and vigilant.
Li Yuan had already harbored doubts about Li Shimin's actions in Luoyang, and upon hearing Li Jiancheng's words, his suspicions deepened. He was acutely aware that Li Shimin held military power and had considerable prestige among the troops; if he truly harbored rebellious intentions, it would pose a significant threat to the Tang dynasty. After some contemplation, Li Yuan decided to summon Li Shimin to the palace for a personal test of his intentions.
Upon receiving the imperial edict, Li Shimin felt a wave of anxiety wash over him. He knew this visit to the palace would be a trial; any misstep could lead to his ruin. However, he also understood that defying the edict would only deepen Li Yuan's suspicions, so he steeled himself and proceeded to the palace.
"Your humble son, Li Shimin, pays his respects to Father Emperor," he said as he entered the palace, bowing respectfully and striving to keep his voice steady.
Li Yuan sat on the dragon throne, his gaze piercing as he fixed it on Li Shimin. After a moment of silence, he slowly spoke: "Shimin, I have heard that you have been frequently mobilizing personnel and stockpiling supplies in Prince Qin's mansion. What is the reason for this? As a prince, every action you take concerns the stability of the court; you must not act recklessly."
Li Shimin's heart tightened as he immediately realized that Li Jiancheng was behind this scheme. He quickly replied, "Father Emperor, please see clearly; your humble son has no treasonous intentions whatsoever. The current situation is complex, and I have heard rumors of Turkic incursions. To prevent future troubles, I have been making preparations at my residence—training soldiers and stockpiling supplies—all for the purpose of safeguarding the Tang dynasty and relieving your worries."
Li Yuan frowned slightly and snorted coldly: "Turkic incursions? I have not received any confirmed military reports, yet you are making such grand preparations for war. Is there another reason behind this? Do not think that I will easily believe your words."
Li Shimin felt a wave of despair wash over him; he knew that Li Yuan's suspicions were deepening. In a rush of sincerity, he removed his cap and prostrated himself on the ground, saying earnestly: "Father Emperor, your humble son is loyal to you and to the Tang dynasty; heaven can bear witness! If I utter even half a lie, may I be struck by lightning! Your humble son understands your expectations of me and has always worked diligently for the prosperity of our great Tang. This was merely precautionary measures; I never intended to cause misunderstanding. I hope Father Emperor can forgive me."
Li Yuan looked at Li Shimin, but his doubts were not entirely dispelled. After a long silence, he slowly said: "Shimin, I have always remembered your great contributions to the Tang dynasty and hope you will remain dutiful. You claim you are preparing against Turkic threats; then let me ask you—what about your actions in Luoyang? Zhang Liang recruited assassins and hoarded grain; do you dare say you were unaware?"
Li Shimin was taken aback; he knew this matter was a thorny issue but had already prepared his response. He raised his head with an expression of calmness and said: "Father Emperor, regarding Luoyang, your humble son indeed heard some rumors. However, my intention in sending Zhang Liang there was to pacify the local populace and stabilize the situation. I never expected Zhang Liang would act so foolishly. Upon learning this, I immediately distanced myself from him and earnestly request Father Emperor to imprison him as punishment to demonstrate my loyalty."
Upon hearing Li Shimin's explanation, Li Yuan's anger subsided somewhat. Yet he remained unconvinced and continued: "Shimin, I hope you are truly as loyal as you claim. The Tang dynasty is still in its infancy; I do not wish to see brothers embroiled in endless power struggles. You are both my son and a minister of the Tang dynasty; you should prioritize the greater good."
Li Shimin repeatedly bowed his head in agreement: "Father Emperor is right; your humble son will remember this lesson well. Your humble son is willing to die for this cause and will never betray your expectations."
Li Yuan gazed at Li Shimin with a flicker of complex emotion in his eyes. After pondering for a moment, he said: "Shimin, to put my mind at ease and avoid unnecessary suspicions, hand over the military tokens from Prince Qin's mansion."
Li Shimin felt a jolt; surrendering the military tokens meant losing direct control over the troops at Prince Qin's mansion—a devastating blow for him. However, he knew that refusing would only deepen Li Yuan's suspicions of treasonous intent. Weighing his options carefully, he reluctantly replied: "I will follow Father Emperor’s arrangements. Your humble son will return to retrieve the military tokens and personally present them to you."
Li Yuan nodded with satisfaction: "Good; I hope you do not disappoint me. If you are truly loyal, then in due time I will not treat you unfairly."
As Li Shimin left the palace, his heart brimmed with anger and helplessness. He realized that this was indeed part of Li Jiancheng’s scheme succeeding; Li Yuan’s trust in him had significantly diminished. Upon returning to Prince Qin's mansion, he recounted what had transpired to Wei Chi Gong and others.
"Your Highness, what shall we do? Surrendering the military tokens means we lose our strongest safeguard," Wei Chi Gong said anxiously.
Li Shimin’s expression darkened as he replied: "I do not wish to surrender the military tokens either, but given the current situation we have no choice. However, do not lose heart; this is only temporary. We will quietly build our strength and wait for an opportunity; one day we will make Li Jiancheng pay for this."
Hearing Li Shimin’s words rekindled their fighting spirit. They understood that unity was essential in facing this crisis together. Meanwhile, after obtaining control over Prince Qin's mansion’s military tokens, Li Yuan pondered how best to handle the issue with Li Shimin moving forward. He did not want to overlook any potential threats while also being reluctant to be overly harsh on his own son—after all, both hands are flesh. This trial between father and son complicated court dynamics further while casting an increasingly uncertain shadow over the future of the Tang dynasty.
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