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The atmosphere in the banquet hall suddenly froze, with all eyes focused on Li Shimin. Li Jiancheng and Li Yuanji seemed to observe casually, but internally they were tense, waiting for Li Shimin's reaction.
Li Shimin was furious but quickly calmed himself. He understood that he had to respond cautiously; a misstep could lead him into the trap set by Li Jiancheng. Suppressing his anger, he forced a faint smile and said slowly, “What do you mean by that? I have always respected my elder brother and have never harbored any improper thoughts about the position of Crown Prince. You, a mere guard, dare to speak recklessly at this banquet and sow discord between us brothers. What is your intention?” With that, he shot a sharp glance at the guard.
The guard trembled under Li Shimin's gaze but recalled Li Jiancheng's orders and steeled himself to continue, “I only heard rumors circulating in the streets; I meant no offense.”
At this moment, Li Jiancheng stood up, feigning anger as he scolded, “You bold servant! How dare you speak such nonsense at this banquet of the Crown Prince? Hurry and withdraw!” The guard quickly retreated, and Li Jiancheng turned to Li Shimin with an apologetic expression, saying, “Second brother, I truly apologize. It is my failure to discipline my servants that has allowed this one to offend you. I hope you won't take it to heart.”
Li Shimin waved his hand dismissively and replied, “Brother speaks too seriously. Since it was a misunderstanding, let it be.” Although he appeared calm on the surface, he knew that this was just the first step of Li Jiancheng’s scheme; more plots were surely waiting for him.
The banquet continued, but Li Shimin had lost interest. He remained vigilant of his surroundings, prepared for any unexpected developments.
Li Yuanji noticed that Li Shimin had not taken the bait and felt somewhat disappointed, but they did not intend to give up easily. With a quick thought, he exchanged a knowing glance with Li Jiancheng before standing up and suggesting, “Since both elder brother and second brother are here today, why don’t we play a game to liven things up?”
Li Jiancheng understood the hint and smiled as he asked, “What game does Fourth Brother want to play?”
Li Yuanji smiled mysteriously and replied, “Let’s play a riddle. I’ll pose a question for elder brother and second brother to guess.”
Both Li Jiancheng and Li Shimin nodded in agreement. Li Yuanji cleared his throat and said, “My riddle is: ‘The scheduling of guards at Xuanwu Gate; what official position does it refer to?’” As he spoke, he glanced meaningfully at Li Shimin, a subtle smirk playing at the corners of his mouth.
Upon hearing the riddle, everyone present felt a jolt of surprise. The scheduling of guards at Xuanwu Gate was an extremely sensitive topic within the palace. By bringing it up now, Li Yuanji was clearly hinting that he had control over the Imperial Guards while also testing Li Shimin.
Li Shimin felt a sinking sensation in his heart but maintained his composure. After pondering for a moment, he smiled and said, “Fourth Brother’s riddle is indeed interesting; however, I can’t seem to come up with an answer right now.” He feigned ignorance to avoid revealing his thoughts at this moment.
Li Jiancheng chimed in as well, “I can’t figure it out either; Fourth Brother should reveal the answer.”
Li Yuanji chuckled triumphantly and said, “The answer is ‘Commander of the Imperial Guards.’ The scheduling of guards at Xuanwu Gate is under my control now; isn’t it the duty of the Commander?” As he spoke, he closely observed Li Shimin’s expression.
Li Shimin’s anger boiled within him, but he knew better than to lash out. Forcing a smile, he said, “Fourth Brother is truly impressive; even such riddles can come from your mind.”
After the banquet concluded, Li Shimin returned to Prince Qin's mansion filled with rage. As soon as he entered, he summoned Wei Chi Gong and others to discuss strategies.
“Today at the banquet, Li Jiancheng and Li Yuanji were clearly testing me while implying they have control over the Imperial Guards at Xuanwu Gate. It seems they are making their final preparations for vying for the throne,” Li Shimin said angrily.
Wei Chi Gong frowned and replied, “Your Highness, their arrogance cannot be tolerated. We should take the initiative and directly attack the Eastern Palace to eliminate Li Jiancheng and Li Yuanji.”
Li Shimin shook his head and said, “We must not act rashly. Currently we are at a disadvantage in court and lack absolute certainty for success in one strike. If we act impulsively now, we risk being branded as rebels and could plunge Tang into chaos. We must plan carefully.”
At this moment another strategist spoke up: “Your Highness, we can first strengthen the defenses of Prince Qin's mansion while reaching out to those in court who support us in preparation for their next move. Additionally, we should find ways to expose Li Jiancheng’s schemes so that our father can see his true nature.”
Li Shimin nodded in agreement: “You are right. We must bolster our defenses while seeking opportunities for counterattacks. Li Jiancheng thinks he can force me into submission; he is underestimating me.”
Thus began Li Shimin’s efforts to fortify Prince Qin's mansion by increasing guard numbers and stockpiling weapons and provisions within the estate. At the same time, he secretly dispatched trusted allies to connect with discontented ministers in court to gain their support against Li Jiancheng.
In the Eastern Palace, Li Jiancheng and Li Yuanji were discussing their next steps.
“Today, Li Shimin didn’t take the bait. It seems he is more cautious than we imagined,” Li Jiancheng said, somewhat frustrated.
Li Yuanji scoffed, “He’s just pretending to be calm. Brother, we can’t let him off the hook like this; we must come up with another plan to force him to reveal his true intentions.”
After a moment of contemplation, Li Jiancheng replied, “We can continue to create the illusion of his rebellion in front of Father while intensifying our suppression of him in court. Additionally, we need to closely monitor his movements. As soon as we notice any unusual actions from him, we must act immediately.”
The two discussed more specific plans, preparing to launch a new round of attacks against Li Shimin. Meanwhile, the Tang Dynasty Court appeared calm on the surface, but various factions were already on edge, and a greater crisis was looming. The fate of the Tang Dynasty hung in the balance, and everyone was watching closely.
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