Datang: Just been appointed as the crown prince, the counterattack system is here

Jiucheng Palace, Chengxiang Hall.

Just as Li Chengqian returned, Li Shimin's imperial edict arrived.

The contents of the imperial edict were cold and direct, just like the suddenly oppressive mountain air.

The emperor was told that Prince Li Zhi of Jin had suddenly fallen ill and needed to return to Chang'an immediately for the Imperial Medical Bureau to provide him with full medical care.

To avoid disturbing the Prince of Jin's rest and recuperation, and to allow the Crown Prince and the Prince of Wei to "reflect on their mistakes in peace," a special decree was issued ordering the two to remain temporarily at Jiucheng Palace, and not to leave without an imperial edict.

This is tantamount to a soft ban.

Confining the two brothers to this secluded palace, far from the center of power, was like locking two wild beasts in adjacent cages.

After the eunuch finished reading the imperial edict with a blank expression, he handed it to Li Chengqian and hurriedly left with his men, as if staying even a moment longer would bring misfortune.

Pei Xingjian received the imperial edict, his forehead veins bulging and his chest heaving violently.

He slammed his fist against a pillar beside him, making a dull thud: "This is outrageous! What does the Prince of Jin's poisoning have to do with Your Highness?! His Majesty..."

"okay."

Li Chengqian spoke calmly, interrupting his resentment.

Instead of anger, his face showed a calm that was almost mocking, and there was even a faint smile on his lips.

He unrolled the yellow silk, then casually closed it again, tossing it onto the table as if it were nothing more than an insignificant object.

"Father's move is merely a convenient way to confine us brothers here, so that we won't be an eyesore in Chang'an."

Li Chengqian spoke casually as he walked to the window and looked at the mountains outside, which were dyed golden-red by the setting sun:
"Compared to me, someone else is probably even more restless and furious right now, perhaps even on the verge of going crazy?"

Pei Xingjian was taken aback, then realized: "Your Highness means... the Prince of Wei?"

"if not?"

Li Chengqian turned around and glanced at him, his eyes deep:

"He has painstakingly built up his power in Chang'an, but now he is trapped in this desolate mountain villa by an imperial edict, isolated from the center of power. His anxiety and resentment are probably far greater than mine."

"Just wait and see; the struggle of a cornered beast is often the most exciting."

Pei Xingjian thought about it carefully and realized that it was indeed true.

King Li Tai of Wei's power base was mostly in Chang'an. Being detained in Jiucheng Palace was like a tiger with its teeth pulled out. His fear and resentment must have been indescribable.

Just then, faint footsteps and a maid's low voice announced from outside the hall: "Your Highness, Miss Su... Miss Su requests an audience."

Li Chengqian raised an eyebrow slightly: "Let her in."

The palace door opened slightly, and a slender figure awkwardly moved in.

It was Su Wan.

She was still wearing the same simple dress she wore before leaving the palace, her hair was simply styled, and she was without makeup. Her beautiful face showed obvious tension and unease. She tightly gripped the hem of her dress with both hands, her eyes were lowered, and she dared not look directly at Li Chengqian.

"This humble woman... Su Wan greets Your Highness the Crown Prince."

Her voice was barely audible, with a tremor.

Looking at her like this, Li Chengqian saw an image that overlapped with the quiet and gentle daughter of the secretary he occasionally saw in the main hall.

He had long known that Empress Zhangsun intended to arrange a marriage, but he had never seriously considered it because he was either busy with war or entangled in court intrigues.

Now that he has been forced into marriage by his father, the emperor, he can't help but feel complicated when he looks at this woman.

"Flat body."

Li Chengqian asked in a calm tone, "Shouldn't you be returning to Chang'an with the Empress? Why are you still here?"

Su Wan raised her head, glanced quickly at Li Chengqian, then quickly lowered her head again, and said timidly:
"Your Highness, it was...it was Her Majesty the Empress who instructed me before she left to stay and take care of Your Highness."

"Take care of me?"

Li Chengqian repeated himself with amusement, his gaze sweeping over her knuckles, which were white with nervousness: "Then do you know that Father has already bestowed a marriage upon us?" Su Wan looked up abruptly, her eyes filled with genuine astonishment and confusion. Two red clouds quickly rose to her cheeks, and she hurriedly shook her head:
"This humble woman...this humble woman does not know!"

"His Majesty only issued an edict instructing me to take good care of Prince Jin on the road, saying... that there would be benefits afterward, but he did not mention... the matter of bestowing a marriage upon him..."

Her voice grew softer and softer, carrying a girl's shyness and a hint of panicked helplessness.

Seeing her seemingly genuine reaction, Li Chengqian understood.

Emperor Taizong of Tang (Li Er) has included her in his calculations, using her as a pawn in this game, without even revealing the truth to her.

He suddenly remembered something and asked, seemingly casually:
"That night outside Danxiao Palace, the Empress Dowager asked you to fetch robes for Prince Jin. Why did you take so long? Moreover, as far as I know, Lanxiang Pavilion is quite far from Prince Jin's sleeping quarters. Why did you go there to fetch them?"

Upon hearing this, Su Wan's face showed a hint of hesitation and struggle. Her fingers clenched tighter, and her lips trembled as if she didn't know how to speak.

Seeing this, Li Chengqian waved his hand, his tone revealing neither joy nor anger: "If it's inconvenient, there's no need to say anything more."

"No! Your Highness!"

Su Wan seemed afraid he would misunderstand, so she quickly spoke, her voice urgent:

“This humble woman…this humble woman says.”

"It was an imperial edict delivered by His Majesty's close attendant, saying that if His Highness Prince Jin feels cold, he should send me... to the Lanxiang Pavilion to retrieve that newly made peacock fur coat..."

"This humble woman does not know why I am being sent there; I am simply following orders..."

Upon hearing this, Pei Xingjian immediately said in a deep voice, "Your Highness, Lanxiang Pavilion is not far to the west of our Chengxiang Hall!"

A chilling coldness and sudden realization flashed in Li Chengqian's eyes, and the mocking smile on his lips deepened.

That's it!

Lanxiang Pavilion is near Chengxiang Palace. Su Wan, a woman who is about to be betrothed to the Crown Prince, appears near the Crown Prince's residence late at night...

If Prince Jin happened to be poisoned during that period, regardless of the time and place, it would be enough to form a perfect chain of indirect evidence pointing to Li Chengqian's plot to harm his younger brother out of jealousy or for other reasons!

Even if it is full of loopholes, it is enough to become the last straw that breaks the camel's back under the emperor's preconceived suspicion!
What a brilliant plan!

What a cruel heart!

In order to solidify his 'crime,' he even went so far as to exploit his own young son and an innocent woman!

Li Chengqian took a deep breath and forcibly suppressed the murderous intent surging in his heart.

He looked at Su Wan, who was still uneasy and had slightly red eyes, and his tone softened a bit, but it carried an undeniable distance:

"I am aware of this matter. You need not be alarmed. Since the Empress Dowager has asked you to stay, you may remain here for the time being."

"There are plenty of empty rooms in Chengxiang Palace. You can choose any quiet place to stay. I don't need you to serve me here."

Su Wan raised her head, looking at Li Chengqian's handsome yet cold and aloof face. A hint of disappointment flashed in her eyes, but she still obediently curtsied.
"Yes, I will obey."

She silently withdrew, her slender figure stretching long in the setting sun, carrying a hint of loneliness and bewilderment.

Silence returned to the hall.

Pei Xingjian looked at Li Chengqian's gloomy face and said in a low voice, "Your Highness, His Majesty's actions are clearly an attempt to pin the poisoning of the Prince of Jin on you! We..."

Li Chengqian raised his hand, stopping him from saying anything more.

He walked to the table, picked up the scroll of imperial edict that had been carelessly discarded, and ran his fingertips lightly across it. His eyes were sharp as knives, as if he wanted to pierce through the yellow silk and see through all the schemes of the person behind it.

Whether or not it can be fastened is not up to him.

"Since Father Emperor wants to play..."

Li Chengqian's voice was deep and calm, yet it carried a terrifying sense of impending doom.

"Then I'll play along with him... and play an even bigger game."

"Look at this prison of Jiucheng Palace, who will ultimately be trapped and die!" (End of Chapter)