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

Three days later.

The letter was sent, but it disappeared without a trace, like a clay ox sinking into the sea.

However, the atmosphere in Jiucheng Palace became increasingly oppressive at a visible speed.

The number of guards outside Chengxiang Hall has doubled, and all of them have been replaced by unfamiliar Qianniu Guards.

The daily meals that were delivered went from exquisite to simple, and eventually even included cold rice and spoiled dishes.

Pei Xingjian wanted to argue, but Li Chengqian stopped him.

"They are testing my bottom line."

Li Chengqian calmly ate the cold, hard flatbread: "It's also wearing down my patience."

On the fourth day, something unexpected happened.

A palace attendant, accompanied by two Imperial Guards, arrogantly barged into Chengxiang Hall.

"Your Highness, His Majesty has decreed: Prince Jin's illness has not yet healed, and the imperial physician suspects that he has been poisoned by 'Gu' poison."

"This poison is rare, and the palace has no antidote in reserve. The Hundred Cavalry Division's investigation revealed that His Highness the Crown Prince had been poisoned by 'Gu' poison and had taken in a 'Gu' poison expert from the Guardian Guard."

The eunuch unfolded a written edict and announced loudly: "His Majesty orders Your Highness to immediately hand over the 'poisoning' expert of the guard, so as to assist the imperial physicians in researching an antidote."

There was dead silence in the hall.

Pei Xingjian's face turned deathly pale instantly.

Gu poison? They want His Highness to hand over the Gu poison expert?!

This is a blatant frame-up! It's an attempt to solidify the charge that Li Chengqian poisoned the Prince of Jin!
Li Chengqian slowly put down the flatbread in his hand, wiped his hands with a cloth, and did so with meticulous care.

Then he looked up at the eunuch.

That gaze was so calm, so calm it sent chills down your spine.

"What if I said that I had no idea about any 'Gu poison' masters?"

The eunuch took a half step back, startled by the gaze, then forced himself to remain calm: "Your Highness, His Majesty's edict is here..."

"The Emperor's edict only said that the imperial physicians suspected that Prince Jin had been poisoned by 'Gu', but did not confirm it."

Li Chengqian stood up and walked step by step toward the eunuch: "Tell me, what evidence does the Hundred Cavalry Division have to prove that Gu has taken in a 'Gu poison' expert from the Guardian?"

"This...this is His Majesty..."

"Does Your Majesty have any evidence?"

Li Chengqian's voice suddenly turned stern: "Or is it that someone is deliberately slandering me, attempting to frame me?!"

The eunuch was forced to retreat repeatedly: "Your Highness, please calm down. This servant was merely conveying an imperial decree..."

"deliver an imperial order?"

Li Chengqian sneered, "Issuing an imperial edict riddled with loopholes and a frame-up?"

He suddenly reached out, snatched the edict, and tore it in two with a ripping sound, much to everyone's astonishment.

"you--"

The eunuchs and the Imperial Guards were all stunned.

Tear up the imperial edict! This is treason!
"Go back and tell the person who sent you."

Li Chengqian threw the torn pieces of paper on the ground, his voice as cold as iron: "If you want to convict me, produce solid evidence. Using such despicable methods..."

He paused, a flash of crimson light in his eyes: "They're forcing me."

The eunuch scrambled out of Chengxiang Palace.

Pei Xingjian stared at the shredded paper on the ground, his voice trembling: "Your Highness, tearing up the imperial edict, this is..."

"It is a serious crime of treason."

Li Chengqian spoke for him, a strange smile appearing on his face, "Very good. I was just worried about not having a reason."

He turned to look at Pei Xingjian, and the hesitation and last bit of affection in his eyes completely vanished at that moment.

"Act frugally and convey my secret orders."

"First, have Yang Nannan activate all the hidden agents in Jiucheng Palace. Within three days, I need to monitor the movements of 30% of the guards in Jiucheng Palace, especially the shifts at the West Gate and North Gate."

"Second, Flying Eagle messenger Xi Junmai: The autumn troops, under the guise of 'bandit suppression drills,' have secretly moved towards Qishan. Upon reaching the designated position, they will lower their flags and silence their drums, awaiting my signal."

"Third, inform Ma Zhou and Cen Wenben in Chang'an: the plan is entering the 'Hidden Dragon' phase. All officials of the Eastern Palace faction should be cautious in their words and actions from this day forward, preserve their strength, and await... a major change."

Pei Xingjian trembled and knelt down, clasping his hands in a fist salute: "This humble general obeys the order!"

He knew that His Highness was finally about to make his move. The Crown Prince, who had once held onto a sliver of hope and wanted to reconcile with his father, was dead.

Standing here now is a rebel driven to the brink of desperation, ready to overturn the chessboard.

The next day, at midnight.

The candlelight was dim in the study of Chengxiang Hall.

In front of Li Chengqian was a detailed map of the Jiucheng Palace defenses, densely marked with guard positions, shift times, and changing routes.

Yang Nannan, dressed in black, appeared before him like a ghost.

"Your Highness, the investigation has been completed."

Her voice was soft, yet carried a chilling edge:
"On the day Prince Jin was poisoned, all the food and drink were arranged by Wu She herself, and Su Wan going to get clothes was very likely a signal that she had been poisoned!"

"In addition, before His Majesty returned to the capital, he summoned the imperial physician alone and had a private conversation for half an hour. The content of the conversation is unknown, but after the imperial physician came out, a group of people headed towards the Japanese islands."

"They must be after Sun Yuan!"

Li Chengqian's finger paused on the defense map.

Sun Yuan?

The 'plague doctor' who guards the gatekeeper?
Is this an attempt to confirm my collusion with Shouchuro?!
Li Chengqian narrowed his eyes: "Continue."

"Jiucheng Palace currently has 1,200 guards, including 800 Qianniu Guards and 400 left and right gate guards. General Zhang Shigui of the Qianniu Guards is His Majesty's confidant, but one of the two deputy generals is... one of our men."

"The captain on duty at the West Gate was saved by His Highness three years ago and is willing to open the West Gate at this critical moment."

"The guard at the north gate is greedy and has been bribed with a large sum of money. They agreed that he would 'be drunk and neglect his duties' when the signal is given."

Yang Nannan reported the details one by one, and Li Chengqian listened quietly.

After all the information had been reported, the study fell silent.

After a long silence, Li Chengqian finally spoke: "Is there any new development from Father's side?"

"News has come from Chang'an that His Majesty, during the morning court session yesterday, publicly rebuked the officials of the Crown Prince's Palace for 'forming cliques for personal gain and trying to guess His Majesty's intentions,' and dismissed and investigated almost all of them."

After the court session, His Majesty summoned Yu Zhining, a scribe in the Imperial Secretariat, and ordered him to draft... the "Edict to Depose the Crown Prince".

She spoke the last four words very softly, yet they carried immense weight.

Li Chengqian closed his eyes.

Edict to depose the crown prince.

Finally came.

When will it be promulgated?

"It will take time for Yu Zhining, the Imperial Secretary, to draft the edict. Wei Zheng, the Junior Tutor to the Crown Prince, once caused a great disturbance in the Imperial Secretariat. His Majesty has ordered him to be temporarily detained. In addition, he needs to list the charges and have the court officials second him. At the earliest... it will be five days later."

"Five days later."

Li Chengqian opened his eyes, his gaze clear: "That's enough."

He looked at Yang Nannan: "Pass down the order: three days from now, at 3:45 AM, light a fire at the West Gate as a signal."

"Activate all our personnel and control all key nodes of Jiucheng Palace."

"The troops that Xi Jun bought must arrive at the location ten miles outside Jiucheng Palace within one hour after the signal is given."

Yang Nannan bowed: "Yes."

She turned to leave, then stopped, turned back to look at Li Chengqian, and a rare, complex expression appeared on his usually icy face:
"Your Highness, once you take this step, there will be no turning back."

Li Chengqian smiled, a smile that held an almost tragic sense of relief:

“From the moment my father pointed his finger at me in the Danxiao Palace and asked, ‘Did you do this?’, there was no turning back.”

"Now, I am simply... going to finish this journey."

Yang Nannan gave him a deep look before disappearing into the darkness.

Only Li Chengqian remained in the study.

He walked to the wall, where a sword was hanging.

It is not a decorative ceremonial sword, but a real killing sword that has been on the battlefield and drunk blood.

He slowly drew his sword, its cold light reflecting off his face.

[The strongest carbon-based life form of the seventh century? It seems I'm destined to learn a thing or two!] (End of Chapter)