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

Three days left, the countdown begins.

The first day was calm and uneventful, except that the number of guards outside Chengxiang Hall had increased again.

The next day, news came from Chang'an: the edict to depose the crown prince had been drafted and the prime ministers of the three provinces were being solicited to sign it.

The third day, at dusk.

Li Chengqian stood in the courtyard of Chengxiang Palace, looking at the blood-red sunset on the horizon.

Pei Xingjian strode over, his voice urgent:

"Your Highness, we have just received news that His Majesty... His Majesty has issued a secret decree to the governor of Qizhou, ordering him to mobilize the state's troops and arrive at Jiucheng Palace in three days to 'assist in defense'!"

"Assistance?"

Li Chengqian laughed: "You've come to capture me, haven't you?"

"besides!"

Pei Xingjian's expression grew even more unpleasant:
"More than ten riders secretly left Jiucheng Palace today, heading towards Chang'an. Judging from their attire, they are the most elite guards of the Prince of Wei's residence."

"Li Tai is leaving himself a way out."

Li Chengqian said calmly, "He was also afraid that his father would wipe them all out in one fell swoop."

He looked up at the sky.

The sunset was fading, and dusk was settling in.

"Notify everyone to prepare according to plan."

"Tonight, at the third quarter of midnight."

"promise!"

As night falls and the lanterns are lit at Jiucheng Palace, a deathly still oppressive atmosphere pervades the space.

Inside Chengxiang Hall, Li Chengqian changed into a black close-fitting outfit, covered with soft armor.

He did not wear the crown of a prince, but simply tied his hair with a jade hairpin.

Su Wan stood timidly in the corner of the hall, looking at the unfamiliar and sharp-looking Crown Prince before her, hesitant to speak.

"Miss Su."

Li Chengqian suddenly spoke.

Su Wan was startled and quickly stepped forward: "Your Highness, what are your orders?"

"The Jiucheng Palace may be in chaos tonight."

Li Chengqian looked at her calmly: "Find a safe place to hide, and no matter what noise you hear, don't come out."

Su Wan bit her lip: "Your Highness wants to..."

"I am leaving."

Li Chengqian interrupted her: "If I can leave alive, perhaps we will meet again in the future. If not..."

He didn't finish speaking, but instead took out a jade pendant from his pocket and handed it to Su Wan:
"This is my personal belonging. If anything happens to me, take it to Yongxingfang in Chang'an and find Wu Meiniang. She will arrange a place for you."

Su Wan took the jade pendant, its surface smooth and warm to the touch.

She looked at Li Chengqian, and tears suddenly welled up in her eyes:
"Your Highness... Why is His Majesty forcing you like this? You are his own son..."

Li Chengqian was silent for a moment, then said softly:
"Perhaps it is precisely because he is my biological son that I have to push him even harder."

"The imperial family...has no relatives."

After he finished speaking, he turned and walked towards the palace gate.

Pei Xingjian was already fully armed and waiting there. Dozens of agile figures could be vaguely seen in the shadows outside the hall.

That was the most elite force of the Embroidered Uniform Guard.

"Your Highness, everything is ready."

Pei Xingjian said in a low voice.

Li Chengqian nodded, taking one last look at the palace that had imprisoned him for so many days.

Then, he stepped out.

The figure blends into the night.

Two quarters of the midnight hour.

West Gate of Jiucheng Palace.

The guards were nervously watching the direction of Chengxiang Hall in the distance, their palms sweating profusely.

Suddenly, he saw a small light appear in the darkness.

Then, the second point, the third point...

That was the agreed-upon signal!
The squad leader gritted his teeth and said to the soldiers beside him, "My stomach hurts, I'm going to relieve myself. You guys keep watch on the door!"

After saying that, he strode towards the gate.

At the same time, a commotion suddenly arose from the direction of Chengxiang Hall.

"The water is gone! The water is gone!"

"Chengxiang Palace is on fire! Quickly put out the fire!"

Shouts, footsteps, and the sound of gongs instantly shattered the silence of the night.

The entire guard of Jiucheng Palace was alerted, and countless people rushed towards Chengxiang Hall carrying buckets of water. The guards at the west gate were also drawn by the commotion and began to peer out.

Just then, the team suddenly pulled open the west gate.

"go!"

In the darkness, dozens of figures darted out like ghosts and rushed out of the west gate.

It was Li Chengqian and his entourage.

They had barely gone a hundred paces when a roar of alarm and anger came from behind them:
"The west gate is open! Someone escaped!"

"Chase! Chase quickly!"

The sound of arrows piercing the air rang out!
Pei Xingjian deflected several stray arrows with his sword and shouted sharply, "Protect His Highness—!"

The Imperial Guards immediately formed a defensive formation, protecting Li Chengqian in the center, and fought while retreating.

However, the number of pursuers is increasing.

General Zhang Shigui of the Thousand Bull Guard personally led hundreds of elite soldiers to surround and block them from all directions.

"Your Highness, there are too many pursuers! We've been caught!" a member of the Imperial Guard said urgently.

Li Chengqian's expression was cold and stern; he was about to speak—

Suddenly, the deafening sound of horses' hooves came from the northeast!
Like rumbling thunder, it came from afar and drew near!

Flames shot into the sky, illuminating the flags fluttering in the night!
On the flag was a huge character '席' (xi)!

"It's General Xi! General Xi has arrived!"

Pei Xingjian was overjoyed!
A troop of black-armored cavalry swept in like a steel torrent. The leader, a burly man with a spear in his hand, was none other than Xi Junmai.

"His Highness the Crown Prince is here! Anyone who blocks my way shall die!"

Xi Junmai's roar drowned out all the shouts of battle!
Two thousand elite cavalrymen, like wolves among sheep, instantly routed the pursuing troops!
Zhang Shigui's expression changed drastically: "Quickly! Send a signal! Request reinforcements!"

But it was too late.

Xi Junmai took the lead and quickly reached Li Chengqian, dismounted, and knelt on one knee.
"This humble general, Xi Junmai, has arrived late to rescue Your Majesty! Please forgive me, Your Highness!"

Li Chengqian helped him up, and looking at the elite cavalry that had suddenly appeared before him, a great weight was lifted from his heart.

"Not too late, just right."

He mounted a prepared warhorse and looked back at the Jiucheng Palace, which was ablaze with flames.

That was where he had lived for many days.

It was also his 'father' who set up the 'cage' for him.

"Your Highness, where do we go next?" Xi Junmai asked.

Li Chengqian gripped the reins tightly, his gaze fixed on the southeast.

That place was Jiangling, Jingzhou, his homeland.

It was also the beginning of his complete break with the Tang Dynasty and Li Shimin.

"Go to Jiangling."

"Let's go where we're supposed to go."

He flicked the reins, and the warhorse reared up, letting out a long neigh.

"drive!"

Two thousand iron cavalry surged southeast like a black tide.

Behind them, the flames of Jiucheng Palace illuminated half the sky.

The firelight seemed like some kind of ritual.

To commemorate a deceased father and son.

A tribute to... an era of impending war and chaos.

In the deepest darkness before dawn, Li Chengqian looked back towards Chang'an for the last time.

He could almost see his father, the Emperor, waking up from his sleep in the majestic Taiji Palace, receiving an urgent report that the Crown Prince had escaped from Jiucheng Palace and that Xi Junmai had raised an army to meet him.

Then there will be fury, troop mobilization, and a proclamation to the world condemning the rebellion.

"Your Majesty Li Er."

Li Chengqian murmured to himself, his voice fading into the night wind:
"You forced me onto this path."

"Now that I'm gone, I... will not turn back."

He spurred his horse, and his figure completely disappeared into the darkness.

Ahead lies an unknown journey.

Behind them lies a shattered past.

Summer of the eighth year of the Zhenguan era of the Tang Dynasty.

Crown Prince Li Chengqian raised an army at Jiucheng Palace and fled west to Jiangling.

The world-shaking "Jiucheng Palace Incident" thus began.

And this former emperor and his son finally embarked on the path of armed conflict.

The wheels of history turned dramatically that night. (End of Chapter)