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

Wei Zheng's heart-wrenching roar, calling out the emperor's name, pierced the iron gate of the forbidden room like thunder, echoing repeatedly in the silent palace corridors, shocking all who heard it and turning their faces pale with fear.

Fang Xuanling and Changsun Wuji stood outside the door, listening to the heart-wrenching accusations, their expressions extremely solemn.

Fang Xuanling closed his eyes, let out a long sigh, filled with helplessness and sorrow.

Changsun Wuji's eyes flickered, his lips were tightly pursed, and it was unclear what he was thinking.

"Prime Minister Fang, Lord Changsun, His Majesty... His Majesty requests that you two proceed to the Liangyi Hall immediately."

A eunuch cautiously offered another reminder, not daring to look at the iron gate from which the curses of "tyrant" were emanating.

The two exchanged a glance, knowing that the emperor must be in a terrible mood at this moment, and dared not delay any longer, so they immediately turned around and hurried to the Liangyi Hall.

Inside the Liangyi Hall, the air pressure was terrifyingly low.

The palace maids and eunuchs standing there held their breath, wishing they could shrink into a crack in the ground.

Li Shimin stood with his hands behind his back in front of the huge map, his back to the palace gate. His figure was still upright, but his back exuded a heavy, almost tangible chill.

"Your Majesty, we pay our respects."

Before long, Fang Xuanling and Changsun Wuji arrived in the hall, their voices lower than usual.

Li Shimin did not turn around, but stared at the direction of Jiangling on the map, his voice cold and weary: "Did you all hear what Wei Zheng said?"

Fang Xuanling carefully considered his words before speaking: "Your Majesty, Wei Zheng is of a fiery temperament and his words are sometimes too extreme, but his heart..."

"His heart?"

Li Shimin turned around abruptly, his eyes bloodshot, churning with pain, anger, and an indescribable embarrassment at having his secret exposed.

"His mind is convinced that it was I who forced Chengqian to rebel! It's my fault!"

He slammed his fist into the pillar next to the map, making a dull thud: "Do you really think I'm such a cruel, ungrateful, and tyrannical ruler who forced my son to rebel?!"

"Your Majesty, calm down!"

Changsun Wuji hurriedly said, "Crown Prince Chengqian's actions—burning down palaces, arbitrarily mobilizing troops, and defying the imperial authority—are undoubtedly treason!"

"Your Majesty's handling of the matter according to the law is appropriate. Wei Zheng is old and senile, and his words are outrageous. Your Majesty need not take them to heart."

Li Shimin took a few deep breaths, forcibly suppressing the turbulent emotions surging in his chest.

He knew this was not the time to vent.

As emperor, he had to remain calm and maintain control of the situation.

"Wei Zheng, keep him locked up for now, and do not allow anyone to visit him or to talk nonsense again."

He gave the order in a deep voice, which temporarily spared Wei Zheng's life, but it was also a cold treatment.

"The top priority right now is to quell the 'rebellion'."

He walked back to his desk and sat down, tapping his fingers on the table:

"It will take time for the news to reach Li Ji. Until then, Chang'an must remain as stable as a rock. Xuanling, you and the other ministers are responsible for maintaining the daily affairs of the court; there must be no chaos."

"The minister obeys the order."

Fang Xuanling solemnly accepted the order.

"Wuji!"

Li Shimin looked at Changsun Wuji with a sharp gaze:

"You must keep a close eye on the defenses of the capital region, especially the Sixteen Guards. Li Chengqian was able to mobilize Xi Junmai right under our noses, so there must be his spies in the army. Investigate them carefully; it's better to arrest the innocent than let the guilty go free!"

"Yes! Your Majesty, I will certainly investigate thoroughly to ensure the safety of Chang'an!"

Changsun Wuji felt a chill run down his spine, knowing that this was both a test of his abilities and a heavy responsibility entrusted to him by the emperor.

"besides……"

Li Shimin paused, a complex emotion flashing in his eyes:
"After the King of Wei summoned him back to Chang'an, he was ordered to 'rest quietly' in the King of Wei's residence. Without my decree, he was not allowed to leave the residence or meet with any foreign officials. I also ordered that the people in his residence be kept under close surveillance."

Li Tai's gloating and secret collusion might not completely escape the notice of the Hundred Cavalry Commander.

Before the situation becomes clear, Li Shimin will not allow this son to cause any more trouble.

"I understand."

Changsun Wuji nodded, feeling a growing wariness towards Li Tai.

This nephew has quite a few schemes up his sleeve.

"Go down."

Li Shimin waved his hand, as if he had exhausted his strength, and turned his gaze back to the map.

Fang Xuanling and Changsun Wuji bowed and withdrew. As they stepped out of the Liangyi Hall, the afternoon sun revealed that their backs were soaked with cold sweat.

"The rain is coming..."

Changsun Wuji gazed at the dark clouds gathering above the palace walls and murmured, "Chengqian, why are you doing this to yourself?"

On the other side, in the Prince of Wei's residence, at Ningyun Pavilion.

Li Tai has already received the imperial decree summoning him back to Chang'an.

The eunuch who came to deliver the imperial decree spoke respectfully but was resolute in his attitude. He was accompanied by a group of unfamiliar imperial guards, ostensibly to strengthen the protection of the Prince's residence, but in reality to monitor it.

The smugness and fantasies that Li Tai had felt because of Li Chengqian's escape were instantly extinguished by this bucket of cold water.

He understood that his father did not fully trust him, and might even have begun to doubt his role in this upheaval.

"Your Highness, what's wrong with His Majesty..." Su Xu said with great concern.

"Shut up!"

Li Tai growled irritably, pacing anxiously around the room: "Father is warning me! He suspects I'm involved in Li Chengqian's affair, or... he's afraid I'll cause trouble in the chaos!"

He felt a surge of frustration and fear.

Li Chengqian rebelled, but Li Tai didn't seem to fare well either; instead, he was effectively placed under house arrest.

"Is there any news from Prime Minister Liu?" Li Tai asked anxiously.

Liu Ji remained in Chang'an, serving as his most important advisor and eyes and ears.

Su Xu shook his head: "The palace is suddenly under strict control, making it difficult to transmit information. Prime Minister Liu previously instructed His Highness to remain calm, be cautious in his words and actions, and wait for him to find a way to communicate."

"Keep calm... that's easy for you to say!"

Li Tai slammed his fist on the table, his expression shifting between anger and uncertainty.

He knew he had to be patient; with his father in a fit of rage and the situation still unclear, any rash action could bring about his demise.

But at the same time, a thought was growing wildly in his mind:
[Li Chengqian's rebellion has left the position of crown prince completely vacant!]

[As long as I can weather this storm safely and perform well, there are still opportunities in the future!]

I must be careful, extremely careful.

Meanwhile, on the official road leading to Jiangling.

Amidst billowing dust, a cavalry force of over two thousand men galloped southeast along the official road.

Although the troops were slightly tired after the battles of rendezvous and breakout, their formation was well-maintained and their morale was high. The sound of their horses' hooves was like muffled thunder, breaking the silence along the way.

At the front of the column, Li Chengqian had changed into a set of ordinary general's bright armor, his black cloak fluttering behind him.

His face was calm, and his gaze was firm as he looked ahead, as if the towering waves behind him and the charge of 'treason' had nothing to do with him.

Xi Junmai rode alongside him, his face showing excitement mixed with a hint of lingering fear.
"Your Highness, fortunately you made arrangements in advance, allowing me to secretly lead the troops to the vicinity of Qishan under the pretext of 'autumn maneuvering and troop rotation,' otherwise today..."

"No other."

Li Chengqian interrupted him, his voice steady: "Since I have decided to leave, I naturally need to prepare a way out. I just didn't expect Father's reaction... to be faster and more ruthless than I anticipated."

He received a secret report from Yang Nannan, informing him that Li Shimin had sent people to the Japanese islands to find Sun Yuan, and he knew that he could no longer stay at Jiucheng Palace.

The fire and the breakout were part of the plan, but also a forced move.

"Your Highness, are we really going to Jiangling?"

Xi Junmai asked, "Although Jiangling was once Your Highness's fiefdom and has some former troops there, it is located in the heart of the country and is surrounded by enemies on all sides. I'm afraid it's not a place to stay for long. His Majesty will surely mobilize a large army to besiege it."

Li Chengqian's lips curled into a cold smile: "Who said we were going to stay in Jiangling for long?"

He reined in his horse and looked back to the northwest, where Chang'an was, the place where he had lived for more than ten years, and the place where they now regarded him as a traitor and wanted to get rid of him as soon as possible.

"Jiangling is just a front, a gathering place."

Li Chengqian's voice was not loud, but it carried an undeniable determination: "Does Father Emperor think I want to carve out a territory? Or am I like a homeless dog?"

A sharp, hawk-like glint flashed in his eyes:
"What I want has never been to live in seclusion in a corner of the world."

"Notify our men to proceed with the second plan. Navy, it's time to move."

Xi Junmai's spirits lifted: "Your Highness means..."

"good."

Li Chengqian nodded: "Father would never have imagined that I would launch a surprise attack! When he mobilized his troops to surround and intercept Jiangling, I was already at the city gates!" (End of Chapter)