A thousand-year-old family begins with one fighting against ten thousand.

Li Yuan's close friend Pei Ji was summoned to the palace overnight.

When he learned what had happened in the palace, he was completely stunned.

He just took a nap, how did everything change?

Li Shimin was not so good-natured when facing Pei Ji, and directly put his sword to Pei Ji's neck.

"Does Lord Pei know what to do at tomorrow's court assembly?"

Pei Ji glanced at Li Yuan, who silently nodded at him. Helpless, Pei Ji had no choice but to agree.

"Xuanzhen, do as Erlang says."

"You should also appease those people in the court. The Tang Dynasty is newly established and cannot withstand too many setbacks."

Li Yuan had resigned himself to his fate. He was now genuinely afraid that his son would go on a killing spree and kill him, his father, as well.

Given Li Shimin's current state, he had no doubt that Li Shimin would do this.

And to be honest, if he really had to turn against Li Shimin, he would have to admit that he was no match for Li Shimin in a real fight. He was able to gain the world by simply getting by.

If a fight breaks out, he can't beat any of his two sons and one daughter.

Pei Ji was also someone who valued his life. Seeing that Li Yuan had no objections, he naturally wouldn't offend Li Shimin and readily agreed.

He also explained in detail Li Yuan's arrangements in the court, assisting Li Shimin in controlling the entire court.

Li Yuan was so angry that he blew his beard and glared. Although he couldn't beat Li Shimin, he was still quite proud of himself when it came to court intrigue, imperial strategies, and scheming.

I was hoping to rely on my trusted confidants who command troops outside the capital and some arrangements in the court to get my attention, but I didn't expect Pei Ji to cooperate.

You've exposed all my influence; what am I supposed to rely on to turn the tables?

However, Pei Ji saw things more clearly than him. Even with a huge advantage, if you can't beat your opponent and are easily killed and driven to your lair, with your life still in their hands, how can you expect to turn the tide?

Dream on!

Since Li Shimin was the crown prince and was destined to inherit Li Yuan's throne anyway, Pei Ji might as well give Li Shimin a favor, so that the Pei family's position in the Tang Dynasty would be more secure.

"Your Highness, the Western Regions have now been recovered, and the Prince of Qin is continuing his studies under the Prince of Yan. If Your Highness could persuade the Prince of Yan to come out of seclusion, even if the court undergoes a major upheaval, there would be no cause for concern!"

Finally, Pei Ji gave Li Shimin a suggestion to help him better stabilize the court.

Li Shimin's eyes lit up. Pei Ji was really something else; this was indeed a good opportunity.

Thinking of this, Li Shimin wrote a letter to Li Jiancheng overnight, suggesting that Li Jiancheng would be more likely to invite him, and he also wanted Jiancheng to mediate so that his eldest son Li Chengqian and second son Li Tai could both become disciples of the Prince of Yan.

If all else fails, you can become the disciple of the Prince of Yan's heir.

Even if he were just a nominal disciple, he would be content.

Li Yuan glared fiercely at Pei Ji, and at the same time, his fear of the Wei family intensified.

As early as when the Western Regions had just been recovered, he had sent someone to invite the Prince of Yan to the capital, but the Prince of Yan refused.

The Prince of Yan said, "Although the Western Regions have been recovered, the situation in the court is not stable, and it is not the right time for him to enter the capital."

"When the court is stable and the world begins to develop, that will be the time for him to enter the capital."

Hasn't this proven the King of Yan's words true?

Could the King of Yan truly be prophetic?

Perhaps they judged based on the situation of the court. In any case, we will know what the situation is once we wait for the result of Li Shimin's invitation.

If the Prince of Yan really does come to the capital at Li Shimin's invitation, then...

Li Yuan fell into deep thought.

……

The next morning at court, the officials were surprised to find that Emperor Li Yuan was not present, and that there was an extra chair under the dragon throne.

Once everyone had arrived, Li Shimin sat down in that chair with an air of nonchalance.

Pei Ji stepped forward from the side, holding a scroll of imperial edict in his hand, the very scroll that Li Yuan had personally written the previous night.

The imperial edict caused an uproar throughout the court.

King Li Zhiyun of Chu even stood up and directly questioned the authenticity of the imperial edict.

"The King of Chu has been roaring in the court without cause. Drag him out and give him thirty strokes of the cane. He must set off for his fiefdom immediately without delay."

"Zhang Gongjin, you will personally escort the King of Chu to his new post and ensure his safe arrival in Gaochang."

"I obey your decree."

Zhang Gongjin stepped out of the queue, picked up Prince Li Zhiyun of Chu with one hand, and carried him directly away from the court. Prince Li Zhiyun's dignity was utterly shattered, and he felt as if the courtiers were looking at him like he was a monkey.

"I refuse to accept this! I demand to see my father! I demand to see my father!"

But none of the courtiers paid him any attention.

Everyone here is shrewd and can naturally see the current situation clearly.

In particular, few people actually looked up to Li Zhiyun, this纨绔 (playboy), and they only gave him some face before because of Li Yuan.

The fact that not a single person in the vast imperial court was willing to stand up for Li Zhiyun shows how weak Li Zhiyun's foundation was.

No wonder, neither Li Shimin nor his subordinates took him seriously, and no one considered him a rival.

In reality, he's just a paper tiger, only able to borrow the tiger's power.

It wasn't until they were driven out of Luoyang that Li Zhiyun learned this result from Zhang Gongjin.

He felt as if struck by lightning. He had always been so smug, believing he was about to replace Li Shimin. But in Li Shimin's eyes, this had always been nothing but a joke.

Not only Li Shimin, but also others saw him as a joke.

This was a huge blow to Li Zhiyun.

He always believed that he was just a talented person who had not been recognized before, but later he gained Li Shimin's recognition through his own efforts, and gradually rose to the top, and was about to trample Li Shimin under his feet.

But now he suddenly realizes that he is nothing more than a clown in Li Shimin's eyes.

"No way, no way, you must be lying to me!"

Li Zhiyun roared wildly on the road, only to be met with Zhang Gongjin's iron fist and disdainful gaze. Li Zhiyun's sensitive nerves and self-esteem were stimulated by this gaze, and he began to roar wildly.

……

Meanwhile, in Luoyang, Li Shimin had already seized control of all the important official positions in the court and replaced them with his trusted confidants.

The six ministries of the imperial court, the Ministry of Personnel, and the troops of various city offices were all firmly in the hands of his confidants.

Only then did Li Shimin breathe a sigh of relief, return to the Eastern Palace, and rest in his room.

Several months later, Li Yuan's old wounds had not yet healed, and the court had been completely controlled by Li Shimin. So Li Yuan issued an edict to abdicate in favor of Li Shimin.

Li Shimin officially ascended the throne, honored Li Yuan as the Retired Emperor, changed the era name to Zhenguan, and made his Crown Princess Zhangsun Wugou the Empress and Li Chengqian the Crown Prince.

The Tang Dynasty has officially turned a new page, officially ushering in its most glorious chapter!