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

Li Shimin also stepped forward with his sword drawn, taking a step forward and passing by Li Chengqian.

He turned around, and both he and Li Chengqian only had eyes for each other.

He seemed to ignore Chengxin beside him, focusing solely on fighting Li Chengqian.

Each move was as graceful as a gazelle leaping off a cliff, its subtlety beyond words.

Cheng Xin's eyes lit up. He had found a good opportunity and rushed forward, intending to plunge the dagger into Li Shimin's chest.

But there was someone who was faster than him.

Luo Cheng, the handsome man with a white horse and silver spear.

A flash of cold light appeared first, followed by the spear thrusting out like a dragon.

The tip of a spear knocked the dagger out of Chengxin's hand; this was Li Shimin's secret method of ignoring Chengxin.

Chengxin was so well hidden that even Li Shimin and Luo Cheng did not discover it.

But once an assassin fails to kill with his first strike, he loses his stealth and becomes no longer a threat.

Luo Cheng kept a close eye on him.

"As expected of my father, he has so many trump cards."

Li Chengqian wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth.

"How many times have I taught you before? Think things through carefully before acting."

"You must have cards in your hand to play, so you can deal with all unexpected situations."

"I taught you that."

"Don't let anger cloud your judgment, and don't act rashly."

Even now, Li Shimin never forgets to teach Li Chengqian.

Even knowing that things had turned out this way, Li Chengqian could no longer inherit his position.

"Yes, that's right, that's exactly it."

Li Chengqian propped himself up with his sword again, got up from the ground, and looked at his father, the emperor.

"Scolding, scolding, endless scolding."

"Father, am I really that displeasing to you?"

"Have you ever even looked at your son properly?"

"But it doesn't matter. Today I'll show you the spirit I inherited from my father."

Li Chengqian had already noticed his legs trembling; the effects of the medicine were about to wear off.

He braced himself on the ground, leaped up, and swung his sword at Li Shimin with both hands.

Li Shimin dodged to the side, and taking advantage of Li Chengqian's unsteady footing, he swung his sword and knocked Li Chengqian's sword away.

"The traitor!"

Li Shimin's sword was once again pressed against Li Chengqian's throat, Luo Cheng's spear tip was also pointed at Chengxin's throat, and Hou Junji and Li Anyan were also defeated by the attacks of Yuchi Gong and Qin Qiong.

"I lost."

Li Chengqian stood up from the ground, determined to lose with dignity.

"Come, Father, kill your son."

"Imprisoning his father, killing his brother, murdering his son."

"You ushered in the prosperous Zhenguan era, destroyed the Great Xia Empire, expanded the territory, and had all nations pay tribute. You can be called an emperor for all ages."

"But your infamy of imprisoning your father, killing your brother, and murdering your son will be immortalized in history."

Li Chengqian closed his eyes. He had fought back, and even if he lost, it was only because he was less skilled.

"You bastard!"

Li Shimin sheathed his sword and slapped him across the face.

"Guards, tie him up and throw him into the imperial prison! No one is allowed to visit him without my order!"

"Furthermore, the King of Yue has been assassinated; the Prefect of the Capital is ordered to investigate the case swiftly!"

"Not a single word of what happens in the palace is to be revealed. Anyone who disobeys will be executed!"

Li Shimin threw the sword to the ground and turned away.

In the Lizheng Hall, before the memorial tablet of Empress Zhangsun, Li Shimin stood quietly.

In a single day, he experienced three heart-wrenching events: the death of his beloved, the fratricide between his son and his brothers, and the rebellion of his own son.

"Guanyinbi, if only you were still here, none of this would have happened."

Li Shimin was certain that if Empress Zhangsun were still alive, Li Chengqian would never have made such an extreme decision to gamble everything.

None of the tragedies will happen today.

In the past, Li Shimin, who was able to support the entire Tang Dynasty, was now slightly hunched over.

The next day, the court officials stood in the Taiji Hall, which was still filled with the bloody smell of the night.

The court officials all keenly sensed the nauseating atmosphere, and those with sharp eyes also noticed that many people were missing from the court.

"Last night, Hou Junji kidnapped the Crown Prince and rebelled. The Prince of Yue was killed. Now Hou Junji has been executed and committed suicide in prison."

"The Crown Prince feels he is unworthy and requests that a virtuous Crown Prince be appointed, which I have granted."

"Whom do you all think should be chosen?"

Li Shimin thought about it for half the night, and this was the most suitable excuse he could come up with.

Even if all the ministers can see it, so what?

Who would dare to say it now?!

The ministers looked at each other, naturally realizing that something was amiss.

If the crown prince was coerced, why choose someone else?

This is clearly the Crown Prince's act of treason, making Hou Junji take the blame.

However, the officials remained silent, not daring to utter a single word, fearing that if they said too much, they would be executed along with their entire family the next morning for stepping into the Taiji Hall with their left foot first.

As for who should be chosen as the crown prince?

This was never a choice. Empress Zhangsun left behind three legitimate sons, but the crown prince was deposed, the Prince of Yue was killed, and only the youngest, Prince Li Zhi of Jin, remained.

The position of Crown Prince naturally belongs to Prince Li Zhi of Jin.

"I believe that Prince Li Zhi of Jin is virtuous, kind, filial, and respectful to his elder brothers... He should be established as the crown prince."

At this moment, Changsun Wuji stepped forward and supported Prince Li Zhi of Jin as the crown prince.

Changsun Wuji praised Li Zhi to the skies, but Li Shimin only noticed one word: brotherly love and respect.

Upon careful reflection, Li Zhi was indeed extremely kind and got along very well with all his brothers.

Even when Li Chengqian rebelled and took Li Tai away, he never harmed Li Zhi.

If Li Zhi ascends to the throne, his bloodline will surely be preserved in the future.

Li Zhi would never harm his brothers, which was exactly what Li Shimin wanted to see.

More importantly, Li Zhi was Empress Zhangsun's only surviving son.

He indeed only had Li Zhi as a candidate.

And since their personalities happen to be compatible, there is naturally no other choice.

Someone spoke first, and it was none other than the maternal relative and important minister, Changsun Wuji. Only then did the other ministers rush to agree with Changsun Wuji's proposal.

"Since that's the case, then it's settled. The Ministry of Rites will choose a date to hold a grand ceremony, establish Prince Li Zhi of Jin as the Crown Prince, and announce it to the world."

Li Shimin gave the instructions.

"promise."

The Minister of Rites stepped forward to accept the order.

"Hou Junji rebelled, and three days later, he was executed in the marketplace, and his entire family was exiled to the bitterly cold snowfields of the far north."

"Li Yuanchang, the Prince of Han, conspired with Hou Junji to rebel; he is hereby sentenced to death!"

"Li Anyan, who conspired with Hou Junji to rebel, shall be beheaded and his head displayed to the public!"

"Du He, who conspired with Hou Junji to rebel, shall be beheaded and his head displayed to the public!"

"..."

Those involved in this rebellion were all dealt with by Li Shimin, leaving only Li Chengqian.

Li Shimin paused for a moment, then continued.

"As for the deposed Crown Prince Li Chengqian, he was actually coerced by the rebels and was extremely incompetent. He was demoted to the Prince of Qian and was not allowed to return to the capital without an imperial edict. He was to set off for his fiefdom immediately."

"Kong Yingda failed to properly educate the crown prince and was demoted to a commoner."

"The Prince of Yan failed to properly educate the Crown Prince, so his fief of three thousand households was reduced and his salary was docked for one year."