Tang Dynasty: Starting at Xuanwu Gate, this prince is better off not being one.

Yuchi Gong's words stirred the crowd's emotions.

So they all spoke up, saying, "Old Hei Yuchi is right! Please give the order, Your Highness, and we are willing to fight to the death!"

Looking at his impassioned subordinates, Li Er's pain flashed for a moment, then turned into resolve, and he slowly uttered a single word: "Good!"

Seeing that their master had finally agreed, everyone breathed a sigh of relief, their hearts filled with excitement.

Having built up the atmosphere, Li Er stood up from his chair and looked at everyone, saying, "Since that's the case, for the sake of the country, I'll bear the infamy! We'll proceed according to Ke Ming and Wu Ji's plan! Tomorrow, I'll first enter the palace to meet His Majesty and lead him to the pleasure boat on Taiye Pond. Once the Crown Prince and Li Yuanji enter the palace, we'll make our move at Xuanwu Gate and capture...kill them both in one fell swoop!"

"promise!"

.........

On the night of the third day of the lunar new year, the moonlight was like a hook, thin and pale, almost invisible to Li Yu.

"Foolish child! What are you thinking about?" Li Xuanba rode out of the newly made carriage his son had built.

"Father!" Li Yu turned around and responded with a smile in his eyes.

Li Xuanba stepped forward, reached out and squeezed Li Yu's slender arm, and sighed helplessly: "My little foolish child has suffered for so many years, and now that he has returned to the palace, he still has to suffer with his father..."

Li Yu raised his hand, not letting his father finish speaking: "Father! You're overthinking it. I won't suffer, and neither will our whole family!"

"Sigh! Perhaps your father shouldn't have kept it from you."

As Li Xuanba spoke, he rolled up his trouser leg: "This broken leg was actually done intentionally by your father."

His words were truly shocking, leaving Li Yu stunned on the spot.

"father……"

"This was something your second uncle and I discussed beforehand."

Li Xuanba waved his hand and said with a wry smile, "That's how the struggles in the royal family are. If I hadn't made myself look like this, then on the day I returned from the expedition, your grandfather would have reduced your second uncle's power again in order to balance us and the crown prince."

"Besides..."

At this point, Li Xuanba hesitated for a moment before continuing, "Now that I've become like this, once your second uncle ascends the throne, he won't need to worry about me posing a threat to the throne."

"Father, why would your second uncle worry about you..."

Seeing the disbelief on Li Yu's face, Li Xuanba shook his head and said helplessly, "Some things are beyond our comprehension. Only by doing it can we feel at ease."

"But this means you'll have to suffer, you silly boy..." Li Xuanba patted Li Yu's shoulder earnestly, "From now on, this vast Zhao Prince's Mansion will depend on you to support it."

Upon hearing this, Li Yu took a deep breath and nodded silently.

"Good lad! Go ahead and do it boldly. Even if you make a mistake, it doesn't matter. We're all family, we'll live and die together." Li Xuanba said, his eyes reddening.

"I seek neither fame nor fortune, only the wealth and prosperity of my family!" Li Yu said firmly. "From now on, I will only work to make money for my family. As for entering officialdom, I have no interest in it. Will Father resent me?"

"Of course, your father won't blame you," Li Xuanba said with a wry smile. "Your father only hopes you'll live a life of wealth and honor, but..."

Before he could finish speaking, birdsong suddenly filled the silent night sky.

Upon hearing the bird's cry, Li Xuanba could no longer sit still. He immediately ordered Li Yu, "Quick! Foolish child! Take your mother and Aunt Liu to the Prince of Qin's residence! Only there is safety!"

"Father! What about here..." Li Yu said anxiously.

"Father, there are still guards from the Prince's mansion here. Hurry up! It will be too late if you are any later!" Li Xuanba urged anxiously.

"..."

He was pushed out by his father, and the door slammed shut behind him.

Knowing that his father couldn't leave with him, Li Yu could only grit his teeth and leave...

.........

The night is unusually quiet, and all plans are proceeding silently.

Inside the carriage, Li Yu looked around and saw his mother, Dugu Jin, Liu Shi, and his younger sister, Li Zhao, all of whom were present, with Green Robe sitting obediently beside him.

He searched the entire Prince's mansion but could not find Wenren An.

This put Li Yu at ease. He didn't want this straightforward young man to get involved in this mess. It would be best if he returned to his hometown in Jiangnan, where his whole family lived.

Outside, Laifu urged the carriage on so fast that the only sound inside was the whistling of the wind.

Just as Li Yu and his party were about to arrive at the Prince of Qin's residence, the carriage suddenly stopped.

"What's wrong?" Li Yu leaned out of the car and asked Lai Fu, who was driving.

"Young master, a woman is blocking our way."

"A woman?" Following Lai Fu's gaze, there was indeed a woman blocking the front of the carriage.

Just as Li Yu was about to yell at her to ask if she wasn't afraid of being trampled to death by the horse, he saw the woman rushing towards them.

When they got closer, Li Yu could see clearly that the woman was actually Cui'er, Yang's personal maid.

"What brings you here? Where is your young lady?" Li Yu asked, puzzled.

Cui'er had no time to listen to Li Yu's question; she just anxiously said, "My mistress told me to tell you that His Highness Prince Qi has sent men to attack Prince Zhao's residence, and the leader is Prince Qi's bodyguard, Yuwen Bao!"

Upon hearing this, Li Yu was startled, but before he could decide whether to turn back to the mansion, he heard his mother, Dugu Jin's, voice.

"Foolish child, don't look back!"

As soon as she finished speaking, she looked at Laifu and said, "Go back to the manor now and deliver the message to the Prince. I'll bring the carriage!"

After saying that, Dugu Jin climbed out of the carriage to everyone's surprise, snatched Lai Fu's riding whip, and sat down in front of the carriage.

Lai Fu, who had his riding whip stolen, was somewhat at a loss. He glanced at Li Yu, who was nodding at him, and then decisively turned around and ran towards the direction of Prince Zhao's mansion.

"Get on quickly!" Without hesitation, Li Yu pulled Cui'er onto the carriage, and then the carriage began to move forward under Dugu Jin's urging...

.........

At the same time, Li Er led a group of people to the front of Xuanwu Gate.

Looking at the towering city gate, Changsun Wuji inside gave a suggestive whistle.

Not long after the whistle blew, a general poked his head out from the city tower.

Upon seeing Li Er and his entourage, the general descended from the city wall without saying a word.

"Chang He, the garrison commander of Xuanwu Gate, pays his respects to Your Highness, Prince Qin!" The man bowed in greeting.

"No need for formalities!" Li Er nodded and asked, "I just heard from Wuji that you would also be celebrating the birthday of the Prince of Songshan. Why didn't you come?"

Looking at the imposing Li Er before him, Chang He answered tremblingly, "Your Highness, this humble general has been temporarily ordered by the Crown Prince to guard this place. The city gate will be opened for him at the end of Yin hour tomorrow."

"Oh?" Li Er raised an eyebrow and asked, "Then what do you suggest?"

Upon hearing this, Chang He immediately knelt down, his expression resolute, and said, "Your Highness has been kind to me, and I will naturally obey Your Highness's arrangements!"

"Alright!" Li Er nodded, his eyes gleaming. "Open the city gates!"

.........