The immortal of the Tang Dynasty, but the game starts at Xuanwu Gate?

In the inner garden of the Eastern Palace, Li Shimin was taking a leisurely stroll with Empress Zhangsun, feeling extremely relaxed and happy.

News has already come back from Xue Wanche's side that Liang Shidu is besieged in Shuofang City and won't be able to hold out for more than a few days.

Once Shuofang is captured, the Tang Dynasty will have truly achieved unification, a feat of unparalleled merit.

Furthermore, a balance of power has been established among the aristocratic families, and if he so desires, he could even severely damage the Zheng family.

With both internal and external troubles improving, how could Li Shimin not be in a good mood?

That's why he had the leisure to stroll around the inner garden with Empress Zhangsun.

However, at this moment, Zhang Anan rushed over without regard for etiquette or rules, and knelt down in front of Li Shimin, his body trembling.

"Your Majesty... Your Majesty, this servant has something to report."

Li Shimin's expression showed displeasure, but he also knew that Zhang Anan had followed him for a long time and was not someone who didn't know manners, so he patiently asked, "What is it?"

Zhang Anan swallowed hard, gritted his teeth, and said in a trembling voice, "The Duke of Anguo... the Duke of Anguo was strolling around Chang'an Street today..."

As he was speaking, he didn't know how to begin the next part.

Li Shimin chuckled and said to Empress Zhangsun, "Huai'an is good in every way, except that he's a bit unreliable."

"I always like to go out."

"However..." Li Shimin stared at Zhang Anan, "This isn't the first time he's done this. Is it really worth reporting?"

"Why should you interfere when people are just strolling around?"

Zhang Anan did not laugh.

He raised his head, his expression more painful than tears, his voice hoarse as if squeezed out from between his teeth: "Your Majesty... today is different. When Duke Anguo was strolling around and eating and drinking as usual, he was poisoned and murdered by villains."

"At this time... he had already died from the poison. The Duke of Anguo's mansion had closed its doors to visitors, and the servants began preparing funeral items, as well as... a coffin."

After uttering the last two words, Zhang Anan lowered his head again, not daring to look at Li Shimin's face.

The air suddenly became quiet.

The rustling of leaves in the wind and the chirping of cicadas in the distance became exceptionally clear.

The smile on Li Shimin's face froze on his face before he could even wipe it away.

Empress Zhangsun's expression changed drastically, and her calm demeanor vanished without a trace.

Li Shimin paused for a few moments, as if he hadn't understood what Zhang Anan was saying.

"What did you say?"

Zhang Anan trembled even more violently, but still forced himself to repeat, "The Duke of Anguo... was poisoned and has passed away..."

"boom--"

Li Shimin kicked a stone lamp beside him, the dull thud making Zhang Anan and Empress Zhangsun shudder.

"Bullshit!!!"

He finally exploded, his voice terrifyingly loud: "That kid Chen Huai'an is incredibly lucky. Six assassins surrounded him, and they didn't even manage to inflict a single wound on him."

"You're saying he's dead?"

"Who spread this rumor?! Ah!"

Zhang Anan cried out, "Your Majesty, this time it's different. It's poison! Duke Anguo was caught off guard and was poisoned."

"This news came from within the Duke of Anguo's residence and has spread throughout the entire city of Chang'an; it can't be false!"

"Impossible!" Li Shimin's eyes were bloodshot, his chest heaved violently, and he exuded a terrifying aura of ferocity, completely different from the emperor who had been leisurely strolling just moments before.

"This is impossible!!"

"That kid was such a troublemaker, so capable of causing chaos, how could he just disappear like that?"

"He's so young, only a few years younger than me. I'm still hoping to create a beautiful story of ruler and subject together. How could he possibly die?"

Li Shimin's mind was buzzing, and he could barely stand: "My Huai'an... my Huai'an, how could he be dead?"

"He was a banished immortal, how could he die?"

Empress Zhangsun was startled and quickly grabbed his arm, saying, "Your Majesty, please calm down. Perhaps, perhaps..."

She wanted to say that it might be a misunderstanding, but she just couldn't bring herself to say it.

They all knew who Zhang Anan was!

He would never dare to say such a thing to them without being absolutely certain.

Moreover, the news has already spread throughout Chang'an, so it is definitely not false.

However, Li Shimin clearly could not accept it.

He recalled the time he spent with Chen Huai'an, how they used to laugh and talk like good friends, and how the other was dedicated to his duties and wholeheartedly devoted to the country and its people. His eyes gradually welled up with tears.

"Guanyinbi... My Huai'an is gone, my Huai'an is gone!" Li Shimin wailed, heartbroken.

Empress Zhangsun's eyes also reddened, but she still gently comforted Li Shimin, "Your Majesty, please don't cry."

"If Mr. Chen were alive today, he would surely not want to see His Majesty so sad."

"Furthermore, Mr. Chen died so mysteriously; we implore Your Majesty to seek justice for him!"

"Justice..." Li Shimin murmured to himself, then covered his face and burst into laughter, from a low chuckle to a maniacal roar, "Justice! Hahaha... Hahahaha!"

"My Huai'an is dead, and I will seek justice for him... Hahahaha!"

"Huai'an, you just wait... I will get justice for you!!!"

Li Shimin's face twitched, a chilling smile playing on his lips: "Huai'an is dead. I no longer care to distinguish right from wrong!"

"Zhang Anan!"

"Yes, sir!"

"How's the investigation I asked you to do coming along?"

"Your Majesty, the investigation is not yet complete. The aristocratic families have done a very clean job, and the evidence is currently insufficient. However, arresting them is not a problem!"

"Very well!" Li Shimin, his entire body radiating terrifying killing intent, said in a hoarse voice, "Issue my decree: seal off the city!"

"I order Du Ruhui to lead the Imperial Guards of the Eastern Palace to immediately arrest those who accepted bribes. I also order the Ministry of Justice and the Court of Judicial Review to control the streets of Huai'an. Anyone who walked the streets today must have their ancestors traced back eighteen generations!"

"Notify the Li family of Zhao County to take action!"

Li Shimin sighed deeply, his pent-up rage erupting in that instant: "I want them! They must pay for their crimes in blood!!!"

"..."

Chen Huai'an was unaware of what was happening outside. After taking a shower, he enjoyed a delicious meal and even took a nap.

As soon as he woke up, Wang Bai came over happily: "Sir, I have done as you instructed. The news of your death by poisoning has spread throughout Chang'an City."

Chen Huai'an: ? ? ?

He turned his head in astonishment: "What? I died of poisoning? Didn't I only tell you to say I was poisoned? And what do you mean the news of my death by poisoning has spread throughout Chang'an?"

Wang Bai was dumbfounded: "Sir, the news was that you were poisoned, but as people spread it, it became that you died from poisoning."

"Wasn't this part of your plan?"

"Damn it!" Chen Huai'an couldn't hold back any longer. "I only asked you to subtly pass the message to the aristocratic families who are watching me, not to make it known throughout the city!"

"Ah?" Wang Bai exclaimed in horror, "But now the news has spread, and the whole of Chang'an knows that you died of poisoning. In addition, considering what you asked your subordinates to do, everyone is certain that you are dead."

Chen Huai'an: "..."

"..."