Chapter 28: Why Do You Seek to Rebel?

No one dared to answer the Emperor’s question, which was heavy with palpable murderous intent.

Time seemed to slip away in a suffocating, deathly silence. In Li Shimin’s deep eyes, the fatigue had long since faded, replaced by an icy, scrutinizing coldness. It was as if his gaze held ten thousand years of glacial frost, casting a bone-chilling cold over the Ganlu Palace, causing the very air within the hall to stagnate.

The elderly eunuchs and young attendants held their breath instinctively, trembling as cold sweat soaked through their robes.

Suddenly, there was movement outside the hall. The sound of iron boots!

Could it be... had Gaoming already led his men in to storm the palace?

Li Shimin, radiating killing intent, stared fixedly toward the entrance. Fortunately, it was not Li Chengqian who entered, nor was it the Crown Prince's armored guards. Instead, it was a Qianniu Guard commander, clad in dark, fitted attire, exuding a sharp and formidable aura.

He walked into the hall with measured, unhurried steps, knelt on one knee, and spoke with a hint of tension in his voice: "Reporting to Your Majesty, the Imperial Guard saw His Highness the Crown Prince galloping down Vermilion Bird Avenue, heading straight for the Taiji Palace, and assumed he was leading his troops to storm the palace."

"However, upon reaching the palace gate, the Crown Prince reined in his horse and advanced no further. He stated that he has an urgent matter to discuss with Your Majesty. I await your decree."

Although the man’s voice trembled slightly, his words were clear and coherent, accurately recounting the events at the gate.

Upon hearing this, Li Shimin let out a long sigh of relief. So it was a misunderstanding! He had truly feared that Gaoming, incited by that scoundrel Hou Junji, was attempting to repeat the history of the Xuanwu Gate incident.

But... what urgent matter could be so pressing that Gaoming would disregard etiquette and demand an audience in the middle of the night?

Wait. Li Shimin suddenly remembered the report from the Hundred Riders—hadn't they stated that Gaoming had left the East Palace and gone to that place in Pingkang Ward, "Heaven on Earth," to find that young man, Zhao Mu?

Why this sudden late-night request for an audience? Could something have happened to Zhao Mu?

If something had befallen Zhao Mu, it would be understandable for Gaoming to be so anxious that he would risk being accused of treason just to gallop through the streets of Chang'an to the palace. After all, Zhao Mu was a heaven-sent talent. Even a minor scratch on him would not just be Gaoming’s loss, but a pain that the entire Great Tang could scarcely bear.

With this thought, Li Shimin, who had just begun to relax, grew tense once more.

"Since the Crown Prince requests an audience in the dead of night, it must be a matter of great importance!" Li Shimin ordered without hesitation.

However, he immediately commanded someone to bring the latest secret reports from the Hundred Riders—specifically those concerning "Heaven on Earth."

Li Shimin opened the documents with frantic haste, only to find a few brief lines: "The Crown Prince arrived and went straight to the Heaven-grade Room One to meet with Zhao Mu. Afterward, 'Heaven on Earth' ceased business, clearing out all patrons and leaving only a few managers and East Palace guards inside. The Hundred Riders could not enter to investigate further. An hour later, the Crown Prince rode straight to the imperial palace, while Zhao Mu remained at 'Heaven on Earth'."

After reading this, the corners of Li Shimin’s mouth twitched. So... nothing happened to Zhao Mu? Then why was Gaoming so nervous?

For a moment, Li Shimin felt both irritated and amused. He shook his head, his eyes turning playful. "Since Zhao Mu is unharmed, Gaoming, you shall pay for storming the palace tonight!"

Li Shimin decided that regardless of the Crown Prince's excuse, he would use this incident to discipline the boy. He had just shone brilliantly in the court, only to turn around and cause such a chaotic, unsettling disturbance in the palace—he needed to be taught a lesson.

The imperial decree quickly reached the palace gates. The massive gates, symbols of the core of the Great Tang’s power, slowly creaked open.

Seeing the gates open, Li Chengqian thought to himself, *As I expected!*

Indeed, from the moment he left "Heaven on Earth" and led his guards in armor to charge the palace, it had been intentional. He knew that if he had simply arrived to request an audience, he would never have been allowed near the gates in the middle of the night, let alone inside. Thus, he had staged the appearance of a forced entry to ensure the news reached the Emperor immediately. His father would have no choice but to acknowledge him.

It had worked perfectly. Success at the first step bolstered Li Chengqian’s confidence.

Because of his leg injury, the Crown Prince rode his horse directly into the palace, but his East Palace guards were blocked at the gate by the nervous Black Armored Cavalry.

"I am the Crown Prince’s personal guard!" Chang He argued loudly with the Black Armored commander, hoping to remind the Crown Prince to take him along for support. But Li Chengqian was in no state to pay attention to such things and ignored him entirely.

The Crown Prince entered the depths of the Forbidden Palace alone and soon disappeared from sight.

***

In the Ganlu Palace, Li Shimin had changed into black imperial robes. He sat motionless behind the imperial desk, his hands gripping the armrests tightly. His eyes were devoid of emotion, staring straight ahead, while the lifelike golden dragon on his robes seemed to writhe and claw.

The night wind, carrying the scent of iron and fire, surged through the open doors, causing the palace lanterns to sway wildly and casting dancing shadows across the hall.

*Clack, clack... clack.*

The distinct sound of footsteps echoed from outside. At the threshold, where firelight and shadow intertwined, Li Chengqian, whose leg injury had flared up again from the frantic ride, limped into Li Shimin’s icy gaze.

His hair was somewhat disheveled from the journey, with loose strands fluttering in the wind. His black robes were stained with the dust and dew of the night, and his limp made him appear somewhat disheveled. Yet, even though his leg was in agonizing pain, Li Chengqian walked with unwavering resolve.

This sight caused a strange, sharp pang of pain in the heart of the man sitting on the high throne. But Li Shimin was an emperor; his heart was as hard as iron. He quickly resumed his expressionless mask, watching coldly as Li Chengqian struggled to reach the center of the hall.

"Your son..." Li Chengqian steadied his breathing, bowing to offer his respects.

But just then, "Kneel!"

The authoritative, thunderous command echoed throughout the Ganlu Palace, causing even Li Chengqian’s iron-willed heart to tremble.

*Thud.*

Li Chengqian knelt. Yet, even as he knelt, his spine remained as straight as a pine tree. He lifted his head, his gaze like two blades quenched in ice, piercing through the dim, flickering candlelight to lock onto the man on the throne, whose face had turned ashen.

The hall fell into a deathly silence, where one could hear a pin drop.

Li Shimin narrowed his eyes. There was no anger in his gaze—only a chilling, all-seeing scrutiny that seemed to peel back Li Chengqian’s very soul.

"Chengqian!"

"Why do you commit treason?"