Chapter Twenty-Nine: Begging His Majesty to Name Gu as Crown Prince

Li Shimin suddenly spoke, his voice low and devoid of volume, yet it carried the weight of a thousand tons. Each word fell like ice striking polished gold, echoing clearly throughout the vast and oppressive hall.

Li Shimin had expected his interrogation to leave the Crown Prince trembling with fear. Instead, Li Chengqian snapped his head up!

"Rebellion?"

"From what slanderous tongues did Your Majesty hear that I intend to rebel?"

Li Shimin let out a cold laugh. "Armed men, invading the palace under the cover of night. If this is not rebellion, what is it?"

These words ignited a fire in Li Chengqian that seemed to scorch the very heavens!

"Father!" Li Chengqian roared, cutting him off. "I, too, have something I wish to ask of you!"

Li Shimin had only intended to project authority to keep the Crown Prince in check. Interrupted so abruptly, he flew into a rage. "It is I who am questioning you! Why do you rebel?"

"You ask me why I rebel?" Li Chengqian said, his teeth clenched. "Then I shall lay my heart bare before you today! Though I have never harbored the intent to rebel, if one day I were to rise up, it would be for the sake of self-preservation! And to save oneself, one must inevitably strike at the source. And that source..." He stopped, his eyes locked onto Li Shimin.

"Self-preservation?" Even the furious Li Shimin was momentarily stunned by this response. But upon reflection, it was clear: was he calling his own father the source?

"Insolent fool!" Li Shimin bellowed. "You reside in the Eastern Palace; you have even presided over the affairs of state! Apart from me, you are the most noble in the entire court. Who or what could possibly force the Crown Prince of the Great Tang to seek 'self-preservation'? It is your own wolfish ambition that led you to invade the palace with armed men under the cover of night!"

"Is it not true that you conspired with Hou Junji to reenact the events of the Xuanwu Gate?"

Stung by his son’s defiance, Li Shimin had let his guard slip, revealing his knowledge of the alliance between Hou Junji and the Crown Prince.

Upon hearing Hou Junji's name, Li Chengqian’s gaze grew fierce. "Father, how many years has it been since I was named Crown Prince? I have been cautious in every step, never daring to make a mistake, fearing that a single misstep would displease you. In my youth, it was fine; I could occasionally earn your favor. But ever since I broke my leg and was left with a permanent limp, every time you looked at me, I could not hide the disappointment in your eyes! Whenever Prince Wei and I appeared before you, I knew you were comparing us. And every single time, I knew you concluded that I, the Crown Prince, was inferior to him!"

"Silence!" Li Shimin was thoroughly shaken. These words were like a steel blade, piercing deep into his heart and causing him unbearable pain. He had always believed his severity was merely the tempering of a future sovereign. Never had he imagined that in his son’s eyes, he was so callous—as if he were mocking his own son’s disability.

Yet, even as Li Shimin commanded him to stop, Li Chengqian, overcome by long-suppressed resentment, could not be reined in. He delivered a final, devastating blow: "Father, I know that in your heart, I have long ceased to be the Crown Prince! You have likely already decided when to strip me of this title, so that—"

Li Chengqian’s voice trembled with agitation. Li Shimin, desperate to deny these accusations but unable to find the words, roared, "I told you to be silent!" He grabbed a stack of memorials from his desk and hurled them at Li Chengqian to silence the interrogation of his conscience.

*Slash.* One of the memorials struck Li Chengqian’s temple, drawing blood instantly. As blood flowed into his eyes, Li Chengqian pressed his hand against the wound. When he looked up again, his eyes were blood-red, his expression twisted into a mask of ferocity.

He slowly stood up, glaring at Li Shimin. "Your Majesty, why do you stop me? Was I wrong? Or have you truly never considered letting Prince Wei replace me?"

Li Chengqian’s voice rose to a shrill, desolate scream. "Why did you let Prince Wei reside in the Wude Palace? You know well what that implies! You intended to stir up the court, to make me, the Crown Prince, unable to find peace, so that in my panic, I would commit a grave error! And then, you would have the perfect excuse to strip me of my position and name him heir instead!"

"Cheng... qian!" Li Shimin, hearing his son address him only as "Your Majesty" and abandoning the title of "Father," felt his composure shatter. He wanted to explain, but the words failed him. He could only cry out his son's name in agony, as if that alone could summon back the obedient child he once knew.

But at this cry, full of pain and lingering affection, Li Chengqian bristled like a cornered beast. He stiffened his neck and roared back, "I ask Your Majesty to address me as the Crown Prince!"

Li Chengqian had dropped the pretense. He had used the title "Your Majesty" to mock the impending shift in succession, but now, he declared his ambition in its entirety. No matter what the Emperor thought, no matter what he did, no matter how much he favored Prince Wei or suppressed the Eastern Palace—he, Li Chengqian, was the rightful Crown Prince of the Great Tang!

In that moment, Li Shimin finally understood. Tonight, Li Chengqian had risked everything—his life, his father’s favor, and the safety of the throne—just to tell this high and mighty sovereign one thing: he, Li Chengqian, was determined to claim the throne beneath him.

Li Shimin realized that if he did not speak his true heart clearly to his son now, they would drift into an abyss from which there was no return. Resolving himself, Li Shimin reached out and gently touched the wound on Li Chengqian’s forehead. "Chengqian... it seems we are a father who does not know his son, and a son who does not know his father..."