Chapter 47: The Xuanwu Gate is Breached, Leaving Li Er Shocked!

Lizheng Palace.

Li Chengqian was kneeling miserably in front of Empress Zhangsun, listening to her reprimands.

Meanwhile, Zhangsun Chong and Zhangsun Tingting stood to the side, watching the mother and son with curious expressions.

The moment of sorrow that should have belonged to them had unexpectedly turned into a moment of amusement.

True to form, people's joy is often built upon the suffering of others.

At this moment, Li Chengqian was still completely unaware that Zhangsun Anyu had altered his blueprint, taking it upon himself to march into the Taiji Palace with the thunder bombs.

His original plan relied on an informational gap to turn the utterly impossible into the realm of possibility.

Otherwise, judging by the capabilities of Yuan Hongshan, Liu Deyu, Zhangsun Anyu, and Li Xiaochang, how could they ever hope to match the fierce generals under Li Shimin's command?

Just imagine: without Li Chengqian's plan, could Zhangsun Anyu have persuaded the Prince of Changle to rebel?

Without the Prince of Changle stirring up Li Shimin's anxieties, without the cry of 'slaying Zhangsun Wuji to purge the imperial court' to whip the people of Chang'an into a panic, and without Li Xiaochang massing troops at the capital to manipulate the emotions of all civil and military officials as well as the imperial princes, could the plan have proceeded so smoothly?

Therefore, it was Li Chengqian's blueprint that tipped them off, sparking the interlocking chain of rebellion, the well-laid premature ambushes, the unexpected use of thunder bombs, and the surprise attack that caught Li Shimin's fierce generals completely off guard.

Yet such a risky trick could only be pulled off once. To attempt it again might cause the entire situation to spin out of control.

Zhangsun Anyu failed to grasp the deeper significance, mistakenly believing he truly had the aid of a mastermind and could ascend to greater heights.

Alas, he completely overestimated his own abilities.

Regardless, neither Emperor Gaozu nor Li Chengqian had anticipated that reality would move faster than their plans.

Right now, they were still waiting for a reaction from Li Shimin's side.

However, looking at Li Chengqian's current predicament, he would likely suffer a severe beating from Empress Zhangsun long before any reaction from Li Shimin arrived.

Empress Zhangsun, her face contorted with anger, barked, "Xiangling! Bring me the ruler!"

"Ah?"

Startled, Li Chengqian quickly pleaded, "Mother, please don't! Let's talk this through. I'll make a full confession, alright?"

"Humph! Knowing this now, why did you lie just a moment ago?"

"Wasn't I just afraid of worrying you?"

"Afraid of worrying me, yet you still dared to sneak out of the palace?"

"I..."

Li Chengqian was left speechless, entirely at a loss for words.

Women of any era were utterly unreasonable when angry.

"Alright, Your Majesty, you've scolded him long enough. The children are watching. Please calm your anger. Since Chengqian is willing to confess honestly, why vent your spleen on a child?" Lady Meng stepped forward once more to comfort the Empress.

Empress Zhangsun glanced at her, then looked at Zhangsun Chong and his sister, frowning as she asked, "Then tell me, why did you sneak out of the palace?"

Hearing this, Li Chengqian put on a dejected expression and said, "Actually, it's because Uncle didn't keep the promise he made to me, so I had to find a way to go out..."

"A promise your uncle made to you?"

Empress Zhangsun paused slightly, then turned her head to look at Lady Meng.

Lady Meng was equally startled. "What promise did Wuji make to you?"

"Reporting to Aunt, Uncle said he would let Cousin Chong and the others come into the palace to accompany me. But several months have passed, and Cousin Chong still hasn't shown up. I couldn't help wondering just how fond of studying Cousin Chong and the others could be, that they couldn't spare a single moment in months. Are they trying to pass the imperial examinations as top scholars?" Li Chengqian said helplessly, "That's why I secretly sneaked out of the palace to find out for myself..."

"Uh..."

Zhangsun Chong's mouth twitched, and he couldn't help glancing over at Zhangsun Tingting.

Zhangsun Tingting shot him an exasperated glare and asked suspiciously, "Why would my father promise you that you could have us come into the palace to keep you company?"

"Sigh, I originally didn't want to speak of it, but since Cousin has asked, naturally I won't hide it. It happened like this..."

Before long, Li Chengqian sighed as he recounted his nightmare to Zhangsun Tingting, Empress Zhangsun, and the others.

Hearing this, the eyes of the Empress and the others grew red, and they stepped forward to help Li Chengqian to his feet.

Each of them was filled with deep remorse.

"My child Chengqian, it was Mother who wronged you. Why didn't you mention this earlier?"

"Indeed, Chengqian, you should have told your Aunt about this. As for your uncle... sigh! It's all his fault! You've suffered, my poor nephew!"

"It's alright, Mother. I don't dream of my deceased elder brothers anymore..."

With that, he turned to Lady Meng and consoled her, "Aunt, please don't blame Uncle. I know he has been very busy helping my Father govern the realm..."

"Sigh, my good nephew!"

Lady Meng pulled Li Chengqian into a tight embrace, loving him even more than her own children.

This left Zhangsun Chong and Zhangsun Tingting utterly dumbfounded.

What on earth was happening here?

Weren't they just about to beat him? How had it suddenly transformed into a picture of maternal tenderness and filial piety?

"Phew... That was close..."

Li Chengqian let out a long inward breath, thinking to himself that he had somehow managed to bluff his way through.

Next, he just had to wait for the reaction from Emperor Er's side.

Meanwhile, in the Taiji Palace, within the Taiji Hall.

Li Shimin had finished his breakfast and was conversing with great interest with his civil and military officials as well as the imperial princes regarding the concept of "purging the imperial court of corrupt officials."

"I presume all of you are aware that purging the imperial court is precisely what Emperor Jing of Han did—the very emperor who brought about the Reign of Wen and Jing. No matter how many remarkable deeds he accomplished, killing Chao Cuo meant abandoning the ultimate righteousness!"

"Consequently, his actions have remained a source of regret for later generations!"

With those words, he cast a subtle glance at Pei Ji before continuing, "The Prince of Yi'an and his faction are rebelling under the banner of 'purging the court,' hoping that I will act the part of Emperor Jing of Han!"

"Do you believe I can do such a thing?"

"This..."

The assembly exchanged glances, looking at one another in dismay.

Li Shimin slowly reined in his expression, speaking with righteousness and sternness, "I believe that abandoning ultimate righteousness is a form of betrayal!"

"Some might say, how could a ruler of a state betray himself?"

"Then let me tell you, casting aside righteousness and sacrificing the lives of loyal subjects is betrayal!"

An uproar swept through the hall!

Especially the former officials of the Prince of Qin's Mansion and the Tiance Mansion; upon hearing these words from Li Shimin, they were moved beyond measure.

Yet Li Shimin had not finished.

In a deep, resonant voice, he went on, "Subjects assist the sovereign in governing the realm, and the sovereign and his subjects may be considered as one entity."

"Together, they bear responsibility toward morality, toward the realm, and toward the common people, placing mutual trust in one another. This is a moral bond."

"Therefore, to discard this moral bond is betrayal!"

"And I will never betray my subjects, nor shall I ever act as Emperor Jing of Han!"

At these words, the atmosphere throughout the grand hall surged to a fever pitch.

What defines an enlightened sovereign?

Was this not the very definition?

Only an enlightened monarch was worthy of loyal subjects willingly laying down their lives!

Clearly, taking advantage of this morning court session, Li Shimin had once again won the hearts of a vast array of loyalists, leaving all the officials filled with admiration as they chorused in unison, "Your Majesty is truly wise!"

"Hahaha!"

Li Shimin threw back his head and laughed heartily.

At that exact moment, Wushe, his face drained of color, hurried forward with hurried, mincing steps. Leaning close, he whispered, "Your Majesty, the Xuanwu Gate has been breached by rebels including Liu Deyu and Yuan Hongshan! General Qin and General Chang have both been captured alive by them!"

"What!?"

Li Shimin's laughter cut off abruptly, and he was so startled that he leaped straight up from the imperial throne.

Seeing this, the officials looked toward him in utter astonishment.

What on earth had happened to make the Emperor lose his composure to such a degree?!