Chapter 60: Between Heaven and Earth, All Things Belong to You Only When Bestowed by Me

Brilliant!
Truly, how utterly brilliant!
As Li Chengqian watched the entire grand hall erupt into weeping, he genuinely longed to cheer and applaud Li Yuan.
One had to admit that Li Yuan’s masterful performance had completely wrapped Emperor Li Er around his finger.

Although the bond between Emperor Li Er and Li Yuan had long grown thin—ever since that bowl of water in Li Yuan’s hands had gradually tilted toward the Crown Prince, Li Jiancheng—Li Yuan’s re-emergence into the events of the past, casting himself as the defeated party with sorrow and lamentation, directly struck the darkest recess deep within Emperor Li Er’s soul.
That was the fact that he had once entertained the thought of patricide to usurp the throne.
Compared to Li Yuan’s devotion to family, he, Li Shimin, had become entirely a creature of politics.
Even after the Xuanwumen Incident, he and Li Yuan still maintained a superficial harmony, but both knew in their hearts that this was merely to safeguard the fundamental interests of the Tang imperial house.
In other words, it was a political necessity.
Before the brutal face of power struggles, familial affection was actually pale and fragile. The lofty human principles known as "a benevolent father and filial sons" would ultimately become utterly insignificant.
This was how politics strangled familial bonds.
And Li Yuan’s words.
Precisely reminded Li Shimin that the nation and the family could, in fact, both be preserved.
There was no absolute need to turn against each other like sworn enemies.
Since you have already secured the throne, obtained what you desired, why continue to entangle yourself in the past?
Wouldn't it be wonderful for a family to live happily together?

"Father..."
After a long silence, Li Shimin ceased his weeping, bowed toward Li Yuan, and said, "I know I was wrong. Back then, I could not understand you, Father. Now, at last, I understand how difficult those years were for you!"
"In truth, the affair at Xuanwumen—not only can Father never forget it, neither can I."
"For these past six months and more, there has not been a single day I could forget it."
"That scene plays over and over again in my dreams..."
At this, tears streamed down Li Shimin’s face once more.
Today, when he summoned the court assembly at the Taiji Hall, his original purpose was to suppress the rebellion, to overawe the enfeoffed princes and those restless veteran officials of the Wude era. He had never imagined it would evolve into a confrontation of a father and son baring their souls.
Every word Li Yuan uttered left him without a place to hide, burning with inner torment.
Especially when Li Yuan stated before all the court officials that he had lost both his country and his home.
That completely shattered Emperor Li Er’s psychological defenses.
What is a home?
Wei Zheng had said: a home is where one's parents reside.
Then could it be that the home of Emperor Li Er lacked parents?
Slaughtering his elder brother, murdering his younger brother, butchering his nephews, and violating his sister-in-law had already driven Emperor Li Er to walk a tightrope on the moral precipice of heresy, condemnation by thousands, and universal revulsion.
If he were to drive to his death an aging father who cared so deeply for his family.
Even if he governed the Great Tang into the greatest golden age in history, it would still be impossible to wash away his sins.

"Sob, sob, sob..."
Emperor Li Er wept bitterly.
Even in the presence of all civil and military officials, he wept without a shred of dignity.
He no longer dared to target Li Yuan, nor did he wish to do so ever again.
When he had previously targeted Li Yuan, Li Yuan had endured it all in silence, uttering not a single word.
He had assumed Li Yuan simply did not care about his provocations, and had thus escalated his pressure, determined to force Li Yuan to bow and admit his past mistakes.
Yet now.
Li Yuan’s actions demonstrated that he was not someone who would simply suffer in silence.
He, too, possessed a temper.
If pushed too far, he was capable of doing anything.

"Father, I have been remiss in my filial duties toward you of late, but I know my guilt and reproach myself deeply. I beg you to forgive me!" Li Shimin confessed with genuine emotion.
Li Yuan gazed at him deeply and sighed, "It is already a rare blessing that you and I, father and son, can open our hearts today and lay all matters bare."
With these words, he reached out to help Li Shimin to his feet, and continued, "During the time you have ruled as emperor, you have brought considerable turmoil to the nation. How do you intend to bring this current situation to a close?"
"This..."
Li Shimin hesitated for a moment, then ventured, "Those enfeoffed princes outside the city—were they not set in motion by Father...?"
"Are you suspecting me?"
Before Li Shimin could finish, Li Yuan cut him off sharply.
"Erlang, do not forget: everything you possess was given to you by me. If I wish to take it back, do you truly believe I am incapable of doing so?"
In truth, before Li Shimin launched the Xuanwumen Incident, Li Yuan had never truly been stripped of supreme authority.
In other words, Li Shimin’s launching of the Xuanwumen Incident was, in reality, a desperate gamble.
Although he won the gamble.
A certain risk still remained—namely, that Li Yuan was still alive.
If Li Yuan had genuinely wished to reclaim everything, he possessed the means to do so; he had simply chosen not to.
Therefore, upon hearing Li Yuan’s words, Li Shimin hastily explained, "Father has misunderstood. I harbored no such intent; I merely wished to ask Father to disband the troops outside the city!"
"Hmph!"
Li Yuan emitted a cold snort and said, "You are already the emperor now; must I still teach you how to be one?"
As he spoke, he prepared to order Du Caigan to disband the troops outside the city, when suddenly Yuchi Gong rushed frantically through the hall doors. "Reporting to Your Majesty! Those enfeoffed princes outside the city are instigated by the Retired Emperor..."
"Yuchi Jingde!"
Before Yuchi Gong’s report could fully leave his lips, Li Yuan’s voice rang out abruptly.
"Re—Retired Emperor..."
Yuchi Gong’s face froze in astonishment. Turning his gaze instinctively toward the source of the voice, he saw that the figure seated upon the imperial throne was not Li Shimin, but Li Yuan. A sudden, ominous premonition surged into his heart.
"Were you about to say that the enfeoffed princes outside the city have something to do with Us?" Li Yuan asked coldly.
Yuchi Gong’s throat instantly went dry, leaving him speechless.
Li Yuan narrowed his eyes further. "Do you remember the events of last year? You ran to Me carrying the severed heads of Jiancheng and Yuanji, claiming you were here to protect the sovereign! I have never forgotten your fine service!"
"I, I..."
Yuchi Gong opened his mouth, words failing him, and could not help casting a glance at Li Shimin.
He saw Li Shimin hesitate slightly, then turn to address Li Yuan, "Father, those matters are in the past. If you look at..."
"Some matters can be left in the past, but others cannot!"
With those words, Li Yuan immediately issued a command: "Men! Seize Yuchi Gong!"
"Father!"
Li Shimin’s expression darkened.
Li Yuan’s face turned hostile just as quickly: "Erlang, let Me remind you: of all things in heaven and earth, what I give you is yours; what I do not give you, you cannot seize even by force!"
Having spoken, he waved his hand grandly: "Men! Take him!"
Clatter, clatter!
A group of black-robed warriors surged into the grand hall in a rush.
Simultaneously, the imperial guards led by Yun Duan also charged into the hall.
The two factions instantly formed a standoff.
Though the imperial guards held the numerical advantage, in terms of imposing aura, those black-robed warriors were not inferior in the slightest.
"These men..."
Li Shimin stared wide-eyed, absolute disbelief written across his face.
Clearly, these individuals had caught him completely off guard.
He had no idea how they had managed to conceal themselves within the palace without his own network of informants detecting them.
Could this be the true foundation accumulated from nine years upon the throne?
Yet Li Yuan merely spoke with a deadpan expression, "I could allow you to command the empire's armies, and I could allow you to be emperor, but the death of my son—that account must be settled!"
Gasp!
The assembled officials erupted in uproar!
Has the inevitable moment finally arrived after all?!