Chapter Twenty-Three: Only Evidence Is the Trump Card

Inside the Taiji Palace, it was not just Li Shimin who was present; several princes had also arrived. Among them were the Prince of Wei, Li Tai, and the Prince of Jin, Li Zhi, along with court officials Chu Suiliang and Zhangsun Wuji.

At a single glance, Li Chengqian instantly understood that this was a long-planned conspiracy. With so many people inciting His Majesty, the situation appeared extremely unfavorable for him. However, Li Chengqian was not afraid. This was not because his steam engine was nearing completion—that was the least of his concerns, and he did not even consider the steam engine to be his trump card at this moment.

Li Chengqian had already gathered solid evidence and, unbeknownst to others, had purged the cancerous elements within the Crown Prince's residence. These actions had not yet alerted Li Tai or Li Shimin. Li Chengqian’s methods for handling such affairs were impeccable; at the very least, dealing with Li Tai and his cohorts posed no significant pressure. Li Tai was bouncing around with glee, but in reality, he was constantly flirting with death, testing boundaries, and inviting disaster. It would not be long before Li Tai’s downfall became a pathetic sight.

"Your son pays his respects to Father," Li Chengqian said, bowing as he entered the palace.

"Chengqian... come, rise," Li Shimin replied, appearing quite composed.

"Thank you, Father." Li Chengqian rose slowly, lifted his head, and looked at Li Shimin. Li Shimin met his gaze, and they exchanged a nod.

Li Chengqian could not fathom what Li Shimin was planning by gathering so many ministers. "Sit, Chengqian. I have something to discuss with you," Li Shimin said with a cheerful smile. The atmosphere seemed to soften, losing its confrontational edge, as if a sudden, tranquil peace had descended.

"Yes, Father!" Li Chengqian replied, sitting down cautiously.

"Chengqian, someone has accused you of preparing to rebel. What is your take on this?" Li Shimin asked, his words striking directly at the most sensitive point of Li Chengqian’s position.

The room erupted in murmurs. Everyone understood the gravity of such words coming from the Emperor. All eyes turned to Li Chengqian. These individuals each had their own agendas—many of them nefarious, the kind meant to be kept in the shadows. They stared at him coldly, eager to witness a spectacle, hoping to see the Li family tear itself apart. This was, in fact, orchestrated by Li Shimin, who wanted the ministers to see his own "benevolence" in addressing such matters openly. Yet, his performance only convinced himself; his ministers were not buying it.

Li Tai, in particular, could barely contain his triumph. This was the moment he had long anticipated. He had been praying for Li Chengqian to make a fool of himself or, better yet, to actually commit treason, which would clear the path for his own ascent. He stared at Li Chengqian, waiting for the moment of victory.

Suddenly, a steady, powerful voice broke the silence. "Father, that is correct. I have indeed rebelled."

Li Chengqian looked straight at Li Shimin and said this with complete calm. The crowd was shocked. Treason was a grave matter, never to be spoken of lightly, yet Li Chengqian had not only brought it up but openly confessed. Li Shimin was equally stunned. With so many people watching, he was left in an impossible position, his face turning an unsightly shade of green.

"Chengqian, what do you mean? You really rebelled?" Li Shimin’s eyes widened, and he shot his son a frantic, warning look. To him, this was a family scandal that must not be exposed.

"Reporting to Father, I rebelled in a dream. I merely had a dream, and for that, I was brought here," Li Chengqian said with a mock-serious expression.

"Haha..." Li Tai burst into laughter. "Brother, you truly have a way with words. You were brought here because of a dream? Could it be that you haven't done anything worth feeling guilty about?"

"Prince of Wei, how do you know I’ve done something shameful? What exactly is this shameful act? Even I don't know—could it be that you are better informed than I am?" Li Chengqian retorted.

"Haha, Brother, your memory is failing. You don't remember what you just did?"

"What have I done? Are you suggesting that whenever I act within my own residence, you are standing right there watching me?"

"Father, look at Brother! He’s just mocking me, and I’ve done nothing to offend him..." Li Tai feigned injury.

"Prince of Wei, they say the elder brother is like a father. As your elder brother, I shall teach you a lesson today, so you understand what it means to be a brother, and what consequences follow when you slander me." Li Chengqian snatched a horse whip from a nearby guard and marched toward Li Tai.

"Chengqian... what are you doing?" Li Shimin shouted.

"Father, I am disciplining this ambitious, despicable wretch for you!" Li Chengqian turned back briefly, whip in hand, and continued toward Li Tai.

Li Tai, who had been sitting, panicked. He knew his brother was no pushover and had a volatile temper. He was genuinely afraid. "Father, save me!" he cried.

*Crack!* The whip lashed across Li Tai’s shoulder.

"Chengqian!" Li Shimin roared, furious. "Come back here!"

"Forgive me, Father, but I must punish Li Tai today!" Li Chengqian raised the whip again. Li Tai scrambled away, trembling. Having felt the sting of the whip, he knew its power and dared not remain a target.

"Chengqian, come back to me!" Li Shimin’s voice trembled. He was truly enraged; Li Chengqian’s behavior was a massive disappointment.

"Father, I am here," Li Chengqian said, dropping the whip and turning to face the Emperor.

"Kneel!" Li Shimin bellowed, veins bulging on his forehead.

"Father, what wrong have I committed?" Li Chengqian asked, kneeling but holding his head high.

"I called you here to confess, yet you target Qingque?" Li Shimin snatched a whip from a guard. Li Chengqian smiled bitterly to himself; he realized his father was trying to repeat old tactics. His earlier actions had clearly provoked the Emperor’s quick temper.

Li Chengqian, however, was no longer willing to endure this. "Father, you called me here to confess—to what? Who accused me? What exactly have I done?"

Li Shimin pointed a finger at him. "What have you done? Look at this!" He tossed a pile of memorials and a small box at him.

Li Chengqian opened them. As expected, they contained accusations about rumors he had supposedly spread within the palace. The box held a wooden doll used for witchcraft, inscribed with curses against the current Emperor—Li Shimin himself. This was something Li Shimin could never tolerate.

Li Chengqian suddenly laughed aloud. "Father, who provided these to you? Was it Qingque? How did he know these things were in my residence? Does he live in the Crown Prince’s residence, or am I not the master of my own home?"

"That..." Li Shimin hesitated. "Never mind who provided them. Just tell me, did you make these?"

"Father, these things are not what they seem." Li Chengqian picked up the doll, blew on it, and rubbed it with his hand. The surface wiped away, revealing it to be nothing more than a radish. He had arranged this beforehand, having a painter create a convincing illusion. "Father, look. This is not a wooden doll; where is the curse in that?"

Li Shimin froze and glared at Li Tai. Li Chengqian was right—the "doll" was a radish, and the entire accusation crumbled. Li Tai, clutching his shoulder, saw the Emperor’s fury and paled.

"Qingque, come here and look. What kind of 'wooden doll' is this?" Li Shimin demanded, his voice shaking. Li Tai realized he had been played and was caught in Li Chengqian’s trap. He had no words. This had indeed been his plan, fueled by his recent arrogance since moving into the Wude Hall, believing he was the only one worthy of the throne besides his father. He failed to realize that Li Shimin still favored Li Chengqian and was merely using him as a backup.

"Father, I..." Li Tai trembled. "Father, we have witnesses." He clapped his hands, but no one appeared. He was stunned.

"Qingque, what is going on?" Li Shimin, now beyond furious, turned to Zhangsun Wuji and Chu Suiliang. "My lords, please return for today. We shall end this here." Li Shimin felt a deep sense of shame. He wanted to keep his family scandals behind closed doors. He realized the severity of the situation; his sons were locked in a bitter, treacherous power struggle, and he had no easy way out.

The officials bowed and withdrew. Only Li Chengqian, Li Tai, Li Zhi, and Li Shimin remained.

"Think about it," Li Shimin said, his voice heavy. "This palace is the foundation of the Tang Empire. If you rot, the empire rots. You are all my sons, and you are all those I rely upon most." He struck his own forehead. "I have failed. I am truly a failure."

Li Shimin was deeply saddened. He had hoped to use this situation to have his ministers mediate, but the infighting between his sons had ruined everything.

"Father, you have not failed," Li Chengqian said, his tone softening. "In my eyes, you are the greatest emperor in history. And as for the surprise I have for you, you will see it soon."

Li Shimin, burdened by the loneliness of his position, found a glimmer of comfort in these words. "The greatest emperor in history?"

"Yes, Father. You are far superior to Qin Shi Huang. He merely established the feudal system, but you are the master who perfected it—unprecedented and peerless!"

Li Shimin listened, intrigued. "Good, Chengqian, I enjoy hearing this."

"Father, you flatter me," Li Chengqian replied modestly.

"By the way, Chengqian, how did you know that doll was a radish?"

"Father, it is simple. No matter how precious a canary seems, once its feathers are plucked, it is just a bird. People only think it beautiful because of its plumage." Li Chengqian glanced at Li Tai, who looked miserable. "This doll is the same. It looked like a wooden doll, but a radish is fundamentally different."

Li Shimin understood the metaphor. The "canary" was Li Tai, who had gathered scholars to compile the *Kuodi Zhi* and was riding on his past contributions, acting as if he were already the heir.

"Chengqian, I have wronged you. Can you prove your innocence?"

Li Chengqian knew the time was right. "Father, since I came here, I have been prepared. Please, look at this." He produced the evidence he had gathered over the past few days.

Li Shimin took the documents and read them. His face turned livid. The documents detailed the assassination attempts on Li Chengqian, naming Li Tai as the mastermind, and revealed the presence of Li Tai’s spies within the Crown Prince’s residence.

"Chengqian, is this all true?" Li Shimin asked, his eyes wide. He was devastated to realize that Li Tai, whom he had trusted, was a monster ready to assassinate his own brother. He felt a deep sense of betrayal and disgust toward Li Tai.

Li Shimin fell into deep contemplation, glancing at both his sons. Li Chengqian stood calm and composed, while Li Tai was sweating profusely, looking utterly terrified.

"Yes, Father. I have witnesses and physical evidence," Li Chengqian said. "If you require them, I can produce them at any moment."

"Sigh..." Li Shimin let out a long breath. "Bring them to the side hall. I will conduct the interrogation myself."

Li Chengqian handed over a note. "Father, the witnesses and evidence are listed here."

Li Shimin shouted for his guards and ordered them to bring the individuals listed to the side hall. A burden lifted from his chest; he now knew his heir was likely innocent.

"Return for now, and I will notify you when I have reached a verdict," Li Shimin said, sitting on his throne and rubbing his temples. He was exhausted.

"Yes, Father," they replied.

"Chengqian, stay," Li Shimin commanded. "I have more to discuss with you."

The other princes left, looking uneasy. Li Shimin hurried to the side hall, where the conspirators were held. Seeing the men—Li Tai’s key subordinates—Li Shimin’s jaw dropped. He realized the path ahead would be treacherous.

Inside the side hall, Li Shimin personally interrogated the assassin who had targeted Li Chengqian. The man confessed everything, confirming the evidence. Then, Li Shimin interrogated the spy Li Tai had planted. As the truth emerged, Li Shimin felt a profound sense of bewilderment and sorrow. His own sons were tearing each other apart right under his nose, and he was left to face the cold, painful reality of the chaos within his own house.