Chapter 25: Li Shimin Points His Riding Crop at Li Tai

Li Tai walked in, arrived at the Taiji Palace, and hurriedly knelt down. "Your son, Li Tai, pays his respects to Father."

"Qingque, rise," Li Shimin said, rubbing his eyes.

"Thank you, Father." Li Tai felt a bit uneasy; in fact, he had already sensed something amiss from Li Shimin's gaze. He knew that this summons from Li Shimin was certainly not for anything good.

"Qingque, can you tell Father the truth?" Li Shimin suddenly opened his eyes wide and stared at him.

"Father, please speak," Li Tai said. Despite feeling a trace of nervousness, he raised his head and looked at Li Shimin with a serious expression.

"Things have not been peaceful in the Crown Prince's residence lately. Are you aware of this?" Li Shimin's voice grew louder, taking on a tone of reprimand by the end.

Li Tai was no fool; he understood the subtext behind his father's words. In other words, Li Shimin had obtained information from somewhere, and the things Li Tai had done were now exposed. However, having been through many battles and having committed many misdeeds, Li Tai was not easily intimidated.

"Father, why do you say that?" Li Tai appeared only slightly surprised, slowly lifting his head with a look of grievance.

"Qingque, if you still acknowledge me as your father and believe I have treated you well, then just tell the truth." Li Shimin's mouth twitched as he offered an unnatural smile—a smile that looked even more painful than weeping.

Li Tai felt as if needles were pricking his back. He realized with a jolt that his father was already suspicious of him. Was it possible that his father held concrete evidence, or was this merely a test? Questions flashed through his mind, leaving him deeply troubled. But as he glanced at Li Shimin’s profile, he saw the fury etched upon it and realized that Li Shimin had likely uncovered all his illicit schemes. This was a fatal blow to Li Tai. Yet, he decided to persist; if his father were only bluffing, he would lose everything by confessing.

Gritting his teeth, Li Tai looked up. "Father, I truly do not know what you mean. Please speak plainly."

"Very well. I shall make it clear to you. What is the situation with the spies in the Crown Prince's residence, and who was responsible for the assassination attempt on the Crown Prince?" Li Shimin’s face darkened. He had intended to give Qingque a chance, but seeing his son fail to cherish it, he wondered what exactly was going through his mind.

Li Tai’s heart turned cold. "Does the Emperor already know everything?" He thought to himself, *This isn't logical. No matter what, the final outcome must be me, Li Tai, becoming the Crown Prince. Li Chengqian is a cripple, and his abilities are far inferior to mine. Though I am the fourth-born, in terms of capability, I am the rightful heir.*

He gritted his teeth again, deciding to deny everything until the end. "Father, I do not know. I have been at the Wude Hall; how could I know about affairs in the Crown Prince's residence?"

"Smash!" Li Shimin, enraged, grabbed a tea cup from the table and hurled it to the ground. It shattered instantly upon the stone floor.

"You truly refuse to shed tears until you see the coffin! Do you really think I would have summoned you here without evidence? You have betrayed my trust!" Li Shimin’s lips trembled, and the veins on his forehead pulsed. His fury had been ignited. He struggled to contain himself, his hands shaking as he reached toward his robes, nearly pulling out the evidence. Ultimately, he restrained himself and turned away, glaring at Li Tai. He wanted to see just how cold-hearted this son truly was.

He had given so many hints, yet Li Tai still refused to admit anything. How strong must a person’s inner resolve be to maintain such composure? Except for himself, he had never seen anyone like this. Even during the Alliance at Wei River, when the Khan’s troops were at the gates, he had only been putting on a brave face. Li Shimin was a man who preferred to fight prepared battles, and this lack of preparation left him hesitant. He never expected to see his own son orchestrating such a drama before his eyes. It was truly an eye-opener; he doubted he could have done the same, yet his son had managed it.

This filled Li Shimin with both rage and a grudging sense of awe. He observed Li Tai from the corner of his eye; the young man’s gaze flickered only for a moment before returning to its usual calm. Li Shimin was moved by this; he had to admire such a powerful spirit.

"Father, I... I truly did not do it, though I have heard rumors..." Li Tai decided to fight to the bitter end. Even now, he refused to acknowledge his faults, waiting for Li Shimin to slap the evidence down in front of him.

Li Tai’s actions chilled Li Shimin to the bone. He finally understood that his sons’ thirst for power far exceeded his own. Especially Li Tai—his performance left Li Shimin deeply disappointed.

"Look at this." Li Shimin could no longer bear it. He pulled the confessions of the third assassin and the mole, Wei Chi Huaiying, from behind the desk and slammed them down.

"Father, what is this?" Li Tai was shocked, but the moment he saw the letters, he knew they were evidence.

"Read them and see!" Li Shimin closed his eyes, unwilling to listen to any more of Li Tai’s excuses.

Li Tai picked them up with trembling hands. As he read, his head swam. These were indeed accusations against him, complete with signatures and thumbprints. He recognized the names—the assassin, "Number Three," was one of six brothers; the others were either dead or missing. He hadn't expected Li Chengqian to have captured this one. And the assassin "Gou Hun," who had betrayed him... it was all too much. His world was crumbling.

"Father... I..." Li Tai stammered.

"Is this how you treat your father? I have warned you repeatedly, yet you refuse to change." Li Shimin picked up a riding crop from a nearby weapon rack—the very same one he had once used on Li Chengqian.

"Father..." Li Tai’s eyes widened in horror.

"You unfilial son, will you admit your guilt or not?" Li Shimin was shaking with rage.

"Father, these are all malicious slanders! I truly..."

"Enough!" Li Shimin cut him off. "You are truly incorrigible. Since that is the case, I will let you see the people you most want to see." He clapped his hands, and guards brought in the two men.

Li Tai saw Number Three and Wei Chi Huaiying. His world collapsed.

"Your Highness, do you still recognize us?" Wei Chi Huaiying asked with a smirk.

"I don't know you!" Li Tai feigned ignorance.

"Surely Your Highness recognizes this?" Wei Chi Huaiying pulled a jade pendant from his robe. "This belongs to the Prince of Wei’s residence. You gave it to me yourself, promising a great reward once the deed was done. But we waited until our flowers withered, and the reward never came."

"You..." Li Tai was speechless.

"Your Highness, do not offer useless resistance. The Emperor knows everything," Wei Chi Huaiying urged.

"Unfilial son, do you still deny it?" Li Shimin raised the riding crop.

"Father, I was wrong..." Li Tai collapsed, weeping.

"Dismissed," Li Shimin ordered. The guards led the men away, leaving father and son alone.

"Unfilial son, are you trying to kill me?" Li Shimin brought the crop down hard across Li Tai’s back.

"Ah!" A piercing wail escaped Li Tai.

"You have the nerve to cry out in pain? The Crown Prince is your own brother! How could you do this to him?" Li Shimin raised the crop again.

"Father, the Crown Prince Jiancheng and Li Yuanji were also your own brothers! How could you do what you did to them?" Li Tai, driven to desperation, lashed out without thinking.

This hit a raw nerve. Li Shimin’s rage reached its peak. He had been forced to act during the Xuanwu Gate Incident because Jiancheng had been planning his death. But the situation now was different; Chengqian’s position was merely slightly shaken, yet Li Tai had acted with such ruthless haste.

"Qingque, how dare you mention the late Crown Prince! He plotted to kill me, but when has Chengqian ever plotted against you?" Li Shimin struck him again.

"Beat me to death, then! Just like you shot the Crown Prince to death!" Li Tai shouted.

This stripped away all of Li Shimin's remaining dignity. He felt as if his face were being ground into the dust. "Qingque..." Li Shimin trembled, raising his sword this time.

"If you want to kill me, do it! I will not fight back!" Li Tai stared defiantly.

Li Shimin raised his sword three times, but he could not bring himself to strike. He was a dragon, and a dragon’s love for its kin is profound. He threw the sword to the ground and slumped, exhausted.

"Are you trying to kill me?" Li Shimin gasped, his head throbbing.

"Father, I am only telling the truth," Li Tai maintained his defiant posture.

Li Shimin stood up slowly, looking at his son with weary eyes. "Empress Zhangsun, look at the son you bore... he is determined to oppose me."

"Father, Mother truly loved me. Do you?"

"You..." Li Shimin was speechless. He waved his hand dismissively. "I have only one thing to say: look to your own future."

"Father, I take my leave." Li Tai stood up and walked out without looking back.

Li Shimin watched him go, murmuring to himself, "Is this how it must be? Father, I finally understand your pain now. Your grandsons are truly unfilial. Father, you must have felt this same helplessness, didn't you?"

He sat back on the dragon throne, picked up his tea, and poured it over his own head. "If that is how it is, then do not blame your father for what comes next."