Chapter 46: Li Chengqian Faints

Outside the Taiji Palace, two steam engines stood prominently.

At this moment, Li Tai and Li Chenqian had received the imperial decree to demonstrate their respective steam engines. Ministers, along with numerous palace maids and eunuchs, waited anxiously on the sidelines, preparing to watch the spectacle.

Li Tai was extremely nervous. He had no grasp of how a steam engine actually worked.

His half-baked, stolen knowledge had not yet been tested in practice. This was a rare opportunity, yet it was also the moment that would decide his fate.

"Start the steam engine!" Li Tai waved his hand grandly, deciding to make the first move.

Li Tai could barely contain his impatience. He was waiting to see a good show, one that was of utmost importance to his future.

His guards hurriedly approached the steam engine, attempting to operate it with their hastily learned skills.

Surprisingly, Li Tai had quite a few capable men under his command, and they soon got the firewood to burn.

As the wood burned, it took only a short while before Li Tai's steam engine sputtered to life under the guards' operation.

The unique chugging sound of the steam engine echoed outside the Taiji Palace.

"Qingque, you've tinkered quite well. I am waiting to see your steam engine spin yarn."

"Yes, Imperial Father, rest assured." Li Tai hurriedly bowed in acknowledgment, then turned and shouted fiercely at the guards operating the machine, "Did you not hear His Majesty? Hurry up and add more firewood! Don't ruin this Prince's grand enterprise!"

"Yes, Your Highness the Prince of Wei." The guards hastily complied.

In truth, the guards were trying their hardest, but their familiarity with operating the steam engine was lacking.

Compared to the professionals on Li Chenqian's side, they lagged far behind and were simply no match.

This outcome was entirely within Li Chenqian's expectations.

After puttering around for nearly half an hour, Li Tai's steam engine merely hissed and billowed hot air, utterly failing to drive the spinning wheel.

Sweat began to bead on Li Tai's forehead. Glaring at the good-for-nothings before him, a surge of anger welled up inside him. He had never imagined they would bungle the operation of the steam engine, let alone humiliate him in public.

In contrast, Li Chenqian's steam engine was running smoothly, already driving the spinning wheel to spin yarn at a rapid pace.

At Emperor Li Shimin's behest, the steam-powered spinning was conducted almost simultaneously with manual labor.

Li Shimin had specifically summoned four hundred master spinners, and the moment the steam engine started the spinning wheels, the masters had swung into action.

Before they knew it, half an hour had passed, but Li Tai's steam engine still could not properly drive the spinning wheel, leaving him utterly depressed.

So anxious that he was drenched in sweat, Li Tai even stepped up to direct the guards personally, but to no avail—it produced no effect whatsoever.

Li Tai was completely baffled. It was clearly the same steam engine design as Li Chenqian's; why was his running smoothly while his own produced nothing but noise for half an hour without turning the spinning wheel?

Seething with anger, Li Tai vented his frustration on the guards, "What are you good for? Do you know what kind of occasion this is? A bunch of disgraceful fools!"

Li Chenqian remained silent, but suddenly fixed his gaze on Li Tai's machine and let out a sharp cry, "Qingque! Quickly have them put out the fire, or the consequences will be unimaginable!"

"Your Royal Highness the Crown Prince, what do you mean by this? Seeing that I also have a steam engine, are you feeling jealous?" Li Tai instantly took offense, glaring fiercely.

Li Tai was truly at his wits' end. He couldn't even get his steam engine to work, and instead of helping, Li Chenqian had come over to pour cold water on him.

Even if they were rivals, one simply did not behave this way.

Li Shimin was also taken aback. He darkened his face, looked at Li Chenqian, and asked in a deep voice, "Chenqian, what is going on?"

"Reporting to Imperial Father," Li Chenqian turned hastily to Li Shimin, his eyes filled with such panic that he was practically on the verge of tears. "Imperial Father, Qingque's steam engine is about to explode! In less than the time it takes to burn half a stick of incense, the boiler will definitely burst."

"What?" Li Shimin was deeply shocked. The mention of a boiler explosion instantly gave him a headache. "Is what you're saying true?"

"Yes, Imperial Father, it is absolute truth! Your son has no reason to resort to such tricks just to win a competition. If Qingque refuses to accept defeat, Your son would rather concede." Li Chenqian bowed urgently.

"What? Your Highness the Crown Prince, you are deliberately humiliating me!" Li Tai's face turned ashen with rage. He glared sideways, pointing a trembling finger at Li Chenqian, consumed by fury.

"Qingque, there really is no time left! Make them stop immediately!" Li Chenqian cried out in alarm.

"You are just mongering fear because you're jealous that I've also built a steam engine!"

"Qingque, stop it now! If the boiler truly bursts, the consequences will be unthinkable. Everyone within a radius of fifty meters outside the Taiji Palace will be blown to pieces!"

"You just can't bear to see me do well! You're afraid my building a steam engine will steal your thunder, aren't you?"

Hearing this, Li Chenqian turned to look at his own steam engine and mentally estimated the distance—it was still within a safe zone.

Fortunately, Li Chenqian had made thorough preparations beforehand and kept his distance far away from Li Tai's machine.

Li Chenqian dropped to his knees before Li Shimin. "Imperial Father, issue the decree quickly! There truly is no time left. There's not even half a stick of incense's time remaining. If it bursts, many people will die, and the fallout will be catastrophic!"

"This..." Li Shimin hesitated, glancing at Li Tai. "Qingque, tell your guards to put out the firewood first. Your elder brother understands steam engines better than you do. Listen to him, you won't go wrong."

"Imperial Father, he is merely spreading panic! Your son intends to settle this rivalry..." Qingque wanted to continue.

Suddenly, Li Chenqian roared at the top of his lungs, "Scatter! Danger!"

Without waiting, Li Chenqian lunged forward, grabbed Qingque by the arm, and began sprinting frantically toward the interior of the Taiji Palace.

Li Tai was still unyielding and refused to cooperate.

"Quick! Drag the Prince of Wei inside!" Li Chenqian shouted at the guards nearby, then limped forward as fast as he could toward the palace gates.

Several guards finally grasped the urgency in Li Chenqian's voice, grabbed Li Tai, and bolted wildly toward the Taiji Palace.

Just as Li Tai, Li Chenqian, and the others crossed the threshold of the Taiji Palace gate, a deafening explosion erupted behind them.

"Get down! Everyone hit the deck, quickly!"

Li Chenqian shouted at the top of his lungs, hurling himself flat onto the ground and shielding Li Tai beneath him.

Li Shimin was terrified. Looking back, he saw that Li Tai's steam engine had been blasted into countless flying fragments by the boiler explosion.

"Your Majesty, this is terrible! His Royal Highness the Crown Prince has passed out..."

Li Shimin's guards rushed over, their expressions fraught with panic.

Disregarding everything else, Li Shimin bolted down from his seat.

He saw that Li Chenqian had been struck by flying shrapnel from the steam engine, while Li Tai had only suffered minor scratches and abrasions thanks to Li Chenqian's protection.

"Chenqian, you... how are you?" Li Shimin scooped Li Chenqian up in his arms. "Quick... summon the imperial physicians!"

Li Shimin was completely flustered, caught entirely off guard. He had never expected Li Chenqian's calculations to be so precise. More importantly, at the very last moment, Li Chenqian had only thought of Qingque's safety, completely disregarding his own life.

Hot tears streamed down Li Shimin's weathered face. He pointed a trembling finger at Qingque, who had staggered to his feet in a daze, and roared, "Qingque, you... look at the fine mess you've made! If anything happens to your elder brother... I'll flay you alive!"

Li Shimin was at a loss for words, his fury toward Li Tai having reached its absolute peak.

He had never imagined that today, Li Chenqian would prove to be far more courageous than he was.

Initially, he had assumed Li Chenqian was merely speaking lightly, perhaps just bickering or quarreling with Li Tai out of pride.

He had never dreamed that, knowing full well the immense danger, Li Chenqian would step forward and use his own body to shield his younger brother Qingque.

"Imperial Father... Your son... Your son didn't mean to..." Li Tai's face turned pale with terror.

He had grown up never having laid eyes on a steam engine before, and even this one had been acquired through underhanded means.

"Get out of my sight!" Furious beyond measure, Li Shimin turned to the guards beside him and bellowed, "Have the physicians arrived yet?"

"Reporting to Your Majesty, the imperial physicians are almost here." The guards were pale with fright.

Having served Li Shimin for so many years, they had never seen the Emperor fly into such a rage; today was the first time.

At that moment, they deeply understood the fierce paternal love Li Shimin held for his sons, and they witnessed another side of him.

Taizong, the Heavenly Khagan, possessed not only an iron-fisted, ruthless side, but also a deeply tender one, usually kept hidden beneath the surface. Now that his crown prince, Li Chenqian, was injured, it had directly triggered the most vulnerable part of his heart.

"Urge them faster! If any mishap befalls Chenqian, I will have all your entire clans buried with him!" Li Shimin roared, his voice trembling.

The civil and military officials fell into absolute panic. None of them had ever witnessed Li Shimin throw such a terrifying temper.

Only then did they truly understand the heavy weight Li Chenqian held in the heart of the Heavenly Khagan.

"Your Majesty, catch your breath. The imperial physicians are arriving now," Changsun Wuji hurried forward, stepping in to help Li Shimin support Li Chenqian.

As Li Chenqian's uncle, Changsun Wuji naturally felt it was his unshirkable duty to step forward and care for him!

褚遂良 (Chu Suiliang) and others also rushed over, crowding around Li Shimin in a frantic flurry of activity.

The Crown Prince was the heir apparent of the Great Tang Empire, tied directly to the future of the realm.

They were well aware of the stakes, and many military generals hurried over as well.

At that very moment, a booming voice rang out, "Your Majesty! Your old servant has hauled the physician over on his back!"

Hearing the voice, Li Shimin instantly recognized it as belonging to his loyal general, Yuchi Gong.

Sure enough, looking up, Li Shimin saw Yuchi Gong depositing the panting physician onto the ground while clutching the medical box in his hand.

"General Yuchi, it had to be you..." Overjoyed in his distress, Li Shimin waved urgently. "Come quickly! See what is wrong with Chenqian."

The physician did not dare to delay, scrambling forward immediately.

Yuchi Gong, feeling the physician was moving far too slowly, had actually scooped the man up under his arm and sprinted all the way to Li Chenqian's side.

Struggling to steady his racing heart, the physician immediately began examining Li Chenqian.

Everyone present held their breath, their hearts suspended in their throats.

Especially Yang Jiguan and Gouhun; tears welled in their eyes as they huddled around Li Chenqian, completely at a loss.

"Treat the Crown Prince properly! If any harm comes to him, I will execute your entire clan down to the ninth degree..." Li Shimin panted heavily, unleashing a fierce roar at the physician.