Chapter 24

Captured

After Li Jiancheng explained in detail the purpose of Xia Houduan’s visit, he said, “Now you understand why Father, despite loving the people like his own children and governing with integrity, would still be targeted for an assassination, right?”

Li Shimin struggled to process the information and, with a hoarse voice, asked, “Does the Emperor really intend to kill all the Li family members just over a song?”

“Isn’t that obvious?” Li Jiancheng replied. “Otherwise, why would Father be attacked by assassins right after General Li’s death?” He added with irritation, “The Emperor’s intent to eliminate the Li family is already clear, yet Father still clings to family bonds and the relationship between ruler and subject, delaying his response.”

“This is a significant matter. Once the arrow is released, there’s no turning back,” Li Shimin said. “Father has many lives depending on him, so it’s only natural that he would be cautious before making a decision.”

Li Jiancheng shook his head. “Father thinks too much and is too cautious. The truth is, do we even have a second option?” He then stared intently at Li Shimin. “Second brother, you don’t also think it’s inappropriate to raise an army, do you?”

Li Shimin shook his head. “It’s not that. I just feel that our current strength is still not enough to challenge the imperial court. If we truly decide to raise an army, we need to recruit more soldiers and build up our forces, but the Emperor won’t give us much time.”

Li Jiancheng clenched his fists and gritted his teeth. “No matter what, we have to take a chance. Even if I die on the battlefield, I won’t regret it!”

Li Shimin immediately responded, “I’ll protect you, elder brother. Anyone who tries to kill you will have to kill me first!” The two brothers, close in age, had grown up together and shared a strong bond.

Li Jiancheng replied, “Nonsense. If anyone is to protect anyone, it should be me protecting you, or else we’ll just be a laughingstock.”

Li Shimin smiled. “It doesn’t matter who protects whom. In any case, we brothers are united in heart, no matter what.”

“That’s true,” Li Jiancheng agreed. “But right now, the most urgent matter is those two assassins. I hope your plan works so we don’t have to deal with second mother’s reproach.” He rubbed his nose tiredly. Since the assassination incident, he hadn’t slept a wink.

Li Shimin heard the crowing of a rooster in the distance. “It’s already dawn. They probably won’t come out now. Elder brother, you’ve been working hard these past few days. Go back and rest for a while, so you’ll have energy later.”

Li Jiancheng nodded. “Alright, you should also get some rest.”

For Yin Yi and Shen Mo Ping, the changing of day and night made no difference as they were locked in a windowless, lightless dungeon.

Shen Mo Ping, still dressed, lay on the ground, dozing off. He had barely fallen asleep when hunger woke him up. He licked his dry lips and quietly felt Yin Yi’s forehead to check her temperature. Thankfully, she wasn’t burning anymore, and it seemed she would be fine. However, they had only had water and medicine for the past two or three days, with nothing else to eat. He could still bear it, but his master was injured and in recovery—this was the time she needed nourishment the most.

Sighing, he cursed his carelessness. If he had brought food from the kitchen earlier, they could’ve at least gotten through a few more days. The hunger was gnawing at him now, making it hard to focus as his stomach growled like a cat scratching inside. He tossed and turned, unable to sleep.

After enduring the hunger for another day, seeing Yin Yi’s face grow paler and her cheeks hollow, Shen Mo Ping decided to take another risk.

One night, while Yin Yi was asleep, he quietly opened the iron door to check. There was still a hint of daylight coming through the tunnel. He waited until the last trace of sunlight disappeared before cautiously sneaking out.

The situation around the governor’s mansion was unchanged, with guards patrolling as usual. He hid himself and carefully approached the kitchen. There were no guards outside, but the kitchen light was still on. After waiting a while, he saw the light go out, and a cook wiped her hands and walked out.

When the coast was clear, Shen Mo Ping hurried into the kitchen. He swiftly entered and closed the door behind him. By the moonlight streaming through the window paper, he saw leftover dishes and a plate of buns on the stove.

For someone who had been starving for days, these were irresistibly tempting. Shen Mo Ping’s eyes lit up as he reached for the buns. However, before he could touch them, someone suddenly slammed him onto the stove. A cold, stern voice rang out: “This time, we’ve caught you!”

With those words, the lights around the kitchen were immediately relit. Shen Mo Ping was startled to find that three guards holding steel knives had appeared in the kitchen, along with one more behind him. That made a total of four.

Why... why was this happening?

One of the guards came forward and pressed a knife to his neck, coldly saying, “Get up, don’t try anything. This knife doesn’t have eyes.”

Shen Mo Ping dared not move. He slowly stood up as instructed. The guard behind him tied him up with a rope while saying, “Go report to the eldest young master. Tell him we’ve captured the assassin!”

As the rope was almost finished, the first guard withdrew his knife and coldly sneered at the panic-stricken Shen Mo Ping. “You really know how to hide, but in the end, we still caught you. Tell me, where are the accomplices of the assassin who attacked the governor?”

“I don’t know anything, I—” Shen Mo Ping’s voice faltered mid-sentence. His face was filled with fear, but suddenly, with a forceful jerk of his arms, he struggled violently. Although he didn’t know martial arts, he was naturally strong, and with one swift motion, he tore apart the rope that had just been tied around him. Before the guards could react, he had already sprinted toward the exit.

He quickly realized this was a trap. The people in the governor’s mansion had anticipated he would come to the kitchen, so they had set an ambush here. He had to escape now, while there weren’t too many people around. With the darkness making it easier to hide, this was his only chance. If he didn’t leave immediately, he would have no opportunity to get away.

“You little brat, where do you think you’re going?!” one of the guards shouted, his face turning pale with rage as he chased after Shen Mo Ping. If they let him escape again under their noses, given the eldest young master’s temper, they would be in serious trouble!

As soon as Shen Mo Ping ran out of the kitchen, he stopped, but not because he wanted to. It was because he had no choice. Just a few steps ahead, there were seven or eight people standing in his way, with none other than the second young master of the governor’s mansion, Li Shimin, at the front.

Seeing this, the guards quickly closed in on him, each grabbing an arm and tightly restraining him. They tied him up with several knots to ensure he couldn’t move, and only when they were certain he was fully secured did they release him. One of the guards knelt on one knee in front of Li Shimin, looking embarrassed. “We were careless, please forgive us, Second Young Master.”