Chapter 84: Lingering Intent to Kill

After dismissing the servants, Li Jiancheng looked at Li Yuan sitting on the bed and asked anxiously, “Father, why did you urgently summon us? Has something happened?”

Li Yuan was about to nod when he noticed Li Shimin’s right shoulder and arm wrapped in bandages. His expression immediately grew tense. “What happened to you? Did the assassin strike again?”

“No, it’s an injury I sustained by accident. It’s nothing serious,” Li Shimin reassured him. Hearing this, Li Yuan relaxed and retrieved a letter from under his pillow, handing it to Li Jiancheng. “The Emperor has received my report and excused me from traveling to the capital. He has ordered me to rest and recover at home, and I will proceed to the capital after my injuries heal.”

Li Jiancheng unfolded the letter and confirmed that it matched what Li Yuan had said. He exclaimed joyfully, “It seems the Emperor does not suspect Father. This gives us time to prepare.”

Li Yuan shook his head. “Look at the two lines at the bottom.”

Following his words, Li Jiancheng shifted his gaze to the bottom of the letter. It read: Every time I think of your injuries, Lord Li, I cannot eat or sleep. I am deeply worried and concerned. Therefore, I have specially dispatched Wang Wei and Gao Yajun to visit you on my behalf.

Li Shimin also saw those two lines and frowned. “When did the Emperor become so concerned about Father?”

Li Yuan said nothing but retrieved another letter from his sleeve, handing it to the two brothers. “This is a secret letter just delivered by Consort Shunyi.”

The Consort Shunyi Li Yuan referred to was his niece, Lady Wang, who had entered the palace during the Daye era to serve Emperor Yang Guang. She had quickly gained his favor and, within a few years, risen from a concubine to become the highest-ranking consort among the nine imperial consorts.

Lady Wang’s letter was brief, containing only a few lines, but it shocked the Li brothers profoundly. The letter stated that Emperor Yang Guang had been expecting Li Yuan to arrive in the capital but had not yet heard of his departure. He asked Lady Wang why Li Yuan had not yet come. When she replied that she did not know, Yang Guang did not press further. However, the next day, after reviewing the report Li Yuan had sent to Luoyang, Yang Guang remarked to Wang Wei standing beside him—Should he die?

These words were overheard by Lady Wang, who stood outside the door. Sensing Yang Guang’s murderous intent toward Li Yuan, she swiftly wrote this letter to warn him and urged him to be cautious of impending danger.

After setting down the letter, Li Jiancheng exhaled deeply. “So, the Emperor’s intent to kill Father remains.”

Li Shimin spoke gravely. “The Emperor sending Wang Wei and Gao Yajun to Honghua Prefecture is less about visiting and more about surveillance. They are here to investigate whether Father’s injuries are genuine or merely an excuse to avoid traveling to the capital—or worse, to orchestrate another assassination!”

Li Jiancheng clenched his fists, grinding his teeth. “That despicable emperor! Despite Father’s unwavering loyalty, he repeatedly plots against him. How can such a person be fit to rule as emperor?”

Li Yuan sighed sorrowfully, his expression burdened. He did not wish to rebel, but Yang Guang had forced him into a corner. At this point, there was no turning back.

“Brother, anger will not help us now. Our immediate priority is to dispel the Emperor’s suspicions about Father. Only then can we buy ourselves more time.”

“I know that,” Li Jiancheng replied bitterly. “But the Emperor has always been suspicious. He already harbors doubts about Father, and after the incident with Li Mi, his intent to harm Father has grown stronger. It won’t be easy to erase his suspicions.”

“There must be a way,” Li Shimin said, rereading the letter thoughtfully. After a pause, he continued, “Father, perhaps we can focus our efforts on Wang Wei and Gao Yajun.”

Li Yuan pondered this. “You want to bribe them?” Before Li Shimin could respond, he added, “These two are the Emperor’s trusted men. They won’t be easily swayed, and a misstep could give them evidence to use against us.”

Li Shimin smiled faintly. “I know, which is why I’m not suggesting bribery.”

“Then what do you propose?” Li Shimin met his father’s questioning gaze and explained, “The reason the Emperor fears you is because you possess both military talent and benevolent wisdom, qualities that make you more beloved by the people than he is as emperor. But if he were to discover that you are actually someone indulging in pleasures and debauchery, do you think he would still fear you as much?”

Upon hearing this, Li Yuan immediately understood. “You want me to act like a dissolute man in front of Wang Wei and the others to dispel the Emperor’s suspicions?”

“Precisely. While this may not completely eliminate his suspicions, it should alleviate them somewhat and buy us time. Moreover, the Emperor still relies on you to stabilize the situation in Hedong and Guanzhong. As long as there isn’t definitive evidence of rebellion, he won’t issue an edict for your execution. As for assassination…” He paused briefly before continuing, “Starting today, I will reorganize the security forces in the residence to ensure no assassin gets close to you again.”

Li Jiancheng considered this carefully and then said, “Father, I believe Shimin’s suggestion is worth trying. Additionally, I would like to go to Taiyuan.”

His words startled Li Yuan, who asked in astonishment, “What for?”

“We are short on manpower. A few days ago, I received word that many anti-Sui rebel armies in Taiyuan are recruiting soldiers. I plan to join them and recruit some men myself. Besides, with their cover, we won’t be easily discovered.”

“But your injury—” Before Li Yuan could finish, Li Jiancheng stood up and took a few steps forward. “Father, see for yourself. My leg is almost healed, and the journey to Taiyuan will take some time. By the time I arrive, the wound will have fully healed.”

Watching Jiancheng’s slightly limping gait, Li Yuan sighed inwardly. Though external wounds could heal, his eldest son’s chronic condition was incurable. Jiancheng, his firstborn and a man of both literary and martial talents, had been cursed with such an ailment—it was truly fate’s cruelty.

Seeing Li Yuan silent, Jiancheng assumed he was still hesitant about his proposal and urged, “Father, recruiting soldiers is urgent and cannot be delayed any longer. If we build our own forces, even if Shimin’s plan fails and the Emperor truly seeks our family’s destruction, we will at least have a fighting chance.”

Li Yuan composed himself and said, “I understand. I was merely considering that Taiyuan might not be the best place to recruit.”

“Why not?” Jiancheng asked, puzzled. “Isn’t it true that many people are recruiting soldiers in Taiyuan?”

Shimin thought for a moment and replied, “I believe it’s precisely because so many people are flocking to Taiyuan that Father feels it’s not the ideal location.”

Li Yuan gave Shimin an approving glance. “Exactly. Taiyuan’s situation is complex, with rebel armies from all over gathering there. Those with revolutionary aspirations have likely already been recruited. Moreover, I suspect the court has also sent spies to monitor the area. Instead of competing for scraps, it would be wiser to shift our focus to other parts of Hedong, where we might find greater success.”

Jiancheng nodded. “I understand. I will follow Father’s advice and set out in a few days.”