Late into the night, the imperial retreat was meant to be a place of respite, but the sudden intrusion of hurried footsteps shattered the stillness. Inside the main hall, the flickering candlelight cast long shadows as a guard, face tense with urgency, entered and bowed low before Li Shimin. “The mansion has been surrounded by two thousand troops mobilized by the Crown Prince.” The guard’s voice was barely above a whisper. Li Shimin’s gaze sharpened instantly. His brows furrowed, but his composure remained unshaken. His voice, though calm, carried the weight of command. “The Crown Prince has mobilized troops to surround the mansion?” The guard nodded hastily. “It is indeed by the Crown Prince’s order. The troops were mobilized under his decree…” A cold fire ignited in Li Shimin’s chest. His fists clenched at his sides. “What audacity!” His voice was a blade, cutting through the thick silence in the hall. “Is the Crown Prince trying to stage a coup? Humph, I am still alive, and he cannot wait?” The atmosphere in the room grew heavy. Princess Jinyang, standing quietly to the side, pressed her lips together, her expression unreadable. The guard dared not make another sound. Li Shimin’s fury was almost tangible, an oppressive force in the dimly lit chamber. He had never expected his own son to make such a bold and reckless move. He himself had once taken the throne through force, but that did not mean he would tolerate such defiance from Li Chengqian. On the contrary, because he had walked this path before, he feared most that history would repeat itself. Taking a deep breath, he steadied his emotions. He was not afraid. A mere two thousand troops surrounding the mansion was laughable. Years ago, he had stood with only a handful of men against a million-strong Turkic army. Li Chengqian’s so-called coup was nothing more than a child’s game to him. “Take me there,” he ordered. “I want to see what my ‘good son’ intends to do.” Moments later, Li Shimin stepped outside the mansion. The night air was cool, but the tension in the air was palpable. Two thousand soldiers stood in formation, their torches flickering in the darkness. At the front of the ranks was Zhang Rui, commander of the Eastern Palace. Zhang Rui, catching sight of the emperor, felt his breath hitch. He immediately dismounted and bowed deeply. “Greetings, Your Majesty…” Li Shimin’s expression remained cold. “Do you still see me as your emperor?” His voice was laced with quiet menace. “Aren’t you here to stage a coup? Why such politeness?” The words struck Zhang Rui like a hammer. His face paled. “Your Majesty, you misunderstand! I would never dare…” “A coup is an act of treason. You do not dare?” Li Shimin’s eyes bore into him. “Then tell me—why have you brought troops to my doorstep?” Zhang Rui swallowed hard, his forehead beading with sweat. “Your Majesty, I truly do not know. Someone brought an order bearing the Crown Prince’s seal, commanding me to mobilize troops and surround the mansion. I did not dare to disobey…” Li Shimin let out a low, mirthless laugh. “You serve the Eastern Palace, yet you took an order from the Crown Prince without knowing its purpose? Do you take me for a fool?” Zhang Rui trembled, his voice barely steady. “Your Majesty, I swear, I had no knowledge of the true purpose… I only followed the decree.” Li Shimin’s gaze narrowed, a cold glint flashing in his eyes. Zhang Rui was terrified, that much was clear, and there was no sign of true rebellion in his posture. Something about this situation was off. After a long pause, he spoke. “Arrest him. Bring the Crown Prince here to face me.” Guards immediately stepped forward, seizing Zhang Rui, who did not dare resist. The soldiers behind him exchanged uneasy glances. They had followed the Crown Prince’s command, but now they stood before the emperor himself. Their hesitation was brief—this was still their ruler, and his authority was absolute. Minutes later, Li Chengqian arrived under heavy guard. The young prince approached with measured steps and bowed. “Your son greets Father Emperor.” His tone was steady, his expression unreadable. Li Shimin scoffed, throwing the so-called “Crown Prince’s Order” at his feet. “Truly, my good son, what is this? Did you intend to force me to abdicate?” Li Chengqian bent down, picked up the decree, and scanned its contents. For the first time, his expression faltered. “Father Emperor, please believe me. This is not my doing.” “Innocent?” Li Shimin’s fury flared anew. “Had my men not discovered your troops in time, would I have already been forced to step down?” “Father Emperor, this handwriting is nearly identical to mine, so much so that even I would mistake it for my own. But I swear, I did not write this…” His voice was calm, but there was a trace of urgency beneath the surface. “I beg Father Emperor to investigate.” Li Shimin exhaled slowly. “Rebellious son. You still dare to argue?” His voice turned ice-cold. “Guards, imprison the Crown Prince!” “Yes, Your Majesty!” The guards stepped forward. Li Chengqian did not resist. He merely straightened his posture and followed them in silence. Li Shimin watched his son’s retreating figure, eyes narrowing. Something about this did not feel right. A shadow of doubt settled over him. This entire situation reeked of something deeper. The next day, Li Shimin had no mood for leisure. At dawn, he led his entourage back to Chang’an. News of the Crown Prince’s failed coup and subsequent imprisonment spread through the court like wildfire. Officials were left in stunned disbelief. None had imagined that the Crown Prince would attempt such a reckless act. At Prince Wei’s residence, laughter rang through the halls. Li Tai leaned back in his chair, a smug grin stretching across his chubby face. “Could it be that my dear elder brother was simply too impatient? How else could he have made such a foolish move?” His voice dripped with mockery. “Humph, it suits him. Only an idiot would make such a stupid decision.” His confidants shared his amusement. The Crown Prince’s blunder had come at the perfect time. If they played their cards right, perhaps their master, Prince Wei, could seize the position of heir. At Taiji Palace, the atmosphere was far graver. “Your Majesty, we have thoroughly examined the handwriting,” Fang Xuanling reported. “It is nearly identical to the Crown Prince’s—ninety-nine percent the same. However… there is a slight difference.” Du Ruhui nodded in agreement. Wei Zheng, standing rigid, spoke with conviction. “Your Majesty, as the Crown Prince’s tutor, I have taught him for years. This is not his handwriting. Someone must have forged it to frame him!” Li Shimin’s eyes flickered with uncertainty. His frown deepened.