Was this still the Crown Prince they knew? Li Shimin was momentarily stunned, his gaze fixed in astonishment on Li Chengqian. The Crown Prince had come to plead for Qingque? A wave of shock surged through him. Even he had not expected this—his own son, framed by his brother, still willing to put past grievances aside and plead for that very same brother. For a long moment, his thoughts were turbulent. Prince Wei, Li Tai, had schemed against his elder brother for the throne, yet Li Chengqian, the victim of this treachery, had come to beg for mercy on his behalf. The contrast between the two was stark. Li Shimin fell silent, his expression unreadable before he finally spoke in a measured tone. “Your fourth brother plotted against you, yet you still plead for him?” Li Chengqian stood with an air of righteousness. “Father Emperor once taught me that as an elder brother, I must have the magnanimity to embrace my younger siblings. An elder brother is like a father. “Now that Fourth Brother has made a mistake, I cannot absolve myself of responsibility. If Father Emperor wishes to punish him, then please punish me as well.” The hall fell into stillness. Fang Xuanling, Wei Zheng, and the other officials exchanged glances before nodding in quiet approval. This was the bearing of a true Crown Prince. Li Shimin studied Li Chengqian intently for a moment before nodding slightly. “I understand. You may leave.” Li Chengqian acknowledged the command and respectfully withdrew. Once he had left, Li Shimin exhaled slowly, his voice calm yet decisive. “Prince Wei is at fault, but since even the Crown Prince has pleaded for him, there is no need for excessive punishment. Deliver my decree—release Prince Wei.” The officials bowed in unison. “Yes, Your Majesty.” In the dungeons beneath the imperial palace, the damp air carried the scent of cold stone and aged iron. “Your Highness, Prince Wei…” A soldier approached with a respectful bow. “You may leave now.” Li Tai blinked, his round face clouded with confusion. “Leave?” The soldier quickly explained, “Your Highness, His Majesty has issued a decree pardoning you.” Li Tai’s eyebrows lifted in astonishment. He remained silent for a moment before murmuring, “Pardoned?” The soldier nodded. “It was the Crown Prince who petitioned His Majesty on your behalf.” Li Tai’s pupils contracted. The Crown Prince? Would he truly be so benevolent? An hour later, within the opulent halls of Prince Wei’s residence, Li Tai sat in silence. Having bathed and changed into fresh robes, he had pieced together the events that had led to his unexpected release. While the officials had submitted petitions on his behalf, it was his elder brother who had personally pleaded for his freedom, persuading their father to grant clemency. Li Tai’s expression darkened. He and Li Chengqian had always been like water and fire—why would he intercede now? More importantly, Li Chengqian was not the type to show such generosity. In his memory, the Crown Prince was a man who never forgot a grudge. Where did this sudden magnanimity come from? He frowned, deep in thought, before finally summoning his trusted aides. As his officials gathered before him, he raised an eyebrow. “The civil and military officials petitioning for me was unexpected enough, but even the Censorate was involved? Since when could you mobilize them?” The officials exchanged uneasy glances before one of them hesitantly replied, “Your Highness, we truly had no connection with the Censorate. We have no idea who swayed them. Perhaps Your Highness’s wisdom has convinced them that you are the true destined ruler of the Tang Dynasty, which is why they voluntarily stepped forward to support you…” The others looked baffled, but that did not stop the flattery from flowing. “Prince Wei is blessed by the heavens.” “Indeed, His Majesty has always favored Your Highness. How could he possibly hold you accountable?” “Prince Wei is a wise and virtuous ruler. Compared to that unworthy Crown Prince, it is only natural that the Censorate would support Your Highness.” Li Tai’s eyes narrowed as the chorus of praise filled the room. Something was off. From the inexplicable forged imperial edict that had led to his imprisonment to his sudden release, everything felt too orchestrated, as if someone had deliberately set him up. Could it have been Li Chengqian? His instincts told him that his brother had a hand in this. But why would he plead for him afterward? Was it merely to win his favor? Li Tai immediately dismissed the thought. If Li Chengqian had orchestrated this, all he had to do was remain passive, and Li Tai would have been doomed. There was no logical reason for him to set a trap only to save him later. Perhaps someone else was behind it? As he pondered, the relentless flattery from the officials grated on his nerves. He suppressed his irritation, reminding himself that these men had played a role in securing his release. In the end, he arranged a lavish banquet in their honor, displaying the magnanimity expected of a prince. At dawn the next day, inside Taiji Palace, the golden light of morning filtered through the vast halls. A palace guard knelt before Li Shimin and reported, “Your Majesty, Prince Wei set out early this morning, bringing gifts to the Eastern Palace.” Li Shimin’s lips curled into a faint smile, his gaze contemplative. “An elder brother leads by example. Naturally, his younger brother must learn gratitude.” He paused, then added in a softer tone, “I hope they can maintain fraternal harmony and bring honor to the Tang Dynasty.” Ever since realizing the extent of Li Tai’s influence, Li Shimin had discreetly arranged for his son to be monitored. He knew that if left unchecked, another Xuanwu Gate incident could unfold. But upon hearing that Li Tai had taken the initiative to visit the Crown Prince, a measure of relief settled in his heart. Perhaps, despite his impulsiveness, the boy was still capable of recognizing his mistakes. This was the reconciliation he had been hoping for. Inside the Eastern Palace, the halls were filled with the soft murmurs of attendants as the day began. “Your Highness, the Crown Prince, Prince Wei is outside with gifts, requesting an audience,” a palace maid reported respectfully. Not far from her, Li Chengqian sat beside a couch, his gaze fixed on the small bundle in his arms. Nestled within the swaddling cloth was his infant son, Li Jue. With a gentle touch, he stroked the baby’s tiny face, his eyes brimming with warmth and affection. The palace maid hesitated at his lack of response and, assuming he had not heard, repeated, “Your Highness, Prince Wei is—” Before she could finish, Li Chengqian’s head snapped toward her, his bloodshot eyes burning with fury. “Fool! Did I give you permission to speak?” The sudden outburst silenced the entire hall. A suffocating pressure filled the air, and the maid’s knees buckled under his violent glare. She fell to the floor in terror, unable to meet his gaze. Moments ago, he had been a doting father. Now, he was a demon risen from the depths of hell.