Inside the Eastern Palace, Li Tai impatiently placed the lid back on his teacup. This Li Chengqian has quite the attitude. He had been waiting outside for quite some time before a palace maid finally led him in, instructing him to wait because the Crown Prince would be arriving shortly. He hadn’t expected Li Chengqian to be so disrespectful. After all, he was the dignified Prince of Wei. Taking a deep breath, he forced himself to calm down. He had come today to express his gratitude to the Crown Prince, a move that would enhance his reputation as a virtuous prince. Otherwise, all the recent praise would go to Li Chengqian instead. Moments passed. Just as his patience was wearing thin, footsteps echoed through the hall. Li Chengqian emerged with a smile. Upon seeing him, Li Tai immediately plastered a fake smile onto his face. “Big Brother… I was able to leave that prison thanks to you.” Li Chengqian waved dismissively, his laughter hearty. “Fourth Brother, you’re too polite. We are brothers—true brothers. How could I not help you when you were in trouble? But next time, don’t resort to such schemes.” Li Tai narrowed his eyes, the smile on his chubby face flickering with a momentary trace of displeasure before it vanished. “Big Brother, I really had nothing to do with it. Why would I ever frame you?” Li Chengqian raised an eyebrow. “That’s true. Perhaps someone is trying to drive a wedge between us.” Li Tai studied him intently but found no flaw in his expression. Could it be that he was overthinking things? He quickly brushed the thought aside and smiled. “Big Brother, where is my nephew? His Full Moon Festival has passed, and I, as his uncle, have yet to visit him.” Li Chengqian’s gaze deepened as his respect for Yang Yi grew. Even from thousands of miles away, Yang Yi had already seen through Li Tai’s character. He had even predicted that this hypocrite would want to see his nephew. A slight smile curled on Li Chengqian’s lips. “Wait a moment, Fourth Brother…” He gestured for a palace maid to bring his son, Li Jue. Moments later, the child was brought in. Li Chengqian took him and handed him over to Li Tai. Though Li Tai had no real interest in the infant, he naturally had to put on a show, cradling the baby and playing with him as if he were a doting uncle. Li Chengqian, his face impassive, waved a hand toward the palace maids. They bowed and withdrew, suspecting nothing. The hall grew silent. Only Li Chengqian and Li Tai remained. Li Tai, still holding Li Jue, was too preoccupied with his performance to notice the absence of the maids. Li Chengqian, watching the hypocrisy unfold before him, couldn’t help but smirk slightly. “Fourth Brother, you really want to sit on the throne, don’t you?” His eyes flickered with astonishment. He hadn’t expected Li Chengqian to speak so directly. Matters of succession were best left unspoken, lingering in the shadows rather than voiced aloud. Once acknowledged, it meant burning all bridges. What is he playing at? Wasn’t he the one who just helped me? And now he wants to rip the facade apart? Li Tai’s expression darkened as he turned, still holding Li Jue. “Big Brother, I don’t understand what you’re saying. The throne is yours. What does it have to do with me?” “Heh, you are the Crown Prince.” The two stood close, their breaths intertwining in the tense air. Li Chengqian’s eyes gleamed with madness, his face flushing red. “I just wanted to tell you, you fool—you are far from worthy to compete for the throne. Don’t think that just because Father favors you from time to time, you can rise above me. This Tang Dynasty is mine, not yours. As long as I live, the throne will never be yours!” Li Tai’s eyes narrowed. The words were spoken outright. There was no longer a need for pretense. He sneered. “You, a cripple, really think Father will let you become emperor? The throne of the Tang Dynasty represents its very dignity. How could a cripple be emperor?” Blood rushed to Li Chengqian’s eyes, turning them red and menacing. He looked like a demon from the depths of hell, ready to tear Li Tai apart. The word “cripple” cut into him like a blade. Fury consumed him. It seemed as though he would strangle Li Tai on the spot. Li Tai’s instincts screamed at him. Something about Li Chengqian’s unhinged expression unsettled him. He took a cautious step back, suddenly aware that his older brother’s mental state was far from normal. Forcing himself to remain composed, he took a deep breath and shoved Li Jue back into Li Chengqian’s arms. His voice was ice-cold. “The throne is right here. Let’s see who can take it.” Without another word, he turned and strode away, not bothering to look back. He had no desire to stay any longer. With Li Chengqian in such a volatile state, anything could happen. Li Chengqian stood motionless, his gaze locked onto Li Tai’s retreating figure. Then, his eyes dropped to the child in his arms. Taiji Palace—One incense stick later. A guard burst into the hall, panting, his face pale with terror. Li Shimin frowned, displeased by the intrusion. The ministers standing on either side, his most trusted confidants, turned to observe the commotion. “What is it?” Li Shimin asked calmly. The guard dropped to his knees, his voice trembling. “Your Majesty, the Crown Prince’s son, Li Jue… has passed away.” Silence fell like a heavy shroud. Li Shimin’s expression shifted drastically. His sharp gaze pierced through the guard like a blade. “What did you say?! How could a perfectly healthy child just die?” Fang Xuanling and the others stiffened, their faces etched with disbelief. The guard trembled, as if facing an unspeakable horror. “Prince Wei… Prince Wei went to the Eastern Palace earlier, saying he wished to see the child. The Crown Prince had the baby brought over. Later, palace staff overheard them arguing. “Prince Wei left in a fury, and soon after, the Crown Prince’s enraged shouts echoed through the hall. When the maids entered… they found the child… lifeless in his swaddling clothes. It appeared he had been smothered.” The hall was deathly still. A chill ran down the spines of everyone present. They were all seasoned officials. How could they not understand what was being implied? Prince Wei had killed Li Jue? Li Shimin’s vision darkened. The world seemed to tilt. He clutched the armrest of his chair, struggling to remain upright. Du Ruhui and the others rushed to support him. “Your Majesty—” He pushed them away, barely hearing their words. His wide eyes reflected his swirling thoughts. The meaning in the guard’s words was clear. His own son—Prince Wei, Li Tai—had murdered his grandson, Li Jue. A sharp pain stabbed through his chest. His breath came in ragged gasps. And then, as if summoned by his deepest fears, an old memory clawed its way back. His elder brother, Li Jiancheng, staring at him with lifeless eyes. His severed head rolling across the ground. Since that day, a curse had haunted him. Every night, his brother’s voice whispered in his ears. “Fratricide and betrayal will bring divine retribution. Like father, like son. One day, Li Shimin—you, too, will suffer the agony of kin turning against kin.”