Chapter 53 A Guilty Conscience

"Your Highness must be joking. That elite force is in the hands of the Crown Prince, so how can Your Highness say that even when the troops are successfully trained, they have nothing to do with him?"

"My eldest brother has this elite force in his hands, personally trained by General Xue Wantche. They are bound to become a formidable division of our Great Tang. But should a formidable division of the Great Tang belong solely to my eldest brother?"

"Besides, my eldest brother loves to stand out. When foreign enemies invade in the future, we simply need to let him take the field. Even if I do not undermine him, this elite force of his will have its vigor exhausted in endless warfare."

Xu Maogong said with some displeasure, "Your Highness, why don't we simply prevent them from training this elite force in the first place? For example, by poisoning them? Poison all their horses to death."

Li Shimin cast a cold glance at Xu Maogong. "Sir, such words you speak—do you still retain the mindset of a loyal subject? As the Duke of Ying of the Great Tang, you would plot to poison the warhorses of the Great Tang?"

Xu Maogong hastily shook his head. "Your Highness, an elite force of this magnitude must not be allowed to fall into the hands of the Crown Prince."

"Sir, when did you become as foolish as my eldest brother? Struggling for power with my eldest brother is quite different from engaging foreign adversaries. We must not directly strike at this formidable division of my eldest brother's. Instead, I shall go and have an audience with His Imperial Father to expose this matter."

Because the morning court session had already concluded, Emperor Gaozu of Tang, Li Yuan, was currently enjoying domestic tranquility with two of Li Shimin's stepmothers.

Hearing the eunuch announce that Li Shimin had arrived, his mood plummeted. "What? Shimin is here? What is he here for?"

"Your Majesty, His Highness says the matter is of grave importance and can only be discussed with you in person."

Dissatisfied, Li Yuan got off Lady Yin's lap, dressed himself, and walked out impatiently. He cast a glance at the eunuch and said, "Take me to see the Prince of Qin."

"As you command, Your Majesty."

When Li Yuan saw Li Shimin, the latter was leisurely sipping tea. He didn't look like he had come for any urgent matter at all!

"Shimin, is there anything that couldn't wait until tomorrow's morning court?"

"Imperial Father, it could, but this child feels the matter is of utmost importance and it is better to inform you first."

"What matter?"

"My eldest brother recently formed a cavalry unit and has been felling trees extensively these past few days to build stables. Judging by the trees they have cut down, the number of troops the Crown Prince is levying this time is no fewer than five thousand."

Li Yuan, who had still possessed a trace of impatience, felt as if he had been struck by lightning. He froze completely in place.

As the dignity of the Crown Prince, if he needed troops, all he had to do was request them from him. Why recruit soldiers privately?

Could it be that he, the reigning Emperor, would refuse to grant military authority to Li Jiancheng?

Could it be... A terrifying thought flashed through Li Yuan's mind, making his hair stand on end.

That rebellious son Li Jiancheng was going to rebel and usurp the throne ahead of time!

Otherwise, Li Shimin would not need to be the one to inform him of Li Jiancheng's recruitment of soldiers!

At this thought, Li Yuan lost all inclination to linger in the boudoir. He hurriedly ordered a eunuch to summon Li Jiancheng to the imperial palace for questioning.

"Imperial Father, my eldest brother surely would not do such a thing. Shimin knows my eldest brother's nature has always been chivalrous, and the people in the Crown Prince's household are all upright gentlemen, open and aboveboard. It should be..."

"Shimin, do you know what Wang Mang was like before he usurped the Han Dynasty?"

Without mentioning anything else, Li Yuan well remembered how his own cousin had proclaimed himself emperor.

His uncle had died under rather murky circumstances.

If such matters were not prevented early on, once the boy actually made his move, he would be forced to become a retired emperor!

At the Eastern Palace, looking at the harvested timber hauled back, which was enough to build stables, Li Jiancheng was extremely satisfied. Especially upon learning that this was actually ordered by the Grand Imperial Grandson Li Chengche during his illness, his mood became even lighter.

"The Grand Imperial Grandson of my Eastern Palace can finally share burdens for his father."

However, standing beside him, Yuwen Shiji and Wei Zheng both wore worried expressions. "Your Highness, the Grand Imperial Grandson felled the trees on the back hill of your Eastern Palace. To make such a grand display..."

"What is there to fear? This crown prince has done nothing to feel guilty about; why fear a knock on the door at midnight? It matters not who sees it."

"It simply demonstrates that this crown prince has the Great Tang at heart, and acted out of a momentary urgency without having time to request an imperial decree."

Wei Zheng remained silent for a moment and ultimately decided against further persuasion, feeling that Li Jiancheng's words made a certain amount of sense.

As they were speaking, an imperial messenger from the palace arrived at the Crown Prince's residence. "Your Highness, there is an imperial decree from the Emperor requesting Your Highness's presence in the palace for a conversation."

Li Jiancheng understood immediately; the Prince of Qin's mansion must have gotten wind of the news and reported it to Imperial Father. Yet at this moment, his heart was as still as water and his face as calm as a tranquil lake.

One might say he was completely unruffled. "Ah, this crown prince understands. Once I change into my official robes, I shall accompany the eunuch into the palace to see Imperial Father."

The eunuch had not received orders to escort Li Jiancheng under arrest to the palace, so naturally there was no need to coerce him.

Soon, Li Jiancheng had changed into his official attire. "Eunuch, lead the way."

In the imperial palace, seeing Li Jiancheng's righteous and unyielding demeanor, Li Yuan felt even more terrified inside.

As the saying goes, a guilty conscience sees ghosts everywhere. Instead of feeling that Li Jiancheng had a clear conscience, Li Yuan felt that Li Jiancheng was brimming with confidence and fully prepared to drop all pretenses.

"This child greets Imperial Father."

"Rise. Jiancheng, I heard that you are undertaking massive construction in the Eastern Palace to build large-scale stables. What is your intention?"

Li Jiancheng came to a sudden realization. Glancing at Li Shimin standing nearby, he understood completely. "So it is about this matter? Even if Shimin had not come to report it today, this child intended to inform Imperial Father."

"Our Great Tang lacks cavalry, and now that the Turks have been defeated, a large number of horses are being sold into our Central Plains amidst the aftermath. This child wishes to build a strong cavalry force for Imperial Father."

"Because the matter was not yet finalized, I had not reported it to Imperial Father. Today, everything is prepared, so..."

Everything was prepared. Hearing this, Li Yuan felt his heart turn even colder. Had Li Jiancheng prepared everything to seize the throne?

This moment was simply the exact replica of the first year of Daye!

Everything was so similar, and moreover, the rebel was once again the Crown Prince. Li Yuan instinctively wanted to issue an imperial decree to have Li Jiancheng executed on the spot.

On second thought, however, Li Jiancheng did not look flushed or breathless, which meant he must have made thorough preparations long ago. To rashly fall out with him at this moment would be most unwise.

At this, he hurriedly steadied his mind, put on a benevolent expression, and said, "My son is so devoted to the realm of the Great Tang that your father is overjoyed. Go right ahead and train your troops."

Li Jiancheng did not think too deeply into it, assuming simply that Imperial Father understood his good intentions. "This child obeys. This time, I will surely train a formidable division for our Great Tang to guard its borders!"

"My son's ambition is truly commendable." Hearing this, Li Jiancheng took his leave immediately.

The sharp-eyed Li Shimin, however, noticed that Li Yuan was drenched in sweat from head to toe—and this was still early spring.

"Imperial Father, what is wrong with you..."

"Shimin, it seems your eldest brother's rebellious intentions are now plain to see. The fact that he dared enter the palace looking so righteous today means he has made every preparation."

Li Shimin never imagined his imperial father would think this way; rack his brains as he might, he could not fathom how his father had arrived at such a far-fetched conclusion.