The imperial court was silent as ministers exchanged glances, their expressions tinged with surprise. It was expected that Prince Wei’s supporters would plead on his behalf, but the sheer number of memorials piling up before the throne far exceeded expectations.
Changsun Wuji took a step forward and inclined his head.
“Your Majesty, these are all petitions requesting clemency.”
Li Shimin raised an eyebrow, his chiseled face hardening with a cold smile. He toyed with the scrolls before him, flipping through a few pages absentmindedly. As his sharp eyes scanned the contents, a trace of mockery surfaced in his gaze.
“Truly worthy to be my good son…” His voice was laced with derision.
“Barely imprisoned, and already, so many ‘friends’ and ‘mentors’ rush to plead for him.”
He scoffed, his tone growing harsher. “Good, good, good.”
His fingers trailed over the open scrolls as he listed their sources.
“The Ministry of Rites, Ministry of War, Ministry of Works—six departments in total. Taichang Temple, Guanglu Temple, Weiwei Temple, Zongzheng Temple, Taipu Temple, Dali Temple, Honglu Temple, Sinong Temple, Taifu Temple.
“The Supervisory Offices of the Shaofu, Jiangzuo, Junqi, Dushui—everywhere from the six ministries to the nine temples, even the ever-righteous Censorate. Those self-important scholars who love to lecture even the emperor have come forward, claiming Prince Wei has been wronged.”
His hand curled into a fist as his voice dropped to a growl. “What? Do they think I have no brains?”
The final words carried a biting chill. With a sudden burst of anger, Li Shimin slammed his palm against the table. The force sent a cascade of scrolls tumbling onto the marble floor. A heavy silence gripped the hall.
Fang Xuanling and the other ministers remained quiet. None dared to speak, though even they couldn’t hide their astonishment. The weight of Prince Wei’s influence was undeniable. His reach extended across the imperial court—from the six ministries and twenty-four bureaus to the highest institutions of the empire. Even the aloof Censorate, which never hesitated to reprimand emperors, had stepped forward to advocate for him.
They had expected the prince to have powerful allies, but this? This was on a scale none of them had foreseen.
Li Shimin exhaled slowly, his rage simmering beneath a controlled exterior. His gaze swept across the scattered scrolls, an unsettling thought creeping into his mind.
His good son had, unknowingly, gained enough power to sway the entire court. If he dared to depose the Crown Prince now, more than ninety percent of the ministers would petition to name Li Tai as his successor.
He was not afraid of Li Tai’s growing influence—after all, he was the supreme ruler of the Tang Dynasty. But something about this troubled him deeply.
He had always believed he had a firm grasp on his son’s associations, knowing exactly which officials aligned themselves with Li Tai. Yet, some of the names appearing in these petitions were entirely unexpected.
This could only mean one thing—Li Tai’s influence had spread farther than he had anticipated. The realization left a bitter taste in his mouth. His son, the one he had raised, was beginning to resemble his younger self far too much.
Capable of commanding both civil and military officials. Supported by the vast majority of the court. Even willing to use ruthless means against his own brothers.
A shadow passed over his expression.
The memory of the Xuanwu Gate Incident had never faded, no matter how many years had passed.
He still remembered his brother’s twisted expression in his final moments, the cold, loathing stare of his father as he gazed upon him. That look of betrayal had seared itself into his soul.
He would never allow history to repeat itself.
The weight of the silence in the hall was stifling. The ministers dared not speak, understanding that the emperor was lost in thought. They knew that, despite his fury, Li Shimin held deep affection for Li Tai. The very fact that he had not yet declared a sentence proved he was wavering.
But the power of Prince Wei was too vast, and this hesitation only fueled his uncertainty.
None of them wanted to be the one to speak first. If they advised the emperor to depose Prince Wei, they risked incurring his wrath should he later regret it. But if they advised him to release the prince, they would be marked as sympathizers should the emperor decide otherwise.
Better to say nothing at all.
The tension in the hall grew unbearable, the ministers frozen like statues beneath the weight of the emperor’s scrutiny. Li Shimin’s gaze flicked across them, his lips pressing into a thin line. He understood their silence all too well.
They feared making the wrong choice.
Just then, hurried footsteps echoed through the hall. A eunuch, breathless from running, stumbled through the doorway. His pale face was slick with sweat as he bowed hastily.
“Your Majesty, the Crown Prince requests an audience.”
A ripple of surprise passed through the ministers.
Fang Xuanling’s brow furrowed slightly, as did the others. Their first thought was the obvious one—Li Chengqian had been framed by Prince Wei.
Now that Prince Wei was imprisoned, had the Crown Prince come to ensure his downfall?
Li Shimin’s gaze turned sharp. He, too, shared their thoughts. Was his son here to deliver the final blow? Or was there something else at play?
He hesitated only for a moment before speaking. “Let him in.”
The eunuch bowed and quickly retreated. Moments later, steady footsteps resounded in the grand hall. All eyes turned toward the entrance as a young figure stepped across the threshold.
The Crown Prince entered with a measured stride, his expression composed. As soon as he reached the center of the hall, he knelt without hesitation. His voice carried clear reverence as he spoke.
“Your son greets Father Emperor.”
Li Shimin studied him for a long moment before finally asking, “What brings the Crown Prince to see me?”
Every gaze in the room bore down on Li Chengqian. But beneath their scrutiny, the prince remained unwavering.
Inside, he sneered. But outwardly, his face bore only an expression of solemn urgency.
“Your son has heard that Fourth Brother is imprisoned, so… I have come to plead for his release.”
A ripple of disbelief swept through the hall.
Li Shimin’s eyes narrowed dangerously. “You are here to plead for him?”
Li Chengqian nodded. “Fourth Brother was only momentarily confused and acted impulsively. I ask Father Emperor, for the sake of past affection, to grant him mercy and release him.”
The silence that followed was deafening.
The ministers were dumbfounded. The Crown Prince was pleading for Li Tai? The very same Li Tai who had schemed against him?
They could scarcely believe what they were hearing.