Chapter 66: The Chosen Pride

Chapter 66: The Favored Son

The Eastern Palace.

Palace maids and eunuchs hurried back and forth, their faces etched with grief and anxiety.

When Li Shimin and Li Qing arrived at the Eastern Palace, they happened to see Helan Chushi pacing back and forth anxiously at the entrance. The man was dressed in such a conspicuous, unmistakable Turkic attire that Li Shimin could not help but stare in utter astonishment.

Could it be that Gaoming was playing a war game imitating the Turks? And that was why he fell from his horse and injured himself?

Seeing the Emperor's arrival, Helan Chushi turned pale as a sheet. He dropped heavily to his knees, trembling with fear, sweat pouring from him despite the bitter winter cold.

"What is going on with the Crown Prince? Why are you dressed like a Turk?"

Li Shimin's suppressed fury carried a pressure that Helan Chushi simply could not withstand. Coupled with a guilty conscience, the man stammered incoherently for a long time, unable to form a complete sentence.

"His Royal Highness the Crown Prince... he... he... he fell from his horse."

Helan Chushi wiped the sweat from his brow with his sleeve over and over again, stuttering out his explanation.

"I know he fell from his horse!" Li Shimin said in a low, dangerous voice. "I am asking you what on earth you all were doing! Why did the Crown Prince fall from his horse?"

"It... it was us and His Highness, dressing up as Turks to go steal cattle... and on the way back, His Highness suddenly fell..."

Before Helan Chushi could finish, Li Shimin interrupted him with a furious roar.

"What?"

Li Shimin felt a sudden surge of blood rushing to his head, followed by a dizzying spin that plunged his vision into total darkness.

"Brother Li!" Li Qing hurriedly steadied Li Shimin, casually producing a pill from the system interface and shoving it into Li Shimin's mouth.

After a long moment, Li Shimin slowly regained consciousness. He stood up, caught his breath, and began issuing orders.

"Everyone who accompanied the Crown Prince out today—execute them all!"

With a single sentence, he sealed the fate of the incident. First, as the Crown Prince's personal guards, instead of advising him against wrongdoing, they had followed and abetted him, which in itself was a grave offense. Second, this was to protect Li Chengqian and minimize the fallout of the scandal.

Li Shimin stood at the threshold, staring blankly at the door for a long while before finally pushing it open.

The injured Li Chengqian lay on the bed, groaning repeatedly as piercing, bone-deep pain shot through his lower leg.

The Crown Prince's consort, Lady Su, sat by the bedside with tear-streaked cheeks. Seeing Li Shimin enter, she quickly stood up and bowed.

"I am so disappointed in you!"

Looking at Li Chengqian, who was still clad in Turkic garments, Li Shimin could not conceal the disappointment and heartache in his eyes.

This was the Crown Prince upon whom he had pinned such high hopes—how had things come to this?

"Father..."

Li Chengqian's voice trembled. It was impossible to tell whether it was caused by terror, pain, or perhaps both.

It was no joke; how could he not be terrified? After pulling off such a stunt, let alone keeping his position as Crown Prince, whether he could even save his own life was in question.

Since ancient times, when had an deposed crown prince ever been allowed to live in peace?

"Do not call me Father! I have no such son as you!" Li Shimin swept his sleeve in fierce anger. "Just look at what you've become! Dressing up as a Turk, of all things! Why didn't you just make a clean end of it once and for all, so I could have some peace of mind?"

Seeing that in barely half a minute emotional value had spiked by tens of thousands, Li Qing realized that Li Shimin was genuinely furious. Not even when Li Ji later made Wu Mei Niang his empress, nor when Wu Mei Niang assumed regency from behind the curtain, had Li Shimin's emotions fluctuated with such intensity.

"Father, this son knows he was wrong..." Li Chengqian cried, tears streaming down his face.

"Knowing you were wrong? What good does knowing you were wrong do!" Li Shimin pointed at him and raged, "Do you have any idea that because of your willful self-indulgence, the guards who accompanied you today are all going to be executed? Because of your recklessness, your mother and I will be humiliated along with you!"

"Do you think a simple 'I was wrong' can undo all of this? Since when has such a wonderful thing existed in this world? If knowing you were wrong solved everything, what need would there be for the imperial court at all!"

"Father..."

"I have half a mind to personally—"

"Brother Li!" Li Qing reached out and pressed a hand onto Li Shimin's shoulder, cutting him off, and said gently, "Why don't you go outside for a walk to calm your nerves? I'll have a few words with Gaoming."

Li Shimin slowly closed his eyes, took a deep breath, and let it out just as slowly.

"Go ahead." Li Qing looped an arm around Li Shimin's shoulder and escorted him to the door.

He couldn't let him keep talking. If he completely broke the boy's spirit, what would they do then? You couldn't educate an adolescent rebel like that.

As they reached the door, Li Shimin suddenly asked in a low voice, "Brother, this rebellious wretch's leg..."

Even in the grip of extreme rage, Li Shimin was still concerned for Li Chengqian's physical well-being.

"Don't worry, I'm here."

Li Qing's voice was soft, yet it was enough to make Li Shimin exhale a sigh of relief.

Li Shimin heavily patted Li Qing's shoulder and turned to walk out of the room.

After seeing Old Li off, Li Qing pulled over a brocade stool and sat down by Li Chengqian's bedside.

"Adoptive Father... Father, he..." Li Chengqian choked out through his sobs.

"He'll be fine once he vents his anger. And you—acting so unconcerned and pulling off such a stunt, you really gave the both of us an eye-opener."

Li Qing patted his shoulder in comfort. "As for your leg, no need to worry. With me here, it won't leave any permanent affliction."

"Don't thank me just yet," Li Qing stopped Li Chengqian, who was about to express his gratitude, and assumed a stern expression. "The trouble you caused this time is no small matter. Tracing it to its root, your fault is enormous, and punishment is still necessary."

"As for this leg of yours, just bear the pain slowly for a month. Consider it the punishment I am giving you."

"Chengqian understands," Li Chengqian replied obediently.

"I won't lecture you on grand principles; in truth, you understand them better than anyone," Li Qing glanced at the Turkic garments on him. "But just look at what you're wearing! The Turks were defeated by the Great Tang, and yet you go imitating their customs?"

Li Chengqian faltered for a long moment before murmuring, "I... I just felt it was so free..."

"Rebellious, you mean?" Li Qing produced a can of cola, popped it open, and handed it to him. "You always felt constrained and miserable under your father's control, so you wanted to do something rebellious. Partly because you thought it felt thrilling, and partly because you wanted to draw his attention, right?"

Li Chengqian wanted to refute, but the words died on his lips, and he could only nod. He realized that everything Li Qing said matched his inner psychology completely.

"Mm..."

"Alright, I won't say any more unnecessary words," Li Qing pulled out a plastic splint and, amidst Li Chengqian's wails, set his injured leg and strapped it into place. "Stop moving your leg around all the time. Just hurt for a few days."

He then produced a gourd, handed it to Lady Su by the side, and instructed, "The pills in here—give him one every day. It should last for... well, about thirty days."

"Thank you, Adoptive Father," Lady Su bowed respectfully.

"Is there anything else you want to say? If not, I'll go back out and chat with your father." Li Qing turned to look at Li Chengqian.

Li Chengqian stared blankly at Li Qing. After a long moment, his eyes reddened, and he stammered, "I... I miss Mother..."

Li Qing simply gave a soft acknowledgement, turned, and walked toward the door.

"Mm, understood. Get some good sleep, Gaoming."

With that, he opened the door and stepped out of the hall.