Chapter 440: Chapter 19: I Will Command All the Armies of the Realm! (Double Chapter)

Li Yuan’s expression changed completely as he looked at his son in front of him.

Clearly, he was so familiar.

But at this moment, he felt extremely unfamiliar.

"Someone, someone!"

Without any hesitation, he immediately shouted.

But unfortunately, from the moment he boarded this ship, he had already lost control of everything in the Capital City!

The hidden men on the ship immediately stepped forward.

A small boat followed.

Li Shimin glanced at Li Yuan once more and, seeing Li Yuan’s complex expression, jumped onto the small boat without hesitation.

"The Emperor’s decree—"

"Taiji Palace’s Forbidden Guards are not to act rashly!"

A loud and powerful shout was quickly spread further and further by the relay of one messenger after another.

Meanwhile, in front of Taiji Palace.

Li Jiancheng and Li Yuanji were making their way towards the palace.

Li Jiancheng appeared extremely calm, but Li Yuanji bore a trace of worry.

"Brother, wasn’t there news that Li Shimin is already making preparations? Today, why not listen to me, feign illness and avoid going."

He proposed to Li Jiancheng with a serious expression.

"Why is Fourth Brother so flustered?" Li Jiancheng sneered: "Now that the Capital City is under our control, what means could Li Shimin have?"

"Father summoned us today."

"If we don’t go and displease Father, that’s where the trouble lies."

"Besides, don’t forget—"

"Chang He at the Xuanwu Gate is my man."

Li Jiancheng was completely unconcerned.

At his words, though worry still lingered in Li Yuanji’s eyes, he eventually nodded after some thought.

——Booming!

Thunder roared continuously.

The two led their entourage towards the Xuanwu Gate.

Along with them were a group of officials.

Today, Li Yuan was evidently determined to settle the matter once and for all, and also sent them the message, but their pace was inevitably slower.

...

Xuanwu Gate.

As the northern core of Taiji Palace, it could directly access the Forbidden Garden and quickly sever the connection between the Imperial Palace and the outside world.

This was one of the reasons why Li Shimin chose this location for the operation.

Li Jiancheng was to pass through Xuanwu Gate.

In fact, he also had plans in mind, and when passing through the Xuanwu Gate, he instructed Chang He to let anyone holding his token pass freely.

This was also the failure of Li Yuan as the Emperor.

Essentially.

He, as the Emperor, had already been somewhat sidelined.

Be it Li Jiancheng or Li Shimin, both were continuously infiltrating their forces into the palace.

Although Li Yuan had always been the Emperor.

His grip as Emperor had weakened significantly.

This was the result of his character.

His indulgence toward his two sons led everything to reach this point today.

——Bang!

With Li Jiancheng and Li Yuanji passing through the Xuanwu Gate, the thick and solemn city gate immediately closed.

The entire Imperial Palace was terrifyingly quiet, no different from usual.

But perhaps because of the overly gloomy weather.

Not only was Li Yuanji increasingly tense, even Li Jiancheng had a few drops of cold sweat on his forehead.

The two headed all the way toward Lihu Hall.

But just as they were approaching Lihu Hall, Li Jiancheng suddenly felt something amiss, the faces of each guard gave him an inexplicably familiar feeling.

Just after examining them closely for a few moments, his expression changed instantly.

These weren’t the palace’s Forbidden Army, but forces from King Qin’s Mansion!

This thought exploded in his mind like thunder.

Li Jiancheng did not hesitate for a moment, immediately reined in his horse, and shouted: "Quick, go!"

As he spoke.

He was about to turn his horse and break out towards the palace gate.

But at this moment——

A familiar and cold voice suddenly rang out.

"Big Brother!"

Li Shimin and Li Jiancheng almost simultaneously turned their heads, immediately spotting Li Shimin holding a bow leading a troop charging at them!

And behind them, more troops appeared.

With just a brief glance, they were instantly chilled to the bone; they saw Yuchi Jingde!

The most critical thing was——

There was someone even in front of Yuchi Jingde.

That person seemed to have walked out from the depths of hell, covered in countless wounds, some still seeping blood, giving the impression of a demon!

"What do you intend to do!"

Li Jiancheng immediately shouted: "I am the Crown Prince of the Great Tang, and you dare lead troops into the palace, are you inciting rebellion?"

At this moment, how could he not realize that he had walked into an ambush?

But he had to act this way.

As long as he could delay, whether the palace’s Forbidden Army became aware or his own arranged soldiers arrived.

He had the capacity to counterstrike.

As Crown Prince, he held the advantage both politically and personally!

"Crown Prince?"

Li Shimin’s voice sounded again, with a hint of a disdainful smile appearing on his face, he wasted no words, directly gripping his bow.

"How dare you!"

Upon seeing this, Li Yuanji, who had been prepared, had a drastic change in expression and without any hesitation, quickly drew his bow and shot several arrows at Li Shimin.

Whoosh—whoosh—whoosh!

The sounds of piercing the air echoed continuously, accompanied by the rolling thunder, the situation was instantly ignited.

Li Shimin’s expression remained unchanged, not even flinching.

His archery skills were far superior to Li Yuanji’s.

How could he not see that Li Yuanji’s shots were off the mark due to panic?

His movements with the bow continued unabated.