My father, Li Shimin, please call me Crown Prince

Chapter 331 The Time Has Come, Return to Chang'an
It was dark at night, and inside the Right Jinwu Guard camp, Lu Tong was wearing armor with a stern look on his face.

Li Yifu brought dozens of elite soldiers he had selected, all of whom had sharp eyes and were ready for battle.

Lu Tong led a team of soldiers and headed straight towards the camp.

Inside the camp, candlelight flickered, and several generals who had close ties with the Prince of Wei's Palace were sitting around waiting.

They came here to discuss military matters under Lu Tong's orders.

Lu Tong kicked open the camp gate and shouted, "According to the order of King Jin, arrest the rebels. Surrender!"

The generals were frightened by this sudden change and stood up, scrambling to grab their weapons.

The leading general was furious, staring at Lu Tong and shouting, "Lu Tong, you are so bold! What crime have we committed that you dare to arrest us without authorization?"

Lu Tong snorted coldly, took a step forward, and drew his sword from its sheath, flashing with cold light: "Now the court is in turmoil, you are secretly colluding with foreign nations, intending to endanger the safety of Chang'an."

The soldiers rushed forward and surrounded several generals. The generals struggled and cursed: "Lu Tong, you are destroying your own future! The King of Wei is behind us, you can't escape!

Lu Tong said coldly: "I only know to follow the orders of King Jin. I will take care of King Wei. Come, capture him!"

As the operation progressed, the entire military camp fell into chaos and panic. The captured soldiers kept making threats, but Lu Tong gritted his teeth and did not back down.

However, a few clever soldiers took advantage of the chaos to escape and ran desperately towards the Prince of Wei's Palace to inform Li Tai of the news.

At this time, in the Prince of Wei's mansion, Li Tai was discussing countermeasures with Chai Lingwu, when suddenly a guard rushed in and reported in panic: "Prince of Wei, something bad has happened! Over at the Right Jinwu Guard, the Prince of Jin has sent people to arrest the soldiers who have had contact with our palace!"

Li Tai slammed the table, his eyes wide open in anger: "This brat Zhinu is really going too far! He actually dared to openly oppose me and arrest people on my territory!"

Chai Lingwu also frowned, his expression solemn: "Your Highness, I'm afraid that the action of the King of Jin was planned in advance. We can't just sit there and watch. We have to find a way to deal with it quickly."

Li Tai stood up and paced back and forth. After a moment, he gritted his teeth and said, "Let's go. I will go to the Right Jinwu Guard camp myself and see what this slave can do to me! I want to ask him, on what basis did he arrest people? Does he still have me, his fourth brother, and my father in his eyes?"

After saying this, he mobilized hundreds of guards in the palace and rushed towards the Right Jinwu Guard camp in a menacing manner.

Outside the You Jinwu Guard camp, Lu Tong and Li Yifu were directing the soldiers to detain the captured people.

The soldiers came to report: "General, the King of Wei and his men are here, right at the gate of the barracks!"

Lu Tong and Li Yifu looked at each other and saw the tension and worry in each other's eyes.

After all, this is the King of Wei.

Li Yifu hurriedly said: "General Lu, this matter may be difficult. We must inform the King of Jin as soon as possible."

King against king, against general.

It would still be difficult for them to face the King of Wei alone.

Lu Tong nodded and immediately sent a soldier to the Prince of Jin's residence at full speed.

At the entrance of the military camp, Li Tai rode a tall horse, followed by a group of guards, looking aggressive. He looked at the closed gate and shouted, "Lu Tong, get out of here! What is your intention in arresting an official appointed by the imperial court without authorization?"

Lu Tong and Li Yifu walked out of the military camp. Lu Tong said in a deep voice, "King of Wei, I am acting on the orders of His Royal Highness the King of Jin. These people are suspected of treason and endangering the Tang Dynasty. They must be arrested."

Li Tai sneered, "Collaborating with the enemy and committing treason? I think it is the Prince of Jin who is deliberately targeting me! Release the man immediately, otherwise, I will report you to my father!"

Lu Tong stood up, straightened his back, and said with a firm look: "King of Wei, I only know to obey the orders of King Jin and execute military orders. If King of Wei has any objections, you can wait for King Jin to come and make the decision."

Li Tai was so angry that his face turned blue, and he was about to explode when, in the distance, there was the sound of hurried horse hooves, and Li Zhi hurried over with a large number of Jinwu Guards.

Li Zhi dismounted, strode to Li Tai, and said, "Fourth brother, what brings you to the Youjinwu Guard camp so late at night?"

Li Tai glared at Li Zhi and said, "Zhi Nu, you did a great job! Why did you arrest someone right under my nose?"

Li Zhi looked calm and said in a neither humble nor arrogant manner: "Fourth brother, these people are secretly colluding with foreign nations, intending to undermine the stability of Chang'an and endanger father and the Tang Dynasty. As the general of the Jinwu Guard, it is my duty to investigate."

Li Tai snorted coldly: "You said they colluded with foreign nations, do you have any evidence? Are you deliberately fabricating charges for your own selfish interests?"

Li Zhi raised his hand slightly, and Li Yifu immediately presented a stack of files: "Fourth brother, here is the evidence. These are all what we have found out from our investigation. Their daily actions have violated the laws of the Tang Dynasty. If you don't believe me, you can check it yourself."

For Li Zhi, who was the General of the Right Jinwu Guard, these files could be easily obtained.

But most of them are indeed true.

Li Tai didn't even bother looking at the file, and pushed it away: "Humph, who knows if these things were forged by you! If you don't release the person today, I will not give up!"

After saying that, the guards behind him drew their weapons and prepared to forcibly seize the person.

Seeing this, Li Zhi's expression froze and he slightly turned sideways. The Jinwu Guards behind him quickly gathered around and surrounded Li Tai and others.

Then he said in a deep voice: "Fourth brother, don't be impulsive. I arrested these people for the sake of the Tang Dynasty. If you insist on stopping me, you will be obstructing public affairs and going against the laws of the Tang Dynasty. I hope you will think twice."

Li Tai looked around and saw the densely packed Jinwu Guards, feeling annoyed.

He has hundreds of guards, but there are more than a thousand Jinwu guards here.

It was clear that Li Zhi had made arrangements long ago.

He also didn't expect Li Zhi to be so bold as to confront him openly.

If he forcibly snatched the person at this time, it would inevitably cause a conflict. When the matter became serious and reached the ears of his father, it would not be good for him.

Li Tai gritted his teeth and glared at Li Zhi fiercely: "Okay, okay, you childish slave! I will remember what happened today. You just wait!"

After saying this, Li Tai turned his horse around and left in disgrace with his guards.

Li Zhi looked at Li Tai's receding back and breathed a sigh of relief.

This was his first head-on confrontation with Li Tai, and he ended up winning completely.

I feel very comfortable in my heart.

Looking at the Jinwu Guards in front of him, Li Zhi suddenly thought of the prince.

At first, Lu Tong obeyed the orders of the crown prince, and he, the general of the Right Jinwu Guard, could not even mobilize the troops.

The prince used the guards of the Eastern Palace and the soldiers of the Jinwu Guard to run rampant in Chang'an City, just like what he is doing today.

In other words, he is imitating the prince.
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Such a big commotion naturally could not be hidden from Li Shimin.

The news soon reached the palace.

Li Shimin tossed and turned on the bed in his bedroom, his brows furrowed and muttering from time to time.

This was the first time he had been so ill.

Illness can be devastating, especially in this cold winter.

Zhang Ananda, who was serving beside him, was full of worry. He dared not take his eyes off His Majesty for a moment, and kept tucking the corners of the quilt for His Majesty. Although there was a heater burning in the bedroom, the cold seemed to penetrate the wall and reach people's hearts.

At this time, a young eunuch hurried in, looking flustered. He hesitated at the door for a moment, then quickly walked to Zhang Ananda's side and whispered in his ear. Zhang Ananda's face suddenly changed, his eyes were full of panic, and he subconsciously looked at Li Shimin, hesitating and not knowing what to do.

At this moment, Li Shimin slowly opened his eyes, and said in a weak but majestic voice: "Ananda, why are you so panicked?"

Zhang Ananda knelt on the ground with a plop, and said in a tearful voice: "Your Majesty, the King of Wei and the King of Jin had a conflict in the Right Jinwu Guard camp, and they almost came to war."

Upon hearing this, Li Shimin's pale face instantly became filled with anger. He wanted to get up, but due to his weak body, he lay back down heavily, gasping for breath: "Rebellious son! Rebellious son! I haven't even died yet, and they have already disregarded the brotherhood and made the court a mess. Where will our Tang Dynasty be in?"

"Tell me, what is it for?"

Zhang Ananda did not dare to hide anything and told the situation truthfully.

After hearing this, Li Shimin knew very well that the two brothers were fighting for power.

Zhang Ananda hurried forward and gently calmed Li Shimin, his eyes full of distress: "Your Majesty, please don't be angry. It's important to take care of your health."

Li Shimin pushed Zhang Ananda's hand away and shouted angrily: "Pass my edict and summon the King of Wei and the King of Jin to the palace immediately. I will teach them a lesson!"

"Also, have Zhangsun Wuji, Fang Xuanling, Chu Suiliang, and Wei Zheng come to the palace immediately. I want to ask them what the hell is going on in this court!"

Zhang Ananda looked embarrassed and stammered, "Your Majesty, you are so weak, how about..."

"Shut up!" Li Shimin interrupted him: "Go and tell them immediately."

Zhang Ananda didn't dare to say anything more and was about to accept the order and leave. At this moment, Li Shimin suddenly felt dizzy, his eyes went dark, and he fainted again.

"Your Majesty! Your Majesty!" Zhang Ananda shouted at the top of his lungs.

At this time, there was no time to summon the King of Wei and the King of Jin.

"Call the imperial physician. Call the imperial physician immediately."

The entire bedroom was in chaos in an instant.

The doctors of the Imperial Hospital had been waiting for His Majesty because of his poor health, so they rushed to treat him upon hearing the order.

However, this coma was more serious than before.

The next day, Li Shimin still showed no signs of waking up.

The court was also in chaos.

Important officials such as Changsun Wuji and Fang Xuanling gathered urgently in the Taiji Hall.

Zhang Sun Wuji looked solemn, his brows twisted into the shape of a "川" character: "Your Majesty has fainted again, and the court is already unstable. What should we do? The two princes are fighting endlessly. As ministers, we must find a way to stabilize the situation."

Fang Xuanling sighed, his face full of worry: "Yes, the country cannot be without a ruler for a day. Now that His Majesty is unconscious, the matter of regent is imminent. But the two princes are fighting fiercely. If it is not handled properly, there may be chaos."

Chu Suiliang stood up, his expression firm: "In my opinion, the King of Wei is intelligent and has been in the court for many years. If he is the regent, he will definitely be able to stabilize the court situation."

Zhang Sun Wuji immediately retorted: "Doctor Chu is wrong. The Prince of Jin is known for his benevolence and filial piety. He is also in charge of the Jinwu Guards and can protect the safety of Chang'an. The best choice is for the Prince of Jin to be the regent."

The ministers were divided into two groups, each holding their own views and arguing fiercely. The court was noisy and the situation became increasingly chaotic.

In the Prince of Wei's palace, Li Tai heard that his father had fallen into a coma again, and a complicated look flashed in his eyes.

Chai Lingwu whispered, "King of Wei, His Majesty is unconscious and the court is in chaos. This is our chance. The ministers are arguing over the issue of regent. King of Wei should act immediately to win the support of more ministers."

Li Tai nodded slightly, with a fierce look in his eyes: "Yes, this Li Zhi dared to openly oppose me. When I gain power, I will make him pay the price."

"Arrange a carriage immediately. I will go to the palace to accompany my father."

In the Prince of Jin's mansion, after Li Zhi learned the news, he had an urgent discussion with Li Yifu.

"Prince Jin, His Majesty is in a coma and the court is in turmoil. This is a critical moment. Prince Jin should act as soon as possible and use the military power in his hands and the support of important officials such as Changsun Situ to strive for the position of regent."

Li Zhi looked determined and nodded slightly: "Yes, this matter concerns my fate and the future of the Tang Dynasty. Pass on my order and ask Lu Tong to strengthen the security in Chang'an City to ensure the stability of the situation."

"I will enter the palace immediately to accompany my father."

Inside Chang'an Palace.

Li Tai and Li Zhi arrived one after another.

Ministers such as Zhangsun Wuji, Fang Xuanling, Chu Suiliang, and Wei Zheng also rushed to the scene.

The concubines in the harem also gathered together.

But at this time, Zhang Ananda could only stand in front of the hall and prevent anyone from entering the palace.

Your Majesty needs rest.

Soon, the imperial doctors came out one after another.

Everyone hurriedly asked about the patient's condition.

"Your Majesty, this is caused by impatience and physical weakness. You will wake up after a few days of rest."

The imperial doctors quickly gave a reply.

After hearing this, everyone felt relieved.

After all, Your Majesty is in his prime and can still resist some illnesses.

However, in front of many ministers, Li Tai once again revealed the fact that Li Zhi had arbitrarily mobilized the Jinwu Guards to arrest people.

It was obvious that he wanted Li Zhi to give an explanation outside this palace.

Li Zhi insisted that this was an internal matter of the Jinwu Guard and had nothing to do with him, the King of Wei.

Zhang Sun Wuji frowned, looked at Li Tai, then looked at Li Zhi, and said slowly: "Now that His Majesty is unconscious, the situation in the court is critical. You two brothers should work together to overcome the difficulties instead of arguing here. The exact situation of this matter will be determined after His Majesty wakes up."

Chu Suiliang stepped forward, looked at Li Tai, and said, "King of Wei, His Majesty is seriously ill now. As a prince, you should consider the overall situation. Since King Jin claims to have evidence, why not wait until His Majesty wakes up and then present it to His Majesty for inspection."

Although Li Tai was unwilling in his heart, he could not lose his temper at this time, so he gritted his teeth and said, "Okay, then let's wait for the emperor to wake up and see how this young slave explains."

Li Zhi sneered: "Fourth brother, I have a clear conscience, so I am not afraid of the emperor's investigation. But if you are really involved with those people with evil intentions, I am afraid it will be difficult to explain to the emperor."

"you!"

Li Tai was about to get angry again, but was stopped by Fang Xuanling: "Your Majesty is now unconscious, and the court needs your concerted efforts."

The two of them could only put it aside for the moment.

By this time, the news had already reached Luoyang.

Li Chengqian's eyes were calm as he instructed the eunuch Wen Zhong: "Order to prepare 5,000 cavalrymen to follow me to Chang'an."

(End of this chapter)