Chapter 584: Born of the Same Root

It wasn't until dusk that Li Tai, having received the summons, hurriedly arrived at Lizheng Hall.

Upon entering, he immediately found everyone present.

Besides his own brothers and sisters, there were also the Crown Princess, Chen Yan, Li Shimin and others.

The Empress Changsun was already seated, her phoenix eyes blazing, and she barked, "Kneel!"

Li Tai said nothing, dropped to his knees with a thud, and bowed his head heavily.

"Mother…"

"You still have the nerve to call me 'Mother'?" Empress Changsun's eyes flashed with a hint of pain, then she suppressed it, hardened her heart and said, "In the past, Cheng Qian was poisoned with a deadly toxin; even Zi An was helpless, and only a strong purgative saved his life!"

"How dare you say this has nothing to do with you!?"

Li Tai was on the verge of tears, his eyes reddening as he whispered hoarsely, "Mother, I truly did not know about this matter, but if it was done by subordinates I once recruited, I cannot claim to be completely unrelated to it!"

"I know, regardless of how you look at it, this matter is already inseparable from me, but I swear before all ancestors that I have absolutely no intention of harming the Crown Prince!"

"It never happened before, and it will not happen now!"

"Very well!" Empress Changsun closed her eyes. "Tell me, a remnant faction that your Father Emperor suppressed, now reduced to only a few, how did they devise such a complete poisoning scheme, conceal it from everyone, bypass the multiple guards and overseers of the Eastern Palace, and poison Cheng Qian?"

"Who! Is covering for them?!"

"And who, possessing such great power, could after the poisoning cut off all traces, so that your Father Emperor has been unable to uncover any information all this time!"

"Or is it relying on Zheng Guanyin and their former subordinates, only after the group you recruited got drunk, that you obtained these fragments of words?"

"In the whole world, how many people can achieve this?"

"Even Zi An now cannot, yet you tell me you are unaware?"

Alas!

Chen Yan scratched his head; regarding this matter, he actually had something to say.

If he wanted to poison Li Chengqian, there were at least nine methods—exactly nine.

Li Lizhi seemed to notice his odd demeanor and, without a word, jabbed him with her elbow.

Chen Yan instantly dared not move.

Li Shimin's expression was complicated.

This issue, in fact, was clear to everyone in their hearts.

Even though Chen Yan said aloud that Li Tai might truly be unaware, the suspicious points remained too many.

What is the Eastern Palace?

The defensive forces could be said to be among the top two in the world; to bypass such protections and poison Li Chengqian with such a subtle method, the number of people in the world capable of doing so could be counted on one hand.

This is Li Tai's biggest suspicion point.

Because his former power was great and he often opposed the Crown Prince, he had the opportunity to achieve this.

Li Tai was speechless, bowed his head and knelt before Empress Changsun, unable to utter a word.

Just as Empress Changsun was about to be disappointed, he spoke, his voice hoarse: "In the past… I placed agents in the Eastern Palace, for… for gathering information."

After finishing, he hurriedly added, "It was only after I learned from the Duke of Wei about hot‑air balloons, gunpowder, the divine might cannon, and scientific knowledge that I stopped overseeing those people."

"I think… this matter should be related to them…"

Li Chengqian's mouth twitched, and he turned his head away.

Li Shimin scoffed in irritation, while Empress Changsun closed her eyes in pain, "Planting agents in the Eastern Palace—how could you manage that!"

"Qingque, you truly have great audacity… what exactly are you trying to do!?"

Li Tai's eyes dimmed. "Mother, I know whatever explanation I give now you won't accept, but please give me some time to investigate this matter."

"Regardless of the outcome, I will give the Crown Prince an answer."

Empress Changsun said softly, "Qingque, can I still trust you?"

"You have betrayed me, betrayed your Father Emperor, betrayed your Crown Prince, and even betrayed Zi An."

Li Tai fell silent again.

"I'm exhausted; you all may go, I won't deal with this any longer."

"All leave!"

Empress Changsun waved her hand, her face full of fatigue,

The Xuanwu Gate Incident was still vivid in memory; now such events were happening again, and she was truly exhausted.

Li Tai gave three heavy bows to Empress Changsun, then bowed once to Li Chengqian, saying, "Brother Crown Prince, I have wronged you, give me…"

Li Chengqian stared at him steadily for two breaths.

At this moment, for reasons unknown, the resentment he had harbored—originally learning that it was Li Tai's former subordinates who had poisoned him, causing him so much suffering—suddenly…

…vanished instantly.

Boiling beans set the bean stalks ablaze!

The beans weep in the cauldron!

We were born of the same root!

Why the frantic mutual torment!

He let out a slight sigh, smiled, and gently nodded, "Qingque, you need not blame yourself; if you truly have a clear conscience, I do not blame you."

"We are brothers."

When Li Chengqian finished speaking, Li Tai was suddenly stunned; the grievances and resentment he had bottled up surged out like a flood breaching a dam.

"I… I… Crown Prince!"

At that moment, Li Tai's words were incoherent, tears mixed with snot staining his stubble as he covered his face and wept, his heart a swirl of emotions.

He feared neither Chen Yan's questioning nor the disappointed gazes of the Father Emperor and others.

He feared even less the Empress Changsun's attitude toward him.

The only thing he's afraid of is facing Li Chengqian.

Because, no matter how you look at it, the other party almost died because of his own death.

This is a fact.

And now, he heard such a sentence from the other party's mouth.

"I'm leaving... I'm leaving, wait for me!"

After saying that, Li Tai could no longer stay and left without looking back.

Empress Changsun wanted quiet, and Chen Yan and the others all left.

Stepping out of Lizheng Hall, Chen Yan sighed, "Alas, how did such a mess happen?"

"What are you lamenting?"

Li Chengqian, relaxed and indifferent, said, "Anyway, I was the one who suffered at first, and I haven't said anything yet."

Chen Yan, speechless, said, "Your heart is truly big; it's a shame you can still laugh now."

"Fine, as long as you have a clear idea yourself, that's enough. Prince Wei even disclosed that he had previously placed agents in the Eastern Palace. As for how this matter will turn out, let's wait for the outcome."

"Anyway, from now on the ones who should be worried are you."

Li Shimin, irritated, said, "What nonsense are you talking about?"

"Didn't you previously say a son-in-law is half a son? You married me two daughters, so isn't that one son?"

"So you just don't care about it?"

"How am I supposed to care?" Chen Yan said helplessly. "I still have a headache now; you all should think of a solution. Her Imperial Highness the Empress's body was fine and was slowly recovering, but now this sudden fiery assault on the heart has arrived."

"If you ask me, what we should pay attention to now is Her Imperial Highness the Empress's mood and physical condition."

"......"