Chapter 586: Helpless Du Ruhui

That night, as Chen Yan had expected, Li Shimin had already ordered someone to act.

However, what Chen Yan did not anticipate was that this matter also involved Du Ruhui.

Later that night, Du Gou hurriedly found Du Ruhui, who was leisurely sipping tea, and said, "Father, it's bad—my younger uncle has been taken, and his wife and our cousin were taken as well."

Du Ruhui's hand trembled, and the tea cup nearly slipped from his grasp.

He immediately sat upright and said sternly, "Do you know who took them? The Ministry of Justice? Dali Temple?"

In Chang'an, to brazenly seize people—especially his own younger brother and sister‑in‑law—only a few such departments could do it; there were no others.

Du Gou said silently, "It doesn't seem to be any of them; the reports from below say the leaders were Li Junxian and Li Daozong…"

Upon hearing those two names, Du Ruhui could no longer sit still.

Who Li Junxian was needs no explanation.

He was a commander of the imperial guard by Li Shimin's side, taking orders only from Li Shimin.

And there was Li Daozong… lately, he had sensed something: Li Shimin seemed to have formed a secret department, its purpose unknown.

With both men deployed together, it was undoubtedly on Li Shimin's personal orders.

Du Ruhui's expression grew grim; after pondering, he still couldn't understand why Li Shimin suddenly seized his brother.

Since the Prince of Wei had no intention of vying for the throne, his brother Du Chuke, a steadfast supporter of the Prince of Wei, had gradually withdrawn from the vortex of power.

He spent his days either teasing birds or playing with crickets—why seize him for no reason?

And they didn't even spare his wife and children?

"You, tell your father carefully—has anything unusual happened to your younger uncle lately? Apart from your younger uncle, were any other people taken?"

Du Gou thought carefully, shook his head, and said, "I don't know; my younger uncle has been the same as before, nothing unusual. As for whether others were taken, I don't know either."

"Li Junxian and his men seem unwilling to cause a big commotion; they act very covertly and quickly. If it weren't for the younger uncle's capture, we might not have even gotten any news."

Du Ruhui's gaze darkened, and his sense of something ominous grew stronger.

After pondering for a long while, he sighed, "Li Junxian… Li Daozong… If it were Dali Temple or the Ministry of Justice, father could still investigate, but with these two involved, we can only wait and see."

"Don't be hasty; haste is useless."

Du Gou could hardly not be anxious—after all, it's his own younger uncle: "Father, does that mean we do nothing at all?"

"Even his aunt and cousin were taken… At the very least, we must think of a way."

"Calm down, calm down!" Du Ruhui scolded, "Look at yourself—panicking like this at the slightest trouble, how can you achieve great deeds?"

"This matter is probably His Majesty's will; what can we do? The only thing we can do is wait and see."

"Now we don't even know why your younger uncle was taken, let alone how to plead on his behalf."

"Perhaps if we go, it could harm him and displease His Majesty."

"After all, you just said even his aunt and cousin were taken; do you think this matter can be minor?"

"But… but…" Du Gou was speechless, hesitated for a long time, then sighed, "What exactly happened to my younger uncle?"

"That's the question I'm trying to clarify now."

Du Ruhui mused, "So, send people to investigate—not to look for what fault your younger uncle may have committed, but to find out who else Li Junxian and his group have taken besides your younger uncle. Do you understand father's meaning?"

"One more thing… I'll go find Zi An tomorrow and see what he says."

"......"

That night, after the curfew in Chang'an City, it was not peaceful.

Some still‑awake townsfolk occasionally heard hurried footsteps on the streets, which quickly vanished into narrow alleys.

Many residents found it odd, but soon paid it no mind.

The Imperial Examination had just concluded, and Chang'an City was still unsettled; that was nothing remarkable.

Yet in an otherwise ordinary courtyard, the basement was filled with hair‑raising screams and various mournful wails.

Only by the latter half of the night did they gradually subside.

The next day.

The court session proceeded as usual, but Du Ruhui spoke a little less.

After the court meeting ended, the officials dispersed, and only Chen Yan and Du Ruhui headed straight for Ganlu Hall.

Chen Yan said in surprise, "Cai Duke, are you also going to see His Majesty?"

A strange glint flashed in Du Ruhui's eyes as he leaned closer and asked, "I won't hide our relationship from you; yesterday my younger brother's whole family was taken by Li Junxian and Li Daozong. Do you know what's happening?"

Hearing this, Chen Yan was startled, "Your younger brother? His entire family was taken?"

"Yes!" Du Ruhui replied with a heavy expression; even now he still didn't understand what was happening.

Chen Yan hesitated briefly, then said tactfully, "Cai Duke, if you are going to see His Majesty because of this, return quickly; don't pursue it, otherwise you'll only endanger them, and don't pry any further."

"This matter isn't as simple as you think; speaking of it might tear the heavens. I'm bringing it up today because of this, so I'll go see His Majesty myself; you must not intervene!"

Those brief two sentences made Du Ruhui's mood even heavier.

He opened his mouth but asked nothing further, only saying, "Then… does my younger brother still have a chance to survive? If not… what will happen to my sister‑in‑law and nephew?"

Chen Yan shook his head.

It seemed as if nothing was said, yet it felt as if everything was said.

Du Ruhui's heart seemed to die in an instant.

Having learned yesterday that his brother's whole family was taken, he knew the matter wasn't simple, but didn't expect it to be this severe.

Even Chen Yan said that speaking of it might tear the heavens, so he dared not tell him.

"...... Ah, never mind."

After a long while, Du Ruhui sighed and prepared to leave.

Chen Yan paused, then whispered, "This matter is still hard to explain; it depends on whether your younger brother was involved… even whether he knows any information. If there's nothing, your nephew and the others should be able to survive."

"If… even just a little bit of information is known… I'll see if I can save your nephew and his companions' lives."

He also doesn't dare to speak too definitively.

Because the other's younger brother has already been taken away, he must have undergone interrogation.

And once he has undergone interrogation, it's impossible that he knows nothing; he can at least guess something.

Li Shimin would not allow such a matter to be known by outsiders.

To put it bluntly, being taken away last night means he basically won't survive.

Du Ruhui gave him a deep look and said, "Don't force it, endangering yourself. If you can rescue them, that's best; if the matter cannot be done, then let it be."

"Cai Duke, rest assured, I know what's going on."

"......"