Chapter 441: Chapter 19: I Will Command All the Armies of the Realm! (Double Chapter)

Just as Li Jiancheng was still reacting, an arrow was shot directly at him.

—— Whoosh!

The force of this arrow was truly unimaginable.

Li Jiancheng’s body instantly fell from his war horse, with blood gushing out wildly. He tried to get up, but the pain was unbearable for him.

In the end, he merely raised his head to look at Li Shimin.

There was both regret for himself and hatred for Li Shimin in his eyes.

Yet he was ultimately powerless to change anything!

The situation had completely spiraled out of control.

Li Yuanji could no longer concern himself with so much?

Without saying a word, he immediately intended to flee.

"Kill!"

Li Shimin fixed his gaze on Li Yuanji. Without saying anything more, he shouted and rode his horse in pursuit!

—— Boom!

The rumbling of thunder constantly exploded in the air.

Adding layers of oppressive atmosphere to the day’s bloodshed.

Gu Quan did not pursue but instead led his troops back to Xuanwu Gate.

This was also part of the plan.

He needed to block Li Jiancheng’s forces, buying time for Li Shimin to settle everything!

The battle at Xuanwu Gate had already begun.

Xue Wanche from the Eastern Palace had long led Li Jiancheng’s Changling Soldiers to attack fiercely, assaulting Xuanwu Gate.

The situation grew more dire.

When Gu Quan’s devil-like visage appeared at Xuanwu Gate,

It wasn’t just the Changling Soldiers, even Chang He, who had already pledged allegiance to Li Shimin, was startled.

He was not a core confidant of Li Shimin, so he couldn’t possibly know Gu Quan’s identity.

No need for action at all.

Just Gu Quan’s appearance was enough to instill panic in many.

Gu Quan did not interfere in the defense of the city.

From start to finish, he spoke not a word, only letting his subordinates assist in defending the city.

Arrows fell like raindrops, dense and unyielding.

Both sides had nowhere to retreat.

But, after all, it was the imperial city.

Thinking of breaching the imperial city with just these troops was nothing short of a pipe dream.

Xue Wanche was no ordinary person.

He quickly realized this and decisively planned to attack Li Shimin’s Prince’s Mansion, to strike at Li Shimin’s root.

—— This was a killing move!

But for Gu Quan, leaving so easily was not that simple either.

This battle was actually simpler than many he had faced in the past.

There were only so many strategies for both sides to use.

When he noticed Xue Wanche planning to retreat, he did not hesitate and ordered Chang He to open the city gate!

He was going to lead his troops and charge out!

—— Creak.

The heavy and solemn city gate suddenly opened.

Xue Wanche did not expect such a change, but seeing the gate open, he naturally aimed to save Li Jiancheng immediately!

The two sides clashed fiercely!

Gu Quan even changed his weapon.

He used to wield a spear, a favorite weapon among the Gu Clan’s descendants after Gu Chen.

But now, he had switched to a horse lance.

This was something only Gu Clan offspring, accustomed to weapons from a young age, could handle so naturally. 𝕗𝗿𝕖𝐞𝐰𝗲𝕓𝐧𝕠𝕧𝗲𝐥.𝚌𝐨𝚖

"Kill!!!"

The shouted orders echoed through the heavens and earth.

Compared to regular siege battles, this direct charge was evidently bloodier.

Gu Quan led the charge at the forefront.

With his horse lance continuously slashing down, blood quickly stained his entire body, making his already terrifying face even more horrifying!

"Those who advance die; those who surrender will not be killed!"

He rasped loudly.

And so led his men to stand firm before Xuanwu Gate, his daunting presence truly stopped the Changling Soldiers from advancing a single step further.

Meanwhile, at Lihu Hall.

Li Yuan had been invited off the lake and was now sitting on the so-called dragon throne, his face full of sorrow.

Besides Li Shimin’s confidants,

only his usually most trusted minister, Pei Ji, stayed with him.

This minister, who had even once advised Li Yuan to beware of Li Shimin’s rebellion, was now utterly at a loss, his face ashen.

How could he not realize what would happen after this event?

No matter who won or lost,

His greatest support, Li Yuan, would become a mere figurehead; even if he survived, his powers would certainly be stripped away.

At that point—

A person like him, who thrived on playing both sides, likely wouldn’t be able to maintain his current status.

Step... step... step....

Suddenly, sounds of footsteps came from outside the hall.

The two men almost instantly looked over.

Drenched in blood and with disheveled hair, Li Shimin was slowly walking into the hall, accompanied by Yuchi Jingde.

His expression was complex.

Neither joyful nor sorrowful.

Upon entering the hall, he kneeled before Li Yuan and said emotionlessly, "Reporting to Father Emperor, the Crown Prince and King of Qi attempted rebellion and have been slain by your son!"

"Currently, the Eastern Palace troops are attacking the imperial city; I request Father Emperor to immediately order them to cease their attack!"

—— Boom!

At that moment, thunder resounded.

Li Shimin’s words exploded in the hearts of both Li Yuan and Pei Ji.

Pei Ji almost immediately slumped down.

Li Yuan’s body began to tremble.

He stared closely at Li Shimin, slowly stood up, shaking his head repeatedly, in the end, continuously muttering, "Impossible! Impossible!"

Li Yuan was unwilling to believe it!

Li Shimin said nothing more, still kneeled there unmoved, eyes filled with tears threatening to fall yet never did.

Li Yuan became increasingly agitated.

Pei Ji seemed to finally respond, and seeing Li Yuan about to collapse, he hurriedly stood up to support him, trembling, said, "Your Majesty, issue the order."