A thorough beating
Li Zhi's expression of pain and his tears were all genuine.
Just now, he had been so absorbed in framing Li Tai that he completely forgot he was only a two-year-old child at the moment.
His tender, childish face colliding with Li Tai’s robust arm… The agony of it could only be truly felt by Li Zhi himself.
Li Zhi's single question utterly unleashed the grievance pent up in Li Tai’s heart.
Clutching his swollen cheek, he cried to Emperor Taizong, “Father, I truly didn’t mean it!”
Emperor Taizong grew even more furious upon hearing Li Tai’s words. He had just witnessed the entire incident with his own eyes, and yet Li Tai was still trying to defend himself.
With this thought, he kicked Li Tai twice without regard for his cries of pain.
Only after the kicks did Emperor Taizong point at Li Tai’s nose and scold, “Wretched child! I saw with my own eyes how you struck the little pheasant; how dare you argue with me?”
Li Tai wept even more bitterly than Li Zhi now, feeling genuinely wronged.
Ignoring the pain on his face and body, he scrambled and crawled to clutch Emperor Taizong’s leg, crying out desperately, “Father! I really didn’t mean it!”
Emperor Taizong, hearing Li Tai’s words, was tempted to slap him again.
But he had always been fond of Li Tai, and seeing him cry so heartbreakingly did give him pause.
He wondered, could it be that he had misjudged the situation?
Unable to dispel his doubts, he looked to Zhang Anan and Liu An for confirmation.
Zhang Anan’s face scrunched up as Emperor Taizong’s gaze fell on him; he had seen almost exactly what the emperor had, and had nothing else to add.
As for Liu An, who knew the truth, he wore a look of suppressed indignation, not daring to speak.
With no one else knowing the real story, this was surely the time to support his young master.
Seeing their expressions, Emperor Taizong was now convinced his own eyes had not deceived him.
His anger, barely subdued for a moment, flared up anew.
This time, he grabbed Li Tai’s head with both hands and slapped him fiercely.
Emperor Taizong was famous as the Emperor on Horseback, skilled with bow and arrow, his arm strength formidable.
In his fury, he didn’t bother to restrain himself.
Li Tai, poor soul, suffered miserably, wailing loudly as he was struck.
Liu An, who knew the truth, felt pity watching from the side, and secretly glanced at Li Zhi.
To his astonishment, Li Zhi was crying even louder than Li Tai.
This discovery made Liu An shudder.
He thought, “The Prince of Jin is truly cunning! Looks like he thinks the Prince of Yue hasn’t been punished enough!”
While Liu An was lost in his wild thoughts, the commotion finally drew the attention of the servants in the Hall of Governance.
Someone quickly reported the incident to Empress Zhangsun.
Empress Zhangsun, who had been wondering why Li Zhi hadn’t returned, was alarmed by the news and rushed out.
The moment she stepped out of the hall, she saw Emperor Taizong furiously slapping Li Tai’s head.
She hastily called out, “Second Son, stop at once! If you keep beating him, Qingque will die!”
Emperor Taizong paused briefly at her words, then shoved Li Tai’s head, knocking him to the ground.
Li Tai was nearly unconscious from the beating, and upon being pushed over, sprawled out, limbs flailing.
He could no longer feel pain, only murmuring repeatedly, “I didn’t mean it! I really didn’t mean it!”
Empress Zhangsun hurried forward, tears streaming as she saw Li Tai’s condition.
Without questioning what had happened, she rushed to Li Tai’s side, cradling him in her arms and soothing him gently.
Li Tai, dazed, heard the tender voice and forced his eyes open.
Upon realizing it was Empress Zhangsun before him, he began to sob desperately.
He cried to her, full of grievance, “Mother, please stand up for me! I truly didn’t mean to hurt my ninth brother!”
Empress Zhangsun was puzzled by his words and turned to look at Li Zhi.
Only then did she notice Li Zhi nearby, clutching his cheek and wailing loudly.
She quickly asked Emperor Taizong, “Your Majesty, what happened here?”
Emperor Taizong snorted coldly before recounting the incident.
Empress Zhangsun was soon half convinced, for earlier in the Hall of Governance Li Tai had already shown signs of anger.
She had hoped that Li Zhi’s gesture of escorting Li Tai out would dispel the brothers’ discord, but never expected things to turn out thus.
Even Empress Zhangsun herself felt tempted to punish Li Tai anew.
Yet, seeing his current state, she couldn’t bring herself to do so.
As she hesitated over how to persuade Emperor Taizong to calm down, Li Zhi, who had been crying all along, suddenly ran to his father.
He tugged Emperor Taizong’s sleeve, tears streaming, and said, “Father, please forgive my fourth brother. I no longer feel any pain.”
His tearful plea moved everyone present.
Especially Liu An, who knew the whole truth, stood dumbfounded.
He could scarcely believe that the Prince of Jin, at his age, could be so cunning.
Liu An could only judge Li Zhi so, for it was he who had deliberately framed Li Tai, and now he stood forth to plead on Li Tai’s behalf.
If there were an Oscars for this moment, Li Zhi would surely win Best Actor without dispute.
No one saw through his acting.
Emperor Taizong scooped Li Zhi up in his arms.
He gently stroked Li Zhi’s reddened cheek and asked, “Don’t you blame your fourth brother for hitting you?”
Li Zhi feigned timidity, glanced at Li Tai, then shook his head and said to Emperor Taizong, “Father has already punished him for me; I won’t blame him anymore.”
Emperor Taizong, hearing this, turned coldly to Li Tai and said, “Since the little pheasant has pleaded for you, I will spare you today.”
He then addressed Zhang Anan, “Anan, escort the Prince of Yue back to his residence. Tell his steward to keep him strictly under watch—he is not to leave for two months.”