Li Zhi filed a complaint, and Prince Liang was beaten.

After Li Yin left, Pei Mingli lay on the ground for quite some time before he was helped to his feet. The more he thought about it, the more aggrieved he felt, so he decided to tell Li Zhi, hoping Li Zhi would seek justice on his behalf.

Hearing Pei Mingli’s account, Li Zhi was so furious that he smashed a teacup on the spot. He said to Pei Mingli, whose face was still streaked with tears, “Rest assured, Manager Pei. I will see that you are avenged for what happened today.” With that, he turned and strode toward the door. As he walked out, he instructed Liu An, “Take good care of Manager Pei for me. I am going to see Father and demand an explanation.”

Li Yin’s actions had truly infuriated Li Zhi. He never imagined that one day he would be bullied by a brother who was barely regarded at all. Today, not only did he intend for Li Yin to receive a sound beating, but he also meant to have all those cronies wrested from Li Yin’s hands. He would use this incident to assert his authority, so that no one else would dare trouble him in the future.

When Li Zhi arrived at the entrance to the Hall of Supreme Harmony, he pinched his own thigh hard, quickly forcing himself to tears. Crying, he stepped over the threshold and knelt on the floor inside. Before Li Shimin could react, Li Zhi wailed, “Father, Sixth Brother bullied your son—please, Father, uphold justice for me!”

Seeing Li Zhi in such a state, Li Shimin hurried down from the dragon throne. As he walked swiftly toward Li Zhi, he asked anxiously, “What grievance has my little son suffered, to move him to such tears?”

Li Zhi cried out “Father!” and then recounted the incident at the shop, carefully choosing his words. He did not mention that Li Yin had beaten someone on suspicion that Pei Mingli was lying. Instead, he steered the motive toward Li Yin wanting to compete with the imperial concubines in the palace. Since many in the palace had yet to receive any glassware, Li Zhi simply shifted all blame onto others. If Li Yin dared to provoke him, not only would he ensure Li Yin got a beating, but even his own mother would be implicated.

Li Zhi’s age was his best shield, and he had never been caught in a lie before. Thus, Li Shimin believed every word without hesitation. While holding Li Zhi in his arms and wiping away his tears, Li Shimin turned to Zhang Anan with a dark expression. He snorted coldly and said, “Go and summon that unfilial child for me. Today, I will teach him the meaning of respect for seniority and rank.” Zhang Anan accepted the order and hurried off, soon returning with Li Yin in tow.

The moment Li Yin entered and saw Li Zhi, he knew something was wrong. Before he could even think of how to respond, Li Shimin shouted, “Wretch, why haven’t you knelt before me?” Li Yin was long accustomed to kneeling before Li Shimin. At his words, he dropped to his knees with a thud.

Li Shimin asked, “Do you know why I summoned you?”

Li Yin replied, “Your son struck someone today.”

He confessed readily, knowing that beating people had become a routine matter for him—if Li Shimin pursued it, it usually amounted to a few slaps and a docking of his allowance.

But today, he was mistaken—because Li Shimin intended to pursue a very different matter.

Li Shimin continued, “Then tell me, why did you beat someone today?”

Li Yin, being forthright, recounted the incident in detail. Yet in his honest retelling, he mentioned that Pei Mingli had explained the lack of stock was due to deliveries to the palace. Even though Li Yin claimed he suspected Pei Mingli of lying, anyone with sense would see that he was just picking a fight. This only confirmed Li Zhi’s version of events, and both Li Shimin and Zhang Anan immediately assumed jealousy was at the root.

Li Shimin said nothing after Li Yin’s account. He set Li Zhi down, then took a few steps forward and stood before Li Yin. As soon as Li Yin looked up, he saw a large foot before his eyes. Before he could react, his face met the sole of that foot, and he was kicked flat on his back. Without a word, Li Shimin advanced and unleashed a flurry of kicks.

This time, the beating truly hurt. Even someone as thick-skinned as Li Yin found it unbearable. After gritting his teeth through several blows, he finally cried out in pain, clutching his head and pleading, “Father, please stop! I can’t bear it any longer!” But Li Shimin showed no sign of letting up.

This was the first time Li Zhi had seen a child as impervious to beatings as Li Yin. When Li Tai was punished, a single slap had him in tears. Yet now, though Li Yin was howling, not a single tear fell. What impressed Li Zhi even more was how skillfully Li Yin protected his head and vital parts, leaving only his back and buttocks exposed to Li Shimin’s blows. Li Zhi wondered to himself: just how many beatings had it taken for this technique to be perfected?

Li Shimin only stopped when he was winded from the effort. On the ground, Li Yin kept whimpering; this time, the pain was genuine—one more blow and he felt he truly would weep. He didn’t want anyone to see him cry, thinking it would make him appear weak and invite more bullying from his brothers. If that happened, his mother would be saddened, and he knew her low status left her powerless to protect him. Even his elder brother Li Ke, though well regarded, could barely fend for himself.

Li Yin did not want to be bullied, so from childhood he refused to suffer loss. As long as others could not take advantage of him, they would keep their distance.

Li Zhi watched Li Yin silently from the side, suddenly finding this Sixth Brother of his rather intriguing.

After catching his breath, Li Shimin finally asked, “Do you know why I punished you so harshly today?”

Li Yin, clutching his head, replied in a muffled voice, “Your son does not know.”

Li Shimin snorted. “To flaunt your own power, you vied for favor with the palace concubines—such audacity is treasonous!”

Li Yin immediately raised his head to protest, “Your son harbored no such intention.”

Li Shimin snapped, “Still trying to deny it? If you had no such thought, why did you ignore all explanation and stubbornly insist on your way?”

Li Yin replied, “I merely thought the man was lying to me and wanted to get to the truth.”

Li Shimin retorted, “Nonsense! You are the Prince of Liang, and he had never met you before—why would he deceive you?”

Li Yin said, “Because he is Ninth Brother’s man, and Ninth Brother is far more favored than I am. Perhaps that is why he looks down on me.”