My father, Li Shimin, requests Your Majesty to become the Retired Emperor.

The man was seen supporting his bloated belly with both hands, panting heavily and covered in sweat; it was none other than Duke Lu, Cheng Yaojin.

Li Chengan quickly came over to greet them, and after exchanging pleasantries,

Li Chengan then asked, "Duke Lu, where did you come from?"

Cheng Yaojin laughed heartily and recounted his journey to see Li Shimin.

After hearing this, Li Chenggan was also very surprised. He thought to himself that Cheng was really resourceful and could actually come up with the idea of ​​faking his death. Moreover, he acted so convincingly that even his father was fooled.

After Cheng Yaojin finished speaking, he took out the imperial edict from his bosom and handed it to Li Chenggan.

Li Chengan opened the imperial edict and, sure enough, it restored Luo Cheng's title of Duke of Yue and approved the reinstatement of the officers and soldiers under Luo Cheng.

Li Chenggan thought to himself that this was a great thing, and Cheng Yaojin deserved all the credit.

Li Chenggan then asked, "So, did Father Emperor agree to let Chang He and the others search the Duke of Yi's residence?"

Old Cheng waved his hand: "No, your father, the Emperor, forbade the Imperial Guards to search the Duke of Yi's residence."

It seems your father isn't entirely senile after all.

Just then, Gongsun Wuda returned.

He jogged up to Li Chengqian and recounted his meeting with Li Shimin.

Chang He listened, half-believing, half-doubting: "Is that so?"

"yes!"

"It's all Cheng Yaojin's fault!" Chang He had hoped to make a great contribution by taking this opportunity, but Cheng Yaojin ruined it. He angrily came to Cheng Yaojin and grabbed Cheng Yaojin's collar. "What are you doing?"

"If you hadn't caused trouble, Gongsun Wuda would have already obtained the imperial edict."

Cheng Yaojin waved his hand, displaying strength as great as an ox.

Chang He took two steps back: "Cheng Datou, we're not children anymore."

We must persuade people with reason, shouldn't we?

You're sending Gongsun Wuda to request an imperial decree to arrest Luo Cheng? Isn't that a joke?

Luo Cheng saved the emperor's life and is a meritorious official of our Great Tang Dynasty. The emperor should be thanking him. How could you arrest Luo Cheng?

This is absolutely outrageous!

"Let me tell you, the Emperor has already agreed to restore Luo Cheng's title of Duke of Yue, and you are forbidden from searching the Duke of Yi's residence. Not only that, you also have to apologize to Qin Qiong."

Chang He was so angry that his face turned red and his neck bulged: "How is this possible? Luo Yi's rebellion was exposed, and he committed suicide out of fear of punishment. His son, Luo Cheng, is a traitor to the court!"

Luo Cheng's title has already been stripped, so how could it possibly be restored?

Chang He didn't believe it at all, but when Lao Cheng showed him the imperial edict, Chang He was speechless: "How could the Emperor issue such an edict?"

That's really hard to understand.

At this moment, Qin Qiong also came out of the mansion, pointing at Chang He: "You have to apologize, otherwise, this matter is not over!"

"I—." Chang He's face turned very pale.

However, at that moment, another army arrived.

Leading the procession was a tall, black horse, upon which sat a man—Zhang Shigui.

Following behind Zhang Shigui were his four sons: Zhang Zhilong, Zhang Zhihu, Zhang Zhibiao, and Zhang Zhibao, as well as his son-in-law He Zongxian.

As the army approached the gate of the mansion, Zhang Shigui raised his spear into the air, and the entire army immediately stopped.

Zhang Shigui shouted, "By order of the Emperor, execute Li Chenggan immediately! Anyone who obstructs us shall be killed without mercy! Surround him! Archers, prepare!"

At Zhang Shigui's command, his soldiers charged forward like wolves and tigers.

At the same time, Zhang Shigui said to Chang He, "Did you hear that? His Majesty has ordered you to fight alongside me and kill Li Chenggan together."

Chang He was stunned when he heard this, thinking that Zhang Shigui was joking with him.

Zhang Shigui took out the imperial edict and read it aloud again: "By the mandate of Heaven, the Emperor decrees: Li Chengqian has formed cliques for personal gain, cultivated his own followers, and secretly maintained close ties with court officials, thus violating the laws of the court."

He frequently associated with sorcerers such as Chengxin and Weilingfu, and refused to change his ways despite repeated admonitions;

Li Chenggan colluded with the female demon Lanbolu of Yanqi to resell wine for huge profits.

This time, he intended to take advantage of the banquet at Jiucheng Palace to poison the officials and other members of the royal family during the Lantern Festival, killing them all. His actions were an attempt to murder the emperor and his father, a heinous crime.

"It is hereby decided to depose him from his position as crown prince and execute him without mercy! So be it!"

Only then did everyone realize that it was true.

Upon hearing this, Li Chengan felt his vision go black, and he involuntarily took two steps back, swaying and staggering, almost falling to the ground.

Cheng Yaojin, standing beside him, quickly helped him up: "Your Highness, how are you feeling?"

Li Chengan barely managed to stand up and slightly opened his eyes: "What did Zhang Shigui just say?"

"Did Father order him to kill me?"

"Uh—," Old Cheng paused, "My hearing isn't very good, I didn't hear you clearly, you can ask me again."

Old Cheng puffed out his belly and said to Zhang Shigui, "What nonsense are you spouting? Li Chenggan is the Crown Prince, the Emperor's son. How could the Emperor possibly issue an edict to kill him?"

Has the Emperor taken the wrong medicine?

Zhang Shigui sneered: "Cheng Yaojin, others may fear you, but I, Zhang, am not afraid of you."

In terms of merit, my contribution as Zhang is no less than yours.

However, you appear honest and simple on the surface, but you're actually a master of flattery, which is why you always manage to snag the lucrative positions.

Out of consideration for our past relationship, I won't hold it against you.

This is important business today, and it has nothing to do with you. You should step aside.

Cheng Yaojin, hands on his hips, said, "I, Old Cheng, simply won't allow it, what are you going to do about it?"

Upon hearing this, Zhang Shigui's expression changed: "Cheng Yaojin, don't refuse a toast only to be forced to drink a forfeit."

The Emperor's decree clearly states that anyone who dares to obstruct the movement will be killed without exception!

I know you, but the spear in my hand doesn't!"

"You little brat, you dare to scare me, Old Cheng? Do you think I'm easily frightened?"

You have a long spear, but I, Old Cheng, don't have three tricks up my sleeve?

You know, back in the day, I, Old Cheng, was invincible with my three and a half axe blows. Do you think I'm afraid of you?

At this moment, Old Cheng also felt a little regretful; he had forgotten to bring his axe when he came.

Because he didn't intend to fight when he came.

Zhang Shigui said again, "Cheng Yaojin, get out of the way, or I won't be so polite."

"Fine, you can be impolite then. What are you going to do to me, Old Cheng?"

At this moment, before Zhang Shigui could make a move, his son-in-law He Zongxian rode a white horse straight towards Cheng Yaojin.

On the one hand, He Zongxian was taking advantage of Lao Cheng's old age.

On the other hand, he also wanted to show off in front of everyone.

He thought to himself, "His Majesty intends to execute Li Chenggan, and has made it clear that anyone who obstructs him will be killed without exception. What is there to be afraid of?"

Cheng Yaojin is just an old geezer, and he doesn't even have a weapon. What's so special about him?

I swung my halberd and pierced a hole right through him.

He Zongxian arrived on horseback and thrust his halberd towards Lao Cheng's neck.

Seeing that the situation was not good, Lao Cheng quickly stepped aside.

Believe it or not, despite his obesity, Lao Cheng is quite agile when it matters.

Old Cheng dodged the blow and said, "Ouch, kid! You really dare to use your weapon! Do you know who I, Old Cheng, am?"

Seeing that his halberd had missed Cheng Yaojin, He Zongxian immediately turned his horse around and returned.

Old Cheng was furious, lamenting that he had neither a weapon nor a warhorse.

At this moment, another black horse galloped in, with a person sitting on its back, holding Old Cheng's battle axe in his hand.

The visitor was none other than Cheng Tieniu.

He shouted, "Father, step aside! Let me handle him!"

"Alright! I'm entrusting this kid to you. He's quite capable, so you'd better be careful."

"understood."

Cheng Yaojin stepped back, and together with Qin Qiong, they protected Li Chenggan from the left and right.

He Zongxian and Cheng Tieniu then started fighting in front of the Duke of Yi's mansion.

He Zongxian originally thought that he could easily kill Old Cheng and then use the opportunity to make a name for himself.

Unexpectedly, Cheng Yaojin's son, Cheng Tieniu, attacked halfway through the journey.

He Zongxian was furious and asked, "Who are you? Why are you interfering in this?"

"Nonsense, my name is Cheng Tieniu, and Duke Lu is my father."

"Cheng Tieniu? Never heard of him. Do you dare disobey an imperial decree?"

"What do you mean by disobeying the imperial decree? I don't know anything about that. Anyone who bullies my father is unacceptable!"

He Zongxian was furious and raised his halberd to fight Cheng Tieniu.

He Zongxian originally thought that Cheng Yaojin was a complete fool, and his son Cheng Tieniu was no better, except that he was just strong.

However, after they started fighting, he realized he was wrong. Cheng Tieniu had inherited all of Cheng Yaojin's strengths, but not his weaknesses.

Cheng Yaojin's three and a half axe blows were also known to Cheng Tieniu, who not only improved upon them but also further developed and perfected them.

He Zongxian discovered that Cheng Tieniu's approach was different from his father's.

In He Zongxian's memory, Cheng Yaojin's three and a half axe blows were nothing more than things like splitting heads, picking teeth, and cleaning ears—simple and brutal.

However, once this axe fell into Cheng Tieniu's hands, it became unpredictable, often striking from unexpected angles with tremendous power, forcing him to retreat frequently.

The two fought for about ten rounds without a clear winner.

He Zongxian was anxious when he saw this.

He thought to himself that he had at least gained some fame now; people all believed that he had single-handedly rescued six people from the Turkic army.

Moreover, he defeated his opponent in the arena.

If you can't even beat Cheng Tieniu, that seems a bit hard to explain. What will others think of you?

Am I really a useless person?