A thousand-year-old family begins with one fighting against ten thousand.

"You colluded with the deposed crown prince, plotting rebellion; do you know your crime?"

Li Xian's voice exploded in Xue Rengui's mind: He colluded with the deposed crown prince, plotting a rebellion?!

How is that possible?!

He was the late emperor's trusted minister, the current emperor's tutor, and held the official position of Grand Tutor. Why would he collude with the deposed crown prince?

"Your Majesty, I am utterly loyal and have never colluded with the deposed Crown Prince. I beg Your Majesty to see the truth."

Xue Rengui immediately knelt down on the ground, his face full of loyalty.

"Clearly verdict?! The evidence is overwhelming, both witnesses and physical evidence. Are you still trying to deny it?!"

Li Xian roared angrily.

The ministers in the court looked at each other, somewhat bewildered by this unexpected turn of events.

However, the ministers who were close to Xue Rengui believed in his character and stepped forward to defend him.

Among them were naturally people arranged by Wu Zetian. He asked Emperor Li Xian, "Your Majesty says that there are both witnesses and physical evidence, but where are the witnesses and physical evidence?"

All the officials in the court also focused their attention on this, wanting to see what these so-called witnesses and physical evidence were.

However, those veteran officials who had served through several reigns and experienced the ups and downs of the court knew that in this court, evidence was never the most important thing. "Xue Rengui, I ask you, when I asked you about the matter of deposing the crown prince, did you answer me? There must be some hidden story behind the matter of deposing the crown prince."

Xue Rengui's lips twitched slightly, and he finally answered yes.

"However, I thought Your Majesty intended to pardon the deposed Crown Prince, which is why I said that."

The court was in an uproar. How could His Majesty possibly pardon the deposed crown prince?

That was essentially creating the only enemy who could threaten his legitimacy.

"Then let me ask you again: you once said that the deposed crown prince had shown kindness to the soldiers in the border regions. Is that true?"

Li Xian continued to ask.

"Yes."

Xue Rengui answered frankly that the whole world knew about this, and there was no need to hide it.

"Very well, were you once a soldier in the border region? Did you ever receive favors from the deposed crown prince?"

Li Xian's question made Xue Rengui's face stiffen.

"Your Majesty, the deposition of the Crown Prince in the past was an act of grace bestowed by imperial decree, and had nothing to do with personal matters."

"If we're talking about bestowing favors, the late emperor bestowed favors upon the Grand Tutor, who was also Your Majesty's teacher and received much care from Your Majesty. This favor far surpasses that shown to the deposed crown prince."

Some military personnel stood up to plead for Xue Rengui.

"Adding flowers to brocade is far less valuable than providing charcoal in the snow."

Li Xian said calmly.

"I ask you, you said the late emperor ordered you not to hand over the power of the palace guards to anyone. Is there an official decree on this? Are there any witnesses among the Three Dukes and Nine Ministers?"

"His Majesty issued a verbal order; there were no other important officials present."

Xue Rengui's expression was complicated. He was loyal to the emperor, but he never expected that the emperor would want to kill him.

"In other words, this whole thing is just your side of the story, and there's no way to prove it with your own words."

Li Xiandao.

Where were you twenty-seven days ago?

Xue Rengui tried hard to recall which day it was 27 days ago, and where he was that day.

But so much time has passed, who still remembers it so clearly?

"I'm here to tell you that I secretly met with a retainer of the deposed crown prince at a hotel."

Where were you on the ninth day of the third month?

"I'm telling you, that day you were discussing matters in the study with several of the deposed crown prince's advisors."

Even the dull-witted Xue Rengui realized at this point that someone was framing him.

"Your Majesty, I did not. This is all a frame-up."

Xue Rengui quickly replied.

"Even now, you still won't admit it?"

Li Xian took out a few more letters and threw them on the ground.

"These are the letters between you and the deposed crown prince. What else do you have to say?"

"I have witnesses and physical evidence; the evidence is irrefutable, and you cannot refute it!"

"Teacher, I ask you, do you hold the late Emperor, the deposed Crown Prince, and me in your heart?"

Li Xian's questions were like knives piercing Xue Rengui's chest.

Xue Rengui's face was pale, and his lips trembled. "Your Majesty, I didn't! This is all slander!"

"Your Majesty, I am utterly loyal and have no disloyal intentions!"

At this moment, Wu Zetian, having learned of the news from the court, arrived "late".

She had already learned the whole story from other people.

"Your Majesty, the Grand Tutor has rendered great service and made outstanding contributions to our Great Tang Dynasty."

"Although there were some inappropriate actions, they were not ultimately carried out, so the crime does not warrant death."

"I beg Your Majesty to have mercy on his talent and punish him leniently."

Wu Zetian pleaded for Xue Rengui, but in doing so, she inadvertently confirmed Xue Rengui's crime.

At the same time, she completely pinned the blame for harming loyal officials on Li Xian, leaving herself with a good reputation. She also exonerated Xue Rengui, sparing his life, in preparation for her to win over Xue Rengui's subordinates in the future.

Li Xian's eyes flickered. Why was his mother protecting Xue Rengui so much?

Could it be that she's trying to take this opportunity to win over Xue Rengui?

No, he has completely fallen out with Xue Rengui, and he absolutely cannot let Xue Rengui fall into the hands of his mother.

"I ordered my men to investigate secretly, and they found weapons and armor in the Grand Tutor's mansion. The evidence is irrefutable."

"If punishments cannot be determined according to the law, how can the people be convinced? Where is the majesty of the Tang Dynasty?"

"If treason goes unpunished, wouldn't everyone follow suit and cause chaos everywhere?"

"Those who plot rebellion will not be pardoned!"

"Xue Rengui, relying on his merits, became arrogant and disloyal, harboring treacherous intentions towards two masters, showing contempt for the Emperor, and wreaking havoc on the court. He is stripped of all official titles, ranks, and military power, and reduced to a commoner. In consideration of his past merits, he is granted imperial wine to commit suicide, thus preserving his dignity."

Li Xian issued an edict in front of all the court officials, ordering Xue Rengui to commit suicide.

"Your Majesty, please reconsider!"

Wu Zetian was overjoyed, but her face showed anxiety as she pleaded for Xue Rengui's life.

"My mind is made up, the imperial edict has been issued, and it cannot be changed."

"Court adjourned!"

Li Xian, unusually assertive, overlooked the irrationality of it all.

Could he really have the authority to execute the regent and Grand Tutor with a single word?

If he really succeeded, it means that someone else shares the same thoughts and is hiding in the shadows.

But Li Xian failed to notice any of this.

The once bustling scene of carriages and horses at the Grand Tutor's mansion has vanished, replaced by utter desolation.

Apart from a few of Xue Rengui's former subordinates, all the powerful and influential people who used to be so smug at Xue Rengui's residence had given him a wide berth, fearing that Li Xian would mistake them for Xue Rengui's accomplices.

Zhou Qingcai arrived late; of the former Yizheng brothers, only the four of them remained.

"Zhou Qing, why are you so late?"

Li Qinghong said with dissatisfaction.

"Brother, this is clearly His Majesty's way of getting rid of you because you refused to relinquish control of the Imperial Guards."

"If you want to find fault, you can always find a pretext!"

"Brother, why don't we rebel? Why don't we really overthrow Li Xian and welcome back the former crown prince as emperor?!"

Zhou Qing ignored him and stood on Xue Rengui's mansion, fully armored and exuding a murderous aura.

He would never stand by and watch his elder brother die a tragic death because of this fabricated crime.

With just a word from Xue Rengui, he would lead his group of brothers into the palace.

Since they're so slanderous, let's show them!

"Zhou Qing, you mustn't!"

"I have received great favor from the late Emperor, who entrusted me with the affairs of state before his death, ordering me to protect His Majesty. How could I possibly rebel?!"