I, the most powerful minister of the Tang Dynasty, have been exposed by the heavens.

Upon hearing Wei Zheng's words, Li Shimin gradually became uneasy.

He stared intently at the sky, wanting to see if the Tang Dynasty would fall into the hands of Li Longji.

……

Above the sky.

Xuanzheng Hall, during the Tianbao era.

Li Longji was stumped by Lu Wuming's words and was speechless for a moment.

I don't know how to answer.

After all, he had already discussed the evacuation from Chang'an with Yang Guozhong and others in advance, and today's event was just a formality.

But he never expected that the old prime minister would return to Chang'an at this time, come to the court, and stop him!

For a moment, he didn't know what to do.

However, at this moment, Lu Wuming looked at Li Longji, and the hawk-like chill in his eyes was still imposing.

Lu Wuming continued.

"Your Majesty, why are you silent? Was there something wrong with what I just said? Or is it that you cannot answer my question? Or are you admitting something?"

Upon hearing this, Li Longji immediately flew into a rage.

"Old Prime Minister, what are you doing? Are you truly showing me no respect whatsoever?"

"Don't forget the old prime minister. You've been retired for a long time, and you no longer have the right to interfere in matters of the court."

"I can overlook your words here now, but if you continue like this, don't blame me!"

Upon hearing this, Lu Wuming immediately let out a cold laugh.

He was not afraid of Li Longji's threats and did not take them seriously.

If it were Li Longji on the night of the Tanglong Incident, he would still be wary.

But Li Longji now has no fear whatsoever.

Because the current Li Longji is no longer the Li Longji of the Tanglong Coup and the Kaiyuan Prosperity.

At this moment, he was no different from Yang Guang and Hu Hai!

Lu Wuming calmly took something out of his pocket.

It was a heavy iron certificate, forged from black iron. Its edges had been worn smooth by the passage of time, but the character "权" (power) in the center, written with a powerful, flowing stroke, still shone with a cold, hard luster.

"Your Majesty, do you still recognize this item?"

Li Longji's pupils suddenly contracted, and long-buried memories exploded forth.

During the prosperous Kaiyuan era, in the midst of his high spirits, he personally bestowed this iron certificate, symbolizing boundless trust and entrustment, upon Lu Wuming, who was then the prime minister and had made unparalleled contributions.

"Seeing this document is like seeing the Emperor himself. You may inquire about all matters of state and military affairs without any taboos."

The vows we made back then still echo in my ears.

This is no iron certificate! This is clearly an imperial sword, a Mount Tai stone that can suppress imperial power!

Lu Wuming's aged fingers stroked the cold iron surface, the sound not loud, but like a heavy hammer striking everyone's heart.

"His Majesty bestowed this iron certificate upon me, saying, 'Those who hold this certificate after me can rectify the court and urge the monarch on.'"

"Today, this old minister is merely acting in accordance with Your Majesty's previous decrees. Your Majesty... are you going back on your word?"

Li Longji's throat was dry, and he couldn't utter a single word.

The hole I dug has now buried me halfway.

The entire court was utterly silent, no one had expected that this old prime minister, who had been out of the public eye for decades, still held such a powerful weapon in his hands!

Seeing that the emperor was about to be killed, Yang Guozhong, who was standing by, became anxious.

He had finally managed to stir up the atmosphere of escape, and it was almost a done deal. How could he let this old coffin-like fellow ruin it?

Besides, this old man comes back and tries to pressure the emperor with the gifts bestowed by the late emperor. Where does that leave the face of the current prime minister?

A surge of anger rushed to Yang Guozhong's head, and without thinking twice, he darted forward and shouted in a shrill voice.

"Lu Wuming! How dare you! You dare to threaten the emperor with an inanimate object and utter curses! Do you have no regard for the proper relationship between ruler and subject?"

"His Majesty is benevolent and, considering your old age and senility, will not hold it against you. Do not push your luck!"

"In my opinion, your intrusion into the palace today was not to offer advice, but to disrupt the court; your intentions are despicable!"

The more he talked, the more convinced he felt he was in the right, and his voice rose several decibels, his finger almost touching Lu Wuming's nose.

"My colleagues have all seen it! How is this any different from treason?!"

They immediately slapped a huge "treason" label on him!

A suppressed gasp filled the hall.

Yang Guozhong is going to kill us!

Lu Wuming, who had been expressionless until now, suddenly smiled.

The laughter was hoarse, yet carried an indescribable mockery.

He slowly turned his head, and his eyes, which had seen through a century of vicissitudes, were like two cold little knives, scrutinizing Yang Guozhong from head to toe.

"Prime Minister Yang..."

Lu Wuming spoke slowly and deliberately.

"What an imposing official presence!"

"I have been away from the court for many years, and I never expected that I would be here in this hall now, teaching me what the 'proper relationship between ruler and subject' is."

He took a small step forward.

With just that small step, Yang Guozhong felt as if a mountain was pressing down on him, and the hairs on the back of his head stood up.

"You accuse me of treason?"

Lu Wuming's sneer deepened.

"In my lifetime, I have served four dynasties, and the number of treacherous officials I have brought down and the number of rebellions I have quelled is more than the amount of salt you, Yang Guozhong, have eaten."

"The word 'treason,' coming from your mouth, sounds...so ridiculous!"

His gaze suddenly sharpened like that of a hawk, piercing straight into Yang Guozhong's eyes.

"But it is you, Prime Minister Yang, who incited His Majesty to abandon the capital, forsake the ancestral temples, and leave the people to the iron hooves of the rebel army..."

"Your so-called 'loyalty to the emperor and love for the country' is actually what will uproot the Tang Dynasty and destroy its very existence!"

"you!"

Yang Guozhong was stunned by these harsh and hurtful words, and his face turned as red as a pig's liver.

"You're slandering me! Everything I've done is for His Majesty's safety and the well-being of the Tang Dynasty!"

"For the sake of the nation?"

Lu Wuming chuckled softly, but it drowned out Yang Guozhong's exasperation.

"In my opinion, you're only after your own head and the wealth and glory of your entire Yang family!"

"If Your Majesty departs, whose command will the armies that come to your aid listen to? And who will restore this shattered empire?"

"You've got a really good plan in mind!"

Every word is like a knife, each cut drawing blood!

Yang Guozhong was furious at these words, and looking at Lu Wuming, he felt like killing him.

At that moment, he roared.

"Lu Wuming, you are now nothing more than a commoner in plain clothes."

"I am the Prime Minister of the Great Tang Dynasty, the current Prime Minister! Is this how you speak to me? Is this how you speak to the Prime Minister of the Great Tang Dynasty? Do you have absolutely no respect for the Great Tang Dynasty?"

As Lu Wuming listened to Yang Guozhong's words, he slowly took three steps forward, his eyes reflecting a century of trials and tribulations.

"I, an old minister who served under four emperors—Gaozong, Wu Zhou, Zhongzong, and Ruizong—assisted Your Majesty in creating the prosperous Kaiyuan era!"

His voice suddenly rose, emphasizing each word.

"You, Yang Guozhong, who knows which muddy puddles you're wallowing in right now!"