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

Zhenguan period

"Imperial Consort? My younger sister?"

When Li Shimin heard Yang Guozhong's pig-like wailing on the screen, pleading "For the sake of my sister Yu Huan," he was first stunned, then suddenly realized what was happening!

"Could it be... that this scoundrel emperor of later generations made him prime minister because this treacherous minister's sister was a concubine?!"

The more he thought about it, the more likely it seemed, and a surge of anger suddenly rushed to his head.

"A tyrant! A complete tyrant!"

Li Shimin cursed loudly and paced back and forth in front of the palace in anger:

"Appointing a prime minister is a matter of paramount importance to the nation!"

"How can such a traitorous and foolish wretch be promoted to a high position simply because of nepotism?!"

"Is Li Longji's brain filled with mush?!"

He pointed at Li Longji, who was hesitating in the light screen, and said with disappointment:

"Look at the time! What a late hour!"

"The evidence is irrefutable, public resentment is boiling over, and this guy surnamed Yang is going to eat the country up!"

"He's still thinking about protecting her? What's with all the consideration for the Imperial Concubine? Has he been blinded by greed and lust?"

Wei Zheng, standing to the side, his face also ashen, stepped forward upon hearing the emperor's furious outburst, his voice as cold and hard as iron:

"Your Majesty is absolutely right. If future rulers were to promote such treacherous officials to the position of prime minister simply because of the favor shown to their concubines..."

"How is his behavior any different from Qin Er Shi (Hu Hai)'s favoritism towards Zhao Gao, or Sui Yangdi's indulgence of treacherous officials?"

He paused, then uttered four words:

"Utterly incompetent and utterly foolish!"

These words were extremely harsh, practically placing his descendants of the Tang dynasty on par with those who brought about the downfall of their kingdoms.

Li Shimin was furious, but when he opened his mouth, he found that he couldn't refute it.

Wei Zheng, that old fellow, may have been rough in his words, but his reasoning was sound!

If the laws of the court were to be disrupted because of a woman, wouldn't Li Longji be utterly incompetent?

After holding it in for a long time, he could only flick his sleeves and let out a heavy snort, which was considered his tacit agreement.

……

Above the sky, in the Xuanzheng Hall.

Lu Wuming looked at Yang Guozhong, who was still howling and struggling at his feet, and the last bit of patience in his eyes was exhausted.

Too much nonsense.

He didn't even bother to lift his eyelids again, only giving a very slight glance to the black-armored guards who were holding Yang Guozhong down.

The guard, who had been keeping his head down, now seemed to have received the clearest instructions.

A flash of cold light!

"puff!!!"

The dull thud of the blade severing flesh and bone was swift and clean, leaving Yang Guozhong no time to utter a single last word.

The obese head, with an expression of incredulous terror, detached from the neck and rolled away, finally stopping at the feet of an official.

Blood gushed out like a fountain from the severed neck of the headless man, staining a large area of ​​the polished gold-brick floor red.

"ah!!!"

"Killed...killed?!"

"Isn't it supposed to be slow slicing? Why is it done directly..."

The entire court was instantly in an uproar!

A chorus of gasps and gasps filled the air!

Everyone was terrified. Many people turned pale, their legs trembled, and some even started gagging.

What happened to the promised slow slicing? How did it turn into beheading in the palace?!

This...this is even more terrifying than being slowly sliced ​​to death! A bloody human head is right at your feet!

Li Longji was completely stunned, his mind went blank.

killed?

Just like that, you killed him?

Right in front of him, without waiting for his decree, or even before he finished speaking, he was directly... beheaded?

A surge of fury, a feeling of utter disregard and utter trampling of imperial power, instantly overwhelmed his reason. He abruptly rose from the dragon throne, his face ashen, and pointed at Lu Wuming, ready to unleash his fury…

"Father!"

A clear yet firm voice rang out before he could.

Crown Prince Li Heng stepped out of the ranks and walked to the headless corpse that was still gushing blood. He bowed deeply to Li Longji, his voice clearly echoing throughout the hall:

"In my opinion, the old Prime Minister's move was well-deserved!"

He raised his head, his gaze sweeping over the fallen head and the box full of evidence, and said loudly:

"Yang Guozhong's crimes are heinous, and the evidence is irrefutable!"

"Executing him in court will demonstrate to the world that the laws of our Great Tang are strict and will never tolerate such treacherous and corrupt officials! It will also quickly reassure the army and the people!"

"In my opinion, the old Prime Minister acted decisively, eliminating a scourge for the country!"

As soon as the Crown Prince finished speaking, the ministers who had been terrified seemed to find their backbone and direction for survival!

The blood on the ground hadn't even dried yet! Yang Guozhong's head was still there, eyes wide open!

The wind direction changes faster than turning the pages of a book!

"His Highness is absolutely right!"

"Your Majesty! Yang Guozhong deserved to die!"

"The old prime minister's ruthless methods were a last resort, for the sake of the country and its people!"

"We second that proposal!"

……

In an instant, voices echoing the Crown Prince rose and fell, and officials who had just been vaguely biased towards Yang Guozhong or remained silent were now vying to express their positions.

Li Longji stood frozen in place, his outstretched fingers still trembling slightly.

He looked at his son, who had submitted at his feet, at the ministers who had instantly turned against him, and at Lu Wuming, who stood calmly beside the pool of blood…

An unprecedented, chilling sense of isolation, mixed with rage and bewilderment, gripped him tightly.

How did the imperial court become like this in the blink of an eye?

The gasps and commotion throughout the hall were interrupted by a low shout from Lu Wuming.

"quiet!"

His gaze swept over the terrified faces; his voice wasn't loud, but it carried an undeniable authority:

"In the solemn court, before His Majesty, such a commotion is utterly disrespectful!"

The hall fell silent instantly, with only a few people breathing heavily.

Lu Wuming then turned to the dragon throne, as if the bloody scene had never happened, his tone as calm as if he were reporting on a routine official matter:

"Your Majesty, the treacherous minister Yang Guozhong has already been executed. This old minister has presumptuously disposed of this villain on Your Majesty's behalf. Please inspect him."

Check...check it?

Li Longji looked down at the headless corpse still twitching slightly at the bottom of the steps, and the head rolling in a pool of blood.

I felt a fishy smell rushing into my nostrils, and my stomach was churning.

What are you checking? Are you checking if he's truly dead?

When did he order you to kill him?! I haven't issued the decree yet!

Lu Wuming seemed oblivious to the emperor's ashen face and continued in his flat tone:

"However, the laws and regulations of the state cannot be abolished. Now that the punishment has been clearly established, Your Majesty must issue a decree to announce it to the world."

He raised his eyes and looked directly at Li Longji:

"Your Majesty, please issue two imperial edicts immediately."

"First, it details Yang Guozhong's various crimes, such as forming cliques for personal gain, framing loyal officials, embezzling military funds, falsely reporting war achievements, and inciting border generals, clearly showing that he deserves to die."

"Secondly, the death sentence for Yang Guozhong was formally pronounced and announced to the world to reassure the army and stabilize public opinion."

"Please write it now, Your Majesty."

This is not a request, this is an ultimatum.

Li Longji was so angry that he trembled all over, his fingers gripping the armrests of the dragon throne so tightly that his fingertips turned white.

Crown Prince Li Heng immediately seized the opportunity, stepped forward, and bowed, saying:

"Father, the old Prime Minister's considerations are thorough!"

"Yang Guozhong's execution is imminent; the imperial court must issue a clear edict to determine right and wrong!"

"Only in this way can we quickly stabilize the morale of Chang'an, inspire the soldiers at Tongguan, and let the whole world know His Majesty's determination to cleanse the court and quell the rebellion!"

"Your Majesty, I humbly request that you issue an edict immediately!"

As soon as the crown prince took the lead, the officials who had been terrified by the blood and eager to show their loyalty immediately followed.

"His Highness is absolutely right!"

"Your Majesty, a decree should be issued immediately to set the record straight!"

"This is of paramount importance for maintaining stability; we beseech Your Majesty to make a wise decision!"

……

The voices rose and fell, still trembling slightly, but their attitudes were unusually "firm".

Li Longji sat alone on the high dragon throne, looking down at the "surging" ministers, at the expressionless Lu Wuming, and then at the Crown Prince...

He suddenly felt a deep sense of powerlessness, as well as the burning pain of being roasted over a fire.

This is a coup d'état.

A blatant coercion.

But what could he do?

The man is dead, he died in his own court. The blood hasn't even been wiped away yet.

If he doesn't take the opportunity to back down now and doesn't write this edict, then... this court will probably be completely out of control immediately.

Yang Guozhong is dead. Does he really want to sacrifice his dignity, or even more, for the sake of a dead man?

Li Longji closed his eyes, took a deep breath, and when he opened them again, all that remained in his eyes was exhaustion and a resigned coldness.

He suppressed all his surging anger and humiliation; his voice was hoarse, yet carried clearly:

"What the old prime minister said is very reasonable."

"Yang Guozhong... truly deserves to die."

"This imperial edict... I will issue it immediately."