Tang Dynasty: Starting with Dimo, he was targeted by Li Shimin.

Chapter 28 The Tide of the Court

Inside the Taiji Hall.

The swallowtail otter stood in the center of the main hall, half a braised carp in its mouth and three pebbles clutched in its paws.

His whole body was soaking wet, and water droplets dripped from his dark blue mane onto the white marble floor tiles.

The entire court of civil and military officials stared at it.

It glared at the entire court of civil and military officials.

"hiss?"

The silence lasted for about five seconds.

Then Li Shimin spoke—

"Respect for virtue."

"Your subject... Your subject is here." Yuchi Gong's voice trembled.

"Is this your spirit?"

Yuchi Gong quickly touched the ball in his sleeve—

Still.

He then looked at the half-meter-long blue otter in front of him—

It is indeed my own swallowtail otter.

But shouldn't it be inside the Gooru Ball?

He looked down at the ball in his hand—it was empty.

It’s over.

This guy popped out of the ball by himself.

Then he ran away from the Duke of E's mansion.

Then they stole fish, ruined silk, rummaged through rouge, and moved artificial rocks along the way—

Then they stormed into the Taiji Hall.

Yuchi Gong's face had turned pale.

"Your Majesty... Your Majesty, I don't know how it got out—"

"I don't care how it got out." Li Shimin raised his hand.

"I only care that it's in my palace now."

He looked at the fish in the swallowtail otter's mouth.

"And he was carrying a fish in his mouth."

"Your Majesty... Your Majesty will take it back immediately—"

Yuchi Gong was about to walk over and retrieve the Swallowtail Otter—

"slow."

Li Shimin called out to him.

"There's no rush yet."

Li Shimin leaned back on the armrest of the dragon throne, his gaze sweeping over the assembled officials.

His expression was indifferent.

It was so bland it was unsettling.

"Now that this spirit beast has arrived—"

"My esteemed ministers, this is a perfect opportunity to see for yourselves what this 'spiritual beast' I've been talking about truly is."

He looked at the several aristocratic officials who had been opposing him.

"Lest some people always think I'm talking in my sleep."

The entire room fell silent once again.

And at that very moment—

Cui An stepped forward.

The Chancellor of the Imperial Academy and a key figure in the Cui clan of Boling.

Among the five prominent families and seven prestigious clans, the Cui family was known as "the most prestigious family in the world" and the head of the powerful clans in the north. In the Tang Dynasty court, the words of the Cui family carried more weight than those of ordinary officials.

Cui An glanced at the blue otter in the center of the hall, and a slight smile curved his lips.

It's not a laugh.

It was the kind of condescending contempt that is common among aristocratic families.

"Your Majesty," he stepped out of the ranks, bowing respectfully.

"I dare to speak frankly."

"This spirit beast—it's truly novel."

"But I see it's soaking wet, dripping everywhere—"

He pointed to the trail of water left by the swallowtail otter as it ran—

"Could it be that even the heavens are hinting that this water doesn't come from the sky, but from a demonic beast?"

"If Your Majesty intends to rely on these strangely identifiable monsters to 'alleviate the drought'—"

He smiled slightly—

"There are probably very few people in the imperial court who can feel at ease."

That's a very eloquent statement.

On the surface, it was "concern for the court."

This is actually an implication that Li Shimin's reliance on something unreliable, and that following him will only lead to trouble.

This is the method of aristocratic families.

I won't criticize you, I won't oppose you, I'll just lightly question you—

This has made all the centrists hesitate.

Li Shimin listened without saying a word.

He only glanced at the swallowtail otter.

And the swallowtail otter—

It doesn't understand politics.

They don't understand aristocratic families.

I don't understand what "the most prestigious family in the world" means.

But it understood one thing—

When the human in front of him spoke, his master, Yuchi Gong, froze completely.

The humans standing next to it also tensed up.

And the human sitting at the very top—

He looked very unwell.

Although it is not a little spirit, it cannot read minds—

But as a water-type spirit raised in the wild, its instincts told it:

The person speaking is an enemy.

then--

The swallowtail otter put down the fish from its mouth.

It carefully put away the pebbles in its paws.

He turned around and looked at Cui An.

"hiss."

A low, oppressive whistle.

Cui An's smile froze.

Then--

"boom--!!!"

A jet of azure water, thicker than an arm, burst forth from the swallow-tailed otter's mouth!

Tidal impact!!

The water jet, carrying immense force, struck Cui An directly in the chest—

"ah--!!"

The dignified Chancellor of the Imperial Academy and a key figure of the Cui clan of Boling was blasted from the center of the main hall to the entrance by a water cannon from an otter!

It flew for more than ten zhang!

It crashed into a doorpost of the palace gate and slid to the ground—

A trickle of blood spilled from the corner of his mouth.

It wasn't a serious injury—the swallowtail otter controlled its strength.

But it hurts enough.

It hurts a lot.

The entire audience was stunned into silence.

"…………"

Everyone's mouths were open, but no one made a sound.

And Li Shimin—

He sat on the dragon throne, watching this scene.

On the surface, his expression was—

He frowned slightly, as if somewhat surprised.

But his hand beneath his sleeve—

It was trembling slightly.

It's not fear.

It was excitement.

It's great.

Suppressed by powerful families for so many years—

I've been disgusted by "the emperor's virtue is lacking" for so long—

I've been annoyed countless times by those self-important, high-ranking families with all sorts of sarcastic and obnoxious remarks—

today--

Finally, something has stood up for me!

Although this thing is an otter.

Although it had a fish in its mouth when it barged in.

But I don't care!

ᕙ (⇀‸↼ ‶) ᕗ

After Cui An was knocked away, the hall was quiet for about ten seconds.

Then--

Another official from a prominent family stepped forward.

He is Cui An's cousin, Cui Hua'an.

"Your Majesty!! This monstrous beast has attacked people in the palace!! It should be—"

"boom!!"

He hadn't finished speaking.

Another jet of water.

Cui Hua'an flew away.

The entire room fell silent once again.

Three more seconds passed—

Another official stepped forward hesitantly, and just as he opened his mouth—

"Your Majesty—"

"boom!"

He didn't finish saying a single word.

Fly away.

The swallowtail otter stood in the center of the hall, its deep blue mane swaying slightly in the steam.

Two dark eyes calmly scanned the entire scene.

It doesn't know what it's doing.

All it knew was that every time someone spoke up, the atmosphere around its owner became more tense.

and so--

Whoever stands up, they'll be attacked.

Simple and straightforward.

Very otter.

What happened next was—

As long as any official associated with a powerful family dares to step forward from the queue...

The swallowtail otter turned to look at him.

No need to spray.

That "I bet you dare" look alone is enough.

No one dared to make a move anymore.

The entire Taiji Hall was so quiet that you could hear the sound of water droplets hitting the ground.

—That was the sound of water droplets from the swallowtail otter's mane dripping onto the floor tiles.

pat.

Li Shimin waited for a while.

After confirming that no one else would step forward,

He picked up the teacup and took a sip.

Then, in an extremely flat tone, he said—

Since no one objects—

"Then I hereby declare..."

"Starting today, residents of all counties in Gyeonggi Province will begin replanting."

"The required grains will be allocated uniformly by the imperial court."

"Within three days, I will ensure that the water supply in Gyeonggi Province is replenished."

"The court session is adjourned."

No one speaks.

No one objected.

Because of those who oppose it—

Either lie down at the entrance of the palace.

Either they're shaking in the queue.

Li Shimin stood up, straightened his dragon robe, and turned to walk towards the rear hall.

He glanced at the swallowtail otter before leaving.

The swallowtail otter tilted its head and looked at him.

Then it picked a pebble out of its paw—

He pushed it towards Li Shimin.

"hiss."

Here, take this too.

Li Shimin looked at the pebble on the ground.

My smile finally gave way.

It's bent.

It only bent for a moment.

But Cheng Yaojin saw it.

Yuchi Gong also saw it.

The two exchanged a glance.

Then, he quietly, swiftly, and stealthily slipped out of the Taiji Hall.

Before anyone asks them.

After the court session ended.

A dozen or so officials surrounded Fang Xuanling.

"Lord Fang! Just who is that otter?!"

"Lord Fang! Is His Majesty's claim of rain within three days true or false?!"

"Lord Fang, you are the Prime Minister, you must know something!!"

Fang Xuanling smiled, his hands tucked into his sleeves—

He tightly clutched the little spirit ball hidden in his sleeve.

Because Little Spirit had sensed the commotion outside while inside the sphere, it was struggling slightly, trying to come out and see what was going on.

If the ball suddenly lights up with a "buzz" at this moment—

If the little spirit appeared out of the sleeve—

So today, it won't just be Yuchi Gong who dies.

"Fellow colleagues—" Fang Xuanling's smile was impeccably standard.

"I'm not quite sure either. This is the first time I've heard of His Majesty's arrangement."

"Hahaha, everyone, let's all go, it's getting late—"

He spoke as he backed away.

When they retreated to the palace gate—

He turned and ran.

He ran faster than the officials who had just finished their court session.

The sleeves were covered tighter than gold.

And in the Magical Artifacts Shop.