The immortal of the Tang Dynasty, but the game starts at Xuanwu Gate?

During the routine court session, the atmosphere inside the hall was quite strange. After all the procedures were completed, no one spoke.

Li Shimin sat on the throne, his gaze deep and silent, seemingly lost in thought.

The officials below remained silent, with many glancing at Chen Huai'an from time to time.

What happened yesterday is no secret.

After a brief silence, just as Wei Zheng had predicted, officials from the Censorate were the first to step forward and impeach him.

"Your Majesty, I wish to impeach someone." Imperial Censor Quan Wanji stepped forward without hesitation.

Quan Wanji was a native of Wannian and was known for his uprightness and outspokenness.

Last year, he impeached Xiao Yu for neglecting his duties, which led to Xiao Yu being dismissed from his post as prime minister in December of the same year.

Yesterday, Chen Huai'an stormed into the Wannian County government office and beat up all the officials in Wannian County, from top to bottom. It would be more accurate to say that he was slapping the face of Wannian County itself than beating up the people in the county government office.

As a native of Wannian and a censor in the Censorate, Quan Wanji naturally couldn't pretend he knew nothing.

He had to stand up for what was right and wrong.

"Oh?" Li Shimin said calmly, "Whom do you wish to impeach, my dear minister?"

"Minister of Works, Minister of Revenue, and Grand Tutor to the Crown Prince, Chen Huai'an!" Quan Wanji said bluntly, "Yesterday afternoon, Chen Huai'an, as the Grand Tutor to the Crown Prince, disregarded the proper conduct of a teacher and tricked the young Crown Prince into storming into the Wannian County government office. From the lowest-ranking officials to the county magistrate, everyone fell victim to Chen Huai'an's wickedness."

"All the officials of Wannian County were injured, and countless people witnessed this scene; it is common knowledge."

"Your Majesty, I do not understand. Is this how Chen Huai'an, as the Grand Tutor to the Crown Prince, teaches the Crown Prince? Is this how a teacher should conduct himself?"

After he finished speaking, no one in the hall spoke. Everyone already knew about this matter, so there was no need for Quan Wanji to say it. He was just formally bringing it up here.

However, Quan Wanji's use of his status as the Crown Prince's tutor first touched on one of the most serious aspects of the matter.

"Furthermore!" Quan Wanji continued, "I do not know why Chen Huai'an suddenly attacked and injured people, but no matter what the officials in Wannian County did or what crimes they committed, Chen Huai'an, as the Minister of Works and the Minister of Revenue, has no right to punish them, much less the right to beat them."

"As a third-rank official of the imperial court, Chen Huai'an's every word and action represents the court. What does his behavior mean for disregarding the laws of the Tang Dynasty? What does it mean for disregarding the authority of the court?"

"How will the world view us then?"

"How can an official like Chen Huai'an do such a thing? What should the people think?"

"If you didn't know better, you'd think our court was full of thugs and bullies who beat people up at the drop of a hat, didn't even spare dogs, and would even cut down evergreen trees."

"I'd like to ask you all, what's the difference between this and banditry?"

Wei Zheng smiled broadly: "Your Excellency Quan is right, I second that!"

Chen Huai'an: "..."

He hadn't taken it seriously at all. Quan Wanji was just fulfilling his duty, and even if there were some personal motives involved, he didn't care much.

But when Wei Zheng said those words, Chen Huai'an almost lost his composure.

Revenge, perhaps?

This must be revenge, right?

You damn country bumpkin, you just wait!

"I...have heard about this matter." Li Shimin remained expressionless, showing no anger. "So today, I have summoned the Crown Prince. I am eager to know what exactly happened that led you, Chen Huai'an, to storm into the Wannian County government office and beat people up."

Chen Huai'an knew that Li Shimin was giving him a chance to explain himself, and also laying the groundwork for what was to come.

Before he could answer, Li Chengqian spoke first: "Your Majesty and the Imperial Censor have misunderstood. It wasn't you who led me to beat someone, but rather I who led you to beat someone!"

"It was I who ordered it!"

Quan Wanji was startled and frowned as he looked at Li Chengqian.

He didn't know what Li Chengqian meant by this. Was he trying to take the blame for Chen Huai'an? Or was it really as Li Chengqian said, that he had led Chen Huai'an to do it?

"Your Highness, this is the Taiji Hall, where officials discuss important matters. Please handle this matter officially." Quan Wanji said through gritted teeth.

The implication is that you shouldn't try to excuse Chen Huai'an just because he's your teacher.

This is the Taiji Hall, not a place for personal matters.

"I was just doing my job," Li Chengqian said slowly, glancing at him. "It was I who sent you to Wannian County, and it was also I who gave the order to start the fight."

"Moreover, I've already taken action!"

"This is simply the truth; what's wrong with me saying it?"

Quan Wanji opened his mouth to speak, but Li Shimin interrupted him, saying, "Alright, since the Crown Prince says he gave the order, I would like to ask the Crown Prince why you gave such an order."

"Where has the Wannian County Government offended you?"

"Your Majesty." This time, it was Chen Huai'an who stepped forward to answer. Li Chengqian was still too young, and it was easy for him to say the wrong thing in this situation.

"The reason why Your Highness and I took action, especially in front of so many people, was out of sheer desperation."

"Helpless?" Quan Wanji found it laughable. "You're saying that you and the Crown Prince storming into the Wannian County government office and beating people was a helpless act?"

"This is utterly ridiculous; I have never heard of such a laughable reason."

"Is assaulting government officials considered a last resort?"

"Won't you even give me a chance to explain?" Chen Huai'an retorted first, then said, "I heard that you are from Wannian County?"

"Yes, so what?" Quan Wanji waved his sleeve calmly. "I impeached you firstly because I am a censor personally appointed by His Majesty, and it is my duty. Secondly, Wannian County is my hometown. Even if the officials in Wannian County have done something wrong, you can report it to the Ministry of Justice, the Court of Judicial Review, or even His Majesty to decide and punish them."

"What right do you have to hit someone?"

Upon hearing this, many people were taken aback; Quan Wanji was indeed a remarkable person.

This statement is almost tantamount to admitting that one has selfish motives.

But this selfishness is harmless, because it first points out its responsibilities and then frankly admits that it is a native of Wannian County.

Humans have emotions and desires, so there's nothing wrong with taking care of one's hometown.

On the contrary, those who are capable but turn a blind eye to trouble in their hometown are the ones who deserve to be despised.

"Since Attendant Quan is from Wannian County, do you know what happened there?" Chen Huai'an asked again.

Quan Wanji said calmly, "No matter what happened in Wannian County, I'll say it again: you have no right to handle it. Wannian County belongs to Yongzhou. You are the Minister of Works and the Minister of Revenue, not the Prefect of Yongzhou, much less the Minister of Justice!"

"Even if they rebelled, it's none of your business, especially not beating people in front of so many people!"

"Really?" Chen Huai'an smiled.

"..."