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

"Your Highness, I maintain my previous opinion. Pei Ji's crimes are heinous and beyond description. His crimes must be enumerated and he must be executed in public to appease the people's anger!"

Wei Zheng did not hesitate for a moment. He was going to take the blame either way, and this was exactly what he wanted to see, so he spoke frankly.

"Absolutely not!" Xiao Yu stepped forward to object. "This matter is far more serious than we think. If we were to enumerate Pei Ji's crimes and announce them to the world, how would the people view the imperial court?"

"Will they think all officials in our court are corrupt? Are there others like Pei Ji?"

"If this happens, the court will lose all face, and how will it govern the country in the future?"

This statement was met with approval from many people.

"Your Majesty, I second that opinion." The Right Vice Minister of the Ministry of Personnel, Feng Deyi, bowed. "At this critical juncture, it is truly inappropriate to launch a major attack."

"What Pei Ji has done is indeed outrageous, but the most important thing right now is to get through this period safely. If it becomes known to everyone, the consequences will be unpredictable."

Everyone understood the implication of Feng Deyi's words.

It's simply saying that Li Shimin is about to ascend the throne, and if this matter gets out, it will probably have a negative impact on him.

Wei Zheng immediately retorted, "Nonsense! It is precisely because we are at a critical juncture that Your Highness must handle this matter with even greater seriousness."

"Only in this way can the world see His Highness's attitude towards corrupt officials and understand that His Highness is by no means a ruler who appoints people based on personal connections or protects them out of favoritism."

"Excellent!" Du Ruhui said confidently, hands clasped in his pockets. "The Pei Ji case not only needs to be dealt with, but it needs to be dealt with seriously!"

"I agree with Wei Zheng. His crimes should be listed in detail, announced to the world, and he should be beheaded so that the world can see Your Highness's attitude toward this matter and the court's handling of it."

"Instead of closing the door and trying every means to cover it up."

"I disagree," Xiao Yu said firmly. "Even family scandals shouldn't be aired in public, let alone in the imperial court."

"We're not saying we won't deal with Pei Ji, we're just saying don't make a big fuss. Those who deserve to be killed should be killed, and those who deserve to be exiled should be exiled. Just handle it according to the law."

"Making a public announcement may certainly please the people and bring good reputation to Your Highness and the court."

"But this is not without risk."

"The risk is that if things don't go as you expect, the court will lose face and the people will have no trust in the government anymore."

"Can you bear the consequences?"

Xiao Yu looked around at everyone, pointed at Wei Zheng, and said, "Can you handle this?"

"Or can you, Du Ruhui, handle this?"

He thought that at least no one would refute his words on this point.

After all, no one can bear the consequences.

At most, Wei Zheng and others would refute them in other ways.

Unexpectedly, a simpleton suddenly appeared at this moment.

"I can do it!"

Under everyone's surprised gaze, Yuchi Gong stepped forward, stood up, and said nonchalantly, "I can do it, let me bear it."

Xiao Yu: "..."

No, that's fucking ridiculous!

You can handle it, you piece of shit!

Xiao Yu suppressed his anger: "General Yuchi, this is the imperial court, not your home, much less a place for joking!"

"You can bear it? What will you use to bear it?"

"Take my head, is that alright?" Yuchi Gong glanced at him coldly, then said to Li Shimin above, "Your Highness, I am a rough man. I don't understand those grand principles. I only know that a life for a life is a matter of course."

"The things Pei Ji did have caused countless people to die tragically, and countless families to be destroyed because of him."

"Such a depraved person should be dragged out and paraded through the streets, so that the whole world can despise him, and then his dog head should be chopped off in front of everyone."

"Only in this way can public anger be quelled."

Feng Deyi said in a deep voice, "But where does public anger come from? This matter could have been handled discreetly, why insist on making it known to everyone?"

"What Lord Xiao says is correct. If we announce this to the world and it has negative consequences, causing people to lose trust in the government and the court, how will you bear the cost?"

"Take my head, okay?" Yuchi Gong retorted without flinching.

He understood Li Shimin's thoughts all too well. He already had too many burdens on his shoulders, and they were too heavy to be bothered by a few small things.

"Your Highness!" Yuchi Gong said righteously, "Your Highness, all the precious calligraphy and paintings, porcelain, and luxurious lifestyle in Pei Ji's home were obtained at the cost of countless lives."

"Anyway, I can't stand this, and I can't tolerate it!"

"Today, even if I, Yuchi Jingde, die, I will seek justice for these people and give an explanation to the souls who died tragically because of Pei Ji."

"Your Highness, I second that. This matter must be dealt with seriously," Zhang Gongjin said solemnly.

"I second that proposal!"

"I second that..."

Immediately, several officials stood up to second the motion, including Changsun Wuji, Fang Xuanling, and Du Ruhui, which spurred many other officials to join in.

Xiao Yu, Feng Deyi, and others naturally disagreed and voiced their opposition.

The two sides, one composed of old officials and the other of new officials, immediately started arguing fiercely in the court, their faces red and necks thick, spittle flying everywhere.

They looked exactly like bandits arguing.

Chen Huai'an stood behind, watching with great interest.

So this is what court assembly is like?

Is it that wild?

Aren't they usually all so high and mighty, exuding official authority? Why are they acting like bandits encountering thugs now?

If an outsider were to see it, they might mistake it for a vegetable market.

"Your Highness, please handle this matter seriously and execute Pei Ji in public!"

Yuchi Gong suddenly roared, hugging the pillar and shouting, "If you don't agree, I will smash my head against this pillar of Taiji Hall and die today!"

"The world will remember me, Yuchi Jingde, and they will remember that I died seeking justice for them!"

"General Yuchi, you mustn't!" Changsun Wuji shouted urgently.

Wei Zheng, who had somehow also clung to a pillar, laughed bitterly: "Hahahaha, with treacherous officials in power and protecting each other, Pei Ji has committed such heinous crimes, yet these people still think of hiding it, treating the world like fools."

"Your Highness, if you do not agree to publicly execute Pei Ji, then General Yuchi and I will both die by crashing into this golden pillar today, for the sake of those who perished tragically..."

"We demand justice!"

As he spoke, Wei Zheng was about to actually crash into it.

Seeing this, Xiao Yu, Feng Deyi, and the others were dumbfounded.

Dude, are you serious?

Li Shimin's expression changed drastically, and he finally spoke: "My two beloved ministers, please don't be impatient, please don't be impatient!"

"Xuancheng and Jingde, don't speak lightly. It's not worth risking your lives for a parasite like Pei Ji."

"Lord Wei, you mustn't!" Du Ruhui and Fang Xuanling hurriedly embraced Wei Zheng.

"Let me go! Unless Your Highness agrees, I will surely kill myself by crashing into this golden pillar today!" Wei Zheng was filled with grief and indignation, and insisted on crashing into it.

On the other side, Qin Qiong, Cheng Yaojin, and others held onto Yuchi Gong tightly.

Li Shimin was extremely anxious: "Oh dear... what are you all doing?!"

"......"