Tang Dynasty: Taking the Empress Dowager to a brothel, Father Emperor, what a coincidence!

Chang'an, Ganlu Palace.

Li Shimin held a secret memorial, and after just one glance, the veins on his fists bulged.

"You unfilial son! This unfilial son!"

Li Shimin pointed in the direction of Liaodong and began to curse.

"What is he planning to do? Huh? Hide a founding general? Is he planning a rebellion?"

Wang De was so frightened that he fell to his knees with a thud.

"Your Majesty, please calm your anger..."

"Calm down? How can you expect me to calm down?"

Li Shimin was furious at the news in the secret report.

"Qin Shubao did not die. Not only did he not die, he also went to Baekje with that rebellious son and even showed his face in public."

That rebellious son is deceiving the emperor! What does Li Chengqian take me for? Does he even respect me as the emperor?

This event had a tremendous impact on Li Shimin.

Qin Qiong was a top-ranking official in the Tang Dynasty and a powerful backer of Li Shimin.

Whenever there was an enemy general he couldn't defeat, Li Shimin only needed to shout: "Shubao!"

The other side is basically finished.

But now, his powerful backer has faked his death? And he's even following his son?

What does this mean? Doesn't it mean that in Qin Qiong's eyes, he is not as good as his rebellious son?

How could Li Shimin, who considered himself the greatest emperor of all time, accept this?

"Go and summon Changsun Wuji, Fang Xuanling, and Wei Zheng to me."

Li Shimin roared at Wang De.

Wang De raised his head tremblingly and said:

"Your Majesty, Lord Wei has gone to Liaodong with the Crown Prince, have you forgotten?"

"Lord Changsun...the Empress has spoken, and he's currently at home reflecting on his actions."

Enraged, Li Shimin kicked over the imperial desk in front of him.

So you have no one else to rely on?

The Duke of Qi's Mansion.

Changsun Wuji looked at the note in his hand.

The note contained only a few words, but those few words alone excited him greatly.

"Qin Qiong isn't dead... Qin Qiong has made an appearance in Baekje?"

Changsun Wuji suddenly burst into laughter.

"Hahahaha! Brilliant indeed, you've finally met your match? You've committed the crime of deceiving the emperor and harboring a general."

"Let's see how you die this time."

He shouted at the door:

"Someone! Prepare the carriage. I need to see that old scoundrel Wang Gui. Also, send someone to inform Cui Mingan and the others that there's some great news."

The butler rushed in at that moment and said hesitantly:

"Master... Lord Wang and the others are not at home."

Changsun Wuji was taken aback: "Where did they go?"

"I've learned that the heads of the five clans and seven prominent families all went to their villas outside the city half an hour ago. I sent someone to deliver their visiting cards, but they were driven away by their men."

They said...the villa wouldn't be receiving guests tonight.

Changsun Wuji was completely dumbfounded.

Not receiving visitors?

Does this mean that Changsun Wuji has been completely kicked out of the game?

"Those old dogs who kick someone when they're down!!!"

A villa outside the city.

Wang Gui sat in the main seat, his hands trembling incessantly.

This is exciting.

Cui Mingan paced excitedly around the room.

"A golden opportunity! A truly golden opportunity!"

Qin Qiong faked his death, and the Crown Prince protected him; these are both heinous crimes of treason.

This time, Li Chengqian has no chance of escape.

Wang Gui put down his teacup, composed himself, and said:

"Everyone, the information is accurate. It was sent out by our spies in Baekje at great risk."

Qin Qiong showed his face at the foot of Sibi City; thousands of people saw him, and it was impossible to hide it from him.

"Then what are we waiting for?"

The head of a prominent family stood up.

"Tomorrow at the morning court session, we will submit a joint memorial and this time put the blame squarely on Li Chengqian."

Wang Gui snorted coldly:

"It's not enough to just label someone. If you're going to fight, you have to kill them outright."

"First thing tomorrow morning, impeach the Qin family for deceiving the emperor and force His Majesty to issue an edict to execute the entire Qin family. Once the Qin family falls, the Crown Prince will be without any allies. At that point, the matter of deposing the Crown Prince will be a foregone conclusion."

Cui Mingan nodded repeatedly from the side:

"Yes! Let's also get rid of that old scoundrel Changsun Wuji, so he won't get into trouble."

This time, we're going to make sure Li Chengqian can never recover.

Da'an Palace.

Li Yuan leaned back on the soft couch, playing with two walnuts in his hand.

"Click."

He crushed the walnut with his bare hands.

The personal eunuch, Old Li, was so frightened that he lowered his head and dared not utter a sound.

"Hey buddy, it's lively outside, isn't it?"

Li Yuan patted the residue off his hands and asked.

"Reporting to the Emperor Emeritus, the aristocratic families have already begun their activities. The heads of the five clans and seven prominent families are all holding a secret meeting outside the city. As for the Ganlu Palace..."

His Majesty was furious and smashed a lot of things.

Li Yuan scoffed:

"Erlang has that dog-like temper; he can't keep his temper in the face of trouble."

"Gao Ming just took an old soldier to war, what's the big deal?"

Old Li swallowed hard and said:

"The Emperor Emeritus, that's the Duke of Yi! This is a crime of deceiving the Emperor..."

"Deceive the emperor? Whose emperor are you deceiving?"

Li Yuan sat up straight, dissatisfied.

"I conquered half of the Tang Dynasty. Gaoming is my most valued grandson, and I will let him do whatever he wants."

Anyone who dares to make a fuss about this will be skinned alive by me.

Just then, they heard hurried footsteps outside.

Grand Tutor Li Gang and Grand Preceptor Kong Yingda hurriedly entered.

The two hadn't even changed out of their court robes; they were clearly dragged out of bed abruptly.

"Your humble servants pay their respects to the Emperor Emeritus."

Li Yuan waved his hand:

"No need. I called you here in the middle of the night just for one thing."

Li Yuan tossed the secret report in front of the two men: "See for yourselves."

Li Gang stepped forward and picked up the secret report.

Kong Yingda also went over to take a look.

"hiss!!!"

The two renowned scholars of the time simultaneously gasped in astonishment.

"Qin Qiong isn't dead?"

Kong Yingda stared in shock, his eyes wide.

"Did they reveal their true colors in Baekje?"

Li Gang was so frightened that his hands were trembling:

"Your Majesty, this...this is a huge mess! If the people in the court find out, the Crown Prince's position as heir apparent will be in jeopardy."

"They already know."

Li Gang leaned back on the soft couch and said calmly,

"Wang Gui and his gang of old dogs have probably already written their memorials for tomorrow's morning court session. They're going to pin accusations of rebellion and deceiving the emperor on Gao Ming."

They won't rest until they've driven Gao Ming to his death this time.

Li Gang knelt down with a thud:

"Your Majesty, I will immediately contact my disciples and remonstrate with them until my dying breath tomorrow! I will never allow the powerful families to succeed."

Kong Yingda also said anxiously:

"I will also contact my disciples, and I will bring the imperial ruler with me tomorrow. Anyone who dares to mention deposing the heir apparent will be beaten to death by me."

"What's with all this talk about life and death?"

Li Yuan glared at Kong Yingda.

"You think this time will be the same as last time? Last time it was a massacre of a city, which could be washed away with the excuse of revenge. This time it's deceiving the emperor. It's about military power."

"That's my rebellious son's Achilles' heel. What will you use to wash it away?"

Kong Yingda was stunned, and Li Gang's face turned ashen.

Yes, deceiving the emperor and harboring powerful generals have crossed the line of imperial authority.

If Li Shimin could be so tolerant, then he wouldn't be Li Shimin.

"Then... what should we do?"

Li Gang asked, his voice trembling.

Li Yuan suddenly laughed.

His smile was somewhat cold.

If it can't be washed off, then don't wash it.

Li Yuan stood up and walked to the two men.

"At the morning court tomorrow, the powerful families will definitely launch an attack, and their first wave of attacks will be the fiercest. You two, hold them off for me."

Kong Yingda gritted his teeth and said:

"Your Majesty, rest assured, I will risk my life to ensure that they do not harm the Crown Prince in the slightest."

"You don't need to risk your lives."

Li Yuan patted Kong Yingda on the shoulder.

"All you need to do is muddy the waters. Don't worry about whether it's deceiving the emperor or not, just start arguing with them."

Li Gang asked, puzzled:

"A war of words? But ultimately, we're in the wrong."

"Are you in the wrong?"

Li Yuan sneered.

"I'll see who's in the wrong tomorrow. Do you really think I've become a useless person just because I'm stuck in this deep palace?"

The two great scholars looked up at Li Yuan in shock.

Li Yuan smiled and continued:

"I've already sent word to those old fogies, Pei Ji. They've been lying low for so many years; it's time they stretched their muscles."

Li Gang's eyes widened instantly.

Pei Ji?

He was the prime minister during the Wude era, and an absolute confidant of the retired emperor.

Although he had retired, he still had countless protégés and old friends in the court.

The retired emperor is about to use the old foundation of the previous dynasty to protect the crown prince at all costs.

"Your Majesty, what is this...?"

"Gao Ming is the successor I have chosen."

Li Yuan interrupted Li Gang, his tone chilling.

"If anyone dares to touch him, I will tear down this Taiji Palace."

Tomorrow, just go for it. Pei Ji and the others will step up when it matters.

"I want those old dogs from the aristocratic families to know that this Tang Dynasty is not for them to rule."

Li Gang and Kong Yingda exchanged a glance, neither able to see the fervor in the other's eyes.

With the Emperor Emeritus backing us up, what's there to be afraid of?

"Your Majesty, we obey."

Li Yuan waved his hand:

"Go back and get plenty of rest. Tomorrow's morning court session will be very exciting."

After the two men left, Old Li came up and draped a large cloak over Li Yuan's shoulders.

"Your Majesty, it is late, please rest."

Li Yuan walked to the window and opened it.

The night sky over Chang'an was covered with dark clouds, and not a single star could be seen.

A cold wind blew into the main hall, making the candlelight flicker precariously.

"The wind is picking up."

Li Yuan looked at the rolling dark clouds and muttered to himself.