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

Lizheng Hall.

Qiuyue was combing Changsun Wugou's hair, but her hands were trembling.

"What's wrong? You seem restless tonight?"

Empress Changsun looked at Qiuyue with a puzzled expression.

"Your Majesty, something terrible has happened."

Qiuyue whispered in Changsun Wugou's ear,

"Eunuch Wang secretly sent someone to deliver a message, saying that His Majesty smashed things in the Ganlu Hall and scolded His Highness the Crown Prince..."

Qiuyue didn't dare to continue.

"What are you cursing about?"

Empress Zhangsun frowned slightly and asked.

"They accused the Crown Prince of deceiving the emperor and rebelling, and of harboring powerful generals. They also claimed that Duke Yi was not dead and had made an appearance on the Baekje front."

"Clatter".

The gold hairpin in Empress Zhangsun's hand fell onto the dressing table.

Qin Shubao didn't die? He went to Baekje with Gao Ming?

That brat is incredibly audacious.

Even if you want to secretly build up your power, you should keep it well hidden.

Now that it's been exposed, Erlang will definitely be furious.

This is practically a challenge to imperial power.

Empress Changsun suddenly stood up, looked at Qiuyue, and gave the order:

"Leave the palace immediately. Go and invite the Duchess of Yi and the Duchess of Lai to me. Remember, be quick and avoid being seen."

Qiuyue accepted the order and withdrew.

Half an hour later, Madam Qin and Madam Du walked in.

The two of them were on edge the whole way; the Empress's urgent summons in the middle of the night couldn't be good news.

"Your Majesty, we pay our respects to Your Majesty the Empress." The two knelt down in unison.

Empress Zhangsun, seated on the phoenix throne, waved her hand:

"Please take a seat."

After the two sat down, Empress Changsun picked up her teacup and skimmed off the foam:

"Ladies, how have things been at your residence lately?"

Madam Qin quickly replied:

"Thank you for your concern, Your Majesty. Since my husband Qin passed away, the manor has become much quieter. And with Huai Dao gone to Liaodong, I am constantly worried."

Madam Du also wiped away her tears and said:

"Yes, my husband, Lao Du, also passed away early..."

Empress Zhangsun did not speak, but simply placed the teacup heavily on the table.

"Ladies, there are no outsiders here, so there's no need for you to put on an act with me."

Empress Dowager Changsun stared at Madam Qin and asked,

"Is the Duke of Yi really dead?"

Madam Qin trembled, forcing a smile as she said:

"Your Majesty, what are you saying? My husband Qin's coffin was personally bestowed by His Majesty. How could that be false?"

Madam Du echoed this sentiment:

"Your Majesty, the dead must be respected; this is no joke."

Empress Changsun, too lazy to waste words, simply pulled a slip of paper from her sleeve and slapped it on the table between the two of them.

"Take a good look at yourself."

The two looked down, and after just one glance, their faces turned pale.

The note clearly stated: Qin Qiong has appeared in Sabi, Baekje, and his identity has been exposed.

"thump!"

The two ladies' legs went weak, and they slid off their chairs and knelt on the ground.

It’s over.

It's all over.

Madam Qin's mind was buzzing; all she could think about was that the Qin family line was about to end.

Madam Du was so frightened that she collapsed. Du Ruhui went with her. If this matter is really investigated, the Du family will not be able to escape either.

The two lay on the ground, unable to even beg for mercy, only able to sob in despair.

Empress Zhangsun sighed as she looked at the two of them.

She bent down and reached out to help the two of them up.

"Alright, stop crying."

Gao Ming is my own flesh and blood. He's caused trouble, and I, his mother, will cover for him."

The two ladies were stunned, raising their heads to stare blankly at Empress Zhangsun.

"I don't care whether your two old geezers are dead or alive, nor do I care how much trouble they've caused in Baekje."

Empress Zhangsun gripped their hands tightly.

"All I know is that they are working for my son."

Madam Qin's lips trembled as she said, "Your Majesty..."

"As long as they remain loyal to my son, I will never allow anyone to harm a single hair on either of your families."

Empress Zhangsun's words were firm and resounding.

"I'm making this clear today: anyone who dares to use this as an excuse to take your two families' lives is tantamount to a life-or-death feud with me."

This statement reassured the two of them.

"Your Majesty's kindness is something I could never repay even with my life."

With the Empress's words, both families were saved.

Empress Zhangsun pulled them up and explained:

"After returning home, I will close the door to all visitors and refuse to see anyone. I will shield myself from the storms outside."

......

Taiji Hall.

The morning court bell has just rung.

Li Shimin had just sat on the dragon throne.

Wang Gui then came out holding a memorial to the emperor.

"Your subject has a memorial to present!"

Your subject impeaches Crown Prince Li Chengqian for deceiving the emperor, harboring the late General Qin Qiong, Duke of Yi, and plotting a rebellion.

Upon hearing this, a chorus of exclamations erupted in the hall.

Although many people received word of the situation last night, many others are still unaware of the truth.

Yuchi Jingde's eyes widened, and he almost jumped up.

Brother Qin the Second is not dead? He even went to war with the Crown Prince?

Are people these days so thrill-seeking?

Wang Gui didn't give anyone else a chance to react and continued to speak loudly:

"Confirm news has come from the Baekje front that Duke Qin Qiong of Yi has openly appeared at the foot of Sabi Castle."

"Your Majesty, the Crown Prince has privately raised assassins and is protecting high-ranking officials who have faked their deaths to escape. This shows a blatant disregard for the laws of the Tang Dynasty. Where does this leave Your Majesty?"

"I second that proposal!"

Changsun Wuji then stepped forward.

"Your Majesty! The Crown Prince's actions were by no means a moment of folly."

He commands an army of 100,000 men in the field and is secretly recruiting high-ranking military generals; his intentions are despicable! If he is not severely punished, the nation will cease to exist!

Changsun Wuji knelt down with a thud.

"Your Majesty, I implore you to immediately issue an edict to strip the Crown Prince of his title, escort him back to the capital, and imprison him in the Imperial Prison to await trial."

"We second that proposal!"

Cui Minqian and a group of aristocratic officials knelt down in a great commotion.

"We implore Your Majesty to severely punish the Crown Prince in order to uphold the law!"

A pack of wolves devours a tiger, each move deadly.

They didn't mention any military achievements at all, but only insisted on the two capital crimes of deceiving the emperor and rebellion.

Li Shimin looked at the assembled officials below, the veins on his hands bulging.

This rebellious son may be incredibly audacious, but when it comes to deposing the heir apparent, he hasn't made up his mind yet.

"Nonsense."

Li Gang rushed out of the queue, pointed at Wang Gui's nose, and started cursing.

"His Highness the Crown Prince fought valiantly in Liaodong, destroying Goguryeo, defeating Silla, and conquering Baekje. These are unparalleled achievements."

You lot are enjoying yourselves in Chang'an, yet you're here slandering the soldiers who are risking their lives on the front lines. Have you lost your conscience?

Kong Yingda also stood up, pointed at Changsun Wuji, and roared:

"Duke of Qi, the Crown Prince is your own nephew. Aren't you afraid of being condemned by the world for fabricating charges and kicking someone when they're down?"

Changsun Wuji snorted coldly:

"Lord Kong, I am acting on the side of reason, not personal favoritism."

Before the laws of the Tang Dynasty, the emperor was subject to the same punishment as the common people.

No matter how great the Crown Prince's military achievements, they cannot cover up the fact that he deceived the emperor and rebelled.

Wang Gui chimed in, adding:

"Grand Tutor Li, his merits are merits, and his faults are faults."

It is a fact that Qin Qiong faked his death, and it is a fact that the Crown Prince protected him.

Which law of the Tang Dynasty states that winning a battle allows one to deceive the emperor?

"You!" Li Gang was so angry he couldn't refute.

"My lords, please stop making trouble here."

Cui Mingan stood up and said aggressively,

"The crime of deceiving the emperor is punishable by the extermination of nine generations of one's family."

As the heir apparent, the crown prince knowingly broke the law, and his crime is compounded.

If Your Majesty does not punish the Crown Prince today, who will respect the laws of the Tang Dynasty in the future?

The aristocratic officials shouted in unison once again:

"Your Majesty, please punish the Crown Prince severely!"

Li Gang and Kong Yingda were forced to retreat repeatedly.

They were learned and knowledgeable, but faced with the undeniable fact of deceiving the emperor, they had no way to refute it.

No matter how great one's military achievements are, they can never surpass the power of the emperor.