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

Taiji Hall.

The civil and military officials stood on both sides, but the atmosphere was somewhat strange.

Wang Gui's eyes remained fixed on the direction of the gate.

He had prepared a long speech, just waiting to launch his attack as soon as the Crown Prince entered the hall.

The Crown Prince was impeached for being "arrogant and domineering, and for wielding military power."

Li Shimin was also having some doubts.

My rebellious son is back with the power to destroy a country. If he tries to act all high and mighty in front of me, should I beat him up in court?

"The Crown Prince is hereby summoned for an audience!"

Wang De's voice then rang out in the main hall.

All eyes turned to the entrance of the main hall.

Li Chengqian walked in from outside the door, dressed in full armor.

When the courtiers saw Li Chengqian, they were shocked to discover that the crown prince had gone to war.

How come I haven't lost weight after all this time, but instead miraculously gained weight?

Are the meals in the military this good now?

When Wang Gui saw Li Chengqian, he prepared to come out and make trouble.

result......

"thump."

Without saying a word, Li Chengqian knelt down on the ground.

Before anyone could react, Li Chengqian suddenly started crying and shouting:

"Your subject is guilty! Please punish me severely, Father Emperor."

This shout completely stunned everyone in the Taiji Hall.

Wang Gui's legs froze in mid-air, unsure whether to walk out.

Li Shimin stared at Li Chengqian in astonishment.

This script is wrong.

Shouldn't this unfilial son be strutting around like a peacock? Why is he begging for forgiveness right off the bat?

"Gao Ming, what...what crime have you committed?"

Li Shimin asked tentatively.

Li Chengqian raised his head, and tears streamed down his face.

"Your Majesty, my crimes are heinous and too numerous to recount."

Li Chengqian wiped away his tears while pounding his chest.

"Your subject, without consulting Your Majesty, took it upon himself to destroy Silla and Baekje."

This is a serious crime of disorganization and lack of discipline, and of recklessly resorting to force.

In order to appease the surrendered soldiers and common people, your son took it upon himself to divide the land of the three kingdoms among them, which is a blatant disregard for the laws of the court.

Furthermore, I am incompetent, causing the 100,000 brave soldiers who fought against him to suffer in the freezing cold of Liaodong with me. I have failed the soldiers and, more importantly, I have failed the trust placed in me by my father.

Li Chengqian became more and more agitated as he spoke, and finally he simply lay down on the ground and burst into tears.

"I beg Your Majesty to strip me of my title as Crown Prince and imprison me in the Imperial Prison to uphold the law!"

The officials in the court were all twitching at this moment, their faces looking more uncomfortable than if they had swallowed flies.

Is this what they call apologizing?

You destroyed the three kingdoms of the peninsula and doubled the territory of the Tang Dynasty, and you call that an apology?

You divided up Goguryeo's land and won over the hearts of the local people, and you call that an apology?

This was clearly a blatant display of military exploits in front of the entire court.

They took the phrase "When a general is in the field, he may disobey the emperor's orders" and brought it to the highest level of Versailles.

Cheng Yaojin stood in the ranks of the military officers, tightly covering his mouth.

Wei Zheng, however, kept his eyes downcast and his mind at ease, inwardly cursing the Crown Prince for being such a good actor.

Li Shimin, who had originally intended to reprimand Li Chengqian, was now unable to utter a single word.

They all say they deserve to die, so what else can you do to discipline them?

Could it be that he really wants to throw his unfilial son into prison?

Wouldn't the common people and the military generals of the Tang Dynasty tear down the Taiji Palace?

Wang Gui couldn't hold back any longer.

If the Crown Prince continues this performance, today's court assembly will truly turn into an awards ceremony.

"His Majesty!"

Wang Gui came out and pointed at Li Chengqian, shouting loudly.

"Although His Highness the Crown Prince has military achievements, his actions this time have indeed violated the duties of a subject."

To mobilize an army of 100,000 to destroy a country without divine approval is unrestrained.

If this continues, and generals all follow the Crown Prince's example of hoarding troops and becoming powerful, the Tang Dynasty will be in grave danger!

Wang Gui came up with this statement after discussing it with the aristocratic families for a long time yesterday.

They completely avoided discussing their military achievements, focusing instead on the phrase "possessing military power and wielding influence."

This was a thorn in Li Shimin's side.

Sure enough, Li Shimin frowned immediately upon hearing this.

This is the moment Li Chengqian has been waiting for.

He stood up abruptly, turned around, and glared at Wang Gui with bloodshot eyes, roaring:

"Lord Wang! Stop making baseless accusations."

Where were you when I was risking my life in Liaodong, leading my soldiers in a desperate struggle against the Goguryeo people in an icy cave?

Where were you when I bore the infamy of massacring cities and was regarded as a devil by the Goguryeo people for the sake of the eternal foundation of the Tang Dynasty?

Now that I have won and returned with a large army, what are you talking to me about using military power for personal gain?

Li Chengqian turned around and looked directly at Li Shimin.

He then took out the tiger tally that Li Shimin had given him before he set off.

Li Chengqian held the tiger tally above his head with both hands.

"Father! Since Lord Wang thinks that I am a threat because I am holding military power, I am a menace."

Then I will relinquish all military power today.

I no longer want this tiger tally. I also no longer covet the position of Crown Prince.

Your Majesty, I only ask that you treat kindly those brothers in Liaodong who have followed me through thick and thin.

Don't let them shed blood and tears for the Tang Dynasty.

Li Chengqian's words caused an uproar in the Taiji Hall.

Cheng Yaojin was the first to jump out and roar:

"Bullshit! Anyone who dares to say that His Highness the Crown Prince is abusing his power, I, Old Cheng, will be the first to chop him up."

Yuchi Jingde also roared in anger:

"Your Highness is expanding the territory of the Tang Dynasty; why should you suffer this humiliation?"

The military officers were instantly enraged, wishing they could tear Wang Gui apart on the spot.

It's no wonder that the Tang Dynasty's military generals were so furious.

This time, the Crown Prince is leading the team.

If even the crown prince can't withstand the impeachment of civil officials, then who will dare to lead troops into battle in the future?

What power would military officers have left during the Zhenguan era?

From then on, military officers were ranked one level below civil officials.

Li Shimin ignored the arguing below. He stared at the tiger tally in Li Chengqian's hand, his eyelids twitching incessantly.

Would he dare accept this tiger tally?

The Crown Prince had just returned to Chang'an with his troops and hadn't even had a hot meal when he was stripped of his military power.

How will the world view me?

To discard a donkey after it has served its purpose.

Harsh and ungrateful.

The most critical issue is that if the 100,000 troops in Liaodong knew that their commander had been forced by the court to relinquish his military power, they would surely rebel.

That unfilial son!!!

Li Shimin had cursed Li Chengqian countless times in his heart.

This is practically putting yourself on the hot seat of a fire.

"Nonsense!"

Li Shimin suddenly stood up, pointed at Wang Gui, and launched into a tirade of abuse.

"Wang Gui! You old scoundrel, you're spouting complete nonsense."

The Crown Prince has fought for the country and made unparalleled contributions. You, a pedantic scholar, do not understand the plight of the soldiers, but instead spread rumors and sow discord between me and the Crown Prince.

Guards, drag Wang Gui away! He will be fined a year's salary and confined to his room for three months to reflect on his actions.

Without my decree, he is not permitted to step out of the mansion even a single step.

Two imperial guards immediately rushed in and dragged the terrified Wang Gui out.

Wang Gui didn't understand what had happened until he was dragged out of the Taiji Hall.

I was impeaching the emperor in accordance with his wishes, so why did I end up being the one who suffered the consequences?

After dealing with Wang Gui, Li Shimin walked up to Li Chengqian with a smile on his face.

He reached out and helped Li Chengqian up.

He even forcefully stuffed the tiger tally back into Li Chengqian's arms.

"Brilliant! You're just too honest, kid."

Your contributions in Liaodong are evident to me and the people of the land.

What crime is there in using force without authorization or overstepping one's authority? It was all for the sake of the Tang Dynasty's country and people.

Not only will I not punish you, but I will also reward you handsomely.

"By imperial decree! Crown Prince Li Chengqian has pacified the peninsula and enhanced the prestige of our Great Tang Dynasty. He is hereby awarded ten thousand taels of gold and a thousand bolts of brocade. All officials under the Crown Prince's command shall be promoted one rank."

"Please take a seat."

Several eunuchs quickly brought over a chair and placed it behind Li Chengqian.

Li Chengqian appeared extremely apprehensive and repeatedly declined, saying:

"Father, this is absolutely unacceptable. I have not rendered any service whatsoever; how dare I accept such a generous reward?"

"Sit down when I tell you to."

Li Shimin pressed Li Chengqian's shoulders and shoved him into a chair, then gritted his teeth and whispered in his ear,

"Just act enough, don't push your luck."

Li Chengqian quickly shut up, sat up straight, and looked at his father with gratitude.

"Your subject thanks Your Majesty for your great kindness."

What should have been a tense court assembly was instead turned by Li Chengqian into a celebration of filial piety and paternal love.

After Wang Gui was dragged away, the officials from the powerful families all wilted.

As for Cui Mingan?

After being taught a lesson by Li Chengqian last time, he had lost the ability to lead the aristocratic families.

After the court session ended.

Li Shimin originally wanted to invite Li Chengqian to have a meal at Ganlu Palace.

As a result, Li Chengqian used the excuse of needing to pay his respects to his mother to slip away.

After Li Chengqian walked out of the Taiji Hall, all the emotions on his face returned to calm.

He casually tossed the helmet to Xiao Shunzi next to him.

"Walk."

Li Chengqian walked towards the direction of the inner palace.

"Your Highness, where are we going?"

Xiao Shunzi, carrying his helmet, jogged up to catch up and asked.

"Go to the Hall of State Administration."

Li Chengqian sneered.

"Changsun Wuji sent such a generous gift. If I don't reciprocate with a lavish gift through the Empress Dowager, how can I face his good intentions?"