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

On the morning of the third day, at the Taiji Hall.

The atmosphere was somewhat festive.

Li Shimin sat on the dragon throne, feeling exceptionally relaxed.

Li Junxian has been guarding the East Palace for the past two days without any reports, which means that the rebellious son is no longer able to resist him.

With the imperial edict to appease the powerful families of Guanzhong, no one could object now.

Gao Shilian had specially changed into a brand-new purple court robe today, and the jade belt around his waist was polished to a shine.

He stood at the front of the civil service line, beaming as he accepted the congratulations from his colleagues.

Wang De flicked his whisk and loudly announced that those with matters to report should do so now, and those without should leave the court.

Gao Shilian straightened his clothes and strode to the center of the main hall.

"Your humble servant Gao Shilian, by Your Majesty's grace, has arranged the marriage of Princess Changle to my son, Xingcheng. I have come today to express my gratitude, and wish Your Majesty a long life!"

Gao Shilian lifted his robe and bent his knees, preparing to kneel down.

At this critical moment.

"Let's see who dares to express their gratitude today."

A loud shout rang out from outside the Taiji Hall.

All the officials and civil and military officials looked towards the entrance of the main hall.

Li Chengqian walked in wearing a bright armor.

Li Junxian, the commander of the Hundred Cavalry Division, followed behind dejectedly.

The smile on Li Shimin's face vanished instantly, and he roared at Li Chengqian:

"You unfilial son! Didn't I order you to be confined to the Eastern Palace? Who allowed you to leave?"

Li Chengqian ignored Li Shimin's roar, walked to the center of the hall, and shoved Gao Shilian aside.

"Get out of the way, don't block the way."

Gao Shilian stumbled as he was pulled aside. He was about to look up and reprimand Li Chengqian when he was so frightened by Li Chengqian's murderous gaze that he didn't say a word.

"Get in here, all of you."

Before the assembled officials could react, Li Chengqian waved towards the outside of the hall.

What followed was a scene that left the entire court of officials utterly astonished.

Prince Li Tai of Yue, Prince Li Ke of Shu, Prince Li You of Qi, and all the princes of the Tang Dynasty who had established their own government offices in Chang'an lined up in a long queue and walked into the Taiji Hall with their heads bowed.

"Kneel down!"

Li Chengqian shouted loudly.

"Thump! Thump!"

Without hesitation, more than a dozen princes knelt down behind Li Chengqian.

Looking at his sons below, their faces bruised and swollen, Li Shimin felt a surge of heat rush to his head, and his blood pressure spiked instantly.

"What are you doing?"

Li Shimin pointed at Li Tai and asked,

"Qingque, what happened to your face? Who hit you?"

"Your Majesty, I tripped and fell while getting up in the middle of the night, and hit my face on the threshold."

Li You quickly chimed in:

"Yes, yes, yes. I also fell while getting up in the middle of the night."

More than a dozen princes said in unison:

"Your Majesty, we all fell by accident."

The officials and civil and military officials looked at each other in bewilderment.

Did the thresholds and steps of the entire city of Chang'an collectively rebel last night?

Could you trip all the princes up and turn their heads into pigs?

Cheng Yaojin pinched his thigh hard to stop himself from laughing out loud.

Fang Xuanling and Wei Zheng exchanged a glance, both seeing shock on each other's faces.

The Crown Prince's methods are simply unbelievable.

Enraged, Li Shimin grabbed the paperweight from his desk and smashed it down.

"Bullshit! Do you think I'm a three-year-old? What do you want?"

Li Chengqian glanced at Li Tai, who hurriedly shouted:

"Father! Your subjects have come today to plead for your sister Chang Le."

Gao Lixing is ignorant and incompetent, a spoiled brat who is utterly unworthy of the eldest daughter of the Tang Dynasty.

Your son swears to oppose this marriage to the death!

Li Ke followed closely behind and roared:

"I swear to oppose it to the death! If Father insists on bestowing this marriage upon me, I would rather die by crashing into a pillar in this Taiji Hall."

"We swear to oppose it to the death! We will never accept our fate!"

More than a dozen princes shouted in unison.

This scene is even more exciting than a coup d'état.

The officials from the powerful families were all dumbfounded.

The princes usually fight tooth and nail for power and profit, wishing they could destroy each other. But today, they have surprisingly united and openly defied the emperor's decree.

Gao Shilian stood to the side, his old face ashen, his legs trembling.

He originally thought this was a glorious and honorable job, but how did he suddenly become the public enemy of all the princes of the Tang Dynasty?

If these little devils really go crazy, will the Gao family ever have a peaceful life again?

Li Shimin, his face ashen, pointed at Li Chengqian and roared:

"You unfilial son...this is all your doing. You brought them here to force me to abdicate; did you really think I wouldn't dare to depose you?"

Li Chengqian snorted coldly, turned to look at Gao Shilian, and said:

"Lord Gao, you were quite happy to express your gratitude just now."

Gao Shilian replied:

"Your Highness, this is a marriage bestowed by His Majesty. This old minister is merely following the imperial decree."

"Your Highness, by leading all the princes to cause a disturbance in the imperial court, is showing utter disregard for the laws and regulations of the court."

"Laws and regulations?"

Li Chengqian pulled a booklet directly from his pocket and threw it onto Gao Shilian's chest.

"Today I will talk to you about the law."

Your precious son, Gao Lixing, got into a fight over a courtesan in Pingkang Ward last month and broke the leg of the magistrate's son. You spent three thousand strings of cash to cover it up, didn't you?"

Gao Shilian's expression changed drastically upon hearing this.

"Half a month ago, Gao Lixing rode his horse recklessly in the West Market, trampling down two vegetable stalls and injuring three civilians."

Did you send your steward to threaten someone into not reporting it to the authorities, and then break their leg?

And last winter, this good-for-nothing led his men to forcibly abduct women from a village outside the city, driving their fathers and brothers to jump into the Wei River.

Instead of disciplining him, you, as his father, helped him destroy the evidence and bribed the county officials to make the case look like an accidental drowning.

The entire court of officials gasped in shock upon hearing this.

These scandals are usually kept secret, and no one dares to bring them up in public, given the Gao family's prominent status.

Today, the Crown Prince actually broke the silence and exposed the truth.

Gao Shilian angrily pointed at Li Chengqian and roared:

"Your Highness...Your Highness is making baseless accusations. Although my son is unruly, he would never dare to do such a heinous thing."

"Whether it's slander or not, just summon the Minister of the Court of Judicial Review and have him check this booklet."

Li Chengqian grabbed Gao Shilian by the collar and lifted him up.

He then turned to the ranks of civil officials and shouted:

Where is Sun Fujia, the Minister of the Court of Judicial Review?

Sun Fujia was startled and quickly stepped forward, wiping away cold sweat, not daring to say a word.

"Gao Shilian, I'm putting my words here today."

Li Chengqian whispered this matter in Gao Shilian's ear.

"If you dare to accept this imperial decree today, I will take my brothers and set fire to your Shen State Duke's mansion tomorrow."

If Gao Lixing dares to step out of the mansion gate even half a step, I will break all three of his legs.

I guarantee I'll smash your Gao family's businesses to pieces within a month.

"I even dared to beat my own brother, do you think I'd dare to chop your son with a knife?"

Upon hearing this, Gao Shilian was so frightened that he begged for mercy repeatedly.

"Your Highness, please calm down! This old minister will not accept the marriage. This old minister absolutely will not accept it. The Gao family is not worthy of such a marriage."

Li Chengqian then released his grip, and Gao Shilian collapsed to the ground.

Li Shimin watched as his meticulously planned marriage was ruined by Li Chengqian.

He roared angrily:

"Guards! Seize this rebellious son and throw him into the imperial prison!"

Just as the imperial guards outside the palace were about to rush in.

Li Tai suddenly stood up from the ground and spread his arms to block Li Chengqian's way.

"Father! If you're going to arrest my elder brother, then arrest me too."

"If my sister Chang Le's marriage is not called off, I will go on a hunger strike in the imperial prison."

Li Ke and Li You quickly got up and clung tightly to the leg of the leading imperial guard.

"Yes! Arrest us all. We'll live and die with our leader."

Li Ke shouted until he was hoarse.

Li You simply lay down on the ground and rolled around, clinging tightly to the palace pillar with both hands:

"If Father does not retract his decree, I will die here in the Taiji Hall today."

The entire Taiji Hall was in complete chaos.

The princes began to throw tantrums on the ground, and the imperial guards dared not approach them.

The entire court watched this once-in-a-century scene with great interest.

Li Shimin was so angry that he couldn't catch his breath and fainted.

"His Majesty!"

Wang De quickly went up to help Li Shimin.

Just then, a report came from outside the hall:

"The Emperor Emeritus has arrived."