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

Taiji Hall.

Li Shimin sat on the dragon throne, occasionally rubbing his lower back.

Last night, Empress Zhangsun kicked me off the bed, but I didn't notice at the time.

The pain started as soon as I woke up this morning.

He glanced around at the civil and military officials below.

Changsun Wuji exuded an aura that suggested he might ascend to heaven at any moment.

Li Chengqian stood in the Crown Prince's reserved spot, his head nodding off, clearly dozing off.

In the ranks of military officers, Cheng Yaojin and Yuchi Jingde were laughing and joking.

Li Shimin was just about to have Wang De announce the start of the morning court session.

Cui Mingan had already stepped out ahead of them.

"Your Majesty! This old minister wishes to impeach Duke Changsun Wuji of Qi."

With just that one sound, the entire court of officials, who had been dozing off, instantly became alert.

It's not that I feel sleepy at work; there's really nothing that can keep me energized every day.

If every court session were like today's, with powerful families battling the Duke of Qi, who would still be dozing off?

Li Shimin feigned ignorance and asked:

"Minister Cui, the Duke of Qi is currently under house arrest. What are you impeaching him for?"

Cui Mingan pointed at Changsun Wuji and said:

"This old minister impeached Changsun Wuji for forming cliques for personal gain and for using his power to extort money from aristocratic families."

Just yesterday morning, he instructed people to forcibly take away 100,000 strings of copper coins and 300,000 dan of grain from the shops under my Cui family's name.

The amount involved is so large it's simply appalling.

"Your Majesty, please grant this old minister's request."

At this moment, Changsun Wuji felt his head buzzing.

He guessed that Cui Mingan would make trouble, but he didn't expect that the old scoundrel would go to such lengths to distort the truth.

It was clearly your Cui family who took the initiative to deliver the things to my doorstep.

Now you're saying I stole it?

Changsun Wuji stepped forward, pointed at Cui Mingan, and began to curse:

"Cui Mingan, you are slandering me."

Your son, Cui Hao, made outrageous remarks at Qujiang Pool, threatening to break the legs of Prince Yue and Grand Tutor Li Gang.

You have failed to properly educate your son, allowing him to commit heinous acts and intending to harm the prince.

Your Cui family knows you have committed a heinous crime punishable by the extermination of nine generations, which is why you sent money and grain to my Duke of Qi's mansion overnight, hoping to bribe me to plead for your life.

But I am an upright man, how could I tolerate such filth as yours?

Li Chengqian watched the two arguing from the side.

Deep down, I realized I had underestimated the shamelessness of these old foxes.

How can someone portray himself as a loyal minister?

Cui Minqi almost jumped up.

"Bullshit! Changsun Wuji, stop trying to shift the blame."

My son, Cui Hao, had no idea at the time that they were the King of Yue and the Grand Tutor.

But your good son, Changsun Chong, clearly knows the King of Yue, yet he pretends to be deaf and dumb, deliberately leading my son to make a mistake.

This is clearly a trap set by you, Changsun Wuji.

You pretend to be on good terms with us, but behind our backs you're digging a pit for us to fall into.

You are utterly despicable and shameless.

Changsun Wuji roared in exasperation:

"I set a trap? Would I, an old man, be so bored as to scheme against a mere child? It's clear that your Cui family is used to being arrogant and domineering, and you don't respect the royal family at all."

The two of them started arguing back and forth, exchanging barbs right in front of each other.

Li Shimin felt extremely pleased as he watched the two arguing below.

Bite it, bite it hard.

It would be best to see bloodshed in the imperial court.

But Li Shimin soon discovered a strange phenomenon.

Cui Mingan and Changsun Wuji argued so fiercely that they even insulted each other's ancestors for eighteen generations.

However, the two of them tacitly avoided mentioning one name.

That was his good son, Li Chengqian.

Cui Mingan dared not mention Li Chengqian because he was afraid of implicating the Crown Prince, and the Qujiang Pond incident would be characterized as a powerful family scions besieging the Crown Prince.

That's not as simple as breaking a leg; it's tantamount to treason.

Therefore, he could only insist that it was Changsun Wuji who was behind it.

Changsun Wuji, on the other hand, dared not even get close to Li Chengqian.

His confession was in Li Chengqian's hands.

And even if he said that Li Chengqian extorted the money and grain, would anyone believe him?

All the money and grain are currently stored in the Duke of Qi's mansion.

He could only insist that it was a bribe sent by the Cui family to exonerate him.

Just then, Wei Zheng suddenly stepped out from the ranks of civil officials.

He couldn't stand it any longer. Turning the imperial court into a marketplace over the sake of a mere child—what kind of order was this?

"Your Majesty! I have something to report."

The two sides who were arguing stopped miraculously after Wei Zheng stepped forward.

"Both of you are pillars of the court; for you to roar in court like this is truly an insult to your civility."

Since this incident occurred at Qujiang Pool and involves His Highness the Prince of Yue and the Grand Tutor, we only need to find those who were present at the time and ask them clearly, and the truth will naturally come to light.

Both Cui Mingan and Changsun Wuji felt a sudden jolt in their hearts.

Wei Zheng, that stubborn old mule, is going to cause trouble.

Wei Zheng ignored the two men and turned to look at Li Chengqian, who was dozing off beside him.

"Your Highness the Crown Prince."

I listened to the Qujiang Poetry Gathering held the previous two days, and Your Highness was also present.

I wonder, which of the Duke of Qi's and Lord Cui's statements is true and which is false? Was that 100,000 strings of cash extortion or a bribe?

All the officials' eyes turned to Li Chengqian as Wei Zheng asked his question.

Li Shimin also looked at his son with great interest.

He wanted to see how this little bastard would manage to smooth things over.

Li Chengqian looked up at Wei Zheng with a blank expression.

"Lord Wei, did you just call me?"

Li Chengqian pointed to his own nose and asked with a completely innocent expression.

Wei Zheng frowned:

"Your Highness, I am asking about what happened at Qujiang Pool that day."

Li Chengqian sighed, looking utterly exhausted, and said:

"Lord Wei, I've been reciting my lessons at the Eastern Palace until the fourth watch of the night these past few days."

The lessons left by Grand Tutor Kong were far too numerous.

My mind is now filled with the sayings of Confucius and the Book of Poetry. What you just said about extortion and bribery.

"Why can't I understand a single word?"

Wei Zheng was completely stunned.

He never expected that Li Chengqian would choose to run away.

"Your Highness, that day at Qujiang Pool..."

Wei Zheng was determined to force Li Chengqian to tell the truth.

"Master Wei!"

Kong Yingda stepped forward and stood in front of Li Chengqian.

"Wei Zheng! Stop pressuring the Crown Prince here."

Kong Yingda pointed at Wei Zheng's nose and started cursing.

"His Highness the Crown Prince is exceptionally intelligent, yet he still studies late into the night, neglecting sleep and meals for the sake of the Tang Dynasty."

These past few days, I have personally examined Your Highness's understanding of the classics in the Eastern Palace. Your Highness's insights into the Analects are profound and insightful.

Your Highness is so busy with state affairs every day, how could you possibly have the time to concern yourself with the petty squabbles and jealousies of those纨绔子弟 (sons of wealthy families who are spoiled and dissolute)?

Kong Yingda then turned to look at Cui Mingan and Changsun Wuji.

"The children you raised at home are useless, causing trouble outside, and now they're running to the Taiji Hall to slander the Crown Prince? This is simply outrageous."

Let me tell you, that day at Qujiang Pool, I was with the King of Yue, observing the people's conditions.

"That little bastard from the Cui family tried to break my legs right away. I haven't even settled accounts with you yet, and you've already jumped out on your own?"

Wei Zheng was rendered speechless by Kong Yingda's rebuttal.

What could he say?

Kong Yingda was the leader of all scholars in the land. Even he stood up to testify for the Crown Prince, so who would dare to question him?

Cui Mingan was so angry he almost vomited blood on the spot.

Kong Yingda, that old scoundrel.

You weren't even there that day, so what right do you have to understand the people's conditions?

But does he dare to say it?

Kong Yingda wasn't there that day, but Li Gang was.

Everyone in the court knows that Li Gang and Kong Yingda are now in cahoots.

Changsun Wuji looked at Li Chengqian, who was hiding behind Kong Yingda and making faces at him.

He was so angry that he almost smashed his head against a pillar in the Taiji Hall and died.

That little rascal schemed against everyone, but in the end, he managed to absolve himself completely.

"His Majesty!"

Cui Mingan dared not pursue Li Chengqian any further.

"The evidence against Changsun Wuji for accepting bribes is conclusive. All that money and grain is currently in the Duke of Qi's mansion."

"I beg Your Majesty to investigate thoroughly."

When Changsun Wuji saw that someone was coming at him again, he immediately became anxious:

"Your Majesty! That was a frame-up by the Cui family. I implore Your Majesty to send the Hundred Cavalry to investigate the Cui family's accounts and find out how this money and grain came about."

Upon hearing this, Cui Mingan felt a chill run down his spine.

How could the Cui family's accounts withstand scrutiny?

Once those hidden properties and people are discovered, the entire Cui clan of Qinghe will be doomed.

"Changsun Wuji, you old scoundrel! I'll fight you to the death!"

Cui Gan bared his teeth and claws and pounced on Changsun Wuji.

Not to be outdone, Changsun Wuji swung his fist and met the attack head-on.

Two of the most powerful ministers of the Tang Dynasty engaged in a fierce battle right there in the Taiji Hall.

The people around them were so frightened that they quickly made way for the two of them.