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

Looking at the group of pillars of the Tang Dynasty below, Li Shimin felt extremely awkward.

Wang Gui covered his forehead and hid behind the crowd.

Although Cui Mingan and Changsun Wuji had separated, they glared at each other, wishing they could have another fight.

On the military side, Cheng Yaojin stood there with a mournful expression, looking longingly at Li Shimin.

The most outrageous one is Kong Yingda.

This great scholar was at that moment using a small comb to tidy up the sideburns of the dozing Li Chengqian.

"Your Highness, please move over here, or you might twist your neck."

Li Chengqian hummed in agreement, changed his position, and continued to pretend to be asleep with his eyes closed.

Li Shimin gritted his teeth as he watched.

Is the imperial court still in control?

Just as Li Shimin was about to lose his temper and forcefully steer the conversation back on track, the Yellow Gate Attendant outside the hall suddenly burst in.

"Your Majesty, the Goguryeo envoy, Yeon Gaesomun, has been ordered to come to the capital to pay tribute and is awaiting your instructions outside the Meridian Gate."

Li Shimin's eyes lit up immediately.

This Goguryeo envoy was practically a miracle worker.

"Announce."

Li Shimin waved his hand, straightened his posture, and displayed the majesty of the emperor of the Celestial Empire.

Wang De's voice then rang out:

"Summon the Goguryeo envoy to an audience!!!"

Upon hearing this announcement, civil and military officials quickly began to tidy their appearance.

Changsun Wuji straightened his official hat, which he was wearing during his transfer to another post, and stood sideways behind Fang Xuanling, concealing his bruised eyes.

Cui Minqian couldn't find his lost shoe, so he tucked his bare foot under his robe and acted as if nothing had happened.

The military officers quickly rearranged their ranks.

Yuchi Jingde didn't forget to kick Cheng Yaojin, reminding him to quickly put away the repeating crossbow in his hand.

Cheng Yaojing stuffed the wooden crossbow into his crotch, suppressing his anger as he returned to the ranks.

Footsteps could be heard outside.

All the officials turned to look and saw a burly man walk in from outside.

The man was wearing a fur-lined jacket with a silk overcoat.

He had a full beard, and his hair was casually tied back with a leather cord.

What attracted everyone's attention most was that he had five swords of different lengths hanging from his waist.

According to the laws of the Tang Dynasty, foreign officials were required to remove their swords and shoes when they came to court.

But Quan Gai Suwen swaggered in with five knives.

Are the guards outside just sitting around doing nothing?

Just as the censor in charge of maintaining order in front of the palace was about to step forward to reprimand him, Quan Gaisuwen suddenly stopped in his tracks.

He stood ten steps away from the imperial steps.

He did not kneel down, nor did he even bend his waist.

Quan Gaisuwen clasped his hands in a perfunctory gesture of respect.

"Your humble servant Quan Gaisuwen greets the Emperor of the Great Tang."

All the civil and military officials were stunned by this situation.

Since the founding of the Tang Dynasty, all nations have come to pay tribute. Which vassal state's envoy did not kneel and kowtow three times and nine times when he arrived at the Taiji Hall, showing utmost respect?

Today, a clueless young man showed up who only bowed but didn't kowtow?

Li Shimin frowned as he looked down at Quan Gai Suwen.

This person is clearly up to no good.

Wei Zheng was the first to jump out, pointing at the spring cover and shouting:

"You audacious madman! Why do you not kneel before His Majesty the Celestial Emperor?"

Quan Gai Suwen glanced at Wei Zheng and sneered:

"This sir has quite the imposing presence of an official. This foreign subject is Moliji of Goguryeo, and I am here on behalf of my king."

"In diplomatic relations between two countries, both sides should treat each other with equal courtesy. Why should a foreign envoy kneel?"

"presumptuous!"

Minister of Rites Li Daozong stepped forward in anger.

"Goguryeo was a vassal state of the Tang Dynasty, and it paid tribute to the Tang Dynasty every year and came to the Tang court every year."

It is only natural for vassal states to kneel and pay homage to their suzerain ruler.

Bringing a knife into the palace is already a grave act of disrespect; now you dare to utter such arrogant words?

Quan Gaisuwen said nonchalantly:

"That was before."

He raised his head, his eyes fixed intently on Li Shimin.

"Now, our Goguryeo army is strong and powerful, dominating Liaodong."

Although the Tang Dynasty was powerful, it was still separated by the vast Liao River.

If a fight were to break out, it would be impossible to predict who would win.

"This foreign subject has come today to deliver the annual tribute, not to act as a slave."

These words caused an uproar throughout the Taiji Hall.

That's fucking insane.

Before Li Shimin could even react, someone in the ranks of military officers had already jumped out.

"Who the hell do you think you are?"

Cheng Yaojin could no longer hold back.

He was first betrayed by the Crown Prince, then by his old comrade, and finally scolded by the Emperor. He had been holding back his anger for a long time.

Seeing a foreign savage daring to act like a big shot in the Taiji Hall, he was filled with rage and immediately lost his temper.

He rushed right up to Quan Gaisuwen, his finger almost poking the tip of his nose.

"You hairless beast, you're blind as a dog."

You dare not kneel before our Heavenly Khan?

Did you break your leg or did a dog bite your kneecap?

Believe it or not, I, Old Cheng, will break your two dog legs right now and make you kneel here licking the floor tiles.

Quan Gaisuwen was stunned by the scolding.

He held immense power in Goguryeo; who would dare to point their finger at him and curse him like that?

"And who are you, you dark-skinned man?"

Quan Gaisuwen gripped the hilt of his sword and asked angrily.

"I am your grandfather, Duke Lu, Cheng Yaojin."

Cheng Yaojin didn't tolerate him at all. Seeing him reach for his knife, he immediately reached into his own crotch.

"What? You want to fight? I'll kill you today, you bastard."

Cheng Yaojin pulled the wooden crossbow out of his crotch and pressed it directly against Quan Gaisuwen's forehead.

Quan Gaisuwen subconsciously took a step back.

"Cheng Zhijie! Step down."

Seeing that the situation was about to get out of control, Li Shimin quickly spoke up to stop it.

Even in times of war, envoys are not to be killed. If the Tang Dynasty were to kill the Goguryeo envoy in the Taiji Hall, it would be a loss of face.

Cheng Yaojin reluctantly put down the wooden crossbow and spat at Quan Gai Suwen.

"Pah! What is that?"

Yuchi Jingde went up and pulled the cursing Cheng Yaojin back into the ranks.

Quan Gaisuwen touched his forehead where he had been bumped, then took out a parchment scroll from his pocket and said:

"I have come today on the orders of my king to read the letter of state."

Li Shimin calmly said:

"read."

Quan Gaisu read aloud:

"King Goguryeo, Go Geonmu, wrote to the monarch of our neighboring Tang Dynasty..."

The very first sentence caused the civil officials in the hall to glare angrily at each other.

Historically, vassal states addressed their suzerain states as either "Heavenly Khan" or "Your Majesty the Emperor of the Great Tang Dynasty" when submitting memorials.

He referred to himself as a subject or an outside subject.

This statement clearly indicates that the neighboring monarch wanted to be on equal footing with the Tang Dynasty.

Just as Wei Zheng was about to launch into a tirade, Quan Gai Suwen's next words ignited the fury of the entire court.

"...Liaodong was originally the homeland of Goguryeo."

The Sui emperor was tyrannical and repeatedly invaded other countries, causing immense suffering to the people.

Now that the Great Tang Dynasty has been established, it is only right that we rest and recuperate.

For the sake of lasting peace between our two nations, we hope that the ruler of our neighboring country will step aside and return the cities of Liaodong to Goguryeo.

The borders should be redrawn to ensure the safety of the border residents.

An eerie silence fell over the Taiji Hall.

It only took two or three seconds.

Angri curses erupted.