My hotel is full of emperors throughout history.

Taiji Hall.

The civil and military officials stood in order, completely silent, their eyes either lowered to the ground or glancing upwards, all holding their breath and concentrating.

Li Shimin sat high on his throne, his face beneath the crown as calm as still water, showing no joy or anger. Only his sharp eyes slowly swept over the ministers below, an invisible pressure spreading out.

He did not speak immediately; the room was so quiet you could hear a pin drop.

Only the wisps of smoke rising silently from the bronze crane incense burner swirled around.

Finally, Li Shimin spoke.

"The day before yesterday, King Li Tai of Yue acted arrogantly and improperly in front of the Eastern Palace, uttering vile words, attacking the Crown Prince, presumptuously guessing the Emperor's intentions, and his words and deeds were unrestrained, violating the etiquette of a subject and the ethics of brotherhood."

"I am deeply saddened and cannot tolerate this."

The moment the words were spoken, the atmosphere in the hall suddenly became tense.

Although news of Li Tai's punishment had already spread among high-level officials in a small circle yesterday.

However, when the emperor himself formally announces it at a court assembly, the significance is entirely different.

As expected, Li Shimin paused for a moment before continuing.

"In order to rectify the administration and serve as a warning to others, I have issued an edict: Li Tai is stripped of all his officially appointed official positions and concurrent posts, including Grand General of Yangzhou, Left General of the Martial Guard, and Governor of Yongzhou, and his power to establish his own government is revoked. From this day forward, he shall remain in the Wude Hall to reflect on his mistakes and shall not leave without my decree."

Upon hearing this, many ministers in the hall, especially representatives of aristocratic families who had long-standing ties with Li Tai, immediately had subtle changes in their expressions.

After a brief silence, a censor from a prominent Shandong family stepped forward and bowed.

"Your Majesty, His Highness the Prince of Yue is young and impetuous, and may have made a momentary slip of the tongue. However, he has always been respectful, studious, and exceptionally talented. His compilation of the *Kuodi Zhi* has been a great contribution to education. Is this punishment... too harsh? It might discourage the ambitions of the imperial family members and cause regret among scholars throughout the land!"

Immediately afterwards, another vice minister from a prominent family in the Guanzhong Plain stepped forward to echo his sentiments.

"Your Majesty, although His Highness Prince Yue has spoken and acted inappropriately, his heart may be pitiable. The rift between father and son, or between brothers, is a family matter. While swift and decisive measures demonstrate the rule of law, it is also necessary to consider the kinship within the imperial family and give him a chance to repent and reform. Abruptly stripping His Highness of all his posts may cause him to... become despondent, which is not in the heart of Your Majesty as a loving father."

"I second that proposal!"

"Your Majesty, please reconsider!"

Several ministers stepped forward again, the core of which was Li Tai pleading for leniency.

Many neutral officials frowned secretly, but no one spoke up to refute them for a moment.

Li Shimin sat upright on his throne, his expression unchanged, but his eyes grew increasingly profound as he glanced at the ministers who had stepped forward, making a mental note of them.

Then, he moved his throat, preparing to speak.

"absurd!!!"

A loud, clear shout, like a thunderclap, instantly drowned out all the pleas and discussions.

At the front of the civil officials' line, a man suddenly stepped forward, his robe sleeves whistling as he moved violently.

He wasn't particularly tall, and was even somewhat thin, but his back was ramrod straight.

His square face was flushed with anger, his eyebrows stood on end, and his gaze was like lightning, fixed on the ministers who had just stepped forward to plead for him—it was Wei Zheng.

"What you are saying is utter nonsense, a distortion of the truth, and an attempt to mislead the public!"

Wei Zheng's voice was like the clanging of metal, ringing out clearly.

He first pointed to the Censor-in-Chief who was the first to step forward and said sternly.

"Youthful impetuosity? A slip of the tongue? Was that really a slip of the tongue by Li Tai?"

"That was in front of all the officials and eunuchs of the Eastern Palace, where they denounced the current Crown Prince as a 'cripple' and a 'useless piece of trash'!"

"This is an open curse, deeming the crown prince unworthy to succeed to the throne! This is arrogance to the point of deciding the imperial succession for His Majesty!"

"Such vicious attacks and treasonous words are dismissed as a mere 'slip of the tongue' in your mouth?"

"The censors, having heard rumors, are tasked with impeaching those who break the law. As the Censor-in-Chief, instead of impeaching Li Tai for his arrogance, you are here to whitewash and exonerate him. What are your intentions?!"

"Do you deserve the xiezhi crown you're wearing?!"

The Imperial Censor was so scolded that his face turned red and he was speechless.

"Lord Wei... this humble official, this humble official only..."

"Just what? Just because your Cui family has a close past and intertwined interests with the Yue Prince's Mansion, and therefore you disregard national laws and moral principles to protect them?!"

Wei Zheng showed no mercy, silencing the other party and forcing him to retreat half a step in a disheveled manner.

Wei Zheng immediately turned to the vice minister from Guanzhong, his gaze becoming even sharper.

"Family matters? No matter is too small for the imperial family! The crown prince is the foundation of the nation. To attack the crown prince undermines the foundation of the nation. This is a heinous crime. How can it be lightly dismissed as a 'family matter'?"

"Li Tai has received His Majesty's great favor, serving as the governor of a major province, in charge of the imperial guards, and holding the power of regent. This is an important responsibility entrusted to him by His Majesty, and a great expectation placed upon him! Yet he uses the power bestowed upon him by His Majesty as capital and confidence to attack his elder brother and covet the throne!"

"Such behavior is disloyal! Unfilial! Disrespectful to elders!"

Upon hearing this, all the ministers who had stepped forward turned pale. They wanted to refute it, but they didn't know where to begin.

Wei Zheng didn't stop either, and immediately unleashed his berserk mode.

"You all keep talking about 'a loving father's heart' and 'the compassion of family,' but why don't you consider how heartbroken His Majesty, as the ruler and father, must be when faced with such disobedience and arrogance from his own son?!"

"Your Majesty's severe punishment of Li Tai is precisely to set an example, deter others, uphold the law and order of the court, protect the other princes, and, more importantly, to warn those with ulterior motives who are trying to curry favor with the emperor!"

Wei Zheng became more and more excited as he spoke, his spittle almost spraying onto their faces.

"Li Tai's compilation of the 'Kuodi Zhi' was certainly worthy of rewards and praise. Merits are merits, and faults are faults; how can they be confused?"

"Does his literary talent grant him the right to freely attack the crown prince and escape punishment? Does his past favor allow him to be above the law?"

"What's the point of you reading the classics? Have you all just wasted your time?!"

"To chatter on here, advocating for rebellious elements, is an insult to civility and a disgrace to one's salary!"

He swept through the palace, berating the ministers who pleaded for mercy until they turned pale, broke out in a cold sweat, and retreated repeatedly, none daring to utter a word in rebuttal.

Li Shimin sat upright on his throne, his crown tassels swaying slightly, and the corners of his mouth couldn't help but turn up.

Cool!

That was fucking awesome!

I'm used to being criticized by Wei Zheng every day.

Now you see Wei Zheng criticizing others on your behalf!

This feeling is absolutely amazing!!!

Li Shimin coughed lightly and slowly raised his hand, stopping Wei Zheng's anger, which seemed to be about to erupt further.

"What the Duke of Zheng said is very much in line with my thoughts."

"Regarding the King of Yue, my mind is made up and there is no need for further discussion. Anyone who dares to plead for mercy or secretly collude with others will be treated as an accomplice."

"Is there anything else?"

Li Shimin's gaze swept over the assembled officials below the stage.

As soon as he finished speaking, an official from the Court of State Ceremonial, dressed in a crimson robe and holding a tablet, stepped forward.

"Your Majesty! An urgent report from the Court of State Ceremonial: The envoy fleet dispatched by Japan to Tang China arrived at Dengzhou Port three days ago! The chief envoy, deputy envoy, and their accompanying scholars, monks, students, artisans, and other personnel, totaling over two hundred people, have been settled by the officials of Dengzhou and will soon arrive in Chang'an via the post road! Japan's letter of credence and list of tribute gifts have been sent ahead by express courier!"

Upon hearing this, a flash of fierceness instantly crossed Li Shimin's eyes.

That hostility came and went quickly.

Only a few high-ranking officials who were close to the throne vaguely sensed the sudden tension and difference in the atmosphere on the throne, and couldn't help but feel a chill in their hearts.

"The Japanese country sent an envoy to the Tang Dynasty..."

Li Shimin murmured to himself, tapping lightly on the armrest of the dragon throne with his fingers.

"How many people came? Where is the official letter? Has the list of tribute gifts been verified?"

The official from the Court of State Ceremonial replied hastily.

"Your Majesty, the delegation consists of 217 people, and the letter of credence and gift list are here."

As he spoke, he presented a sealed document and a list with both hands.

The eunuch stepped forward, took it, and presented it to the emperor.

Li Shimin did not immediately unfold the scroll to view it, but instead turned to his ministers.

"Japan, living overseas, admires our Chinese culture and has traveled across the ocean to come here. Their intentions are commendable."

"The sea route is long and treacherous. To reach Dengzhou, their ships must be sturdy, their men fierce, and their will... unwavering."

He paused, his gaze sweeping over the assembled officials below, lingering for a moment on the faces of several ministers in charge of military and finance.

"By imperial decree: The Japanese delegation shall be received according to custom; the etiquette of our Celestial Empire must not be disregarded. However—"

"All contact must be accompanied and recorded by officials from the Court of State Ceremonial. The classics, historical texts, and crafts requested for study must be approved by the three provinces before they can be taught, with particular emphasis on the essentials of military equipment, shipbuilding, metallurgy, and agriculture. These should not be shown to others lightly. The gifts presented must be carefully inspected and registered by the relevant officials to ensure accuracy."

The courtiers were astonished. In the past, when vassal states learned from them, they always gave generously. Never before had they done this.

"Other,"

Li Shimin continued, his voice even deeper.

"Instruct the coastal prefectures such as Dengzhou, Laizhou, and Yangzhou to strengthen coastal defense patrols, pay close attention to maritime movements, and immediately investigate and report any unidentified vessels or personnel that approach the shore."

"The navy and fleet must remain on high alert at all times to prevent any unforeseen events."

Even the coastal defenses have been mobilized?

The courtiers were even more astonished.

Why is it necessary for a mere Japanese delegation to make such a fuss?

Does Your Majesty believe that Japan is plotting something?

What can be done if there is any unrest in that tiny country?

They're nothing but ants that can be crushed with a flick of the wrist!

But no one dared to question it at this moment, after all, the aftermath of the Wei King's affair had not yet subsided, and the coldness in His Majesty's eyes had not yet dissipated.

"The matter concerning Japan is now settled. Is there anything else?"

The court officials looked at each other in bewilderment.

"In that case, let's adjourn the court..."

After leaving the Taiji Hall, Li Shimin spoke to the attendant beside him.

"Have Changsun Wuji, Wei Zheng, and Fang Xuanling wait in the Liangyi Side Hall. I will arrive shortly there."

"yes!"