The rebellious grandson of Emperor Zhenguan of the Tang Dynasty: Please, Your Majesty, be called Cro

Li Shimin was neither a perfect person nor a saint.

He was fond of beautiful women and once brought many beautiful women into the palace;

He was fond of extravagance and once punished officials for not having exquisite enough food or utensils.

He loved to travel and once wanted to set up a hunting ground in the Zhongnan Mountains, but he stopped because Wei Zheng advised him not to waste money and resources on the people.

Li Shimin also had personal desires. However, the reason why he was able to diligently accept advice, control his personal desires, and have a sense of crisis about whether the Tang Dynasty could last long was extremely important.

It was precisely because of this sense of crisis regarding the fate of the entire Tang Dynasty that Li Shimin was able to restrain his personal desires and become a wise ruler.

It was precisely because of this sense of crisis that Li Shimin hesitated between the infamous Li Chengqian and the seemingly virtuous Li Tai, ultimately leading to this dramatic struggle for the throne between brothers.

As one of Li Shimin's most trusted and relied-upon ministers in the seventeenth year of the Zhenguan era, Changsun Wuji was naturally well aware of Li Shimin's hidden worries.

He used the fate of the Tang Dynasty as leverage to counterbalance Li Shimin's love for his son, and Li Shimin indeed hesitated.

"...Then tell me."

"Crown Prince... what crime has he committed?" Li Shimin asked weakly, sitting on his throne.

"..." Changsun Wuji prostrated himself on the ground, trembling as if sobbing. The others also lowered their heads, and the hall was so quiet you could hear a pin drop.

"Xuanling, speak." Of the four people in the hall besides Changsun Wuji, Fang Xuanling was the one most trusted by Li Shimin.

He hoped that Fang Xuanling could give him an answer that would not put him in a difficult position.

"...Your Majesty." Fang Xuanling, whose name was called, trembled. After hesitating for a long time, he had no choice but to raise his head with the determination to die.

"The Crown Prince... was the mastermind behind this case. The evidence of treason is conclusive. He should be severely punished... to serve as a warning to future generations," Fang Xuanling murmured.

Changsun Wuji's words just now have already set the tone for this matter.

Even the emperor couldn't refute it, so what could Fang Xuanling do?

Even from the bottom of his heart, he really did not want to set this precedent, protect the crown prince, and bear the consequences of disregarding the law and endangering the country.

"..." Li Shimin's expression became even more grief-stricken.

"Treason...what should be done?"

Fang Xuanling prostrated himself in awe and dared not utter a word.

In fact, Li Shimin himself knew the answer without needing anyone else to answer it.

Treason is one of the ten unpardonable crimes.

He should be executed.

Li Shimin's eyes were lifeless, yet tears continued to stream down his face.

He suddenly remembered the question Li Xiang had asked him that day in Ganlu Hall.

On the day of Xuanwu Gate, I saw my father, Li Yuan, with my hand on my sword, wearing armor stained with the blood of my brothers.

Did my father feel the same way back then?

"Is this the only way?"

Li Shimin's voice even carried a hint of pleading.

The Liangyi Hall was utterly silent; you could hear a pin drop. The silence lasted for a very long time. The frail emperor on his throne looked at his ministers, who were kneeling prostrate on the ground. Time seemed to stand still.

The conviction of the crown prince for treason has thus reached a stalemate.

Until Li Zhi's timid figure appeared outside the Liangyi Hall.

"What is it?"

Li Shimin wiped away his tears, his tone somewhat stiff.

The oppressive silence was broken by Li Zhi, and Xiao Yu, Fang Xuanling, and others couldn't help but secretly breathe a sigh of relief.

They clearly sensed that during the confrontation, the emperor's emotions had gradually reached the brink of spiraling out of control...

"Father..." Li Zhi knelt cautiously at the palace gate, still looking timid. "Mr. Kong Yingda and Mr. Yu Zhining request an audience."

He was sent over by Li Tai. Li Tai and Li Chengqian have been fighting for so many years, and the final conclusion of the Crown Prince's rebellion case being discussed in the palace is crucial to Li Tai's success in seizing the throne.

After years of planning, the decision was about to be made today. How could Li Tai sit still? He pulled Li Zhi outside the Liangyi Hall, thinking that he might be able to find out what was going on inside. Then he saw Kong Yingda and Yu Zhining, both looking furious, coming together and shouting that they wanted to see His Majesty immediately.

Li Tai certainly wouldn't let this opportunity pass, but he was worried that going in might offend Li Shimin, so he sent Li Zhi to handle it, hoping to get some information about the discussions inside the palace from Li Zhi.

Although Li Zhi despised Li Tai's behavior, he still agreed.

After all, he was actually quite concerned about how the audience in the palace was progressing.

"What do they want to see me for?" Li Shimin asked, his face displeased. Just then, a young Imperial Guard captain rushed to the outside of the hall. He was the same junior officer who was guarding Li Chengqian and Li Xiang at the Right Guard's residence.

Lai Ji, the interpreter, went outside the hall and whispered something to the captain. Then he returned to Li Shimin's side and whispered something to him.

"They went to find Chengqian on their own?" Li Shimin frowned.

"Yes, it is said that the two gentlemen intend to strongly urge the Crown Prince to admit his mistakes to His Majesty," Lai Ji said.

Li Shimin's expression softened slightly. "I am currently making important decisions."

"Let them step back for now..."

"Your Majesty," Changsun Wuji suddenly raised his head.

"Both Kong Gong and Yu Gong were learned men, well-versed in the classics and history. Moreover, they had served as tutors to the crown prince for a long time, and thus possessed profound insights."

"I believe we can discuss this with them."

The trial of the crown prince reached a stalemate. Although the crown prince had always been absurd, His Majesty's love for his eldest son... exceeded Changsun Wuji's expectations.

He glanced at Prince Li Zhi of Jin, who stood helplessly at the door: Now that you have made up your mind, you should do your best.

Kong Yingda and Yu Zhining, though officials of the Eastern Palace, had long been at odds with the Crown Prince.

Summoning them might add another factor to His Majesty's decision on how to deal with the Crown Prince.

"...Announce it." Li Shimin pondered for a moment, then said in a deep voice.

Before long, Kong Yingda and Yu Zhining arrived at Ganlu Palace. Leading them there was none other than Prince Wei, Li Tai.

He was restless outside, and when he learned that Li Shimin had summoned Kong and Yu, he simply pulled Li Zhi along and shamelessly led the two inside.

Seeing Li Tai holding Li Zhi's hand and silently standing below without leaving, Li Shimin frowned slightly, but ultimately said nothing.

"His Majesty!"

Kong Yingda and Yu Zhining, however, acted even more unusually. Upon entering the hall, they did not take a seat, but instead went straight to Li Shimin and bowed deeply.

"Your Majesty, please grant me death!"

"...?"

These words surprised not only Changsun Wuji and the others, but even Li Shimin, who was still immersed in grief, could not sit still for a moment. He straightened up and asked in astonishment, "Why do you say such a thing?"

"Your Majesty." Kong Yingda raised his head, his face still flushed red.

"Since Your Majesty entrusted me with the important task of assisting the Crown Prince, I have been working tirelessly day and night to advise and correct the Crown Prince's mistakes, and I have never dared to slack off for a single day."

"However, we, your humble servants, were unable to persuade the Crown Prince to correct his mistakes. Instead, we were met with hostility from the Crown Prince and the Imperial Grandson, and nearly suffered physical attacks. The Imperial Grandson, Li Xiang, even denounced us as cowards who sought only to live and die, and as vain individuals who sought fame and fortune!"

"This old minister is a descendant of a Confucian sage and holds the position of Chancellor of the Imperial Academy. He should be a role model for all scholars in the land. How can I allow my ancestors to be disgraced in the afterlife?"

"I am willing to emulate Bi Gan and Qu Yuan, and die to clear my name! So that the Crown Prince and the Imperial Grandson may know that I, too, possess the integrity of the ancient sages."

"We hope Your Majesty will grant our request!"