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

"Father!"

"His Majesty!"

When the emperor suddenly collapsed and slumped down, everyone panicked and rushed forward to help him up.

Li Shimin suddenly waved his hand, stopping everyone from trying to help him up.

His eyes were bloodshot, and from beginning to end, they were fixed on Li Chengqian kneeling below. His voice was hoarse and cold as he repeatedly muttered, "Good, good, very good..."

"Chengqian, I have raised you for over twenty years, I have provided you with fine clothes and sumptuous food, I have made you the crown prince..."

His voice was filled with a chilling coldness and endless sorrow.

"You said you only wish to be loved by your mother's side, and you do not wish to be reborn into an imperial family."

"So you mean that in your heart, although you have your mother, you are unwilling to acknowledge me as your biological father?"

"Yeah!"

Li Chengqian kept his eyes closed and his face indifferent, reverting to his usual stubborn and unyielding demeanor, refusing to admit his mistakes even at the cost of his life.

They remained silent, saying nothing.

They acted as if it were perfectly natural and accepted it!

"Today, you even disturbed Guanyin's maid." Li Shimin took a slow breath. Today, his mood had fluctuated greatly, and his thoughts were in turmoil. But after the extreme grief, he gradually calmed down.

"You may disown me as your father, but I cannot disown you as my son before the spirit of Guanyinbi."

He exhaled a deep breath, and the complex emotions and indignation in his eyes faded away.

When he looked up again, Li Shimin's expression had turned cold and stern, his imposing presence awe-inspiring. He had transformed back into the iron-blooded emperor who had unified the country and subdued the world, the Heavenly Khan Li Shimin.

"Guards, draft an imperial edict!"

A deep shout echoed throughout the Liangyi Hall.

"Crown Prince Li Chengqian is of perverse character, rebellious nature, and has committed many immoral acts and harbors ulterior motives."

"Following the precedent of the previous dynasty's deposed Crown Prince Yang Yong, Li Chengqian shall be immediately stripped of his position as Crown Prince, demoted to commoner, removed from the Eastern Palace, and placed under strict surveillance and imprisonment in Chang'an."

"And their descendants, they must never leave without permission!"

Li Shimin's gaze was fixed on Li Chengqian, his voice authoritative:

"You despise the position of crown prince and are weary of the constraints of the royal family, so I will grant your wish."

"From this day forward, I will strip you of all your honor and make you a penniless commoner."

"I want to see for myself what it means to be without the power and position I've given you, without the wealth and privilege of the Crown Prince, without the protection of the imperial family..."

"Li Chengqian, will you regret this one day?"

"This... Father!" Before Li Chengqian could react, Li Tai's expression changed drastically, and he subconsciously took a step forward, looking anxious.

"Hmm? You have an objection?" Li Shimin's narrow phoenix eyes narrowed slightly, filled with impatience and a chilling aura.

How could Li Tai not have any objections?

He had been engaged in a fierce power struggle with Li Chengqian for nearly a decade, scheming and plotting every step of the way, determined to put his elder brother to death.

Just now in the main hall, Li Chengqian and his son bluntly exposed the dark side of the royal family, and his ambition and scheming were also thoroughly criticized.

Moreover, treason is an unforgivable crime, punishable by death and implicating one's relatives.

The outcome should have been Li Chengqian's execution and complete elimination, so why was he raised high and then let down so easily?

Is it really that the matter was hastily concluded by simply stripping him of his title and imprisoning him in the city?

But when he met the chilling killing intent hidden in Li Shimin's eyes, Li Tai's fat body trembled violently, and he instantly felt a chill in his heart. He dared not be the slightest bit presumptuous, and his knees buckled, so he prostrated himself on the ground and hurriedly kowtowed to explain himself:

"Your subject... Your subject has absolutely no objection!"

"It's just... it's just that your son is foolish, and just now I suddenly... felt worried about Father Emperor."

He was so anxious that his mind was racing, racking his brains and desperately trying to come up with a solution:

"Your subject... just feels that such a shocking case of treason should not be decided by Father Emperor's decree alone. I fear that the court officials will not be satisfied and it will be difficult to silence the public opinion."

"It would be best...it would be best if the ministers could discuss and decide together, following the established court regulations for a fair judgment. Only in this way can we stabilize public sentiment and gain the people's obedience..."

"Is that so?" Li Shimin's eyes narrowed, and his sharp gaze slowly swept over the ministers in the hall.

Li Tai, who was kneeling on the ground, quickly turned his head and gave Changsun Wuji a subtle look.

He deliberately steered the conversation toward the ministers, hoping to use Changsun Wuji's words to once again advise Li Shimin to take drastic measures and eliminate Li Chengqian.

Changsun Wuji was incredibly shrewd and calculating.

He understood this principle better than anyone: if you don't kill the tiger, you will suffer the consequences.

From the moment he secretly pushed for the removal of the heir apparent and tacitly approved the severe punishment of Li Xiang, he had already completely stood on the opposite side of Li Chengqian.

Now that the crown prince has been deposed but not executed, and Li Chengqian has been placed under house arrest in Chang'an, the hidden dangers have not been eliminated. How can he feel at ease?

However, Changsun Wuji was a cunning and shrewd man. He always acted in the shadows, going with the flow and never standing out or provoking the emperor.

At this moment, Li Shimin was in turmoil, his murderous intent still lingering, and he would not respond to Li Tai's words in the slightest.

Moreover, the person he truly desired was Prince Li Zhi of Jin; the ambitious Li Tai was merely deluding himself.

Therefore, Changsun Wuji lowered his head and hid behind Fang Xuanling, Xiao Yu, Kong Yingda and others. Facing the emperor's cold gaze, he and the others were terrified and shrank back, keeping silent.

Li Shimin, however, stared coldly at his ministers without uttering a word.

Li Tai's words are indeed reasonable. The Crown Prince's treason case is a serious matter, and the Emperor's arbitrary decision is contrary to the rules of the court. In the future, there will inevitably be a lot of gossip in the court.

None of the court officials truly agreed with such autocratic imperial decision-making. They were even less willing to endorse Li Shimin's edicts and bear the brunt of public criticism.

But everyone knows perfectly well that His Majesty is furious today and has nearly lost control several times.

Anyone who dares to rashly speak out and offend the emperor will be in trouble in an instant.

No one dared to speak out, no one dared to argue.

The Liangyi Hall fell into a deathly silence once again, eerily quiet.

Only the faint, intermittent heartbeats and the occasional soft sound of sweat dripping onto the blue bricks echoed faintly in the oppressive hall.

After a long stalemate, it was the inexperienced and young interpreter, Lai Ji, who finally couldn't withstand the immense pressure. He carefully bowed and stepped forward, speaking softly:

"After all, the Crown Prince is... one of His Majesty's closest relatives."

"Your Majesty's judgment just now was both in accordance with human ethics and the law of the country."

"In this way, His Majesty can maintain his benevolence as a father, and the Crown Prince can preserve his life and live out his natural lifespan. This is the most appropriate outcome at present."

"I believe Your Majesty's edict is entirely fair and appropriate. I request Your Majesty's written decree; I am willing to obey!"

Since someone had taken the lead, all the important officials, despite having their own thoughts, bowed down to the ground.

"Your Majesty, please issue this decree; we will obey your holy command!"

The dust has settled.

The sensational case of the Crown Prince's rebellion, which shocked the imperial court, finally came to an end with Li Chengqian being deposed as a commoner and imprisoned in Chang'an.

Li Xiang, however, felt as if ten thousand alpacas were galloping and trampling over his face...

He struggled and made noise in an attempt to attract Li Shimin's attention.

However, after Li Chengqian, the main character, arrived, Li Shimin paid very little attention to him.

She didn't even glance at him again.

Damn it, I'm exhausted.

Destroy it!

Li Xiang rolled his eyes and complained.

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