My wife, Wei Gui, was 1.9 meters tall and fought against the Tang dynasty for the throne.

Before Yang Guang could ask any questions, Li Ju had already stepped forward.

He removed his official hat, held it to his chest with both hands, knelt on the ground, his back ramrod straight yet deliberately trembling slightly, his voice carrying just the right amount of fear, but also concealing a hint of barely perceptible composure:

"I am in charge of the grain transport, and I have neglected to supervise my subordinates. Occasionally, I have been able to embezzle small amounts of money from the accounts. I have indeed been negligent and deserve to die! I dare not argue, but only beg Your Majesty to punish me for dereliction of duty and to restore order to the court!"

The entire court was in turmoil once again.

Some people whispered among themselves, while others looked surprised—Li Ju didn't defend himself or cry foul; he just accepted it like that?

Yang Guang stared at him for a moment.

The kneeling figure trembled slightly, and fine sweat even seeped from his forehead. The fear in his voice was so real that it sounded like that of a young man who had just entered the court and had been caught doing something wrong. He had completely lost the composure he used to have when he was in charge of the canal transport.

He suddenly laughed, a low laugh, yet carrying the unique imperial authority.

"Li Ju, you're quite honest." He leaned back on the throne, the suspicion in his eyes lessening slightly. "I thought you were a perfect person, but it turns out you can also be greedy for small gains."

Li Ju prostrated himself on the ground, his voice hoarse: "Your Majesty... Your Majesty has failed in your grace and deserves to die ten thousand times over."

Yuwen Shu stepped forward, cupped his hands, and said, "Your Majesty, Li Ju is young and in charge of affairs. He has occasionally made mistakes, but he is not a major corrupt official and can still be reformed. I am willing to protect him and hope that Your Majesty will consider his meritorious service in guarding Luoyang and punish him leniently."

Li Ju immediately kowtowed again, and when he turned to Yuwen Shu, a fleeting glint of understanding flashed in his eyes, quickly replaced by deep shame, and his voice was earnest:

"I am deeply unworthy of General Yuwen's protection! I was young and reckless, and in a moment of confusion, I lost my sense of propriety. I will certainly be more careful in the future and never overstep my bounds again, and I will certainly not fail to live up to the General's kindness!"

Yang Guang saw all of this.

Li Ju was indeed forming a faction, and doing so openly.

He relied on Yuwen Shu, depended on Yuwen Shu's whims, and regarded Yuwen Shu as his patron.

They're clever, knowing to find a big tree.

He flipped through the memorials presented by the censor, his gaze falling on the name of the grain transport official—Gao Shilian.

Gao Shilian, this name sounds familiar.

Yang Guang thought for a moment and suddenly remembered: Husi Zheng.

Hu Sizheng had a private relationship with Gao Shilian.

During Yang Xuangan's rebellion, Husi Zheng secretly colluded with the enemy. Although he did not join the rebellion, he was suspected of being involved.

Yang Guang was busy dealing with Yang Xuangan's cronies at the time and had not yet settled accounts with him. Now, seeing this name, he had a sudden thought.

"Gao Shilian, the grain transport officer, has connections with the traitor Husi Zheng. He is to be imprisoned immediately and interrogated rigorously," Yang Guang said calmly. "Li Ju is young and ignorant; his salary is to be suspended for half a year as a warning to observe his future conduct."

Li Ju kowtowed: "Your Majesty, I thank you for your great kindness."

After the court session ended, Li Ju walked out of the main hall. The autumn wind blew on his face, and he realized that the back of his clothes was already soaked with sweat. The fine sweat on his forehead was blown by the wind, and a chill ran through him.

In the scene just now, he was betting on Yang Guang's suspicious nature—the emperor hates his ministers who are "perfect." If he defended himself, it would only lead Yang Guang to investigate further and suspect that he had a bigger scheme behind him.

If he openly confessed his guilt and only admitted to the minor mistake of "being greedy for small gains," Yang Guang would think that he was just an ordinary person with selfish motives who could be controlled.

With Yuwen Shu's recommendation, Yang Guang's suspicions about him were at least largely dispelled.

But Gao Shilian...

He never expected that Yang Guang would use Gao Shilian as a shield.

Yuwen Shu happened to be walking behind him and coughed lightly.

Li Ju immediately turned around, cupped his hands in a salute, and said sincerely, "Today, I am entirely grateful to General Yuwen for protecting me. I will remember this forever. In the future, if you ever need my services, I will certainly not refuse."

Yuwen Shu stroked his beard and smiled faintly: "We're family, no need for formalities. As for Yue'er, I'll arrange her entry into the manor as soon as possible, so don't worry. With me here, these petty troubles in the court won't harm you."

Li Ju bowed: "I will obey the general's orders."

In prison.

Gao Shilian sat on the straw, his face calm. The cell was dark and damp, with rats scurrying about in the corner.

He has been here for two days, and no one has come to interrogate him or tell him what's going on outside.

Footsteps approached. The jailer opened the cell door, and a young figure bent down and walked in.

Gao Shilian looked up and saw a handsome face—in scarlet official robes, with a silver fish-shaped pouch at his waist—it was Li Ju.

"Junior Supervisor Li?" Gao Shilian was somewhat surprised.

Li Ju sat down opposite him and cupped his hands in greeting: "Lord Gao, I am late and I apologize for the inconvenience."

Gao Shilian waved his hand and said with a wry smile, "I do have a personal relationship with Hu Sizheng. We drank and discussed poetry together back then. He sided with the rebels, and I didn't report him, which is a crime in itself. It was only a matter of time before I was imprisoned. I don't blame Li Shaojian."

Li Ju was silent for a moment, then said in a low voice, "Lord Gao, to be honest, the matter of that batch of grain was something I did intentionally. I didn't expect it to implicate you."

Gao Shilian looked at him, his eyes filled with no resentment, only a detached indifference that suggested he had seen through the ways of the world.

"I guessed it," he said softly. "Li Shaojian rose to prominence at a young age and controls the grain transport, which makes the Emperor suspicious. If he doesn't tarnish his reputation, disaster will befall him sooner or later. I was simply... betrayed by a friend."

He paused, then sighed: "That friend said his mother had passed away and he needed to go home for the funeral. I believed him. Now that I think about it, I'm afraid someone deliberately set him up."

Li Ju remained silent. He knew that those so-called "friends" were most likely Yuwen Shu's men. Yuwen Shu needed a pretext and a scapegoat to test him.

Gao Shilian did not press the matter. He remained silent for a moment, then suddenly raised his head, his eyes filled with earnestness.

"Junior Supervisor Li, I have a request to make."

"Please speak, Master Gao."

"I have a younger sister whose husband died early, leaving behind a son and a daughter, who are being raised in my home along with my sister. My nephew is named Changsun Wuji, who is nineteen years old, and my niece is named Changsun Wugou, who is ten years old. If something happens to me, they will be left without anyone to rely on." Gao Shilian looked at Li Ju, his voice trembling slightly, "Junior Supervisor Li, I shamelessly beg you to take care of them."

Li Ju was startled.

Changsun Wuji. Changsun Wugou.

Empress Zhangsun Wugou – the Wende Empress of Emperor Taizong of Tang in history, a woman known for her virtue.

At this moment, she was in Luoyang, staying at Gao Shilian's house.

He suppressed the turmoil in his heart and remained expressionless.

"Rest assured, Lord Gao," he said solemnly. "There is a vacancy in the Directorate of Waterways, so Changsun Wuji can take up the post first. As for Lady Wugou, I will have my wife take care of her. With you here, Lord Gao, please rest assured that I will find a way to handle things."

Gao Shilian's eyes were slightly red as he stood up and bowed deeply to Li Ju.

"I am deeply grateful to Vice Director Li. In my next life, I will be your servant to repay this kindness."

Li Ju quickly helped him up, saying, "Gao Gong, you're too kind. This matter arose because of me, and I will certainly handle the aftermath."

He paused, then said, "Please rest assured, Lord Gao. The matter of Husi's administration has been over for quite some time, and His Majesty may not investigate it further. As long as no one stirs things up, you may be able to save your life."

Gao Shilian nodded and said no more.

Li Ju was released from prison. Standing outside the door, he took a deep breath.

The autumn wind blows, bringing a chill.

Empress Zhangsun.

He silently repeated the name in his heart, his gaze slightly somber.

This ten-year-old girl will one day become an empress, ruling the world with grace and dignity.

But now, she is just a helpless child.

He turned and got into the carriage.

"Let's go back to the manor," he said to the coachman.

The carriage drove through the streets and alleys of Luoyang, its wheels clattering over the bluestone pavement.

Li Ju leaned against the carriage wall and closed his eyes.

He performed that scene in the imperial court very successfully.

Yang Guang's suspicions were largely dispelled, and Yuwen Shu's protection was secured.

But Gao Shilian became the scapegoat, which was something he had not expected.

He had to make sure his eldest grandson and his sister were settled.

This is not only to make amends to Gao Shilian, but also for... the future.

The carriage stopped in front of the Li residence. Li Ju alighted, straightened his clothes, and stepped inside.

Wei Gui came out to greet him and, seeing his tired face, asked softly, "Sixth Brother, how are you?"

"It's nothing." Li Ju took her hand. "Zeniang, there's something I need to discuss with you."