Tang Dynasty: Consort Wu? Your Majesty, please address her as the Crown Prince's Consort.

Upon witnessing this scene, Li Tai, who had remained silent throughout, couldn't help but have his eyes light up.

The power of these aristocratic families is truly terrifying. Even my father, the emperor, has to give them a wide berth. If I could gain the assistance of these families, not only would the position of crown prince be within my grasp, but the throne itself would probably be easily obtained.

Thinking of this, Li Tai couldn't help but secretly make up his mind that after this court assembly, he would send someone to make contact with those aristocratic families.

Then, a dark look flashed in his eyes as he looked at Li Chengqian.

Hmph! Don't think you can rest easy just because you have that old geezer's help. How many more years can that old thing live at his age?!

At the same time, Li Shimin immediately gave Li Chengqian a wink.

His eyes seemed to say, "Give me a way out."

Upon seeing this, Li Chengqian was slightly taken aback, naturally understanding what his old man meant.

But who is Li Chengqian? He is a man who aspires to become the number one rebellious son of the Tang Dynasty. How could he possibly be so obedient?

He immediately stepped forward, cupped his hands in a respectful gesture to Li Shimin, and spoke with an air of righteous indignation:

"How can Father Emperor arbitrarily execute nine generations of a person's family? This is too cruel. How is such behavior any different from that of the tyrannical rulers Jie and Zhou?"

In my humble opinion, it would be better to execute the ringleaders, have Wang Li executed by slow slicing, behead three generations of his direct male descendants, and send the women to the Imperial Music Bureau!

Upon hearing this, Li Shimin's face immediately darkened.

You're giving me a way out, why are you cursing me?

How dare you compare me to rulers like Jie and Zhou! Outrageous! Outrageous!

The content of this grand court assembly is to be recorded in history! Didn't you see the historian standing to the side, his eyes gleaming, his pen practically smoking from swinging it around?!

Meanwhile, the officials from prominent families were immediately intrigued by Li Chengqian's words.

Your Highness's method is excellent! Only kill Wang Li's family, without implicating them. This is not giving Li Shimin a way out, but clearly giving us noble families a way out!

Don't be fooled by their usual claims of being a dynasty that has lasted for thousands of years or a family that has been around for ages.

But if we were to actually send them to confront the emperor head-on, then let's forget about it.

The man in front of us is a ruthless person who would even kill his own brothers. If we really provoke him, no one knows what will happen.

Besides, our ancestors worked so hard to accumulate such a vast fortune over hundreds and thousands of years to become the powerful family we are today. It's not worth risking our lives for such a trivial matter and fighting the emperor.

To put it bluntly, the higher their status, the more afraid they are of death!

Wang Li was just a minor member of a collateral branch of the Taiyuan Wang family. His death was nothing compared to the powerful clans. They didn't even consider a nobody like Wang Li.

Upon realizing this, the members of the prominent families present all shouted in unison.

"His Highness the Crown Prince is benevolent!"

"His Highness the Crown Prince is benevolent!"

……

Li Tai was dumbfounded when he saw the officials shouting that the Crown Prince was benevolent.

No?

This is tantamount to killing an entire family; where is the benevolence in that?

Are you guys crazy?!

Li Shimin, sitting on the dragon throne, looked as if he had eaten excrement.

That unfilial son!

First he scolded himself, and now he's making these aristocratic families grateful to him. Most importantly, he really has no choice but to take the opportunity given to him by this rebellious son.

How could I have given birth to such a bastard? Compared to him, Qingque is really well-behaved. This is my good child!

For a moment, Li Shimin looked at the reactions of the crowd below and couldn't help but say with a helpless expression:

"Since the Crown Prince is pleading for mercy, then let us do as the Crown Prince says!"

Seeing that Li Shimin had made the decision, everyone cheered loudly.

"Your Majesty is wise!"

"Your Majesty is wise!"

……

As for Wang Li, nobody cares.

He can only blame his bad luck.

After the morning court session ended, Li Shimin kept Li Chengqian behind.

Inside the Liangyi Hall.

Li Shimin stared intently at his rebellious son and couldn't help but speak:

"You unfilial son, why are you pleading for those aristocratic families?!"

Upon hearing this, Li Chengqian was speechless.

"Didn't you tell me to plead for him?"

"When did I say you were going to plead for these people?"

Li Shimin simply pretended to be ignorant of his own rebellious son's words.

Upon hearing this, Li Chengqian immediately objected and prepared to turn around.

Seeing this, Li Shimin quickly spoke up.

"Where are you going?"

"Your Majesty, I will summon the Six Guards of the Eastern Palace and slaughter the Wang Clan of Taiyuan!"

Ah this!

Seeing his son's serious expression, Li Shimin panicked and quickly stepped forward to pull him back.

"No! Father was just joking with you. You unfilial son, you mustn't do anything foolish!"

However, as soon as he finished speaking, he saw a mocking smirk appear on Li Chengqian's face.

Seeing this, Li Shimin knew he had been tricked by his rebellious son again, and immediately flew into a rage, saying:

"You unfilial son! You rebellious son, I am your father, can't you show me any respect?"

"Father, what are you saying? Every official in the court knows that I am the most benevolent and filial son. How could I possibly disrespect you?!"

As he spoke, he couldn't help but put on a hurt expression and look at Li Shimin before continuing:

"Is it truly a case of fathers not knowing their sons, and sons not knowing their fathers? Have we, father and son, really come to such a state of mutual distrust?!"

"Alright, alright, you brat, stop acting. Tell me, what's your take on this?"

Seeing Li Chengqian's funny appearance, Li Shimin couldn't help but be speechless for a moment, and then waved his hand at him and asked.

Upon hearing this, Li Chengqian looked at Li Shimin with a puzzled expression.

"What is it?"

"What are you pretending to be stupid for, you unfilial son? I don't believe you can't see through me."

Seeing a rare look of seriousness on his father's face, Li Chengqian slowly put away his smile and revealed a solemn expression.

"These powerful families are a scourge; they should be killed!"

Ok?

Upon hearing this, Li Shimin couldn't help but show a hint of surprise, and then asked with great interest:

"Tell me more about it!"

Upon hearing this, Li Chengqian did not hesitate and immediately told him everything he knew.

"Father! With less than 10% of the population, they control nearly 70% of the Tang Dynasty's resources, while the remaining 90% of the people can only share the remaining 30%."

Powerful families monopolized culture and upward mobility, resulting in all officials in the court being their people, leaving no hope for those from poor families. The imperial examinations were practically meaningless in their eyes.

Powerful families concealed large amounts of land and people, evaded taxes, leading to a decrease in the imperial court's tax revenue and disrupting the normal operation of the Tang Dynasty.

However, after hearing Li Chengqian's words, Li Shimin couldn't help but frown, and then shook his head slightly.

Upon seeing this, Li Chengqian was immediately puzzled.

"Does Father think I'm wrong?"

"Yes and no!"

Upon hearing this, Li Chengqian was momentarily confused.

He didn't understand where he had gone wrong. Weren't these the root causes of the harm caused by powerful clans?