My cultivation disguise has been exposed by Xiao Sizi.

The huge weight that had been pressing on my heart for three years has finally been crushed.

That afternoon.

Li Shimin, accompanied by Empress Zhangsun and others, hurriedly returned to Taiji Palace.

As soon as he returned to Ganlu Palace, Li Shimin didn't even have time to drink a sip of water before he roared.

"Summon Li Junxian, commander of the Hundred Cavalry!"

In less than half an incense stick's time, Li Junxian appeared in the hall like a ghost.

"Your subject is here!"

"I'm giving you three days!"

Li Shimin's eyes were bloodshot, like a ferocious beast ready to devour its prey. "Use all the spies from the Hundred Cavalry Division to go to Chang'an and the surrounding prefectures and counties! Thoroughly investigate all cases of cousin marriages among the common people!"

"Investigate thoroughly, find out the condition of their offspring! Were there any stillbirths, any mentally disabled or crippled children? Don't miss a single one, and report back to me immediately!"

Li Junxian's heart skipped a beat. Although he didn't know why the emperor was suddenly so interested in marriages among commoners, seeing Li Shimin's murderous expression, he could only loudly obey the order.

"I obey your decree!"

These three days felt like an eternity to Li Shimin.

Late at night three days later.

The Ganlu Hall was brightly lit.

Li Shimin looked at the thick stack of investigation files from the Hundred Cavalry Division on the table, his hands trembling uncontrollably, his face turning a terrifyingly ashen.

shocking!

It was absolutely horrific!

The case file contains hundreds of densely packed records of cases.

The cousins ​​in Wangjia Village got married, and three babies were stillborn. The fourth child was born blind.

The cousins ​​in Lijia Town got married and had two sons who were both mentally challenged and could only drool. They were thirty years old and still needed to be fed.

There are countless records of babies born missing limbs or dying before reaching one month old.

These cold, hard data points were like sharp knives, piercing Li Shimin's eyes.

Everything Li Chen said at the Qin Prince's mansion came true without missing a single word! This is truly a bloodline curse that defies the laws of heaven!

"Ignorant! Follyless! Utterly ridiculous!"

Li Shimin abruptly swept the stack of documents to the ground and paced back and forth in the imperial study in anger.

"What kind of marriage alliance is this? This is clearly a disastrous act that will bring ruin upon future generations and lead to their extinction! The people of our Great Tang have been poisoned by such ignorant and foolish customs for so many years!"

Li Shimin closed his eyes and took a deep breath.

When he opened his eyes again, they were filled with determination.

"Guards! Draft an imperial edict!"

Li Shimin shouted at the eunuchs who were attending him.

"By imperial decree! From this day forth, throughout the Great Tang Dynasty, marriage between relatives within five degrees of kinship is strictly prohibited! Any marriage between cousins ​​or other blood relatives is considered a violation of the laws of Heaven and a sin against human ethics!"

"Any existing engagements are hereby voided! Violators will be severely punished according to the law!"

Once this imperial edict was issued, it was tantamount to dropping a thunderbolt on the entire traditional etiquette of the Tang Dynasty.

But Li Shimin didn't care.

With the "True Immortal Protector of the Nation" he had just witnessed backing him up, even the most rigid and pedantic scholars would absolutely not dare to utter a single fart!

The next morning.

When news spread that Li Shimin wanted to cancel Princess Changle's marriage and strictly prohibit marriage between close relatives.

The entire court was in an uproar.

Inside a side hall of the Taiji Hall.

Changsun Wuji was dressed in a purple prime minister's court robe, his face so gloomy it looked like it was about to drip water.

He simply couldn't understand why the Emperor was now unilaterally breaking the contract, which was already a relief three years ago due to inauspicious celestial phenomena. Where would this leave the Changsun family's reputation?

"His Majesty!"

Changsun Wuji knelt before Li Shimin, his words earnest and even tinged with grievance.

"Your Majesty, I do not know what transgression Chong'er has committed to incur such wrath. The marriage between Chang Le and Chong'er was ordained by Your Majesty's own decree years ago. To suddenly annul it now would surely damage the dignity of the imperial family!"

Li Shimin sat on the soft couch, looked at his most trusted brother-in-law, and sneered.

"Auxiliary machine, get up first. Take a look at this."

Li Shimin casually grabbed a core report compiled by the Hundred Cavalry Division and threw it directly in front of Changsun Wuji.

Changsun Wuji picked up the report with a puzzled look, but his expression changed after only flipping through two pages.

The further he flipped through the pages, the more cold sweat beaded on his forehead. The numerous tragedies recorded there shocked and horrified him.

"This... Your Majesty, how can the affairs of the common people be compared with those of the royal family?" Changsun Wuji argued stubbornly.

"presumptuous!"

Li Shimin slammed his hand on the table, stood up, and stared down at Changsun Wuji.

"Do you think I investigated this because I had nothing better to do?!"

"Master Fu, let me tell you the truth. Canceling the marriage was not my decision, but that... Immortal Master's!"

boom!

Upon hearing the words "Immortal Master".

Changsun Wuji's legs went weak instantly, and he almost lost his balance.

He had personally experienced the city-wide lightning tribulation and the golden spiritual rain a few days ago. That terrifying power, beyond the comprehension of ordinary people, had long since terrified these powerful families.

"The Immortal Master personally perused the ancient Heavenly Dao text, 'The History of Time,' and asserted that if Chang Le were to marry into the Changsun family, she would be cursed with a bloodline curse and would not live past the age of twenty-two!"

Li Shimin's voice was as cold as ice.

"Tell me, do you want my daughter to die, or do you want to go and tell that living deity who just survived his tribulation about the Changsun family's reputation?!"

Changsun Wuji trembled violently all over.

Even if he had ten times the courage, he wouldn't dare to provoke that immortal!

That's a terrifying being capable of summoning divine thunder and controlling celestial phenomena. If he dares to utter a single word of dissent, the Changsun Mansion will probably be razed to the ground by heavenly thunder tonight.

"Your Majesty... Your Majesty understands."

Changsun Wuji seemed to age ten years in an instant. He slumped down and kowtowed on the blue bricks, his back already soaked with cold sweat.

"Your Highness, your divine eyes are as sharp as torches, discerning the secrets of heaven. Your subject... Your subject will immediately return and tear up the marriage contract. I will also fully cooperate with Your Majesty to implement the 'Edict Prohibiting Marriage Between Close Relatives' throughout the land."

Seeing Changsun Wuji's grief-stricken appearance, yet forced to swallow his pride and admit defeat.

A surge of indescribable joy welled up in Li Shimin's heart.

With a divine son backing him up, the emperor's confidence is ridiculously strong!